♪ >> I'm not gonna put myself in place of a doctor.

>> Lawmakers debate, gender affirming care for inmates.

How often does it happen, Ed?

Is it necessary?

You know, to Marc goes?

>> If there's strike, 3 called the ball game is over.

>> Did the rules of the workplace workout on the baseball field?

Find out who's crying foul.

>> They wear says sneakers and their suits to celebrate and to love on those who have had cancer.

>> And why some Frankfort, 8th graders designed a pair of shoes for a very special cause.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Thursday.

It is February the 13th Day before Valentine's Day.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

Transgender inmates are the subject of legislation advancing in the state legislature today as a committee OK to bill to KET public dollars from funding their gender affirming medical care.

Our June Leffler has more as we begin tonight's Legislative update.

The Senate Majority Whip.

>> Warren County Senator Mike Wilson presented Senate Bill 2 today.

>> It builds just basically states that if you're incarcerated.

You're not entitled to have crossed sex hormones.

Sex change operations to change or sex from one to another male to female female, to male.

>> Kentucky's justice and public safety Cabinet last month said 67 inmates in state custody received hormone gender affirming care.

Hundreds more inmates receive hormone therapy for menopause or other medical reasons.

And the cabinet says it does not offer sex reassignment surgeries.

>> Of that, 67 number.

Is it not true that all of those have been medically prescribed by licensed physician?

>> Senator, I would say they have to be prescribed by a physician, but just like they per side, those are big car or anything else.

That is something that is people want them to have.

They want to have it.

They get their doctor to prescribe it.

It's not medically necessary.

And Medicaid says it's not medically necessary.

>> The American Medical Association says it is necessary care.

So does it Kentuckyian who had to go without her horman therapy in an Indiana jail.

>> Those weeks without medical treatment were an absolute nightmare.

Suddenly my body and mind began to change.

And I had a rapid decrease in body fat.

Another physical side effects that triggered extreme gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia and mental anguish.

I suddenly became weak and lethargic.

I spent most of my time in my bunk asleep.

I didn't have a clear head in my mind felt numb.

My depression became so severe that I contemplated suicide.

>> The measure was approved in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

One Republican passed on the measure.

>> I think the intent of this bill is not to have the state pay for.

Operations that are elective law.

People are in prison.

I don't think the intent of the bill is too.

The NIE medical treatment that they're already receiving.

And I need clarification that that has not stopped that.

>> The 2 Democrats voted no when it's medically necessary that it should be prescribing should be carried out.

I'm not going put myself in place of a doctor.

You can even discuss minimum wage here.

>> In in in in this body.

We're not paying people enough to do that.

You know, second priority is that we want to deny 67 people medically necessary treatment.

In my mind.

That's a distortion parties.

>> Senate bill 2 now heads to Florida boat House Bill 5 in the lower chamber also seeks to remove that care for Kentucky to Leffler.

>> Thank you, Jim, for that story.

And now turning to another story of June's, a tragic past and federal scrutiny hover over Kentucky's juvenile justice system.

State Senator Danny Carroll from Western Kentucky is once again offering up a plan to reform a system.

The tax on the most troubled kids and struggles to match them with facilities and service is best equipped to help them.

Our dew Leffler is back with more on that.

>> Sexual assault.

Violence and riots have occurred in Kentucky's juvenile detention centers.

>> The one Young lady in would be stripped.

She stripped yourself over clothes.

She was lying in feces.

Minimal treatment.

Just a poor and situation and not getting the care that she needed to reverse course.

State Senator Danny for Senate Bill, 111, he proposes to new detention centers for Kentucky's girls.

Those could reduce crowding and offer more security to go back in and renovate in to add on to each one of these regional facilities to house male female in separate violent from nonviolent, the costs would be would exceed, I believe, would exceed what the costs would you 2 would be to build to stand alone.

Female detention centers.

>> The price tag is 95 million dollars.

The senators also proposing a new way to decide where Kentucky's most traumatize kids should spend their days.

>> Established the process by which a juvenile taken into custody by D J J or a youth committed to see Hfs receives a behavioral assessment to determine whether or not the U qualifies is a high acuity youth.

>> Carol has offered this all before with no success.

And he's asking for tens of millions of dollars during an odd year session with the state budget is not usually up for negotiation.

The leader of the Senate gave his take on the proposal.

>> I advise you to KET it in the price tag.

Knowing that whether or not we open up the budget decision becomes a question.

But everybody needs to understand implementation of this bill, which I think everyone knows is probably needed, will come with a price tag.

If not this year, it will probably come next year.

>> Carroll says he's ready to make the first step.

>> The model that we have set forth, I believe is the correct solution.

However, if the call so that causes this bill to die, I'm willing to remove that provision from the bill to ensure that we get the mental health process in place to address these issues within djj.

>> The bill passed unanimously and Senate judiciary and now heads to the Senate floor for Kentucky June LaFleur.

Thank you.

And again, June pro choice Advocates pledge again to KET fighting for greater abortion access and the state.

>> State Representative Lindsey Burke, a Lexington, Democrat and leader in the House announced the 2 bills aimed at reestablishing reproductive rights for Kentuckians flanked by members of Planned Parenthood Alliance.

Burke says that her plan also protects those who travel out of state to get the procedure.

>> I'm here today to reintroduce 2 important bills, house bills for 18 and for 19, which I call the North Star Bill and the Shield Bill.

Since the Dobbs decision in 2022, American women have effectively been stripped of control of their bodies and reproductive health.

States like Kentucky have been laying the groundwork to ensure that have such a decision came from the Supreme Court.

Our state will be ready to fully eliminate access to abortion care through a trigger ban.

13 states had a trigger ban at the time of the Dobbs decision.

A few enacted bans shortly thereafter.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Kentucky's trigger ban is one of the most restrictive in the country.

Kentucky's bam limits doctors to provide abortion care only when the life and health of the mother is at stake.

And it provides criminal and professional penalties for doctors who run afoul of this narrowly tailored loophole.

Doctors tell me and others that the penalties for them are so high that they fear providing here, you will.

And it's clear a woman is in crisis and needs immediate intervention to protect her life.

Her health.

They often delay care, consulting with lawyers, rather that other doctors putting women's lives at risk in order to avoid punishment.

That's not how they want to practice medicine.

And that's not what Kentucky deserves.

Let's be clear.

The abortion ban was designed to cause harm.

>> It was planned and now we're seeing the devastating consequences unfold in real time since Roe fell more than 65,000 rape related pregnancies have occurred in states with abortion bans and 3,000 of them right here in Kentucky.

Let that sink in.

Kentucky now has the 3rd highest rate of rape related pregnancies in that in the country among states that refuse to allow survivors.

The option of a abortion care surviving sexual violence is already a nightmare, forcing someone to remain pregnant after is the cruelty beyond measure.

>> Planned Parenthood held a rally this afternoon and the state Capitol touting the reproductive freedom measures they hope to be considered.

Under Kentucky law.

Anyone who suspects a child is being abused is required to report it.

Some state lawmakers want to make sure that laws part of the training for high school coaches, state Senator Cassidy Chambers, Armstrong, a Louisville Democrat, is the sponsor of Senate Bill.

120.

She testified about the need for this bill today during the Senate Committee on Education shared by the co-sponsor of the bill, Republican state Senator Stephen West of Paris.

>> There is a an investigative series done by a newspaper that looked at Kentuckyian it found over 80 sort of public documented cases involving sexual abuse of high school athletes over the past 15 years in our school system.

And it also cited some statistics saying around 9% of student athletes report that someone in a position of trust, it's something at some point that made them feel uncomfortable and that's not what we want.

We know the vast majority of our coaches are out there in the red, like the coaches I had out there changing lives.

We know sports are so important for young people and can give them so much and teach them so many important life skills.

And so this is just a way to make sure that we're equipping everyone with the tools that they need to be able to make sure that sports a stay, the really important, healthy place that they can be for kids.

>> This seems like a small thing.

And it is a small thing in a in a good way.

It's not an onerous.

New, big bureaucracy or something that we're doing is just a small thing.

But but sometimes the smallest things have a very, very large impact.

And, you know, if we can do this and prevent one to 10 cases or whatever, it's it's it's a very, very big thing.

>> Senate Bill, 120 but also require student athletes and their parents be made aware of Kentucky's right to report abuse laws.

The bill passed out of the committee unanimously and now heads to the full Senate for consideration there.

>> It's not a typical 9 to 5 job being a minor league baseball player means working odd hours and there's concern that professional baseball's new collective bargaining agreement is in conflict with Kentucky is wage and hour laws, and amaze Bledsoe of Lexington has introduced Senate Bill 15.

It would exempt minor League baseball players from the state's requirements.

Senators heard today from the Major League Baseball about why playing baseball isn't like other jobs.

>> The very idea of trying to track hours would lead to some very interesting results to say the least.

>> A club that would perhaps be forced to limit the amount of time a player can review video that the bats.

>> Then a player from accessing the clubhouse or imagine a picture being taken out of the game and then being required to clock out and go home.

So passage of the bill would simply put Kentucky on equal footing with all states that follow federal labor law, labor law as well as other states that have recently passed laws granting this relief to minor league players such as North Carolina, Florida, California, New York and Washington.

So this is a much improved.

>> Opportunity for players and want to KET a major minor leagues here.

If nothing else for the fireworks in the community assets that they are as my little boy ran the bases in dreaming of hitting that home run in the 9th inning.

Its an important part for for that, the communities in the state.

And this is a easy way to KET up with Kentucky's in baseball's future.

>> I'm all with 100%.

The Outback.

All back.

Baseball.

>> Members of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration by the membership.

There.

We're saying national and state level pushes to hang the 10 Commandments and schools.

And today the House Committee on state government heard a resolution to restore a granite monument of the 10 Commandments to the Capitol in Frankfort, the monument was a gift from the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Back in 1971, as our McKenzie speak explains.

Proponents say it deserves to return home.

>> For supporters of House Joint Resolution, 15 returning a monument of the 10 Commandments to Capitol grounds is about history.

>> History is a very important thing.

It tells where we where we were, where we've come from.

It defines who we are.

>> In 1971, the Fraternal Order of Eagles donated the Granite Monument in question to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

It looks much like the one pictured here which currently sits at the Texas State Capitol.

Kentucky's monument was displayed beside the iconic floral clock until the 1980's when it was removed.

Not because of a controversy, but a construction project when the monument was brought out of storage again, nearly 20 years later, it was challenged in court and did not pass the legal test.

Lemon be Kurtzman.

So it returns to the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

>> The Limon versus Kurtzman case back in 71.

Essentially it's set up a test of a three-pronged test for the most part that government action in this must have a secular purpose.

And Ken, secondly, it cannot either inhibit nor prohibit a religion.

And 3rd, you can entangle government with religion any more than necessary.

>> 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case upholding the right of a football coach to pray privately on the field deems the lemon test void for all consideration purposes.

Opening the door to restore the 10 Commandments monument to Kentucky's Capitol grounds.

With that change in the Kennedy case, the new standard for looking at this type of contacts in the 10 Commandments involvement with the government.

>> It really becomes an analysis of what's the historical understandings and traditions rather than what your purpose.

And I think the resolution sets that forward.

>> Opponents of the resolution conceded the historical significance of the monument but raised concerns about the separation of church and state representative and Gueydan worth who passed on the resolution felt there was a way forward with the measure if monuments of other faiths could be represented.

Similarly at the Capitol.

>> As a history major, I'm I'm very much in support of showcasing the history.

I think we also I need to have as many ethical reminders as we can.

That said, I would like to work with you, Representative Baker to to see if we can reach an agreement about a floor amendment to make sure that people of other faiths are able to see themselves represented on our Capitol grounds as well.

>> Representative Jason Petri and attorney by trade responded that while he was open to amendments, new monuments without historical significance would have a hard time qualifying under the newer Kennedy precedence.

The resolution passed favorably and next heads to the House floor for Kentucky Edition.

I'm McKenzie spent.

>> Thank you.

McKenzie.

If House joint resolution, 15 passes by the General Assembly, the restoration of them on it would be added to the existing capital renovation plan and would likely be installed at the monument Park already on Capitol grounds.

Survivors and mothers of murdered loved ones told their stories and the state Capitol yesterday as the group Moms Demand Action urge Kentucky legislators to pass laws that will put human lives above the Second Amendment.

>> It's for disease.

It would ♪ ♪ ♪ In this room, sit on their hands get into a gas.

You're sitting in Florence last year.

She got to I-75 the whole notion of a shooting in 2023.

Something must be done so that we don't have to live in fear anymore.

>> According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions from 2013 to 2022. gun violence went up by 37% and Kentucky and 2022.

Kentucky has the 16th highest rate of gun deaths in the U.S. and firearms with the second leading cause of death among children, ages one to 17.

As we've reported, the state is dealing with an estimated 40 million dollar funding shortfall affecting public schools today Governor Andy Beshear announced action to fully fund see which is the base funding for education.

Those payments during this school year.

>> By working able to announce today that I'm authorizing the commissioner's request to increase the fiscal year 2020 for 2025.

Seek general Fund appropriation to address the shortfall.

The budget bill permits the commission to request a 14.7 million dollar increase in this appropriation.

If the required expenditures exceed the initial estimates and for the governor to be able to approve those funds.

We do have the funds to get this done.

And that's I've approved that 14.7 million dollar increase for schools.

It won't have any negative impacts on any other areas of the budget.

>> The governor also announced his office has joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the president's federal funding.

Freeze.

A judge has blocked it, but Governor Beshear says parts of it are still in place and he says it's hurting programs that benefit Kentucky hands.

And he says planned tariffs are bad for Kentucky's economy.

He says they'll mean higher prices that will also hurt Kentuckians.

And Governor Beshear is also said the state is preparing for a possible floods over the weekend.

He says National Guard troops are being put into position to help.

If flooding does indeed occur.

The U.S. Senate today confirmed the Robert F Kennedy junior as secretary of Health and Human Services.

Only one Senate Republicans voted against him.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky survive childhood polio and said Kennedy has, quote a record of trafficking and dangerous conspiracy theories about vaccines.

Earlier this week, McConnell voted against Tulsi Gabbard to being the director of National intelligence and he voted against Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.

What he may have to give.

♪ ♪ >> A Western Kentucky school district is removing barriers to health care when a student gets sick, they can now see a doctor without even leaving school.

It's all thanks to new technology at Owensboro, Public Schools.

Our Laura Rodgers takes us there to show us how it works in today's medical news report.

>> When students at bounced elementary school in Owensboro get sick or need medication.

They visit the health rooms for care that might have a fever or vomiting or have an infection in that case.

They need to see a doctor or nurse practitioner and they can do so.

Now from school, they lie to the system.

A lot decided this is something that we could use the really benefit a lot of kiddos.

>> And that system is technology called high.

Do care much students can virtually see a medical provider to provider is able to listen to long sounds and heart sounds.

They can look in the patient's throat and they can look at skin rashes, Owensboro, Public Schools received title care at the first of the year.

We're a partnership with Audubon Area community services.

I definitely think this is helping to fill a health care gap.

Officials say it's helping medical professionals see more students, faculty and staff and less time passed since they're not traveling between schools for in-person visits.

Our visits have increased 3 times of what they were when we are actually seeing the kiddos and percent own lanes here.

I mean, out of an area community services was able to purchase title care through a school-based health extension grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

It's really helpful for those that might have transportation issues or they can't afford to take another day off work and they can be seen through tidal care.

The parent never has to leave work.

>> The child never has to leave school.

>> Unless it's a contagious illness or a lab test is needed, students can then go back to the classroom with little disruption to the school day, parents actually have the option to dollar and on the visit with a as well.

The visit is covered by insurance or a sliding scale payment model that connect prescriptions are called into a pharmacy where families can pick them up later that day.

And for Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

The telehealth services and all of owns barrels public schools serving grades, kindergarten through the 12th grade.

>> The district does get parental permission before a student appointment.

♪ >> Coaches versus cancer is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches to raise awareness for cancer.

Kentucky State University basketball coach Jamaal Jackson has long been combining formal and casual wear during games for the coalition's suits and sneakers initiative for this year's event.

Coach Jackson decided to let some creative Frankfort, 8th graders try their hand at shoe design for the cause.

>> Coaches versus cancer, too.

It's just initiative a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball started participating in their suits, Suits and sneakers initiative.

Probably about 10, 10 to 12 years ago to to sneakers as one of the many initiatives that coaches versus cancer uses just to publicize their work in the their efforts and and getting people to to get screened for castor minorities.

Don't go to get screened at the rate that not minorities do.

So this is a very initiative.

>> They wears sneakers and their seats to celebrate and to love on those who have had cancer.

You are in remission who have passed away from cancer just to show support to this is the first CF had no some kids design ready, design my shoes.

Just to get more of the.

>> Well, the word out more community involvement by actually received an e-mail from the KSU basketball coach.

>> Originally, it was I think the message from person I don't teach PE.

But then I read through the rest of it.

I was like, oh, they want to have us do that from there.

Picks them up at 2 students at first too, have a love of art.

And I KET that there are style might be a little bit different, but that they could still come up with something really neat.

I ended up recruiting 2 more boys who also enjoy art.

A lot.

And they were just really hyped to work on them.

The one who fired.

>> By having having a time to come car and it rests how I put how I but they are on the shoe like how I it was my creativity to express breast cancer with this book.

>> We did that.

A lot of this during my lunch time.

So they would be in here with me.

And I would just kind of give them space because I wanted them to be able to create without any influence from me.

I wanted it to be all student based.

The 2 different colored is I like how one shoes by pink and black.

And now though there has is all right with the >> breast cancer ribbon sort of we've you split the 2 for the part.

No one KET why take the one that had the most color on it.

It means J.

They surely J Rip Up the How do the ribbon to stuff like that.

By the perfect way to do about color.

The show's the co.

It's a fight that.

Read him before just to the river is a live issue.

>> The kids the great job and I'm really happy with him.

I enjoy wearing them.

Got a lot of comments from what from our students here.

>> I bet so.

>> Coach Jackson wore the shoes during a home game with Lane College on January 14th and the Thoroughbreds scored a victory.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

We'll introduce you to a couple whose job is not for the faint of heart.

>> We love to work together.

We spend every waking moment together all covered in chicken coop because they had had their chickens and that this is in the House.

>> And meet the husband and wife team tackling properties piled high with Joc and other things.

As you heard, that's tomorrow on Kentucky edition, which, you know, is at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

And that story will probably do that to.

We hope you'll also subscribe to our e-mail newsletters and watch full episodes and clips at KET Dot Org.

Look for us on the PBS app that you can download on your mobile device and smart TV.

Send us a story idea at the email on your screen and of course, follow KET on Facebook X.

>> And Instagram to stay in the late.

Thanks for watching.

And I will see you tomorrow night.

♪