>> We're going to visit every single Kentucky county twice in every Dollar General store.

Once we have a lot of stops ahead of us.

And part 2 of our chat with Kentucky AG Commissioner Ryan Quarles.

He talks about his strategy to win the governor's race.

>> Plus, the state said some disaster relief money to the wrong people.

So what did they do with the checks?

>> Each of these frames as a different dynamic.

And a balance and it's like fitting that piece of the jigsaw puzzle of a sudden you're like, yes, all right.

That's it.

>> And a Louisville man is taking recycled and tea cart and creating something that has collectors buzzing.

>> 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 first of February Wednesday, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for spending some of your Wednesday night with us.

>> As we told you yesterday, President Joe Biden says he will end the COVID-19 emergency declarations in May.

Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky is pushing for legislation that would do the same but much, much sooner.

Guthrie introduce the pandemic is over act, which is a bill to end the COVID-19 public health emergency.

It passed the House and is now headed to the U.S. Senate.

Here he is on the House floor describing what his bill would do.

>> The pandemic is over actions a loud and clear message to President Biden.

The American people are tired of living in a perpetual state of emergency and it's long overdue for Congress to take back to authorities.

Renner under article one of the Constitution.

The pandemic is over at would immediately terminate COVID-19 public health emergency.

Nothing in my bill.

Nothing in my Bill.

Ince title.

42, despite the administration's stating that it was.

>> Now title, 42 allows the U.S. to expel migrants as a way of protecting public health.

A federal judge declared the policy illegal last year.

The U.S. Supreme Court is now considering taking on that case.

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability kicked off its first investigation today U.S. Representative James Comer of Kentucky chairs the committee.

Today's hearing was focused on the government's handling of taxpayer dollars spent through various COVID relief programs.

The Government Accountability Office estimates about 5 trillion dollars was used for these programs under the Biden and Trump administrations.

Congressman Comer says there was little to no oversight on where some of that money was going.

>> We owe it to the American people.

To get to the bottom of the greatest theft of American taxpayer dollars in history.

We must identify where this money went.

How much ended up in the hands of fraudsters are ineligible participants and what should be done to ensure that it never happens again.

>> Today's hearing could spark additional investigation.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a Democrat from New York suggested Republicans are using the committee to go after states with Democratic leaders.

She mentioned that the committee sent a letter of investigation to 3 blue states but not commerce home state of Kentucky or state employees were able to hack into the state's unemployment system to process their own fraudulent claims.

>> I ask, you know, we're going to start off.

Let's do it right.

And with that, I yield my time.

>> But before app, you're back at it.

this up because they'll Cortez's well and I would love to join in a joint investigation of the Kentucky unemployment system and York unemployment system.

If you if you wanted to do that, a joint probe or whatever, what I would love to work with you on that or any of the 50 states because I believe it's a problem in all 50 states, especially Kentucky.

You're exactly got.

>> Members testifying before today's committee said more than 1000 people have been charged, forced to return money or convicted of defrauding the pandemic relief programs.

In other political news on Monday, I spoke to Ryan Cole's Kentucky's commissioner of Agriculture today in part 2 of our conversation, I asked Mister Corals about how he plans to win the Republican nomination for governor given his trailing other contenders and fundraising and polling.

Let's go back to the point you made about fundraising to have more cash on hand.

But when we look at the 4th quarter of 2022, it's like you had what 55 K for that quarter, which was less than you had then performing.

Were you disappointed and that and what does that say about your fundraising capabilities going forward?

>> I wasn't disappointed at all because I spent the last quarter of 2022. helping other conservatives get elected back in November.

And so instead of focusing on fundraising 100% of time.

I spent in investing in investing my time other candidates.

And that's one reason why you're seeing so many endorsements come gravitate towards our campaign.

Another thing is that our around the holidays their focus on their family and friends as was I and so we're back up we're hitting the roads.

Fundraising is going great.

And so we don't need the biggest budget in this race to win.

We've seen a budget that cuts across the finish line and another example of our fiscal conservatism is at.

We haven't spent much money we're holding on to it.

We're making sure that we're using it wisely and that our donors know that their investment in our race is going to go towards a great cause.

TV cost a lot of money.

>> Right.

It is.

The handshakes are free >> that's I'm an old fashion retail politician.

And that that I like getting out into the communities and listening the focus.

That's why I know there's an undercurrent, particularly in rural Kentucky for something new with $5, diesel fuel disappointment and the Biden administration and also the bickering.

Sometimes you see in Frankfort that that's why I think we will have a great chance at winning.

And I've kind of jokingly been telling folks that we're going to visit every single Kentucky County twice and every Dollar General store wants to a lot of stops ahead.

>> I think you said that before.

so but let's talk about you.

It seems like you know what you've just said, Lane storm or a general election campaign.

But are you going to go after Daniel Cameron?

Are you going to go after Kelly Craft?

How are you going to show that you are the one who can beat a governor, Andy Beshear, who has 61% approval rating from the latest Mason-Dixon poll.

>> The way I see it is that the other contenders in this primary there, my friends, I talked to him regularly.

And so I'm not focused on tearing down somebody else.

I'm focused on a positive vision for Kentucky.

Some focus on nobody's race.

But my own in this primary and there's something really different styles of campaigning.

We'll see what how what happens on May 16th.

But I think that I'm kind of like your your old farm truck that reliable, you know, want to show up.

I'm gonna be there for you.

One of the messages that experience matters that I've been there for you to terms at Commissioner, I'm there for you now and I'm going to be there parts of Kentucky as governor.

>> So you very well know about the Mason-Dixon poll that was released last week and what it said, right?

And we had just mentioned that Governor Beshear 61% approval, a little bump up from the last time the poll was taken in the GOP primary.

You amassed significantly trailing Kelly Craft and Daniel Cameron.

There is 28% undecided.

So how do you interpret those numbers and and what does it does it change your strategy or impact your strategy going forward?

>> Well, as a lot of people that refuse to take polls these days as well.

We also know that a poll simply a temperature check that certain day leading up to election.

But I think once you start seeing the messages and the resources being put behind him, whether it's TV or digital ads, it could change the narrative of what's going on this race.

I'm happy about where we're at with our endorsements are grassroots strength for cash on hand and fundraising.

Picking up.

And so I'm enjoying myself on the campaign trail.

We're changing the dialogue with people are talking about every single day.

And so I'm proud of our campaign.

And I think that the only poll that really matters what happens on Election >> so let's let's talk about the governor, which that poll said that if you were up against him and that is a snapshot in time that you would have earned 35% of that vote and he 52%.

So let's talk about that matchup.

Possibly a new have come out pretty hard against the governor on what you see perhaps is a misstep or failing and addressing the opioid epidemic.

But he might say that, well, he's put forth an executive order to legalize medical marijuana use for some Kentuckians and that, you know, he's hoping the General Assembly will come aboard, but that he believes it's a mitigation measure for opioid Is it?

Disingenuous to accuse him of ignoring the opioid epidemic in Kentucky.

>> I think medical marijuana and its relation to fit in all.

Are 2 separate issues.

I think that when you go out to the rule, Kentuckyian see the scourge of addiction, everybody, you know, somebody that struggled with it and we need a governor is going to be tough on crime and also put drug dealers behind bars and work to General Assembly to do that.

But also we need a governor that believes in second chances.

And that's something that that I've been talking a lot about out across Kentucky.

Is that the best thing we can do as a society is to get somebody off the resources they need.

Hopefully go through recovery and get back into the job, a workforce because that's something that there is a crisis of in Kentucky.

Is that we've got to get more Kentuckians back into the workforce.

And that's something that I think that a lot of people frustrated with a lot of people, Macy job growth.

But they also know that they can't afford groceries or fuel in their pickup trucks or cars across Kentucky as well.

And so I think there's a major economic aspect of this race that will emerge of this year.

>> So that seems like a federalization of the races.

We talk about inflation, which is largely driven by national economic factors.

Is that how you're going?

So wager?

Campaign is more about Biden.

Bashir last Beshear on his own.

>> I think when you talk to someone that struggles to pay for groceries and their gas, they don't care if it's from Frankfort to Washington, D.C., that is what the problem being fix.

I'll be governor that that stands up.

What's wrong in Washington, D.C.?

We're doing it right now against EPA that 3rd reopening a power grab club wrote us that we put the bet a few years ago with a common sense solution and now they're opening it backup.

We need American energy independence as well that we need to make sure that we don't punish energy producing states and that we reward those who are entrepreneurs want to go out there, help fix things.

the economy more efficient and an least economic power of Kentucky.

>> We'll have the final part part 3 of my interview with Ryan corals as he talks about medical marijuana, legalization and more.

That's tomorrow on Kentucky edition.

Corrections officers in Lexington are getting a pay raise.

The mayor's office announced the Urban County Council approved a pay raise totaling $7500 a year.

The increase brings starting pay for corrections officers in Lexington to more than $50,000 a year.

In a statement, Mayor Linda Gorton said, quote, like other cities, Lexington has had a problem attracting recruits and retaining officers.

Safety is essential.

It is the foundation for our city's quality of life, end quote.

The council also approved pay raises for police officers and firefighters.

The mayor's office says the total cost of the raises is roughly 17 million dollars a year.

Good economic news for Kenton County in northern Kentucky.

Whitehorse Freight just cut the ribbon on a 5.4 million dollar facility in Crestview Hills.

It will mean about 400 jobs in the cities.

Thomas Moore office park, White horse moves freight using different kinds of trucks.

WLKY in Louisville reports Marty Pollio, the Jefferson County Public School superintendent will propose changes to school.

Start times polio is plan would allow middle and high school classes to start later.

Right now they start at 07:40AM.

He says the plan would allow teenagers to get more sleep, which can help learning.

He says he also says it would allow the school system to consolidate bus routes at a time when there's a shortage of bus drivers.

Polio is proposal could come in the next few weeks.

The state is canceling 184 checks accidentally sent to people in Western Kentucky who wore it affected by the December 2021.

Tornadoes, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the public protection Cabinet sent out more than 10,000 checks totaling 10 million dollars from the team.

Western Kentucky tornado relief on some people call the state treasurer's office to say they hadn't been affected by the storms and didn't want to take the money.

The public protection Cabinet told the newspaper that some of the checks could have been issued as a result of fraud.

But the cabinet wouldn't say how many.

♪ Time now for a midweek, check-in of some major political developments in Kentucky this week.

So far with our good friend Ryland Barton is the managing editor of Kentucky Public Radio and Ohio Valley Resource.

Good to see you.

>> It's the team that okay.

So let's start with the big story that Warren broke on Monday.

I believe it was that Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams is still doing elect shun law for out of state clients.

And one has a connection.

2 election deny or so.

Talk to us about this and what kind of conflict does this pose for the current secretary of state?

>> Right.

And of Austin Point out in the story that on at least at this point that there doesn't appear to be any illegal activity going on here.

But it is just a little unusual for a statewide office holder to still be, you know, working for and advising a out of especially out of state of politicians and their campaigns and ongoing practice PSA.

He's also served as the lawyer for Kansas Attorney Chris Kovacs, his unsuccessful U.S. Senate of a campaign in 2020.

He did raise questions on its involvement with using a nonprofit groups e-mail list.

And you know, basically using inappropriately getting hold of that list up from election desires of what the group is called.

We build the Wall nonprofit organization of folks that were, you know, still questioning you know.

Elections in the wake of Donald Trump's presidency and yes, so he's been involved in all these for other politicians in recent years.

And there's just kind of some question as to what extent that's appropriate for a specially statewide election official in Kentucky to be doing that for for the politicians in other states.

So let's talk about same kind of fame.

>> voters and in Kentucky, we see that the trend for third-party and independent voter registration is still ticking upward.

So what do you make of this?

>> Yeah, this is something that we've seen for several years at this This summit of this data that Secretary Adams also released and and he's really pointed out over the years how this shows that, you know, specially Kentucky voters are interested in in those points in which the parties agree with each the those middle of the road of of moderate and that a lot of people are dissatisfied with some of the rhetoric of and some of you basically activity that your Democrat or Republican politicians engage and so this is this is something that's been going on for years and it's it's only grown that the real news now is that that voter registration number for independence and other political party affiliations finally of that into the 10% range broke double digits.

So you know, it seems like this is a trend that's only growing Kentucky.

It's going to be interesting to see how long it grows.

If there's a point in which you never slows down or dips because at some point that's something Kentucky politicians are really going to have to consider for statewide office elections.

How much are they going to be tried to for those 10% of the electorate that doesn't affiliate with the traditional pub political parties.

>> And if we would ever go to an open primary tight.

>> Right.

Yeah.

Percent of the voters can vote in.

Yeah, that's right.

So yeah.

Another topic.

We know that the teacher shortage is a big issue.

We expect the Kentucky General Assembly may take this up in some form and then remaining days when they go back next week.

>> But there was a press conference earlier this week with the Kentucky Association of School Administrators and the governor talking about these thousands of teacher vacancies right now.

So what are they saying would help with that?

>> I mean, they're saying of one of the main things will be increasing, take of for teachers.

But there's got to be other considerations for of of education and other benefits of one of the big things that they want is they just want, you know, they want lawmakers to study the issue.

A study, Kentucky education and really the public's attitudes towards the teaching come up with opportunities to make certificates a little bit easier to But then there's always teacher a part of this, which is what the governor is Bush 40 wants his push for 5% teacher raises this is something used.

And I think since it was first lawmakers will argue that they've, you know, they've increased education funding as a whole.

It's up to districts to then decide how to use that education money, whether they want to fund raises for teachers.

So this is going to come back up when lawmakers back into session next week.

There's an education committee is going to be studying that the teacher shortage.

I think there is.

And there is some support among some Republicans over doing something like this.

But that would involve tracking the budget back open.

Also find involved.

They're trying to find the money for that.

>> So final item for Casey Crosby, who was wants a Lexington Fayette County Council and has been involved in state and national politics for some time she was elected as treasurer of the Republican National Committee.

This is pretty significant and kind of speaks to how Kentuckians really make strides in these these spaces.

>> It really is.

I mean, Kentucky has for really had an outsize to presence on the national stage.

And this is just another example of that.

And I think we can see some of those working these and other parts of Kentucky politics in it.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell continue to have a prominent role in national politics.

Former UN Ambassador Kelly Craft one having that position.

But also, you know, coming back and running for governor of Kentuckyian a congressman Jake homer with his new role as that, a House oversight Investigations Chairman Congress.

So you know, this is he's across these roll.

And this is just another way in which the talking is really have outsized influence on on national politics.

>> Well, good to see or island is always on a Wednesday would be Wednesday without Santa.

So thanks so much for your perspective.

See you next week.

>> Thanks for that.

♪ >> The state is given an opioid treatment pilot program 10 and a half million dollars.

It's the first funding award from the settlement money Kentucky received from opioid companies.

The pilot program will offer health treatment options for opioid disorders as an alternative to jail.

Turning to medical news last year, the federal government approved Kentucky's Medicaid expansion plan.

It calls for expanding coverage for dental vision and hearing the plan also extends coverage for postpartum care from just 60 days to 12 mots.

The change will allow an estimated 10,000 women to KET their health coverage for longer.

Doctor Wayne Tuckson, host of Key Health talks about this important issue with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Secretary Eric Friedlander.

>> Complications can come from pregnancy.

postpartum depression.

So you see some issues with suicide and all the stress that from childbirth, both physical stress and emotional stress can have negative impacts on help.

So you've got to KET those women engaged in care for at least a year after that.

You really are yet how big is the problem here in Kentucky?

Right?

Well, we we made some progress on maternal and child health in terms of being able to offer some coverage and just coverage for women who are pregnant postpartum 12 months and Medicaid, which is fantastic.

I think's going to make a big difference.

Yeah.

But that access to care in Kentucky.

We're about middle of the pack, which isn't too bad, but death rates.

We've always been above the national average always.

And so we've got to work together.

As you said, it was perfect hospitals.

Yeah, I will beat you ions support organizations to make sure that we're supporting women.

As long as we can.

To have those possible.

>> You can see more of doctor toxins conversation with Secretary Freelander this weekend.

Catch Kentucky health on Sundays at 12:30PM, Eastern 11:30AM.

Central right here on KET.

♪ >> A Louisville native is responsible for water called museum bees.

But what exactly is a museum be?

Turns out its 5th size art that makes use of recycled picture frames to create unique pieces in this week's Tapestry segment, a midweek focus on arts and culture.

Our Casey Parker Bell talks to Trace Mayor the creator of museum bees where he learned that beauty can be right in front of us, often forgotten and just needing a new perspective.

>> We've saves not only the world from a bit of increasing that, but again, it's it's saving some beauty and being able to to share that.

>> These elaborate picture frames were heading to the dump.

For living a new life as a museum p. But perhaps the title is misleading.

Sometimes it's a museum turtle.

Under we're direct.

Forgotten and recycle things combined to become a piece of art.

The last and left behind melded into something waiting, wanting to hang on the wall.

But it all started with a B. I was working on an impressionist painting and the frame has been in the painting.

And that was one that we just we couldn't throw in the leftovers with the quarters together a little the pulley on to be that I collected years before.

>> And it was just this kind of magic tricks.

Mayor created museum bees.

He worked in the antique art world first in New York before deciding to return to Kentucky to home.

There's a mini.

Many different picadillo success in the art world and seek in general.

One of mine is that of of price and value.

It just felt like over the last 30 years that things are priced.

>> Way people's ability to participate.

As money gets involved in anything it corrupts and that was what I did I found is that people weren't buying a bus gather because it was something only because it's something they love to is also a status symbol and it became a commodity and it became something more than that pure, a pure love for the object.

Now, mayor spends his days creating museum bees.

In fact.

He creates more than 15,000 a year.

But this team.

>> As of the beginning of the day said, hey.

You know, 4 trays of visit that actually I can do that.

Each piece different from every other that look at it more as a sit down.

That's a great meditation.

Sit at the table and and look at it trying to you puzzles in many ways.

Of course, it's impossible because when if you look at each of these flames as a different dynamic balance and it's like fitting that piece of the jigsaw puzzle of a sudden you're like, yes, all right.

That's it.

Love it.

The process may seem random trial and error with a little bit of unknown.

Understand it.

But in the end is a new piece of art created from the old.

Taking something often overlooked.

A picture frame and making it the focus.

But these crazy overdone pieces just by themselves in a small bit of isolation are fantastic.

It's like being able to enjoy the icing on a cake without having the entire cake made of icing.

Each piece is signed by mayor with the initials of that year's Kentucky Derby.

Winner a nod to his hometown in every peace, a connection between the recycled past.

Recreated pressed, there's a creative endeavor when it comes to looking, you know, it's not just you have to learn how to look in certain ways and and with this, it was it was learning to appreciate the frame itself, not just what was inside it.

I think we all do that in different ways that are in our world.

And this is a great opportunity to to do so for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Thank you, Casey have fabulous.

Each museum be has the exact same price.

Mayor says it so people can exchange pieces if they have one, they don't like and hopefully leading people to only pick one to they personally love museum.

Bees is in its 10th year and just moved into a new studio.

Where is flipped the script unlike most antique stores, the workshop is on the first floor.

The antique art is on the second worth a visit.

Well, tomorrow, part 3 of our interview with Ed Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Ryan corals.

>> The fibula leaders aren't required at all Kentucky sporting events, you know, family working to change that and why it's personal to them and see the Hispanic perspective on my old Kentucky home will take you to this Louisville exhibit tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which of course, as of 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central, it's where we inform connect and inspire.

Subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips at K E T Dot Org.

Thank you so very much for watching this evening.

I hope to see you right back here tomorrow night.

Take good care.

♪