>> The sound of the gavel.

Lawmakers are ready to go to work.

How will they handle your money?

The need for childcare doesn't end when a student in this kindergarten.

>> The benefits are many, but so are the barriers when it comes to getting kids into after school programs in Kentucky.

>> My sister called and said, hey, are you taking shelter?

Not quite know why.

School staff are typically the one providing help during a student's time of need.

This time was on the receiving end.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KU Team Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and Happy New Year.

Welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday, January second, hope you enjoy the holiday season.

I'm Renee Shaw and thank you for spending some time with us tonight.

>> The gavel has fallen and the Kentucky General Assembly began its 2024 session today around noon.

And it will be a busy one.

This is an even numbered year.

So this will be a 60 day session as lawmakers create a two-year state budget.

Some progressive Kentucky hands are calling for lawmakers to dig deep into the rainy day fund to make historic public investments.

Kentucky additions June Leffler has more.

The budget is a moral document.

>> And the strongest tool we have to put together to build an economy where everyone has a chance to thrive.

The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, a left-leaning think tank in the state is calling lawmakers to pull from Kentucky's 3.7 billion dollar rainy day fund.

The Budget Reserve trust fund.

It's much larger than it needs to be.

More experts agree that a rainy day fund should be around 15% of the state's annual budget.

Kentucky's rainy Day fund as expected to be around.

32% before the next two-year budget begins.

That means the state could use billions to deliver for Kentuckians and still have set aside to be prepared for if you check future economic downturns.

>> A coalition of unions, social service providers and progressive advocates say public investments are needed across the board in education, mental health, childcare and more.

Doug Price is a retired state parks worker.

>> State governor retirees have not received a call and the last 11, 12 years cost of living has increased dramatically during that time.

And there are a lot of people out there who are who are hurting.

>> Andrea Zang says the cost of housing is burdening her.

>> I expect that for the rest of my life.

I will be worried about if I can make a run or not.

And I know I'm not the only tenant living like this as a tenant.

I'm calling on the Kentucky General Assembly to move hundreds of millions into affordable housing by pulling money and to both the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and there were all housing trust fund.

I also ask our lawmakers to permanently boost the Affordable Housing Trust Fund by increasing the funding mechanism that brings money into the fund.

>> Kentucky's Democratic Governor Andy Beshear agrees to some extent in his proposed budget.

He included an extra check for state retirees and 10 million dollars to the state's affordable Housing Trust fund.

But many Republicans and fiscal conservatives might say this is too much.

>> I think that's again, philosophy that they follow is to grow governments.

My concern would be one-time resources were put towards recurring expenses, but this will build into budgets.

Not only for the immediate future, for years down the road, Kentucky lawmakers will get to hash out every bit of the budget over the next several weeks.

>> For Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

Governor Andy Beshear unveiled his budget priorities last month.

It calls for more than 136 billion dollars in state and federal spending over the next 2 years.

Today, Republican House Speaker David Osborne said the House Republican plan would likely be released next week and he says he thinks it will include some spending from the rainy Day fund.

One of the first orders of business today was the adoption of the procedural rules for the 2024 session in both chambers.

The roles will remain the same as last year, but that lead to some bipartisan criticism with members of the minority party, especially pointing to a recent report from the progressive leaning League of Women Voters of Kentucky.

The report which we told you about in November, said fast tracking bills with little time for review or debate is happening now.

More than ever.

>> When we are up are allowing the citizens across this commonwealth.

>> To hear and see what is being done.

Not only behind the scenes but out here on on the floor, but mostly as how we project ourselves as we come on this floor.

>> And as we debate these issues.

All things are included for everyone, not just the 100 of us on this floor, but for the citizens all across this commonwealth.

I hear it from my constituents.

>> Because they don't know what's happening here.

It's happening too quickly when they find out that some things in committee or on the floor, they don't have time to drive the 2 and a half hours from northern Kentucky to get here to let their voices be heard in this facility in this building proposing rules changes having a discussion in this body having a conversation is not an act of aggression.

It is something that we should be doing.

It is something that each and every one of us regardless of what county, what district we represent.

We should be coming together to have discussions about the rules that are going to govern this process.

And that's something that we should be doing before session convenes.

That's something that I feel like a large number of members of this body have tried to do.

>> In response, House Speaker David Osborne said he took issue with some of the report's findings.

>> I understand that it's difficult to allow facts and vote your opinions.

You know, their words like disappointed.

The reason I'm disappointed that nobody took the time to read a report.

And yet it was reported as if fact it was reported without question.

The fact of the matter is.

Number of fast track measures.

That were utilized to pass legislation.

From the time the Democratic majority in 2014 Republican majority in 2018 23%.

What we would have in between them, we don't really know because they didn't bother to even use the data.

>> The resolution adopting the rules for the House passed by a vote of 72 to 23.

Well, it's not just let us legislators getting to work.

Kentucky now has its constitutional officers for the next 4 years.

They were sworn in a public ceremony and the state Capitol rotunda earlier today, the executive officers, all Republican.

We're joined by one of Washington's most influential power brokers.

>> They talk about it in probable the.

In the career.

State.

It's far away.

We plan for this possibly could do I'd say wholly owned subsidiary of you party.

So never expected.

The over here celebrating.

What we're so >> He had promised to protect Kentucky's money to safeguard its pensions.

To give taxpayers true value.

And to protect Kentucky's rich fossil fuel.

I will work.

With our legislators under Governor.

To bring the best.

The service.

Of our people now want to say that I'm ready to get to work.

As you have heard of this is my 3rd time being sworn in.

So I've served 2 terms as state treasurer.

You know what I like is a state elected official.

You know, the commitment I bring.

>> You know, the passion I have for serving Kentuckyian I want to bring that to the auditor's office.

I get to have a greater tools available to me so I can make sure that the government's held accountable for using taxpayer dollars well and protecting its waste, fraud or abuse.

We're going to serve Kentucky.

>> To make a difference for rural Kentucky for urban Kentucky and Ferrer culture in this state.

And I can't tell you how much that I appreciate all of you all being here this morning.

Along with me to witness the swearing-in so we can get to work for Kentucky.

And that's my message to you is that I'm never going to be your smartest person in your most count.

It, but I can promise you that I will be the most hard-working person that you've gotten elected office in the state of Kentucky.

>> The first time I stood here and took this oath and said so help me God.

But I really felt was so help me God.

Looking the predictable crises that were threatened.

Our elections not long after the ceremony.

And the way that we not only overcame them what actually led the rest of the country in Election administration.

Election reform in setting up for truth.

It is apparent that he heard my of the way I meant it.

When you take about a.

>> As a law enforcement officer, you are forever committing to go to the threat to mitigate the threat.

Each of us each of us on our team have assembled responsibility now to go true.

The problem you go to that threat because that's what we asked our law enforcement officer.

And that's the essence of the promise that we're making that I am making today.

To make your families safer and to enforce the rule of >> So a programming note for you tomorrow night.

Governor Andy Beshear will deliver his state of the Commonwealth address.

That's at 7 Eastern 6 central in the evening.

You can see that speech live right here on KET with analysis and reaction from legislative leaders join us tomorrow night for that.

Teamsters.

Local president is running for the Kentucky House against an incumbent Republican John Stovall says he will run for the house in the 37th district.

He's a Democrat and the president of Teamsters local 7.83.

If he wins the Democratic nomination, he would face state Representative Emily Callaway, a Republican who was first elected in 2022, the district includes parts of Jefferson and bullet counties.

More bad news for Kim Davis.

The former Aoun County clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples back in 2015, a federal judge has already ordered Davis to pay $100,000 after 2 men sued her over her refusal to issue licenses to them.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, a federal judge has now ordered Davis to pay the man's legal bills as well.

That's another $260,000.

Davis said it violated her religious beliefs to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples.

>> Come back to my to get to.

♪ >> That was Kentucky native and pioneering musician Les McCAnn performing his hit song compared to what live at Jazz Festival back in 1973, the protest song showcasing his gospel style vocals is an example of McCann's merging of jazz with stole and fog.

Growing up in Lexington Ma can taught himself to play piano.

And later won a singing contest while serving in the U.S. Navy.

He went on to tour worldwide and released dozens of albums during his career.

Les McCAnn died and on Friday in Los Angeles, he was 88 years old.

2023 was a dry year in many parts of Kentuckyian that's affecting water use in places and the state continues to battle the flu COVID and RSV.

Our Toby Gibbs has these stories and more in the Tuesday.

Look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> Our recent state Respiratory Illness report showed a rise in flu cases.

Well, COVID-19 and RSV cases declined.

The State Journal reports the State Department for Public Health slightest updated on December 23rd flu cases increased 30% with more than 2700 cases reported all 3 illnesses accounted for more than 4400 emergency department visits in the state that increase of 10% from the previous week.

A lack of rainfall at Stanford City officials to declare a state of emergency last week.

The Advocate Messenger reports the declaration was made during an emergency city Council meeting on December 27th Mayor Don Miller tells the newspaper the area has received only 13 inches of rain since July, leaving water reservoirs, low local emergency management officials are asking people to reduce water use by at least 20%.

A conservation easement in eastern Kentucky will provide permanent protection from development in the Cumberland Forests, Wildlife Management area in Belle Knox and Leslie Counties.

W K Y you reports that nearly 55,000 acres will be protected and open to the public.

This is part of the nature Conservancy's Cumberland Forest Project which encompasses more than 250,000 acres in 3 states.

The nature conservancy of Kentuckyian the State Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources work with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to make it happen.

The conservation easement is also significant to protecting numerous animals, including Fox's black bears and bobcats that migrate through Kentucky.

♪ More than 6 million pounds of invasive carp have been removed from Kentucky waters every year since 2019 W K Y you reports that state wildlife officials have credited this to harvest programs where they partnered with commercial fishing organizations to physically remove the carbon Kentucky lake like Barkley and the Ohio River and its tributaries a less aggressive approach.

They used to combat the invasive species is the use of a bio acoustic Phish fans which pairs fish away from certain areas.

♪ Faculty at Michigan's Lake Superior State University has selected 10 words to include on their banished words list for 2024. wk MS reports the university received more than 2000 nominations from around the globe.

Some of the words that made the list include iconic slay impact and obsessed.

University officials says the list mentions words that are often misused, overused.

We'll have lost their meaning.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Toby Good News.

♪ ♪ >> We've heard a lot in recent years about the lack of affordable and accessible childcare for Kentucky families.

A new report says that shortage of quality care also extends to families of school age children, particularly those living in low-income or rural areas, according to the Kentucky out of School Alliance, the way to state regulates after-school programs is playing a big part in that shortage.

The Council alliance is a non-profit.

>> Organization that basically how I sum it up is where the biggest cheerleaders for after-school and summer learning programs here in the Commonwealth.

We we've seen lots of research done on have childcare deserts with the child care industry.

Looks like for families across Kentucky.

The need for childcare doesn't end when a student in his kindergarten, the benefits of after-school programs for students are well documented.

We now have decades of research showing that they have positive effects on what we call the ABC's School attendance, school behavior and course work for everyone.

Student enrolled in the program in Kentucky for more a way to get that's above the national average.

And so it's something that we have to confront the Coyotes today to explore is it is a first of its kind.

I'm kind of research and indeed, a tool that exclusively looks after school and summer learning programs here in the Commonwealth.

When we look at the top barriers for accessing high-quality, after-school learning experiences for families on the number one.

There is just a program availability.

There's not a program available.

And so what we've seen is and not all that surprising, as we've seen a lot of after-school programs clustered around Louisville, Lexington and northern Kentucky.

So our rural counties and rural communities are really being left behind.

I think that the impact of and are serving students who live in rural communities is just not having the same opportunities as their peers right.

So when we talk about the benefits of after-school programs being, you know, improve school attendance, improve school behavior, improved coursework.

We are leaving out a huge swath of students who just do not have those opportunities.

Increasingly, we also see the correlation between low workforce participation and a lot of our rural communities.

Well, if there's not a safe place for your kid to go after school.

How are you going to fully participate in the workforce?

And so we're seeing this not only impacting kids impacting families but impacting our economy overall.

If we had more safe, engaging, high-quality places for kids to go after school on school breaks throughout the summer months, especially because Summers is a huge thing that we're we haven't really addressed here in Kentucky.

We could see higher workforce participation and all communities, but especially in rural communities.

We've identified about 1200, almost 1300 childcare centers throughout the state of Kentucky are licensed to serve school age the switch population.

But the way our licensing and regulatory structure in Kentucky works, we don't actually know if they are.

They are licensed to do But we don't know if they actually have slots available for school and families and of that October 1300 probe for 1200 to 1300 programs.

We know that only about 200 of them are school age, only programs in Kentucky is one of now starting to be very few states that doesn't have a new state funding directed to supporting after-school and summer learning programs.

So we're just relying on federal and then the Child Care Assistance Program, which has a whole nother a few participation from the regulatory.

And we know that policymakers are interested right now going into the General Assembly session to talk about childcare.

And again, I think that the biggest thing that we want to bring up in this conversation is we have to include schools, programs and school is used in this conversation because the needs of students who are and second and 3rd grade are not the same as childcare needs for toddlers and infants.

Both incredibly important.

Just the needs are different.

And sometimes we have to differentiate those things so that we're providing high quality environments for everybody.

>> Community learning centers and youth camps also makeup, Kentucky's regulated after-school programs.

According to the report, there are 177 federally funded learning centers and 151 youth camps in the state.

For many people, the new year signals new beginnings.

Well, that's certainly the case for some southern Kentucky residents after a December tornado damage their home.

Our Laura Rodgers talked with a Logan County storm survivor about how 2024 brings change to the place.

She's called home for 3 decades.

As a family resource director in Logan County schools and adviser to the Homestead or Ambassador leadership group.

Raquel Nash is accustomed to helping But on December 9th, it was Nash and her family who would need support.

>> When an EF 2 tornado hit their home and Homestead community.

>> Man, my husband try seeing an art therapy dog.

Millie haha.

We went down to shelter and about the time that we got in our bathroom starting here in the what you hear everybody talking about the train sound and the wind.

She says it was over in about 30 seconds, but that was enough time to destroy the place.

They've called home for 30 years.

There was water coming in the house we could hear outside.

So we KET part of our roof was gone.

>> And our front porch have been taken away.

The tornado's path in Kentucky first hit Todd County with top estimated winds of 125 miles per hour.

>> That same tornado then tracked into Logan County.

We can just a hair, but still produce winds yet to in straight to 115 miles an hours attract to the south of Russellville, moving right over us 4.31.

Before lifting just south of the Auburn community.

It is reminiscent of the tornado outbreak of December 2021.

>> We're no stranger to December tornado events here in Kentucky.

But that said they are rather rare.

>> Have you tried this stuff?

Nash says her community was hit hard 2 years ago affecting many families within her school.

As far as family resource goes, we were off and running the whole time helping our families.

But this time it was Nash on the receiving end of those recovery efforts.

That outpouring of our community was just amazing.

Just amazing to see everybody pulled together.

>> During that time and even this time.

Pretty amazing to be a part of.

>> She says immediately after the storm, at least 65 people showed up to help getting all of their belongings out of the house and undercover and 3 and a half hours when you live in a small community like we do, we work together.

We go to church together.

We raised our families together.

And they respond to challenges together, stepping up to help when times get tough.

And the whole house will have to be get it because of the rain and the water damage.

>> But she says that's OK, she's just thankful everyone is safe.

Her focus now shifting to the repairs and renovation needed to move back home.

It's home.

The only place we've lived the whole time.

Leave in May.

We raise our 2 boys there.

>> People have asked it well, will you rebuild their nose like, yeah, we're not leaving.

Watermelon road were not believe that corner on watermelon road.

That town.

>> For Kentucky edition on Larry Rogers.

Thank you, Lauren.

Good luck to her.

The National Weather Service says the tornado was on the ground for more than 22 miles.

The same storm produced any EF one tornado that touched down in Bowling Green.

♪ >> The first week of January includes more interesting historic events from Kentucky's past.

Our Toby Gibbs has a few in tonight's look at this week in Kentucky history.

♪ >> Early radio pioneer, Nathan be Stubblefield of Murray, demonstrated his wireless telephone on January.

First 19.

0, 2, Houston Hobby died January second, 2020 in 1967, he became one of the first 4 black football players to play at the University of Kentucky.

Kentucky almost had a major league baseball team in the 1960's on January 6, 1964, Kansas City A's owner Charlie Finley reached a deal to move the A's to Louisville.

>> But other baseball owners veto the move.

4 years later, the team would move to Oakland.

Kentucky's General Assembly ratified the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote on January 6, 1920.

About 4 years later on January.

First 1924, and a guy Cromwell was sworn in as Kentucky secretary of state making her the first woman to hold a statewide office in Kentucky history.

She would go on to be state treasurer, state parks, director, state Bond commissioner and the director of archives.

John William Tate was born January second, 18.

31 in Franklin County.

His nickname was Honest, D***, which is odd because his name was not Richard, the honest part was a very accurate either as state treasurer in 18, 88, he boarded a train in Frankfort with $100,000 and was never seen again.

And that's a look back at this week in Kentucky history until we get this.

>> Thank you, as always.

To begins at least one Kentucky family is starting off the new year with an expanded family.

A new baby Lamb.

Rodriguez was the first baby born at a Lexington Hospital in 2024.

Weighing 6 pounds and 6 ounces staff at the University of Kentucky helped welcome him into the world yesterday at 12:00:03AM, nearly 2 weeks before he's due date.

Congratulations to the Rodriguez family.

What a cutie.

Now you won't see him in your favorite movies, but you could see his work.

A Kentucky man has created knives used by some popular actors make this blade Smith and find out how he's giving certain movies and edge on the competition.

That's tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope will see you again for at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky.

Eat addition, email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips of KET Dot Org.

>> You can find us on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV and send us a story idea the address on your screen and of course, connect with us all the way.

As you see there, Facebook X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for joining us.

Happy New Year again and I'll see you right back here again tomorrow night to kick in.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪