♪ >> More money is headed to the Georgetown Toyota plant.

What the company says it has in mind for more than a billion dollars.

There are also, frankly, some really jacked up ideas about the role of women in society.

A debate over Kentucky's role in helping women find and pay for child care.

A lot of people don't realize that the students around them are struggling in like their families are struggling.

>> And more space means more help for hungry.

Kentucky wins.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KU Team Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Tuesday, February, the 6th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Tuesday with us.

Education was the issue of the day and Frankfort, as lawmakers debated.

Should cell phones be banned in the classroom?

Some Kentucky lawmakers say yes, the House Education Committee moved ahead with the cell phone ban and bills to recruit more teachers, including substitutes Kentucky additions.

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

It's hard to say up House Bill 3.83 will be popular with students.

I'm voting yes today, but I'm concerned that this bill will interfere with my son's TikTok, a persona that he tries to film at school.

>> And the videos he does in the bathrooms.

I don't know like if this is if I will be allowed to come home tonight.

Thank you.

>> But lawmakers, many who are or have been educators say it's time to put the cell phones out of sight out of mind.

My kids try it.

They're like doing a Chromebook activity and they say, can I listen to music while I do it?

It's like now.

You can't because you won't focus on whatever it is that I have you doing.

>> This is not going to be as easy as it Kids are.

Very addicted to their phones.

I we need to realize that.

This needs to be done.

But I do in the teachers that have to deal with this in the classroom.

>> The bill says students cannot pick up and use their phones during class instruction unless a teacher says differently.

Some lawmakers asked why this classroom protocol should become law.

>> So some districts, some schools.

Already have policies to prevent cell phone usage.

Is that correct?

>> Yeah, I mean, my hospitals, my middle schools in Rockcastle County, they have this already in place.

It gives the teacher the sport in the classroom because now the administration kind of has to have their back and it gives the administration support because, you know, they've kind of got a go down this path.

Now.

So so any school that does not have this policy now has grounds to do so and you can to protect these teachers who we want this done.

But but don't have the the authority to do so, correct?

Yes, sir.

That's the intent.

The support of vote was unanimous.

>> Elementary school, principal and Representative Tammy True.

It.

He's sponsored a bill he hopes will bring in more substitute teachers, which he says are in short supply >> assistant principal.

I called it always chicken owner on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I'm here at the beginning of the day and I called and said, how's things going?

And she's like, well, we were 9 teachers out.

He said you got 0.

So I called the superintendent Sarah said, why don't I have a nice substitute teachers, the site where we've got 3 in the district.

And there are no the school.

So.

You'll have anymore.

>> Subs in Kentucky have to have 64 hours of college credit.

But Root says that's unnecessary up House Bill.

3.87 becomes law.

Anyone with a high school diploma could become a sub.

All house education members backed the bill.

>> Teachers are learning at losing their planning periods.

They're losing their already too short lunch periods to cover their colleagues classes.

It's a real hardship.

>> The Education Committee also voted for more financial assistance for aspiring teachers, college education students could get $5,000 per semester for every year they commit to teaching in Kentucky public schools and they would finally get paid for their student teaching for Kentucky edition.

I'm John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June at the Education Committee also wants to study and re-evaluate seek.

That's the complicated formula used to dole out Kentucky's education dollars to school districts.

House Education Chair Representative James Tipton applauded the effort but said, quote, That's going to be a tough nut to crack end quote.

School administrators are concerned about the House budget plan and what it spends on public education.

They say it's not enough to give the pay increase is needed to attract and KET faculty and staff.

Our Laura Rodgers talked to superintendents and southern Kentucky who say they compete with districts in Tennessee that pay a lot more.

>> I think the legislators have done a good job in recognizing listening 2 school district superintendents, school boards, advocates a public school and the key groups.

So I commend them for taking a first step forward, but I still think there's more to be done.

>> Superintendent of Christian County Public Schools, Chris Vencill says he's hoping for compromise when it comes to funding for public education.

>> Always said the additional funding will go to teacher salaries, classified salaries, increases to retain the best teachers weekend.

That has the biggest effect size on student achievement.

>> Warren County, Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton echoing that sentiment.

>> I know that the key to our success is who are able to attract and hire into this profession.

And with each year that is past 5.

We continue to fall further and further behind the competition.

The competition includes Tennessee, passed legislation raising the minimum teacher pay to $50,000 by the year 2026.

>> The state line just a half hour away from Bowling Green and Hopkinsville.

>> We've done a lot of things to incentivize the profession just to be bringing back to 2 voice and respect to the profession.

We provided child care and issued for employees.

We will be around a Pre-K center for 2 threes and fours.

We've offered degree completion programs.

We've offered a bonus.

>> All of those measures to combat the teacher shortage.

But it all comes back to competitive pay on all sides.

>> I don't think there's any doubt that this won't move the needle and the current shortage will continue.

We need a significant shift and how we're funding our schools to make that shift.

May also include revamping the secret formula to account for inflation and accommodating groups such as low-income families, English language, learners and special education.

>> We see may switch is what funds are students on a per pupil basis.

It needs to be increased significantly.

>> He says the current proposed increase of $255 per student over the next 2 years.

Isn't adding to what Clayton calls a decade of under funding for public education are.

>> State economy is the best many of us could save our lifetime.

And we waited patiently for more than a decade of the concerns and not enough funding.

Now, the findings here.

And it's time to make some corrections and take care of people who are taking care of our students each and every day.

>> And then the day it's about for a secret account about paying teachers >> pencil says that means closing the inflationary gap, offering teachers a starting pay of $45,000 a year, which would also raise compensation for other school employees.

>> I think that's the cornerstone of any district as a foundation.

In addition to the community is a public schools.

>> Both administrators say they will continue to advocate for public education and are optimistic about the future or not.

But it's a good one for Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers, thank you so much, Laura.

The superintendents tell us that fully funding transportation will be a big help as it's outlined in the House Budget Plan.

>> Superintendent Rob Clayton says since 2005 Warren County Public Schools have had to offset those expenses by dipping into the district's general fund.

Child care advocates say the Republican House budget plan that passed last week doesn't provide enough pay for child care and Kentucky.

We talked about that last night on Kentucky tonight.

Among the arguments, what should the state's responsibility be to support businesses and the private sector?

>> Whether they're for-profit or not-for-profit day care centers are businesses, mostly small businesses.

In my 20 years, I cannot remember a group of small businesses or an industry lobbying the legislature for hundreds of millions of dollars to KET their business profitable.

The House budget has some new money to help lower income families to afford the costs of their day care.

That's something worth considering.

I believe, but decided the day care center's our infrastructure and that they should be funded as early childhood education that just doesn't hold up with a we don't have in a balloon legislation about how we're approaching this daycare challenge.

If there is one this notion again, of businesses coming to the General Assembly and saying you shouldn't expect us to raise the price of our services.

You shouldn't expect us to manage our payroll in the ways that 99.9% of all other businesses are expected to handle these challenges.

They're saying appropriate hundreds of millions of dollars to KET us profitable.

I find that very troubling.

The reason we've lost 46% of childcare centers over the last decades.

The market is broken.

>> People are not making enough in wages to afford child care and workers at child care centers aren't making enough to stay in the job.

It's it's it is.

It is central to keeping the economy going, keeping a family operating, making sure a child has a good start to life.

And these are these are years of brain development that are very important for their long-term chances at success.

This is a piece of our infrastructure.

I think many employers understand that.

>> When it comes to this issue, when it comes to child care when it when it comes to the burdens that we put on mothers in this commonwealth, there are ideological differences about fiscal policy.

Yes, there are also, frankly, some really jacked up ideas about the role of women in society.

Right?

You have women at work serving in elected office, voting to make it so other women can't go to work.

You have women voting saying only wealthy women can go to work.

You have women saying only women whose own mothers can watch their children can go to work, right?

And so we need to really name it.

Anti child care is anti woman.

And I agree that childcare is a necessary part of our economy.

It's a workforce issue.

And so that's where Andrew and I may differ a bit.

And the importance of of childcare, too.

Our world as a whole.

And I think this is a national issue worth a lot of debate and that's what's happening.

But again, I would emphasize that there are a number of measures that need to happen in childcare, some of which may come across in the next version of the budget and some of which also are not in the budget.

Some of those may be, for example, taking care of land, use issues in zoning barriers to childcare centers.

There are a number of things that need taking care of.

And I think we're just starting to start to see those taking care of.

>> So talk about a lot connected to the state budget proposal.

We also discuss taxes, teacher pay the cost of the proposed say for Kentucky Act, which is a big anti-crime bill and more.

You can see that full discussion online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight?

Kentucky's foster care system has endured some serious obstacles in the past year and investigation by the Louisville Courier Journal found that on placed foster children were sleeping and state office buildings, although Kentucky still faces difficulties placing children into foster care homes.

A new Senate bill hopes to support family members turned caregivers.

Our Clayton Dalton has this report.

>> In Kentucky when a child is removed from their home.

Family members like aunts, uncles and grandparents.

We're close friends like coaches, teachers and clergy can step up and care for a child.

These individuals have 2 options, temporary custody, which provides them little to no financial support.

A relative foster care, which does provide them with financial support from the state.

A Republican lawmaker believes families aren't afforded enough flexibility with their decision and she's not alone.

>> The Department for community-based services and the courts have established a policy that there is a one time only that's really key.

One time only decision for a relative or fictive kin caregiver to accept a temporary custody for relative foster care placement for a child who is in 8.

So it is come to my attention that this policy is very restrictive and it is putting a financial and resource strain on many of our relatives and fictive can caregivers.

There are.

A lot of reasons a lot of families that have issues with the way this program is implemented right >> If you look at the CBS report that they issued in September 2023, more than half of the children are in temporary custody instead of relative foster care.

That that in itself indicates there's an issue there because we've heard for years and years and years and I've come to this table many, many times and caregivers need more assistance for their kids that they care for.

>> Kentucky Youth Advocates a Louisville based organization dedicated to child well-being, says placing remove children with relatives or close friends helps reduce trauma.

A state senator and Majority Caucus Chair Julie Rocky Adams has sponsored Senate Bill.

One, 51 aimed at better supporting those who step up.

>> You have one 51 in front of you so that our relative and fictive kin caregivers can have that flexibility and how they are able to obtain additional assistance and supports for care of the children that are placed in their homes.

>> Fictive kin are caregivers who are not related to a child by birth adoption or marriage but have a significant relationship with the child.

>> The intent of one 51 is to incorporate that flexibility into relative and fictive kin placement options by allowing our caregivers the opportunity to change their placement status from temporary custody to a child's specific foster home as necessary.

This flexibility will close.

The services supports and resources caps that is currently plaguing many of our families.

>> Senate Bill, one, 51 passed unanimously out of committee and now heads to the Senate floor for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dollar.

>> Thank you so much, Clayton Senate Bill one.

51 also gives displaced children more say and their foster care experience.

Remove children would be allowed to submit a list of family members and friends.

They could potentially live with.

♪ ♪ Some business news now.

Toyota will spend 1.3 billion dollars on a battery powered SUV line at its plant in Georgetown.

>> Last year, Toyota announced plans to build a battery powered electric SUV.

Georgetown.

This money will support that work.

We'll pay for an assembly line to build battery packs.

>> For a plant that has 9400 employees.

This ensures a bright future and steady employment for so many Kentucky families.

Toyota also helps us along with our other manufacturers to be an automotive leader.

And the fact that we're going to EV these being produced at this plant, the battery Pack Assembly is going to go on at Toyota, along with other battery plants were building in other parts of the state.

It shows we're not just going to be an automotive leader, but we want to be the automotive later.

>> Toyota hasn't given further details about the new SUV, including its price or when it would arrive in showrooms.

>> Tell us now to bourbon.

It means 9 billion dollars for Kentucky.

Kentucky's leaders gathered at the state Capitol today to listen to the latest bourbon numbers.

>> From the Kentucky Distillers Association >> 15 years ago this month, the Kda as doctor Paul Coombs to study the impact of our signature bourbon distilled spirits industry on the Commonwealth's economy.

The newest findings are that the industry generates more than 23,100 Kentucky jobs.

>> With annual salaries and wages pegged at 1.6, 3 billion dollars.

When you look at total compensation, which includes benefits 2.2 billion dollars helping our Kentucky.

The credit belongs.

>> To the the the workers of this industry, the people that actually take the risk that invest the capital, they create jobs that that are truly changing this industry and benefiting the Commonwealth every single day.

They range from farmers who purchased a logistic companies just to name a few there.

The men and women that work long hours and late to lift this industry to new Heights.

And truly create an environment that that it Abel's this type of to be brought to fruition.

>> There are currently 100 license distillers in the state.

They offer their operated by 84 companies and get this in.

42, Kentucky counties we've seen especially over the last several years, the growth of this industry.

Now I'm reaching over a 3rd of Kentucky's counties, adding great economic benefit.

We look at the number of licensed distilleries.

It is 5 times the number of distilleries.

The state had that in 2008 when they did that first study since 2008.

We've also seen 135% growth in employment in the industry and 160% growth in wages.

These would be amazing numbers for any industry.

And so we're grateful to the bourbon industry.

Everyone involved should be extremely proud of how this industry has positioned itself at the very top of the global spirits freight and continues to lift up so many of our families.

This report proves that Kentucky is the gold standard for bourbon.

We have the pure spring water.

We have an abundance of corn.

And why do we have 4 distinct climates?

The HR with key to perfection.

>> And we have something that very few industries in the world can claim over 200 years of working together for the betterment of the industry and our Commonwealth.

>> According to the study, there are 12.6 million barrels of bourbon currently aging in the Commonwealth.

Another Kentuckyian will spend time behind bars in connection to the January 6th insurrection.

And there's a push to rename a state park to honor Loretta Lynn, our Toby Gibbs explains and this look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> A Kentucky man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges from his role in the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack.

The Sentinel Echo reports Clayton Ray Molins of Magnolia was sentenced in U.S. District court in Washington for assaulting law enforcement during the Capitol breach.

According to the newspaper, Mullens pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting resisting or impeding certain officers in September.

The 54 year-old was ordered to pay nearly $50,000 in fines and more than $32,000 in restitution.

♪ The Commonwealth Journal cites a new report showing that Kentucky's youngest children are still at risk of drug overdoses from accidental ingestion.

It says the child fatality and near fatality.

External review panels annual study found that 8 children died from ingesting drugs.

Another 47 suffered an overdose in 2022, the study only reviewed cases where abuse or neglect was suspected in the death or near-death of the child.

The Commonwealth Journal reports that most of the overdose victims were 4 years old or younger.

A petition to name a Kentucky State park after country music star Loretta Lynn has nearly 26,000 signatures that he came as reports the effort to rename painesville like State Park after the butcher holler native came after lands distant cousin state Senator Robin Webb wrote a resolution asking the state park system to honor her in some way.

Renaming of the park has received some pushback.

But where this quoted as saying she would like to see anything.

The draws people to Johnson County and quote, lets them learn about our country music, character, heritage and quote, Grammy-winning country artist Chris Stapleton is also from Johnson County.

♪ A new report finds Lexington is the 3rd worst city in the country for people, 27 and under also known as The Gen Z Generation to buy a home W E K you spoke to University of Kentucky Professor Day black.

Well, he said he's not surprised by the report from the online publication 0.2 homes.

>> For 2 reasons, he said Gen Z workers in Kentucky make on average about $30,000 annually while the homes and Kentucky average around $285,000.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I will be good.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Mount Vernon's, grateful Bread, Food Pantry helps hundreds of people every Mont.

It just moved to a new location right across the street from its old location.

It's also twice as big.

The hope is that more space will mean more help for the hungry.

>> This amazing new beautiful facility will serve nearly 200 seniors per month.

Who might be isolated, struggling with hunger if it weren't for programs like this one on top of that, it's going to be preparing 150 food backpacks each Friday for elementary school students because none of our seniors and none of our children should ever go without the nutritious food that helps them to survive.

>> Across the United States, approximately 11 to 11 and a half percent of those living in our country.

Experience hunger.

And here in Rockcastle County, it's almost 16%.

That's unacceptable.

This facility is part of the solution.

What this facility itself is not the solution.

It's the people in this room.

This facility is a catalyst for spread in the last decade through that facility across the parking lot.

We distributed 3 and a half million meals in just the last year.

It was over 300,000.

Imagine what this facility will allow compared to the challenges.

>> The grateful Bread worked through to be able to do that kind of work.

>> The pantry also partners with Rockcastle County schools and each week.

Serves 142 students for the weekend food, backpacks.

That's 568 food backpacks a month to meet the needs of children who may not have enough to eat at home when they are not receiving free or reduced lunch at school.

One in 4.

>> Rockcastle county school students is hunter insecure.

When people ask me as superintendent, what keeps me up at night?

That keeps me up at night.

Knowing that we have students in our community and our school system that are not properly nourished.

And we all know how difficult it is to learn if you're not properly years.

>> I think it's really important for students to be involved.

A lot of people don't realize that the students around them are struggling and like their families are struggling.

The packing hundreds.

>> Meals every single week going to their fellow residents of the county is a pretty special thing and whether or not people would get those meals without the students.

See, you've got to wonder.

>> I think this is really beneficial to just learn about the students around you and even to know that like you're helping someone, even if you don't know what are they are specifically, it's really rewarding.

At the end of the day.

>> The Christian Appalachian Project hopes this new facility helped reach even more families than it has in the past.

Even though it's located in Rockcastle County.

The project also serves Jackson Owsley Clay and McCreary counties and others around Kentucky.

♪ ♪ ♪ A lot of great stories tonight and even more for you tomorrow.

When you come back at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire.

We'll talk about the weekend politics with Rylan Barton of NPR and have the latest from the Kentucky General Assembly in Frankfort.

>> Now we hope that you subscribe to our Kentucky Edition email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips at KET Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device in your smart TV.

And we always encourage you to send us a story idea and public affairs at KET Dot Org and make sure you connect with us on the social media channels.

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Thanks so much for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw have a great night and take really good care.

He said.

♪ ♪