♪ >> I'm proud to report thanks to the strength of our people and our red hot economy, the state of our commonwealth is stronger than it's ever been.

Do Republicans agree hear from all sides about the state of the Commonwealth?

>> Without period products, the students are more likely to miss school.

The push to help women get access to ministration products.

And state lawmakers legalized medical marijuana in Kentucky, but is the state on track to make it a reality for patients?

There are a lot of people out there like me.

I didn't know that before.

All this started and a lot of people that have a love for our lakes than our waterways and making Kentucky cleaner.

>> Plus, meet a woman who's really taking out the trash.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this practice Friday.

It's Thursday, January, the 4th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for joining us this evening.

Less than a month after being sworn in for a second term.

Governor Andy Beshear called for unity to help continue to move the state forward.

His comments came during his state of the Commonwealth address last night, which you saw right here on KET.

He touched on many familiar things, including the economy, education and health care.

Our Toby Gibbs has highlights from the speech.

>> Speaking to a joint session of the Republican dominated state Legislature.

Governor Beshear opened his 5th state of the Commonwealth address last night with some humor.

>> Highs, many of you are excited that I'll be serving as your governor for the next 4 years and the rest are excited that I am now term limit.

>> He would take the next several minutes to talk about what he called Kentucky's red-hot economy, adding that progress was possible when politics was set aside.

>> I want to thank the General Assembly for coming together to pass legislation needed to secure major projects like a ESE ease 2 million dollars to 1000 job EV Gigafactory and Bowling Green.

You the General Assembly recognize this work and invested in the last budget session, providing 200 million dollars for site development across the commonwealth as well as the closing fund to KET us competitive.

>> It is paying off.

>> The show went on to say the state has an opportunity to build a top 10 economy and he renewed his pitch for an 11% pay raise for public school employees and Universal Pre K. >> Kentucky ranks 44th in starting teacher pay.

And 48 in average teacher pay.

That is unacceptable.

It's hard to understand why we have not been able to come together and get this done for educators.

But this budget opportunity.

Is our chance to make things right here in Kentucky.

Let's work together to get it done in this session.

Doing this, providing this opportunity, serving that many of our citizens and our youngest learners every year would not only make us more competitive.

It would be a true legacy of this session of the General Assembly.

>> The governor used the address to focus on more than his immediate priorities in the current legislative session.

He also took a longer view at the start of his second term.

>> Improving lives right here at home is the most important focus we can have.

And these next 4 years, our our chance.

Kentucky's chance to be the difference to the both the economic and a moral leader in this country.

>> And he committed to meet the physical and mental health needs of Kentuckians calling it an investment not only to improve lives but to bolster the state's workforce as well.

>> We need all of our people to be healthy enough to be a part of this future and the prosperity.

It will bring.

So lets continue to expand access to quality health care for all of our people.

>> And he called for another pay raise for Kentucky State Police troopers as well as an increase in the money allotted for training for law enforcement officers.

>> This is our chance to push away the division to prove that we can govern without name, calling or scapegoating to do it without anger without fear and without hatred that we can not only talk about our collective faith.

We can live it.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm told he get.

>> Thank youto be Republican.

Legislative leaders reacted to the governor's nearly 45 minute address soon after it was delivered live right here on KET House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers said they agree with some of the governor's ideas need to be convinced of others.

And the rest are non-starters.

The governor's plan to provide universal Pre-K for all of the state's 4 year-old is likely dead on arrival but continued support for rebuilding efforts of storm ravaged parts of Kentuckyian infrastructure.

Our ideas, they come back to what extent, though, is uncertain.

>> We have had significant conversations about it for the last couple years.

We've had a number presentations at our caucus retreats, talked about it extensively amongst our caucus and other professionals in the child care profession, childcare, space.

And I just don't believe that there is a tremendous amount of support for it in our in our chamber.

>> Mister President, I ask you the same question and your caucus.

Where does universal Pre-K fallout?

>> I'm going to agree with the speaker on the U.S..

I think.

What can we do agree on most things?

I think there is a strong desire to look at how we create daycare and for the working class people the sentiment of doing Universal Pre K he's probably not that strong.

But I think there is a strong sentiment and feeling in both chambers to do something to help those individuals get back into the Your about not on the school year, looking at some are looking at the second shifters looking at the weekend.

Workers.

There's a strong summit there.

Maybe there could be some consensus reached on how we deal with providing quality day care.

>> Democratic leaders in the House and Senate say bolstering education is the best way to pave a better road to prosperity.

For more Kentuckians, they urge their Republican colleagues to seize the opportunity to make bold investments in the future.

>> And I'm not expecting everything that the governor put on the table to happen.

But I will point out that everything he put on the table is doable.

And I want to point out that we have an unprecedented opportunity now to address issues that we've delayed investment in for years, such as an education.

We function at a 2007 level of by some investigations of that type of investment.

But now we're in unprecedented of position of having resources, the economy, this booming.

We have investments in various parts of Kentucky in terms of job creation is already demonstrated the 52,000 that we already have.

We have the ability to do things.

We better not mess us up.

>> We have my full conversation with the Democratic and Republican legislative leaders from last night and the governor speech in its entirety online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Yesterday the Senate and House GOP talked about their legislative priorities for the 2024 session, particularly addressing the budget.

House speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers both emphasize fiscal restraint and their approach to the budget.

>> When you look at what we've done in a collaborative way since 2017, this is the group that has put together sound fiscally responsible budgets that have met our pension obligations that have put us in a position over the last 7 day years have better bond ratings to have better reviews, foresight, locators and everything else.

Because the work we've done to make sure we have a good environment for creating jobs which creates better families.

We build our budgets now on based on our on our needs another once.

And I think you'll continue to see that in this in this budget.

There are obviously some other things that we're working on in the House some of the things have been talked about very publicly say for Kentucky Act a crime bill that impacts the entire state.

but certainly the Louisville area legislators have been very involved in that.

We will also be doing some things.

I'm looking at energy energy is critical.

And while we have become one of the most places to locate because of cheap energy costs.

I think it's critical for us to know have a competitive edge.

Know what our energy demands.

Energy consumption in the future will be.

>> The state's Budget Reserve trust fund or what's often called the Rainy Day Fund continues to grow and currently sits at over 3 billion dollars.

We pressed Speaker Osborne to see if the GOP majority is willing to spend any of that money.

And if so on what?

>> I do believe that by the time we and this fiscal year, we will have more a larger budget reserve then is necessary.

As I said previously, the one thing that we have excluded in.

The actual construction of our a tax reduction for R-Iowa.

That does not account as as an appropriation is is payment enough payment of pension debt.

Pension liability so I think that understanding that that is one of the things that we can actually do to invest in me.

The financial stability of the commonwealth and also stay within the grounds that the balance of the I think it's reasonable to expect that we utilize some portion of that for that.

>> House Republicans are expected to release their budget proposal within the next week or so.

It's part of life, but it can be an embarrassing topic for many ministration.

Some state lawmakers hope stocking schools with period products will eliminate some of that shame.

Kentucky additions June Leffler tells us more.

>> State Representative Lisa Willner says she worked with the high school freshman on her latest piece of legislation.

>> Last year is a middle schooler at Tate's Creek Middle School, Rosie decided she wanted to tackle the problem of period poverty had on Rosie can't started a GoFundMe page so she could buy tampons and pads to give away for free at school.

She sent me a statement that I'm going to read on her behalf.

So this is from Rosie.

My name is Rosie Cats.

I'm 14 years old and a freshman in high school.

High school girls have a lot going on trying to find hygiene products shouldn't be another issue.

We have to deal with.

>> Most girls feel stressed.

An embarrassed at school because they don't have access to hygiene products.

I've experienced this firsthand said Rosie and have seen my friends and classmates dealing with this.

The majority of students at my school are considered economically disadvantaged and period.

Products are expensive.

>> Someone can easily go through 20 pads or tampons in the single cycle.

According to Harvard Health, that's a whole box or package.

Wilner says the state of Kentucky should be more like cats.

Wilner introduced a bill today to stock free period products in every public school in Kentucky that teaches sixth-grade girls 2 high school seniors will there is calling for the state to dole out 2 million dollars a year to make these products available.

I do know that some schools that have frisks the Huskies, the family Resource and Youth Services Center's.

>> Some of them will budgeted and included.

But not every school has a frisk and not every Frist spends their money this way.

So this would make it uniform in every school across the commonwealth.

>> Advocates asked by these products aren't just like anything else you'd find in the public restroom.

Soap and toilet paper are already expected.

It's time for students who men straight to have the same access to these basic and necessary supplies providing menstrual products in all schools is common sense.

Advocates also say having period products around can KET students in class and focused according to the Alliance for Period Supplies without period products.

These students are more likely to miss school before the pandemic.

4 in 5 teens reported that they have either missed class time.

Our new a classmate who miss class because they did not have access to period products.

Several states have adopted similar legislation.

Every state outside the Gray has made some effort.

Wellness bill also calls for eliminating the state's 6% sales tax on period products like exemptions for other necessities, like food and certain medications and contraceptives.

25 states and the District of Columbia have already done so.

>> Fundamental injustice, right?

I mean, this is a tax that affects roughly half slightly over half of the population and doesn't affect the other half.

>> Other state lawmakers are pushing for similar measures and Louisville Democratic Representative Beverly Chester Burton's Bill Woodstock, homeless shelters with more period products.

But these kinds of bills haven't had much luck in the state house.

And the question that I always get is you're a Democrat.

You're in the minority in a very large super majority.

Is this bill going to pass?

>> I don't know the answer to that.

I will say that I've had very productive conversations with colleagues across the aisle for Kentucky edition.

I'm John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June Wilner and her fellow Louisville, Democrat State Sen Denise Harper and Joel filed period equity bills last year.

Neither made it out of committee.

>> Landowners with smaller amounts of property would soon be able to hunt and fish on their own land without a permit.

Under a bill advanced by a Senate committee and the state Capitol this afternoon for around a Republican Jay Williams is hoping his Senate Bill 5 will please.

Some sportsman uptight about a law passed just last year.

Last spring legislators passed Senate Bill 2.41, part of the law requires Kentuckians to have a permit to fish are hot on their own property.

If the property is less than 5 acres.

Now, just 3 days into the 2024 session to repeal of that land threshold is gaining ground.

>> The bill itself is only 6 words that are change.

And these were 6 words that were put into very large bill at the end of last session.

And there's some confusion about 5 acres was the hunting and the fishing limited to 10 acre farms.

That is not clear.

There's a legal definition.

There's a popular understanding.

And so this just takes it back to what the language has been.

Essentially.

I don't know.

I could say forever for a couple 100 years.

Maybe since it was first passed.

But I do expect that there's going to be additional legislation to clarify.

Exactly what we're talking about and likely they'll be a different spring hunting and fishing in terms of the amount of acreage there are different situations.

I believe that it will take us back to what the popular understanding has been, which is you can fish on your one acre pond on your 4 acre piece of property without requiring a license.

>> The committee adopted a revised version of his Senate Bill 5, the change would make the bill go into law immediately after final passage.

♪ >> To the Kentucky Public Service Commission is now investigating Louisville gas and Electric and Kentucky utilities after block out during a cold snap more than a year ago.

>> The temperature dropped to around 0 just before Christmas of 2022. causing a surge in electric use on December 23rd of last year.

Algae and E and KU cut power to about 55,000 customers.

According to Louisville, Public Media, the Public Service Commission is now investigating what caused that to happen.

And what the utility companies have done since then to prevent it from happening again.

Daniel Lowery, a spokesperson for the 2 companies says the companies have taken steps to improve winter service.

A grand jury accuses the Owsley county clerk of tampering with public records and official misconduct.

According to the indictment, Shannon Oliver is accused of refusal to deliver public records to the Kentucky Department of Vehicle regulation.

The indictment also says she failed to send the department paperwork about the purchase of a trailer.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Oliver can stay in office after the indictments.

Governor Andy Beshear says Kentucky is on schedule to make legal medical cannabis available to people who qualify for it.

The Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill.

47 making it legal last year.

Now it doesn't take effect until 2025. given the state time to create the necessary regulations.

The governor talked about that process today during his first news conference of 2024.

>> Today my administration filed its first 10 regulations governing this area.

They provide the framework for how medical cannabis businesses, including the cultivators processors, producers, dispensaries and safety compliance facilities will operate in the Commonwealth.

These new rules will provide guidance for how medical cannabis products will be package label transported advertised in tested.

These regulations will ensure that Kentucky's medical cannabis program is safe and accessible for all patients and make sure that they are secure for our communities.

Kentucky's can read each of these regulations for themselves and find out how to participate in the regulatory process by visiting K why men can DOT K Y dot Gov.

We would not have passed medical cannabis without the input and the action of so many Kentucky.

And we invite you to continue to be a part of this process.

Read about how you can come and make your voice heard.

Submit written comments through the website continue to be involved.

>> Also today, the governor urged Kentuckians to be aware of the potential for winter weather Friday night into Saturday morning.

He says Snow could make roads slick and sidewalks slick, especially north of interstate 65.

And this is Kentucky.

Ends need to give snow plows.

Plenty of room on the roads.

Be safe out there.

Patty Mentor a 2 time state lawmaker defeated for reelection in 2022. running for mayor of Bowling Green.

She filed to Ron at the Warren County Courthouse.

Mentor released a statement about her decision to Robin.

She said, quote, If we don't start listening to our community, the people who live here will be left behind more and more people already feel like they have been.

I'm running for this job with experience as a mom and educator and advocate and a 2 term state representative.

I'm not part of a good OL Boys club, but I'm not in anyone's pocket, but I do know people who have the power, unquote mentor will be taking on the current mayor, Todd Alcott, who was already announced he's running for another term.

♪ >> One Kentucky woman has a goal of cleaning up Kentucky.

She surpassed her goal by collecting 11,000 bags of trash.

Now her mission is to KET reaching new milestones in her trash collection journey.

>> I am the trash lady.

>> Haha I own a business called Sunkist sticks and stones and started a movement back in March to pick up a 500 bags before Earth Day.

I.

Re found nature probably about 7 years ago was big into nature.

And I was younger but upon rediscovering nature and its blessings died be out.

Picking up to Floyd and rocks.

And I thought, you know, from not taking from nature, the least I could do is give back a little.

And so I started picking up a grocery bag or 2, done it for a few years now, March 23rd, I decided my birthday's Earth Day as I was like, let's do an Earth Day thing.

I thought 500 was not going to be well, it's sick on our day.

And when I surpassed its 750 bags, I woke up April 23rd now his life.

What am I gonna do?

I got to get more trash, you know.

And so that's that's how it all again.

I try to do every single day if I have in our free time.

I'm at a Laker waterway somewhere picking up trash.

I sometimes several times.

You know, like yesterday I went back to a place that I went to a week ago.

23 bags.

So, you know.

That fight the good fight, had the patience and perseverance, but it's hard sometimes.

Triple crown golf and Nicholas Ville.

They allowed me to use that dumpster.

I've got some amazing people that allow me to use their their facilities.

You meet people at at all these different waterways and it makes a difference.

There are a lot of people out there like me.

I didn't know that before.

All this started and a lot of people that have a love for our lakes in our waterways and making Kentucky clean.

>> Do what you can with what you have.

I use grocery bags.

They're free.

Everybody has an abundance of them, but one or 2 in your pocket when you got on your height, pick up, you know, just a few pieces.

If we all just picked up one bag, could you imagine the difference we can make if I can just when I inspire others to pick up one bag on their nature, walks.

Our our state would be clean any year.

It really would.

I'm not going go for the whole 2024.

Go yet.

But March 23rd will be the one year anniversary and more at 11,335 now want to hit 25,000.

So many people tell me I'm crazy and that it's not going to have an and I mean, it's the same way with 500 bags.

And I started so that just gives me more drive.

>> I think she can do it last September, Governor Beshear gave Lewis the beautified the Bluegrass Award this year.

She hopes to collect more than her goal of 25,000 bags.

And we are cheering her on.

♪ Evening news anchor John Boel has been a fixture in Louisville media for nearly 40 years.

Many know him for his investigative work and anchoring on WLKY and wave 3 news in the Derby city.

He's also celebrating 13 years of sobriety after a very public struggle with alcohol addiction.

He spoke to K ETS Kelsey Starks.

And during that conversation, he was candid about his time in rehab and his recovery process.

Here's some of what you learned on this week's episode of Inside Louisville.

>> One of the most well, probably the most important story that you've told is drown.

And you did that in your first book.

Yes.

On the News in the News.

Yeah.

Where you put your own mug shot there.

>> I'm good cover.

Do and for those who may not know, you have struggled very publicly alcohol addiction.

>> tell us about that journey.

And what May Ju.

Want to put it all out there.

So.

>> I'm sitting in a in rehab.

But by the way, 13 years ago, right about now, what about today?

I got released from a treatment center has alluded to consider So sitting in in rehab.

I just had 2 DUIs in 2 years and fired and humiliated and in the media.

And every morning and started the morning off by going down in the basement and turning on the drier tomorrow, full this sound of the sobbing, suicidal sobbing and I'm sitting in rehab and I had a counselor.

Tell John, how many people get a one-month 28 day chance in life to hit pause.

Learn about yourself and about your wired and how you can get better.

And so I thought it was good advice.

So I listened.

It up.

Everything they told me and as I'm in rehab, I'm sitting there.

Thinking a journalist's job.

It's to take people.

Who are don't get to go to these things and take take them through a news experience or something going on.

Whether or not there.

I thought what better thing to do then take people through what goes on a rehab and treatment.

So start taking notes and it was so profound that then I also decided to take readers along to my jury trying to get out.

Of the deaths of the whole.

I was in, you know, things like going to the unemployment office, Ride the bus because having a license in the people that that pop up in our lives.

The give us the strength to move on the least person you'd expect like a woman in front of me in the unemployment office.

all got my head on trying not to be recognizing people are like, hey, you, the news guy, are your job.

All I'm like trying to hide in this woman.

Turns around she's like.

You need to be preyed up to being here.

And don't you even think about killing yourself?

You know, your life was bought at a price from Jesus Christ and and inspirational things that kept me going.

>> It is a powerful conversation that you do not want to miss.

Kelsey with John Boel.

That's this Sunday on inside Louisville at noon Eastern 11:00AM central right here on KET.

Well, tomorrow, our usual Friday look inside Kentucky politics as we wind down the first week of the 2024.

Kentucky General Assembly and crickets.

>> They're what's for dinner.

We're not kidding here.

Folks will head to a cricket farm turning these bugs in everything from flour to good.

No law.

>> So get ready for a lip-smacking.

Good time tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope you will see you 4 at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central.

We inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Send us a story idea and catch us on the PBS video app and download that on your mobile device and smart TV.

>> We will see you here tomorrow.

Thanks so much for joining us.

Will have a good Friday.

We hope you have a good day as well and come back right here Friday evening at 6.30, for more.

Kentucky Edition take a tear.

♪