♪ >> We need to protect the data that exists on state government devices.

>> State government as another step closer to a TikTok ban.

>> They're going to be everywhere are going to be woven into the everyday lives of Kentuckians.

And we don't think that's what Kentuckians want.

>> Critics of Grey mission say they're illegal and half to be stopped.

The reality is I know that I've always had a desire to help and contribute in connect.

And made another new face helping to run your state government in Frankfort.

>> 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 Friday.

We made February the 10th.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off your weekend with us.

>> It's no secret that Kentucky, like most other states, is facing a shortage of teachers.

The exact number, though, is up for debate last month.

Governor Andy Beshear said the state was nearly 11,000 teachers short testifying in Frankfort earlier this week.

Education Commissioner Jason Glass said that number doesn't reflect the number of vacancies at any one time on Tuesday.

House Education Chairman Republican James Tipton said as of Mid-January, Kentucky had about 1500 active teacher vacancies.

While the numbers may vary, many lawmakers agree more needs to be done to recruit new teachers.

Senate Bill.

49 could be one way to do just that.

The Senate Education Committee approved the bill yesterday.

If it becomes law, it will become easier for people with at least a bachelor's degree to begin teaching while finishing a post-graduation certification program.

Kentucky law currently says to continue working as a teacher, you must get that certification within 2 years.

Senate Bill 49 would give people an additional 2 years.

>> We are asking these middle aged folks that are coming out of there.

Private sector jobs.

Many of them have children to come into education.

Not only teach coach.

To all the professional development.

Do all the things teachers to grade papers.

Lesson plans unit plans.

And oh, yeah, by the way, finish all these hours of education within a 3 year time period.

>> About 1600 teachers are enrolled in what's called the option 6 program statewide Senate Bill 49 is slated to be acted on by the full Senate on Tuesday.

The social media app TikTok is popular for its short viral videos but state legislators say it poses a serious security risk to the state.

The app is owned by byte dance.

A Chinese company critics say it could give the Chinese government access to data, including a user's browsing history and location.

Today, senators approved Senate Bill 20 which bans TikTok on government devices.

State Senator Robby Mills sponsors the bill.

>> We need to protect the data that exists on state government devices.

And one very practical way doing this is to remove a known data mining at.

>> From all.

>> The state of Kentucky is digital devices and computers.

>> Governor Andy Beshear issued an executive order banning TikTok for executive branch employees last month.

Senate Bill 20 would also ban the app from being used on government networks.

The bill still needs to be passed by the House to become law.

Governor, Beshear and legislative leaders shared the stage last night during the Kentucky Chamber Day annual dinner in Lexington to lay out their priorities for the remainder of the session and boost or complain about pass legislative actions.

You can see highlights of their speeches Sunday afternoon at 02:00PM Eastern.

One central right here on KET.

Supporters call them games of skill.

Opponents say it's predatory gambling.

Tonight.

Our Laura Rogers takes a look at the slot like gaming machines, creating controversy all over Kentucky.

>> They're called gray machines or skill games, depending on who you este.

You can find them in places like convenience stores, restaurants and bars all across Kentucky.

>> They've been a big hit.

The machines are wildly popular with our customers.

>> Small business owners say there are a way to ad revenue.

>> Anytime you can have some added income and give you a little cushion, especially after the pandemic and not really knowing that we're going make a day to day.

It's just less stress.

Stress my life.

>> But Kentucky ends against illegal gambling says these games are not authorized by the state legislature and they want to see them officially banned.

>> They're going to be everywhere.

They're going to be woven into the everyday lives of Kentuckians.

And we don't think that's what Kentuckians want.

>> Guilfoyle estimates there are close to 3,000 of these games statewide with more on the way.

>> I mean, we're going to have many casinos on every street corner every convenience store, every gas station, every bar restaurant, places that sell alcohol, you just won't be able to get away from these machines.

>> There are a lot of differences between what you would call a slot machine and one of the burning barrel skill games.

>> Operators say the games require a degree of skill.

We push play.

>> And if there are 2 in a row somewhere you have to choose the 3rd box correctly.

To win that prize is the actual whole game that requires skill memory game.

You know, that's the difference.

The minute you said on your know how to play the game.

To course que.

>> But Guilfoyle contest that argument and says there is an element of chance that makes it illegal gambling.

>> I don't requires much skill to put your finger on this on the screen to complete a Tic tac toe, my 5 year-old grandson can beat Mitt Tic Tac toe.

>> The Kentucky Merchants and amusement coalition is supporting legislation of its own that would regulate skill games and help crack down on illegal gambling.

>> They want to see the Games have standards.

A standard of play, a standard skill.

>> There is some charitable giving a small percentage of the proceeds benefits.

Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police.

>> We do shop with a cop choice year.

We do food baskets twice a year.

We have a memorial service every year.

And so these different things obviously caused a lot of money.

So any kind of donations that we can get from businesses or the public always are great for us.

>> Guilfoyle says the machines are too accessible and he has concerns, including that the lead to an increase in crime.

>> We've certainly seen that in Pennsylvania where you have the smash-and-grab gangs that come into stores coming to gas stations and still the money.

Geffen says the games have been good for business.

>> It's more about the enhanced experience.

For our regular Jen, our customers, they say longer have a better time earned him more often.

>> For Kentucky Edition on Laura Rogers.

>> Kentuckians against illegal gambling says it hopes the legislation to ban gray machines will be filed next week.

>> There are lots of new faces in Frankfort this year.

One new member of the Kentucky General Assembly is a Republican from northern Kentucky who says growing up in a large family is helping her navigate the do's and don'ts of lawmaking.

♪ ♪ I am Shelley and KET Pro Meyer and I'm in District.

24, which is all of Campbell Pendleton and Bracken.

>> And just a slice of Kenton County.

What prompted me to run in the state legislature happened all way back in 5th grade.

When does a child at Hunter Elementary?

We came for a field trip and my parents reinforce that with another visit.

>> And I believe I will be here one day.

How can I help?

And I'm the 6th of 12 children.

So when you're the 6, the 12 children you work with the older ones to get things done and you motivate the younger ones in maybe my motivational methods.

I don't know that they were always perfect.

But the reality is, I know that I've always had a desire to help and contribute in connect on the certified financial planner and from a civic engagement standpoint, I like to encourage people through financial literacy.

So I do like to work with kind of the dumping your debt and try to motivate and through junior achievement.

I also volunteered in the classroom to work on some of the financial literacy concepts over the years.

And then before that, I worked more on a national basis as a recruiter for large companies.

And that is just given me that respect for.

>> We need.

>> Jobs.

We need strong companies to bring those jobs and we need strong leaders that are prepared to lead and continue to grow the economy and right out of University of Kentucky.

I worked in the oil work for British Petroleum, California, Arizona, Tennessee, and I would love to take some of that experience.

Bring it back to Kentucky.

I'm excited that one of my very first bills all file will be related to women's health in our need for more.

But are the options so health services?

Originally thought the number one most excited about is economic development tourism in labor, but also on the Education Committee.

Each of the on.

I feel like our foundation to the next and I do believe education without education.

You can't.

Yeah, healthy choices.

You can make great healthy choices without good, healthy choices.

You're not a reliable team member to our economic development and your own personal development.

So health education, economic development, labor and tourism get very excited.

My licking River Valley that I line on one side of my district with the Ohio River on the other side of my district.

There's a lot of tourism potential and a lot already happening.

So I look forward to continuing to grow that a bit and then revenue in appropriations who doesn't want to be and are the understanding that.

Freedom.

Family.

Are so important to me.

And in some ways I don't want to over legislate.

So I'm looking forward to polishing some of the edges of things to the didn't quite work out as we hoped.

So I really want that for the to be available for for our women.

My oldest child gave birth in a home birth with her 3rd child and I I see that is so needed.

So I'm I'm excited that we can accomplish that.

And it's been in the works for many years, 70 11 year.

It's been in the works for a long time.

Now is the time excited for that some of the things that we need to polish up if unintended consequences, but allowing where we have some school choice, all of a sudden our athletes, that is part of that whole student that is looking at changing schools is being limited.

So we're working on getting that.

I'm working with KHS to ensure that the language works.

Well, and but they were KET keeping our students first.

So I would like to knock that out.

We have several other really meaningful and candidly legalizing medical marijuana, recognizing that that's that's freedom.

That's an opportunity for what I'd like to say.

We need to health revolution and that can aid to the holistic side and allow people to make the decision along with their medical professional.

That's going to work best for them.

So a lot.

Well, a lot happening and I'm I'm stunned that at the end of a 24 hour day.

What you can accomplish and working jumping in the ship with my fellow senators and house reps. >> We're we're in the ship together and we're we're rolling.

>> We'll have more profiles of freshman lawmakers in the days and weeks to calm.

And you can also view clips of other new lawmakers right now online on-demand stream it it KET, DOT org.

Slash Kentucky edition.

>> Time now for into the crib.

You have some major political developments and especially what happened in Frankfort this week in our Inside Kentucky Politics segment.

And we're glad to have a dynamic duo with us today on screen left is Kelsey Coutts.

She's a Democratic operative and co-founder and principal of Blue DOT Consulting and on the right side of the screen, Iris Wilbur, who was a Republican strategist and principal at McCarty, the strategic Solutions.

Welcome to you both.

Ladies.

It's good to see you.

Thank you for having me.

So let's start Iris, all start with you on House Bill.

1, O which is lowering the state income tax, another half percent to 4% by January on January.

First 2024.

This is finally making its way to the governor's desk and this was a foregone conclusion when they came back this week.

But talk to us about the significance of this measure.

>> Absolutely, Renee, I this is all about fall you know, Senate and House Republic Cannes have made a commitment to essentially codified what has been discussed over the last 18 months, right to to realize the step down the incremental step down and further reducing the personal income tax.

And so, you know, they said the town when the gavel there for part one of the session.

And as we came back this week, it was just a matter of the bill crossing over to the Senate seat.

This procedural aspects and then getting that vote and 2 are getting the bill, I should say over to the governor's desk.

>> And Cal say it was largely it was a party line vote that in the Senate, which was to be expected.

But we don't know what the governor will do, right?

He has 3 options.

He could sign it.

He could veto it or let it become law without his What would you advise the governor to do?

>> Well, I'm sure the governor is reviewing this to see how many dollars the bill will put into the pockets of Kentuckians and how it's going to help Kentucky families.

What I do know, though, is that what is hurting Kentucky families are the taxes that the majority us.

But I'm Kentuckyian last session as a result of these cuts.

And we know that more are to come so there and now taxes on new services like vehicles and cars, a car sharing rentals, personal fitness parking and more.

The governor is actually even that there are taxes now on background checks.

So it's more expensive to run a check now who's working with our kids.

So he has encouraged the Republican majority to decrease the sales tax to help Kentuckians provide for their families.

But it seems that we've only added some sales tax, which we know is regressive in the long term and effects the most part of Kentucky.

It.

>> Thursday on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer.

Almost a double dare It was Wednesday.

Double dared him to veto the measure right?

And we know that the governor has vetoed Republican measures that have led to economic development in Kentucky.

And so this is kind of a tough situation.

The governor is in.

>> I'm sure I'm sure senator, they are.

you know double dog dare him or or double down.

As you say.

I always say, you know, tax cuts is a nice buzz But really for this is an income tax break for the wealthy.

And so I think the governor said that he is weighing the short-term and long-term implications.

And I I would say the short term is again, how many dollars is just going to put in the majority of Kentuckians pockets, which we know is not a lot for the majority of Kentuckyian and really is just helping them the super wealthy and in the long term, what kind of budget hole could this provide to our state government budget, which of course, could lead to the cuts for other services.

>> let you chime in on on the political calculus someone and who's the chief executive officer of the state should consider right when making this decision.

>> Charbonnet and the spoke last night at the business gathering in the Commonwealth.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, that legislative dinner where the governor touted lots of these investment announcement.

But I would argue those would have never come to fruition.

And if Kentucky Republicans did not put us on a track to make us more competitive when we look at our surrounding states are states that are experiencing growth.

There are similarities, our tax structure and that's precisely what we're trying to achieve.

>> And the ultimate goal goal is to grow Kentucky.

>> How do we grow our population?

How do we grow?

Our per capita income, the average income for for wage earners.

And so in order to do so to create more jobs, more economic opportunities, increase wages, Kentucky must be competitive with our peer states.

That's all about retaining and attracting jobs.

>> So the final item for the time we have remaining, there are a couple of bills that were filed and discussed concerning what has been dubbed as parental rights and parental communication and engagement.

But go back to you first.

Kelsey say that these bills are targeting trans the LGBTQ+ community.

Give us your take on these bills.

I think these bills are the most cynical view of politics that we can get.

I think we're talking about building a Kentucky that works for all.

This is the opposite of what we want.

>> I think these bills are callous in curl in just a focus on SB One 50 for a second from Senator was I think that.

Honestly, the lack of decency and humanity to stand 3 desks away from someone who just lost their trance and in Senator Berg a few weeks ago, who was literally begging him to not introduce this bill, but he insisted he insisted on a bill that targets trans children in an attempt to erase them just to score political points to try to win his GOP primary.

That's really what this is about.

It's using LGBT kids.

Us ons for his political game, which I think is is frankly unacceptable.

We really should be doing what's best for all kids.

But instead, I think that this both of these bills really target the most marginalized students in our schools.

>> Iris your take on it and the impact it could have on the governor's primary on the Republican side.

>> Charlie can't ignore the fact that this calendar year 2023, Kentucky is one of the few states that has been that we're all races.

>> But, you know, Renee, what I have heard from Kentucky Republicans is that these are conversations that are happening within districts that parents are expressing concerns about their ability to communicate the ability to have some control over their children are experiencing.

And the thing is, Renee, this issue is not neat.

>> To the common well, we see in conversations within communities within public school districts with that all sorts of forums occur across the country.

And so I think it's a responsibility of of legislators and policy makers to be aware of the priorities within their constituencies, raise awareness.

And ultimately, you know, pass legislation passed public policy that is reflective of the electorate Raya constituencies.

And so, you know, we're early in the legislative process.

Senate Bill, one and awaits Senate action.

We'll see what happens from that point.

And then obviously needs to cross over to the house and so forth.

And I think they'll be plenty of room for for public discourse in for today.

>> it's just it's an issue now that we're talking about and we will see where it goes from here.

Yeah.

>> And there is a companion measure and and the House by Representative Josh Callaway.

So we'll KET our eyes on both of those measures and we appreciate you.

Kelsey Coutts and IRAs Wilbur for doing the same in for being with us today.

Have a great weekend.

Thank you so much, too.

♪ >> Turning to higher education, Kentucky's gains and 6 year college completion rates tied for second best in the nation.

According to a recent report, the president of the agency charged with overseeing higher education in Kentucky.

Talk to me about how it's just one metric showing the state is making some strides to get more college degrees in the hands of Kentuckians.

The Kentucky Council on post-secondary education.

President Aaron Thompson joins me on connections Sunday to talk about that and legislation pending before state lawmakers on college tuition increases.

>> The bill >> really allows campuses every year to raise tuition by percent.

But only on the incoming class.

Then they have to KET then stay for the next 4 years.

So literally or you could have a freshman coming in and by the time, Mr.

Her get to the senior year.

They could be paying, you know, 15%.

Last been the freshman.

But there are there So this is not something we're for for a lot of reasons.

One is I mean, I guess you can say they have some pretty good for predictability.

But the other thing that has is a situation whereby that you're going to have a disparity so much so and those.

Classes that is going to create a situation whereby I feel that my neighbor, low-income students, students of color.

We'll be in a situation where they can continue to afford because this is a lot higher than what we've done the last 4, 5 years.

Yeah.

Income.

You only had what to 4% increases at We've we've only averaged a year.

We've had the lowest tuition in history.

>> So what's the rationale for Doctor Thompson?

What's the end goal here?

The in goal?

I think the sponsors saying that it offers predictability and limits tuition.

>> Well, you can look at, you know, Illinois, Texas, you know, some other places that have done this, really, it hasn't done that.

I mean, went out of control a little bit.

And in many cases, it could cause the state to not even fund as some of our states have And, you know, we're at here, you know, in 1999, the state was paying for 70%.

The college-going for student mask paying 29 or 30%.

You know for us to KET tuition bound.

We need more state input argument also is that you need to understand the flexibility of the market to force a bill that will do this without consideration of the market.

Well, you've done is created a situation that's not manageable.

Our campuses, my office, who we separate tuition ceiling.

We look at all these market forces and we look at how we think people portability and plays while keeping their doors open.

>> You can see my full interview with Cpe President Aaron Thompson where he talks about that issue.

Plus, how higher Ed is helping students who face food and housing insecurity that Sunday at 12 noon Eastern 11:00AM central on KET.

♪ >> Plenty of entertainment choices this weekend and beyond.

And it's not just the Super Bowl.

>> To be gives always scores a touchdown as he tells us what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Ravioli Tortellini Fettuccine all my learn to make homemade pasta during introduction to pasta a hands-on cooking class and butler this Saturday come hungry because everything you making the class, including the pasta feelings and sauces will be part of your delectable dinner experience.

The 41st annual Long Star Championship Rodeo is this weekend in Bowling Green with bareback riding calf roping steer wrestling barrel racing and more this evening has something for everyone.

>> Celebrate all things love during the badge and playhouse.

Variety love songs concert in Grand Rivers this Friday and Saturday.

>> Grab your sweetheart and come on down for an evening of classic love songs.

Sung like never before.

Move over Super Bowl.

The 5th annual Grady Ball is back in Ashland this Saturday.

Enjoy gravy tasting, live music and delicious drinks.

All while you vote for the People's Choice Award in an evening.

That is sure to score a touchdown for your taste buds.

Back by popular Demand classic movie night at the Virginia kicks off next Thursday in Somerset with a viewing of to Kill a Mockingbird join scout JeM and Atticus Finch's.

They learned the hard truths of the world and are reminded about the importance of loving everyone.

And speaking up for those who can't.

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

I'm Kobe get >> Thank you.

Toby Gibbs.

Have you ever heard of still itch?

It's a byproduct of the bourbon making process and it's been a problem to find a use for it until now.

Monday.

We'll tell you about a new use that's really paying off.

You'll find out the details on the next Kentucky edition and join us Monday night for Kentucky.

Tonight.

We have 2 topics.

We'll discuss a bill before the General Assembly that would choir more local elections.

Things like Mayor City Council and school board to be partisan candidates would have to declare themselves as Democrats or Republicans.

And we'll also talk about whether local community should have more tax options to raise money.

>> That's all on Monday night at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

A lot of good stuff on KET.

Tune in this weekend for Kentucky life and then join us again on Monday at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky.

Addition for weeks connect and Inspire.

Thank you so much for joining us this week.

Connect with us on our website are PBS video app and send us your ideas on good stories that we can tell about your communities.

Thanks again for watching.

Have a great weekend.

All see it.

♪