>> So what are we talking about?

One of the supposed to take, please and thank you for the supposed to defend these other kids was spit balls.

>> Weapons for workers in juvenile detention centers.

That debate before yet another violent incident.

Plus, the work begins on Lexington's first new Middle school in almost 20 years.

>> It's just going to be another option for the city to have to be able to watch high-level basketball support.

You know, as many guys that they used to love watching the call.

>> And the Derby city distillers are about to hit the hardwood with the former Louisville cardinal in charge.

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

The only entered Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday, January 24th, I'm Renee Shaw.

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

We begin tonight with another attack inside a Kentucky juvenile detention center.

>> This time it's in Warren County.

The state says when a youth worker ordered 3 juvenile offenders to return to their rooms last night around 9 local time, the 3 attack that worker and then attacked 2 more staff members, including the and they responded.

The state says the 3 kicked and punched the staff and the head face and back the rest of the staff then responded and put the 3 in their rooms.

One staff member has non life-threatening injuries.

2 of the juveniles were in the facility for robbery.

The other is accused of murder.

And that several months after a sexual assault at a center in Adair County.

And there's an ongoing crisis of riots elsewhere in Kentucky, in juvenile detention centers last night on Kentucky.

Tonight, our panel of lawmakers, a youth advocate in a criminal justice expert discuss steps that have already been taken and what else needs to happen to fix problems in Kentucky's Duval justice system.

Governor Andy Beshear has already ordered juvenile offenders separated by sex and by the severity of their crimes.

He's also raising the incoming pay for center security to $50,000 a year and the hopes of attracting workers to a field with a severe worker shortage.

The governor also ordered juvenile center workers to have pepper spray and tasers.

Something they've never had before.

That move has its critics.

But Republican Representative Jason Amos says those critics are denying reality.

>> I think in a lot of ways we're not talking about the real world here and we're conflating everything, OK?

Nobody disagrees that we should have a robust continuum of care for people are not detained.

Nobody disagrees with that.

Not a single person.

No, I don't.

I'm not talking about the who says it should be punishment when we're talking about now with some of the tension.

But there is an element of accountability.

There is an element of keeping our kids safe.

I know in my district right now there's a 7th grader who's got an equal bracelet on her ankle monitor on.

He's in school, charged with.

Robbery with a deadly weapon.

Should he be in our schools around other 7th grade?

I don't know a little bit this time, but we're not talking about the real world here.

Of course, these people need an opportunity in the upper in the in the ability to protect themselves and other kids.

We had a girl that was gay rate and one of the one of the employees was sitting there in the control room crying the death.

He did call 9-1-1.

He was crying because he heard the little girl getting getting rate and he couldn't help or couldn't leave.

So what are we talking about?

One of the supposed to say, please and thank you for this.

Most of the been these other kids was spit balls.

We're talking about big people.

Yes, you but we have to protect their employees.

More importantly, the other other other kids in the facility.

So let's start talking real.

We all want to hold our kids, get them back on track.

Hopefully they're wonderful citizen in the future.

That's what we all pray for.

We all strive for.

But to say that they can't even have.

The the opportunity to defend themselves to defend others.

I mean, we need to get real here because this is a real conversation.

>> So I go to this side represented hair and say, I disagree.

I worked inside a juvenile detention center where workweek who have been accused of committing murder.

And when I worked in South Carolina, a South Carolina actually had Contract with Maryland and most of our kids were from Baltimore and we had very we had kids were very serious offenders and we did not wear uniforms.

We do have polls.

We did not have weapons and it was the way we treat the kids and the things that were inside the facilities.

And so I disagree.

I don't think that there needs to be a pepper spray and tasers inside a facility.

I think that when that happens, we're going to see more issues and more kids get hurt.

And I think that the thing is that we as as lawmakers, we as the executive branch not does this executive branch, other executive Branch's has failed this population of young people for for years for over a decade.

And I think that that that going automatic plea to to to this.

Don't type mindset is is is is not the right thing to do.

>> You can see more of last night's very spirited conversation about juvenile justice in Kentucky by going to our website streaming that program online on demand it KET DOT org.

Slash K why tonight?

In Education News tonight, a group of students from across Kentucky says one way to make sure schools are safe is by supporting gun control legislation.

>> Council, obviously you can share about education getting well.

Yes, they shun and that can happen without having to say school and park.

It.

>> The student Advisory Council met this afternoon in Frankfort.

They outline things schools can do before during and after a school shooting to better protect students.

The group says steps should include requiring mental health evaluations before buying a gun.

>> That is a show that a 20 to 37 knots, church leaders basically night that it doesn't illness.

Farm safety could be You're wiring and all those >> Currently, there is no pre filed a bill in Frankfort that would make it harder to buy a gun in Kentucky.

But there are a number of gun-related bills being considered House Bill.

One.

38 would repeal gun free zones and a number of locations including schools and colleges.

House Bill one 18 would lower the age requirement for carrying concealed weapons from 21 to 18.

Both of those bills were filed by Republican Representative Savannah Maddox, who withdrew her campaign for governor late last year.

Republican Senator Adrienne Southworth pre filed Senate Bill.

31, it would also loosen restrictions on where guns are allowed, including on college campuses.

This is National School Choice Week today at Kentucky's Capitol and choice.

Kentucky kicked off events across the state in celebration.

>> Our Casey Parker Bell was there file this Key needs to get with the program.

They need to follow the lead of other states and finally begin to fund students, not systems.

>> Within reach of the state Capitol building and towards Kentucky made their case to bring school choice.

>> To every child in Kentucky.

>> No school, no matter how good it is, can be the perfect fit for every single child.

But the movement for school choice suffered a serious setback late last year.

>> The Kentucky Supreme Court struck down the Education Opportunity Accounts Act in December.

It would have created a school choice program.

The court ruled the legislation violates the state constitution.

>> That decision really was a setback.

Undoubtedly that ruling didn't stop about a dozen people showing up to vocalize their support for the school choice movement.

>> I believe that the impetus is on school choice because of the large number of people who have parents who really want to do a better and different opportunity.

>> And the president of the choice, Kentucky says he expects legislation this session to broaden school choice for Kentucky fans.

>> But I do expect that there's going to be action.

And I think in next couple weeks we're going to see that for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> The Kentucky General Assembly reconvenes for the second part of the legislative session that begins on Tuesday, February.

The 7th.

There's been a growing trend of banning books in schools across the country since July 2021. bands of occurred in 32 states.

According to Pen America, a nonprofit created to, quote, defend and celebrate free expression.

Kentucky is not one of those states, but that may change a group called Moms for Liberty showed up at last week's Boone County School Board meeting the group according to its website, is, quote, dedicated to fighting for the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights.

Myrna heeds is involved with moms for Liberty in Campbell County.

During last week's meeting, she said some of the books in Boone County Schools are dehumanizing students.

>> Some of the books that >> are in schools have to deal with child rape, prostitution, normalizing abortions.

One book in particular, it's called Sky by Neal Shusterman talks about 2 teenagers who have to learn how to kill people in our society that they feel are not purposeful in our society.

And when we start dehumanizing members of society that they're not We start normalizing abortion and we start normalizing rape of a child and we start normalizing prostitution.

What we're doing is dehumanizing.

>> The the public.

>> You said her group will be submitting book reviews to Boone County Schools in the coming weeks.

After numerous setbacks, a new middle school is being built in Lexington.

We were there as the school district broke ground on the 83 million dollar project yesterday.

♪ >> Welcome to each and every one of you.

Thank you for joining us on this chilly afternoon to celebrate the groundbreaking of Fayette County Public Schools.

First Middle school in almost 20 years.

>> We know that every child in Fayette County, public schools deserves to learn in the building that prepares them for the future.

And the design of this building was motivated by that very goal.

And we stand on ground that was once counted among horse farms that defined so much.

It was this landscape and that history has inflows the design of this bill.

It's designed also looks to the future providing space for collaborative learning spaces and it limiting elements in stride forward a lesson environmental footprint.

>> This new state of the art school has been designed to promote exploration, collaboration and innovation.

It will provide students with educational and extracurricular activities and opportunities and focus areas such as the arts and technology.

And that is super exciting.

♪ >> The new school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025, it's designed to accommodate 1200 students.

In political news.

It's another case of a politician with classified documents in his home.

First, former President Donald Trump.

Then President Biden now former Vice President Mike Pence is attorney says classified documents were found in a safe and Pence's home in Indiana.

The FBI has those documents.

Congressman James Comer of Kentucky's first district is chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

The panel that heads up investigations in a statement Komar said, quote, former vice president President Mike Pence reached out today about classified documents found at his home in Indiana.

He has agreed to fully cooperate with congressional oversight and any questions we have about the matter.

Former Vice President Pence is transparency stands in stark contrast to the Biden White House staff who continue to withhold information from Congress and the American people.

Yesterday on the U.S. Senate floor, Senator Mitch McConnell praised his longtime eastern Kentucky field assistant Donna.

But more she died on January.

13th.

McConnell says she had worked in his London office for 14 years and he called her the Rock.

>> She fielded calls the great adventures.

She saw Kentuckyian problems.

Donna was endlessly patient it's and mostly focused on helping constituents.

She was sweet and sometimes quote.

More listener.

We're going to talk.

And deeply about that.

She was the kind of person who would come to the verge of tears almost daily after reading a news article or Facebook post about somebody.

But wow, to anybody who administered on a big heart for any lack of determination.

Donna wanted something done efficient.

Kentucky needed something done.

To tap.

>> McConnell said he is grateful for Donna but more service to the people of the Commonwealth.

For the first time, body cameras are on the way to Kentucky State Troopers, State police demonstrated the cameras last Friday.

They'll be distributed to all 780 troopers.

This is after a 12 million dollar investment to buy the cameras.

Governor Beshear says greater transparency will calm by recording.

Exactly what's happening during a state police situation.

♪ A Wall Street Journal article today reports that violence among children has soared across the country since 2020 reversing years long decline in youth crime.

The report goes on to say that the number of killings committed by kids under the age of 14 was the highest in 2 decades.

But that's not the case here in Lexington today, I sat down with Divine Karami, a director of the city's one Lexington program to ask him what is and what's not working to reduce gun violence among use.

>> So really I'm coming out of the pandemic.

It look a lot like other places, A lot of these underserved youth that we work with a lot of what they got was in the structure of school.

A lot they're only square meal.

Was this cooldown, Lee positive interactions West School.

And then when the pandemic hit all of those resources that those underserved kids who are already potentially in that cycle of violence.

We essentially snatched away from them for 2 years, right?

And so coming out of that pandemic, we believe that's one of the reasons we've seen this national What we've done in Lexington is we've connected with our community partners because it's not just one Lexington, but it's all our community partners.

And we were very intentional about working with our youth and young adults.

And I think that's why we're starting to see progress said.

>> So talk to us about what you're actually doing this on a lot of people ears perked up when they heard about a 50% reduction.

Yeah, and youth related crimes and so in homicides.

So what exactly are you doing?

>> What makes I guess gun violence reduction unique is you have to be hands on front lines and you have to be touching those individuals who are in a cycle of violence or potentially entering that cycle.

There's no way around it.

It's not pretty and we don't really get to talk about the specifics as much as we like because of who were working with and how understand one thing we do is crisis response.

So when a young person is involved directly impacted by gun violence, how are we as a city responding today, individual because the statistics tell us that if they've been in the cycle of violence, they most likely will stay a re enter if they are not directly engaged.

And so its youth mediation, its schools calling me and saying, hey, I've got 2 kids from 2 different neighborhoods that are be fun.

This could get bad.

So that's one myself.

Community partners come in and engage.

We go out to the community, serve neighborhoods that have been impacted by gun violence.

We do a lot of mentoring programs within the school system.

And so it's it's not just the intervention.

Batiste prevention piece data tells us that you can incarcerate your way too.

A safer community.

Like long term.

You can't do that.

The data suggests that.

So I can understand not wanting to just lock everybody up for everything.

However, we also know that in gun violence.

Accountability is important because oftentimes it's the same individuals that are driving this violence.

And so I think that's an opportunity for alternative programming, right?

Give these judges in alternative sentencing What is in place for if we're going to limit their sentence, what programs are in place when they come out.

So I think of re-entry work as well.

I think that there's a space for those 2 ideologies to come together.

We can hold them accountable.

But we've got to have something.

Therefore, we can't just let him out.

And so I think if we start thinking that way like hack, when we come together, I think that's where you find better solutions.

>> I want to go back to something that we mentioned the very beginning is that that one Lexington is proving along with your community partners and other organizations to really make an impact positively when it comes intervening in youth violence, gun violence.

So talk to us about these numbers and we know that you're going to be making a presentation about the success of one what are the main bullet points that go to your success?

Yeah, I think >> When I took over the job in 2021.

Are I think we're halfway through 2021, I have missed the ice a laugh and tell my wife I don't know what I'm the director of Kuz's just But we have limited capacity.

But we were still able to make a marginal impact because of our partnerships.

But when the council and the mayor really start to put in some support a full now we have a staff is 3 of us.

That's when we really started to turn things around.

And so I think for us, it's just been intentional.

That's it.

We never really had a program that intentionally focused on you.

2 are most vulnerable to gun violence.

And so whether it's mental health, I know domestic violence is starting to spike in the mayor's doing some things in that sector.

If you are intentional and bringing all these pieces together out close with this on that point that we found that a lot of these organizations weren't And so that was a space for one Lexington to be that convener to be that I'm kind of breeds that brings in pool some of these entities together and then they realize, wait a minute, you've got what we need.

We got what you need and then services were coming a lot because this is life and death.

This work right?

And so there's not time for bureaucracies.

Not time for confusion.

>> You can see my full interview with Divine Koroma this Sunday at noon Eastern 11:00AM central on connections.

>> Right here on KET.

♪ >> A professional basketball team is coming to Louisville, a former University of Louisville basketball player is the owner of that team that will compete in the Basketball league.

A minor league pro organization.

Kentucky additions Kelsey Starks sat down with him to get the details.

A coy.

A gal played 3 seasons with the Louisville Cardinals and now he's the owner of the Derby city distillers.

>> Thank you so much for being here.

You just started tryouts for this new last week.

Do you know yet what we can expect to see?

>> Well, first and foremost, thank you for so much for having me or give me the opportunity to talk about the distillers.

As far as you know, we had our first trial.

I think that was January.

15th.

And we just had another today tryout this past weekend with one more coming up, February 11th and 12th.

You know, we've got a couple guys, you know, with with this team, I'm going to try to get as many local guys as played at Louisville player development, you know, politically Kentucky.

>> Excuse But, you know, I've got a couple guys who played out the with me at Georgetown University, Chop more and Rodney Pryor who are going to be guys on this team play.

When I left.

>> Louisville wants Georgetown.

We've got the likes of dance Hall, the plate of development and then also calling for who played a Richmond and then came in, played a Louisville for his 5th year are so far the guys who are committed to play on this team.

So pretty exciting and just try to built a roster of more guys who played high level basketball overseas.

Some of these guys have played in the NBA G League and, you know, just trying to get as many guys here locally.

So gives, you know, fans an opportunity to watch the guys that they love watching college.

>> Sure, it sounds like a whole lot of Louisville love here in Kentucky.

Love you.

You played at U of L for boats.

coach Rick Pitino and Chris Mack has been traveled for played professionally all over the world originally from Sudan.

But then you come back to Louisville.

Tell us why.

And was this always in your plan to come up with something like this?

>> I'm not really.

But I just had such an amazing experience.

You know, with 5 times the student athlete at the University of Louisville the embrace of the fans that they had a mean, you know, taking me in as a didn't know much 18 year-old kid who felt like he KET everything and then, you know, hopefully, you know, then taking me back in as a 24 year-old, too, actually of learn a new little bit more.

But just the embrace and having fans who followed me even after him leaving here playing for another universe and just it's just amazing stuff come alone.

The city, the and just have always wanted to give back whatever way that looks like in, you know, wasn't quite sure what that looks like that having just moved back here from for the past year and still getting those those same embrace and having played in this and the city warning professional sports.

I felt like this was my part that I can do to try to at least provide that's for the city.

>> That is wonderful.

And you obviously love this community and a lot of the things that you do for the community, focus on kids.

You are an assistant coach at Kentucky Country Day School and you're hoping this team is another way to help lift up the community.

This is way more than just basketball.

>> For you?

Kids are just, you know, one of 7, 6, younger siblings.

So, you know, kids have been, you know, it's siblings part of my life, but I'm also one of those who drop anything for kids.

You know, obviously this year taking the system varsity coach just trying to help these kids to my experiences of being a collegiate athlete to play professionally overseas this past year.

I was just a chair for March of Dimes and then I'm also on the board chair for I would rather be That's something that's really important to me as someone who moved here from Sudan had having to learn English.

And I know how difficult that can be.

So, you know, that's going to be a staple of our team.

That's a staple of the league and that I want to get guys on this team.

We're obviously going to be really good basketball players to compete at a high level.

But we're going to love it really enjoyed being in the community.

And that's going to be a must otherwise they won't be on the team.

So.

>> That's wonderful.

And you're hoping on the flip side to get the community more involved in the team.

Tell us about that.

>> Absolutely.

I mean, I think one of the first things before most I know our offense can be so this team, the Derby city still is in no way a competition with local athletics.

That comes first.

But I think with where our season is from March to June, I think it's going to be an option for fans to have to continue their love for Bass 1, 1, start.

Teams are, you know, done and hope that made it as far as it can and say tournament.

Then they're able to come watch the distillers It's just going to be another option for the city to have to be able to watts, high-level bass one support.

You know, as many guys that they used to love watching college.

>> And as for those who may not know, explain the professional the basketball league, this is a league you played under.

>> Yes, so I graduate in 2019 and that was actually playing play in this league to give me the opportunity to get more fill most outside a lot of injuries in college.

So I was able to obtain that and then go play professionally overseas.

And so as one of the biggest reasons they started, this leads to give guys some opportunities because and the U.S. is the ambiance, the G League and all the lies you've got to play overseas.

And so now these guys, high-level basketball, that they can compete here in the states, their friends, family, they've got kids are wise able to watch them play.

And then also, you know, being guys who could be involved in their own communities and get back in whatever format that looks like.

So that's exciting.

I was one thing that I loved.

You know, my experience of playing in this league was just how much stuff that we did in the community.

Just allowed in a brace.

But the league is also helping, you know, make sure we educate these young men that they're capable more than just being a basketball players and, you financial literacy and different stuff that we're going to offer as a league and as a team to these players.

>> So wonderful tryouts.

Coming up, February, 11th and 12th and tickets are already on sale.

Their first game is going to be against the Kentuckyian for sirs on March.

3rd, back to you.

Thank you, Kelsey.

The Derby city to stores are the 3rd Kentucky team in the Basketball League.

Joining the Owensboro Thoroughbreds.

>> And the Kentucky enforcers out of northern Kentucky.

♪ A busy Wednesday on tap will have our weekly conversation about politics with Rylan Barton of Kentucky Public Radio and Ohio Valley Resource.

And it's been 6 months since the Eastern Kentucky floods will check in on efforts to fix roads and bridges and hear from a woman who for months after the flooding had to go to great lengths to get beyond her own driveway.

All that and more on Kentucky edition tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central.

I hope to see a good night.

♪