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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to this special episode of Kentucky EDITION.

I'm Laura Rogers filling in for Renee Shaw.

>> Thanks for joining us from controversial legislation and a general election to changes in leadership and even a total eclipse.

>> A lot happened over the last year.

Tonight.

We're looking back at some of the biggest stories that we covered here on Kentucky Edition.

Many of them deal with the General Assembly which is set to convene for the 2025 legislative session on January.

7th during this year's 60 day session, lawmakers created a two-year budget passed an anti crime bill at a school choice amendment on the November ballot.

Put some new limits on the governor's powers and more shortly after the session concluded Republican lawmakers reflected on their accomplishments that included Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer of Georgetown, who after dedicating decades of his life to politics, did not seek reelection this year.

>> I couldn't be prouder >> the accomplishments that we achieved first and foremost, as I exit stage right later this year, knowing that 2 years from now for the 4th time Republicans will have led the way to yet another tax cut, I believe is one of the biggest and best stories coming out of this legislature because of that conservative management and fiscal discipline we showed during the budget process.

Kentuckians by this time in 2026 will have their taxes cut yet again.

A four-time down to 3.5%.

>> We took 450 million dollars in general fund transferred it in 2.

The transportation Cabinet funds allow the roads and more roads to be built in areas in one of the areas we have and ID several millions of dollars to make sure or access to these dollars for the I-69 Bridge in Western Kentucky in and around Henderson and also to continue the Mountain Parkway.

We've been able to make major.

Well, I mean, major investments in education.

You know, we did it last budget session when we did it for education that was record funding.

And this year we were able to do it again.

We did a 3% this coming year for 25 budget in a 6% increase in the Sikh formula.

>> For the 26 budget.

>> Another topic lawmakers focused on this year was dei or diversity, equity and inclusion the House and Senate both considered bills to limit or even cut dei programs in Kentucky's universities.

Many Republicans argue dei offices do more harm than good.

Democrats cautioned what Kentucky's colleges and economy but look like without them.

>> Here's a summary.

Of the contents of the bill.

It begins with definitions setting forth the discriminatory concepts.

It then prohibits pick faculty, students, applicants and staff from having to adopt certain political are philosophical positions in order to be admitted, hired, promoting or receive any other academic benefit.

It also prohibits preferential are prejudicial consideration based on an individual's actual or perceived political or social ideology.

Required.

The high statements would be prohibited.

>> We have over 20%.

Of minorities across the campuses.

All state universities.

You know, of all different languages, all different colors, all different races.

No different genders.

We've got state University system today that looks like America.

We have made significant progress.

And we've come a long way.

And I think today with the adoption, this policy.

We really, really big on all the advances that we have seen.

>> Ultimately, the 2 chambers clashed on proposals and efforts to remove Dei from Kentucky University's failed.

Still some universities in the state shuttered offices related to dei state Senator Max Wise, who was recently chosen by his Republican stunt colleagues to be the new Senate majority floor leader says he expects GOP lawmakers will take up a dei bill again during the upcoming 30 day legislative session.

Democratic Governor Andy Beshear vetoed nearly 2 dozen bills and resolutions passed during the 2024 legislative session.

The GOP supermajority overrode almost all of them.

That included House Bill 5 so-called say for Kentucky at the new law stiffens penalties for repeat violent offenders, places limits on charitable bond organizations and outlaws camping on streets, sidewalks and other public grounds.

Anyone who sells or distributes fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose could be charged with manslaughter under the bill while some minority party members applauded the restorative justice peace to help children referred by the courts and social service agencies.

Most Democrats blasted the measure as too costly and make plays less safe worsen.

Jail overcrowding and criminalize the poor and homeless.

>> Criminalizing sleeping in encampments and then allowing landlords to discriminate against Section 8 tenants as we for addressed in another bill that I will not speak about at this moment will not address the housing shortage.

What we really need to do is we need to figure out the root causes of violence.

>> And 2.

>> Increase the penalties may make us on paper.

Look likely feel safer.

I do not know that it will make us actually be more safe.

The State for Kentucky Act.

>> As it's called, doesn't build any football fields.

Basketball courts or soccer pitches.

No bike trails, hiking pads or rec centers.

It doesn't help shore up county or city budget so they can invest in quality of life enhancements like clean waterways, fresh air public spaces.

Instead, it saddles many counties with ever increasing incarceration costs.

>> According to the National Institute of Justice, Increasing the Severity of Punishment does little to deter it turns about crime.

We're not getting that the root cause here, folks, we're not solving the problem.

We need to bolster system than the guy likes the circumstances of each and essentially removes the discretion.

I reviewed additional system.

We elect U.S. judges.

To decide.

That's their job.

And we're taking that discretion away from them.

>> House Bill 5 contains what's called a shop keepers provision that allows business owners and employees to use a reasonable amount of force to prevent suspected shoplifters from escaping.

Critics decry the so-called 3 strikes provision that denies probation parole or early release for those convicted of 3 violent felonies and denounced bloating.

The list, a felonious crimes.

>> What we have is a both and approach in Kentucky.

We have more treatment beds than any other state per capita.

Any other state, something that our governor stood right there and say it?

Thankfully he did.

We all support it.

House Bill, 6 House Bill, one double down on that.

We believe in treatment and protecting our people and getting our people back on their feet.

We believe in restorative justice for those who could get back to our communities and get back to their families.

And our budgets have said that.

But we also believe.

That when you commit a crime and violence against our people, we are going to protect the rest of us against you.

2 of the things that the minority is screened about.

It's 3 strikes that the tree strike for about violent provision.

How many times can you burn down a house?

How many people do you get to rate?

How many people you get to assault with deadly weapons.

How many people do you get to kill before we put 2 away forever?

3 is too many.

And that's what this bill allows.

>> The new law also calls for the destruction of guns used in murders and it makes carjacking a Class B felony.

That increases the penalties for fleeing or evading police.

>> Among other changes us.

This year.

Lawmakers did not pass a specific bill to break up the Jefferson County Public School system.

The largest school system in the state.

Instead, they set up a task force to do a top to bottom examination of JCPS the officiant and effective school governance task force held 10 meetings, including 2 in Louisville that we're open for public comment just this month, the group said more work is needed and they recommended the task force continue into 2025, the letter also noted the pending a selection of a new district superintendent in September.

Doctor Marty Pollio announced he's retiring July first of next year.

He's been superintendent for 7 years and part of the school system for 30.

Sticking with education.

Kentucky's newest education commissioner was sworn in this year.

Robbie Fletcher has been involved in education since 1996 and served as a principal in Martin County.

Most recently he was superintendent of Lawrence County Schools earlier this year.

The Kentucky native told lawmakers his top priority is to build relationships.

>> We have to teach our kids so often that they have tremendous potential.

We want to teach them to dream.

We want to give them opportunities to during.

But also to have to give them opportunities to struggle.

A lot of stuff.

We need to lift them up.

We need to give them opportunities to grow, to learn, to struggle.

And also, too, if again, if you've been to the the opening day speeches I've given the last ones that opportunities to succeed.

My story in public education is something I'm very proud Great.

Thankful for.

But the people that I worked with every single day from the cooks in the cafeteria.

To the bus drivers all the way up to the teachers gave me those opportunities says to succeed.

And I'm so thankful for that.

So again, it starts a building relationship so that we can get to the point.

I'm making sure that we provide opportunities for every single child in the Commonwealth.

>> Fletcher said other top priorities include developing a new assessment and accountability system and looking at reforming the seek formula, which is a funding mechanism for Schools.

Commissioner Fletcher was also pressed on the use of social and emotional learning programs in schools.

>> I'm concerned, too.

When I go to meetings are here, administrator speak that they address.

Social, emotional, learning the whole child global citizenship.

I'm concerned that there's a distraction on core subjects and academics with all these other new ideas.

And so would you give us an assurance that you are going to focus on academics and core topics and try try your best and your leadership position to avoid all these other distractions.

Thanks for the question.

As I understand where you're coming from and sometimes I agree with that.

>> Sometimes we lose that focus on the importance of mathematics.

The importance of reading.

Are you appears that we do.

Of course, we've had 2 pieces of legislation that have gone through that.

We put a lot of effort into when it comes to literacy in the letters training and the investment to teachers to bring them up to where they are teaching the science of reading.

They're making sure that students had that every single opportunity.

Also to numeracy another bill that passed as how do we make sure that students are having it that opportunity to learn mathematics at the highest level.

But starting at a foundational level.

So I think already you can see an investment firm Kde course investment from our legislature into those 2 models and to those 2 areas of concern.

I will say that is very important that we give the emotional support to our kids.

They faced so many trials and tribulations.

When I walk into our classrooms and if we can't meet those needs, then we can get to math and reading.

So we had to find a balance.

>> Fletcher was the first education commissioner in Kentucky to be confirmed by the state Senate.

The General Assembly added the requirement to state law in 2023 after the resignation of former education Commissioner Jason Glass who left because of legislation he considered to be harmful to LGBTQ+.

students.

Commissioner Fletcher also spoke out against a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the General Assembly to authorize public money for private schools.

Kentucky voters rejected amendment to buy a 2 to one margin in November's general election.

The amendment, its failure and the future of education was the topic during a recent episode of Kentucky tonight.

>> One thing that you didn't see during the campaign this year.

>> Was the you know, there's a lot of people obviously posted in the 2.

But it was posted in the 2.

There was a lot of talk about other than give us more money.

That was a lot of talk about it.

How to help improve schools.

I think that's where the debate needs to go now is is and I think I can be beneficial if educators, education union specifically and Democrats realize that Republicans how to like with some weird vendetta against educators.

We have differing ideas on how to improve education, but everybody wants schools to be better for our kids.

And, you know, I think that if we can that is that gone.

If everybody can come the table, Republicans still have ideas.

>> During the campaign, you know, like we said, yes, 65% of people voted no.

But our very first ad that we ran the entire time and what we would say in organizing spaces around the state was we need to invest in better ideas that work and we did give ideas.

We talked about universal Pre-K, addressing the teacher shortage, fully funding school transportation.

And yeah, those are the 3 main ones.

It's all money, money, money.

It's not.

>> Actual structural change.

And then I think that we do both.

>> So what's next for the Kentucky General Assembly on education policy?

Senate President Robert Stivers told us that lawmakers are focused on helping underperforming school districts.

>> I think what you'll see in this, what this was was Ewells a Tim's to look at warning performing school systems and see how we can help those poor performing school systems.

Both spoke.

You know, think they said they don't want that passed away.

So we're gonna look at other pathways to have accountability and performance in mourning for the school districts.

I think everybody is for them.

You want accountability in the form and public education.

>> The general election also gave us an unprecedented 11 way race for a write-in campaign for a state Senate seat.

Scott made in the mayor of Pine Bill.

One, the write-in contest in state Senate district.

29 in southeastern Kentucky in January, he will take over the seat held by Republican Johnnie Turner.

Turner was unopposed for re-election when he was hurt in a riding lawnmower accident in September.

He died a month later.

Turner had been in the Kentucky Senate since 2021 and served in the Kentucky House before that the right and election became necessary since there was no one else on the ballot.

Madden, who is also a Republican, says he will carry on Senator Turner's legacy of service.

Turning now to Washington, U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky made a major announcement this year saying he would step down as Senate minority leader.

He spoke about his decision on the Senate floor back in February.

>> One of life's most underappreciated to all of you.

one time.

Good move on to watch the notion jump in.

John, stand before you today.

Mister President, my college.

Despite this will be my last term mission.

Republican leaders are.

Going anywhere anytime soon.

Are all completely.

John.

My colleagues are giving to we select a new leader in November.

They took I'll finish the job.

The people of Kentucky hard me to do as well.

Albeit from different C 2.

I'm actually looking forward So it's time for me to think about them.

Another season.

There may be more distinguished members of this body throughout our history.

But I don't think we're going in with any more >> McConnell turned 82 this year.

He said his health was not a fact during his decision in 2023.

He froze twice while speaking to reporters.

Then earlier this month he cut his face in sprained his wrist during a fall after up a Republican luncheon.

McConnell is Kentucky's longest-serving U.S. senator and the longest-serving Senate leader and history.

Kentucky's largest city was also the topic of several stories throughout the year earlier this month, full announced it reached a deal with the U.S. Justice Department to reform the city's police force.

The consent decree was the result of a federal investigation prompted by the police killing of Breonna Taylor and 2020 last year the Justice Department released a report that found local police engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against black people.

Well, Mayor Craig Greenberg called the deal a historic agreement, adding that it will help build you up on police reform efforts already underway.

>> This agreement meets the 3 conditions.

I insisted upon from the beginning of our negotiations with the Department of Justice.

The agreement had to build upon significant police reforms.

We began when I took office 2 years ago.

Second, the agreement could not handcuffed far.

Police as they work to prevent crime in our city.

And 3rd, the agreement had to be financially responsible.

And set clear terms for how and when it would end.

Unlike some other cities, we didn't wait to take action until a consent decree was signed.

Significant improvements were needed immediately.

And it's been implemented by LMPD over the last 2 years.

>> Under the Biden administration, the Justice Department has opened 12 civil rights investigations into law enforcement agencies.

This was the first to reach a consent decree.

Kentucky's medical cannabis program officially begins tomorrow.

Legislation was passed in 2023. during Twenty-twenty for lawmakers amended the law to allow Kentucky's Office of Medical Cannabis to begin issuing licenses to cultivators processors and dispensaries ahead of the 2025.

Start date.

Kentuckians overwhelmingly support medical cannabis in November voters and 53 counties and 53 cities were asked to weigh in on whether or not to allow medical marijuana businesses to operate in their communities.

The measure passed unanimously.

2024.

Will also be remembered for its total solar eclipse.

And for the second time in 7 years, Kentucky was in the path of totality.

Kentucky Edition was in Paducah for what may have been the coolest 2 minutes of the year.

>> As absolutely wild.

>> As it gets darker darker and then all of a sudden the street lights come on.

But it's 2 o'clock in the afternoon and then you can take your glasses off and you see this incredible thing that you've seen But it's there's nothing like seeing in real life.

>> It is absolute lie.

Joy.

And when SIU just seen.

It's just a beautiful sight, especially the telescope.

And, you know, make it I it's just wonderful.

>> I don't think I could describe it to somebody actually.

Look, I think you really do have to see the full eclipse in person to be able to tell how cool it is.

It's exactly like what you see in pictures, but not from pictures from your friends.

Don't trust the iPhone photos.

The real deal is very calm.

>> A surreal owes.

>> Great being here.

Knowing that you are seeing something that not many people.

Experiencing and that people from many, many generations and watch.

>> My heart is racing is a super crazy experience like everything got dark.

I pictured people like thousands of years ago who?

It didn't know it was happening like I can't imagine.

And this happening without knowing that the moon was in front of the sun is Super Bowl.

>> Interest to experience.

I was a spiritual emotional.

And you physically feel the temperature.

Teens and the quietness.

And I'm glad we did it.

♪ >> Definitely a highlight of 2024.

NASA's solar system, ambassadors travel the country, teaching people about space.

Another sign says one of them visited Shelbyville ahead of the eclipse to tell local space buffs about the significance of the solar event.

>> In 2017, I think was the first year that I became a solar system.

Ambassador was actually a pretty intensive interview process.

You know, I had to write a little essay why I wanted to be a solar system.

Ambassador, give them a few references of people that I've worked with in the past were not on NASA's payroll by any stretch of the imagination.

But we are offered a lot of support from them.

We get access to mission scientists and engineers.

We get news fresh.

Fresh out of conferences every year is there's lots of training sessions and things like that.

So they they do their best to support us.

And it's a pretty small a portion of mass as well.

>> It's a grassroots program.

We're going to plant the seeds and watched of them spread.

And that's what we've done.

So we have ground from 16.

To more than 1300 over the years.

They get to be the topics that they know will be of interest to their communities to a little more said they can.

It can be Earth science.

It could be with the Webb telescope.

That could be rovers on Mars.

Human spaceflight, whatever that they feel will be interesting to their communities.

>> We've been working with Dan Price for years.

We love working with him and high-profile cosmic events like solar eclipses and days and the it information about in an international space Station.

And it's a great reason to bring the community together.

>> I've written for a number of papers across the Bluegrass, but the consistent paper has been the State Journal in Frankfort.

When we have events like kind of have a captive audience, I have people that are already enthusiastic about space exploration or whatever topic I have to happen to be discussing that evening.

But with the newspaper, it could be anybody and ranging in age from like 4 to 90 and from a wide variety of backgrounds.

So they have to make sure that there's something in there for everyone.

When I present information, I do it to enhance people's experience, enhanced people's understanding of the world around them and help them to make better connections.

And they start to think critically about some of the things that they observe on a day-to-day basis or things that they observe maybe once every 20 or 30 years were very busy now at the eclipse coming up.

>> Essentially the eclipse is a star party.

In the daytime.

And, you know, we are and the last eclipse that the total solar eclipse in 2017.

Ambassadors reached almost as many people in one day as we do generally been a year in person.

>> Please eclipse this.

Don't come along all the time.

They're pretty rare events is usually one about every 18 months somewhere in the world.

But it's rare that we get one here in the United States that were able to is able to be seen by so many people the next big eclipse, the next big solar eclipse.

We have going across the nation is in 2045?

So.

>> Given now, while you can.

>> Well, it is very hard to top an eclipse, but John Calipari's may have done it that same day reports started circulating.

That's a long time coach of the UK men's basketball team was moving on.

Those reports turn out to be true.

Now after 15 years in Lexington cow left UK for the University of Arkansas, he was replaced by Mark Pope who is on UK's 1996 national championship team.

Pope signed a 5 year 27 million dollar contract.

It also includes bonuses for surviving the first weekend.

The NCAA Tournament, which is something that cats have failed to do in recent years, causing some angst among Kentucky fans.

Well, that is it for us tonight.

A reminder that you can catch U.S. week nights at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition.

We wish you a very, very high happy New Year.

Will see you back here in 2025.

♪