♪ >> What are we going to?

We have a decision.

>> What will lawmakers do about Kentucky's child care crisis?

This day is just an important day to recognize their sacrifice as well as their parents.

Children of military members honored at the Capitol for their service to our country.

Being the first in eastern Kentucky is kind of.

Kind of Plus their response to a Black History museum and a part of the state that until recently didn't have one.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday, February, the TWENTY-SEVENTH I'm Renee Shaw.

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

The COVID-19 pandemic made things tough.

>> For for Kentucky's child care centers and they're still on affordable for some parents and on available to others.

Western Kentucky senator's bill to deal with those problems, took a step forward today in Frankfort.

Here's more from Kentucky additions Clayton Dalton on what's called The Horizons Act as we begin tonight's Legislative update.

>> But I think the worst thing that could possibly happen for our commonwealth is to do nothing.

>> As federal rescue money dries up the childcare industry in Kentucky needs help without aid from the state childcare costs for families could increase.

Senators could cut worker salaries and some providers may have to close their doors altogether to Horizons.

Act is a sweeping piece of legislation for early childhood education with an estimated 300 million dollar price tag, the bill aims to help families and childcare centers alike.

>> We can stand up for our kids.

We can show the importance that they are.

We can give them the proper education that we that they need.

We start looking at education.

At birth and we invest in these young students.

>> The bill is a multi-layered approach.

It provides money to families for child care offers grants to traditional childcare centers that open or expand and provides money for small home-based centers which are needed in rural parts of the state.

>> When I look at the financials from our organization in every month without fail, we lose money in early childhood education every month.

And if it weren't for the other programs, the we offer.

Our doors would be close and that would be 100.

110 kids without services.

In.

That's common across this entire state with these facilities.

But one lawmaker worries that the educational focus of the bill could present obstacles.

>> I worry about, you know, we have a school choice issue coming up in one of the reasons we we KET getting hung up on.

That is because state going to private educational institutes.

A lot of >> debate about that.

It's if state dollars can go that way.

As far as our other way.

Our Constitution is written.

This would be if this is truly curriculum where we're teaching kids and educating kids on a younger level.

How will we get past that same constitutional issue that other school choice educational bills in the past have been hung up on in 2021.

Kentucky lawmakers passed the educational opportunity account at it created a privately funded assistance program to cover school costs for families, including tuition and other expenses at private schools.

>> A year later in 2022, the Kentucky Supreme Court declared that bill unconstitutional.

Sarah van over with Kentucky Youth Advocates said she doesn't believe the funding will be a problem.

The funding goes to the family >> it is awarded to the family and then the family may select which program they would like to enroll their child.

And so at that space based its nonprofit there, there are no restrictions on that as the ban as the family is the awardee and that aligns with constitutional allowed months on on funds based on what the family select.

>> Senator Carroll said he believes the spillover effects of the bill will help Kentucky as a whole.

We can invest in our economy to make sure that families are able to go back to work to meet our workforce needs that we can attract business and industry to this commonwealth.

>> Senate Bill 203 received bipartisan support in committee with the lone No Vote.

>> The Horizons Act now heads to the Kentucky Senate for full consideration for Kentucky.

Addition time Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

Now should government be helping private businesses like child care centers?

That was part of our discussion as we talked about early childhood education last night on Kentucky tonight.

>> The bulk of this money isn't going to parents.

It isn't going to single mothers.

He's going to childcare providers and that's where the money has been targeted.

For the last 3 years.

And so that's what I find problematic.

These are businesses.

They're small businesses, of course, there are nonprofits for profits.

I've heard that they're fundamentally different.

Then any other business out there in the state will I guess in terms of the products or services they're providing, you know, they're some reason to.

Identified that as a very critical.

So the services.

you know, for an industry to come to the state of Kentucky, things are difficult in this industry.

We would have to make hard decisions about whether or not to raise our prices, adjust our labor costs for decide to stay open.

I think it's going to fall on fears of other small businesses out there.

The struggle to make payroll the pay their taxes.

To say that there's something so unique about this sector that they deserve appropriation of 300 million dollars to prop them up.

>> And how you actually do think that there's something so unique about the sector that makes it worthy of investment.

And that's the fact that this sector is the sector, the supports all other sectors.

It's what supports our kids.

It's what supports our working families.

It's what supports our communities.

And when we see things like one out of 3 parents making choices about work and their job because they can't find child care and we see 100,000 women, Kentucky women.

That's enough to fill Cardinal Stadium to times over leaving the workforce during COVID because of childcare issues.

That should tell you how vital this is.

And that's not even taking 2 into account.

The impact on kids.

Brains are little us learners.

We know kids brains are mostly formed by the time they reach age 5.

And yet historically we haven't invested enough money into those early years to make sure we're truly setting our kids up for success.

There's a lot of the discussion at times and a good conversation and you can see it all online on demand at KET DOT org.

Slash K why tonight?

>> Since the COVID pandemic students in Kentuckyian across the nation have been missing more school days as Kentucky additions.

June Leffler reports state lawmakers hope to crack down on that trend.

>> Last school year, 30% of Kentucky students were chronically absent, meaning they missed about 17 school days.

Kentucky's not alone.

This is a national problem.

>> Since COVID.

You know, we've condition parents that it.

You know, attendants.

Is not the most important thing.

You know, if your child is not feeling well, you know, KET them home, you know, and >> and it's something we're still fighting each and every day.

And as you all know, with funding school funding, it's tied to attendance.

So we've got to if we want to give teacher raises, if we want to, you know, get kids to school on the school buses and provide meals.

We need our kids in the seats.

Schools can intervene at any time.

But state representative in elementary school principal Tim, be true.

It >> says there's a point when the court should get involved.

You've got 3 unexcused days.

We've seen a 3 day later.

Basically no response from that.

They will turn Wilson a six-day letter.

Once again.

Very little response from them.

And then when the district since the 9 day later stating that you your case is being referred to.

The county attorney.

That's when all of a sudden the mom or the dad shows up to school the next day with about 15 doctors notes House Bill 6.11, would require schools to contact the county attorney.

>> When an elementary student misses 15 days of the school year for no excused reason complaints would be filed against the parents.

State Representative Killian Timoney.

He's worked for Jefferson and Fayette County school districts asks if this will actually get students back to school quickly, you know, I've worked with our county attorney on students that were tournament before the pandemic.

>> And immediately they were those cases were kicked back to the district.

They were wanting evidence.

They're wanting interventions.

They're wanting all of these things that were going on.

My concern is.

The county attorney in JCPS in particular.

I mean, what's 10,000 cases going to do to, though?

I mean, how effective is that process going to be?

When are you can get before a judge?

And how many days you can miss until that.

>> Bill, the House Education Committee handedly advance the bill to go to the full House.

The committee also approved House Bill 6.12, which would remove a defunct way of teaching reading from teachers toll kit reading.

Experts say young students are looking for context, clues to guess words when they need to be sounding words out.

>> Then they're guided to asked what word might make sense.

There.

Look at the picture.

See if that can guide you.

And those are all things the pull, the eyes of the reader off page away from the word.

And that's not what's killed readers.

Do they drop into that word?

They work through it sound by sound and they read it.

>> The committee also signed off on changes to school Transportation House Bill 4.47.

Would let school districts use passenger vans, not just buses.

That means more options to get students around and more people could drive students to school since you don't need a commercial driver's license to drive a van.

The committee also Advanced House Bill 2.27, which would let smaller neighboring school districts merged together so they could consolidate resources for Kentucky June Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June and higher education.

The House Education Committee approved western Kentucky University's request to offer doctoral degrees, not just master's degrees.

All these measures now await approval from the full House.

Following the House Education Committee hearing this morning.

The Kentucky Association of School Administrators rallied in the capital Rotunda to commemorate Public Schools week in the Commonwealth.

Several elected officials, including Democratic Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman and Republican Representative James Tipton of Taylorsville joined educators and students for the rally.

Tipton reassured the crowd that the debate over this year's education budget is far far from over.

>> Every session has its own pace.

And I know patients and sometimes very difficult, but but I will remind you, the budget is a process.

>> We're we're we're not really halfway through their process.

Yeah, as I've talked to many of you.

>> You have thanked me for many things that are included in the House version of the budget.

But you've also shared with me some concerns that you have that the funding is not adequate to meet the needs that you have in your local school district to support your schools, to support teachers.

Most importantly, to support or students.

More words is my heart to.

It's been my life's work.

And so to be here today to celebrate public Education week in Kentucky is exciting.

But I would be lying if I didn't tell you that every week.

>> Should be public education week and Kentucky.

Everybody that works in a school building deserves the exact same raise and care that are state employees are law enforcement and our social workers have gotten the last budget cycle.

>> The budget proposed by Governor Andy Beshear calls for an 11% raise for public school employees.

The House budget only encourages districts to give raises.

A bill to KET drivers from illegally passing school buses when children are getting on and off of them.

>> Is making the rounds again this legislative session.

State Representative David Hale, Republican from Wellington says some school districts are already taking matters into their own hands by buying and installing cameras for their buses.

His House Bill 4.61 allows school districts to install cameras on their bus, stop arms to catch hurry.

Drivers who don't give kids a break.

>> The first penalty if you are convicted.

Of passing a bus and and the camera showed that.

The penalty would be $500 on the first offense.

From there.

It would be $1000 on each subsequent offense that would follow.

No points would be.

Assessed to your driver's license and all the recordings would be destroyed within 31 days of the recording.

Happening.

>> Visible signage on the boss would inform motorists of recordings of violations.

The measure that would impose fines for illegally passing a stopped school bus when kids are loading and unloading on it cleared a legislative panel.

This afternoon and is now headed to the full House docket now from bus safety to gun safety state Representative Daniel Grossberg of Louisville filed a bill that would create a five-day waiting period for a gun purchase.

The bill would require a five-day delay in between the cell of a gun and the transfer of that gun to its new owner.

And it would let police check records of gun sales.

Grossberg tells WLKY in Louisville that Giffords Law Center study shows background checks, reduce homicides by 14% and suicides by 11%.

A bill that would add limited exceptions for rape and incest to Kentucky's abortion ban is now waiting for action in Frankfort, Republican State representative Ken Fleming of Louisville filed House Bill 7.11, yesterday, the last day for bills to be filed in the House currently in Kentucky.

Abortions can only be performed if a doctor determines it's necessary to save the life or to prevent serious injuries to the pregnant woman.

That language remains and Fleming's bill, but adds that exceptions for rape and incest, only if the abortion can be performed within the first 6 weeks of a woman's pregnancy.

The bill also has exceptions for removing a dead fetus, a topic, pregnancies or incomplete miscarriages and in cases where the fetus could not survive.

In a statement, Representative Fleming said, quote, As a father of 2 daughters, I have always supported them financially emotionally and especially spiritually with them on my mind.

And in my heart, exceptions for life, saving measures for the mother and in cases involving rape or incest should be included and our state's abortion law House Bill 7.11 is waiting to be assigned to a committee.

And the answer to a policy dispute between landlords and certain tenants came from Frankfort today as lawmakers awarded final passage to what's called a source of income Bill supporters of House Bill 18 deemed it a victory for property owners.

While critics decried as discriminatory.

The House gave it final passage today, sending it on to the governor's desk House bill, 18 bans local governments from passing ordinances making landlords except federal housing assistance, including Section 8 vouchers, Jefferson and Fayette counties have rules banning source of income discrimination.

What is before us today?

Would still.

Revoked.

>> What little Metro and their ordinances have done within their own jurisdictions, something that they felt was right for them.

And as we have the sun coming back before us, I think that still deeply concerning.

But that is still going to be.

No longer valid.

>> Despite that objection, the bill went on to pass on a vote of 75 to 20 and will be sent to the governor for him to sign veto or let it become law without his signature.

More than 874,000, Kentuckians have a disability that impairs their ability to work or carry out tasks of daily living where they live was the main focus at a rally today in Frankfort at the state Capitol.

Those with disabilities called on lawmakers to increase funding for what is known as home and community-based waivers.

The program allows adults and children with physical disabilities to live and their own home advocates say right now someone who gets put on the waiting list for the waivers may have to wait decades to get it.

They want to say that.

Wait time cut down to 8 years.

>> That's important because we have more waivers that we're looking at bringing on it.

We have a chill propose childrens way were out there which is so desperately needed.

I know Sheila has so my waiver at there are bringing new people into the system.

We've got to figure out a way to get cleared through these waitlist and find a way to manage these waitlist so that we're not bottlenecked in all standing here again talking about this.

We're disability advocates.

We have a lot to talk about.

We shouldn't be standing here just talking about the basics, which is waiting for something to happen.

>> Other disability related issues.

They want to see addressed by lawmakers this session, expanding workforce and educational opportunities and ensuring comprehensive Medicaid services.

Also at the state Capitol today, a chance to thank those making a sacrifice for our country.

But it wasn't military members who are being honored it was their children.

Children participated in military kids Day the program launched by Lebanon.

Republican State Senator Jimmy Higdon who says these kids deserve recognition.

>> We have a memorial day every year to honor our war dead.

Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

We have Veterans Day every year to honor our veterans.

Today we have military kids day to honor our military kids in the sacrifices that they make.

They do make You some of the day the lived in, you know, multiple school districts and go into multiple schools and even lived in different countries.

I lives are hard to feel like the constant moving the cons of having to make new friends.

Time to get adjusted over and over again.

Our parents leaving like every other year.

I was a military use myself.

So this is my way of giving back to the army community and really being a mentor to these kids.

>> Saying that I know how it's like to move around.

I know what it's like to be the new kid.

I know what it's like to be an area that is unfamiliar and being a pardon from place to place after we with the Georgia DOT studying to become work.

Officer.

>> We came here.

He had to State police say a country for a lot.

And currently he's Germany.

I believe and he'll be there till the end of March.

>> We also have respect she right now the Kentucky National Guard as troops deployed.

They're in the Middle and you know, their lives are in danger.

They they deal with that every day and so they deal with it.

But they also at home the kids and the spouses had to deal with it.

>> the veteran is want to thank the service.

Members want to be thanked.

But sometimes they forget that they're also leaving the family behind.

And in that family, you have your spouse, but you also have your children.

And sometimes kids go long periods of time without seeing their family member without seeing their mom without seeing their that.

And so this day issue is an important day to recognize their sacrifice as well as their parents.

And the fact that they give up so much in order to live the life that they live.

So it's great that they're getting recognize and it's great that they see like, hey, I'm not just a regular kid who's got an army whose moms in the Army.

I'm doing my part to.

And the world sees that.

>> After epic military kids Day is in its 11th year among the day's activities.

A scavenger hunt flight simulator practice and a tour of the Capitol.

♪ Turns out it's not the end of the line for a high school Air Force ROTC program and a proposed airport expansion won't happen.

Our Toby Gibbs tells us about both and this.

Look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> Well, call opposition to an airport expansion at a Lexington military facility has forced officials to end their plans.

WKU reports the decision came after Governor Andy Beshear released a statement opposing the Bluegrass Station airport expansion because of a lack of local support.

The plan consisted of adding an airport and air park which would have required more land and owners didn't want to sell.

Franklin County High School's junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program will stay open after it was informed in November of the Air Force planned on getting rid of it.

The State Journal reports the Airforce wanted to close the program to the small number of students enrolled.

But the school's instructors say the program now has 97 cadets.

If the program enrolls more than 100 cadets by October, it will be removed from probation.

Frisch's Big Boy restaurant in Somerset is currently auctioning off its 12 foot sign that stood since 1987 to help a local woman battling breast cancer.

The Commonwealth Journal reports local owner Billy Hayes said people wanted to buy the sign but decided holding a silent auction to help Gina slimy would be better.

The auction goes through March.

1st.

With headlines around Kentucky, I'm told me get this.

♪ >> During February, of course, we celebrate Black History Month.

It's especially memorable at the Ashland Highlands Museum in Boyd County.

Thanks to 2 people who work to create something that until recently had been missing.

And that part of Kentucky.

>> The celebration of community, I heritage everyone just getting together and learn about black history and celebrate.

This is new for me thrilled.

It's a dream of mine.

So it's a being the first in eastern Kentucky is kinda.

Kind of crazy because I love it.

>> We want quite sure how we would be excepted.

But in the short time we realized there were people bringing us books, bringing us items, making donations.

They've always been very receptive in.

Also, guess what can we do to help?

How can we help that?

I just don't think it happens everywhere.

And when you realize that this is the only African-American museum with an mile radius.

I think that's pretty exceptional.

>> We're so excited to have all of the support from our community.

What 2 people have done.

You know, these 2 people.

Bernice Henry and and Darrell Smith.

They have done such a tremendous job and pulling together artifacts from our own community and abroad too, to bring together for our individuals are community to be able to see, be able to experience and learn from.

>> Black history.

We and and quote saying it's black history, but it's really all of our history.

And it's all of our history with just some of the parts that have been missing.

What we've done with the research and everything that works for through the museum.

We've brought some people's that.

A lot of the people around this community and other places.

I have never heard that.

So they've learned on that every day on the M. That what goes on in the museum and characters and that people that we use.

But stories about.

We worked very hard at researching.

The past.

So that we don't repeat.

Some of it.

So that we can.

Educate for sure.

Further educate young people and old people.

Toward a better future.

That's the fun part of the evening.

The recognition of the people in the lives of the stories about them.

>> Since opening last year, the CB Knuckles Community Center and Black History Museum received visitors from across the country.

Well, that'll do it for us tonight.

We hope to see you right back here again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky.

Addition for we inform connect and inspire.

You can connect with us all the ways you see on your screen there, Facebook, X and Instagram.

So that's a story idea to public affairs at KET Dot Org by email and look for us on the PBS video app.

>> Once again, thank you for watching tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw and I hope to see you again tomorrow night.

Take good care.

♪