♪ >> We need to hear the General Assembly, the opportunity to get rid off.

Occupational taxes.

>> Why the Senate president thinks that's a good idea for Kentucky.

And while others think fluoride in our water is a bad idea.

>> Domestic violence is not just an issue that happens.

Some workouts.

Plus, Kentucky's domestic violence shelters need food.

That's where you come in.

>> 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 9th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off your weekend with us.

>> The Republican led Kentucky General Assembly has a goal to eventually reduce Kentucky's income tax to 0.

>> Now the Senate president says another tax needs to go.

We have details on that as we begin tonight's Legislative update.

Robert Stivers was one of several legislative leaders to speak at last night's annual Kentucky Chamber.

Day Dinner in Lexington.

He touted some of the business friendly policies his party has passed in recent years and said it's time to take it a step further.

>> When you look at our ratings on ratings are business trade, our tax rate.

It started when we started reducing the income taxes.

The ad valorem taxes, the local taxes.

And that's something we need to do here.

And again, this session.

>> We need to give the General Assembly the opportunity to get Occupational taxes, which are nothing more.

Then a personal income tax in many places, higher tax rate than what the state tax rate is right now.

>> So hopefully will pass a constitutional amendment which will give us that ability to go to pay consumption tax versus a production tax and even become more competitive on the national stage.

Be more like Tennessee, Texas, Florida, North Carolina.

>> The Senate president also discussed Senate Bill one which he filed yesterday.

It would create 5 and Dowd research funds that he says would encourage collaboration between Kentucky's universities when it comes to research and development.

>> The sea each turn and more come together.

What's the northern Kentuckyian Murray work together.

But the new of L and western to come together to have cutting edge research and create a dynamic dynamic in this state.

>> As there is in Boston where there's 30,000 unfilled jobs in the bow medical error.

Go to the triangle in North Carolina, which there is less than one percent unemployment or go to Indianapolis and look at the landscape being dominated by Eli Lilly.

>> Chemist every day.

>> Or Des Moines where they're doing active research.

But still be competitors.

Lets be collaborative years.

Let's look at.

And see how we can develop cutting edge technology.

And be competitive in an era in the world.

That is now moving in that direction.

Right?

>> You can see other remarks from other legislative leaders and Governor Andy Beshear this weekend as we present highlights of this year's Chamber day dinner this Sunday at 02:00PM Eastern Time.

01:00PM Central right here on KET the Kentucky House is proposed budget includes a 52 million dollar increase for child care spending.

It comes as the state is on the verge of losing approximately 330 million in federal funding a year that started when the COVID-19 pandemic began 4 years ago.

Childcare advocates including the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, says that the service is play a vital part in the economy.

>> It's a major issue for the Kentucky chamber because childcare is a significant economic issue.

I think what the House did is is a really great start and that is a record investment in early childhood from from state general fund dollars.

So that's that's a great thing.

I think questions such as is it enough, those will ultimately I don't think that's the right question to ask is I think a better question to ask is what do we need to be doing to minimize some of the disruption that will cause from the day will come for the lack of the loss of federal funding.

But at the same time, what can we be doing to increase the supply of childcare?

And I think for all intensive purposes, there's a lot more that we need to do to address both of those items to minimize disruption, but then also to increase the supply specific to Kentucky.

Throughout the course of 2022. on average any given month is about 70,000 or so parents not participating in the workforce, specifically due to issues related to child care.

We have a workforce participation rate of just 57%.

That's one of the bottom 10 in the nation.

Our workforce participation rate has been declining since COVID.

It's actually been declining for about the past 20 years.

>> And when we look at that now ask why is that it's a whole both the 2 different reasons.

>> But we have an abundance of data showing us the child.

Here is one of the primary reasons.

So if your employer right now and you're investing in our state and you are wanting to bring jobs here, maybe you already have.

You already are bringing jobs here.

You're going to need people to fill those jobs.

And some of those folks are going to be childcare in order for them to take those jobs.

And so if we want this economy to work the way we wanted to work, that's going to require us to invest in early childhood education at the chamber.

We've been working on a range of different initiatives, focused on supporting access to high-quality early-childhood education.

And this includes things like our support for legislation like House Bill 4.

99 back in the 2022 legislative session which created the employee Child Care Assistance, Partnership.

But this we're particularly focused on doing things to help minimize some of the disruption that's going to come from the loss of federal funding that our child care sector is receiving throughout the course of the pandemic.

We're also very interested in initiatives that can help us increase access to childcare.

that's going to include things like, you know, supporting in-home family childcare centers, supporting more employer based health care, but also looking at things like local zoning rules so that we can maybe make some adjustments.

You know, when it comes to land, use rules to allow for more childcare centers.

So we're taking a very multi-pronged approach to dealing with this very important economic issue.

>> According to the progressive Landing Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

The House budget still Falls.

200 million dollars short.

Where would need to be to make up for the gap when the federal funding runs out.

While some lawmakers in Kentucky are questioning the value of fluoride in our drinking water House bill one 41 would remove the mandate that public water systems and the mineral to their tap water.

The Kentucky Dental Association opposes such a move.

>> If we remove the fluoride from the water, everyone admits that we will see an increase in decay.

It won't be a median because these are the children with developing teeth.

You talking of the 2, 3, 4, year olds that are ingesting the water where it has the biggest effect, the largest primary think of their forming teeth and it will be as they age and those permanent teeth arrived, that we will see the effects of a moving forward.

>> Another dentist testified in support of the bill saying fluoride in drinking water does not provide the benefits we might expect saying it works topic Lee and doesn't need to be adjusted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say fluoride in drinking water reduces cavities by 25% in children and adults.

And as one of the greatest public health measures of the 20th century, the bill sponsor and committee members say local governments should decide this for themselves.

>> My bill does not remove foreign from water, nor does it.

I asked people to move the for an increasing him.

The government says to you, even though you don't want this and don't think it's good for you, we think it's good for you.

So you have to get it anyway.

>> I'm actually spend extra money to fill to the floor of the water for instance, to teachers, most of the measures, a lot more people out there like that.

>> According to the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition, 2 out of 5, Kentucky adults haven't seen a dentist in the past year.

Kentucky seniors are also more likely to not have their natural teeth than seniors and any other state.

>> In November, you could be voting on a school choice amendment will discuss that and other education-related bills Monday night on Kentucky tonight with a panel of education advocates.

>> We invite you, of course, to send us your questions and comments.

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

Now turning from Frankfort to Washington, U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says he's not going anywhere earlier in the week, McConnell withdrew a border security bill that he supported because of lack of GOP support.

Some Republicans were angry at McConnell for backing a compromise measure supported by Democrats.

Senator Ted Cruz of tests.

It's Texas said it's time to replace McConnell as Senate minority leader and Senator Mike Lee of Utah said on X, formerly Twitter that the Senate needs new leadership now.

But McConnell tells The Associated Press he's not stepping down.

He says his critics tried to replace him as Republican Senate leader in 2022. and failed.

♪ Time now for and to recruit view of some major political news this week, especially what's happening in Frankfort during the legislative session.

>> And we have with us on this Friday.

Kelsey can do to is with Blue DOT consulting.

And of course, you always see him around.

Troy Watson, who's Capitol reins PR and he's the founder there.

Good to see you all spent a week, hasn't it sits then?

Mark?

It's been a as we get near the halfway mark.

Kelsey of the session.

You know, the the pace has been somewhat different than in previous sessions, but we are seeing a ramp up this week.

The Senate, a Senate committee, Senate Education Committee, did take off Senate Bill 6, which is the dei bill that affects Kentucky's colleges and universities and restricts dei policies, particularly when it comes to discriminatory concepts is the bill now defines for classes and orientations training, Zeke cetera.

Tell us your thoughts about this bill and how Democrats are responding.

Something that was interesting to me as last night.

Whenever I was catching up on the news and scrolling through, I saw.

>> Reported, you know, on the same day that this anti.

>> The bill passed committee, Alex Acquisto there earlier had reported separately that President Stivers had said he always dreamed of position in Kentucky as a leader in university research any went on and he said, tell me why the state of Kentucky cannot emulate that type of dynamic like Boston who by biomedical and so, you know, I am a not I'm in the business of talking about the place that I believe that you can be.

And so while I like that idea, you know, one obstacle that I think would be in the way of a spreading that type of dynamic like he wants to see is a passing bills like SB 6.

I don't think that we can get rid of fluoride.

Something else that that passed yesterday or dance yesterday.

Do things like ban abortion, attacked teachers and say that we don't want to honor the experience of others who are different than our own and then create a Kentucky that works for all it.

It will be hard to attract and retain the very best talent if we continue to do these things that people see as divisive.

>> So Shane Watson, your perspective on this being an economic development issue doesn't boil down to that?

>> I don't think so.

Look at SB 6 brings us a larger brings us in line with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative It's it's it's about creating a level playing field.

And it's not it's not about one race, one sex when its its about leveling of everybody.

Because there's people that have varying levels of complaint.

You know, once you start giving up and putting the things in, there's going to be winners and losers.

Every process is about making sure the Kentucky can attract the best and brightest regardless of what they look like where they come from, what the background may be.

And and even even the playing field for everybody so that we can attract those people, we can grow the economy and and be a leader at all.

The sectors.

>> We know there are a couple of other bills to address You know, there's a K through 12, one that even addresses belonging and informed trauma care of trauma, informed care.

there's another one by Adam.

Stephen Merritt, also to that deals with We'll KET our eyes on that.

Those bills, then another bill that's been filed by the House speaker, a This question first.

And this is a redo from a rejection by the Kentucky voters in 2022.

To allow the General Assembly to call itself in a special session.

It is more nuanced than that.

Explain.

>> Let's back up a little bit where one of the very I think there's only 4 states in the country that don't have a way for the legislature to put checks and balances on the governorship when they're not in session.

It's it's where we are.

Not in the been the majority.

We are in the minority of states that and then even more states to fix that since the to wear.

When you have an says like where we had we saw in 2020 legislature couldn't come back and then just in the process because the governor held all the keys when he when he been letters out and he was called back in for anything.

So it's it's a it's a way to I check and balances in.

I think it's good policy.

Regardless of If if they have not sure Democrats would really love this if it was a Democrat legislature and Republican governor, they want with a pet tax amounts of something.

It's good government.

The problem with the with the ballot question before just confusing.

It was and also member people going in the abortion and it was on the people were were geared up to vote against amendments.

And so I think that really hurt.

And I think it's something we need to whether this is the right process, the right avenue to do it.

I don't know.

The voters will decide are probably pass.

But I do think it's important that we get that check and balance on the governor's power in a moment of emergency.

>> And we should say that House Speaker David Osborne did follow this building.

That was Republican.

Yes, and the governor's office.

So Kelce what say you about this bill?

I would say that giving the party that rolls back gains in health >> It rankles workers rights and undermines public education.

More time and freedom to do that is a bad idea.

And voters in 2022 thought so too.

When we voted and then one been don't really like what it means for candidates or potential candidates.

It's already difficult enough to find folks can run for office into creating conditions that had sort of varying date when session will be, I think, will deter more folks from running for office.

And so our goal is Representative Democracy.

We need multiple perspectives and people from all walks of life to be able to run.

Indian are elected body that we've talked about this a couple weeks on the show is >> are we looking at a move towards the potential of a of apartment legislature, though, like, you know, we talked we've seen members go enjoy the Metro Council command staff, staff, full-time staff and better pay.

I think, you know, this could be another step towards if not a full-time legislature, at least the professional and professionalization broadening of the support staff that they have to be able to extended time.

There.

>> But Democrats say, Kelsey, this is a power grab, trying to expand the power that the Legislature has and take away from the governor even more so.

>> Yes, I absolutely believe that I heard thank something checks and balances earlier.

But again, since since this governor has been elected and he's been popular.

You know, since the beginning, they have worked to chip away at his executive powers and and things like emergencies.

You know, he needs to be able to execute and govern.

In times of immediate crisis.

So this is just another power grab to take power away from him and get to the GOP bill legislator.

>> But another point about where the budget bills that advanced a couple weeks ago, the House Bill, 2.62 does address the fact that that the governor needs to spend more than 75 million dollars on a debt disaster and emergency.

You need to call a special session for the lawmakers to approve that.

This is all a part of that expansion of legislative power and being able to respond to emergencies that the people who voted for those in the General Assembly shouldn't do that.

>> We went with Coca-Cola Co Russia's government.

And right now they're they're not equal.

And except for the 6 to 30 days, Legislature is in session.

They have their this is purely is just a good government thing.

And I said we're we're in the minority of states that don't have to like this already in place.

We need to join the majority.

All right.

>> Well, we'll have to leave it there.

It's always a good conversation quick, but you guys are great at doing that.

Kelce Croods.

Thanks for joining us by Skype.

Of course, Tree Watson.

Always good to see you in person.

Have a great weekend, guys.

♪ ♪ >> Norton, West Louisville hospital was on schedule to open at the end of this year.

It will be the first hospital in the west end of Louisville and 150 years.

Our Kelsey Starks sat down with Curran's of Townsend, the newly named chief Administrative officer of the new hospital to talk about what it will offer.

♪ >> And it was a commitment to the community.

You went to the community first asked then what do you want to see in this hospital?

What were some of the things that you heard from that that are now being implemented in the real project?

Yes, so we we broke ground last but the project really started 2 years before that.

And so to your point, that research is what really matters.

>> And I don't mean just the day today as important as the day about organizations that were really, really about looking at what makes it different and what what makes it different than what moves the needle.

But most importantly, what do what does the community want?

What you are people want to see, you know what they want to experience, what services do.

They need the hospital.

And those are the questions that we asked.

So it's, you know, local are they want to green space.

They wanted somewhere together.

So community around.

We know that what little was a food desert.

We want to address that in the best way that we could.

Those are all the things that we heard bag, different services there.

68,000 plus, people in West Louisville.

Most of them are women of child-bearing age.

Women service is going to be key.

You know, things like that.

So things that we know make sense.

And then listening to the voice of the community, put those together.

And that's how we came up with what we're going to hit West will.

How is this hospital is going to be different from other Norton facilities?

What are the goals here?

>> I like to call it a hospital with no walls.

We will have walls.

We have a bill we speak to a hospital with.

No was.

>> But what that means is holistic medicine.

I'm not in the way of a tease people all the time and not in the way of we're going to be, you know, sitting in a circle and singing Kumbaya and meditating on a day when I say holistic medicine, I mean, taking care of the whole patient.

>> So other resources that they need, we know that health care is important.

But if you can't take care of your family and take care of yourself, healthcare falls by the wayside.

That's what we've seen here.

making sure that we're educating patients, making sure that we have wrap-around services rather connecting people with food resources.

So, for example, we have a a partnership with dare to care what we're going to have an actual pantry inside the hospital.

We know that that is a need, right?

We have that community room so you can teach other educational things, have other resources that we bring in.

And then of course, it is the Norton.

Healthcare Go Opportunity Campus.

And so we've got a whole slew of resources right next door that will collaborate with them as well.

>> The idea for the new hospital was pitch to the CEO by Townsend who started her career at Norton.

Health Care is a nurse.

And you can see and hear the full story of how the hospital came to be and how more development is happening in Louisville's West.

End on this coming Sunday's edition of Inside Louisville with Kelsey Starks Sunday at 12 noon Eastern.

11:00AM Central right here on KET.

♪ ♪ If you're doing some grocery shopping tomorrow, consider putting a few extra items in your shopping cart.

It's an easy way to donate to shop and share a program.

Keeping the pantry is full at Kentucky's domestic violence shelters.

It's a program with some big names.

Supporters.

>> Domestic violence is not just an issue that happens.

Some workouts.

It happens everywhere and it doesn't care about your socioeconomic status or your political affiliation, your religion workers at that.

And that is why it is all of our responsibility to help in the last 5 years, we sheltered 10,000 women.

300 men and 6,000 children.

And we provided non-residential services to more than 72,000 women, men, children.

Although we've been able to serve so many over the last 5 years, we still had 7800 and that request for shelter.

With additional community support.

We can bring that number of unmet shelter, request down to 0.

We can bring the rate at it to partner violence down to 0.

My number one goal is to make our commonwealth a safer place for all of our families.

To do that.

We must stand out against.

Domestic violence and also provide support.

We are survivors and their families.

We all the chance to do this Saturday, February 10 and shopping share.

It's easy.

And it's all in the name while you're shopping, you can get what you need.

Especially for the Super Bowl We've got a lot of parties this Sunday.

So it's the perfect time for shopping here.

People who may be starting over, we likely can't bring much with them when they come to a shelter.

That's why shopping here is so important.

None of us could replace things better to your to us.

But each of us can provide one thing they need.

>> The former first lady Jane Beshear started shop and share since 20 0, 8, people have donated more than 5 million dollars and money and food shopping share is from 09:00AM to 05:00PM tomorrow at many popular grocery stores.

♪ ♪ Valentine's Day is just a few days away and an event and Madisonville is creating quite a buzz.

Our Toby Gibbs explains and tonight look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> If you're looking for a gallon times event in Ashland this weekend, look no further than the Gallon Times pop-up party.

It's a local grab.

Your gals and Powell's first boutique shopping snacks, photo opportunities and more gallop on over to this great Valentine's gathering.

The Renaissance Men's Club in Campbellsville has a Valentine's event of its own tomorrow evening dance.

The night away at Valentine Shine at Bourbon Boutique with live music from the Perfect Fit Man.

>> Be bigger.

Food.

Photo ops and a raffle be enjoying downtown dance with good darling.

At Valentine, Shine.

Jar Fly Brewing Company in Somerset has partnered with once upon a fairy tale.

Very magical gallon times brunch on Sunday.

Join Princess Belle Aurora Rapunzel and aerial at the brewery for some sweet treats and musical performances.

Children in attendance will also receive a special coronation and their own crown from the princes.

>> Valentine's Day is the only special day coming up, the Kentucky Military History Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary tomorrow with a special tour at the state arsenal on tomorrow's tour, you'll Delta the unique functions.

The building served before becoming a museum as well as the building's architecture and military heritage.

Sure to check out this historic Frankfort building on its special anniversary.

The totally rad vintage Fast as a traveling flea markets coming to Covington tomorrow.

If you're on the hunt for some really rad treasure from the 80's 90's and early 2, thousands, you won't want to miss this event or shop at over 80 vendors for clothing, accessories and way more.

Come on out Covington for this totally tubular revenge.

Athens School House in Lexington has it's February and Tate show this weekend.

If you're looking to fall in love with some furniture to show his charm and style to spare, check out the huge variety of home decor from old world tapestries to worn down window shutters and pull over to the Athens school house for a great antiques experience.

Our Park Arboretum in Madisonville started beekeeping last year and it's looking for some volunteer beekeepers to join the hive.

It's hosting a the program orientation on Sunday for potential volunteers to learn what it takes to help protect and promote these important pollinators.

They plan to add 2 more hikes this year.

So if you've ever wanted to be come a beekeeper, this is the perfect opportunity.

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

I'm told he gives.

>> Thank you.

Tell the kids anyone whos renovated are just spruce House knows what a chore painting can be.

Well, one Kentucky businesses made it a little simpler.

>> And there are so many, you know, like there's a door paying a lot of outdoor paint of front door paint a cabinet.

No one knows all that science that we put all of that into one simple thing.

>> Well, say it ain't so.

Find out how this all in one paint came to be.

When you join us Monday on Kentucky edition and it has a Kentucky connection.

Well, we hope you have a great weekend and then you come right back here Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition.

Were we informed connect and inspire?

Subscribe to our email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips of KET DOT Org and connect with KET on Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thanks so much for watching.

Have a terrific weekend and I'll see him Monday night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪