♪ >> there wasn't a single person that didn't know somebody who was in that Commons that morning.

A somber day in Western Kentucky.

As we look back on a school shooting that took the lives of 2 young teenagers.

>> So not only to rally celebration but a rally and one of the work that continues to be deputy to be done.

You know, in all of our state.

A Kentuckyian attends the March for Life Rally in Washington and says there is more work to be done even after row.

And it's always a good time to give blood.

Why this week is extra special.

Production of Kentucky edition is made possible in part by the KET and down that for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Monday.

January 23rd, I'm Renee Shaw.

>> Thank you for kicking off your work week with OSS 5 years ago today and western Kentucky, a 15 year-old student opened fire at Marshall County High School.

He killed 2 classmates and wounded several others.

Kentucky additions lore Rodgers takes a look at how the community has worked to move forward.

Knowing this tragedy will never fade from memory.

>> This community is very resilient and they continue to amaze me.

>> I think from an outside you don't realize how resilient.

This community is.

>> That word resiliency also attached to a nonprofit that developed to help the community cope.

We're the only one in the state of Kentucky Marshall County Resiliency Center came about from the horrible tragedy of January 23rd 2019.

>> The center provides free support services and resources.

>> Therapy sessions, yoga and art.

It's a safe space to be able to share, to be able to connect reconnect not vision when whenever we started creating the space for the resiliency center was just someone to be able to come in and feel comfort to feel safe.

Safety, of course, also important to Marshall County schools who did put new measures in place to increase security.

All of our buildings now have the safe entry vestibules on them.

>> As as is required, all of them have the camera in a comp system at the door so that somebody has to to push the button and speak to somebody before their late in the next, you know, explain who they are, whether they are who they want to see.

We have school resource officers at every campus.

>> And we have 7 mental health counselors.

>> There is also a safety committee meeting that takes place quarterly to address any concerns that may arise.

>> It's a really good process and we do get the feedback and that another piece that we feel is very important.

>> Moving forward from such a tragedy can also include moments of looking back.

>> A prayer will from April Spring United Methodist Church.

>> I think that's very important to remember that in our darkest time, our neighbors, people from across the nation came together to support us and to show us love.

>> The Marshall County Public Library took on the task of archiving and preserving those expressions of sympathy.

>> The event itself was horrible and it was.

Possibly the most horrible thing that has ever happened to this community.

But the support that came after was amazing.

You could not go through Western Kentucky without seeing some sign.

Of support for our community.

>> Amy Blackwell, not only the library director, but a lifelong resident of the small tight-knit community.

>> They talk after a tragedy about these ripples and, you know, the ripples get bigger as they go out.

But people are affected pretty far out and they talk about it in terms of a pond.

And I kept saying Marshall County's okay, people.

>> The Marshall Strong Archive was made possible by a grant through the Department of Justice.

It will be forever woven into what Marshall County is.

And so it seems worth preserving.

As the school and surrounding communities continue to move forward and heal.

And then us traders say the vision for the future is one of support.

>> We're working very much right now just to build a collaborative culture within all over our schools and at the district level just of providing teachers, the support and the training that they need to be as effective as they can be in the classroom with the students.

>> Even though we may not get the answers to our questions of the why and understanding of how could something like this happen, that the pain and the horror that they've gone through, that they would then use that to help someone else to come along.

Someone else who's gone through their own tragedy.

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

This is Kindness Week at Marshall County High School.

They held a moment of silence and placed a wreath in the Commons area this morning to remember the students who died.

Preston Cope and Bailey Holt.

Governor Andy Beshear has ordered flags at state buildings lowered to half-staff to honor the 10 people shot to death Saturday and Monterey Park, California he's urging everyone to join in the tribute.

Police say a 72 year-old man opened fire at a dance club during Lunar New Year.

Celebrations.

The suspect later shot and killed himself.

Flags in Kentucky will remain lowered until sunset on Thursday.

And light of reports of riots and assault in Kentucky's juvenile detention centers over the last several months demands for action are growing louder.

Last week the governor announced more changes among them higher pay and defensive equipment for youth workers.

I talked with UB Rebecca de la red over criminal defense attorney, longtime juvenile advocate, an adjunct professor at the UK College of Law about the administration's response.

And if she believes it will help.

>> I think that staffing is clearly a problem with the Department of Juvenile Justice.

But once that further with that is a lack of transparency.

You know, if if the Department of Juvenile justice isn't transparent with courts.

And the Legislature but most but first off with court and with families regarding the conditions in the facilities and their inability to ensure safety of everybody.

Who's there, they need to communicate that because judges will perform differently when they know that.

>> So let's talk about some of the solutions that have been discussed by the governor.

He made some announcements a while back about separating males and females and serious offenders from a lower-level offenders.

And then on Thursday he made some recommendations when it comes to defensive weaponry.

Your thoughts about what the governor has suggested in order to deal with some of these issues with them.

These you juvenile detention centers.

>> One of the things that's ironic about it is that when the Department of Juvenile Justice had its first so-called riot at it.

There, they didn't call in any law enforcement for assistance.

So if they thought that they couldn't manage it and they, you know, didn't have any of the so-called defensive weapons.

It's you wonder why they didn't call in any law enforcement to assist them when they could have with a simple, you know, 9-1-1, and probably have a button to call them.

>> Let me interrupt to brief us so that we can hear the sound from the governor when he was asked about wouldn't these weapons could they not be turned on the youth workers if they are armed or have it, they're ready, tasers or pepper spray.

Here's what the governor said on Thursday.

>> Right now when you have a major incident.

All they can do is lock down.

Possibly not even enter scene when there's a violent altercation because they don't have the ability to do so safely.

And week from the state police or others to run.

When we have.

These juveniles that are awaiting sentencing on such serious crimes that you're either going to be in a juvenile facility or most likely to do prison 5.10, years or their entire lives.

It is a challenge keeping order.

We need understanding do have defensive weaponry and they understand what tactics to have or don't and to establish.

Then we're done.

>> Your response?

When you fact out.

In facilities run schools.

The fact that there are going to be Taser stun pepper spray.

President doesn't alter what you do.

In addition what the governor's missing our the mental health needs of the youth and their maturity.

Or in maturity.

So and beyond that couple of other realities, we know and they've been inundated with education, about trauma, informed care, nothing.

The governor said address that.

What we know where the conditions added Ayers, that kids were locked up in their cells for 24 hours a day for multiple days in a row.

Then they were let out to take a shower and they didn't want to have to get back in their cells.

So the stench in the place was described by workers who quit shortly before this so-called riot and it the mental health deterioration of youth who are who are present there was described by workers Djj were Kurt.

So it's.

To think that this solves the problem is in error.

>> Coming up tonight at 08:00PM on KET Kentucky.

Tonight you'll hear Do share her suggestions on how the system can be improved along with perspectives from lawmakers and others who will discuss Kentucky's dual justice system.

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

Kentucky can continues to get money from settlements with opioid distributors with the total topping 840 million dollars.

Lawmakers are now working to figure out how to distribute the money and how to curb the opioid epidemic.

Still raging across the Commonwealth last week, the executive director of the Commission working to combat the problem had this to say to lawmakers.

>> We are losing a small town a year and have been for at least a decade the other thing that has become apparent is that for as awful as these conditions are, he may have heard the notion that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

There is no question but that this state has a tremendous organic and stalwart grassroots immune system that is kicked into high gear.

To do everything that is a viable.

>> Brian Hubbard, executive director of the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission says his group is working on a process for distributing grants to organizations working to fight the epidemic.

Kentucky's most recent overdose fatality report shows more than 2200 Kentuckians died from overdoses in 2021, the latest year of available data.

>> Last week we began introducing you to new members of the Kentucky General Assembly will continue to show you the new faces in Frankfort over the next several weeks.

Tonight, you'll meet 2 House Democrats who share why they ran for office.

And for one of them, how been confined to a wheelchair is helping him bring new perspective to Frankfort.

♪ ♪ >> My name is Lindsey Burke and the new representative for House District.

75 in Lexington?

Well, I like to say that becoming a representative is my 3rd career.

I started off as a social worker.

I have a master's in social work and I worked at Lexington Rescue back in 2007 8, 9, And after my time in Lexington Rescue mission.

I went to grad school and then came to law school and became an attorney that I worked in a knot for profit law office called Michael Legal.

And I've been doing that for about 6 years.

And now I'm very pleased to be able to take what I've learned is a social worker and an attorney to bring it to Frank for one of the things that I realized very quickly is that good public policy makes life easier and they're often unintended consequences from not so good policy that affect people in ways that were anticipated.

And so always be trying to have an eye to what the implementation will look like for individuals and families.

And as we draft bills and approved bills, I'll be thinking about how is that going to affect people in my district serving as a social worker and an attorney has really given me insight into the struggles of average Kentucky ends.

And I know that we can do better than what we're doing right now.

But then when Representative Flood decided that she was going to retire after her service in the General Assembly, I saw that as an opportunity, an opportunity to build on the Fantastic Foundation that she had provided as well as Kathy Stein and representative arrest discourse any before her.

Those are 3 of the most impressive progressive voices that have come through the General Assembly and last 20 years.

And so I didn't want to lose our opportunity to KET Kentucky.

75 as a progressive voice in Frankfort.

Well, I have filed my first bill called the Care Act relates to conservatorship or guardianship and providing enhanced procedural protections for people who are deemed to meet guardians.

That's something that's really important to me because it's work that I've done professionally as a guardian ad litem.

But I also have people in my family who have a need guardians.

And so I want the dignity and worth of people to be respected in the courthouse and beyond.

It's really important to me that we do things to decrease exploitation and to empower people regardless of their level of ability or disability.

So that is a priority.

Number one for me.

But a lot of my background is in affordable housing.

So I'll be looking at trying to find ways that we can create and develop more affordable housing in Kentucky so that people aren't just dreaming of home ownership.

They're actually able to do it.

♪ >> Why and what needs one?

And I represent the 93rd district.

I've always been that interested kid in politics says early.

Has the 80's when Ronald Reagan was President, Jesse Jackson was running for president and that time then I was going coming of age high school.

And so when Bill Clinton was president, so just haven't and threats and then as they get over arrives.

All right.

Let me try here.

My first time and 2002, when what was the east this week?

And that was Ashley for the in Fayette County at the time.

Of course, he didn't come out come out that way.

But it get my foot in too, into party politics and got my name out there.

So I state involved in tried to get out a couple times.

But I get a phone call right?

Hey, don't want to come, you know, come to help us with one something and I was, you came back and, you know, sort of the candidates and to some golf with with the party.

I'm really is ricin and the Universal Pre K I do see that the official across the board for, you know, we can take in you see what you on the public schools.

But the, you wrapped around so, you know, commute to bees Pre K location.

Pre K so Unite City.

Your Kid, you know, one side of town for Pre K, but you could go, you know, if he's not in the public school, use your commute to bees, organization that could provide Pre K. I was born in the late 70's.

So I came into.

The school system when it was so nice transition to include children with disabilities in mainstream education and might for some the mother was one was light.

You know, my child's, you know, be means from the public schools in the early 80's.

So I wasn't set to radiate from others in schools.

So, you know, I was taught early to do that.

A lot of people's this half, that one path of thinking light.

If we don't get here, it's a rout.

I'm not going to like, oh, no, I can't go this way.

So it's like, all right.

I can go past day.

Let's go from a to B.

If passed, the doesn't work.

Let's go pack.

You know, if I have seen.

>> You can see interviews with other freshman lawmakers online at KET Dot Org slash Kentucky edition and we'll have interviews with Republican lawmakers and the weeks to come.

2022.

Was a record year for lobbying and Frankfort.

The Courier Journal says 800 businesses and organizations spent.

24.6 million dollars lobbying members of the Kentucky General Assembly.

That's more than the 23.0.

1 million spent in 2018 the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce spent the most.

That's been the case.

6 out of the last 7 years for the top 10 spenders were health care groups.

The ACLU, the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Retail Federation.

We're also and the top 10.

Sunday marked 50 years since the Roe v Wade decision which granted the right to an abortion.

As you know, that decision was overturned last year by the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Friday, the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of people from across the country, including some Kentucky hands, a deal which are from Kentucky right to life went to the rally and spoke to our Casey Parker Bell about the experience and what she says is next for abortion access in Kentucky.

>> It was so inspiring.

>> Last June, the Dobbs decision rocked U.S. abortion landscape.

An anti-abortion advocates celebrated the ruling last week in Washington is the first part for life rally since the landmark court case.

The fall of Roe versus Wade.

The Worcester, the executive director for Kentucky right to life was at the rally.

She says she felt joy watching people gather from across the country but says anti-abortion advocates have more work to do.

>> So not only to rally in celebration but a rally and remind us of the work that continues to be that need to be done.

You know, in all of our state's ball in Washington at the rally, some are pushing for more restrictions on abortion access.

>> But public polling shows Americans support abortion access in some form.

A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center last year shows 62% of people support abortion.

In most cases.

But in Kentucky, advocates on both sides are waiting for a ruling from the state Supreme Court.

Justices are weighing a decision on a case involving Kentucky's trigger law banning abortion and they're ruling could determine the fate of access in the Commonwealth and Planned Parenthood is tomorrow.

We'd are says it's a critical moment in Kentucky for the pro-choice movement.

>> Kentuckians are not able to access abortion care at this moment.

They have to leave the state.

Right now.

We are that, you know, birth control might be the next challenge.

But Bush, a nurse as state legislators could be looking to clear up language existing laws.

>> Depending on the ruling, there's some cleanup we need to do with that was obvious during the campaign on yes, for life just on making sure that some of the while there is nothing that takes away from a health care provider, be able to take care with topic pregnancy miscarriage.

We need to make sure that's perfectly clear for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Thank you.

Casey abortion is currently illegal in Kentucky.

Kentucky voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution last year.

That would have clarified there was no right to an abortion.

The Congressional Bourbon Caucus will have bipartisan leadership.

Congressman Andy Barr, a Republican from the 6 district and Congressman Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat from the 3rd district, will co-chair the caucus caucus.

The caucus has been around since 20.

0, 9, Its goal is to strengthen the bourbon industry in the U.S. the Kentucky Distillers Association says bourbon is an 8.6 billion dollar industry in Kentucky creating 20,000 jobs and producing 95% of the world's bourbon supply.

♪ How is Kentucky doing with flu cases RSV and COVID a progress report from Governor Beshear.

And tonight a look at health news.

The new Kentucky COVID map is out.

11 counties are in the high category for COVID activity and they're all in the eastern and northeastern part of the state.

Fayette County remains in the medium category Jefferson County, the county, but the biggest population in the state is the COVID positivity rate in Kentucky is 10.37%.

It's a good week to give a lot in Kentucky.

The Big Blue Slams starts today and runs through Friday.

It's an annual competition between the Kentucky Blood Center and the Lifesouth Community Blood Center in Florida.

Kentucky leads Florida 8 to 6 and Kentucky has won the last 2 years.

You can give at Kentucky's 8 donor centers and they're also mobile drives scheduled the Kentucky Blood Center provides blood to more than 70 hospitals.

But donations have been down since the COVID pandemic go big Blue.

♪ ♪ You'll find everyone from the great compromise or to a Super Bowl MVP.

As Toby Gibbs looks back at this week in Kentucky history.

♪ >> January 29th 18, 50 U.S.

Senator Henry Clay introduced a series of measures to ease tensions between pro slavery.

An anti-slavery forces.

It would become known as the compromise of 18 50 and would delay the civil war by 10 years play would die 2 years later.

2 died and 14 were hurt during the Marshall County High School shooting on January.

23rd 2018.

The gunman 15 year-old student Gabe Parker opened fire in an open area just before 8 in the morning.

>> 15 year-old students, Bailey Holt and Preston Cope.

Both died.

Parker was sentenced to 2 life sentences in 2020.

The U.S. Senate confirms Stanley Reed is a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on January.

27th 1938, Reid was a native of Maysville and served on the court until his retirement in 1957.

President Woodrow Wilson nominated Louisville born Louis Brandeis to the Supreme Court on January.

28 1916, when the Senate confirmed him, he became the first Jewish Supreme Court justice.

He would serve until 1939.

Kentucky, almost hannahan Rihanna County.

The General Assembly OK did on January.

26 to 18, 67.

But voters in the area rejected it.

It was supposed to be created from parts of training and Marshall counties.

The New York Giants won the Super Bowl on January.

25th 1987 with Springfield, native Phil Sams as quarterback Sims was also the game's most valuable player.

And that's a look at what happened this week in Kentucky.

History.

>> I'm told, begins.

>> Thank you.

Toby gives Kentucky State Police are getting body cameras for the first time.

Troopers had a firsthand look at how those cameras work, as you'll see part of that demonstration.

That's tomorrow night on Kentucky edition.

And we hope you'll join us again for Kentucky edition at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, Central.

We inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition, e-mail news letter and watch full episodes and clips.

>> At KET Dot Org.

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

And of course, we hope you'll follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

And you're also welcome to follow me on Twitter at Renee K E T now at 8 o'clock in just a little bit about an hour.

So we're gonna talk about the juvenile justice system here in Kentucky.

The problem that's been plaguing the system for not just months but years.

You'll hear from lawmakers.

Jason, me miss and Whitney Westerfield, the Tour Heron and Kulkarni will also have advocates on the program.

Josh Crawford and Terry Brooks from the Kentucky Youth Advocates.

And you'll hear more from a back.

A do that you heard earlier she's got more to share about her solutions to the crisis in Kentucky.

We do hope you'll tune in tonight on Kentucky tonight at 8 Eastern 7 central for that very comprehensive conversation about what's ailing our juvenile justice system and what maybe can do to help remedy it.

Thanks again for watching tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Take good care.

And I hope to see you right back here tomorrow.

And before that, 8 o'clock tonight for Kentucky tonight, CBS N. ♪ ♪ ♪