>> Respecting who trans kids are in the school environment will save their lives.

>> A controversial bill intended to give parents more rights has some saying it puts trans kids in danger.

Plus, state lawmakers push to reopen this road now closed at the state Capitol.

It was a big undertaking, but we see the benefits are substantial.

And a Kentucky school district has pulled out all the stops to get students kindergarten ready.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Thursday, February, the 9th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Thursday night with us.

>> In Frankfort today, lawmakers considered Senate Bill one 50 a bill that critics say would mean more bullying of transgender students in Kentucky.

>> Its supporters, though, say the bill if passed, would give parents the information and transparency they need.

Our Casey Parker Bell begins our legislative coverage tonight from Frankfort.

>> Respecting coup.

Trans kids are in the school environment will save their lives.

>> People in opposition of Senate Bill one 50 stream forward to tell stories about a Frankfort bill they say could put trans children at serious risk.

Senate Bill.

One 50 is sponsored by state Senator Max Wise, who is also the running mate for Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Kelly craft.

The purpose of this bill.

>> Is to ensure parental communication inspection authorization.

>> The bill would require schools to notify parents when students access mental or physical health services.

It would prohibit the Kentucky Board of Education, the Kentucky Department of Education from creating policies keeping student information confidential from parents established school personnel are not required to use pronouns.

The do not conform to a student's biological sex as indicated on their birth certificate and requires disclosure of programs about human sexuality.

Schools will not have to disclose information to parents.

There's a belief the disclosure could result in the student becoming abuse or neglect specifically not allowing the Kentucky Department of Education.

>> For the Kentucky Board of Education to be mandating it pushed down upon local school districts, their ability to handle this.

>> Miles Joyner, a licensed clinical social worker in Louisville, non binary trans person, Sustrans children could be put at risk if the bill becomes law.

I know.

>> That if my trans kids that I'm treating who have already transition.

Going to the school and their teachers start using the wrong name and pronouns for them.

They will be suicidal.

>> The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization with the goal to end LGBTQ suicide conducted a survey last year with statewide data.

The results show nearly 59% of transgender non-binary youth in Kentucky.

Seriously considered suicide in the past year.

24% attempted suicide.

State Senator Karen Burke lost her transgender son, Henry to suicide last year.

She spoke against legislation on the Senate floor yesterday after the bill was introduced.

>> I'm going to make an open plea.

To the members of this body.

That we avoid politicizing issues that are literally killing our children.

>> The Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill one 50 11 to one Lexington, Senator Reggie Thomas was the only senator to vote no for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Senate Bill one 50 now moves on to the full Senate for consideration.

There.

As a reminder, if you are someone else's in mental distress, please call the suicide hotline number at 9, 8, 8 for help.

Governor Andy Beshear was critical of the bill during his news conference today.

He also mentioned Senator Karen Berg and her late son.

>> I'm struck by.

The callousness.

Of introducing this type of Bill.

Senator Karen Berg just almost right next to you.

Who buried her son?

What a month.

About a lack of disrespect but empathy.

For one of your colleagues.

And I have.

Real concerns based on what I've heard about the bill.

It will increase bowling.

In our schools, especially.

For students that are already marching, lost.

>> Also on the Frankfort front yesterday, the Senate passed House Bill one a bill that cuts the personal income tax rate by another half percent.

Affective next January.

Governor Beshear says he'll study the bill.

I consider the short and long-term impacts before deciding whether to veto it.

Supporters of slot like gaming machines are asking lawmakers to not ban them.

>> The Kentucky merchants, any meat and amusement coalition or Kentucky Mac rallied in Frankford yesterday.

They call these machines skill gangs, but opponents refer to them as gray machines.

They're in many small businesses and more than half of Kentucky's 120 counties.

Some lawmakers say the machines should be considered gambling and therefore illegal in Kentucky, Kentucky Max, as though a simple legislative fix could clear up any and all confusion.

Skill game certainly go.

>> And with additional regulation can do even more good for Kentucky.

A regulatory bill would make it easier for law enforcement to crack down on the actual bad actors.

Illegal gambling.

Operations and >> a bill addressing this issue has yet to be introduced this session.

A bill to reopen the road behind the Kentucky Capitol is once again being discussed this session.

Republican Senator John Schickel filed Senate Bill 11.

If passed, it would prohibit permanent closure of Capitol Avenue between the state Capitol building and the annex building.

Governor Beshear closed that section of the road in 2021.

Citing a security recommendation from state and federal officials in a committee hearing this morning, Senator Schickel from union explained why he thinks this bill is needed.

>> I take issue with the fact that they was recommended that that road be permanently closed it that there were several other was a hope or 4 of security recommendations that and many of them have not been been done.

And this bill does not say close that road completely.

It says open the road unless there's a reason to close it, which I think is is the perfect middle ground.

>> The bill sailed through today's committee and now waits for full action on the Senate floor.

A similar bill passed the Senate last session but was never taken up by the House.

Commonwealth's attorney has resigned one day before being impeached.

Ronnie Goldie Junior is accused of providing legal favors for a woman in exchange for nude photos of her.

He was a commonwealth's attorney for the 21st circuit covering in a fee, Montgomery and Rowan counties.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports gold.

He sent a letter of resignation to Governor Andy Beshear yesterday on Tuesday, a House committee passed 3 articles of impeachment against Goldie today.

The full House voted unanimously to impeach him.

He will now be tried by the Kentucky Senate.

>> Brevard County can now run its own school system.

Again, the state took over management in 2012 after a report found a lack of efficiency and effectiveness.

The schools moved to state assistance in 2019, but after a recent audit, the Kentucky Board of Education voted yesterday to return complete control back over to Brevard County.

Both Superintendent Phillip Watch said Michelle Hamilton, the chair of the Breathitt County Board of Education say they're proud of the progress.

The district is made.

>> We first became state meetings we barely made.

Our 2% continue to take we if we had an air conditioner that growth, we wish we had no way to pay for it.

And we've been able to back to you.

How does that mean?

Many 18, 19% contingency?

So we've been able to be a better and it's been very helpful with slightly points re we've been able to take care of those.

Financially without witnessing a lot of us in the difficult situation financially >> you know, just all of her biggest accomplishments that we did was That's what we call a local nickel tax.

And we've got a lot of facility projects going on around the with just a real close to moving in in 2023 and a new a early elementary building, which was about 15 million dollars.

We've been able to allow Holder curriculum and we've been able to buy that for multiple years.

Some we took a lot of time.

A lot of different things to look for and the best practices, evidence-based to upper academic achievement that we worked really h*** o* graduation rate, transition readiness to the college and career world.

So we just have a lot to be proud of.

>> The Kentucky Department of Education said there are no Kentucky school districts currently under state control or assistance.

A Central Kentucky School district has a preschool program.

Unlike most others in the state, it was created with help from a 1 million dollar grant from the governor's Office of Early Childhood.

Our Laura Rogers takes us to hodgenville in LaRue County for more.

>> Hodgenville is known as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, a man revered for his wisdom as the 16th president of the United States.

So perhaps it's only natural LaRue County put such emphasis on early childhood education.

>> The vision behind preschool college jury was to offer a full-day preschool program for families and LaRue County.

These kids as young as 3 years old, are already going to school all day 4 days a week 5 and >> saw the in space was kind of a factor just getting started.

So along came preschool and college street.

>> The space, a joint to central office housed in a historic school building with a modern addition.

>> They have their own cafeteria.

They have their own GM.

So the gym has been turned into an indoor playground.

They they have their own playground out front.

>> There is plenty of time for play, but don't be fooled.

This is a highly focused academic setting.

Great job.

It is hard to understand what do they do?

They're 3, 4, You know, what do you do all day?

But we truly have research base curriculums that we follow.

We assess the needs of every student where they are.

The curriculum includes the basics in literacy and math.

It prepares them for kindergarten and a big part of our program is kindergarten readiness.

>> When LaRue County schools developed its strategic plans, they listed early childhood education among the top.

>> Priorities for a read all cleared up.

We're pretty high achieving district in terms of academics.

But a few years ago, when you look at kindergarten readiness and you compare this with surrounding districts, we were.

>> Next to last in terms of kindergarten ready.

So we we KET that there was a need there.

>> Children qualify based on disability and income level.

But families can also pay tuition for their child to a tent.

The school also offers mental health services thanks to a preschool partnership.

Grant.

I can show it.

There you go.

Social and emotional learning is major right now, especially for all ages of kids.

>> But if we can reach some earlier, the better.

>> I'm going to hold it up.

Let's see you guys can do it.

>> It is such point of growth for children to be and an early childhood programs so that once they enter into kindergarten, they are prepared socially, emotionally and academically.

Today will be a good day.

>> Preschool on College Street has been well received by this community.

In fact, the school tells me there is a waiting list.

Families wanting to get their child enrolled for Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

>> Thank you, Laura preschool on College Street also offers occupational speech and physical therapies for students who qualify.

Now helping kids from kindergarten through their senior year in high school with mental wellness challenges.

Now, that's the goal of a Louisville state representative with a dramatic spike in suicide depression and anxiety since the pandemic Republican Ken Fleming has a plan to use what kids spend so much time on as a tool to get them the help they need when they're in crisis, it's through their mobile devices.

Representative Fleming told us earlier this week from our Frankfort Studios that a plan modeled after Utah puts youth access to mental health services just a few clicks away.

>> And basically what it is, it's a 24 hour access to mental health professionals.

Thank K through 12 kids.

Can you to last so when you see a kid or your child is is basically have their face planted in the green.

Well, that's that icon is right there for them to hit and go right to a mental health professional to help them address a situation that they're oppressed.

They're being bullied, they're and Saudi.

But here's that, I think is really, really important because Utah has intervened over 300 situations in terms of preventing suicide.

So when you see youth K through 12 is thinking about those things are then they can reach out very quickly and to to a professional that will understand the situation to help guide them through that process and then go out there and meet, go out there and get to for them.

>> So the infrastructure for that.

Where are these medical professionals who would be accessible?

24 7 at scene.

Well, you're right.

Well, you need to have a good license credentialed individual.

>> And I'll tell you what, your University of Louisville Health, particularly Peace Hospital has been fabulous.

They have been on board the get go with Their hire, a team of professionals and how have them on their staff that provide that that help and that access to those of spent this this is one component of this.

The other component is that if they see if a if a K through 12 student or a teacher or a parent, which will be access with a B access to this as well.

If they see a gun, our of violence or something that's occurring on on campus.

They can also utilize this to go to a mental health professional.

They understand the go through the training understand has the right questions and they will contact the of the school district as well.

Law enforcement to help address that situation and expeditious way.

>> How much is this going to cost?

Well, that's the that's not that's what we need from from the school districts and from the of the people, they the students, there's no be no cost.

Okay.

>> In fact, we have gone out and we raise $350,000 from foundations and or to get this a seed money to get this going is my goal to put this as a line item with the U of L a peace hospital to on going to do this ongoing.

And this is going to be statewide.

>> So even though U of L would be kind of like the clearing House or the then hub, it was still it wouldn't just be for Louisville Younes.

It would be statewide.

>> That's right.

That's right.

And you well so.

They've been very, very, very, very good.

They're going to work with other universities that might if they start seeing a by and do work in some type of partnership in order to help address those situations, no matter if you're in eastern Kentucky or west or taken or Kentucky.

>> Yeah.

And so you're starting off with K through 12.

Is expansion to this in the post-secondary education space.

>> Well, right now on the pop project will see how it goes and make sure we get things iron out.

But the answer question is yes, that could because Utah have gone through first responders, the National Guard.

They have really good span and 2 other within the state and or provide this service.

Yeah.

>> So many people would ask.

What's the difference between this and 9, 8, 8, >> That's a good question.

Actually.

They complement each other.

You can still call 9, 8, and still get to help from the Suez have provision the difference between the 2 is one.

You've got to remember 9.88.

You know, when you look at a phone, you know, you just hit near here.

There.

So that gives a very easy, convenient way to get access to mental health professional.

>> Representative Fleming's plan needs approval by the Kentucky General Assembly 40,000 Kentuckians age 12 to 17 have depression, making them twice as likely to drop out of school.

More than one-third of those kids don't receive care.

And more health news tonight.

We all know that sleep is important.

>> But just how much sleep do we need?

And when we don't get enough sleep, what is that doing to our bodies?

Doctor Wayne Tuckson, host of K ETS Kentucky Health recently spoke to a doctor specializing in sleep medicine about this very issue.

>> You know, for cardiovascular health oh, goodness.

There's a 200% increase of dying of a heart attack or stroke.

In one's life, they are habitual less than 6 hours, sleep or and that is that's a lot of people out there that do that.

>> You can see more of doctor toxins conversation about sleep on KET, Kentucky health program this Sunday at 12, 30 Eastern 11:30AM, central right here on KET.

♪ >> A new collaborative effort is underway to educate students about the black experience here in the Commonwealth.

>> The organizers want to celebrate the accomplishments of black Kentuckians throughout history.

Carter G Woodson re a college graduate.

The father of black history.

>> To paraphrase him, he said that you can't really tell history the full American experience without talking about the black experience in America.

So as we think about that full American history experience, we really need to think about that lens of the multitude of diverse people who make up America and obviously with my association, we're looking specifically at black history, the Association for teaching Black History.

Kentucky has a mission of elevating highlighting giving voice to the experiences of black Kentuckians past and present.

The brainchild is the Thomas De Clark Foundation.

They were able to partner with Berea College.

They were able to find Kentucky State University, the largest historically black college University in the state and then the Muhammad Ali Center as a partner in Louisville.

And these entities all came together, Kraft to be association bba thinking about teaching black history.

How can we effectively do that?

We want to create meaningful programming for our educators.

Thinking about professional development, thinking about frameworks around teaching black history thinking about that Kentucky lenses.

Well, CRT is not a part of anything that would do it with the association.

We are really focused on that K 12 experience and eventually helping support some of that higher Ed experience as well.

Localized Kentucky history.

That's not a part of the CRT conversation.

We should always celebrate our Kentucky history right?

And so CRT is a construct.

Very separate from any conversation around history, especially if we're talking about it at the K 12 level.

In Slate is an important part of the conversation.

As we start to talk about black history because important part of the experience for blacks in this country.

And it also leaves a lasting legacy of the black experience.

That being said, we should talk about Oliver Lewis winning the first Kentucky Derby as a black jockey in 18.

75?

We should tell the story of on those shots like the father of Bluegrass music.

Learn how to play the fiddle from the son of an enslaved man in Ohio County.

Right?

And so those are the stories that really told the lineage of the black experience and can be celebrated because of the innovation and achievement of black people in this country as well.

So yes, we should talking sleeping.

But if we only stop that is sleet meant that we're not telling the full story of the black experience.

Talk of calming says he hopes the association grows over the next 5 years and that they can host professional development opportunities for educators.

>> Not just in big cities, but in towns all across the state.

♪ >> The Frazier History Museum is where the world meets Kentucky from cool Kentucky stories to a taste of Kentucky's bourbon history.

>> Kentucky additions.

Kelsey Starks has more on what you can learn from a visit to the Louisville Museum.

>> Well, from high school and college rivalries and much more of a pure ecstasy.

Go to the Frazier History Museum is just like being a tourist in your very own hometown because it really is Casey Harden from the Frazier is here to talk about some of the exhibits you'll have going on.

You have a lot going on right now.

We do.

We do.

We always have a lot going on.

And thank you so much for having is so at the Fraser, we have such a unique opportunity to tell us so much Kentucky history.

>> And so many different ways.

And so one of the permanent exhibits that we have that on our first floor when you first walk in is Arklow Kentucky exhibit and so you walk into this exhibit in the first thing you see is a shiny red corvette and people are like, well, your history, why you have a car there because Corvettes are meeting Kentucky.

So we get to tell that story.

I mean, just behind that, you can see on the map can curl the the ship that we rode across the Atlantic.

I'm so we get to tell all these fun really cool kind of history.

And that really gets people excited to to know about Kentuckyian be from Kentucky in visit Kentucky.

Yeah, that's one of my favorite things to do is because I learn something new about Kentuckyian from here.

>> And that was something new.

Every time I go one of the cool things to like my daughter's going to a field trip there.

Yeah, this week and and as they can learn about the the whole commonwealth of Kentucky.

And yeah.

>> And what's really interesting is, you know, we have this cool exhibit this cool Kentucky exhibit downstairs in her first floor.

So if you're not big history person, but it's it's really going to be for you.

But if you head up to the second floor, you have the common law office.

The commonwealth's divided we fall and it takes a look at Kentucky Street but through diverse lens.

And so really the first museums have this kind of the exhibition where we yes, we're telling the typical Kentucky history, but we're incorporating on the diverse people that that lived in Kentuckyian help to tell this history.

And we worked with a lot of the native tribes tell the first section have this beautiful, interactive, respected and fish swim away.

As you approach and, you know, have have a footprint for the native people story in the beginning of Kentucky all the way you know, urban areas in Kentuckyian there's, you a neighborhood bar that you can step in and be like here in the 19th century and neighborhood bar.

So we really do have exhibitions for whatever kind of history lover you are.

Yeah.

all ages to.

Yeah, very much so.

It's really important for us to make sure that we're introducing history and to everybody.

So in the commonwealth, that's a very serious because of that.

And that as you come into rural Kentucky, you start to understand and learn why the country store was so important and then kids get to get in there and they get to buy fruits and vegetables and they get used the old crank phone and a lot of kids are like, I don't know what that is.

Yeah.

I mean, you know, they get to on pet the dog and sit beside the fire and really understand why I'm country stores are so important.

While the parents get to enjoy and read all the more serious history and that's something that you stick with them for was.

A coolest is for the sports fans.

Really this rivalry's exhibit is been such a hit.

It is it's one of its one of our more funding said that's it.

More fun exhibit that really been involved with because >> it we have laid our I like to call the Fraser basketball court.

So we have a basketball court in this We tell the history on the rivals of Mail and Manual and the which was the all-boys Catholic school, which is no longer a distance.

We transition into telling the rivals that are just around the state of Kentucky.

I'm so there really is.

If you really enjoy Kentucky history in Kentucky rivals in high school rivals, there is something for you in their cause.

You move on to the UK about the biggest You know, we talk about Western in eastern Kentucky and that and to finish it off, I would say we're the only museum in Kentucky where you can actually play basketball in a museum.

You can come in.

You can do pop a shot.

You can throw a football.

It's just really fun for everybody.

Yeah.

Great way to to learn history will thank you so much for being here.

We appreciate it.

And registration is now open.

>> For spring and summer camps for the kiddos out there.

If they want to spend the summer at the Frazier History Museum, they can do that online.

Back to you.

Thank you.

Kelsey.

>> And who would want to spend some time there playing basketball in the Fraser Museum, which also offers various professional development opportunities for educators throughout the year that coincide with their exhibits and programs.

Governor Andy Beshear and legislative leaders speak during a Chamber of Commerce dinner tonight in Lexington, you can see that online around 7.25.

Eastern time at KET Dot Org.

And tomorrow on Kentucky Edition our Friday check and of the political news of the Week.

You don't want to miss that and so much more.

We've got in store for you tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central on Kentucky EDITION where we inform connect and inspire.

You can subscribe to our Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips a K E T Dot Org.

Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

We're there.

Thank you so very much for watching.

Take care.

Have a great night and I'll see you tomorrow.

♪