>> Mister storekeeper.

We're on the caucuses and members.

We are ready to convene.

>> The Kentucky General Assembly is back in Frankfort as the 2023 session gets underway.

After years of talk, it's finally time for action on the Brent Spence Bridge.

Well, you can't.

>> We make the products you can make an artificial heart.

You can make artificial years and all these things.

But we cannot there's no substitute for blood.

>> And national blood donation month is here just in the nick of time.

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

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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday, January 3rd.

>> Happy New Year to you.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Tuesday night with U.S.. >> Lawmakers gaveled in the 2023 session to in order today, swearing in new members and affirming leadership.

It's an odd numbered year.

So this is a so-called short session, which is just 30 days.

It's not a budget year either.

But lawmakers are occupied with some big issues like reducing the individual income tax and decriminalizing marijuana.

Republicans have strengthened their hold on both chambers by winning additional seats in November's midterm elections.

80 of the 100 House members are Republicans and 31 of the 38 senators are Republicans have both.

Congratulations.

Also a lot of new faces this year.

The House Warren, 25 new members in the Senate swore in 6 newly appointed Chief Justice Lawrence Vanmeter presided over both swearing-in ceremonies this afternoon.

Governor Andy Beshear will deliver his state of the Commonwealth address tomorrow night at 7 Eastern 6 central right here on KET will have that and responses and reaction from Republican and Democratic leaders of the state House and Senate once again.

That's live right here exclusively on K E T. And we'll recap the speech on Thursdays Kentucky edition.

Today, advocates at the Capitol as the Kentucky General Assembly not to reduce the state's income tax and instead asked them to spend current budget surpluses.

The Kentucky together Coalition gathered at the Capitol this morning, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 8 during the 2022 session to reduce Kentucky's income tax over time.

The income tax rate has dropped from 5% to 4.5% already.

And legislators have signaled their intention to drop the rate.

Another half point to 4%.

Our Casey Parker Bell was at the press conference where some are asking to stop a tax cut.

>> HB 8 uses are temporary access as an excuse for large permanent tax cuts that will squander our current surplus over time.

It's here a major hole and future funding for schools, hospitals and other essential needs.

>> Members of the Kentucky Together Coalition which is made up of 28 organizations like the Kentucky AFL CIO and Kentucky Center for Economic Policy is asking legislators not to vote for an additional decrease and the state income tax.

Instead, they want legislators to take budget surpluses and spend them on a variety of programs.

In a letter to legislators, the group wrote the General Assembly should quote, direct resources toward Kentucky's pressing needs ranging from building homes for flood victims in eastern Kentucky, paying educators and public servants and allowing every child access to Pre K. >> We will either see big cuts to public services.

We all rely on.

Tax increases that will inflict higher taxes on the poor status or both.

>> The Kentucky Together Coalition says cut in income tax will disproportionately benefit the wealthy.

The coalition says it Kentucky moves to a 4% income tax rate.

The top one percent of the state's earners.

We'll get $11,000 more year back in their pockets.

People in the bottom 20% only receive an additional $20.

>> Slashing the income tax will not benefit the average Kentucky N near my family.

For those struggling the most, it will be another giveaway to those who have the most already the wealthy in Kentucky.

>> Speakers at today's press conference say Kentucky's budget surplus is due to federal pandemic aid and covid-induced inflation.

They say those budget surpluses well, dry up.

If the taxes lowered, even though the Republican led Legislature has already indicated their intention to hold a vote to lower income tax.

Today, speakers say there's still potential to stop the cut.

>> There's always a hope and a possibility for someone to see another side and understand that our state is worth investing in and our people are worth investing.

In 4 Kentucky edition.

>> I'm Casey Parker Bell too.

>> The state has to hit certain financial markers to reduce the personal income tax when those parameters are met, legislators can vote to lower the income tax.

A half-point each year.

Kentucky's unemployment benefits system changed on Sunday as the new Year began.

And the past the unemployed were eligible for 26 weeks of benefits under the new law passed last year by the General Assembly benefits last from 12 to 24 weeks, depending on the rate of unemployment.

The previous 6 months right now with the Kentucky unemployment at 4%.

The unemployed are eligible for 12 weeks of benefits.

Also, the jobless have to report 5 work searches a week and they're also requirements that qualified person has to take any job.

It is within 30 miles of the home or allows remote work and pays 120% of the value of jobless benefits.

Voters in Kentucky's 19th state Senate district will vote February 21st to pick a replacement for Senator Morgan McGarvey who was elected to Congress last November.

Democrats have picked their candidate.

She's Kasey Chambers.

Armstrong, a member of the Louisville Metro Council.

She was elected in 2020 Republicans have picked Misty Glenn, a recent candidate for the Jefferson County School Board in District 6.

Marijuana is also expected to be a big talking point in Frankfort.

This session, an executive order allowing for the possession of medical marijuana took effect January 1st today, some lawmakers said they want the legislature to do more.

>> I'm here today along with advocates for that work closely with for the past few sessions to push for our legislature specifically to decriminalize cannabis in contempt for decades.

The famed it rational war on drugs has ensured that we have a rest, prosecuted and jailed millions of Americans for low level nonviolent drug offenses.

>> In just the past 6 years, there have been over 56 1000 convictions for possession of marijuana.

That is a lot of energy.

2 secure a conviction for a crime that doesn't make us safe or improve public safety on any level.

>> We have our chill so overcrowded.

We have us officers so understaffed.

We need our resources.

We need our funding to be one.

Real crime.

>> My low level crime regardless of region, political affiliation, age or nationality, Kentuckians of all over.

Well, mainly say now today is the time to change our old and outdated marijuana laws.

We have the chance to move forward in a way that makes sure that Kentuckyian struggling with pain with trauma.

>> With opioid addiction are able to access cannabiz without fear of jail or criminal record in a way that makes sure Kentucky farmers in Kentucky businesses our first it make sure it.

Those communities devastated by the war on drugs are no longer sidelined and treated as second-class citizens.

Why should we do this?

Because we the people have said that's what we want.

>> People never forget this rotunda.

Wants the building that?

Alright?

The way a healthy democracy works.

>> If we tell them what we want, not vice versa.

There are so many of us here with so many different backgrounds perspectives and experiences that we're all of this united.

>> In a very simple go let the people decide.

Let Kentuckians decide.

>> A measure to allow for medical marijuana in Kentucky has passed the state House the last 2 years.

But it is stalled and the state Senate.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron today filed his paperwork to run for governor.

He announced his candidacy several months ago.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed camera at the time.

The Courier Journal reports Cameron has returned the favor saying he supports Trump's return to the White House in 2024, but he's breaking with the former president on one of Trump's key issues.

Cameron says he believes President Biden was the legitimate winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Pamela Stephenson would like to have Daniel Cameron's job.

This is a picture, representatives statements and filing to run for attorney general.

She is a Democrat and a state representative from Louisville, a retired Air force colonel and a Baptist minister.

Kentucky's largest city has a new leader.

Craig Greenberg was sworn in as the 51st mayor of Louisville yesterday and as inaugural address, Greenberg says his first priority is improving public safety.

>> Starting now, our team will focus the energy of Metro government and our community on making Louisville a safer, stronger and healthy.

Your city.

Let's start with my administration's first and highest priority making Louisville a safer city.

That means a city where we all feel safe in every neighborhood, every business, every park, every bus stop.

That's critical and necessary.

Everywhere.

And especially right here as we work to reinvigorate our beautiful downtown.

>> Greenberg is just the 4th person to serve as a Louisville mayor since 1986.

While Craig Greenberg takes office in Louisville, Linda Garden is beginning her second term as mayor of Lexington.

She was sworn in on Friday along with the members of the Lexington, Fayette, Urban County Council, which made history as being the most diverse council ever in Lexington during a recent interview, I asked Mayor Gordon about a rise in homicides in Lexington and why she chose not to adopt the so-called group Violence Intervention Strategy or Gvi.

>> Our team of folks throughout government made many phone calls to other cities that have use gvi.

We wanted to know if it was a good fit for us because if we thought it was we would have implemented it.

However, one of the things that we learned is that the mechanism we believed would have put a focus on the communities of color here.

Big whether you were in violence are not involved in violence or not.

And the other thing that we learned when we talk to these individual cities is that many of them used to use that.

But then they learned the homicides were rising while they were using gvi.

We just did not feel it was a good fit for us.

And so we went to the community violence intervention, which now the Department of Justice, he's really supportive of what we're calling cvi or community violence intervention.

>> Mayor Gordon also says she hopes to see plans emerge for a new city hall and she's looking forward to celebrating Lexington's 200 50th birthday in 2025. you can see that full interview with Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton on connections this Sunday at 12 noon Eastern.

11:00AM central right here on KET.

Fayette County gets a new county clerk at the end of the month.

Susan Lamb will take over for Don Blevins junior who is retiring on January 31st.

Lamb is a former member of the Lexington Fayette, Urban County Council.

She was elected in 2014 and just finished her 4th term County Judge Executive Dianne McCord, Hannah appointed Lamb to the job.

She has served in the past as Deputy counsel Clark and council clerk and has 34 years experience in local government.

♪ President Joe Biden will be a northern Kentucky tomorrow as he discusses plans for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor last week.

Governor Andy Beshear on Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the federal government would spend 1.6 billion dollars on the project.

It's part of the infrastructure bill that passed Congress last year.

The plan is to build a companion bridge next to the Brent Spence Bridge make improvements to the current bridge.

Work is expected to start later this year.

And last until 2029, the bridge was built in the 1960's to carry about 80,000 vehicles a day.

It's estimated now carries twice that many Governor Beshear and U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell are expected to be a part of tomorrow's announcement coverage of that tomorrow night on Kentucky edition.

Senator McConnell is now in the record books as the longest-serving party leader in the history of the United States Senate.

McConnell now has led Senate Republicans as both minority leader and majority leader for a total of 16 years as the Senate convened today, he broke the record held by Senator Mike Mansfield of Montana.

The Senate majority leader from 1961 to 1977. on the Senate floor.

McConnell said his long service as Republican leader is important, but not as important to serve in Kentucky.

>> The greatest honor of my career is representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky in this chamber.

And fighting for my fellow Kentuckians.

But the second greatest honor is the trust that my fellow Republican senators and placed in me delete our diverse conference and help them their goal.

>> Speaking on the Kentucky state Senate floor today, Senate President Robert Stivers reflected on his relationship with Senator McConnell.

>> I don't know if people will ever be able to see the sides of him that I have because he is disappointed.

But there's one thing that I can say.

He knows he's from Kentucky.

He loves to do things for Kentucky.

He is now the longest serving leader of a party in United States history.

Who is from Kentucky in the United States Senate.

>> McConnell is served in the U.S. Senate since 1985.

He was reelected to his 7th term in 2020 and reelected as Senate minority leader last month.

He has said has not said whether or not he will seek an 8th term in 2026.

And another part of the U.S. Capitol.

The house today tried but failed twice to elect a speaker.

Republicans took over the chamber after winning the House in the November elections, but their margin, a slam most Republicans support Kevin McCarthy.

But there's enough Republican opposition to prevent him from winning.

This is significant because without a speaker, the House can't begin its work or swear in new members like Kentucky Congressman Elect Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat from Louisville.

And Medical News tonight.

Kentucky's COVID positivity rate now tops 12% according to the state.

The rate is 12.0.

26 1%.

That's the most recent number from December.

26th at last check in mid December 15 Kentucky counties were in the red or high category for COVID activity.

January is national Blood Donor month.

The Kentucky Blood Center is urging people to give the center supplies blood to more than 70 hospitals.

One in 4 people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives and only 3% of Americans donate blood.

The center says that often has a single day supply of blood on hand.

Sometimes it's less than that.

>> This is a busy time of need for people to be on vacation.

So therefore, some of our regular donors might not be donating.

The weather has not worked in our favor.

So that's why our supplies day on.

But the need is always there.

Well, coming out of the pandemic, of course, people are now starting to have the regular surgeries and things like that.

But we have never been our collection spec up to the pre pandemic I would say that you never know when it's your turn that to need blood products.

A while back, I was relieved that I was really a bad name.

>> And we didn't know why.

I had to be in and out of the hospital getting transfusions from time.

Almost every other month, every 20 some days.

And then I got better.

And I decided since someone saved my life, I start given bag and that's what I It is just coming in.

The process is very easy.

It's quick.

It's safe.

And to give means a lot to someone who's in the hospital sake.

I've never had a bad experience, giving blood.

And I know have point as far as the experience that I had.

So I just think that if you can, why not just take 20 minutes of your day to help someone else?

>> Well, you can't make blood product.

She can make an artificial heart.

You can make artificial years and all these things.

But we cannot there's no substitute for blood.

We're just hoping some donors might come out that have never given blood before.

Maybe this is a good time to think about, you know.

>> I'm a healthy they could probably use my blood.

You know, it is your duty to give back.

And that's what life's about, you know.

>> Help us someone else.

We'd like for people to step up that maybe have never donated blood before or maybe have not donated in a while.

Let's get back on that regular donating schedule.

And that would help us tremendously.

>> As it would.

The Louisville Urban League is beginning the new year with a new leader.

Doctor Kish Comey Prize took over as president of the Louisville Urban League on November.

1st, Kentucky additions Kelsey Starks sat down with her to find out what's next for the league in Louisville.

>> The Louisville Urban League has a storied history in Louisville being a part of this community for more than 100 years.

And right now we have a brand new president Doctor Kish to me prices.

The brand new president of the Louisville Urban League.

Just the second.

>> Woman to lead that are bin Laden.

We're glad to have you.

And so you just started November 1st, a little at couple months.

And now how you feeling?

>> I'm feeling I don't know if that is because I've decided to be slightly delusional about all the wonderful thing that are coming my way.

But and a good place.

I mean, this is the work that I love and I'm just being able to do this on a regular basis is amazing.

>> And you were previously the director of education for their urban Lake.

So this isn't a new organization to you.

By any means, What what is the direction that your your vision now that you are at the head of it?

>> Yes, so we, you know, are pillars are jobs, justice, education, health and housing.

And we've added black business as a main pillar for the work that we're doing and I really see education as the anchor for all of that.

I'm really figuring out how we can collectively billed as the city and having the Urban League at the helm of what that looks like is is really the goal to figure out how we can support in ways that we haven't in the But we've been moving in that direction all along.

I'm really to provide support for other nonprofits.

Some of the smaller nonprofits that are black lives that need support really partnering with them to to help their vision come to light, but really centering youth and So >> And you are taking over for the depot.

Reynolds has some big shoes to fill.

There was a clear >> Vision, defer or or from her say yes.

>> You know, I think it is.

And I've of answer this quite a bit, you know, since taking the position >> and I say something a little different every time, but it really is about moving the mission forward and less about feeling shoes but moving the mission.

Ford and I'm having the momentum to drive the initiatives that we know we need to accomplish in this city for us all to have a better city and I think my addition to this work really is in the education space and understanding if we center the needs of our most marginalized.

Populations, then everybody is going to be good.

That is just I think that is a given and a lot of people don't necessarily know s necessarily trust that.

So we're trying to make sure we have a very coordinated strategy for people to get it and to get on board with how they can support.

>> Yeah, I know you have a lot of big ideas.

A lot of priorities coming into this new year and it >> a lot of things changing.

Speaking of expansion, you love the headquarters itself is expanding.

Let's talk about that.

>> That is correct.

So we've grown exponentially.

I mean, our staff is tripled almost I guess I'm in the past 2, 3 years that so it is it is necessary at this And we have a very, very grateful for the headquarters in the building that we occupy now.

But there's no possible way for 96 staff members to fit in that building at any given time.

So we're looking to the office space and to also have 8 affordable rental units that will be in that same building.

So a mixed use facility and then re organizing and renovating our current space.

So that is more of a collaborative co-working space.

That is wonderful.

We're looking forward to that groundbreaking coming soon.

And real quick, tell us about HBCU.

>> Track classic.

Coming up.

Yes, yes.

Coming up this month, January 16th and we hope everybody who can come will calm.

It is an amazing thing like that.

I think so many events take place in the sports and learning Center, but to actually see it being used in the capacity in which it was built in saying a track meet is amazing.

And so it's not just about the track.

Meet us about the experience.

If you've never had that touch with HBCU colleges and institutions, this is an opportunity for you to get that experience exposure, children to We're also going to have an opportunity for people to to explore those colleges and the idea of looking into what does it mean to be prepared for admissions into these colleges?

So we really want people to support.

However, you can wonder fall, I look forward to that.

Can that can re the 16th back to you?

>> Thank you, Kelsey Doctor Price most recently was commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development.

♪ This week, President Biden acknowledged the 100 60th anniversary of one of America's most important moments.

A moment that involved a Kentucky native Toby Gibbs has that and more and this look at this week in Kentucky history.

♪ >> The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect January first, 18 63 as President Abraham Lincoln, who was born in Kentucky to create an end to slavery in states that had seceded from the union.

The order did not affect slave states that remained in the union, including Kentucky.

And Rutledge known as Abraham Lincoln's first Love was born January 7th, 18, 13 near Henderson.

Her family moved to Illinois story and saying her death from typhoid in 18.

35 Lincoln into a severe depression.

>> This week marks the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as rioters stormed the building, causing injuries and deaths.

It's estimated police have arrested at least.

>> 964 people since then, the FBI says at least 20 people were arrested in Kentucky.

William James crowd Junior was born January second, 1925.

And the Grange in Oldham County.

He would eventually join the Navy move up the ranks and become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1985. serving under Presidents Reagan and Bush before retiring in 1989.

He died in 2007.

Houston Hogg died January second, 2020.

The hazard native played high school football in 1967, he became one of the first 4 black football players at the University of Kentucky.

Another sports note, the UK men's basketball team under Adolph Rupp began a home winning streak on 1/4/1943.

It lasted 129 games ending on January 8, 1950, age.

And that's what was happening this week in Kentucky history.

I'm told Beginners.

>> And as always, we thank you to be Gibbs be got a great show on store on tap for you tomorrow night at 6, 35, 30 central.

Don't miss it also ♪