♪ >> Public money for private schools.

Why the final decision on that could be yours.

>> I think a deep fake image is extremely, extremely dangerous.

>> And talking considers ways to fight the ugly side of AI.

>> I think all cities in America are facing significant challenges.

>> Including Louisville, why so many downtown buildings are now empty?

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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition we made it to Friday.

It's January.

The 26th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off your weekend with us.

>> You could have a say in November about whether Kentucky allows public money.

>> To go to private schools.

Details as we begin tonight's Legislative update.

>> Today and playing for state representative Suzanne Miles, a Republican from Owensboro and House GOP caucus chair filed House Bill 2.

It's a school choice bill that if passed would allow the state to use money to go to private and charter schools.

There have been attempts to do this in the past, but they've been struck down by the courts.

The courts have ruled the state constitution doesn't allow it.

So what's different this time the bill would amend the Constitution if passed by 3 fifths of the House and 3 fifths of the Senate.

It would then go on the November ballot.

Then the voters in Kentucky would decide.

House Speaker David Osborne told the Lexington Herald-Leader he is, quote, confident the bill will pass the House.

He says he thinks a constitutional amendment supporting school choice.

We'll be on this year's ballot.

Another education bill was discussed this weekend, Frankfort, that's House Bill 2.28.

Sponsored by the chair of the House Education Committee, Representative James Tipton.

The bill would require public universities and colleges to conduct rip performance reviews for all faculty members, at least every 4 years.

It would also allow post-secondary institutions to use performance reviews to justify firing faculty regardless of the person's status.

>> The big word that everybody wants to talk about his tenure, although the does not mention the word teen year, it does.

It does impact teen year and what is senior?

I know it's a very difficult process for faculty members to get.

Awesome how to take several years.

But tenure is not a job for life.

>> Democrats in the committee suggested the bill was too vague and really wasn't needed.

>> One argument for tenure as a concept in this era of cancel culture, right is to protect people who teach difficult and uncomfortable content that can challenge young people.

Do you have any concerns >> the by removing these protections on professors that that people on both sides of the aisle won't be able to teach content the challenges our young people and their parents ideologies.

>> It's certainly not the intent of this legislation.

To inhibit a professor from teaching something it's difficult if states don't cut the great to give him an F. >> Now no vote was taken on House Bill 2.28.

This week it was for discussion only.

It's unclear if the bill will be on the committee's agenda for action next week.

On another education members of the Kentucky General Assembly say diversity, equity and Inclusion or dei programs, particularly and higher.

Ed have gone too far.

You'll hear from some of D eyes critics and its supporters.

That's coming up Monday night on Kentucky tonight.

And of course, we'll take your questions and comments.

So do join us Monday at 8 Eastern 7 central in the evening right here on KET.

Kentucky.

Secretary of state Michael Adams says Kentucky students need to know more about government politics and history.

Adams is urging the Kentucky General Assembly to require a civics course in high school and of civics literacy exam before student can graduate.

Many states already require a civics class.

But right now Kentucky does not.

State lawmakers are taking steps to criminalize the use of artificial intelligence when it comes to creating child pornography House Bill 207 was unanimously passed a committee earlier this week.

A state trooper in charge of Kentucky's Internet crimes against Children.

Task Force testified about how the technology works.

>> I think a deep fake image is extremely, extremely dangerous because you can take an application.

>> Or or program on the Internet, you can load a pitcher into somebody that, you know, in create a new image.

I would say that person look like no, it's called new to fine.

defy an image known victims that are categorized by the National Center for Missing Exploited Children are now be re victimized.

They're taking those photographs of those babies when they were victimized and make a new series.

New images with using those child's faces.

Those Giles bodies.

With the deep fakes.

You have the psychological impact of our school kids.

You know, the Not only do we need to identify these kids.

There are are these new the finer these new images are being produced by, but the psychological impact of paving their image passed around school.

>> The bill sponsored by Republican Representative Stephanie Dietz would also make having or selling child sex dolls a crime in Kentucky, a representative from the attorney general's office told lawmakers the bill would help close a loophole in Kentucky's existing laws.

>> When law enforcement discovered when these dolls, there's no question no gray area of what this type of call is made for and what it used for.

The scariest part is, is that scientific evidence proves that people that utilize or or abuse these dolls also go on to be hands-on offenders if they haven't done so already.

>> House Bill 207, cleared the committee and is now waiting to be called upon the House floor for consideration by the full membership.

We've talked a lot about how Kentucky needs social workers and 2023 things and prove some with hiring up and case loads down.

But there are still on field positions Tuesday.

The Department of Community Based Services Commissioner Lisa Dennis told the Senate Families and Children Committee she was concerned about the House's budget plan and how it could affect social workers.

>> We do appreciate.

that proposed budgets, both by the governor and the House proposed budget that includes an additional 100 social workers >> the 50 for each each year.

But we are concerned, Helena, bad by the wording in the House proposed budget that eliminates the funding for almost all of our bacon seeker for vacancies within the department and what that may mean.

Our ability to hire additional staff.

And for our for our budget overall, approximately all of vacancies are in the House.

Proposed budget aren't are not funded.

I think that's approximately 160.

But right now our our understanding of it that far directive about the governor and the General Assembly is to continue hiring social and in Rehab Inc. We've been successful in doing that.

>> At the end of last year, there were more than 1300 social workers in Kentucky with turnover at 17% for the year.

♪ >> Time now for a wrap-up of the week's political news, particularly what's happening in Frankfort.

We have some 2 good ones with us today.

They're new to inside Kentucky politics.

We have Sarah Osborne who's with us.

She's a principal at MM Ellen K and also we have Jason Rainey who is the head of the Mount Sterling, Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority.

I had to read that.

So I get it all in.

Good to see you both.

The city has stability.

Nice to be with you on a Friday.

It so we had an intense day in Frankfort yesterday.

And Sarah, you're saying that for the 1st quarter >> of the session, it was kind of quiet.

But yesterday they ramped it up.

Yes, most definitely.

I mean, House Bill 5 and that two-hour debate over that issue.

New all covered it Monday night on your show.

>> And I think it's something that a lot of Kentuckians are really watching the session.

Yeah.

This is the say for Kentucky Act and it's a pretty good size Bill, right?

And there were some changes that they had.

They acted on amended bill that address some of the homeless concerns about those provisions.

I think now the 3 strikes it's it's there's been some changes there.

So, you know, Jason, this is taking up a lot of bandwidth this weekend.

>> As you know, when you search the number one bill being looked at everything is House Bill 5 and what what these nuances are going to mean.

You know, I'm really interested to see what it's going to look like.

The fiscal impact right?

What is the fiscal impact going to pay?

And it looks like from what I've been reading, there's going to need to be a study done on that, right?

Right.

And we heard of the Democrats call for that right?

There are some motions maze.

>> To get that fiscal impact statement.

I mean, we've heard.

>> At least a million, but that could be hundreds of million.

Right?

And so is this some of it that you think the Senate will say?

We want to know what the total impact is before we take this up.

I think probably the Senate tends to be very deliberate when it comes to budget issues.

And I think that they're going to want to understand how this impacts the other priorities they have because we have to remember, we still have to have the budget discussion the session >> And that's another big one, right, that I did it.

And I'm not a lot of movement on that yet.

But we will say, you know, the house, they've had their plan out.

They haven't.

>> Haven't acted on it yet.

So we know will maybe see some action there.

But there've been lots of discussions about the budget.

What are you all keeping your eyes today?

House Bill 2 was filed by the proposed constitutional amendment.

This one about school Talk to us about the other things that you're going to KET your eye on to come down the pike.

>> Sure.

I think it's been a long time since we've had, you know, multiple constitutional amendments on our ballot in November.

And this could be the year I was looking at it today.

I think there's been 11 found so far with one more.

Probably that's going to be filed.

2 of them have already had committee hearings.

So it is going to be a lot of conversation around.

What should the voters be taking a look at come November?

But then I think a lot of the rest of the session will really concentrate or on the budget.

And I think we will see action on that in the next week or 2 in the House and then the Senate will take their turn and then we'll turn to a conference committee where a lot of that will get hashed out.

Right?

That's usually the process, right?

The House passes it.

The Senate kind of take some time to look at over 2 to 3 weeks before.

>> They start their It are you looking at those amendments in the budget?

What do you think?

>> The the House bill, 3.41, that Michael Meredith talked in front of committee this week about.

I think that's a very interesting one that going to require a constitutional amendment.

And this one is concerning it.

Well, it's about you have to be a citizen to be able to vote right.

And which people already think isn't that already the case?

But there's a loophole that he kind of pointed out.

And we talked about that earlier on Kentucky edition.

>> Yes, very interesting.

You're seeing some other states are allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections and I think they're trying to close the loop on that.

>> Right.

And if you miss that discussion, we had that on Kentucky.

Addition was the last night of the night before.

Can't remember a good story about what that meant and that discussion that happened there.

The budget is the big thing.

But we also know that will deal with some all pro family, pro choice Pro life issues that could come down the in these next few weeks could be pretty intense.

And I think they'll get very political because I think there's very did you know, we all as Kentuckians value education, we all value our families.

But then the approach to it is very different sides of the aisle.

>> And Jason, it is an election year, right?

And so that can also change the tone and the tenor and what is being proposed and acted on.

>> Yes, yes, I think the you know, the timing in which some of these bills are coming out and amendments substitutes those kinds of things.

It's going to be interesting, the kind of see in the coming that how that all frames out right?

>> A lot of discussion to about the sometimes the the pace when the bill actually hits the floor and the time to deliberate.

We know that explanation of vote was cut to one minute.

What I think that's the short as I had >> into those things matter to the general public are they just want the final outcome?

How do you think they size up?

>> These process questions that sometimes the opposition raise.

>> I think I think that the opposition wishes the voting public is paying more attention.

But frankly, I think in 2, you know, until April 16th and there's outcomes.

I don't think that the voting public really understands what's happening in Frankfort, where we bring groups into to advocate.

It's amazing how how little anyone knows about what's actually happening on the process.

And the secretary of state Michael Adams wants to change that, right?

He made a comment about civic education.

When we think about the process and and who was there are lots of rallies happened, Jason?

Yeah, there's a lot of advocacy that happens.

We had children's rallies earlier.

>> Press conferences on, you know, gun safety, all kinds of things.

It's not always just about the budget, but the budget is the big thing.

>> The budget is the big thing.

You know, 2020 plus years ago, we did the first rally for higher education in 2003 in the Capitol Rotunda trying to say, hey, we want we want the funding for higher education.

We we can see that education is going to help move the Commonwealth forward.

I was just mentioning to someone who isn't new to our team about how I remember walking down the tunnel.

>> During the Fletcher Administration and the kids and some adults were chanting the budgets on our backs.

Rodgers on our backs.

And I always say that, you know, it is the people's place right in to see that kind of grassroots activism or whatever level it is.

People being involved is what you want to see.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

I think they welcome mat to some degree the yeah.

Yeah.

Anything else top of mind for you about what to expect in the next few weeks?

I think there could be some stuff around.

A workforce development coming.

You know, I'm super excited about doctor curls and where that's going to be opportunities could be for us in Kentuckyian >> you know, to take economic development opportunities for Kentuckyian some next level.

It's going to be more emphasis on workforce.

And how can we re told that?

>> Yeah.

And some higher issues are coming out.

Not just dei but 10 year and some other things that could affect your advancement, economic development.

Absolutely.

I think they'll be looking at that.

And then I think the chambers and the Kentucky youth advocates are really going to make a push about around childcare that impacts our workforce and our ability to have workforce participation as well.

Yeah.

>> The talk this is good, Jason ready, Sarah Osborne, but have you back.

This is weekend.

Thank you.

♪ ♪ >> The big Blue slab is coming to an end all week long.

Kentuckyian Florida blood centers have been competing to get the most blood donations will have the final results on Kentucky edition on Monday.

The late has been going back and forth.

As you know, all week, Kentucky led by just 13 donations.

At the end of the day Thursday, there's still a need for blood.

Even after the big Blue slam donations fell during the cold and snow last week.

You can give it any of Kentucky's a blood centers.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating affect nearly 1 million Kentucky ends.

That's according to a psychiatrist at the University of Louisville who says awareness about how these illnesses start is the first step towards progress.

It could be 1, 2, or maybe most of Victoria.

>> it could be genetics.

Family history.

Lot of psychiatric illness are contributing to add like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, substance abuse disorder, personality disorders.

There are so many social factors like bullying peer pressure, family dynamics when there's a mother modeling and there's a constant criticism on young goes about their appearance and their body weight and shape history abuse and trauma.

As you mention, there are certain job requirements like modeling Dan saying a certain kind of sports wrestling and one thing when I must mention that weight stigma is such a devastating reality.

When we're talking about a vague statement is such a negative attitude believe and discrimination tours to people, an individual who have higher weights there's so many website there's so much on social media who are actually promoting those kind of mindset and harmful behavior and telling people to adopt those in calling it as a lifestyle choices and which I think it's kind of there's so many social pressures on people they believe that the has 2 there has to be ideal.

Perfect body shape to be successful.

So I think it's really, really important to Van is about what eating disorders are.

And also same time.

I think it's very important to create a vape, inclusive environment where which is friendly and respectful to all individuals.

Regardless, regardless of their shape, size and weight.

You can learn more about this very important topic this Sunday with host Doctor Wayne Tuckson Sunday afternoon on Kentucky Health at one 30 Eastern 12, 30 central right here on KET.

♪ ♪ >> Like many cities across the country, Louisville is facing a big change in its downtown population.

Many office buildings remain vacant following the pandemic, struggling to bring workers back from working remotely.

>> Our Kelsey Starks sat down with Louisville historian Tom Owen and his son Andrew, who was recently elected to Metro Council to discuss what's next for downtown Louisville.

Since you know so much history about our downtown in and you've seen the ebbs and flows and we've.

>> This isn't the first time we've struggled with people downtown and housing downtown offices downtown.

>> Is this different?

>> Now, then in any time in the past.

>> I think it is.

I'm not sure I can say there have been rough, rough spots before challenges.

Significant challenges before.

But at the end, king of the office towers, the significant emptying of the office towers, which means transformation is required from daily worker density 2 other.

Functions, including possibly reconfigure in housing in some of these tall towers as well greater entertainment venues and all of those kinds of things.

But I just think that the this challenge is significant over the decades over the centuries, the center city has changed and >> and then we formed reconstructed Murray changed over time multiple times, for instance.

I mean, 10 seconds in 1910, there would have been many men and women and the poor people.

>> Living near the city center.

Poor people.

>> They but a little bit above stores.

They lived on alleys in the center city and they would have been light and they would been black.

So there was a much greater residential density with the rich folks living in houses in 1910 along by Ahmed Ali, along Justin and even Broadway but there would have been rich folks and poor people living in much closer proximity and that's so we know the city we know now that is challenged is a city of the 1960's 1970's.

>> Yeah, that's changed a lot.

And then how do you move for?

You know, there's a lot of top comparing has cities like Nashville that have really exploded and why hasn't Louisville been on that same trajectory?

I suspect even Nashville.

Even Nashville.

>> I've recently been Annapolis and I certainly felt this was true in Annapolis, downtown Indianapolis.

They are facing some of those empty tower challenges.

The working from home it seems to me that especially in corporate life.

Corporations that their reach is much broader beyond the boundaries of our city where one we one thing, we have them, but they will be working in teams where a worker team could be working.

The workers could be working in 5 different cities.

But they're on a team and they're working with all.

So it's just a much, much different challenge.

I think all cities in America are facing significant challenges.

The cause of COVID intensification of the dynamic of working from home.

And I think we need to bring bring people there is a lot of >> not in my backyard in Louisville and there's a new movement that's yet to be not men be.

But be which is yes in my backyard.

And that means.

>> Affordable housing in my neighborhood.

That means maybe some density in my neighborhood and maybe some high in buildings and in my neighborhood.

But quickly as it relates to Nashville in Indianapolis, their state capitals.

Of their states.

And that makes a big difference.

Their legislators have to come to that city to do their work.

And I listen, it is what it is in Kentucky, but that is a big advantage that Nashville in Indianapolis have over Louisville that, you know is is is definitely advantage that that that they've been able to taken run with.

>> Such an important conversation.

Tom Owen, Texas, down a trip to memory lane discussing much more about Louisville's history and future with his son One.

You can see the full conversation on the next inside Louisville.

That's this Sunday at noon 11:00AM Central right here on KET.

♪ >> Certainly the weather is going to be nice for this weekend.

The last so hit the road this weekend and enjoy some music, some theater and some nature.

Our Toby Gibbs looks at your entertainment options around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Opening tonight at Market House Theater in Paducah is native gardeners.

The show follows Pablo, a high-powered lawyer and his very pregnant wife, Tanya, who are fulfilling their American dream when they purchase a house next door to community stalwart, Virginia and Frank.

But soon, the disagreement over a fence line spirals into an all-out war.

Larry ensues and no one comes out smelling like a rose.

The show runs through February 4th.

You don't want to miss it.

Camp Nelson, a Nicholas Ville as the perfect event for civil war history buffs this year is the 3rd annual Winter lecture series.

And Doctor Chuck.

Well, scope is tomorrow.

Speaker Doctor Wells goes program will focus on Governor Thomas E Bramlett Bramlet was our 23rd governor during the Civil war.

And tomorrow's lecture will go in-depth on his time both as a colonel in the union Army and as the governor of a border state, the winter lecture series will continue on select Saturdays through March.

30th.

>> Coming to Somerset this weekend is rock icon Derek Saint Homes.

just the legendary original lead singer of the Ted Nugent band.

And it's bringing a terrific tribute show to the Center for Rural Development tomorrow evening here, Nugent, classics like Stranglehold.

Just what the doctor ordered.

Snake skin cowboys and more rock and roll your way down to Somerset for this great event.

>> Don't Stephanie as and chanting night for just lined up tomorrow.

It's magical Memories.

Concert is a tribute to Alan Menken.

The award winning composer behind many Disney classics.

Like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and The Beast partnering with the Symphony is the Owensboro Symphony Chorus and vocalist.

Lauren July coverage to help create an unforgettable evening of musical Magic.

Connecting with Nature is a great way to fight the winter blues our Park Arboretum has the perfect event to bring nature to you.

To join its nature to nurture Sunday seminar for an interactive program about wildlife rehabilitation, featuring some actual wildlife.

This fun educational event is a great way to spend Sunday afternoon in Madisonville and that's what's happening around the Commonwealth.

I'm too big.

It is.

>> Thanks as always.

To be Gibbs.

Coming up Monday, we visit a city that checks off all the bluegrass boxes.

It has everything from horses and bourbon and even a PGA professional golfer.

>> Franklin is growing and growing quickly.

We have a lot of people living in here.

We have a lot of industry moving in here.

We have a lot of retail moving in here.

>> Franklin, Kentucky is the next stop in our Mondays on Maine series, how downtown revitalization efforts have paid off in the past decade.

That story and much more coming up Monday on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope will see you 4 to 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we, of course, and connect and inspire.

Subscribe to our email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips of Ktb Dot Org and also find us KET and Kentucky Edition on Facebook X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for watching this week.

Have a great weekend ahead now, see you here Monday night to get here.