>> And look like you are standing on the moon.

>> A look back at the western Kentucky tornadoes just before the two-year anniversary.

>> We take a family history it's a crucial part of our conversation.

>> Why a genetic counselor says the holidays are the perfect time to learn about your family's medical history.

>> Kentucky's beautiful.

And we have a lot of unique experiences.

>> I think this one that let you get up close and personal with some of Santa's beloved companions.

>> 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 EDITION on this Friday, December, the 8th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for kicking off your weekend with us.

Another veteran state lawmaker says the upcoming legislative session will be his last.

>> Derrick Graham, the House Democratic Caucus leader says he will not run for reelection in 2024.

Graham was first elected to represent the 57th district in 20.

0, 2, last year he became the first African-American to lead a legislative caucus in the Kentucky House.

Representative Graham put out this statement today, quote, I feel strongly that now is the time to give someone else the chance to be our next state representative, a job I have loved since first being elected in 20.

0, 2, whether an office are out.

I will never stop doing all I can for the community.

I love.

And that made me who I am today.

End quote.

A Kentucky woman is suing the Commonwealth over 2 of its abortion bans.

The case is from a woman calling herself Jane Doe who is 8 weeks pregnant she filed suit today in Jefferson County, along with Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Kentucky.

The suit is over to laws that went into effect in August of 2022, it asks a judge to block enforcement of Kentucky's trigger law which made abortion illegal when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade last year.

And Kentucky's six-week abortion ban which bans all abortions in Kentucky after 6 weeks of pregnancy, the Conservative Family Foundation put out a statement about the lawsuit and here's part of it.

Quote, this new abortion industry lawsuit is as meritless as the previous failed challenge.

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU suggestion that the Kentucky Constitution somehow secretly contains a hidden right to terminate the life and stop the beating heart of an unborn human being.

Despite Kentucky's clear 150 year Pro Life history is absolutely absurd.

End of quote.

And more news.

A new study from the Williams Institute at UCLA says Kentucky has a bigger percentage of day lesbian, bisexual and transgender adults than any other state in the union.

The study was says 10.5% of Kentucky adults are LGBTQ.

No other state is in double digits.

Only the District of Columbia has a higher percentage at 14.3%.

The next highest state, according to the survey is Oregon at 7.8% nationally, 5.6% of Americans are LGBT.

According to the Williams Institute.

Kentucky is 2 days away from a very somber anniversary 4 tornadoes traveled a total of about 200 miles through western Kentucky, starting on December 10th 2021.

81 people died as entire towns were devastated.

Governor Andy Beshear reflected on the storm during his news conference yesterday.

>> I still remember.

I can still feel the the morning and the weather after standing outside the candle factory in Mayfield seeing firsthand the devastation it caused, then driving downtown.

And it looked like you are standing on the moon without any structure.

How 10 blocks in any direction standing.

They have not gotten springs, a town that was always a safe place for place.

My granddad put me on his tractor and driven every block about town and not recognizing where I was.

But that day we could also already see communities coming together talking a high schooler and also that it pulled more than 6 people out of there, their their basements, talking to a local officials who are already there on the ground with their boots on making sure.

But they were helping everyone with their immediate needs already seeing people cooking for others, bringing in food and supplies and then seeing such an overwhelming response from our people.

It took more people, an effort to coordinate how we just collect and get this help out to people.

Just incredible outpouring of generosity and support.

>> The governor will be headed back to Western Kentucky this weekend.

Despite some recent rain, Kentucky still has a drought problem.

Here's the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

You can see a severe drought in parts of southern and eastern Kentucky.

That's the darker orange.

The lighter oranges, moderate drought.

The yellow indicates abnormally dry conditions.

Another weather note, Frankfort is postponing its Christmas parade and the state is postponing the state Christmas tree lighting by one week because of the likelihood of stormy weather.

Both events have been planned for tomorrow.

Instead, they'll be both moved to Saturday December the 16th, the parade will begin next Saturday at 06:00PM.

The tree lighting will follow.

It will be between 8, 8, 30 on the South Lawn of the Capitol.

We have strike news tonight from northern Kentuckyian Louisville.

More than One-thousand DHL express workers from the Cincinnati, northern Kentucky airport are now on strike.

They handle cargo at the airport.

They are part of the Teamsters Union spectrum News.

One reports 98% voted to strike over pay and what workers called unfair labor practices.

Also, the Courier Journal reports UPS workers in Louisville could go on strike on Monday.

The newspaper says workers at the centennial hub claim that UPS is denying their collective bargaining rights.

Turning to put some some political news yesterday.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky use the War Powers Act to force the U.S. Senate to vote on a resolution requiring President Joe Biden to remove all U.S. troops from Syria.

Paul says there are 900 troops there without congressional authorization.

He says they are sitting ducks and their mission.

There is unclear.

He says the lack of congressional approval.

It's troubling.

>> Our founding fathers felt very clearly on this that we should not go to war without a vote of the They wanted to make sure the executive and the president was prohibited from going to war without the authority of the With drifting away from that really hasn't been a valid declaration of war since World War.

2, we have a times take in votes to authorize the use of military force.

The now we did when we went into the Iraq So we did the voting probably was still a disastrous mistake to go there.

But we never have voted on being in Syria.

We never and voted on having troops in the middle of the Syrian civil war in which hundreds of thousands of people have died.

Millions of people have been displaced.

And we owe it to the soldiers that are in Syria, the U.S. soldiers, the young men and women in Syria to have a debate and have a vote.

>> In the end, 13 senators voted for Sen Paul's resolution bought 84 voted against it.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said, quote, passage of such a resolution would be a gift to Iran and its terrorist network driving American troops from the Middle East is exactly what they'd like to see in, quote.

Congressman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky's first district isn't satisfied with new indictments of President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Hunter Biden is accused in California of 9 counts of failing to pay his taxes.

Comer is the chair of the House Oversight Committee which has been investigating Hunter Biden's finances in a statement to Comer says the Department of Justice is interfering in the case and Biden is getting, quote, a sweetheart deal quote, unless U.S. Attorney Weiss investigates everyone involved in the Bidens fraud, schemes and influence peddling.

It will be clear.

President Biden's DOJ is protecting Hunter Biden and the big guy end quote.

Comer is also threaten Hunter Biden with contempt of Congress.

If he doesn't show up for private deposition next Wednesday, Biden wants to testify publicly.

Hunter Biden's lawyer says if his clients last name wasn't Biden, he wouldn't have been charged at all for tax evasion.

Another political note, Governor Andy Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman will be sworn in for a second term next Tuesday, December.

The 12th, you can say live coverage of the swearing-in ceremony, the inaugural parade, the Grand March and more throughout the day live right here on KET.

I'm now for an end of week wrap-up of the week's political news in Kentucky.

We have our great duo with us today.

Jared Smith.

You can figure out which one he is and every fiber of the Piper Smith from and boutique.

>> Government relations crisis relations, whatever you need, they can do.

So while let's talk about this week, a lot of changes in Frankfort with the players, right?

We've had some resignations.

People doing different things in a different administration.

So Jared, I'll talk with the talk to you first about we heard Russell Weber who is current state representative, is going to take a job with the treasurer elect to Mark Metcalf from Garrett County.

He's going to be the deputy treasure.

And so this is pretty calm and we have some changes in the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.

This is pretty typical, right, right?

I mean with it, even though it's the same governor's administration that stormy turnover, there's turnover in his father's administration between the first and second one.

So no surprise.

We saw this earlier today, a minority caucus, their their Graham announced he's not running again.

And there's rumors that he may be taking aministration job.

So I mean, we're I think we'll see more of this.

>> As they they start to fill the Newman administration roles.

>> So I mean, how how much more is the Democratic caucus in the House going to end all?

>> Right.

they don't.

Really.

That's not really what you want to get your do administration members but ordered caucus.

But you know it it makes sense for their retirement.

Makes sense for a lot of things for them to do But, you know, I think Franklin County is a pretty safe democratic area.

So I think it was it was done.

>> You know, with that in mind, I loved what Denise Harper and Joel was quoted as saying, Abbi.

>> She said I'm not taking a job with the Metro here.

A man is doing that.

Kevin Bratcher is going to see that they're not doing that are going to pursue those offices.

And so to know is their perception.

I think Josie Raymond had a good little clap back for those who say it's a step down, right to go to local You know, are you going backwards?

So me, what is the appeal?

You know, that area and that council?

Well, what's the appeal of working on the Metro Council in Mobile?

It will certainly there are a couple of things that make it easier.

You actually have a salary and your own legislative aide to that does help and the other thing is, if you want to be affected, sometimes it pays to go home.

>> And she certainly be able to achieve more of her goals and our policy priorities in Jefferson County.

Then she probably >> ever would be able to in Frankfort.

So for her, it's a good man.

I mean, these are for Angel.

Senator Harper Angel has already been the pva dry at 9 years ago.

Has any any desire to go back to that?

And I don't blame her at all.

Right.

Side-effect.

She's in a very safe Satan, like a likely to be challenged, right?

I mean, the mask has amassed there.

When I read that 29 years of public might want to start with.

She was 12, maybe and gave us the greatest zoom clip of the pandemic era of the legislative said okay.

Remind us of that out on that we can't.

You'll have to search the KET Archives for And she's always been kind of down-home.

Yeah.

It easily readily admits when she's >> MS stepped on it.

That's what's made her very charming.

One made.

Think about.

We just have how many days to session.

I know you guys know my word out about 6.20, times.

I mean, yeah, he's to be a riot.

January 2nd, I'm like, what are you guys working on?

What's what's going to be the main things?

>> You know, I think budget budget budget is the biggest priority.

Always will be.

And it will be for everyone who's up there.

Yeah, you know, I do think that legislators are looking to try to find ways to bolster.

>> Areas that COVID relief funding are are drying up in ways that sort of KET us from falling off of the fiscal cliff is if you will.

But I also think, you know, Republicans especially are going to be very conservative about where they want to spend and how and I think they're looking in particular at things the way they can measure progress and see that the dollars they're investing are producing real outcomes, right?

Arrow I think that it's very interesting because there's actually money in the rainy day fund.

>> 3.7 billion, right?

And they have money this session.

And so as the one-time expenses from the COVID their way down to see what they choose to make their decisions on how to spend the money this session.

I expect some economic development in the public education.

The report were teacher starting salary is that Israel is ridiculously low and most of the counties and the Tennessee border states are raising theirs.

And so talk to the superintendent on a border state and will complain about losing his teachers.

Right.

And they even complain about losing their teachers to Fayette County, right to save others.

>> Same thing, right.

So I mean, how do you kind of that leverage?

Every child care will definitely be something that has to be addressed for paid leave.

You know, if you actually if you look at a childcare, pay its extremely low, it's been said about the same as a hourly workers.

So I'm sure a made-up post-pandemic will be very important as well.

I think and how to make a more robust or at least the knowledge.

Maybe it's the marketing campaign of the Child Care Assistance Program for employers and employees.

It's like there was 50 million dollars.

The general Assembly allocated.

And that's been a slow uptake on that.

It has.

They've only I think allocated about 168,000.

Last time I checked, which was around August 1st or so.

But, you know, it's a 15 million dollar pot.

Yeah, I I I wonder if it's because employee employers have to have skin in the game.

So it's not a handout.

It's a match.

So in that case, you know, if I say I'm going to I $400 for my employed, have childcare and the employer would have to kick in another 400.

I think that may have something to do with it, but it's also a it was just announced in June.

So I think we may need some time is the design is a one-year pilot.

I think it might be more time.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Any other parting words about the inauguration is coming up.

We know that that is happening.

You can watch on KET will start have that coverage with the midnight swearing-in and festivities all day Tuesday that we have the weather report.

That it looks good.

I would just 49 degrees and sunny.

I was on the force.

Some of the island.

>> 19.

It was no picnic.

Ah, huh.

>> Looking forward better sunshine to your day at the end of the war.

Tyler Childers of Asiana take the headline.

I mean, is that going to be, of course, but I also think it's important for people to remember whether you voted for Governor Beshear, not that this is a celebration.

It's partly a start of a new year.

A new administration and new effort.

And what a better for Governor Beshear not encourage you to kind of participate.

>> Either at home or in Frankfort and celebrate the fact that we live in a wonderful democracy.

>> And I just talked to Ron Brian, who's the noted Kentucky historian and author.

And he says, you know, Kentucky does it up offer inaugurations.

Most states are very low key and chill.

You know, we're We are the opposite.

And so it is something to see.

so, yeah, you can tune in on on Tuesday.

We'll have all that coverage all day on the main channel and maybe we'll see you all there in the crowd.

Thank you so much.

>> Thank you as always.

♪ >> It's the holiday season.

And with Christmas and New Year's just a few weeks away.

And genetics counselors at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center are encouraging folks to take advantage of the time you have with your family to discuss your family will family medical history.

They say genetics, testing and counseling could lead to early detection of cancer and risk reduction.

We have more in tonight's look at medical news.

>> We are looking at genes or pieces of DNA that are known to cause an increased risk for developing cancer.

>> When someone has a mutation in one of these teams in part of a genetic counseling session, right?

We take a family history.

It's a crucial part of our conversation because ultimately as a genetic counselor, you're looking for patterns, right?

You're looking to see.

What we've got.

3 successive generations of people being diagnosed with the same or similar types of cancer or health concerns.

Right?

And that's raising this red flag of maybe there is something genetic going on in this person or in this family.

But in order for us to be as accurate as possible, right?

We need to take that family history.

You know, I wish that there was just one straightforward answer, one blanket answer that I can give about approaching relatives when it comes to their own medical history.

But I think having.

Candid conversation right of sitting down with them to say.

Want to know a little bit more or I have developed a bigger interest into my own health.

And I want to make sure that now I'm doing all the right things too reduce.

The risk of a cardiac event or something or a cancer diagnosis or whatever it might be.

So I think that with this holiday season, everything that when we are around our family members.

All right, that we should have those fun conversation.

But it's also equally important that we take the time to speak with our relatives about, you know, their past and about any ongoing concerns so that we can kind of all help each other in the long run so that we can all live those happy and healthy lives.

>> Counselors say if you learn of any new medical history over the holidays, you should inform your doctor.

♪ Louisville is home to the global headquarters for GE Appliances and has been for the past 70 years.

General Electric sold off its appliance division to Chinese manufacturing company higher in 2016 today.

GE Appliance Park in southern Jefferson County employs more than 7,000 people in its labs and manufacturing facilities.

Our Kelsey Starks sat down with GE Appliances, CEO Kevin Nolan talk about the impact of Appliance Park in Louisville.

I think a lot of people don't >> appliance park itself is, you know, has its own movie theater, its own zip code.

It's a little city in and of itself.

And it was created to be that way right?

>> It's a unique space space know is very again.

Like I said before forward thinking it has its own zip code.

There's rumor that maybe you can research that.

That's why the eastern time zone got moved over here a little because the headquarters were in Connecticut at the time and want to be on the same time zone.

If you look at a lot of the road system in Louisville, a lot of it was based upon making good access here.

Neighborhoods were built around it.

So I think it really transform a lot of the city of this big industrial park that hadn't really been done in America before.

GE appliances.

>> And so how has it?

>> Remained in Louisville.

>> Continue to be vibrant when so many others have not.

>> I think it's it's something special about the people here about the community, you know, and having everything together.

So everybody's always fighting for making sure that this day stays vibrant.

Do we do?

We KET it energized?

We KET being on the leading edge of manufacturing of design of innovation.

So there's a big responsibility because we know the impact that makes to Louisville and it makes the communities around and everybody here, I think seals that responsibility.

>> You can see the full interview and learn more about the history of GE Appliance Park on inside Louisville this Sunday at 12 noon Eastern.

11:00AM central right here on KET.

On Dasher on dancer and Prancer and V**** folklore tells us Reindeer live at the North Pole bought.

We also have a few of them right here in Kentucky.

Our Laura Rogers takes us to the reindeer farm offering in Agra tourism experience that's getting vendors visitors into the holiday spirit.

>> I am obsessed with Christmas so much so that the Anderson family open to their farm well, herd of reindeer.

We talked about doing something more purposeful, something more together, being more present and something that we can enjoy the family.

The reindeer hailing from Alaska now celebrating their 4th holiday season.

And Warren County where the only reindeer farm actually in the south that you can visit and in at close encounter while reindeer have become synonymous with the season.

I love all the festive reindeer and Santa and Candy and all the music.

This is also an educational opportunity for agro terrorism.

We can talk about conservation.

Anderson says raising a herd of reindeer in southern Kentucky does present its challenges.

Reindeer in general are very difficult to care for because they are prey animals.

So they mask their illness.

So it's not just knowing about how to treat a sickness is actually just picking up on it.

But families creating memories and traditions make it all worth it.

We've had a couple from Australia visit.

We've had a couple of people from the UK.

It's just been really cool to made all the same people who are traveling for us and for a year.

Also cool as ice.

Sculptor.

Danny Kissel, the recently shared his talents with farm guests.

>> He's been on food network.

He's the champion about right.

Just pumpkin seeds and Halloween.

More.

>> And he's on Disney.

Plus last year.

Invest in now.

This year.

Carving the Grinch and to a block of ICE.

>> With no real Life, Grinch is here.

Just a few will its and a Santa baby getting a peek behind the magic of Santa sleigh.

I think that's probably the most rewarding is seeing families come together.

More Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

>> The reindeer farm is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

And every day the week of December, the 18th it's located in Bowling Green between Woodburn and Plano.

♪ >> Christmas is 17 days away.

You got your shopping done and there are plenty of holiday themed activities for you to choose from this weekend.

Are Toby Gibbs has more in this?

Look at what's going on around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> The Oaks and Nicholas Ville House, a makers market each season and it's winter market is tomorrow.

Starting at 10:00AM come celebrate local creativity and find one of a kind items to put under the tree.

On top of the great shopping, there will be live music, food trucks and family, fun activities.

Flock to flemingsburg this weekend for its holiday hoopla.

Christmas activities will be happening in Newman Memorial Park until 10:00PM tonight.

And we'll pick up again tomorrow morning.

Enjoy ice skating, train rides.

A petting zoo and lots of great photo opportunities.

The festivities will and with the Christmas fireworks show.

Don't miss the chance to make some magical Christmas memories.

The wall and Flax Christmas.

Gifting market is also tomorrow at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset.

This pop-up market will have everything you need for a Christmas day out with friends and family.

Great shopping, specialty, food and drinks, even the opportunity to have professional Christmas photos taken.

The barn on memory lane and not all of that has a great Christmas shopping event tomorrow.

Browse goods from local eastern Kentucky.

Businesses under the roof of a beautiful bar.

As you find the perfect stocking stuffers and unique gifts.

Enjoy some hot coffee at a delicious Christmas cookie.

This is the perfect cozy Christmas of that.

Tomorrow is the Paducah, Main Street shopping crawl participating.

Downtown businesses will have special discounts and freebies for those participating in the crawl.

Be sure to stop by the gazebo early to pick up a special tote bag.

That includes a coupon book enjoy to do because lively downtown had discovered the unique shops.

The city has to offer.

And that's what's happening around the commonwealth.

>> I'm told the Good News.

>> Thank you, Joe Gibbs.

Do you like to deck the halls or is holiday decorating all bah Humbug?

>> There's no there's no right way to celebrate the holidays.

If you are the type of person that gets a lot of joy from decorating 100% to that.

>> Coming up Monday on Kentucky edition by psychology behind decorating for the holidays.

It is good for you.

We hope you'll join us Monday night at 6.30, Stern Five-thirty Central for Kentucky.

Addition really inform connect and inspire.

Check this out.

All the ways you see on your screen.

Facebook x, Instagram, send us a story idea at the address on your screen.

>> And check us out on the PBS video app.

Thank you so much for watching.

Kentucky.

Addition this week to help you have a fabulous weekend and I will see you right back here Monday night to cut hair.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪