♪ How Governor Andy Beshear is lending a hand to Democrats and other states.

>> My take on this is a lot of people don't have the facts.

And so that was a big part of just get the facts out there.

>> So how are Kentucky students and teachers really doing what a new report says about trends in state education over the past 3 decades.

So we want people be able to come to Crestwood to be able to dine here, to shop here, to spend the day here and a small city right outside of Louisville has big plans for attracting visitors near and far.

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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Monday, January 8th.

Hope you had a great weekend.

I'm Renee Shaw and thank you for spending some of your Monday night with us.

>> Just 2 months after winning re-election, Governor Andy Beshear is looking to broaden his political influence outside the state.

But Cher has announced he's launching end this together.

A federal political Action Committee or PAC that a focus on getting more Democrats elected in swing states and Republican stronghold.

But Cher, who's a Democrat, won a 5 point victory over his GOP challenger Daniel Cameron and November.

It was the second time he defeated a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump.

The other was Matt Bevin who lost his bid for a second term as governor to Bashir back in 2019 Beshear told The Associated Press his re-election offered a blueprint for Democrats and that his pack will support candidates that pushed back against and reject anger politics and focus on the everyday challenges that families face.

Last Friday, a Republican member of the Kentucky state Senate filed a resolution asserting that some citizens involved in the January 6th U.S. Capitol attack back in 2021. have been held without due process.

Senate resolution 50 filed by Republican state Senator Lindsey Titian or of Smithfield specifically claims that Kentuckians are being, quote, unconstitutionally detained for exercising their constitutional rights.

She climbs some people have been held without being charged or tried her resolution also claims that information about the January 6 riots is being withheld from the public.

The Associated Press says it's not true that people have been held without due process.

The AP says everyone arrested has been formally charged.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports at least 23, Kentucky INS are among those arrested.

The Republican Party of Kentucky passed an identical measure at its meeting on Saturday.

The 3rd anniversary of the January 6 attack according to reporting by the Lexington Herald-Leader, the resolution passed the Republican State Central Committee.

The party's governing body by a slim margin of 34 to 32.

The chair of Kentucky's Democratic Party has released a statement on the Republican Party's measure.

It reads in part, quote, on the anniversary of the most dangerous attack on our democracy and modern history.

The Republican Party of Kentucky voted not to condemn the violent assault on our democracy but to support and defend those who attacked our Capitol and our law enforcement officers on January 6, end quote.

He goes on to say Kentucky Republicans, especially elected officials and candidates should condemn this appalling and unpatriotic resolution and stand up to extremism.

Violence and the insurrectionists that have taken over their party and quote from colmon Eldridge last Friday was the filing deadline for candidates wanting to run for office in Kentucky's 2024.

Elections.

We told you about some key races to watch our Toby Gibbs breaks down a few more.

You need to KET your eye on.

>> 4 GOP state senators are facing a primary challenger this year.

That includes Senator Stephen Meredith in the 5th District and Senator Johnny Turner in the 29th district.

4 more states senators are not seeking reelection.

That includes state Sen Whitney Westerfield in the 3rd Senate district Republican Craig Richardson had attorney in Hopkinsville.

He's the only person running for the seat.

2 other districts without going senators will see a contested Republican primary district 11 currently held by Senator John Schickel and District 17 held by Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer.

2 small business professionals in Georgetown, Matt Nona Julia Jack will square off in the GOP primary to replace Senator Thayer.

But the Democrats, current state representative Contara Herron is running unopposed in Senate District.

35, which is currently held by outgoing Senator Dennis Harper.

Angel and former state representative and U.S. congressional candidate Attica Scott is challenging Senate minority floor Leader Gerald Neal in the state's 33rd Senate district.

This was one of a number of races that drew the attention of political reporters on Friday's episode of comment on Kentucky.

Some interesting primaries, I think that are have popped up, especially.

>> At the last second Attica Scott, a former state representative who ran for Congress.

She this afternoon.

She is challenging a Democratic Senator Gerald Neal in Lexington.

That should be a very insurance for Louisville.

I'm sorry.

That should be a very interesting primary.

Also, you have former representative are seeing he was redistricted out in for out of her district.

She's taking on Rick Adams, who his attorney who has done work for the Kentucky Democratic Party.

That's another one of those little the primaries on the Republican side bringing up redistricting rep former Representative Lynn back letter who has redistricted out and he lost a primary in 2022, he's challenging incumbent Republican Senator.

Jason, how western Kentucky in the first district.

So he was there.

One of those candidates filing late today and he kind of said his candidacy was that taking on the Republican establishment.

And I think you're going to see a lot of that and some of the primary.

So the races.

>> I think Thomas not a founding a Republican who's kind of more line with the Liberty Group in the GOP is running against Kilian Timoney in a suburban Lexington's slash Jasmine County That and Beshear won by think 20 points and there's a legitimate Democrat running there, too.

And that's going to interesting.

And one of the things that I'm always really interesting to see during session is how these kinds of challenges like the the primaries and the generals, but more the primaries affect legislation.

You know, you can see Lynn back clear challenge to Jason House, conservative bona fides.

And you could see how, you know, forwarding a bill that's very conservative or you can see Timoney forwarding a bill that's very good for his district.

Why do you think the filing deadline is so early?

>> Point to get the opportunity right in the Statehouse.

We learned late Friday afternoon that Republican Representative Brandon Reid is not seeking re-election.

That sets up Ryan Bivens so Wagoner to square off in the GOP primary.

>> Republican State Representative Jacob justices also not seeking reelection.

He served the 94th district for just one term after defeating 3 term Democrat Angie Hatton in 2022.

Mitchell, Madison, Whitaker is now running out, opposed for the seat.

Another race to watch is House District 10 which covers Breckenridge and Hardin counties.

Republican Josh Callaway is the incumbent last year.

He was a strong advocate for Senate Bill.

One, 50 legislation banning gender altering procedures for transgender youth.

He's being challenged by Julie can't well, who's an advocate for legalizing medical marijuana.

Representative Callaway is one of nearly 2 dozen Republican representatives facing an opponent in the May primary.

Another is Representative Savannah Maddox in State House district.

61.

She's gone.

A primary challenger in Jared likens a total of 11 state representatives chose to make this their last legislative session.

That does not include Representative Steve Rawlings and Contara Herron who are both running for seats in the state Senate for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Toby.

Give us.

>> Thank you to be for that breakdown.

Now, Kentucky, 6 congressional seats are also up for election this year.

On Friday, we told you Republican Representative Congressman Thomas Matt Thomas Massie in the 4th Congressional district is being challenged by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Eric Deters light Friday.

Massey picked up another primary challenger, Michael McGinnis for Thomas Representatives.

Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat and how Rogers a Republican from the 3rd and the 5th congressional districts respectively are both facing 3 primary challengers as the session enters its second week.

We will talk with leaders of the Kentucky General Assembly on Kentucky tonight.

This evening.

We discuss the budget and other important issues and of course, we want your questions by phone email and social media.

So join us for that discussion tonight at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

And other news law enforcement agencies across the state are recruiting new talent, the Bowling Green Law Enforcement Academy started in 2020.

It's graduated 5 classes and nearly 50 new officers.

Classics is in session now and be Gpd is recruiting for the 7th.

There are 945 hours of training involved, including traffic, stop simulations like this one.

And then recruits.

>> Allows us to expedite the training.

We're going to Richmond, some hunters of the late getting recruits into an academy class will.

Now we can plan ahead.

And so the states are academy.

We can take X amount of people and then recruit specifically for that.

>> Last year, the city of Bowling Green raised the starting pay for police officers to $60,000 a year.

The recruiting period comes as the Kentucky General Assembly is in session, making decisions about public safety proposals and pension benefits.

Officers must also be trained on new laws that are passed and how to enforce them.

>> The state does a very good job of giving us updates on what's happening in Frankfort.

So new legislation comes It sent to us from the state so we can read up about it.

Other usually a pretty good the way before the laws go into effect.

Typically in January.

So when it gets closer to that time, our local prosecutors, our Commonwealth office in our county attorney's office.

They're very good about meeting with us and setting out the definitions of the new laws and going through training with what the expectations are first enforcing those laws.

>> Because on the current economy class graduates in March, the application deadline to join the next class is this Wednesday, January 10th on the City of Bowling Green's website.

♪ ♪ >> Newly released data shows Kentucky topped the nation and overall student enrollment.

And that tops today's Education News.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, Kentucky experienced and overall enrollment growth of 5.6% between fall of 2022. and fall of 2023.

That was the highest in the nation.

Kentucky was ranked second nationally in undergraduate enrollment at 5 and a half percent and forth and graduate enrollment at 4.9%.

The state also ranked first and undergraduate enrollment and second and graduate enrollment among states are part of the Southern Regional Education Board.

The president of the Kentucky Council on Post-secondary Education.

Aaron Thompson said the data, quote, strongly suggest Kentucky was prepared and one of the first states to recover from enrollment decreases caused by the pandemic.

The Kentucky Board of Education is asking for feedback as it continues.

The search for a new education commissioner.

It's looking to fill the position vacated after the chief Jason Glass step down back in September.

The board said it wants input from educators, administrators, families and members of the community feedback can be submitted through a survey on the state Board of Education's website.

The surveys will close February.

The 16th.

Now continuing our look at education news, education spending in Kentucky has risen dramatically, but that has not translated to higher test scores.

So says a new report from the conservative-leaning Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions that looked at state trends in K through 12 education over the past 3 decades, we spoke to the author of the report to find out what the data revealed about test scores, teacher salaries and who's getting hired most in schools.

>> My take on this is a lot of people don't have the facts.

And so that was a big part of this is to get the facts out there.

This year.

There's going to obviously in the state legislature doesn't get a budget year says going to be discussion of.

>> KSAT, 12 funding.

There's also a host of education issues that that are going to come up.

And so having getting people the facts about what's been going on with spending with test scores, with with teachers and so on.

I think it's very important so that we kind of all coming at this from the same basis.

In fact, overall, the test scores.

Have changed pretty Moxley and especially relative to the the changes in funding.

The chain funding has doubled more than doubled since 1990, and that S cars very much change.

Now this is not to implicate any particular school, right?

Just doesn't look at.

Particular shows that this looks at kind of the entire.

Public education system.

And overall, it's not showing much change in in in these test scores.

And these are I think regards basic skills.

This is 4th and 8th grade reading and math.

I think the end the intent the funding was too have a sick, substantial change on these basic skills.

And my reading of this is that really has been on very much changes and in fact, lately declines in these basic skills.

Despite.

More than more than doubling the spending, the funding teacher salaries.

He's not the reason for this increase in in in funding and spending that we've seen the increase in in funding far outstrips any changes in in teacher salaries.

And in fact, the last decade showers actually gone down when you adjust for inflation.

Overall, this 30 year time period, funding per pupil has more than doubled.

And teacher salaries.

Are they following the last in inflation-adjusted terms of fallen in the last decade, non teacher staffing grew very dramatically in the 90's and early 2000 and stayed particular, especially large that has not shrunk relative to the student pace.

That's everything.

Everything except the teachers.

That would be the administrators.

That would be the secretary's.

That would be the janitors.

Just everything.

Any other, any staffing.

And the school has.

I'm putting these these figured out there for people to contemplate in commit our conclusions.

I think that it's important to be competitive for teachers, especially good teachers and in any business writer, enterprise that's important to be competitive for the folks that are important here in price.

So and that's something for folks to think about.

Is are we no longer being competitive with the with the salaries going down?

And I just different people may take away different things, but at least we're going to have the same set of facts to look at.

I think looking at these with a the expectation that we do want to strong schooling system.

We do want to affect and yes, we do want our kids to do well.

we want to do that.

And the fission way.

>> Governor Andy Beshear unveiled his proposed state budget that included an 11% pay raise for teachers and other public school employees.

However, Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne said instead of across the board pay raises they would prefer districts get the funding and decide how to allocate it.

♪ Oldham County is in the north-central part of the state and is home to 6 main communities, including La Grange, which is known for the train that runs through the city's downtown.

But what people may not know about the small Hallmark Town and all dome that sits between La Grange and Louisville and the name of its Crestwood.

And it's expecting big changes with the town center and addition of a traditional Main Street, we visited Crestwood to learn more about its progress so far.

And what's next for the area?

♪ >> Oldham County consist of 6 small towns, probably the most famous most popular would be LaGrange.

And that's because the train that runs the range.

But most people don't know about the other 5 cities in the county Crestwood is the fastest growing town in Kentucky.

And it had been until this year for the last probably 4 or 5 years.

It's been interesting just to kind of watch over the years how it's grown in that.

>> They're there isn't a whole lot East Louisville and LaGrange.

So not a whole lot to stop and do for a one-stop shop.

So there's things sprinkle here and there.

But we really want Crestwood to be a destination.

And because there's not a traditional Main street here when we see for started talking to the mayor about what the plans were, he said, well, let me tell you that my vision, he said, is to make this a Hallmark movie type of town.

And so we want to create what is that traditional Main street feeling?

And we said we would love to help you do that.

Crestwood is getting ready to explode with new development, new attractions, new Restaurant Baptist Hospital has signed on to come to the Crestwood exit off 71, which would be the Crestwood exit, the Maples Park has become what will be the city center of Crestwood.

So that Park has developed its finish.

Now, finally, it has a splash pad.

It has an ampitheater that was just installed and that was the last phase.

And that's where all the traffic will going to from what will be our Main Street.

Crestwood Mercantile is an example of the perfect new type of business that will attract a crest with it's vintage its original artwork, its oil paintings.

It's brand-new.

Where's it's art?

It's crafts.

Its booth's that it's part of the excitement of what Chris with Mercantile is for Crestwood.

It's really a team effort for a community come together like this.

So many of our vendors, our Oldham County residents.

>> And so they're happy to be able to stay in their hometown and shop and eat.

And so just to create more of that.

So really it's about.

>> Coming together as a community and a team to build that kind of community here that that didn't previously exist.

excited about all the businesses.

I'm excited to be able to walk everywhere and you don't have to drive.

I'm excited about new boutiques, a new restaurants and be in walking distance from home.

>> To be able to walk out of your front door and go eat dinner or go to the park is a fabulous concept.

I think so.

We want people be able to come to Crestwood to be able to dine here, to shop here, to spend the day here.

So our hope is that there are other business owners that come alongside and say, yes, we want to be part of that and we'll help you do that so that this will be a one-stop shopping and eating destination for people all over.

>> You may recognize the names secretary at and Sea Biscuit.

Well, what about Silver charm and Sarava long after they're racing days are over some lucky equine athletes spend their retirement at old friends farm in Georgetown.

And as KET UT can tuck you, life learned even off the racetrack.

Is horses continue to wow visitors from all over the world?

>> I do friends.

We redefined the Triple Crown.

We decided to have to be one horse.

It just had to be one year, though, we won the Triple Crown in 1997 because we have so try and touch gold.

So the term winds shift to first to touch, going to surge.

And then again, just 5 years later, we pulled it off again with in 2002 with war with war emblem and Sarava.

Where we won the first 2.

But we want to serve that see old friends Triple Crown silver charm is my favorite horse of all time.

I love the way he raced.

We just raced like a really great competitor like he really KET what he was doing.

♪ >> Member.

>> Silver Charm is a showman.

Some of the other horses indulge us, but he enjoys a whole is my old buddy touch gold.

We had quite a relationship.

>> Back in 1997. he went right on his head up know that I've never been on a horse's back and been able to stay on the horse's back when they went down that far.

So then we fast forward 3 weeks later, gold plating on the >> Touch goal.

I got carrots.

Hi, handsome.

We'll hear from.

>> Warren was completely dominant in the Derby.

♪ >> That speed and his today there's products citizen.

>> I use it right on the couch and there and watch the TV.

My dad was very ill at the time of the undead.

♪ And immediately after the race for going down.

But dad's bedside.

He was just a it was just all tears.

>> I couldn't believe it.

>> People come from all over the world to visit you don't he said, well, it's certainly not coming here to visit >> Ready for the start.

From that just happened to be a horse that, you know, we were lucky enough that he had the talent, but he decided he was going to make something of himself when he grew up and I needed ♪ yes, long stakes at 70 to one.

>> Michael if you bring Sarava here, we will make him a rock star and he's been good to his word.

It's just been amazing how many people come to see the sources.

>> These handful of horses did so much for racing them.

So proud that you're here.

>> Worth the trip to visit.

You heard from Michael Blow and the longtime president of old friends.

Just last week, we told you on this program the blowout is stepping down, but do not worry is still giving tours at the farm.

John Nicholson, the former executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, will take over as president and CEO of Old Friends on February.

1st.

Kentucky helped inspire a one of a kind American flag and imagine a basketball winning streak that lasted 12 years.

Our Toby Gibbs has details in this.

Look at this week in Kentucky history.

♪ >> Kentucky became America's 15 state.

Want to join the union in 17.

92 to reflect the addition of Kentucky.

President George Washington authorized a 15 star flag on January 13.

17 94.

But that flag also had 15 strikes.

The only U.S. flag with more than 13, the flag reverted back to 13 stripes in 18, 18.

3 Confederate warships battled to union ironclad is on the Mississippi River off the coast of Carlisle County during the Civil war battle of Lucas band January.

11th 18.

62.

>> Susan B Anthony, the early women's rights crusader spoke at the first Unitarian Church in Louisville on January.

12th 18?

95.

She spoke in support of giving women the right to vote, something that wouldn't happen nationwide.

For 25 more years.

Happy birthday to KET Johnson.

Kentucky's 45th governor serving from 1939.

To 1943, the only journalist to become governor of Kentucky.

He was born and Wian County.

On January 12, 18, 96.

When Georgia Tech beat Kentucky on January 8, 1955.

59 to 58.

It ended the Wildcats 129 game home court winning streak.

That streak that lasted 12 years.

Adolph Rupp scads had lost a game at home since 1943, it's the longest home winning streak in the history of Division.

One college basketball during that time period.

The cats won national titles in 1948.

1949, 1950, yuan.

And those are the highlights this week in Kentucky history.

I'm told, begins.

>> Thank you much, Toby Gibbs.

Well, that'll do it for us tonight.

We hope to see you right back here again tomorrow at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition, where we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the way.

As you see on the screen, Facebook accidents to grab and subscribe to our Kentucky Edition, email newsletters as well.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so very much for watching.

And I'll see you right back here tomorrow night.

♪