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

The owner Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Fund.

♪ ♪ Good Evening and Happy New Year and welcome to Kentucky edition on this first day of 2024.

>> I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

Kentucky lawmakers are returning to Frankfort, the 2024 General Assembly begins tomorrow.

And there are many items on the agenda that includes a two-year spending plan.

The state constitution requires lawmakers to pass a budget and they will have 60 working days to do so.

KET will be there every step of the way with live coverage and analysis tonight.

We look back at some of the top stories of 2023, which includes several stories about new legislation.

We begin with sports betting after years of trying Kentucky lawmakers finally got a bill legalizing sports betting across the finish line.

House Bill 5.51. called for a phased approach with sports betting becoming legal at racetracks.

First, Governor Andy Beshear place the first in-person bet at Churchill Downs.

>> Economic drivers We should So it's really relief.

the Kentucky serve everybody out.

There is no Go out and make your first bet and enjoy it.

>> And it wasn't just Governor Beshear, several members of the Republican dominated General Assembly gathered at Lexington's Red Mile Games to celebrate the passage of sports gambling.

Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, a longtime proponent of sports gambling made a bet on the Bengals.

Talking to my colleagues at the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

They told me that they've they've learned some best practices from about 6 other states.

And that's one of the reasons we were able to get up and running in Kentucky.

So quickly, they talk to some of those states about what worked and what didn't work.

And they were able to move >> Sports wagering through mobile betting became legal 3 weeks later to date.

More than 650 million dollars have been wagered in Kentucky.

That amounts to roughly 8 million in tax dollars with most of that money earmarked for the Kentucky prominent pension fund 2 and a half percent of the revenue will be set aside to help combat gambling addiction.

While betting on sports is now legal in Kentucky, gambling on skill games or gray machines as opponents call them is not a bill making the slot like gambling machines illegal became law last year.

The machines were popular, truck stops, restaurants and bars.

It was estimated that thousands of them were locations across the state last year.

Another major piece of legislation that was years in the making was also signed into law Senate Bill.

47 pave the way for Kentuckians to purchase medical marijuana Kentuckians will be eligible to receive medical marijuana cards if they have certain medical conditions such as cancer, epilepsy and PTSD, but medical marijuana won't become available to the public until 2025. sponsor of SB.

47 states Senator Stephen West said the extra time will allow legislators to adjust the law before the drug is available to the public.

So to see the candidate will have a long time to draft regulations pursuant to the bill.

We will be back in session.

One more time before those regulations go into effect.

So you'll get another bite at the Apple.

Take a look at everything that's flowing through the regulatory process.

Still not all legislators agreed with the bill's language.

Some said they were concerned about the potential for people to smoke medical marijuana, which is prohibited.

But in the bill, Louisville representative Jason me miss who pushed for legalize medical marijuana for years said this about the concerns.

And if you do smoke this product, which obviously is against the rules, it will be packed on the package.

You will not only lose your card, you will go to prison.

You lose your card if you get caught smoking it and you'll go to jail as you ought to.

This is not a wink, wink, nod, nod medical program.

>> This is a medical program.

Governor Beshear signed the medical marijuana bill into law on March 31st.

>> One day after the 2023 General Assembly wrapped up.

A bill that took up much of the oxygen in Frankfort last year is still being challenged in courts this year.

Lawmakers overturned Governor Andy Beshear's veto of Senate Bill one 50, which some say is one of the harshest anti transgender policies in the country.

The wide ranging bill bans medical care for transitioning youth allows teachers to ignore students preferred pronoun and ban schools from providing instruction on sexual orientation and identity.

The debate drew crowds from both sides of the state Capitol even led to police escorting protesters out of the gallery of the House chamber.

>> Yes, supporters of this bill say that transgender people have mental illness.

You're wrong.

>> But if that's what you believe in, what is your plan to help?

>> All I see are attempts to deny them the help that their parents and their doctors.

And most importantly, they themselves say they need that is inhumane and cruel.

I've also all right that no one in Kentucky with a modicum of expertise on this issue spoke in favor of this bill because they were scared.

We had all these out of state hucksters testifying for the bill while hundreds of Kentuckyian to oppose the bill were in the room in all ways in our offices.

Our 8.

>> We're having to make decisions because there are school districts.

They cannot.

Legislate on their own.

Common sense.

In bathrooms and locker rooms and shower rooms.

>> Well, maybe its travel or trade.

The as as I don't say, gay bill.

This is God don't say gay bill.

This is my children don't belong to the government.

I don't belong to the store.

They don't belong to some audio.

They failed to may.

>> Comes to recruiting passage of SB One, 50 is what ultimately led to Kentucky's education commissioner stepping down Jason Glass.

Unabashedly admitted that he left the job because he refused to carry out the sweeping new law.

In an interview on K E T Class said he believes history will reflect on lawmakers decision with regret.

>> I maintain that this bill is wrong for Kentucky.

It's wrong for our country.

It's put students at risk and danger.

It's troubling from number of perspectives in terms of government overreach into educational and medical And it's an anti LGBTQ And these are important people in our society and in our world that we need to bring into the circle and not further marginalize.

So I'm proud to stand that I've taken against him and leaving is perhaps the most disruptive insignificant thing that I can do to say that this is wrong.

And so I'm proud of that decision.

>> As late as September of last year, S P one 50 was still being debated in the courts.

The most recent ruling came from the 6th U.S.

Circuit Court of Appeals which ruled Kentucky can KET banning gender affirming care for young transgender people.

While legal challenges against the state law.

Proceed.

Another historic event last year was the impeachment of former Commonwealth's attorney running Goldie.

He resigned in February following accusations he traded favors with the defendant in exchange for nude photos.

Goldie was later impeached by the Kentucky State Senate making it the body's first impeachment hearing and trial and 135 years, the FBI took gold the into custody back in August.

He's facing 14 federal charges related to accusations that led to his impeachment.

In March.

The U.S. Department of Justice released findings of its two-year investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department.

The investigation was prompted by the death of Breonna Taylor who was fatally shot in 2020 by officers serving a warrant at her home.

Some of the findings in the report include instances of LMPD unlawfully arresting people of color, violating the rights of those engaged in protected free speech, unlawful stops and executing no-knock warrants unlawfully U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was in Louisville to announce the findings.

>> This conduct is an acceptable.

It's heartbreaking.

It erodes community trust necessary for effective policing and it is an affront to the vast majority of officers who put their lives on the line every day you served with honor.

And that is in the front to the people of Louisville who deserve better.

>> The police department and the city begin implementing reforms prior to the report's release.

Then came the massacre on April 10th, a former old National Bank employee brought an AR 15 rifle into the downtown bank branch where he worked and began shooting killing 5 and wounding 8 before shot being shot and killed by police employees were gathered for a morning board meeting at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville.

When 25 year-old Connor surgeon walked in and opened fire with an assault rifle.

>> 5 people were killed.

63 year-old Tommy Elliot, 64 year-old Jim taught 40 year-old Josh Barrick.

45 year-old Juliana farmer and 57 year-old Deanna Eckert.

8 others were injured, including Louisville Metro police officers who responded to the scene.

Officer Cory Galloway and Officer Nicholas.

Well to recent police Academy graduate.

We're the first to arrive at the scene.

Police said Sturgeon was writing and began firing on ♪ >> Officer will was shot in the head.

>> The shooter has an angle on that officer.

We need to get out there.

I don't know where he's at the last blocking it.

The gunfight.

And after Galloway fatally shot I think is out.

>> The shooting left officer will critically injured.

He would spend more than 3 months in the hospital and during multiple surgeries and intensive therapy in the aftermath of the shooting, the victims honored by the community.

Tommy.

Giuliana.

Fathers.

Mothers, grandparents.

Children.

Each one, a child of God.

These are irreplaceable.

Kentuckians taken far too soon by a senseless act of violence.

That is certainly making me.

I feel heartbroken and remembered by those closest to them.

Governor Andy Beshear, friends with victim Tommy Elliot urged compassion.

There are a lot of people that are hurting today.

And if we have a place to focus our energy, I hope it is to surround them with the love.

And the compassion that we have been so good that one another for 15 years.

I've cared for victims of violence and gunshot wounds.

And people say I'm tired, but I'll be answer.

It's more than tired.

I'm weary.

>> But to everyone who helps make policy both that state city, federal.

I would simply ask you to do something.

Because doing nothing, which is what we've been doing is not working.

>> Victims and families suing Texas gun manufacturer, radical Firearms.

The manufacturer of the AR 15 rifle Sturgeon used in the shooting in November.

Louisville Metro police releasing the findings of its investigation.

That included Sturgeon's Journal entries and he rode his decision to carry out the shooting was to prove to people out easy.

It was for someone with his level of history of mental illness to purchase a got in a statement, Connor's family said in part, quote, while Connor, like many of his contemporaries had mental health challenges, which we as a family, we're actively addressing.

There were never any warning.

Signs are indications he was capable of this shocking act on quote for Kentucky edition.

I'm told he gets.

The old National Bank building closed after the shooting.

>> Reopened in June and a new location in downtown Louisville.

It's been nearly a year since President Joe Biden came to Kentucky to say it's time to stop talking and start working.

>> On northern Kentucky's Brent Spence Bridge, an infrastructure plan passed by Congress in 2021. included 1.6 billion dollars to repair the current bridge.

Also building a companion bridge next to it.

After arriving at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport.

Biden headed to the bridge where he said this project but not have been possible without bipartisanship.

>> At this historic project here in Ohio, Kentucky, with the bipartisan officials because I believe in sends an important message.

Word message to the entire country.

And work together.

And get things done.

We can move the nation forward.

Yes, drop-in with the re going to focus on what is needed in the country.

For decades.

People talk about the Brent Spence Bridge.

But folks talking is over.

The bipartisan infrastructure law.

We're finally going to get it done.

Its most significant investment.

I think this whole bill, most significant best America Roads, bridges since Eisenhower, Interstate Highway System.

From the infrastructure law for this is going to upgrade the bridge.

That delegation has fought so hard to get done for so long.

>> A green light.

>> Governor Andy Beshear and U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell were also there for the president's speech.

McConnell voted for the infrastructure Bill Bridge work is expected to be complete in 2020 night.

Speaking of McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.

Do what some health setbacks last year.

He first suffered a concussion from a fall at a hotel months later.

He froze while speaking to reporters on 2 separate occasions.

Once that the U.S. Capitol and again at a press event in Covington at the event, a northern Kentucky McConnell was asked about running for reelection.

>> What are your thoughts on race relations?

>> running for reelection in 12 starts.

>> Did you hear the question senator running for reelection in 2026?

>> All right.

I'm sorry.

You are going to need that.

>> McConnell's office would later release a letter from the Capitol's attending physician saying there was no evidence the 81 year-old suffered a stroke or had a seizure disorder.

McConnell's current term ends in January of 2027.

He said he plans on finishing his term intends on remaining the Senate Republican leader.

Of course, there was also a big election last year.

Governor Andy Beshear was elected to a second term.

Defeating Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Cameron was able to top Kelly craft in the GOP is may primary despite being outspent.

Ultimately she finished behind Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles who went on to become the new president of the Kentucky Community College and Technical College system once securing their party's nominations this year.

And Cameron both went on bus tours around the state this year ended up winning by 5 percentage points or 67,000 votes, which was a larger margin of victory in this year's defeat.

The former governor Matt Bevin in 2019 Bashir's win in November meant his running mate, Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman became the first female Lieutenant Governor to be re-elected in Kentucky's history.

Less than a week after they were sworn into office for a second term.

Coleman announce she underwent a double mastectomy following a routine check.

An unprecedented announcement last year regarding the deadly opioid epidemic in May.

The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission announced a proposal to put 42 million dollars toward researching ibogaine.

>> We are here to announce the arrival of Kentucky's breakthrough opportunity.

>> Supporters of the psychoactive drug that is derived from a West African plant say can be used to help treat opioid use disorder.

Compelling answer notes have caught the attention of those in recovery spaces.

And I've again conference in northern Kentucky in November, some offered their testimonials.

But there were also critics who say not only is I've again, not safe, but the money used on researching the drug could be better used.

I don't think anyone can look at the current response to our mental health crisis, which includes our addiction crisis and can sit here and tell you we're doing a good job of solving the problem.

We're not.

>> I'm again has a very different profile of the promises that a single administration can result and seemingly long term, absent certain least marked reduction in the amount of oil fields are being consumed.

>> It wasn't until I found I became that my addictions were first right away.

It was alcohol.

My body did not want any alcohol to this day.

5 years later, I can have a glass of wine, but I can have 2 of my body will reject it.

And I think that's a miracle.

But it might be just science when you are in full-blown opiate addiction, which I had tried to do many times myself to get off of, you're sweating, you're shaking.

You want to take your skin off.

>> It's why most people don't stop for ever because there's a fear of that.

It is h*** you are in literal h***.

That's gone with 5 again.

And I think that should give people a lot of hope that there's another way.

>> To see Kentucky take the pole position.

The leadership role to potentially allocate these funds in support of clinical research for I'm a game to us, represented a seismic opportunity.

But we also recognize that there heck of a lot more people on the outside of the psychedelics movement that are on the inside.

And that creates a massive education gap.

>> You know, 42 million dollars is a lot of money.

It absolutely is.

When you bring a drug to market, we're talking on the order of billions of dollars to bring the drug to market.

42 million dollars will get us somewhere, but we'll certainly not bring out again to market even if we thought, OK, let's move on to the game forward.

I don't know that the FDA would allow clinical testing in the United States.

So I think that some of that would have to be figured out, right, like.

We're going to invest all this money.

Can we even to this work in the U.S. or Kentucky?

I would argue yes, that that that money could be used for some real evidence based interventions that we know work.

You know, I think I think that a lot of the argument is.

I don't I don't agree with this argument.

Want to make clear that, you know, the existing treatments don't work.

I think that they can work better.

But I think also that people can access them.

So this 42 million could go to increasing access to things like methadone or buprenorphine.

It could go, you know, could go to naloxone at that access.

And again, yes, we can and should be thinking about not approaches to opioid use disorder and substance use disorder.

Kentucky's ibogaine research project could be put on hold.

>> Last month, the state's incoming attorney General Russel Coleman.

That's a new director of the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission.

When asked about the future of ibogaine in Kentucky, Coleman said he's concerned the state is not focusing enough on addiction prevention.

We also lost 2 former governors in 2020.

53 Brereton Jones who served as Kentucky's 58th governor from 1991 to 1995. passed away in September at the age of 84 Jones was born in Ohio and lived in West Virginia where he served in the state Republican state legislature as a Republican, he and his wife moved to Woodford County, Kentucky in the 1970's he founded the air dry stud horse farm and switch to the Democratic Party.

Jones ran for and was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1987.

Under Governor Wallace.

Wilkinson.

He was elected governor in 1991. at that time, governors could not run for consecutive terms after leaving office in 1995, he never ran for public office again.

Of a stabbing.

She and former Kentucky Governor Julia Carroll died last month at the age of 92 issues.

The Democrat served as governor from 1974.

To 1979 born in 1931.

In McCracken County.

Carroll was one of 11 children's.

He served as an Air force attorney for 3 years after graduating from the University of Kentucky Law School in 1956, Carol served 5 terms in the Kentucky House, including a stint as House speaker from 1968 to 1970, he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1971 and became the 54th governor of Kentucky in 1974. governor window for resigned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate running year later as an incumbent.

He easily won election to a full term of his own.

As governor, he led efforts to improve public schools and modernize the judicial system during the fitful tenure.

Carol rekindled his political careers decades later, winning a seat in the Kentucky Senate in 2004 where he served until 2020 days to name 2.

On a lighter note, some lucky concert goers got a once in a lifetime experience last year.

They made their way deep into Mammoth cave to hear world-renowned cellist, you know, you performed the Louisville Orchestra and the Louisville Chamber Choir perform.

He was part of Louisville orchestras, two-year tour across Kentucky.

There's also a new COVID-19 Memorial Monument now on Kentucky's capitol grounds.

The monument was unveiled back in May and stands as a permanent memorial to the thousands of Kentuckians lost during the pandemic and their families.

♪ ♪ >> We gather today to remember.

>> How much our world has changed since March of 2020.

And we gather to honor 18,000 Kentuckians lost the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted our entire world.

Introducing unexpected illness, grief and insecurity to our families and friends.

It pulled many of us into the deaths of despair and isolation rendering bare the reality that every person is susceptible.

It also gave us a glimpse and how are communities can hold each other up in times of great challenge.

It showed us the grit determination and innovation of our medical and scientific communities and front-line workers as well as the compassion and altruism of all types of caregivers across our great commonwealth.

This is a story lived in our time that will be shared with future generations and will be told by us.

And in part by this memorial Monument.

>> 3 this tram, which I can't plan it and I certainly can't control it.

>> There is no way to truly prepay or for the gree that we have experienced.

However, the COVID memorial brings me joy.

>> Because I know that my loved one will never be forgotten.

>> COVID start shadow touched all of our lives and it spared no one generations of Kentuckians.

Welcome to this area of the capital to learn about our heroes as well as reflect on the many great challenges that we face together, including the once every 100 years pandemic, we will recognize the loss that we have been through.

>> We will recognize the sacrifices that were made and we will provide a place and a safe place for everyone to be able to come to grief, to remember and hopefully to process it in a way that helps them move forward.

>> Through tragedy that no one could have ever imagined.

Kentucky show the world what it looked like to come together.

Let us embrace a spirit of one nurse, a family as we honor all Kentucky INS and reflect on the great motto of our Commonwealth United, We Stand Divide.

We fought.

>> That does it for here in review episode of Kentucky Edition.

A lot happened in 2023. and we were there to bring you the stories that matter most are looking forward to doing it again this year.

And that begins tomorrow when the 2024 General Assembly reconvenes for what should be a busy, 60 day session.

We hope you'll join us tomorrow night at 6.30, Easter 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire.

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

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A K E T Dot Org and follow KET on Facebook X which was formerly known as Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Renee Shaw is back tomorrow.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

Thank you for joining us.

And we hope you have a great night.

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