♪ >> It will be yes, you can try to take away our health care, but you cannot take away our humanity.

>> Fairness advocates still the state capitols to say they're not going anywhere.

This dog's story could inspire changes to Kentucky laws on animal abuse and neglect.

>> I probably made thousands pots.

And see a Kentucky couple's new spin on an old art form.

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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday, February.

21st, I'm Renee Shaw.

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

>> You may recall pitched and emotional debate last year as lawmakers debated and passed the sweeping anti trans measure Senate Bill one 50 which restricted gender affirming care in Kentucky.

Critics of that bill were back today for the 2024 Fairness rally where lawmakers and queer youth rallied for better LGBTQ+ legislation and Kentucky.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> My name is Anne Curtis.

I'm running to represent Lexington's 4th Council District and I am a proud transgender, now these legislators have chosen to use their power.

Punch down at our most vulnerable to use our queer and trans youth as political pawns in a so-called culture war that they think will help them hold on to power for just a little bit longer.

We have already won the so-called culture war because you cannot legislate a group of people out of existence.

You can try to take away our rights.

>> You can bully us.

You can try to take away our health care, but you cannot take away our humanity.

>> There are some individuals who are on the ballot this year who identified as LGBTQ.

Not going to say to those individuals are, but for those individuals who are here and what did you find out A B T Q?

I join me up here right now.

>> 2 years ago it his.

What the video does.

I want you to look at these prices.

walker wages.

>> You know, last week, Grace.

Past marriage equality and the prime minister of Greece made a statement to his country that touched my heart.

And I want to share with you.

>> People who have been invisible.

Finely be made visible.

>> All around us.

And with them.

>> And me.

>> Shold run.

>> Finally, find they're right place.

Some of my colleagues at this point are so scared.

>> That their goal >> is to build a community.

Without you.

They don't want you in their community.

They don't want blacks.

They don't want gay say don't want trance.

They want what they have always had.

>> And their time is over.

>> Advocates rallied against 13 bill circulating in the Kentucky General Assembly this year.

They call that the slight of hate.

Religious liberty is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

But a decade ago, Kentucky lawmakers expanded that bright but the Religious Freedom Act of 2013 as Kentucky additions June Leffler reports that debate continues today at the state Capitol.

>> Representative Steve Rawlings is lead sponsor of House Bill.

47 definitions provided within HB FORTY-SEVEN help to ensure that Kentuckians of faith.

Can rely on the act to be heard in court.

They can also get the courts clarity and how they should weigh these rights against the state's interest and burdening them.

Rawlings co-sponsors says this bill would have helped a Kentucky Muslim woman who sued Louisville metro corrections.

>> But in this case there a woman who was arrested while protesting.

She was a Muslim, the woman and she would want to hear his job during her arrest that she had to go and get a picture.

A photo ID and it was a male that had the giver photo and it was going to give you the photo.

I D and he asked her to take it off again.

And she felt that was a violation of her religious freedom that in her religion, she's not allowed to take her head scarf or a off around men who are not in her family.

They made her take it off.

They took a picture and they published the picture for the public.

And so she suit there's no, it doesn't seem like there's a compelling government interest to make or take off to cover his job.

And if you're going to do that, then it's easy to accommodate, make it women officers only.

>> But other cases of religious freedom might be trickier.

What if a religious belief goes against state laws?

What if a religious belief turns into discrimination against others such as LGBTQ folks.

A Louisville Democrat mentioned the case of Sunrise Children's Services, which refused to place Kentucky Foster or adoptive children with gay parents.

They would have the rate.

>> To discriminate and tell me know that I that they would not place a child with me is that that's the intention of.

From my understanding of what you just said.

That is the intention the reason why you brought this bill forward.

>> That is not the reason I brought the bill forward that my the intention was to protect people of faith to be able to practice their religious beliefs.

>> Sitting in the House Judiciary Committee and testify in favor of the bill was a lawyer with the Alliance Defending Freedom.

The National Christian legal nonprofit is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

>> For their anti LGBTQ views Alliance defending Freedom helped win cases for a baker and a web designer who both refused to offer services to gay couples with some reservations.

The bill advanced favorably out of committee with a 14 to 6 vote for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

>> According to the State Fairness Campaign, 24 cities have adopted a fairness ordinance that bans discrimination against gay and trans people and employment housing and other public services.

Animal abuse and neglect could calm with tougher penalties of House Bill.

2.58 becomes law.

The bill adds to the state's definition of abuse and neglect.

2 examples restraining a dog with chains and ropes or abandoning a pet for 3 or more days.

>> This bill comes from the need to separate intentional torture and gross neglect from simply ignorant pet ownership skills.

So the abuser will face the appropriate charges for their criminal act while assuring that all good pet owners that their rights are protected in the process.

And I think that we've done that in House bill to 58.

The bill is called the Finn's Law named after a rescue dog who with the help of her or his rescue for dad.

>> Advocates for animals?

All across the Commonwealth.

It could soon be off to Kentucky voters to decide if there should be restrictions on a governor's pardon powers.

Republican state Senator Chris McDaniel is the sponsor of Senate Bill one.

26, which would require amending the state's constitution to limit when a governor can exercise those powers under the bill.

A governor could not issue pardons.

Beginning 30 days before a gubernatorial election and ending the day of the next inauguration.

McDaniel says the bill is in response to former Republican Governor Matt Bevin's, last-minute pardons for violent offenders, including people convicted of murder and child sexual abuse.

>> This forces any pardons.

The governor would wish to issue to be done in such a manner that they have to stand to account or the party who standard-bearer they are has to stand account to the voters of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

There are those who say we should not eliminate the power to pardon and this simply does not do this certainly does not do that.

This is 60 days out of every 4 years where there is a restriction on that ability.

>> Senate bill one, 26 pass the full Senate today with 34 yes votes and 2 no votes and one pass vote if it passes the House, the constitutional amendment could be on the November ballot this year.

Today officially became suicide prevention day in Kentucky on hand as Governor Beshear signed the proclamation, the mother of a Marine who died by suicide.

She was there to show support for a bill that would establish a veteran suicide prevention program.

She says more needs to be done to save those who served our country.

>> I lost my son, Matthew Winkler.

The it was in the Marine Corps.

It was a corporal.

And then 26 say he took his life today.

I present the governor with a little plastic green I do that when it comes to become likely answer soon jokes.

And I asked him to please put that on their desk and to remember, not only my son but all of the veterans, especially with House Bill, being there and governor place these sold on the podium today and then says to after signed the proclamation so today has been a little overwhelming.

But again, it's been good because I'm unable to on stress that our veterans and our families as We or supporting, you know, suicide affects a lot of us.

We know that more than 50% of Kentuckians have been affected by suicide of someone they love are now our veterans really deserve the best that they can get it right.

And I honestly they're not getting There's a lot of things the VA is doing is a lot of great programs.

We can always use more.

>> And House 30 is really a great program for additional U.S. resources.

>> Another bill advocates want to they advocated for today's event.

House Bill 3.63, which would provide mental health treatment for all first responders and the state.

It's a debate in Frankfort centered around property rights and housing discrimination.

Yesterday, Kentucky senators endorsed a plan to avoid local rules on accepting low-income housing vouchers like Section 8 House Bill 18 prohibits local governments from requiring landlords to accept federal housing assistance.

Vouchers from tenants as rent payment.

Democrats denounced it as wrong and discriminatory.

>> What we're doing today.

And let's be clear is we are discriminating against poor people.

And that's it before.

I think the best that it may because of this 2 weeks ago was not by me.

But Biden sooner from Jefferson.

26 when she talked about how we treat wealthy parents who want to call sign for the children different which treat those was the federal government subsidies.

>> The main argument that we hear about this bill time and time again is that it requires landlords to take below market rent.

And you heard the senator from Fayette, 13 said and I will say it again.

That is simply not true.

That is not how these voucher programs work.

How do regulations explicitly say that landlords can employ the same legal screening criteria they could use for any applicant when reviewing prospective tenants, they can ask about previous landlords and seek references.

They can use their own application.

They can use their own standard least they can perform credit checks on prospective tenants.

They can set.

>> Last week, the Lexington, Fayette County Urban Council, voted to impose a source of discrimination ban as a way to address affordable housing.

Louisville already has such an ordinance.

Those against such local action say federal housing programs bogged down landlords with roles in red tape that can devalue property.

>> We've got to remember whose property we're talking about.

>> This is not the city of Louisville's property.

This is not the city of Lexington's property.

This is the landlord's property.

This is property that they bought in.

They paid for.

And they are in the best position.

To know how to use that property.

They are in the best position to know what types of federal programs to accept or not accept.

And they've got skin in the game because they are making the monthly mortgage payment.

>> A revised House Bill 18 now includes language with the Senate measure.

It passed the Senate yesterday.

25 to 11.

It's now back in the House while waiting final approval before being sent on to the governor's desk.

The emergence of artificial intelligence is shaking up the world schools and workplaces are adapting to a I even political campaigns have been impacted by AI fake videos, audio and images can be used to misrepresent a candidate and their platform.

A new bipartisan Kentucky Senate bill takes aim at protecting candidates in the Commonwealth are Clayton.

Dalton tells us how.

>> We have to get a handle on I can do as a legislature.

>> A new Senate bill would prohibit campaign groups from using artificial intelligence or AI to make deep fakes that misrepresent a candidate, particularly an opponent.

Deepfakes are videos, audio or images that are digitally altered to appear to be someone else.

They're often used to spread false information.

Senate Bill, one, 30 one's Republican sponsor says this is a problem that needs to be addressed.

>> It's not about the technology is how the technology is used.

The bill is very specific and has to address those as be false.

And let's be clear and concise and obviously that way with the intent to harm.

So you can't you and technologist some wonderful things and will make you know, I'm trying to campaign that is pouring out rain.

You know, I could do it perhaps inside using AI technology is almost and present the truth.

That's not a problem as we use it for malicious intent.

But that Bill, this is the bill.

We wants to get a hold of that piece of that.

That really is not fair to the voter.

They're they're making a decision that may or may not be sure to represent the 2 candidates, feelings and positions.

>> The bill specifically regulate election communication groups as defined by state law by campaign teams, candidates and political parties, but not independent groups.

So my concern is that only candidates committees or political parties are not able to do this and that the anybody else can do it.

>> I understand Senator Williams concerns.

Related to independent expenditure committees, but we can't regulate them here.

We we can only make law under Kentucky.

Revised statutes under the Kentucky registry of election finance.

>> But without federal intervention, there's only so much state lawmakers can do really.

This needs to be done at the federal level.

Congress needs to act.

But but Congress hasn't done so.

That's FOX.

We see states acting in this space.

>> Third-party expenditures are independent expenditures of that.

Some of that dark money that's already in politics.

It's a great the pact that shows up.

Not with an official campaign is running an ad or independent expenditure.

Those are governed by federal law.

I too, would like to hold them accountable to some standard set, I think would be nice and certainly above the fray.

Now that is not under our purview.

>> Senator Maize Bledsoe says the bill is still important, particularly for voters.

>> And it's important for the voters to trust that what I'm saying and what I'm doing is me and that when they see those ads and there's no disclosure on or something else that they they say this is who she really is.

And it's an important relationship, especially when there's so much technology misinformation out there.

Well, as from our standpoint, I think we should hold ourselves to the cost and to protect the voters as much protect ourselves.

>> Senate Bill one, 31 past with 10, yes votes and one, no vote and now heads to the Senate floor for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Senate Bill one.

31 is not the only piece of legislation dealing with AI earlier this month the state House unanimously passed a bill that punishes people who traffic ai-generated depictions of child pornography.

The head of Kentucky's largest school district is sending a strong message and changes are coming to a bill after an outcry over government transparency.

Our Laura Rogers has our midweek conversation with NPR's Rylan Barton.

>> Hello, Rylan and good to see you as always.

>> Could see 2 are.

>> And once again with Doctor Marty Pollio superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools giving his state of the District address yesterday.

And of course, much of that speech focused on the highlights there.

A JCPS good things happening.

He says that the district is on the right path, but he also did use some of that time to talk about what he considers to be threats to the district and wanting to clear up what he calls misinformation, misperceptions about things going on at NJ CBS.

Can you share some of your perspective on what he had to share in that address yesterday that it?

>> JCPS Louisville's a public school district is the largest in the state.

That's why you know that really matters to all Kentucky INS a board where another, but also this other part of it is that how much attention the state legislature gives to JCPS every year.

So this year the rose are studying whether or not to split apart the district, which would be a pretty huge undertaking last fall.

There's a lot of problems with the rollout of a new busing program helps students get from their homes in the neighborhoods to another school.

>> And it led to the district have to cancel classes for a few Days.

Inn is a big problem.

That remains of a crawl.

>> And this is something that reignited that interesting in trying to study whether or not to split apart the district saying that it might be too big for to be able to handle all of its responsibilities.

This is something Republicans have really tried to do a lot in recent years that something could happen a lot during a former Governor, Matt Bevin's administration as well.

>> Threatening to have state oversight of the district.

Also said there are a couple of the things that the Legislature is going after that they didn't want to do one another for this oversight levels conducting an audit of the district, which is something that also state auditor.

Allison Ball has said she's interested in is a game being played for.

And also he was worried about all these dei bills that are moving to the state legislature, which have also been moving through for years.

And one where mothers last year there's are a couple years ago.

There's that weather out so ball into a critical race theory, bill.

And now lawmakers are looking to further undercut and make sure that there's no sort of diversity, equity and inclusion programming within school districts, which he said that that would really undermine the districts and the ability to make a diverse students feel comfortable.

Also attract a diverse employees to the district.

And this is something we are similar ones from university presidents, the UK president Eli Capilouto said it was worried about how policies or even the state legislature undermine the University of Kentucky's ability to attract diverse talent and also promote diversity on campus.

So the big priorities for the legislature right but it's going to be expected.

Some the people who are in charge of these institutions that are pretty upset what I do, too.

>> Something else that has gotten a lot of attention in the General Assembly House Bill 509.

That would have have redefined how we look at public records.

What we consider public records and that has gotten again a lot of attention, a lot of criticism.

Where are we with that legislation right now?

>> Yes, so there's there's some talk in recent weeks of this bill is to come up and then it was proposed and a lot open government advocates got very upset that the provisions within this bill, which would have really changed a lot of what of the public records of the public has access to right now to change them.

the sponsor of this legislative, the legislation, a top concern for the Fisher said he's going to scale back a lot of provisions of this after from stakeholders here.

He says that you one part of this would have, you rendered anything that's on personal cell phone as they are, even if its business, the public business, it's prison cell phone with a blocked access to that.

It also other provisions that you know, a lot of a lot of reasons that open records often get blocks.

Now is a weather considered a drafter of the draft of legislature drafted a policy, something that isn't finished yet and has been expanded.

What would have counted as that, which?

Really makes it harder for the public to know what's going on in in government and how their taxpayer dollars are being used.

this it's it's still it's still yet to see where where this ultimately lives.

Seems like a bill like comes up every legislative session and it's really him for folks who are interested in and preserving a kind of open records powers to to kind of remind everybody what including the substation also all the vital work of the accountability that goes in because of these laws are in effect.

We're talking the problems with JCPS.

The Republican legislators are worried about is that a lot of from education around the state in 2 of liquids on a local school districts using the Open Records this is something that, you know, benefits everybody.

>> And did we find and I ask this because you and I both work in journalism to be finding a lot of news organizations, reporters and such were especially concerned about their access to public records.

>> and this is something I can you know, go to actually say as a journalist, this is something that we will stand up for.

And I think it's something that we think it's vitally important to our democracy and for and for citizens to be able to be informed other taxpayer money is being spent.

>> All right.

Well, Reiland, we sure appreciate it as always.

Thank you so much for your time.

>> Thank you.

Are.

>> We told you Friday about a possible strike at the Kentucky truck Plant and Louisville over health and safety concerns at the factory.

9,000 members of the United Auto Workers Union were prepared to walk off the job this upcoming Friday.

Tonight we can report progress to avoid that strike.

Ford and the UAW say they have reached a deal.

The 2 sides say the deal includes agreements over health and safety and other worker concerns.

Workers still have to vote to accept the agreement.

♪ Pottery is one of the oldest handy crafts and human history.

One Lexington, husband and wife demonstrate why the art form has endured for so long Hunter Ilyas taps both create clay art professionally.

But therein products couldn't be more different.

We're getting our hands dirty.

And this week's Arts and culture segment, we called Tapestry.

♪ >> So the work that I make is mainly abstract figurative its culture.

So it's more abstracted.

It's not a realistic figure of work, but all that comes from the body.

So it's completely abstract.

And so a lot of the work is trying to get communicate a sense of the physicality of the body and what it feels like to be in a body, but not necessarily.

Portray the whole body is like you would think of a statue.

>> My work pretty much all And I like to do lots of dinnerware and serving pieces and the services coffee services, things that will I'm kind of make you slow down.

Enjoy the moment.

I hope to convey a sense calm.

And a peaceful feeling with my work.

>> So a lot of times I said, I want the viewer to have.

Guttural feeling when they see my work.

Sometimes it can be a positive.

Sometimes it can be a little bit protest.

But my main goal is to have the viewer feel something.

>> There's so variations to what we can make with clay.

You know, everybody starting with a ball of clay, you know, dirt from the ground.

But since Friday when it comes you know, someone's art form and had and how it comes out of them.

So, you know, someone like me, I'm making functional or with the same materials as say, someone like Hunter, who's making work.

That is more conceptual for the fine art world's, you her calories.

I enjoy working with clay because there's so possibilities with clay.

I love just you know, just getting your hands dirty.

>> There's something about actually like touching them.

If you're in clay and there's been lots of studies recently about this, the psychological effect of touching claim, the tactile there are few the quality of working with it as a material a year touching.

And so I feel like that is something that still holds true to me.

Even Sunday.

>> We get better as you go.

His pieces is going to be a little bit different.

And I really enjoy Because you're you know, your hands are making the peace and it's going to be, you know, varied every time.

You know, you're trying to get to match.

Exactly.

But it's going to be a little bit different.

And I love that part of it.

You can tell it's made by hand and you can tell it's not made by machine.

and I think people really respond to that.

>> Beautiful artwork.

You can see the stamps work on display at the Lexington Central Library Gallery through March.

First, check that out.

We hope you'll check us out again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition.

We're we inform connect and inspire.

We hope you'll subscribe to our email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips of KET DOT Org.

And also look for us on the PBS video app and for your smartphone and your mobile device.

So send us a story ideas.

Well, public affairs at KET KET Dot Org and follow KET on all the platforms you see on your screen.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

Now, see you right back here again tomorrow night.

Take good care.

♪