♪ >> You've got students now who are legally able to wager who are in class with the student athletes that they may be wagering on.

>> When sports betting comes to campus.

>> There have been news to show that we haven't forgotten.

We're committed to restoring >> U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell on the need for patients when it comes to new border legislation.

>> This community was was.

Certainly ready to share their stories.

And the stories these Mayfield, tornado survivors are sharing our resilience and regrowth.

>> Having the community to pitch and and provide Christmas gifts is a is a huge help.

And he's been taken off of some families.

>> The Salvation Army's annual Angel Tree Program returns to the Cup.

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

>> Another longtime lawmaker is hanging it up today.

State Representative Ruth and Palumbo became the latest lawmaker to announce she is not seeking reelection.

The Democrat has represented Lexington for more than 3 decades.

For 2 of those decades.

She served as chair of the House Economic Development Committee.

She says she was able to promote the region's signature industries.

In a statement, Palumbo said, quote, After much prayer and consideration, I've decided not to seek an 18th term passing legislation to help women, children, families, the elderly consumers and small business has made me proud.

This time next year state Representative Palumbo will have served the 76 district for 34 years.

Palumbo is the 4th Democratic lawmaker to announce they will not be seeking re-election.

5 Republicans have done the same.

The filing deadline for candidates running in next year's elections.

His January 5th.

The Kentucky Wildcats are taking on the Louisville Cardinals tonight.

Many are wagering on the outcome of the college basketball game.

What has the advent of legal sports betting in Kentucky meant for the student athletes?

Kentucky additions, June Leffler has more.

>> People are very quick to talk about the positives of sports wagering from a revenue in flux, right?

Like the money that it brings in and and and all of that very was true.

But there's also some negatives to it.

>> Rachel Newman, Baker handles all things compliance with UK Athletics.

She knows a lot about how sports betting intersects with college ball from her time at the NCAA.

>> I think probably just because the position I've been in where I worked in a department at the NCAA for 13 years that dealt directly with sports wagering issues.

I got to see more of the not so good side of it.

>> If a coach or athlete rig the outcome of the game to make money through their own or other people's wagers, that would be the worst side of it.

Some universities outside of Kentucky have been caught up in those kinds of scandals this year.

It really boils down to 2 things.

One is how do we protect the integrity of the game?

Because that's something that matters across the board.

It's why.

>> You know, our student athletes want to get on the court.

Are coaches want to coach them and no that there isn't something else playing into the contest, right?

Like when they're lining up against each other.

It's just a matter of truly who's the better team that night.

But then it also goes to protecting student athletes well-being because there are some people that are have ulterior motives when it comes to the outcomes of these games and trying to influence.

>> Since the stakes are so high, UK's athletics department has been educating athletes and coaches for years on the rules.

Around sports betting.

It's really simple.

>> If it's a sport, the NCA sponsors, then if you are a student athlete, a coach or a staff member, then you're not allowed to place a bet or accept a bet on any college or professional sport that the NCA sponsors and the Final 4 men's basketball.

That's off limits for our student athletes, coaches and staff horse racing is not because that's not a sport that the NCA sponsors.

>> This isn't new, but the advent of legal sports betting in the state is to us.

The new part is trying to educate the rest of campus to the same extent that we have been educating our student athletes, coaches and staff for a long time right?

>> You've got students now who are legally able to wager who are in class with the student athletes that they may be wagering on.

>> Even with the best intentions when athletes, friends or family bet on their home team, it can get sticky.

The state doesn't have a rule that says the parents can't gamble.

But what it does say is that our student athletes can't share information for purposes of gambling.

And so that's a pretty fine line right?

You also got to be aware that you may be putting your son or daughter and a really tough spot.

That's why this kind of betting isn't allowed everywhere.

Some states it's illegal to bet on games where the college or university is based in that state.

But Kentucky has allowed that lake some.

>> A handful of other states as well.

>> Baker says each case is unique and needs to be handled that Point shaving scandal is very different than a student athlete who may have participated in a March Madness bracket pool and posted it on social media.

That's probably not something that's going to KET us tuned.

Athlete from ever playing again, whereas point shaving scandal might right.

So I guess you have to kind of KET a little bit of perspective of there's very much different varying degrees with this topic.

UK also educates around problem gambling nationally.

College students are taking a big interest in sports betting.

>> We're now considering college age men to be one of the more vulnerable groups to gambling problems.

And we're starting to see some of the the backlash that's associated with that.

For example, in that with some of the news just came out in New York where they were considering different advertising restrictions, not just on college campuses, but anywhere that might be seen from the college campus at a case many years ago when I was at the inn say involving a golf student athlete.

>> got so far into debt because of his gambling behaviors that he sold his golf clubs and then was unable to compete because that was his only way to try to get even.

>> Baker says sports betting is just one of many things student athletes have to KET in mind.

>> Financial literacy is a really big topic in college athletics right now with some of the different resources and and the access to nil that the student athletes have that they're picking the right person.

And how did they know what's a good deal or what their value is for nil then we've got to educate them about drugs, right?

Because the NCAA and allow the international USA Olympic governing bodies have drug testing protocols and so making sure they understand what is and isn't going in their body.

And then for our high profile athletes from a media perspective, right?

Making sure they understand that this is different than high school and everything that they do is in a fish ball and had we not overwhelm them.

How do we make sure that we're getting the right information to them in the right way that so that they're listening and balance and prioritize all of the different things that we're trying to get across to him for Kentucky edition.

I'm John Leffler.

>> To speak to a counselor about your own gambling habits.

You call 1, 800 gambler.

Someone is available to answer the phone.

24 7.

Kentucky will receive part of a 700 million Dollar settlement with Google over its play store.

Kentucky was one of several states that sued Google in 2021. claiming it signed an anti competitive contracts to prevent other app stores from being preloaded on Android devices bought off key app developers who might have launched rival app stores and created technological barriers to deter consumers from directly downloading apps to their devices.

The agreement also requires Google to reform its business practices, including allow or for greater competition with its in-app billing.

There will soon be a new place in Kentucky for fans of bourbon to check out Rd.

One Spirits is building a Bourbon project in Lexington.

Governor Andy Beshear's office says the spirits maker is building and nearly 5 million dollar facility that will quote, honor the past and future of Lexington's Connection to the bourbon industry.

The project will include tours, tasting rooms and an event space will be located in the Commons, which is a 40 acre mixed use development that is under construction in downtown Lexington.

It's expected to be complete by 2025.

And there's more good news for one of Kentucky's signature industries.

The European Union announced a 15% tariff on American whiskey and bourbon has been delayed according to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, American whiskey exports, trucks, 20% when the extra tariffs were in effect from 2018 to 2021.

Tariffs on U.S. exports were implemented during Donald Trump's presidency.

In response to the U.S. hiking tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

The Kentucky Distillers Association applauded the EU's announcement which came less than a week after the Kda announced city growth for the bourbon industry in Kentucky.

Turning to national politics, U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says lawmakers need more time to strike a deal.

What could become the most significant immigration legislation in nearly 3 decades, the Senate returned to Washington on Monday after negotiators worked through the weekend on the border legislation.

They were trying to reach an agreement that could unlock the Republican votes for President Joe Biden's 110 billion dollar package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and other security priorities.

Speaking on the Senate floor today, Senator McConnell said it's time for America to show it hasn't forgotten how to lead the This following a shooting.

>> partner Jen, a new front Russian.

The challenge.

The challenge is real.

Brave American service members who are spending this time of year far from home.

That name.

Good people are saying.

It's a dangerous warming.

One that doesn't reward.

We've got you.

Europe and Asia show that we haven't forgotten.

I mean, lead.

And we're committed to restoring the hard sell.

The evolution requires.

From encourage our colleagues commitment to KET working toward an agreement on national security, beginning to security.

The the Senate will not meet the challenges we face.

Go too.

>> It appears negotiations will almost certainly drag into next year.

The House is already departed from here.

It's still uncertain how many more days the Senate will remain in session this week.

As we count down the days left in 2023, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg is reflecting on his first year in office in an interview with KET.

He says public safety is his administration's first priority.

He talked passionately and extensively about reducing gun violence and his frustrations with state and federal laws.

The KET him from achieving his goals for the city.

When it comes to vot gun violence, that might be the area where I have the most frustration looking back on my first year in office.

We want to do everything we can locally to reduce the amount of gun violence that's happening in Louisville.

But that's one of the biggest challenge.

The city of Louisville is handcuffed by state and federal laws that do not let us do more.

We want to do more.

We want to prevent firearms that we confiscate from ever ending up back on the street.

We want to do more so that people should not possess guns like.

Convicted violent crime offenders convicted felons should not have guns, individuals who are in mental health crisis should not have guns.

They cannot use them for the wrong reason.

We need help from the state to change the laws we need help from our federal government to change the laws to give us more tools here locally to do what we know needs to be done to make our city safer.

We did come out with the plan going as far as we could under the current law, even if I don't agree with the law, I believe it's important to follow the law and so that we did.

And so we're removing the firing pins before we turn over any confiscated weapons that have been used in a crime to the state as required under state law to hopefully those don't end up back on the street and commit more crimes.

We would have liked to have gone fog.

Farther state law prevents us from doing that.

Our laws in Kentucky right now state that me as mayor, my colleagues on Metro Council as legislators.

If we were to take any actions to go further, we would be committing a crime ourselves to crack down on gun violence.

This is insane.

This is dangerous and this is why we in Louisville need more local autonomy to address the gun violence epidemic that we're dealing with here in our city.

Mayor Greenberg also discuss the city's push for universal Pre-K, something the governor Beshear is calling for statewide.

More on the mayor's plan tomorrow on Kentucky Edition.

As we have reported, the majority of motor vehicle services will be unavailable starting January 1st as the state switches to a new vehicle title and registration system.

And with the new system comes new regulations for drivers.

The Kentucky transportation Cabinet says the state will transition from a plate to vehicle system to a plate to customer one.

That means drivers will need to hold on to their license plates when selling or trading a vehicle in 2024, the cabinet says that's because the new system will link drivers, not the vehicles with license plate numbers and registration tax.

♪ ♪ >> Earlier this week, Lieutenant Governor and the Lieutenant Governor announced she had undergone a successful double mastectomy.

Coleman said medical concerns raised during a routine physical exam and a significant family history of cancer.

But to her decision to undergo the procedure.

Cancer experts like Doctor Brian Dawn of the University of Louisville's Health Brown Cancer Center says surgeries like Coleman's are typically reserved for those who are at a higher risk for breast cancer.

And like Coleman, he stressed the importance of annual preventative exams.

>> Yes, so a mastectomy, his surgery where they are you know, probably not a breast tissue on a woman.

And you know, whether to get a bilateral mastectomy or not is really up to a lot of times the patient's choice.

It's a situation where we recommend it from a medical standpoint oftentimes roll around genetic testing and certain more rare cases.

If you're to have bilateral breast cancer.

So, you know, when you do it as a woman being proactive in trying to reduce your risk of breast cancer that requires a, you know, in that conversation with I'm a breast cancer specialist like myself on what is appropriate.

It's so important for women to have their annual mammograms.

This is the best way to get early detection of breast cancer.

You know, as we start to scream or more people than breast cancer rates are going up.

You know, this year 2023, you're estimating over 300,000 cases across the United States.

And, you know, we're hoping that more and more of those can be earlier stage.

Early detection going for cure.

And so, you know, it's one of those things were it's not a long study.

I know it's, you a bit of a news is that the patient?

But it can something that could save your life.

So you know, be mindful advocate for yourself, talked to here providers and make sure you stay up to date.

>> One in 6 breast cancer cases occur in women ages 40 to 49 the same age range as Lieutenant Governor doctors say women with an average risk of breast cancer have a yearly mammograms starting at age 40.

♪ ♪ >> This month marks 2 years since the catastrophic yet for tornado tore through western Kentucky claiming the lives of 80 people.

The city of Mayfield suffered the most damage after taking a direct hit by the tornado.

The struck in the early morning hours off December, 11th 2021, some of the survivors of the disaster have been sharing their experiences as part of the Mayfield, Kentucky 2021 Oral history project through the University of Kentucky libraries.

We'd be none center for oral history.

The people behind the project called a hopeful collection of interviews.

The commemorates the tragedy also capturing stories of survival, resilience and growth.

>> I remember Estes started the Lord's Prayer and even then I was scrapped off my jacket.

Still barely hear myself.

>> I saw in real time the tornado with it, we feel and even though I'm not from Western Kentucky, it felt a lot like >> the same sort of demographic and size of my little little town that I grew up in.

As our instantly just felt this kinship with this town that had been hit, that it could have been my hometown.

And I wonder what happened to Mayfield, not just in the weeks and months after the tornado, but in the years, doctor Frei have reached out to me and really start talking about this project idea building into this motto was the idea that that >> he would do 2 rounds of interviews, at least interview people over time repeatedly.

Develop a relationship with them that was really attractive to me from an archival standpoint, I'm having documentation of that day, but also having documentation of the recovery as it progressed, I think, was really important dimensions.

I really want it.

Everyone's voice to be heard from the community.

>> And that was the beginning of what would become really a 2 year long project.

From my perspective, interviewing can be incredibly healing events to go through.

And I think.

For that reason, too, I think doctor for have had a really good success rate in terms of getting people to to agree to be interviewed and share some unbelievably personal stories and powerful stories in these interviews.

So so I think this community was was.

Certainly ready to share their stories.

>> When it hit our house and we were in the direct line of it.

If your house it sounded like a jet airplane or something was landing on top of our house.

You could steal the pool and the section that had as it was pulling on our bodies.

My daughter was screaming and crying.

>> There was a it was like 10 trains coming at once and you could feel the ground move and your heirs or pop.

And then not only popping fli.

It was s****** air drums out there.

I still get angry and I was trying so hard to be positive.

That I forgot it was okay to be sad.

This is a traumatic event.

>> And it's clearly with you listen to these interviews, there's some extremely powerful traumatizing memories that that are are 2 things, right stuff.

But doctor for how she's a compassionate interview or I think she's somebody who who is truly listening and she connects with the interviewees in some pretty profound ways.

>> I think it's a stereotype that probably won't.

It's true that Kentucky's love story telling and this was not different for the people of Mayfield, but I think because everyone had been traumatized by the tornado.

>> We didn't necessarily share their stories with their friends and their neighbors.

And so me asking as a somewhat of an Al Saud cider of Mayfield.

I'm going to tell me the story, allow them to open up and really tell me.

>> This story in its entirety.

I feel like the result to collect so that is something He's not just a powerful recollection of the traumatic >> What it's really humanizing, >> You can hear more survivor stories by going to Louis be none center for oral histories website.

♪ ♪ An empty warehouse in Versailles.

He's turned into a one-stop holiday shop for families in need.

That's where the Salvation Army is operating its Angel Tree program, providing families with meals and Christmas presents.

>> Going that my family, we really didn't have a and we ourselves went through the Angel Tree program.

It live Miles O.

So I remember as a kid, you and of course, as a kid, I didn't know we were going through the Angel Tree program.

We just saw our parents were putting Christmas presents under a tree and that's pretty much the premise here.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program began around 1979.

>> We began disputing get we've given approximately more than 3 to 6 million gifts.

Throughout this time.

Not just the Lexington, but overall in the United States.

This program is being done all over the world as well by the Salvation Army.

In Lexington itself about 2 months ago.

Those one needy who are looking for toys for the children, Cayman Applied.

We were down system with them.

They're now coming here every day and then picking up toys for their children.

The donors who are looking to give gifts become the tags.

The angel tree tags and they get buy a gift for those children.

And then they bring them here or data all on the summit centers.

And we match the child with the toys and give the for Christmas.

We're looking at feeding about 700 to 800 people will be helping out 5,000 children.

>> There's a great need for programs like There are a lot of families who are struggling, you know it and it is not because of maybe decisions that they've made.

Life happens to all of us.

And so, you know, we in this line of work encounter a lot of people who need programs such as the Angel Tree assistance just to kind of help them get through.

You know, maybe the parents are focused on paying bills are trying to KET the lights on or put food on the table.

And so having the community to pitch and and provide Christmas gifts is a is a huge help and he was burned and taken off of some families.

You could be wed to do and all of a sudden you lose a job.

And you're looking at the different situation altogether.

Hahn circumstances and we see many people want doing well, but it's not difficult to end.

Just meeting ends meet.

And so we step in and assist them someday.

It's them someday.

It could be another person.

And then those who are being helped.

3 years ago, 5 years ago, they come and help us today.

We have a family here with at least 5 people who helped many years ago when I was a young Tao, we participated in this program and now I'm fortunate to be able to donate the time back I can draw back on that time and it allows me to have more compassion to the individuals that I serve because it was something that I went through.

And so I would say, you know, use your story and your experience to help and care of someone else to help put a smile on someone else's face.

You know, sometimes we go through hard times.

We've got to unfortunate times sometimes are not just for us.

Sometimes those times are, you know, to help someone else know that, hey, I've been through it, you can get to it soon.

So, you know, doing this Christmas holiday in the we just show those experiences in and share the hopeful that things will get better.

>> The Angel Tree program began in 1979 and that time is provided 11 million Christmas gifts to children across the United States.

Many may consider this the most wonderful time of year, but it can be anything but for those struggling with addiction and their families.

>> You may have family members that are visiting you that you may not know their secret.

You may not know what's going on the holidays are also really lonely for some people.

>> Which increases depression, which increases anxiety, which increases the likelihood of someone to use substances.

>> How one central Kentucky health Department is making sure people get the gift of life this holiday season.

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

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Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

And be sure to tune in tomorrow.

Take good care and have a great night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪