♪ >> Provides the opportunity for future economic investments and growth.

>> The governor tells Eastern Kentucky about rebuilding plans after the deadly July floods.

>> I'm not for medical marijuana.

Everybody knows that.

>> The pros and cons of medical marijuana.

What Kentucky lawmakers should do about it.

>> The key is so much more than bourbon drinkers, UK basketball fans and horse racing.

>> And the effort to help Kentucky's other businesses.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky.

Addition for Tuesday, December 20th, I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

Cold.

Dangerous weather is headed to Kentucky from Thursday through Sunday.

Snow is possible and lows will be around 0 with wind chills expected to be around 20 degrees below 0.

Governor Beshear today urged people to plan ahead to stay warm and to stay safe.

>> We'll be working with counties to set up warming center.

So everybody has a place to go if they need it and folks be careful.

Remember, generator shouldn't be inside the house.

Don't bring of grill inside thinking that that can be a reliable source of heat.

We're seeing far too many fires out there.

Sadly, often times we lose more people do to coping with the weather and trying to stay warm.

Then we do through the weather event itself.

>> Flooding was also on the governor's mind today as he traveled to not county to announce investments in communities impacted by the disaster, the state has secured 75 acres of land near Tal come.

That will be used to rebuild homes and businesses.

And the governor says could spur additional investment in the community.

There is room to expand the development to almost 300 acres.

Sean and Tammy Adams are working with the state to provide the land.

The governor described what the initial development plans included.

>> This vision includes a lot.

It starts with the new homes.

That's a community center.

What a better place to consider building a school and how do we build it with upgraded infrastructure that doesn't just help new neighborhoods but helps to communities where especially water systems have been to taxed for far too >> Finally provides the opportunity for future economic investments and growth.

Not just in one community, but in multiple areas that were hit by the flooding.

>> Beshear says this is the first announcement of several investments in eastern Kentucky.

The governor also announced $600,000 from the team eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund will go toward building a new homes.

Another $200,000 from the fund will go toward matching funds for grants that would provide repairs to about 80 flood damaged homes.

There is one less candidate running for governor in Kentucky.

State Representative Savannah Maddox says she's dropping out of the race.

In a statement, Maddox says, quote, It is clear that we will not have the resources we need to be successful in this campaign.

The Republican lawmaker from Dry Ridge is the so-called liberty Conservative has been critical of Governor Beshear's COVID emergency orders.

Her departure from the governor's race means there are now 11 Republicans running in the May primary.

Another candidate in the race for secretary of state in 2023, Democrat Buddy Wheatley just announce his plans to run next year.

He's the outgoing state representative from the 65th House district in can county.

He was narrowly defeated in November.

Republican Michael Adams is running for reelection.

State.

Senator Kamber says her son took his own life last week.

Henry, who is 24 was transgender in a statement, Senator Karen Berg said Henry struggled with mental illness, quote, not because he was trans but born for his difficulty.

Finding acceptance.

She went on to say, quote, the vitriol against trans people is not happening in a vacuum.

It's not just a way of scoring political points by exacerbating the culture wars.

It is real world implications for how transgender people few their place in the world and how they're treated as they just try to live their lives.

Senator Byrd, a Democrat from Louisville, was a vocal opponent of a bill banning trans athletes from girls.

Sports in Kentucky.

The Republican led General Assembly pass the bill earlier this year after overriding a veto from Governor Beshear.

If you or someone you know, is considering suicide, the National Suicide Prevention hotline is 9, 8, 8, The 2023, Kentucky General Assembly convenes 2 weeks from today.

January 3rd, we discussed the agenda last night on Kentucky tonight.

What can we expect related to medical marijuana bills legalizing medical marijuana have passed the house in the past only to fail in the Senate.

There's been talk of introducing the bill in the Senate.

First, our guests talked about that and about medical marijuana in general.

>> I'm not for medical marijuana.

Everybody knows that.

I'm not going to change my mind.

I asked for people to respect my opinion on that.

It's for a deeply held personal reasons.

And I believe there is also science that backs up my opinion.

I respect those or for medical marijuana because they believe it will help people.

I respect them.

I won't stand in the way if we have the votes to pass it.

I don't know that we will.

I know Senator Steve West is coming with a bill.

Saying the Senate needs to start.

The bill is the best strategy.

Frankly, I I don't think that's the right strategy because I don't think anybody and our caucus feel strongly enough about it to to also let through.

So I still think that represented name a starter on his bill and try to pass it and put the pressure on us and see what happens.

But, you know, that's all going to play itself out.

>> What do you know about Senator Stephen West bill, anything at this particular point?

No, I just know that he's going to file And my guess is it will probably be some what like.

>> Representative me misses But, you know, there there are other strong opponents to medical marijuana in my caucus and my my leadership group and they have something to say about this stuff.

>> I disagree with Senator.

They are on this measure.

I am a strong supporter of medical marijuana.

36 states have passed that the District of Columbia have passed.

It was passed in those states.

They've never come back and said we made a bad decision.

They gone for with that.

It's good to help some areas might glaucoma health areas like diabetes is starting up with cancer.

Patient says that's proven.

That's part of science.

But having said I what I want this to be a lesson for viewers about government Senate.

They are certainly right.

Have his opinion if he votes no on this know that he's right.

And then of course, you have to answer to is to himself.

It was guided to his vote and so I honor that.

I will say this.

We know the House is going to pass.

It does pass the House twice already.

I I do think it must start in the Senate.

Let's put the Senate has put the spotlight on the Senate.

It's a love this time.

You guys have to decide with you want to not because it passes.

The Senate will pass the House will become law.

>> See more from last night's Kentucky tonight.

Okay.

You T DOT Org Slash K why tonight?

There's disagreement among Kentucky's 2 U.S. senators about the bipartisan government funding plan now being considered on Capitol Hill.

Senator Mitch McConnell today praised the bill for spending far less than what the Biden administration wanted.

>> This bill will significantly roll the baseline for defense.

And significantly cut the we're not to mention non after inflation.

Big real dollar increase in the defense real dollar cut for the nondefense, not veterans, but it's fun.

This is an impressive outcome.

Whether a vote in the ocean region.

And more importantly.

That is the outcome.

There are country actually needs.

The helping Ukraine and our other friends.

The bout innovating and I competed.

Russia and and if you are brave men and women in uniform equipment, the best training tools and technologies the world has ever seen.

You.

The administration's original version time for the federal budget.

Starving defense.

Well, show one cause of the MS minus the Masters been done.

Was so I don't want to come.

The Democrats in Congress and actually join us in rejecting >> But Senator Rand Paul is blasting the bill for its 1.7 trillion dollar price tag.

He says adding to the deficit will hurt the economy.

>> And now we have it at one 30 in the morning this morning.

But what's the clamor clambers devote vote now?

Let's get it done.

Why are you standing in the way of spending will?

The real question is this?

What is more dangerous?

What is more dangerous to the country?

1.1 trillion dollars in new debt or is Republican leadership like to say who put it to win it to be when we're getting 45 billion dollars for the military.

So which is more important?

Which threatens the country We are risk for being invaded by a foreign power.

If we don't put 45 billion into the military, are we more at risk by adding to a 31 trillion dollars and I think the greatest risk to our national security is our debt.

The process stinks.

It's an abomination.

It's a no-good runway to run your government.

>> The deadline to pass the spending plan is midnight Friday.

If the bill is not passed, the government will face a shutdown.

It may be considered the most wonderful time of the year.

But for many, the holidays are anything but joyful.

According to mental health experts about 33% of people experiencing moderate to extreme levels of stress during the holiday season.

One expert we spoke to says it's important to manage expectations and practice self care when the holidays come around.

>> Even though we all are familiar with holiday music and Hallmark movies and all the feel that I just tell my people I work with that.

There's like a dark side of the holidays that a lot of people whether it's just just increased stress or whether you're dealing with something worse.

Like clinical anxiety or depression or a loss.

If you have pre-existing depression, like mood, issues or anxiety, those can be exacerbated around the holidays post because of the temperature and the weather.

But also there's a lot of kind of more garden variety stressors that probably everyone is experiencing to some extents in some way, shape or form.

That includes financial around, you know, gift giving around the holidays are just not going to have enough time to do all the things.

So much of a mention stressors of visiting family, even though it can be a source of support to have time with loved ones that can obviously also be if you don't hang out with them often or if you maybe have different views on certain hot topics.

If people have experienced a loss recently, the holidays can be triggering in terms of memories of the loved one.

And it can be hard to kind of find a workaround deal with that.

today said you can try to KET some sort of routine even if it's just as simple as getting enough sleep and maybe adding an extra veggies or fruit or 2 Like whatever fun holiday said, you have track may be trying to get out and about when the weather permits to to get some sunlight to get some exercise.

Those can all be really positive things.

In spending time with family and friends is really helpful.

But, you know, planning it.

So it's not going to be overly stressful for you can be helpful.

Basically think about what is going to be best for you and for your mood and try to make sure that you do, in fact, incorporate that in it can be easy to like let yourself get lost in the shuffle holidays.

But like I said, trying to do a little bit to take care of yourself is going to fade evidence for the rest of the family.

>> Martell says you should also resist the urge to compare yourself to others when it comes to gift giving.

She says the best way to do that is to think about other less materialistic ways to give like volunteering at a charity.

The Catholic Action Center here in Lexington has a central mission meeting.

People's basic needs with dignity.

And it's been doing it for more than 20 years.

This week.

The center is hosting its 27th annual Faith and Community Christmas store where parents can pick out toys for their children, free of charge.

After 2 years of doing a drive-thru store founder, Ginny Ramsey says it's exciting to be back in person.

>> There are families that have been doing this with us for 27 years.

I had one family has said this is such a part of their tradition.

It is killed in the last 2 years that we couldn't do it in person.

So we're back.

But now we're so excited to return to in person because that's the connection of people.

This is put on by the entire community.

There.

People who donate to people who come and donate their time to set up to actually use wonderful shop.

Personal shoppers were serving people that.

Never thought they would have to come and ask for pre love gently used toys and gifts.

This isn't I mean, we try to turn it into the mall.

This isn't a law, but it is a store full of a lot of a store full of gifts, a store they can help make people's Christmas, who otherwise.

We had nothing for the children Christmas morning.

Everyone knows the economy is high and the dollar does not last as long as the month.

>> And so the Catholic Action Center in some other angles in the city of Lexington has gotten together.

And we have donated kills from all types of stories.

And so they have made available for families to come in and shop.

People get a ticket.

There's a time on a date.

They come back and they get to shop for for children if they had 4 children, they get 2 items.

Each.

They pick it out there, shopping with dignity and they're deciding this is what my childhood like.

These aren't just people who can't afford Christmas.

Most of these people are working.

It's just that their electric gas.

Iran doesn't a cool out.

Christmas is important to the community.

That's the one time most people feel left out.

People live in poverty 365 days.

A year.

But if you as a parent, all parents understand this is nothing worse when feel like you're failing your children at Christmas because you want to be able to have gifts for him.

This is tough times.

It's Christmas.

People are sick.

But they stopped and >> cause to share the love.

>> It's a great way to share the love.

Tomorrow is the last day to visit the faith and Community Christmas store.

Tickets are still available.

♪ >> We continue to gather stories from Western Kentucky one year after devastating tornadoes took life and property.

Emotions were especially strong for one may feel family who planned a funeral and the wedding the same weekend as the natural disaster.

>> So that we can been hard for us already because my dad passed away the Tuesday before.

And so we were taking care of funeral plans and we were all so my my daughter was getting married.

That was.

>> Friday was the rehearsal dinner.

So we were rehearsing on December 10th him.

We were at the rehearsal dinner when we you know, our phones started going off.

We hurried home and you know, we got in the hallway with the mattresses and everything.

So we were obviously very worried and scared and things like that.

>> We went through the night and, >> you know, just total devastation.

Just total devastation.

And so we get up the next day.

And it's it's my daughter's wedding day.

We have to decide.

You know, we're checking on.

People were checking on people and we have to decide, you know, about this wedding.

It's been planned for an entire year with my daughter and my son in law.

They were able to have a a small wedding in our church.

Lots of people still came.

You know, if they weren't, you know, busy helping and things like that.

So we went ahead and had the wedding.

We had generators in just a few light.

And it was a really, really special time.

A very memorable, of course, a unique wedding.

The whole time.

We're still worried about people we haven't heard from students.

We haven't heard from things like that.

And so we're trying to check and take care of that all at the same time.

And so we get through that day and then Sunday is the funeral day for my dad.

And so where we're trying to get through all of this, you know, just all together.

It's just things are just so can dance.

We have tornadoes and we have winning.

Then we have funeral.

And so it was a very, very unusual time.

I know for everyone.

But our family was hit a few different ways.

So thankful so grateful we didn't lose anybody personally.

So my heart still goes out to all the families who lost loved ones.

>> Jamie Felt says while they were able to hold the ceremony, they did cancel the reception.

The wedding took place at Northside Baptist Church in Mayfield, which also served as a distribution center for supplies.

♪ >> It's the busiest time of the year, especially for the folks at UPS World Port in Louisville.

It is the global headquarters for UPS Air shipping Kentucky conditions.

Kelsey starts takes us inside the holiday rush.

>> Well, if you are shipping a package this time of year and let's face it, we all are hurt.

Chances are it's coming through.

Louisville EPS World Port located right here in Louisville is a very busy this time of year.

Jim Mayer is here to tell us a little bit more about it.

I'm surprise you can take time out to talk with us because I know it is a busy season.

A lot of people don't realize UPS.

World is right here in Louisville.

And all those packages are coming through here.

>> So world port is UPS is largest air hub in the world.

It's 5.2 million square feet 155 miles of conveyor belts.

This is the headquarters of our airline lot of people, Kentucky don't know.

There's a global airline headquartered Kentucky here in Louisville.

So, this is our biggest facility and this is our busiest time of the.

>> When you all Are IX let's talk about these major expansion projects happening.

>> So there's a number of things going if you here in Louisville driven down the Waterson expressway, the airport, you've certainly seen our new aircraft hangar being built.

That's the second one.

We need space to work on our 7.40, sevens.

In addition to that, we've broken ground for expansion to our training facility for our pilots were going store more flight simulators and then just a couple of weeks ago, we incentives for 2 new health care facilities will be located somewhere here in the Louisville area.

We've got a large health care that's located here because of one port.

People want to be able to its customers want to be able to put packages on airplanes very quickly.

And so they built facilities nearby and we're building or will be leasing 2 new facilities of healthcare purposes.

why?

Why?

Local?

A lot of people ask.

>> This is a great place geographically.

We're within 2 hours.

Flight time.

75 1% of the population of the country.

The source, you know, tends towards the eastern half and then within 4 hours, flight time of 95% of the country.

And so we're really integrate geographic area because every night we've got 135 jets are more coming in.

Unloading sorting packages and going back out.

We've got to get the airplanes in and get him back out so that they can make those deliveries by as early as next 8.30, this morning.

>> How those are some busy elves And I want to say that, you know, Santa's elves do wear brown.

>> Yeah, there you go.

Well, with all of this, of course, comes a lot of jobs.

And one thing I love about UPS is that you will always say UPS creates careers, not jobs.

Explain that.

>> So here in Kentucky we have about 32,000 UPS employees.

25,000 in Louisville, we're the largest employer in the city and we do create careers.

People come.

They take a seasonal job, decide they like it and stay.

And so about a 3rd of all of our employees, United States started out in a seasonal position.

>> The paint, let's talk about the pay for these drivers.

I was blown away.

>> we offer industry-leading pay and our delivery drivers out of the brown trucks average $95,000 per year with another $50,000 in benefits, a tractor trailer drivers average $112,000 a year pay plus You know, these are great jobs.

This is a great career for a great company.

>> It's a no wonder they stick around.

a lot of these also start in college.

I know you guys have a lot work programs beginning with college students here in lot of people take advantage of that.

>> So even start with high school students.

Okay.

Program called school to work.

They go to school in the morning.

Come to work for UPS in the afternoon and then take a college class.

And so by the time they graduate from high school, they have a college credit and money in the bank.

And then what we hope is that they transfer into our Metro College Program, which is a partnership with both the city and the Commonwealth Students go to University of Louisville or J C T C they work for us at night and in exchange, we pay their regular salary.

We pay 100% of their tuition.

65 $1.

A class and books and up to $15,000 in benefits over the course of an undergraduate degree.

>> UPS is Louisville's largest employer in playing 25,000.

Plus people.

this time of year is the busiest season of all.

>> Sounds like they can help give during the holiday season.

The holiday rush continues after Christmas between returns and spending those gift cards after the holidays.

UPS says its busy season will last through January.

10th.

♪ >> Awesome.

Inc started back in 2009 is a way to help Kentucky entrepreneurs build sustainable business in the Commonwealth.

>> From their fellowship program to their business pitch competitions.

This organization is showing others all the Kentucky has to offer.

>> We are a local been resource center for Kentucky's entrepreneurs and startups.

>> We have an income of 1000 software company coming back.

Software.

Then we have a coding school cost McHugh.

We teach.

Can those 2 adults how to code in the various capacity?

We have a 15,000 foot co-working space in downtown Lexington.

All the office means you need and then we have a the hybrid Accelerator incubator program to help rapidly scale Kentucky's upcoming in growing numbers.

Well, she was a program that is a non equity based come are not equity.

That taking program.

>> Here in Kentucky that helps scale Kentucky based artist we've had in 70 comes up gone through.

We've created 650 Kentucky jobs that did not exist prior to 2014 to no 650 people are now being employed through folks in our state.

Keeping good talent.

The Commonwealth.

That's awesome.

Just know those.

Those are real people that they're having their life impacted.

And that's the real reason he says is too to help entrepreneurs.

And so the earlier stages have more success than our founders had.

Success is never a, you know, one time he struck gold.

You know, I think it's years in the making.

>> A FOX 2 news, the 5 to 11.

>> So many people just want our state to flourish and rise.

There's so much potential here.

A lot of people think of Kentucky.

I I got to get out.

Gosh, I got to again not putting the city's down, but they're forgetting what what is so good here that we have in Kentucky is so much more than bourbon drinkers, UK basketball fans and horse racing.

And rising that one of the next Bassett companies is going to be from Kentucky.

And so for us to make.

We exist, help people pursue their definition of awesome.

It is kind of hokey, but it's also very true.

If you know, you want to build your own e-commerce business if you want to build your mobile app, whatever it may be, we want to be the team that helps that either from a resource perspective, we have those people are not rethinking assist you or we actually could have done the thing itself to help you grow.

But really the harpy behind that how do we make Kentucky the best place to live and the best place to work.

And we see that come so far.

And in about 10 years.

So we're excited to see the next 10.

>> You can say it's awesome.

They're helping Kentucky businesses flourish the next pitch Fest is in February were 5 individuals will get their chance to show the judges and potential investors their business.

Our Wednesday political check in with Rylan Barton of Kentucky.

Public Radio and Ohio Valley Resource and meet a turned a globe.

Trump glow popper.

>> It's always been my belief that you learn more in one month about that.

You do an entire year of university.

>> Meet the man who turned a dream of international travel into a business benefiting Kentucky students.

That's Wednesday on Kentucky Edition.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central time for Kentucky.

Addition for we inform connect and in spots subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips KET Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

Follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thank you for joining us tonight for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

Have a good night and we hope to see you tomorrow night.

♪ ♪