♪ >> Impose his or her unilateral opinion upon the scales of justice.

>> A renewed push to rein in a governor's pardon powers.

We've got a lot of work to do without a doubt.

We want to celebrate where we see growth.

Where Kentucky falls on the nation's report card.

There's no mistakes in girls who code.

Plus meet some young Kentuckians striking the keyboards and cutting edge technology.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday, February, the 7th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off your weekend with us.

This week at the state Capitol wraps up with one step closer towards a new ballot measure for Kentucky voters.

The House will receive a measure that the state Senate unanimously approved this morning to let Kentuckians decide when the governor can use his pardon power.

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

When the Republican Controlled General Assembly takes a crack at gubernatorial powers, it can be seen as a direct attack on current Democratic Governor Andy Beshear.

>> But a northern Kentucky state senator takes aim at former Republican governor Matt Bevin's actions when presenting Senate bill 126.

>> Bevin pardoned convicted child rapist in Kenton County and not required to register is sex offender.

5 convicted of murder along with those pardoned by former governor Matt Bevin fit GOP prosecutor took donations from sex offenders.

Family then press button for pardon.

Bevin pardoned include convicted killer whose brother hosted a campaign fundraiser for him.

And finally.

Bevin pardoned a man convicted of decapitating woman in stopping her in a barrel.

>> Those actions make state Senator Christian McDaniel question age old pardoning powers.

>> But the power to pardon allows one person to override the judgment of a police officer.

A county prosecutor, a grand jury jury judge and many cases a pellet courts in several of those cases.

The Supreme Court impose his or her unilateral opinion upon the scales of justice.

>> 7 issued hundreds of pardons and commutations in his final weeks in office.

That's why the senator hopes to bar governor from pardoning or com mutating sentences 60 days before an election and 5 weeks after the bill had no no boats getting bipartisan support.

>> Remembering some of the things that we've seen in the past.

I get in understand the need for this change within the Constitution.

>> A similar bill had success last year in the Senate but died in the House for Kentucky Edition.

I'm to LaFleur.

Thank you.

June a state Senator Chris McDaniel has tried to change the governor's pardon power since 2020.

>> If it does win favor with 3 fifths majority vote in each chamber, it will then become a ballot measure.

Voters would see that proposed constitutional amendment during the 2026. general election.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says Kentucky is should know how much propose legislation will cost.

The governor has started a Web site where so-called fiscal notes are available.

He says Bills don't always include a cost estimate.

And he says that's a mistake.

>> I've been told the specific reasons that that fiscal notes in the past haven't been posted.

But we're better off if everybody knows what things cost in the past.

What we've seen are certain bills that have been passed.

The fiscal note hasn't been posted and no appropriation has been made.

I still remember tax amnesty program where we said we've got to have an appropriation and I believe there was a fiscal note or or at least communication on that because it's an expensive proposition.

We bring in someone from the outside.

So we have put an RFP out asking if anybody do it for free.

And no one did it for free.

So again, I think this can hopefully help the General Assembly on the budget inside, making sure that if we're going to pass a bill that we have and appropriation where we the executive branch can execute that law.

>> The Web page is called 2025 facts and Fiscal notes.

The Kentucky Lantern reports as of yesterday the site listed more than 2 dozen bills and they're cost estimates.

Some Kentucky hands are speaking out against national and local decisions to got diversity, equity and inclusion or dei.

Kentucky's Republican lawmakers pushed Anti Dei bills last session unsuccessfully some public colleges, including Northern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky dissolved their dei programs.

High schools and college students rallied at Kentucky's Capitol this week in support of dei students of color with the group, Kentucky INS for the Commonwealth called the Anti Dei agenda.

Downright right.

An American.

>> The proposed war on that first tee inclusion of that is a direct attack on the cultural richness that makes America what it is today.

The goal against is clear.

To erase the progress we've made to towards a more inclusive society.

The goal against us is clear.

Make America more narrow, make America all why make America more Christians make America the 18 80's Jim Crow laws.

They made us sit inside a segregated is the same laws that are trying to reverse its the same thing that we're sitting in today that it says the state in 50 years ago.

>> Kentucky's Republican lawmakers may attempt another strike in dei this session.

So far, no bill has been introduced.

Students also gathered in Frankfort this week to call on lawmakers to do more to protect youth from smoking.

>> We are advocating for enforcement of this back with 21 law which prohibits the sale of nicotine products to underage you.

We are here today because we have you from all over the state who believe in the very same cause and we're bringing them here to advocate, educate their lawmakers and encourage them to make the right decision to see all these students stand up because they know somebody who's been impacted by vaping.

It's just wonderful because they're all here because they chose to do it for somebody else.

>> The group is finding encouragement from Republican state Senator Jimmy Higdon.

He introduced Senate Bill 100 which would build.

Require retailer selling tobacco and vape products to be licensed doing so.

Senator Higdon says would subject them to the same inspection process is store selling alcohol Senate bill.

100 is waiting to be assigned to a committee.

You could be seeing a lot of red today to draw attention to heart health.

It's go red for women Day.

The annual campaign seeks to raise awareness about the leading cause of death for women in the United States.

Earlier this week, Governor Andy Beshear proclaimed February as Heart Month and Kentucky.

The American Heart Association says nearly 45% of women over the age of 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease.

>> It's vitally important for us to raise awareness of heart disease.

It's the leading cause of death for women in this country.

And we don't talk enough about it.

And so the more we can get in front of a crowd of folks and talk about heart health.

>> The better the chance that they're going to have better outcomes and be able to live longer healthier lives.

>> You can learn more about the go red for women campaign at heart DOT or ♪ time now to go inside Kentucky politics will be wrap up some big political news of the week and particularly about what's been happening in Frankfort as state lawmakers came back to the Capitol for part 2.

>> Of the Kentucky General Assembly in regular session and were with Abby Piper and Jared Smith.

And you know them because they're on during election night and all kind of stuff.

So let's talk about the bill that was signed by the governor just yesterday, Thursday, House Bill, one that lowers the state income tax from 4% to 3 and a half percent.

Beshear says it comes at a good time right?

>> Well, sure, I think there's a lot of uncertainty in the air and it's pretty hard for him not to sign it.

It was pretty by had a lot of bipartisan support.

This is an effort that Republicans have led for a number of years now.

And as we've hit the thresholds that we needed to head to make sure that this was sustainable.

We have certainly done so.

And so I think, especially with many, many Democrats voting for the bill.

It's pretty hard.

It would be pretty hard to to refute that.

>> But it cost it saves taxpayers.

You can spend this 2 ways to saves taxpayers.

718 million dollars.

But that also means that that 718 million dollars, that's not in the general fund.

>> The and one thing I want to give the legislature kind of 4 is that they the way they put those guardrails and to to to step down the income tax.

You know, Kansas didn't do that.

Made it up close schools early right now to out of money.

Real real quick and killed that yeah.

And then repealed it.

So I think that, you know, different railway says it's good to Kentucky's always behind things because you can see when things don't work.

He by the time it comes to Kentucky, you can fix it and have it work inside.

I think this is one of those cases where you know where it's working.

Yeah.

>> But Beshear doesn't seem to be too comfortable with the idea of going below 3%.

Is that true or false?

>> I'll say I don't know if that's your fault that I mean their time to take it to 0.

And, you know, Tennessee's at 0 and Indiana's on its way to 0.

You know, I just it's it's not going to happen in the next 2 or 3 years.

I mean, I think something like 7, 8, 9, years to get all the way down to 0.

>> But I think have to see what the impact of the impending tariffs are as well to see what the economy looks like.

We we really need to know the impact of that before we can look further into the future.

Well, and we heard some Democrats say that on the Senate floor, Senator Kasey Chambers, Armstrong made that point about, you know, maybe it's not wise to do this right now.

I think she was an 0, 2, on that bill.

Also.

Yeah.

So there's some concern about the timing of it.

>> Yeah, I think that in the economy was fundamentally sound and strong at the end of the Biden administration yes, inflation is still there.

Yes, those that prices are still high.

But look what that Price R Today announced its leave that there.

And, you know, so.

It works and that economy.

But now with tariffs and slashing federal spending.

You know, what is the new economy going to look like?

What's next year going to look like?

And that's what I think.

That's one thing.

You'll see.

The it stops lowering for a couple years.

Why they figure out.

What is the economy going to be 2 years from now.

And speaking of things that are happening on the federal level, there's a lot happening which we won't get into that.

We reported on all week.

>> But the leaders, Senator Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne were have commented this week about okay.

Are you going to be proactive or reactive when it comes to top actions and the executive orders.

And they said we're just kind of a reactive here.

That sounds like solid advice, doesn't it?

>> Well, certainly when you consider the fact that we have a short legislative session, you know, it's hard to pack all of the governance of the people within that session anyway, in that time frame.

And again, I think there's a lot of uncertainty about what those executive orders are going to look like.

What's a survives, a court challenge and you know what its implementation look like where are we seeing?

Federal cuts are not federal cuts or movement of federal dollars that require different kinds of implementation.

And so I think it's smart to wait and see because otherwise you end up in a position where you've legislated for something that may not be our reality in a month or 2 or 3?

>> Yeah, I think I think that there's definitely to be changes in federal spending.

Big, big, shocking changes.

The question is where and how much you got to look at how public schools are funded title want item 6 fun day where we are.

That's probably on the chopping block.

So you could be right on the chopping block as well.

And so just really got to be out in this one of the good things about having a boring president.

You know, you want somebody that I know what's going to happen next.

So I can prepare for it.

So unfortunately, don't have that right now.

>> And a lot of people are looking forward to an extension of the Trump.

There are tax cuts, right?

So they're getting from somehow, right?

Yeah, they're they're looking for that.

Also this week outside of the legislature because inside the legislature, the House minority floor leader said that she is looking into running for U.S. Senate in 2026.

But she has not officially filed.

So tell us about why that's an important distinction to make note of sure.

And and she is filed the paperwork to fundraise, which can happen after session.

You can fundraise.

>> During session, obviously, while the legislature's end for corruption reasons.

But, you know, she ran for governor at some point.

You know, that the attorney general excuse me and should she's going to have to really work hard if she's serious about that because, again, very well that she did not.

She didn't have a great fundraising base.

It's a very, very red state.

And I think the timing is curious.

But at any rate, you know, I love that people are willing to sign up for public office.

It's a difficult job.

It's a taxing job on families and the people who love that, those who serve so it was that having run a statewide campaign to show her for dinner, 3rd, her hat in the ring.

It's going to certainly be a fight for her.

Yeah.

Your thoughts on what?

>> So she filed to raise money or the FTC out the 5 about access until after November anyway.

So that's what you have to wait on.

This is the flip side of corn.

McConnell's not officially said he's not running.

Now there's rapid speculation that he is not running as you see them anymore.

Says in the Daniel Cameron's make appearances in places where they usually don't go.

You know, so it's all just a shadow campaign.

There's nobody to come out and challenge him even though he's losing popularity within the current Republican Party.

But it's actually the watch the shadow campaign work with with people that are, you know, buying to run.

If he says he's not going to run again.

>> And with the files this week to, I'm sure that just heightens the speculation about a career that is coming to an end.

And and the 60 Minutes interview not too revealing on on Sunday night with Leslie Stahl.

Did you get anything out of that that you didn't already know?

>> I don't think most people did.

And I will comment on McConnell's.

Yeah, we all fall off all the time, but it does beg the and just like the question.

You know what?

I think that that's certainly part of the conversation, whether it's realistic or not useful or not, but I do think the jurors plane, the folks that are running those sort of shadow campaigns that they know what they're getting into.

And I don't think they would be doing it if there were no cars too, especially with those races you want to get in early.

So if you're preparing your want to get it out, certain allies in place that this would be the time to begin doing that and McConnell will have to announce his intentions soon, right, so that others can get into the game.

>> Any intel on that?

I mean, he gets 25.

He doesn't have to.

He try to >> set the table like Yarmouth in McCarty.

Nothing morning.

Got a heads up like 12 hours before you know or something like that.

And so he could probably do the same thing.

You know, honestly, I think it's going to be a 3 way primary just guessing Daniel Cameron made Morrison may be any bar and you know, because governor got that nice committee chairmanship.

So >> you heard it here, folks.

It happened on the and thank you all.

Appreciate it so much.

Have a good weekend.

Banks.

♪ ♪ We're getting a closer look at how Kentucky kids are recovering from COVID-19 learning losses.

Students in grades 4, 8, are tested every 2 years in reading and math and 2024 scores were released last week.

The Prichard Committee for Academic uses that data in its quote, Big, bold future national rankings report.

And today's Education Matters report.

Our Laura Rogers speaks with executive director Bridget blog.

And Bridgette, you all call this report card.

Really an indicator of if Kentucky is moving toward a more positive future or if we are falling behind in some areas and you are transparent and that does show some troubling trends.

>> let's start with the good news, the positives and we are showing some very strong rankings in certain areas, including 4th grade reading which we know literacy, really the foundation for so many other subjects.

That's right.

We rank 12th in the country right now for 4th grade reading, which is a climb from 29th in our last report 2 years ago.

>> So that's a tribute to our educators, our schools and our communities really doubling down to improve and to catch up from the COVID losses.

>> As for the other positives, what else did you find encouraging?

And these findings as an example, we are 4th in the nation in high school graduation.

And while we know high school graduation is not enough for our young people going on to some level of post-secondary education and training is critical.

Similarly, we're 4th in the nation in graduation from two-year institutions.

>> So Kentucky ends are moving on forward technical degrees and we're leading the nation in that area as well.

Mathematics.

We're starting to see a return to climbing the rankings ranking the highest we ever have in mathematics in the recent passage of the asked in Frankfort and the professional development dollars to support teachers is another good sign that we will continue to climb those rankings.

>> And that was always a very tough subject for me.

How at MIT are and still is honestly to this day now was in 8th grade math.

There were there were some mass course that we did find maybe weren't as strong as we would like to see them in an area that we want to work on.

>> But even though we're climbing or 32nd in the nation.

So we're not at the bottom, but were higher than we've been.

So we've got a lot of work to do without a doubt.

We want to celebrate where we see growth.

And this is one of the areas where we see growth and promise outside of education.

There's so many other areas that we are able to look at.

Our communities are able to look at that.

>> Baby's birth weight stevick engagement, voter turnout, things like that.

What else did you take away from this report and what are some areas that we?

That we're finding challenging as a society are as Kentuckyian so that we need to work on.

>> Yeah.

But the biggest challenge for us is the end goal and that's breaking cycles of generational poverty and improving family financial self sustainability and economic development.

And what we see is that we've actually fallen in the ranks when it comes to poverty were 4th from the bottom of the nation.

So that's a call to action to improve that indicator.

We have never has the state been able to improve that all the while we're improving these education indicators that should help to lead us to improving the indicator of poverty.

Another area is broadband access.

We know all states in the nation having experienced the COVID shutdowns recognize that broadband is important for remote access to work, remote access to health care and remote access to learning this commonwealth still still ranks in the 40's 40nd in the nation for broadband access.

And that's something we've really got to get right going into the future.

If we're going to continue to improve as a state support families and communities and improve our economic outlook and competitiveness.

>> Thank you so much for your insight and perspective on this.

Thank you.

>> The young ladies you're about to make really know how to strike a code girls who code has been around since 2012 this year at the Bullet County Public Library, girls who code meets twice monthly to learn coding and to show off their projects.

>> The very first coding class I've ever taught was.

100 boys and one girl so I was like what we have to get some more girls in here because I honestly was so surprised how much I enjoyed learning how to code about a year ago, I found out that my husband was being transferred to Shepherdsville for his for his job.

And I was teaching and I was teaching coding in Florida.

>> And I was like, what am I going to do in the decade?

So I thought before.

>> Before I figure that out, at least I know I can continue teaching like girls who code class because that's one of the things I really enjoyed back in Florida.

And I just love like you see when the cars get here.

They just are excited to be there and they make the coolest part.

If you can walk in here, not know anything or you could be advance and then there's everything in between.

And what they the program offers the opportunity for the girls to just explore.

We generally have sometimes are the only 3.

And then some things are 5.

So it's just whoever shows up.

And it's it's wide open and it's open like anybody can join the class.

Honestly is pretty much run by the girls.

They there's a website they can pick and choose what they like to do.

They're all kind of doing their own thing.

And I'm just there to lake encourage them and and help them out.

>> I like it a lot because I get to learn new things in right now.

We're going have a code.

Our own Mike portrait of herself for this push.

It.

You have to use all circles and squares some stuff and you built your body with it.

Right now.

I have a circle and a big wreck.

Take a look from my shoulders.

And now there's a ton of skills, overcoming frustration.

>> Problem solving teamwork.

Plus, I mean, it's the future.

Everything now has coating behind.

And that's the cool thing.

One of the girls who code lessons is even if you want to be a dancer.

There is coating in the lighting and there's coating in the music.

And there's always, you know, there's coating it.

Almost even doctors are using coding.

So no matter what you're interested, there's some kind of coding in the background I've been learning.

It's not difficult, but it's it's getting better.

I like how we get to have fun.

Well, our coating and there's no mistakes in goes to cope.

>> As of 2023 girls who code is served 670,000 girls and offers programs from 3rd grade through high school.

♪ ♪ >> Learn about the Kentucky man who invented the traffic light and take a walk and enjoy chocolate at the same time.

That's my speed are Toby Gibbs explains in this.

Look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> It settles may have a sweet sounding name, but they're actually an invasive plant here in Kentucky to help clean up Cascade K. But the honeysuckle roundup at Carter Caves, State Resort park tomorrow.

This is a great volunteer opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts and honeysuckle haters.

If you missed the next event, you're making a big mistake.

A big, huge, pretty woman.

The musical is coming to Bowling Green tomorrow night.

Whether you're a fan of the movie or just looking for a night of musical magic, the show is sure to exceed expectations.

Farmers, market themes.

Rejoice.

Tomorrow.

The Bath County Farmer's Market opens for the season.

Chop handmade products.

Fresh produce or even a special Valentine's Day gift book at to Bath County for this Great at Bat.

The Kentucky Street Center in Frankfort as a Great Black History Month event for kids tomorrow, gadgets and gizmos of Garrett Morgan is a hands-on workshop.

We'll explore the inventions of Black Kentucky in Garrett more get the genius behind the traffic signal.

The gas mask and more learn about his life.

Then try your hand in vending at this awesome educational of that.

If learning a new skill is one of your New Year's our Park Arboretum has the perfect opportunity for you.

Sunday marks the beginning of its 2025.

Bee keeping program here.

All the buzz about be keeping at sea of 2025.

Will be your year of the hive.

Going to prom is one of the highlights of being a senior.

But you don't have to be in high school to go to this dance.

The LaGrange Community Center YMCA is hosting a senior prom for those 16 up tomorrow.

Enjoy dinner.

Make memories in the photo both and dance the night away at this very special prom.

And that's what's happening around the commonwealth.

I'm told to get >> Thank you to obey and all your clever Ponds.

Kentucky will be represented this Sunday with a first ever appearance in the Puppy Bowl.

Animal Planet's popular Puppy Bowl brings shelter pups from all over the country to compete in the cutest sporting event of the year.

Just before the Super Bowl this year to puppies from the Kentucky Humane Society were chosen to represent the Commonwealth.

Colonel, the and julep the first ever Saint Bernard mix to participate in the Hoppy Bowl, the Kentucky Humane Society is hosting a viewing party this Sunday at PG and Jay-Z Dog Park Bar in Louisville.

Colonel in Julep have already found their forever homes.

But there are many more animals available for adoption at the Kentucky Humane Society doesn't get any cuter than that.

Well, we hope that you have a good weekend and then come right back here Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire.

We hope you'll connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop with all the great programming here at K T and send us a story idea by email to public affairs at K E T Dot Org.

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

Have a great weekend to come.

I'm Renee Shaw and I look forward to seeing you again here Monday night.

Have a good one.

♪