>> What this really comes down to is a message.

What is your vision for Kentucky and how are you connecting with people all across our 120 counties?

>> We'll talk to Daniel Cameron about the job he has and the job he wants.

We nothing like that.

Come back from the personnel cabinet was just yeah, we're going to 6%.

Then we'll figure out the rest >> State workers will get a raise this year.

But the question is how much?

>> We want crowded to be really localized.

We wanted to appeal to a very local community because change starts like broad change starts locally.

>> Some Louisville high school students create an app to help the environment and it's getting attention from members of Congress.

>> 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 Tuesday, January, the 10th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Tuesday night with us.

State workers.

Should you expect another raise this year?

Wages grew almost 9% last year, according to the Social Security Administration.

>> That's the fastest rate since 1981, the state is trying to KET up with the private sector and remain competitive when hiring employees.

So last year state workers received a raise their first since before the Great Recession.

Last night on KET talking tonight, lawmakers discussed giving state employees another bump in pay.

Our Casey Parker Bell reports on what government workers could see their paychecks.

>> The people that work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

They're hard workers.

>> Kentucky state employees could receive a raise this year after getting an 8% raise last year, the General Assembly set aside money to give state workers a 12% raise over all.

But the amount each individual worker gets could be different position.

The legislature require the state personnel cabinet to conduct a study and submit a plan for races for executive branch employees.

But Senate President Robert Stivers says legislators don't have the information they need.

We nothing like that.

Come back from the personnel cabinet was just yeah, we're going to 6%.

Then we'll figure out the rest of it.

House Speaker Pro Tem David Mead echoed Stivers called for thorough plan to help legislators appropriate money for raises.

He says a salary increase could help fill positions that are currently empty.

We know that we're struggling in some areas to employ folks were others.

We may not be.

So our expectations were that they would come back with very specific numbers and amounts for us to to budget to.

And I think that all of us are prepared to do that.

>> So I think there's a lot in the air as it relates to this particular issue.

And it seems to me that has been resolved.

>> Stivers says the legislative and judicial branches of Kentucky's government have completed their studies.

And we asked both the administrative Office of the courts, the IOC, the lrc, being our brains to come with comprehensive studies as we did the executive branch.

Darcy did it.

IOC did it, but not nearly to the detail.

Or that the governor's office did not come nearly any work.

Nearly the detail we did in the other 2 branches and the Senate president says there could be penalties if legislators don't get what they need.

Well, that's yet to be decided for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Thank you, Casey.

The personnel cabinet sent us this statement on Monday afternoon saying in part the personnel cabinet provided the Kentucky General Assembly with a comprehensive 44 page compensation report that included a specific plan on how to provide additional raises to state employees as the cabinet has testified on a number of occasions, the methodology that is used in Kentucky State government is similarly applied in many other public said their jurisdictions lawns, jobs with the larger labor force marketplace and quiet.

Now another politics.

There's 126 days until primary election Day in the Commonwealth and Kentucky voters can expect the races for the state's constitutional offices to intensify the Republican primary for governor is a crowded field of a dozen candidates earlier today I sat down with Kentucky's current attorney General Daniel Cameron, who you will hear tomorrow talk about his office's work on stopping human trafficking and reducing opioid addiction.

But tonight, part of our conversation about the job he has that he believes qualifies him for the one he wants as Kentucky's next governor.

On January 6, you tweeted that you are the only candidate who can unite every faction of the Republican Party take on Beshear.

And when capital Wy and the general election.

>> We're focused on doing this that anyone can run, but only one person can actually win.

And that's Daniel.

That sounds pretty I'm overly confident.

And why do you think you can win?

I believe fully in the work that we've done over these last 3 years when it came to the big issues that we face here in Kentucky.

>> You talk about it administration in Washington, D.C., that wanted to require vaccine mandates in the states who stood up to that.

It was Daniel Cameron.

It was our office that pushed back against that got several of those vaccine mandates halted when it came to the governor of the commonwealth, shutting down churches.

How did those churches get reopened?

We went into federal court, my office and got that executive order overturned.

When the governor told you you couldn't leave the state without quarantining for a period of 14 days.

When you came back, how did that get overturned?

It was our office.

It was Daniel Cameron's office that got that overturned.

So again, the proof is in the pudding.

We have done the hard work of these last 3 years.

Stood up, stood up without fear or favor in taking the slings and arrows much in the way that you see other governors, whether it's Governor DeSantis in Florida or Governor Kemp in Georgia or Governor Youngkin in Virginia.

People want that it can say yes to economic development can say yes to helping people in the midst of a tornado in West Kentucky or flood in eastern Kentucky.

But they also want to what a governor that's going to say.

Yes, to the shared values, the men, women and children of all 120 counties.

And I think that is that candidacy.

And that is what we are representing when it comes to this race for governor, one of the big parts of running for governor is the money.

And we know from the latest financial reports that were your one of your Republican opponents, Kelly Craft to the former United Nations ambassador.

>> Is spending and raising cash in pretty good clip and out doing you and others.

How do you report to overcome perhaps a fundraising deficit compared to her?

>> Well, we have to run our own race and the metrics that they have to look at as it relates to raising money are completely separate from what we believe we need to race to win this race.

And even outside of that, what this really comes down to is a message.

What is your vision for Kentucky and how are you connecting with people all across our 120 counties?

Again, I believe we've done the hard and tough work over these last 3 years of showing Kentucky INS where we stand on issue after issue in our willingness to stand up and take the slings and arrows when others wouldn't.

I think I've demonstrated that time and time again.

And so that's what this race is going to come down to isn't about money per se.

It's about do you have a vision?

Do you have a message and can you connect with folks all across our 120 counties?

>> Can we expect to see U.S.?

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell be active in your campaign?

>> Well, I the senator obviously, is made public that he's not going to jump into this race.

But I certainly hope that each candidate, myself included, is able to run their own race and talk about the issues that are important to Kentuckyian also talk about what they have done over the span of their time at times in office or in pride in private practice or in private service.

That demonstrates what they will do going forward for the Commonwealth.

>> Along the lines about money in politics, it was reported yesterday that Pfizer gave 1 million dollars to the building fund for the Republican Party of Kentucky for Kentucky voters who are very concerned about the influence of money in politics and how it could influence public policy decision-making.

What would you say is currently as attorney general that you are not persuaded by those types of donations from Pfizer, any other large corporation.

And can you assure voters if you were to become governor and November of 2023 that you would not beholden to money interest from big companies like Pfizer and others?

Well, I think I've demonstrated that I'm not going to be beholden to anyone other than the Constitution and the citizens of the Commonwealth.

That is.

>> As a public servant, a unite to talk about this is a public trust.

And so we have a responsibility to the citizens of the Commonwealth in their constitutional rights and the shared values that I talked about earlier.

That is what the job of attorney general is.

That's what the job of governor is and I think I hope people recognize that when it's come to these last 3 years, when you had and administration in Washington, D.C., that called you a domestic terrorist because you cared about the educational opportunities of your kids.

The governor was silent on that issue when the Biden administration has said repeatedly that they want to destroy the fossil fuels industry that would devastate the economy of Kentucky.

We are the 7th largest generator of coal in the United States because that we have the 12th lowest energy costs in the nation that would get devastate our economy.

Our governor says nothing on that when it comes to fentanyl coming across the southern border.

I've asked the administration to label fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction and asked for them to secure the southern border of taking a leadership position on this.

Again.

Our current governor says nothing.

He says nothing because he doesn't understand the shared values of the men, women, children of all 120 counties.

I do and look forward to representing those values.

It's the next governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

>> What do you say to folks who say that you don't have enough experience yet to be governor?

Well, I think I've there's nothing different, different substantially >> Anybody else that is in this race I've demonstrated in these last 3 years that I will stand up and do what's right by the men, women, children of all 120 counties.

I never back down done the job without fear or favor and I believe that Kentucky's all across this commonwealth recognize that.

And we're ready for new leadership and new leadership that reflects those shared values in the governor's office.

>> Tune in tomorrow night for more of my conversation with Daniel Cameron as he talks about his office's work on combating human trafficking and drug addiction.

That's tomorrow night on Kentucky edition.

♪ >> the Kentucky Supreme Court has a new face Justice Angela Busick replaces former Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Hughes who retired.

She represents the court's 4th district Justice.

Bis Justice Busick previously served as a circuit court judge in Jefferson County.

During today's remarks she reflected on the work she has ahead of her.

>> I have been for the last week in the halls of the Capitol.

>> The gravity of the Marvel Marvel giving me an idea of the gravity of the work that is before me.

>> Another new justice will be sworn in tomorrow filling the state's highest court.

You can watch that online at K E T Dot Org.

One of 2 commonwealth's attorneys facing impeachment has resigned.

The Courier Journal reports Rick Boling will step down as a prosecutor in Christian County at the end of February.

The paper cites House Majority Whip Representative Jason Amos, who last week moved to have bowling and another prosecutor, Ronnie Goldie junior impeached bowling recommended former governor Matt Bevin pardoned a man involved in sexually assaulting a teenager.

The suspect sentence was commuted, but he was later convicted on federal charges for the same incident.

A state House impeachment committee is scheduled to meet again one week from today.

A nonprofit representing the state's public school districts has filed a lawsuit over charter schools.

The Council for Better Education is challenging the Kentucky Department of Education over House Bill 9.

The state law enacted despite a veto by Governor Beshear last year calls for 2 charter school pilot projects to open this year.

One in Jefferson County and another in northern Kentucky.

The Council for Better Education says the bill creates a mechanism to fund charter schools by diverting funding from local school districts.

The Council for Better Education hopes a judge will stop the kde from implementing House Bill 9 in a statement Commissioner of Education, Jason Glass said, quote, Any suit challenging the constitutionality of charter schools in Kentucky is a challenge to the legislature's passage of HB 9.

He went on to say in the event of litigation challenging HB 9, it will be up to the Kentucky Attorney general to defend the General Assembly's charter school laws.

The kde and KB E will not expand its time and resources defending the General Assembly's charter school laws as the commissioner advise the legislature of constitutional and other uncertainties when the law was being legislated, end quote.

The Fayette County Board of School of Education has a vacancy at a time when the board doesn't have a person of color.

So who will fill the vacant seat in district?

One students led a panel discussion last night after the form we heard from the candidates.

>> We are very much concerned about that source before this board to fill its current board vacancy.

As you know, the majority of the students in Fayette County schools, our students of color.

But the school board is currently all white.

There are no an important meeting.

So our school board.

>> Certainly that's when care is another element because we are a minority majority district and we have no minority representation on the board.

Currently the representation of our board really needs to be reflective of the community itself.

So it's imperative that we get a person of color in this.

>> Diversity leads to what I will a clear understanding of the issues.

If you don't have diversity.

Oftentimes.

Those individuals are left out of the conversation.

>> This is not an idea of person who set off on their happened not to be minority, that they are concerned for minority students.

it's an incapacity, shall I say.

I have a wife.

That's a female 6 sisters, $4.2 granddaughters.

But my best day, I can think like a woman.

So even with the good intentions of the present school board members and the best part, they cannot on their best day.

Think like a person of color.

I think it's really important to make our our school board members to make sure that the kids see themselves in the people that are teaching them that they see themselves in the staff members.

It's really important for me to look out and see people that look like me who have had experiences like at the same time.

>> Meet other people have had other experiences who have lived a different life.

And I've lived to kind of get that.

>> Broader world view.

We want to emphasize that it's not just the color of the skin.

We want to make sure that that person has some lived experiences.

That knows what it's all right to experience some of the things that the least of us who are people of color are experiencing right here in Lexington, Fayette County and are willing to fight for our children to have an equitable chance at a high quality education.

>> Inclusion and equity is what I think we need to work towards inclusion is really us a seat at the table.

People having a voice.

But equity is really about giving each student what they need to be successful.

>> There is no child that cannot learn.

And so we want to make sure that every child has an equal and even equitable opportunity to excel.

>> The board is expected to interview candidates the week of January 17th with the goal of selecting a new member before January 27th.

Louisville's new mayor says he's working on a plan for universal preschool and the state's largest city Mayor Craig Greenberg announced his intentions during his inauguration last week.

A spokesman for the mayor's office says Greenberg intends to outline his plan for Universal Pre K in the coming months.

Governor Andy Beshear has also push for Universal Pre K on the state level.

But his plan he's been met with resistance from the Republican controlled Legislature.

Kentucky's current preschool program was launched in 1990.

It's available to 4 year-olds from low-income families and 3 and four-year-olds with disabilities and 2020, 30% of 4 year-olds in Kentucky were enrolled in preschool.

The National Institute for Early Education Research ranks Kentucky 25th on access to preschool.

♪ The Lexington Public Library has brought back its popular after-school program, located at the Library's Northside and Village branches.

The Free drop-in program provides a safe space for kids to go after school.

Lets out.

But the library's director of education said the program offers more than just childcare.

We're a public library and that's part of our mission is to create access to high quality educational programs and services.

>> That people may not have the means to pay for out of pocket.

LPL Afterschool program is an after-school program for students ages 5 through 12 where they can come and get a snack homework.

Help us activity, arts and crafts.

A trusted adult to read with book recommendations are just a safe space to decompress after school.

A version of it started about 10 years ago with our highly popular homework help program that was just out of their village branch.

But after the pandemic, we were seeing very low numbers because students weren't really getting a lot of homework.

Everything with online.

So we revamp the program starting the beginning of this year to include the snack and other for students and families.

Caregivers bring the and it's no registration.

You just drop in everything us for it.

Nice kid that goes to any school.

So we have students that go to private schools and their families will come in and work on homework and take advantage of the activities.

A lot of our participants are neighborhood children are neighborhood families.

So usually they come very often like some.

We have families that come every day.

We've had families who come back multiple days and and take advantage of all the things we have to offer and revamped program.

God's pantry still provides the sex as well as Ch.

I Saint Joseph health care also provides funding to help with the activities we're constantly doing.

Community needs assessments.

And right now, these that the 2 communities that really told us that they needed something like this.

So very positive feedback so far.

And the numbers have definitely improved as far as attendance since we revamp the program.

>> Thomas said the program is staffed by library personnel and volunteers.

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact the library.

Louisville's Muhammad Ali Center is letting people in for free on Martin Luther King Junior Day.

That's next.

Monday, January 16th, the center will offer hourly viewings of Doctor King's I have a dream speech and a panel.

Students will talk about the King and Ali and their legacies.

The American Red Cross will also the hosting a blood drive at the center doors open on Monday at 11:30AM.

♪ Students all over Kentucky are learning technology like computer science and coding subjects.

We hardly dreamed of and school for students at Louisville's DuPont Manual High School were recently honored by Congress for developing a new app that they could be using soon.

Kentucky additions Kelsey Starks has their story.

>> We implement so with things.

I love it.

When you what if there were an app?

>> Bringing people together in order to create environmental change where they live.

And well, it's up to these juniors at Manual High School.

There soon will be to get.

>> It's kind of rewarding participation and like environmental change.

>> Crowd, it is that cap.

The tag line is crowds for change.

That idea is finding ways for individuals to create environmental change.

Starting with small steps where they live finding like-minded people to team up with creating up crowd for change.

>> And proceeds to just ideas like duty Ohio.

A reason so many plastics in and like, yeah, I mean, that's just the way it is right.

And I realized, wow, what if there was a coordinated efforts to clean different areas in our community?

>> So instead of getting likes or followers on the app, you get as social score tip, want to fight your influence and encourage others to do the same.

But don't search for it on the app store just yet.

>> Yeah, these are significant.

A special recognition from the >> This app is the winner of this year's Congressional App.

Challenge down the most prestigious prize and student computer science awarded by Congress for students at Louisville's DuPont Manual High School are winners in the state of Kentucky presented with awards from former Congressman John Yarmouth.

>> I mean, it's pretty clear that maturity you saw in there and that where they were responding to a community needs and developing something that should be a lesson for everybody.

Regardless of of age.

>> Crowd, it was named best overall happen in this state.

And another mean students app called flouted linking people to mental health resources, one as a runner off.

So we have our own little community form such Twitter, but it wasn't just about winning a contest for the students.

>> The concept of like realizing a problem and then just learning and going to get all the skills acquired and then like realizing the solution to that problem is just really fulfilling.

I can never like.

And then you can just like to see your and creation and just marvel at it.

So >> when we were participating in the Congressional App Challenge we want we want to make sure that we you know, we were doing something we're passionate about.

And that's just technology.

And like what software development in general, but also something that taught us something new and exciting.

And that's kind of the entire point of the congressional of John's right.

Not only to like, you know, foster passion for technology, but also to like push you out of your comfort zone.

So you can, you know, learn new things.

And I think the entire process was really exciting and fun.

>> And the fun is just beginning.

The students plan to continue to develop crowd it using local resources and eventually hoping for a real-life launched to the public.

>> I think one of the most important things is when you have people out there who without any knowledge or understanding, take shots in our education system.

And then you see people like this who are so much smarter than than 80% of the adult population.

People ought to start realizing that there's a lot of good things happening in our schools.

>> So when you do see crowded at the app store, you can say happy.

I KET those kids at when it all started for Kentucky edition.

I'm Kelsey Starks.

>> Thank you.

Cal say we can say we KET them when the creator of the clouded app also plans to scale and possibly launch the app.

The Congressional app Contest is also about raising awareness to members of Congress about science, technology, engineering and math or STEM programs.

Since the challenge started in 2016, Congress is mentions of computer science and coding have increased more than 2000%.

♪ ♪ Now this is one of my favorite stories every few weeks.

We like to check in on Fritz the hippo up at the Cincinnati Zoo.

>> Fritz was born in August of 2022, he was slower than average at birth, but not anymore.

He weighs 419 pounds.

Now.

And as you can see, enjoys swimming in the pool at the zoo's hippo cove for its big sister.

Fiona celebrates her 6th birthday on January.

24th.

We need to have a party at the pool with the hippos.

What a great site.

Thank you so much for watching tonight.

We've got a great program lined up for you tomorrow already coming up tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, part 2 of our interview with Attorney General Daniel Cameron will talk about human trafficking, opioid abatement and much more.

Don't miss that tomorrow night.

And a Louisville artists will provide the artwork for Dolly Parton's new children's book.

And we'll talk to that artists.

So great show already lined up and we hope you'll join us again tomorrow night.

It's 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition, e-mail news letter and watch full episodes at KET Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

And welcome to follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

We are also welcome to follow me on Twitter at Renee K E T. Thanks again for watching.

Hope to see you right back here again tomorrow night.

In the meantime, take good care.

♪ ♪ ♪