>> If I survive or where to seek care, they need not have a provider available to them.

It is comfortable providing that care really truly understands what that can look like.

>> 10 talking has a shortage of nurses trained to help after a sexual assault.

>> Death penalty should not be an option.

NASA said.

>> We'll Kentucky's legislature abolished the death penalty >> we're having to pick and choose between groceries and medicine or their house payment versus everything else.

>> And if you can't get to God's pantry, God's pantry will get to you.

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 17th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Tuesday night with us.

Kentucky is one of 27 states that still has a death penalty.

A bipartisan group of Kentucky lawmakers have filed a bill to get rid of it.

Kentucky additions Casey Parker Bell has more on who wants to stop capital punishment and why?

>> Death penalty should not be an option.

In our society.

>> During the first week of the Kentucky General Assembly, a bipartisan group of legislators introduced a bill that would abolish Kentucky's death penalty.

One of those legislators as Senate minority Leader Gerald Meehl.

He says his feelings on the death penalty have changed significantly since he entered the legislature.

>> You're looking at someone that supported the death penalty.

One time plows in the legislature and then I have to admit that after I began to really seriously look at that from every angle concluded that is not the proper way for us to proceed.

When we dealing with people to take extreme measures, a disregard somebody else's life, then we're going to disregard their life because they did that.

Now.

I don't think that's appropriate.

>> House Speaker Pro Tem David Mead says his feelings on the death penalty have also changed, but that he wasn't sure exactly how he felt about the law.

But after a Binion and I had a lot of groups come and talk to me, a lot of folks who actually had that talk to a guy who was on death row at one point and then get his sentence overturned.

To see some of the the information that he presented.

It raises questions for me.

>> Senate bill 45 would abolish the death penalty.

People who have been sentenced to death and have not been executed.

We got a life sentence without probation or parole.

According to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, Kentucky currently has 26 inmates on death row.

But House Minority Leader Gary Graham says staying in jail is enough punishment.

>> The main thing is that if a person commits a crime, if they stay in jail, that's the punishment in itself.

>> But not all the legislative leaders agreed on the issue.

Senate President Robert Stivers says he thinks there's a place for the death penalty.

So I think there are sufficient.

Safeguards which there should be.

Because this is the ultimate penalty.

For somebody who has done something.

So heinous that they have forfeited their right based on taking other people's lives.

And Stivers has an unlikely ally on the subject.

Governor Andy Beshear said last week that he's in favor of the death penalty but open to conversations about abolishing it.

I believe that there are some crimes that are so horrific and some people that are so dangerous that merit the existence of the death penalty.

I also think that there are legitimate discussions about the cost.

>> Of the death penalty versus life in prison and what it means in terms of appeals for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Across the country, 18 people were executed last year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

The last execution in Kentucky was in 20 0, 8, A state House impeachment committee continues to investigate to Commonwealth Attorneys.

Rick Boling and Ronnie Goldie Junior, a meeting today lasted hours, mostly behind closed doors.

Committee Chair Representative Daniel Elliott said Goldie and his attorneys have not responded to a letter from the impeachment Committee.

Representative Eliot, a Republican from Danville, also said the committee will make public the resignation letter sent by Rick Boling.

Last week we reported that bowling decided to step down as a prosecutor at the end of February.

Bowling is a state prosecutor for the 3rd judicial circuit.

He recommended former governor Matt Bevin, a Republican pardon Dayton Jones, who was involved in sexually assaulting a teenager.

Goldie is the commonwealth's attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit.

The Courier Journal reports he promised a defendant favors in court in exchange for nude pictures of her.

Kentucky will take part in a federal program connecting military families with quality child care.

It's called the military child care in your neighborhood.

Plus program Governor Andy Beshear discussed it during his news conference last week.

>> Here are the facts you need to know the program helps to pay for child care for eligible military families when they can't find care on their base or their installation families taking part in the program will receive a $1500 monthly stipend to help with child care expenses.

The program is expected to encourage retention in the armed forces, the Navy, the Army Air Force Marines increases options for families.

So the children of our service members can be safe and healthy can have the best foundation possible for their children's education.

The program is a win-win because it also benefits local childcare providers.

They can grow their income and business all while supporting our heroes in uniform.

They're currently 145 licensed child care providers that are participating, affordable, quality childcare changes lives.

But this generation the next and the next accredited provider support early childhood development.

They help parents get back to work and they said kids up to reach their full potential.

>> The governor says Kentucky is one of the first states to receive federal approval to take part in the program.

And other political news.

Ryan Corals, a Republican candidate for governor, has postponed an appearance with the Republican Women's Club of South Central Kentucky, scheduled for today in Bowling Green W Allie X TV in Lexington reports, former Louisville Police Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly is addressing the group today.

He's one of 3 officers involved in the deadly Breonna Taylor raid in Louisville.

In a statement, Cole said, quote, I like other candidates running for governor have been invited to introduce myself to this group.

I was invited independently of other speakers and due to the controversial nature of another speaker at this event, we have decided to reschedule to a later date, end quote.

Republicans in the U.S. House have picked Congressman Hal Rogers of the 5th district of Kentucky to serve as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science.

The Committee provides money for law enforcement community, economic growth and anti-drug operations.

In a statement, Congressman Rogers said the position will benefit Eastern Kentucky.

16 Kentucky counties are now in the high category for COVID details in tonight's look at medical news now, here's the new map from last Friday.

Most of the red counties are in eastern Kentucky with won in central Kentucky.

That's Boyle County and there are 3 along the Tennessee border.

Fayette County has moved into the medium category Jefferson County remains low.

The positivity rate at last check is at 11.78%.

A Jefferson County Public Schools employee has monkeypox, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader and other news sources that prompted the school system to notify the families and staff at TWENTY-TWO schools and 3 other JCPS workplaces on Friday, the employee had visited those 25 buildings.

The school system says it's not aware of any other cases of monkeypox.

The Herald leader reports 97 reported cases of monkeypox in Kentucky as of January.

4th.

There are 70,000 registered nurses in Kentucky, but only 350 of them are specially trained in responding to a sexual assault and are in who leads that training described to us as a drop in the bucket.

Kentucky additions.

Laura Rogers was there for a Bowling Green training session to help more nurses get up to speed.

>> There all knowledge.

>> Megan Williams has worked as a nurse for 2 years and the emergency room.

>> We see quite a few cases of sexual assault and they are.

And I don't always know how to approach those patients.

The best that I can talk to.

>> All the rape crisis centers in Kentucky.

She recently took part in a training to better understand how to help someone who has experienced a sexual assault.

>> People who come in to receive those specialist services have been impacted by a very traumatic experience.

>> One of the things that healthcare professionals are often not very well versed in are well educated in is physiologically.

What's happening and somebody does experienced this particular type of trauma or sexual violence.

Gilpin says by educating nurses, they can better prepare them to respond to the patient's needs, hopefully help mitigate that impact of that time on them and help them in that healing process.

Goldman says she would like to see many more nurses certified to be a sexual assault.

Nurse examiner.

>> Hospitals all over Kentucky at any given time.

If somebody walks in after they've experienced some form of sexual violence and ask for an exam most of the time, there's not going to be an examiner there that is comfortable with the exam who has had training on exactly what that exam nice to look like.

>> The exam also involves forensic nursing, collecting evidence that may later be used in a law enforcement investigation.

>> We're not an arm of the law.

What we are is a provider that is able to combine the needs of that patient physically do a good head to toe assessment, assess that patients needs physically and also understand what that psychological needs.

Maybe in that moment, those needs vary from patient to patient.

>> There are a lot of underserved populations and every community, whether that is.

Generational from different social and economical status is different language barriers.

Really?

My goal for Kentucky would be we have over 100 hospitals and and it it doesn't matter where you go to seek care, you'll have somebody knows well, how about how to provide that care?

When you walk in the doors?

>> Williams says she already feels better equipped to take on these cases.

>> I've learned more about how to approach them ways that we can talk to them and resources that we can provide them.

I want to be able to provide them the utmost care I can give to them and make them feel as comfortable as they can be, especially going through that traumatic event.

It's important to me that nurses learn the skills that nurses feel comfortable in responding to these patients.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

>> According to Hope Harbor Rape Crisis Center in Bowling Green, one in 3 women and one in 6 men report experiencing some kind of sexual violence before the age of 18.

In education news today, Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically black college in Louisville is joining forces with the University of Kentucky as part of the partnership, Simmons will begin a pre law and teacher preparation program.

And the 2 schools will collaborate on speakers and special events.

♪ The mobile pantry program from God's pantry.

Food bank provides dry goods, meat, dairy, and produce products to areas where there are no food pantries or not enough to meet community needs.

We visited Wolfe County to see how the program operates and the local response to it.

>> That's country does well, mobile pantries a month.

We look are 50 county service area and we look for underserved areas where we have no pantries or not.

A lot of food going into certain areas.

And once partner with an agency, your partner with someone, they are in that area, we send a mobile pantry once a month.

That's a drop.

we feel the truck with the order.

And then we just drive here.

And then our trucks just head back after realized.

>> Thank you.

We usually send enough food for about 150 households.

You'll see produce canned goods protein.

The food is paid for by Anthem and then also USDA.

The other food is food that got country food bank purchases for the mobiles.

>> Our paint reruns on prayers.

We're always praying for the fans going to come from our always praying for the funding to go get the phase.

We got on the mobile unit, science cots, pain jury started bringing us loads of food from Lexington and drop here at our pain jury.

And we've been distributed for almost 2 years now.

>> We've been doing mobile for a long time.

But this past year was the year we decided that we really needed to expand our mobile pantry program.

There is an increased need that we're seeing right now.

>> When we first started, we only were serving my 300.

Now we serve 1000.

They impact right?

God's pantry has night.

I'm sure you pack it.

He's been use that you're the one who supplies all the face, painted trees with food.

We know ask no questions.

If you're in line, you're going to get food.

It's been a wonderful blessing to everyone that do come.

Here are some places.

You know, you have to prove yourself prove your income.

>> And it is hard to get in some of those places because the way the process are in stores is kind of hard to afford a lot of things.

We have individuals that are making Justin of money not to qualify for public assistance, but they're not making enough money to meet all their needs are having to pick and choose between.

>> Groceries in their medicine or their house payment versus everything else.

There's multiple counties that come here.

People who has struggled, you know, from the flooding from.

>> Money issues to losing jobs due to the sickness by suffer every single night.

And for, you know.

God's pantry.

The food pantries around here that has donated here.

This just a blessing.

And without them, I don't know what a lot of people with the power play.

This will give the shirt and khaki just a little >> I'm just so people can get back on their feet.

>> Another organization that is currently feeding residents of eastern Kentucky is called Mercy chefs tune in tomorrow night to learn about their work.

There.

A shrinking presidents of statehouse news media has spurred a new online news service that makes Kentucky government reporting its main beat.

The idea the Kentucky Lantern began last September.

The parent organization States NEWSROOM is a nonprofit network of journalist plugging holes and reporting left by dwindling press corps in state capitals.

There are no paywalls no subscription fees.

Editor in Chief Jaime Luke, who has more than 40 years of journalism experience in 4 different states.

Talk to me today about the publication's business model and its laser focus on issues and government transparency.

So what void do you hope to fill or what is it that can sets Kentucky Lantern apart from other online publications or, you know, our staple newspapers here in Kentucky?

Well, >> our main goal is to fill gaps created the layoff of so many journalists, especially in in state capital bureaus.

you know that there really has been a huge loss reporters who cover state and local government less.

So at the national level.

But we think that state coverage is very important and our founder, Chris Fitzsimon says this has sort of a zen-like ring to it.

It's so simple, but a really good way to understand the nation is to report about the state >> makes perfect sense.

It really does.

And new year with the Herald leader for how long toss a really long time to really learning some years, I think and before that with, you know, as with so many newspaper, I let it was so much fun back in the day when you know, you can change, we can move up.

Yeah.

Over every a few years.

But I've started at the Flemingsburg Times a Democrat too many Well, I'm not a good time for the host Haha.

The budget is a bunch of newspapers and you've seen the evolution and I want to say the Yes, I have.

And I'm so lucky to have worked.

>> At a time when they really great.

That's right.

And so you know what they can do and had great colleague.

So this is not saying anything about the people that you've been able to work with and even maybe be a competitor against that.

People who cover particularly public policy, state government, state House and they're committed to making sure people understand their government.

You're right.

You're right.

And I count you among that list.

Yeah, it's really important.

And another aspect about the Kentucky Lantern that is defining for us is that we're We don't depend on advertising.

>> We do accept contributions from readers.

Our funding comes largely from foundations and philanthropic individuals who see that that covering state news is a value to democracy that supporting journalism at the state and local level supports democracy.

>> Are you concerned about the sustainability of that particular business model?

I'm not at the Thanks.

Well going Well, I think there's a lot of confidence.

>> you know, at least in the next few years.

I mean, I think honestly, there's more reason to be concerned about the traditional model, right?

Sadly, right?

Yeah.

>> What is it that you're doing differently?

Are we getting different stories?

What is it that readers can expect?

That's a really good question.

And, you know, we're making it up as we go part of the part of the fun of it we are.

We're Yeah, and we want to we want to lift up the people who are affected by policies and acted by governments.

And we really want to KET people in the forefront.

We also want to hold those in power accountable.

That's very important.

And we're free.

So and you know, far be it for me to ever knock newspaper pay walls because I know how critical they are.

And I subscribe to a whole bunch of papers and magazines, but understand that not everyone can afford that.

And and I think it's really important that good, solid factual information and commentary about our government is available to everyone.

>> How do you hope this also restores public confidence that this is journalism for people in the public interest.

Well, I just hope people will read this and see that.

I think there is a hunger.

I mean, my impression very much.

>> Since launching the Lantern is that there is a there's a real desire for that kind of journalism.

But I mean, is in some ways, I mean, that's just the conundrum of our age, isn't it?

When there's so much?

Yeah, information out there competing for people's for shortening attention spans and it's so hard for people on social media to discern.

Factual from fancy fall and even malign, you know, intentionally maligned stuff to mislead people.

And if we can contribute to be storing trust in.

Credible journalism.

That would be a that would be a great thing for us to do.

>> Readers can visit Kentucky Lantern Dot com for daily reporting.

Quick takes and commentary.

♪ >> At the start of a new year, many people make resolutions for fresh start.

>> And for some, that means living a clean and sober life.

Kentucky additions Kelsey Starks sat down with the nurse manager from U of L Health Mary and Elizabeth Medical detox unit to talk about how they help people take the first steps to sobriety.

>> Well, at the start of the New Year, a lot of people are making resolutions.

One of those resolutions may be too the living a sober and clean life and to help with that U of L Health.

Mary and Elizabeth Medical >> Hospital has a detox unit and Jessica Pare, the nurse manager there is to tell us more about what this is.

You're seeing a rise in cases at this time of the >> This ad tell us about the unit and what you all offer.

Who are your patients?

We are a 25 bed medical detox unit.

We service the Anyone who wants help with detox.

>> sobriety, certainly we welcome.

And we encourage them to come in we offer services from 3 to 5 days.

But we do have very individualized treatment plans.

And if someone needs to stay longer less time, we can certainly accommodate that.

We have group therapy that we offer our therapy music therapy, pet therapies, a lot of different offerings.

We also have peer support specialists who are individuals who are life in recovery and can give that support encouragement.

Their patients mean so important because as you know, you hear a lot.

There's medical detox places and there's treatment facilities and you go to one or the other.

This kind of combines both of those right?

Absolutely.

Yes, we can accommodate.

>> Any medical So if a patient has oxygen or dialysis or requires any other medical needs, we can definitely accommodate that.

And one of those barriers, I think the thought of detox, you that people have that because it is a medical facility.

You make it as comfortable as possible to try to get people in the recovery.

Absolutely.

Yes, we do offer medications we provide medications.

A provider will come and see the patients every single day and discuss the different concerns that they may have.

So we want to make sure that they're as comfortable as possible and give that support and education that a patient would require.

This is the first ad on and what is often a very long road to It.

Tell us what people should KET in mind if maybe they or someone they know.

I think they may have a problem and want to make that change.

We want them to know that the support is there.

We are encouraging.

We're compassionate.

Most of our staff have been there and done that with family or even themselves.

So.

>> We have that knowledge.

And that compassion.

I just encourage someone to take that first step.

And we definitely welcome them in and want them to feel comfortable.

And our center facility.

>> And it doesn't end there.

You all have case managers who really help them find that next step, right?

Yes, yes, we do.

We have a dedicated case manager and she meets with every single patient and talks about what their needs are.

What would work best for their lifestyle.

We can accommodate a residential if they are our residential care afterwards or out patient.

If that works better with working lifestyle or children, we can definitely set that up for anyone.

>> as you ahead to that long-term sobriety, what's what's your advice for people?

You've seen everybody and all walks of life.

Come to your doors.

Yes, there is hope for change that that change can happen.

I know it's a scary first step, but we're there and we're supportive.

>> And that the change in their life is huge for themselves and their family.

And what what are you seeing right now?

He said at about >> half alcohol, half drugs.

Yes, we're seeing a lot of alcohol, especially after the holidays and some over indulgences and But we're also seeing a drugs as well.

Fentanyl is definitely on the rise in our communities.

So we're seeing a lot of variety.

>> And we can certainly accommodate any addiction that someone house.

>> Wonderful and addition to the community and the thing you want people to do is know that there are no >> to prevent those barriers, I guess Anybody can show up.

They don't have to have any >> proof or doctor's note or anything they just show up.

Now just to come into Marion, Elizabeth Hospital's emergency department and let the provider know they're there for detox.

There's no appointment necessary that can just come in anytime the day or night.

And if they need help, we will certainly help them.

>> So important.

Thank you so much for being there.

You have it right now.

The unit features 14 patient rooms, but the ability to expand and care for up to 25 patients.

And there are beds available right now.

>> Back to you.

>> Thank you, Kelsey.

Important information.

If you or someone you know, needs help with substance abuse you can visit.

Find help.

Now K why DOT org or text hope to 9, 6, 7, 1, 4, to be linked to resources and your your area.

♪ >> Today as Muhammad Ali's birthday, the legendary boxing champ was born in Louisville on January, 17th 1942.

He died of Parkinson's disease in 2016 at the age of 74 efforts.

Continue to get Ali on a postage stamp.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Citizens Stamp advisory committee has received the application asking for a Dolly staff by law.

The person will only be considered for staff 3 years after the person's death.

And it usually takes about 3 years for staff to appear after someone has been selected.

Louisville, Los Angeles and many so they can stay.

Groups have passed resolutions calling for Muhammad Ali stamp.

And let's do that for the champ.

Thanks for watching tonight.

Take good care.

We'll see tomorrow night.

♪