♪ >> That's going to be really dangerous.

This is really, really cold.

>> The state is taking action and urging you to do the same as cold weather moves toward Kentucky.

>> So definitely looks like travel is back.

>> Despite the weather, Kentucky INS will be hitting the road in big numbers.

Though.

Part of that goes back to that, you know, wanting to we'll be back in a few.

The world.

A Kentucky man is traveling the globe and helping others do the same.

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

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky.

Addition for Wednesday, December 21st, I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

Governor Andy Beshear today declared a state of emergency.

>> As snow and dangerously cold weather head toward Kentucky and he's closing state office buildings tomorrow with 2 temperatures will plunge Thursday into Friday.

The governor urges everyone to be prepared.

It's going to be really dangerous.

>> This is really, really cold.

You need to stay inside and hunker Hopefully with your family for the Christmas holiday from Thursday.

Definitely Saturday going in to Christmas Day after tornadoes and floods.

Pandemics.

Multiple ice storms just these last 3 years.

I want to lose one person.

To Arctic front that is coming through as opposed to some of those instances.

We time and you have time time to prepare time to know that you need to be weather aware.

Time to put together that vehicle can time to ensure that you have a plan for what happens if your power goes out and we have time to position assets across the state to be ready to respond.

We've been through too many natural disasters.

We've been through too much.

We have lost far too many So everybody, let's be prepared for this.

Must make sure every single individual gets through it.

>> People are urged to stay home.

But if you have to drive have an emergency vehicle kit, including blankets, a phone charger, flashlight, water, food and a first aid kit.

Transportation Secretary Jim Gray says the snow and wind will be a dangerous combination.

>> Don't get complacent.

When you hear that the expected might be fairly light.

And why is that?

The combination of light, powdery snow and wind gusts of up to 40 to 50 miles an hour can quickly create whiteout conditions on the highway.

In many of your can tell you that I am.

You can be driving alone and suddenly all traces of the roadway just disappear.

So that means being alert at all times.

Buckle up, as we say in transportation.

Buckle up and phoned.

I am reduce your speed.

Give yourself plenty of time to reach that destination.

If you have to go and remember that bridges and overpasses will freeze before roadways.

>> The governor says every county will have a warming center.

He urges people to find out where your center is located.

In case you lose power wintry weather conditions could impact travel this holiday season.

But Triple A says you should still expect to have a lot of company as you make your way to your destination.

>> This holiday season is going to be busy.

We're expecting about 113 million travelers nationwide here in Kentucky.

We're looking at about 1.5 million.

And that comes out to just about one out of every 3 Kentucky ends will be traveling 50 miles or more from home this holiday season.

We're getting real close to those 2019 levels, is, you know, I'll time high.

We're probably going to be about the maybe the highest travel season since we I'm tracking.

So definitely looks like travel is back we saw indications of that, you know, over the summer, even with high gas prices and then Thanksgiving was a very travel, a busy period.

And so I think that we're going to see that as well during these here and holidays.

Pack your patience.

There's going to be a lot of folks out there.

And so be sure that you give yourself plenty of time if at all possible leave early in the day because Friday is going to be probably the busiest travel day.

If you do need to leave Friday, do so early in the day.

Don't wait till the afternoon.

No matter what day you travel, whether it's going to your holiday destination or on the return trip, try to avoid that late afternoon time period so that you can avoid the normal commute time and instead leave in the morning if at all possible.

>> Triple A predicts there will be a 14% increase in air travel over last year with more than 7 million Americans expected to fly.

Some of those travelers could be impacted by winter storm that's expected to arrive in time for the holidays.

Travel experts are advising people to check the status of their flight before going to the airport.

President Biden signed the Carol Act yesterday.

Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky introduced the bill after the death of his wife Carol, to increase funding for research and develop the allure heart disease.

Carol Barr died from that disease in 2020, even though just 2 tenths of one percent of people with the condition, DOC, from it.

U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

He's defending America's continuing financial support for Ukraine as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spends time in Washington, D.C., for a meeting with President Biden and a speech to Congress.

Senator McConnell says backing Ukraine is the right thing to do from both a moral point of view and a practical one.

>> The reason that a big bipartisan majority of the American people and a big bipartisan majorities in Congress support continued to sift through crime.

There's not primarily about speeches.

Orders are to engage.

And for the last 2.

The rain and people too.

Her courageous to President Zelensky is an inspiring but the most basic reasons for continuing of Ukraine, the and defeat the Russian invaders, our cold and hard proctor goal, American intrusion.

Governor Ridge Park rounds in Asia and Europe to win this war is also a direct investment.

The reduced son Bhutan's future American.

court intrusion.

>> United States plans to send a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine as part of an aid package.

The totals almost 2 billion dollars.

Walmart will pay Kentucky.

53 million dollars as part of an agreement over the company's role in Kentucky's opioid addiction.

Problem.

Kentucky accuse Wal-Mart of contributing to the opioid problem by failing to create effective policies and controls to dispense opioids at its stores.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron and attorneys general from 17 other states are part of this effort.

Kentucky had more than 2200 overdose deaths in 2021. with 90% of those related to opioids.

One of Kentucky's largest energy providers is taking steps to use less coal and more renewable energy LG.

E and KU Energy submitted a plan to retire for coal-fired units and to build to natural gas facilities.

Expand its solar power sources, the new facilities would supply over 1600 megawatts of power.

The coal-fired units currently supply about 1500 megawatts, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Regulatory Commission, one megawatt is enough power to supply over 400 homes.

We spoke with the toss a Collins from LG and E about the changes.

And as Tucker Davis from the Kentucky Coal Association, what it means for coal and Kentucky.

>> So what we file with the commission is really 2 fold.

The first part of that is that we are retiring.

A 3rd of our older generation by 2028.

The second part is that we will continue to make customers energy demands now and into the future with new generation to include natural gas combined cycle units.

The addition of a significant amount of solar also battery storage and a robust portfolio of energy efficiency offerings that is among the largest in Kentucky.

What this is is the a proposal that is the lowest cost option for being able to move forward in supporting our customers.

Energy demands with units that were retiring.

This is 1500 megawatts of older coal-fired generation that serve our customers safely.

And reliably has been in our system since the 1970's.

So for more than 50 years, it served our customers and it's done so well.

But we're at a point where in a similar to when you have a car and you continue to make repairs and you can either continue those repairs or you could buy new car.

That's where we're at with these units.

It's not cost efficient to continue to make upgrades in the base of the more stringent environmental regulations.

>> I think it's going to be a big blow not just the coal industry, but for families who rely on affordable and abundant electricity in the summer and winter all year round.

Any company, any industry that uses the cover utility, they're going they're going to pay the prize.

And look, we're not saying they're don't need to be.

Alternatives or there needs to be a transition at some point, we just want to slow this down.

So it makes Our power grid, our energy infrastructure can catch up to this rapid pace.

I think a lot of people this is a a a partisan issue.

This is just common sense that we need to slow down and look at this, especially when you look at the education of the grid EVs and electric vehicles, adding more strain on to the power grid that's already very vulnerable and aging infrastructure through transmission and things like that.

I think we need to slow down.

Take a pause and have more thoughtful approach.

You know, I think if you look at what's happened in the mid continent with myself to make on the grid operator.

What they've seen when they've shut down coal-fired power plants.

They've shut down 7 coal-fired power plants in the last 2 years and their electricity rates have have skyrocketed so I guess the question is, you know, depend on you.

What is the cost?

>> LG E and KU Energy currently has about one percent of its portfolio and renewable energies.

The company say with the completion of the proposed projects about 9% of its energy production would be renewable.

It's up to the Kentucky Public Service Commission to Greenlight the project if approved LG E and KU Energy say the first natural gas unit could be in use by 2027.

It's a first for Kentucky as a substance abuse center offers residential treatment for gambling disorders.

The Kentucky Council on problem Gambling says the bowl where mission in Owensboro is now offering outpatient and residential gambling treatment to men ages 18 to 75.

The council's executive director says the service is needed because of an increase in gambling addiction in Kentucky.

♪ >> It's time for midweek.

Political check in with Rylan Bart, managing editor of Kentucky Public Radio and the Ohio Valley Resource.

Ryan, thanks for taking a couple minutes being with us.

>> It's a KC.

Rylan will start with some big news from yesterday.

Governor Andy Beshear investments and some communities impacted by the flooding in eastern Kentucky.

What did those announcements involved?

>> Yeah, this is an interesting proposal, especially because so many who are impacted and trying to find solutions to the flooding in eastern Kentucky from last summer.

Somebody the problem surround a house and what the governor's proposed is basically taking a bit of land on high ground and turning it into kind of a mixed use, housing and of other things The the Olive branch community, it's in Knott County or it would be called the All in all of branch meeting would include an elementary school, green space and senior housing as well as just kind of more conventional housing for folks.

Yeah, this is again, interesting because legislators was a lot of pressure on them during that special session earlier this fall to find out some solution for folks who have been displaced after the floods and really kind of come out, come up with a concept going forward for what life is going to look like.

An eastern Kentucky has, you know, it's expected along with climate change and that's just going to be more and more flooding.

And so many of these communities are based in colors and small and River Valley.

Second flood very easily.

So the governor's proposed this of its kind of proposal and it would be funded with somebody from some leftover coronavirus relief money, some of that flood of money that was appropriated by the But I think the idea of this is that there will be more opportunities for the future as well.

>> Yeah, the governor did mention yesterday's press conference there be more announcements in the future, but the governor also had a number of judges, executives, another leaders get up and say they really appreciated what he's done in eastern Kentucky.

This has been true in western Kentucky, too.

So as we look forward to next year's election, what does it mean that the governor continues to make these trips and gifts?

People saying that he's doing a good job in these disaster relief efforts.

>> Yeah, I mean, politically speaking you having his name and face out there is going to be helpful towards reelection chances, friend of theirs.

You know, there's always larger political winds that work across the state.

It's just trend.

It's so much more Republican over the years over governors races are a little unusual in Kentucky because they happen in these off years when there's no other presidential or congressional elections taking place.

We've got I think that that we can expect that this is going to be something you know, a lot of folks in eastern Kentucky are going to see of the governor trying to come up with some solutions.

And it's interesting, too, that this happening ahead of the legislative session when lawmakers should be trying to come up with some of the solutions as well off or even possibly coming up with funding to back these kinds of proposals.

>> Rylan, you know, the trend this year has been people getting into the governor's race for next year.

Yesterday we had someone backtrack State Representative Savannah, Maddox backed out of her campaign for the governor's office.

Why did she do that?

>> She she said that it was all about fundraising you know, she just kind of looking at the reality of the situation there.

The other guests at the time, 6 major candidates that were just most of them were able to raise a lot more money than And and she just said that there wasn't as much of a lane for her to to win that big crowd primary come May.

You know, I think this you know, she's not exactly closing the door running for other offices, necessarily.

there's still a deadline.

The deadline for candidates to file for the statewide positions, January 6, but then also, you know, this is the first time that we have a governor's race where the governor doesn't have to pick up a running mate for the can't nominee doesn't have to pick a running running mate until after the primary election.

So, you know, she would be in that kind of act of Iowa, a leading candidate might pick, although I guess this exception there.

Kelly Knight Craft has already picked running mate Max Wise.

But so it will be interesting to see how this You know, Jane, for and if any other candidates get into the race.

>> Well, you mentioned the filing deadline is closed trial.

And do you foresee any other candidates getting in the race?

We know that one person whose names turn out their often as former governor Matt Bevin.

>> It could We haven't really heard.

I heard any rumblings about that a little bit.

But it's important to remember that actually other former governor filed for filed to run back in 2015.

It was about 30 minutes before the that year and, you know, ultimately end up winning that primary election by 83 votes.

So who knows if there's another shocking, all know that the out there.

So there's room.

I mean, there's there's still time for other to file, although I'm sure you know, they can't.

The Republican candidates are getting a little tired of, you know, how proud of this race is going has got them and it's going make for, you know, it kind of uncomfortable primary election where you have you go after each other a little bit and make the case for why they're the best candidate and their opponents are.

>> We'll move to the down ballot races.

State representative Buddy Wheatley announced his candidacy for secretary of state campaign and he lost his election to be a state representative.

Again, this November's election.

What people need to know about Representative Wheatley.

>> Representative Wheatley was one of you know, one of the more vocal Democrats in the in the small Caucus in the House.

He's a of a love, had the position right to fire fire.

Captain from coming to the Northern Yeah.

Finally to run for secretary of state against Republican incumbent Michael Adams.

You know, once again, any Democrat running for statewide officers, a lot of headwinds for represent we've he's trying to make the case that that he would be a good arbiter of the elections in Kentuckyian and yeah, we'll see how this race shapes up.

Ryan, thanks for taking a couple minutes.

Be with us.

This is Ryland Barton, managing editor for Kentucky Public Radio.

>> And the Ohio Valley Resource.

>> Thanks, Casey.

♪ >> This time of year is and joyful for everyone, especially those struggling with sickness, finances or both Kentucky additions.

Kelsey Starks sits down with the founder of a charity called Shirley's Way.

That is hoping to change that.

>> Well, sure, these way isn't about curing cancer.

It's about helping families with the financial burdens that come with the disease.

Mike Moore, Rooney is the founder of Shirley's Way.

You might recognize his jacket and his cancer s**** paraphernalia that you see all over the city.

But for those who may not know, Mike, tell us what is surely sweat.

>> We have people are sick with cancer.

When my mom that in a lot of people came by and told horrible stories of people they KET who are sick with cancer.

That they couldn't afford everyday necessities of life.

And we're talking food medication, utility bills, rent, mortgage, and and I had no idea that that was a problem in today's world.

And I thought once you had insurance, everything was covered.

And that's not the case anymore.

So when mom that I kissed her on the forehead when they wheeled around and I promised her, we would try to do something different.

And I at the time I really didn't know what that was going to be.

We've we've done a lot.

It will be 10 years and 2023 that she's been gone soft.

Wow.

>> And in those 10 years, you all have certainly done a lot in.

These are things like helping people with their electricity 1000 mortgages and things like that.

>> Yeah, often we hear a lot people say, look, forgoing treatment because I don't want to put my family in the bankruptcy for medical bills or I've got to decide this month between food and medication and we shouldn't have to make those choices.

But people are every day and it's it's kind of one of those things that a lot of people aren't aware You know, you see somebody that's sick and you assume there they're doing, OK, but they're not.

They're not only for, you know, struggling physically, but they're struggling financially, but most people won't talk about that kind of thing.

Sheasley family or friends will contact us on their behalf and and will will step in and try to help and do something for him.

>> And you guys have really come up with some creative Let's talk about a charitable gaming.

Yeah, I have a whole system.

>> Yeah.

You know what we're finding is major.

We're not some supported by major corporations, its local businesses and individuals in the community.

But we've we've taken charitable gaming to a whole different level.

And I've gotten it background so.

With the blessing of the Kentucky Gaming Commission.

We've built websites to sell raffle tickets for different raffles.

We do every week and then we got involved with electronic pulpit machines and we've got a small some people call it a casino.

>> What you've seen it is so we've got a small room down in Valley station and people love it there.

The machines are.

>> You know there I hate to say they're wide open.

The people are winning a lot of money and having a lot of fun.

And then even when people say I lost today, but I feel good because it went to a good cause.

But yeah, we've we've really dealt I'm pretty heavy.

And charitable gaming hassles.

>> And that's as successful in your right.

Like even if they lose, they know they're helping other people.

>> Yeah, that we've heard that over and over again.

We very rarely have people leave out other mad because they know, you know, they're supporting.

We've given away 1.6 million dollars since mom.

That and a lot of that is generated by 10 don't monthly donors and our charitable gaming raffle.

So it's just a unique, different way to raise money But I feel like we've kind of figured out and a lot of other organizations haven't.

I get calls all the time with.

How did you do that?

What did you do?

And see, you know, I'm going to help people out, but it's it's kind of our niche and it's worked out great.

Yeah.

And >> so in you all are now expanding to 2 at helping kids in these kids programs that?

>> Yeah.

When we set up the 501 C we added Shirley's.

Little Angels won because mom absolutely love kids and 2.

But we were talking earlier.

I wanted to play football as a kid and my mom and dad didn't have the money for the football equipment and and that was kind of Shirley's.

Elaine Jewels was one of those things that we added into the final see at the beginning.

But we really didn't have much funding.

But with the raffles and then gaming, we're we're able now to start funding some kids program.

So this year we gave $15,000 away to 14 local little schools and things like that to help them with, you know you it's surprising that a lot of schools don't have the funding for much of anything.

So we're trying to help fix that.

>> Yeah, that's that's an amazing so on what?

What's the best way that people can help your organization right now?

>> We're really pushing the $10 monthly donation.

See, go to Shirley's Wei Dot org and sign up for a $10 monthly donation.

We've got several local businesses that really believe in what we're doing.

A lot of them were $100 monthly donations.

And, you know, if you've got a very successful $100 a month as much at all, but that would pay water bills for somebody, you know, $1200 a year from your $100 monthly donation.

We cover rent or mortgage payment for some money.

So it's that's really what we're really pushing on.

Yeah.

And make a real difference will surely sway has given away.

>> More than 1.6 million dollars to families here in the local community since 2014.

Back to you.

>> 2023 marks the 10th year anniversary of Shirley's passing and the organization has a goal to reach 2.5 million dollars in donations by them.

♪ >> Jeremy McQueen grew up in Jackson County, but always dreamed of traveling the world.

Now he's turned his lifelong love of travel into a business with over 50 counties under his belt.

He's well on his way to achieving his goal of visiting every country.

He's inviting others, especially Kentucky, wants to come along with him.

♪ >> With a very young age, I want to travel.

I don't know when that was definitely middle school, but maybe even earlier than that and the first time that probably vocalize visiting every country was probably in college.

And so thankfully, Bree College, help me find out pretty quickly had to do that and to KET doing it.

And so.

Since then, I've been.

Trying to fill up my passport during the lockdown actually in when I moved to Bali and Indonesia in Bali was locked down as well.

But there are still allowing people to come in for business purposes.

And so I got a business visa.

And for the country and started thinking about ways to invest in.

We will stay and I thought if I can use that as an acre for this idea could be to KET the broad.

It has an acre from there.

We can.

We can do other things.

the tours are a part of welcoming.

You know, other groups to do a private touring for them, helping them of the guy, the YouTube channel for free information, of course.

And then.

It all goes back to the idea is for kinetic Kentucky.

And then the idea of creating a fund that would.

Help young people in the future travel for free.

What I really want to do into the space where we're encouraging high school graduates to think about taking gap years.

Think about studying abroad.

letting them know that you don't really have to go to college immediately.

>> What travel have been traveling now for?

>> 17 years internationally.

I do me very many Kentucky.

I can tell I felt the number on the head.

How it?

But I've been traveling abroad.

So part of that goes back to that, you know, wanting to help young to the world and it's always been my belief that you learn more in one month abroad that you do an entire year of university.

You know, you don't need a university or a student loan.

Let you go somewhere in your language or learn about cultures or girl or whatever it is.

You want to do.

You can do that and stay for a year and maybe you can stay forever.

>> Kentuckians abroad plans to add over 10 new countries to their YouTube channel in 2023. and helped launch the Kinetic Kentuckians Fund in 2020 for 2025.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips a K E T Dot Org and follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thank you for joining us.

Have a great night.

We'll be back tomorrow for another edition of Kentucky EDITION.

♪