♪ >> Well, Elon Musk become speaker must and find out which Kentucky politician likes the idea.

>> This is 1, 6, of the students in touch.

We want the >> What are lawmakers and teachers saying about the future of the state's biggest school system?

>> It became very clear that no person around their waist was fit for the job.

So people started running the dogs instead.

>> In this Kentucky down, the mayor has a very good boy.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Thursday, December 19.

>> I'm Laura Rogers filling in for Renee Shaw.

Thanks so much for joining us.

AP's urgent.

That is how Kentucky Attorney General Russel Coleman described the view that Kentucky taxpayers should be required to pay for prison inmates.

Gender reassignment surgeries.

>> Coleman released an opinion today rejecting the claim as Kentucky puts together a medical policy for transgender inmates.

Some wondered if federal law requires taxpayer batch surgery.

A reporter asked Governor Andy Beshear today whether he agreed with Coleman's opinion.

>> I agree with the opinion then federal law does not require taxpayers too fully fund and provide the level of health care to a convicted felon in our state prisons, which typically means an A, A B or C felony, which are significant felony.

That wouldn't be available to them to private sector citizens.

In other words, you're convicted felon in state prison.

We shouldn't have better access to less expensive healthcare been a long abiding citizen.

And while the attorney general didn't phrase it in that way, that was the ultimate conclusion of that office.

Now it does appear the federal law requires some level of of care, just not no surgeries.

So I believe you will see in the regulation certain care that is provided to various populations, including the transgender population.

It would be unconstitutional.

It would be wrong to provide no specialized care at all.

And so we're going to try to find that right balance that then both respects our duty to provide health care to those that are incarcerated.

But at the same time respects our taxpayers and law abiding citizens and what they have available to them as opposed to those that are incarcerated >> and here's more from the governor's news conference.

He announced the kitchen food company will spend 69 million dollars building a facility in Hopkinsville.

That will mean almost 1000 new jobs.

>> He says 2024 will be the 4th best year ever for investment in Kentucky.

And in health news, the governor says Kentucky now has 452 reported cases of whooping cough.

We face a possible federal government shutdown this weekend after the collapse of a temporary spending plan known as a continuing resolution or CR backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson.

President elect Donald Trump is demanding changes to it.

Congressman Thomas Massie a long time.

Johnson critics as if conservatives are against Johnson's plan, they should also oppose him.

Massey posted this quote, There is a cognitive disconnect among my colleagues who hated Speaker Johnson, C or but still plan to vote for Speaker Johnson in 2 weeks that 1557 page Bill was a product of the swamp.

That unit party Johnson was happy to facilitate.

He couldn't understand why we didn't clap it up.

Congressman Morgan McGarvey, the only Democrat in Kentucky's congressional delegation doesn't like the role that Trump advisor.

Elon Musk is playing in all Garvey posted, quote, Trump's Co President Elon Musk took billions in government subsidies to help them become the richest man alive.

What is demanding the GOP forced a shutdown that will hurt people who actually work for a living.

It's once again whatever Trump's billionaire buddies won't over everyone else on quotes.

Musk has a prominent Kentucky supporter Senator Rand Paul says the U.S. how should consider mosques to be House speaker.

Quote, the speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress.

Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk.

Think about it.

Nothing's impossible.

Not to mention the joy at seeing the collective establishment, aka, you know, party lose their ever llevan mines, unquote.

We'll hear more from Senator Paul in a few minutes.

Kentucky officials continue to focus their microscope on Jefferson County, Public Schools.

A state committee says it will need another year before recommending legislative fixes for the district.

Our June Leffler checked in with members of that task force and has this report.

>> Republican lawmakers make the case that JCPS is the entire state's business.

>> If you don't live in Jefferson County.

This is 1, 6, of the students in Kentucky.

We want them to be the best that can be.

>> The state has long scrutinize the district say teachers and their union.

>> Being watched or being under the microscope or, you know, having to constantly educate decision makers and the public about what we're doing and how we're doing and why we're doing thinks that way is a kind of a normal setting for us.

>> Looking at most recent state and national test scores JCPS Falls short of the rest of the state.

A group representing large urban districts spoke in Frankfort this year.

Kentucky.

>> Consistently outperforms Jefferson County in all 4 grades and subjects on the national Assessment of Educational Progress.

>> But that snapshot changes when considering a student's race or socioeconomics.

>> The general picture that you see when you look at similar types of students, both by res and economic status, is that where Jefferson County is where the state are roughly synonymous.

They are very different.

>> As a whole JCPS students are slightly poorer than those across the state and they're much more likely to be black, Hispanic or English language.

Learners groups that tend to score worse than their white native born counterparts.

A state task force has spent months dissecting the district.

The committee says it will continue that work next year.

>> Time is of essence.

I understand that with children, they're graduating and that we don't want to be my age.

By the time we get this done.

But we don't want to make a decisions that we haven't fought through.

>> That could ultimately result in legislative recommendations around who governs or controls the district.

>> For instance, that, you know, when we started their body said, well, you want to split the district are we shouldn't spend split the district.

That's not our focuses, teach the children the best.

They can be to be the best they can be.

Now that is to say that we won't look at that.

But without a play and our data to show that that's the thing to do.

Then that's in consequential.

>> An education analyst for the state told the committee deacon Solid Ation is a novel idea.

>> is not aware of any debt consolidation efforts that have been finalized into law.

>> All of the data that is out especially across, you know, across the country, trends towards consolidation, not be consolidation.

So simply from a data perspective, the data says that is not a logical or effective decision.

Another governance change that is getting political traction is expanding the school board.

Jefferson County has 7 school board members and then you look at the size of the city.

There's 26 council members.

>> And obviously they're able to represent their constituents a little easier.

JCPS parents suggested this to at one of the task force's community meetings.

>> I had filed a bill last session to expand school boards across the state to scale with the size of their district.

So I think that could bring more input from the community and better representation from the community.

>> Senator Lindsay Titian or says she'll propose such a billet again and this upcoming legislative session for Kentucky to Leffler.

>> JCPS is in flux right now as the school board picks a new superintendent to replace Marty Polio.

Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball is also working on an audit show release in 2026.

That's why Democratic State Representative Tina Bojan else.

He says the task force should pump its brakes.

She questions the need to make changes or hold taxpayer funded meetings until that audit is released.

In a related story today, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled against the JCPS board the state's highest court said a Republican backed law that gives the superintendent more power and weekends.

The school board does not violate the state's constitution that 2022 law currently only applies to JCPS.

Kentucky's constitution prevents legislation that applies to a single entity writing for the majority of the 4 to 3 ruling Justicia a nickel said the fact that JCPS is the only entity bound by the legislation doesn't prevent other districts from being included in the future.

Dissenting justices warned the decision undermines constitutional protections allowing the legislature to pass laws targeting specific entities by creating a broad classes.

Senate President Robert Stivers defended the law in sizing the need for greater oversight of JCPS.

Quote, This ruling is a shot across the bout at Kentucky's largest school district, one which continues to fail its students, particularly low-income and minority students.

A new floor manager and the state Capitals upper chamber as readying for the role Max Wise was Senate majority floor later replacing retiring Senator Damon Thayer who help them position for 12 years.

The Campbellsville Republican has chaired the education and economic development committees in the state Senate during his nearly 10 year tenure Wise talked with Renee Shaw yesterday about his new leadership position and running against Louisville Republican Julie Rocky Adams, the former Senate GOP caucus chair for the big post.

Renee Centerview kicks off in early installment of our inside Kentucky Politics segment.

♪ >> Later, Max Wise, good to see you.

You to a night that sound to you.

You know what it may sink in.

Once we get into the session and on the Senate floor.

But I will say jokingly, my wife said, don't let this go to your head.

>> Just because there may be a title before your name.

Your show back.

And also that you that I don't think in terms of where I am as a legislator from my first day here to where I am today, I'm still the same person and I will continue to be the same person regardless of a title that may become before mining.

Now.

>> 10 years in the state Senate will be time flies, right?

Right here.

Floss lesser hair.

And I can imagine with this new role of what my physique, everything's going to look like going forward to so well, the kind of held it together.

we did a wonderful job.

Why did you take away from watching him in this role that you will either adapt to your style or or not adapt to your style?

Well, I will say, you know, Damon was the one that did a lot of things that maybe many of us were like.

Thank goodness Damon did that.

I mean that in a positive way.

>> You know, Damon took a lot of arrows.

He was out there in the forefront of a lot of controversial issues.

But that's who Damon was at the end of the day.

Damon also guided us through the Commonwealth of some great policy and things that were really benefiting off of today with economics at some other things.

You know, I will also say that and to some some things in terms of fundraising and he got out their terms of the caucus will say that's probably a lot of things that is a caucus member.

You know, it's not the number one thing we want to do is fund raising.

But I think Damon also guided us in a really good direction of making sure that he was on top of things.

He was organized.

And for me, the parliamentary procedures and there was no one better.

The one Dana did on the floor.

So for its going to be a learning curve for me and a lot of that.

But I'm really looking for this opportunity.

I'm humbled.

I'm excited to the same time.

>> Have you always thought this would be a position that you would want and seek after?

>> You know, I've been encouraged over my 9 yr soon-to-be TN come January about colleagues.

My caucus saying your thought about leadership.

But I did want to challenge a sitting member always want to kind of play the long game, but I wanted to see if a position opened up.

What would that position look like and what it relate to?

Maybe my skill set.

I think communication.

I think integrity.

I think also a sense of being genuine.

I think a lot of those things are what kind of pride myself on.

And I looked at this for later position.

I thought, you know what?

It's an opportunity.

I can't pass up anyone.

My wife and my kids said Dad, do this, go for it.

I don't have regret.

And I will also say this weren't running with Kelly Craft and touring statewide of doing that.

I'm not afraid to lose.

I think a lot of times in our careers, many people are hesitant to put the step forward because they worry about, well, what if I don't get this?

What if I lose you learn more from losses than you do from winds.

And I'm very, very excited step in the position.

>> Yes, speaking of that, what did you learn from that experience that you think you can parlay into this leadership role listening?

>> I try to do that in my job as a legislator.

But when I was, you know, on the campaign trail with investor craft, it was just meeting people in different counties across the commonwealth.

The man.

What a great state we live in.

And I will say the same time everybody has a lot of the same needs.

You know, they're worried about the economy.

Inflation calls.

You know, they're worried about also jobs, attraction, jobs, drug epidemic.

There's a lot of things in government.

We can solve some problems.

Other things, McCain but are really found out that at the end of the day, we're all Kentucky INS.

We all want what's best for the next generation coming in.

And for me, it was just really listening and I value that morning.

Anything.

>> For the first time in my memory, leadership in the Senate will not have a member of Jefferson, Fayette or northern Kentucky.

Lawmakers are will be running the show.

What do you think the advantage of that is for Kentucky?

>> Well, I think a lot of times for years there's maybe been and this is just politically looking at things, maybe a little bit of a chip on the shoulder of some thinking.

Everything just always goes to the Golden Triangle.

But if you look at some of the areas of the state now that are really progressing and economic growth in population, Warren County, where I represent the eastern portion down there.

You've got 3 state senators represent Warren County, but all 3 are in leadership.

And I don't know if that was just the happened of after redistricting that we recently did that.

That's just kind of how it played out.

But I do think that the rule of members out there and the rural constituency base out there, they're glad to see that there's a voice for rural Kentucky.

And at the same time, I think we also are listening to the business community.

You know, Mayor Greenberg reached out to me, you know, from Jefferson County talking to me about the needs of Jefferson County.

I met with Linda Gordon, mayor of Lexington.

So, you know, just because I'm a represented district of 5 counties step in leadership.

Now it's 120 that I really got to look at.

All right.

>> It's also the first time in many years that their sense the GOP has taken control of the state Senate.

But there's also no female and the top brass of leadership.

Your thoughts on that?

>> Yeah.

You know where to get Julie?

I would rather ran a 3 to 5%.

Primary state want to run against a member of my own caucus center items and I came in same class together.

We had the conversation of hate.

It's an opportunity.

It's an open seat.

And we both, you know, working campaign you for that.

But I also think in terms of of of that, the dynamics of that with leadership.

We still have caucus members that represents, you know, various demographics.

And I don't think it's going less than anything that we do just because we have the caucus leadership made up of what it looks like him.

>> And on Friday since I Kentucky Politics segment, Renee talked to Senator Wise about some front burner issues for state lawmakers when they convene in Frankfort next month, including and Tie Dei legislation.

Many Republican lawmakers point to the economy and inflation as prime reasons for GOP victories in November's election.

The vice chair of the Senate Budget Committee and Frankfort says Cushioning the wallets of Kentuckians is top of mind for a public and legislative leadership.

And one way to get there is another slash in the state income tax, 2, 3, and a half percent that improving the state's workforce participation rate will be top priorities.

We continue our look inside Kentucky politics as Renee Shaw talks again with state end Amaze Bledsoe.

A Lexington Republican news says getting more Kentuckians on the job can start with looking at certifications.

♪ >> One of the things they can do is remove some of the barriers for certifications.

When you're coming from a different part of the different state you come in, you already got a certification.

You need to go through ours to do that or can you get to work immediately if you're here legally as an as an immigrant and you have already gone through perhaps dental school or medical school abroad and have those certifications may be practiced in Indiana for a while.

Before you come here, do you really have to go through that process again?

So reciprocity and some a little bit of that, a little bit of kind of acknowledgement of what training is already happened to be in different places of of our country or been around the world, getting them to work more quickly.

So I think barrier reduction you about re-entry from those leaving incarceration.

How do we help them get more quickly into the workforce?

Those are issues that we've been talking about and not only in the work force a task force, but in the commission race next opportunity as well.

Right?

I which I know is probably your favorite and you are on the national stage.

>> When it comes to this issue, artificial intelligence.

What have you learned that you think should kind of present some guardrails about where to start the conversation?

Maybe perhaps legislation isn't passed in a short but Stuart Session.

But going forward, what do you think the starting point is in Kentucky?

You know, it has been such an honor and privilege to work on.

AI is not a topic that if you asked me even have to do what I've really understood and I still don't, you know, as someone said, we're all emergent experts in this field.

>> So the first thing I think we need to do is be cautious and BNP practive.

So I think you'll see of a limited scope of legislation come out of the spring, which would include probably a framework for how we as a state government think about who should be using AI, who should be making decisions about when it's appropriate, where it's not and putting together some different definitions of what what we we talk I would be really saying they can have a wide variety of influences and opportunities and tools and it is just a tool and so that was gonna change as we move forward.

This is more about you.

Kinda, the philosophical approach to how we think I think about elections, election security deepfake is an important piece of that.

Also and what your name image likeness.

How do I know that my myself, not just that.

The movie star, the singer has a right to their own their own image body like this.

And that's all new new kind of territory for us.

So we've been working very closely with attorney general.

And so let me we've got full about it.

You know, a lot of this needs to be done.

The federal level, especially the private sector, you can possibly have each day.

Look I as as all it is in debt.

in.

So I'll be looking to the federal government, hopefully to see them do some legislation soon.

>> Senator Mazie Bledsoe also expects state lawmakers to discuss ways to improve low performing schools and public assistance benefits.

♪ >> If Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky says federal power is supposed to be divided equally between Congress, the president and the courts.

But >> he says in the last 100 years, too much power has shifted to the president and he says that's dangerous.

Yesterday Paul cited an article written by Senator Frank Church of Idaho almost 50 years ago.

>> He rode hundreds of statutes closed.

The president with virtually unchecked powers with which you can affect the lives of American citizens and a host of all encompassing ways.

This vast range of powers taken together, confers an authority on the president to rule the country without reference to normal constitutional processes under the authority delegated by the statutes.

The president may seize property.

Organizing control, the means of production sees commodities martial law.

She's in control, all transportation and communications regulate the operation of for prizes, restrict travel and in a plethora of particular ways control the lives of all American citizens.

These words were written by Senator Frank Church in a 1977 law review article.

But they're still true to this day and even more worrisome.

>> Senator Paul went on to call the United States of, quote, monarchy and the skies.

♪ >> A 3 and a half acres in size.

Rabbit hash is one of the smallest towns in Kentucky.

The quaint northern Kentucky enclave is also known for its unique politics as members of the community have high expectations for their elected officials for almost 3 decades now, Rabbit hash as had dogs for mayors.

>> We're at Home Depot and he's got this fast.

is says mayor been on it and this little kid saw his vest and the kid was like mom, look, Mayor Boone, he's a mayor in the mom.

Didn't know who he was.

So she was like son.

That's probably just dogs aren't Mares.

I mean, you know, we just kinda overheard that the background, me, my wife or just getting going, actually he's a mayor there have been.

>> 6 dog hairs in 1998.

The communities in Boone County.

We're looking to celebrate the bicentennial of the county.

And so they were all asked to come up with an effort.

And so some folks around here decided it would be good to have an official.

Election for mayor became very clear that no person around here was was fit for the job.

So people started running their dogs instead.

And once that happened, then.

There was no turning back.

Only a dog could do this time.

>> We started off with a Facebook page for Ben.

And this Facebook pages.

Boone, the Blue tick 2.

How for Mayor Rahm and hash we have updated it to mayor of Ramat has since he has won the election.

Hala beer noon and vote for bear.

But then we change that.

They have a drink at noon.

In the bay and include the kids too.

So they can come down and have an LA and vote for Ben.

>> The ballot, all you need is a It could be a dollar bill.

We do accept check PayPal and Venmo.

But you can vote as many times as you want for whoever you want.

It's just one dollar a vote.

And so then all the money raised just goes to the help.

>> Preserve the the town.

>> And he's a great mayor.

Even before he was elected, he he did quite a quite a bit of work around here.

So the company I work for Structures, Inc.

Donated equipment.

We other companies donate hauling of the equipment.

>> Hauling a month rock was brought in.

So me and my son came down and work the week on our lunch hour and in the evenings to do the erosion protection.

And the town gave us the value of that erosion protection towards votes.

So that's what really put us over the top.

He's the one that really he >> was, but still want to really hold.

It's clear that river bank.

So the fact that you can see the river now and then maybe that tree isn't going to erode and fall into the river.

That's because Boone and and the work of of his own winner.

He is mayor for the next 4 years.

>> And he is going to continue fundraising for Rahm and hash.

Then is also decided to dedicate these 4 years raise money for other funds to he was on the National News and you know, people think coming, there's a lady from California here to visit them and she came down to see heard just wanted to say hi, one day.

So it's been a really neat.

He has had a lot of fun and everybody Eyes Bay again.

He's got the bark that everybody knows when he comes into town.

>> Mayor been no rabbit hash is also home to one of the oldest general stores in the state and is recognized on the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places.

Yesterday we were one week away from Christmas and Santa made a special visit to U of L hospital and he wasn't alone Missus, Claus and the Grinch were also there to visit babies in NICU before the big day next week.

Some of these babies will spend their first Christmas in NICU.

Each family received a keepsake photo of their baby and holiday themed attire.

Nurses bought outfits and crocheted some of their clothes.

So sweet.

And there's another doc there.

Merry Christmas.

Love seeing that.

We hope that you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition where we inform connect and and spy.

Or you can send your story ideas to public affairs at K E T Dot Org.

>> Thanks for joining us.

Have a good night.