>> I'm here with a clear message to say that unless you've been in this position, you have no idea what any woman or girl is currently going through.

>> Making the case for abortion access in dire situations.

>> I just don't think it's going to happen.

>> Is universal Pre-K a nonstarter in Frankfort.

>> Our students are just like everybody else they want.

They happen a sense of belonging and I want to belong and they want to serve a purpose.

>> How one?

Madison County High School is giving those students the opportunity to prove themselves on the job.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday, January night.

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

I'm Renee Shaw.

She became a familiar face during the governor's race last year.

>> Hadley Deval, who appeared in political ads supporting Governor Andy Beshear is an outspoken critic of Kentucky's anti-abortion laws and lack of exceptions for rape and incest.

Duval, who was a victim of sexual abuse herself is pushing a bill that would create those exceptions.

Our June Leffler was at today's press conference announcing the filing of a bill that Bears Hadley's name that begins tonight's legislative update.

>> I told my story before in interviews.

>> And adds I was raped by my stepfather after years of sexual abuse.

I was 12.

>> Duval had a miscarriage, but she's glad abortion was an option at that time.

>> It took me a lot of fun.

My voice.

But now that I have, I intend to KET using it to speak out for the girls and women who needed her name is being used for a new bill that would allow people to get abortions in certain tough circumstances.

This bill will provide exceptions for survivors of rape and incest like meat.

>> It will give relief.

So women who are facing non viable pregnancies were women facing health complications with their pregnancies.

This bill is about compassion and empathy.

I'm here with a clear message to say that unless you've been in this position, you have no idea what any woman or girl is currently going through.

>> The governor supports the bill, a state Senator David Yates introduced the bill today while serving as a former until the home of the Kentucky.

I had the honor and privilege of representing.

So many victims of sex crimes.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky should not remove that choice.

It should not continue to victimize.

Those survivors.

We still fighting for it.

Yates never supported the abortion ban.

>> But he hopes Republicans can sign off on these changes.

>> This is so narrowly tailored that most of those conversations I've had, I usually get a head nod and say, I understand I agree if they would take that.

Yes, I understand.

I agree.

And the that way this thing will pass.

>> But some abortion advocates aren't impressed.

Hadley is incredibly brave to share her testimony and >> wow, I would love a bill like this to actually work in practice.

What we've seen around the country since Roe v Wade has fallen fans, state that have exemptions, exemptions don't work.

create confusion and more hurdles for patients to jump through because they believe they have access to care.

But unfortunately, most patients have to still leave the state when they find themselves in these situations.

>> That statement is backed by research.

The Kaiser Family Foundation report looked at 14 states and said, quote, exceptions to bands have often proven to be unworkable except in the most extreme circumstances and have sometimes prevented physicians from practicing evidence-based medicine.

There is so much liability and fear.

There's a mass chilling effect that has gone throughout the country.

Rape and incest.

Survivors would also need a doctor to sign off on the procedure.

>> And I don't want anyone to look at it and say somehow about how this piece of legislation the did somehow you have fixed all the problems that have been with the worst.

And I don't believe that we will I believe this is a very small step in the right direction for a very limited number of victims that.

We can help.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June.

The anti-abortion group, Kentucky right to Life opposes the bill.

The group's executive director, a deal was Nurse said that while rape is a terrible trauma for anyone to bear, quote, the life of a child is not dependent on how they were conceived, end quote last night on Kentucky tonight for top leaders of the Kentucky General Assembly discuss the proposal for Hadley's law and Kentucky's abortion laws.

Here's part of that conversation.

Government state government.

>> Should not be directing a woman.

How she controlled her body and our health choices.

With respect to that, I know it's a complex issue, but I don't think the state should be doing that sort of thing.

I think that's between a woman, her doctor and her got.

So, you know, when the state comes in and begins to mandate, how an individual is to handle their choices in life as it relates to the health as relates to those things that are personal to them.

I think we overreaching and that's my fundamental concern with all of that.

>> We know that there will be trauma where there is an act of incest or rape, that stuff.

That's where it gets hard decision.

When you then have the woman and I don't think anybody would disagree with this.

The wraparound services for this woman, what ever her decision is we should make sure she has and anybody who perpetrate that happened at a woman should be swiftly, punish them harshly, punished.

But it's really tough when you get to the viability of a child.

But what point?

Versus that balance of woman who is not even in rape or incest scenario.

You need gets tougher.

When you have that.

Do you understand?

Again, understand you're talking 2 to 4 males here.

We can't comprehend.

We can only improvise, but that becomes a very difficult choice for Republicans and Democrats in either chamber.

And so there is a lot of discussion.

I do not know what the outcome will be.

>> So last night we also discuss Senator Whitney Westerfield proposed out the law which asked for more than 550 million dollars to support childcare, adoption, housing, child health care assistance and other pro family programs will have more on that tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION.

And you can see all of last night's Kentucky tonight online on demand.

KET DOT org Slash K why tonight?

Governor Andy Beshear wants universal Pre-K for all Kentucky, 4 year-olds, but some legislators and advocates are focused more on the persistent problems within the childcare industry in the state today, legislators heard about inflated childcare costs and the problems facing providers like keeping workers.

Our Clayton Dalton has this report.

>> Or the governor's call for Universal Public just, you know, Furness.

I just don't think it's going to happen.

I don't think there's the support within the legislature and I don't think that's the right model to follow.

I don't think the state has the capability to do that.

When you look at our schools in the infrastructure, they would have to be bill, all kinds of issues I just don't feel locker door, really a viable option.

Not to mention that would destroy childcare in the childcare industry.

Infants and toddlers costs more to care for than facilities can recently charged parents, according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

One child care provider can supervise a maximum of 5 infants.

>> However, a teacher of 3, 4, year-olds can supervise up to 12 children because of that child care facilities often recoup costs the 3, 4, year old age group, Sarah Van over policy and research director with Kentucky's advocates told us she recognizes the challenge is Kentucky faces implementing universal Pre-K, particularly what it would mean to transition.

All 4 year-old out of private child care into public school settings.

If you take all the 4 year-old out of private child care, it will collapse.

The childcare industry.

>> And that could also collapse infant toddler care throughout the state.

If we look towards universal preschool in the future for the state of Kentucky has to be in public.

Private partnerships where the public school system houses some of the 4 year-old and then they give up her child stipend to high quality childcare centers.

The House, the rest of the 4 year-old.

>> They never identified solutions.

She believes the state can make.

Now to address immediate problems facing both childcare providers and Kentucky families in need of care.

>> Universal Pre-K is a is a wonderful idea, but it's a long-term solution.

Right now.

We have to build up capacity if we want for girls.

But the immediate priority is to save last child care.

And in order to do that, we have to find ways to pay our child care providers a higher wage and to make sure that families are paying for, but an amount that they can afford because the higher the tuition goes more likely is that families are to leave the workforce.

Other things we need to think about is increasing eligibility to the child Care Assistance program so that parents have access to supports and all of that health care assistance program funding goes into the child care programs, even though parents qualify for it, it pays tuition at the center.

So that strengthens the child care programs as When we get more funding for the centers, then they're going to be more financially stable.

They're going to able to serve more children.

>> The child Care Assistance Program, subsidize childcare facilities on behalf of low-income families who would struggle to pay for care of their own expanded funding for the program would help low-income family secure care for their children and funnel more dollars into childcare centers that are crucial to Kentucky families and the Kentucky workforce.

>> Childcare is part of the state infrastructure isn't as important as clean drinking water and clean up a crisis cleanup after the tornadoes in the flags without childcare.

We're going to have communities that have economic devastation because we need families to be able to work to be successful.

And childcare is a part of that equation for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you much, Clayton Moore, legislative news now.

It may seem small but access to documents like a birth certificate can help remove barriers for people experiencing homelessness and help them get back on their feet.

And Jefferson County alone, 11,000 people seek help from homeless service providers each year.

Those providers are behind House Bill 100 the gives the verifiably Unhoused a no-cost copy of their birth certificate.

Service providers will help them submit paperwork to the states.

Vital statistics office.

It's a process that's been available to homeless youth for nearly 5 years.

And our Frankfort studios today I spoke with the bipartisan para bill sponsors from Louisville who say this is a foundational step to helping the homeless gain.

Self-sufficiency.

>> What this bill does, it allows homeless Kentucky hands of any age to have access to a a birth certificate at no at no cost to them.

>> And why is this significant representative soccer?

Why did they need to have a birth certificate?

What will this enabled them to do?

So the first birth certificates are critical to just being able to and ID, right?

So if you're just getting an identification card or a driver's license, you have to show up and provide a certain amount of other documentation that says this is, you know, you are who you are.

>> Who you say you are and it prevents of a barrier, right?

It's just one more low hanging fruit opportunity that we saw as a way to really address this issue.

No one wants to see more people experiencing homelessness.

But that's exactly what's happening so it is really important that we get in there and we start to remove these barriers that are keeping people from accessing the other types of documentation that they be, which also allows them to access the things that we want them to be able to access housing, for example, the ability to get a bank account, the ability to get certain types of medications that are going to require an ID.

So I think people forget and take for granted how often you might need to provide something as simple as an ID and you can't even get that if you don't have the birth certificate.

So it's all, you know, clearly connected.

>> This just removes the age barrier for this.

And it just makes it just makes sense.

It's a common-sense bill that address is one of the barriers that that that exists with the homeless community.

Do we know what the fiscal impact me is?

One that means for the average viewer that there would be a cost to the state to provide this.

We know what that we have not received.

The fiscal note.

As far as it historically and in 2022. about a 2000 for certificates were were requested and provided from these service providers.

And so the costs should be fairly minimal.

I mean, a birth certificate cost, if you could first certified copy, you're looking at $10.

>> Right.

So it's it.

It's not a it's not a large amount of It's the right thing to do from a compassionate standpoint.

But it's also the right thing to an economic standpoint, right, that whatever the cost it is, will be very minimal and it will pay for itself and we're able to help get individuals on the road to stabilizing themselves and also being able to be productive, you know, contributing member of society.

So it's it's when when yet represented.

When is this something that housing advocates have said?

This is a good first step, but there are other things certainly need to be addressed with the UN House had a fortune.

But this is a good starting its absolutely.

I've talked to many advocates >> through coalition for the homeless man.

32 talking about the Safer Kentucky Act, the homeless community and the issues that that Kentuckians that are unhoused have to deal with.

And that is really what brought about this issue and saying, yes, there are a lot of roadblocks and barriers, but here's something that we can really fix with a simple bill that that everyone can agree.

It's important.

>> And you expect some action on this end?

>> I do.

I do.

I've already spoken with the chairman, Hale from state government.

And we expect this in the next week or 2 to be heard in committee.

This could be one of the first bills that maybe gets across a so I would love for House Bill 100 to be the first and the first bill and the bipartisan nature of that.

We don't want that to escape us and not an omit.

The discussion about that, that this also sets a very good to a rep for the staff and I are districts are next to each other in Louisville.

And so we have a lot of the same challenges that we see a lot of the same things.

And when we both talk to each other and identify that this was an important problem for each of us.

We we just thought it made sense to team >> And oftentimes, you know, this happens a lot in Frankfort and Great Britain and I are both to the legislature.

But, you know, I was working on a bill for free ID's last year.

I was going to refile that again this year and include birth certificates and it came to my to my attention that wreck Whitten was going to be filing something.

And so I just went and said, hey.

We're doing the same thing and took a look at it and said, here's a great opportunity.

And I really want to challenge all of our colleagues to be really intentional to seek one another out and ask individuals to work together on something in primary co-sponsor.

You know, a bill that's important that's really going to do something to move the needle for Kentuckians.

Well, that's a good way to end our discussion.

Thank you both.

And we'll be watching for this.

Hopefully this Thursday in committee.

I hope so.

Thank you.

Thank you for having us.

My pleasure.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Also in Frankfort today, lawmakers filed House Bill 5 better known as the Safer Kentucky Act.

We've told you about it.

The bill sponsored by first term Republican Representative Jared Bowman of Louisville was first introduced over the summer as an 18 point plan to address violent crime from the start.

There was some bipartisan criticism of certain measures in the proposal speaking to reporters today and Frankfort, Representative Bowman said he appreciated the feedback.

One item stripped from the bill is a provision that would give wiretapping authority to local and state law enforcement.

A so-called 3 strikes rule remains in the bill.

It would mandate that anyone convicted of 3 violent felonies must serve life without parole.

The ACLU of Kentucky says Republican lawmakers are missing the mark when it comes to making the state a safer place to live House Bill 5 is now waiting to be assigned to a committee.

The opioid Abatement Advisory Commission met today for the first time under its new executive director Chris Evans, newly elected state Treasurer Mark Metcalf was also introduced as a new member.

Today's meeting drew an unusually large number of people with many of them encouraging the commission to move forward with research into ibogaine.

That's a controversial and illegal psychedelic drug that can be used to treat addiction.

>> I'm here to encourage you to move forward with a trial that's there is no silver bullet.

Every case of addiction is different.

It does seem that there's information already suggesting that I gave you can help.

>> Alter, narrow plasticity and out to give people a fighting chance and meaningful recovery.

And the remarkable results that is done for traumatic brain injuries for these.

>> Veterans is unlike anything that we've seen up to this point and that's it.

>> You know, she doing the same thing over and over and over.

is going to turn out that it methadone and treatment centers.

And all of those are great.

They didn't work getting the chance to live.

>> The Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is housed under the attorney general's office.

The previous executive director of the commission under former AG Daniel Cameron announced last year that the group was exploring ibogaine as a possible treatment for opioid use disorder.

Current Attorney General Russel Coleman has said he's concerned the state is not focusing enough on addiction prevention.

♪ >> Kentucky test a new wind turbine and national magazine praises Eastern Kentucky University.

Our Toby Gibbs explains and our Tuesday look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> Kentucky's largest utilities, bill.

What it says is the state's first utility scale wind turbine to test the potential of wind energy.

The Kentucky Lantern reports Louisville, gas and electric and Kentucky utilities instructed a 165 foot wind turbine last year.

It's located in Mercer County Utilities.

Spokesperson said the utility wanted to gather data on how well a wind turbine could actually perform in Kentucky.

He also said they plan to have it fully running in March.

The official said the turbine is expected to produce 193 megawatt hours of power over one year and could POW or an average of 16 homes with the strongest wind turbines could power up to 90 homes.

The Warren County Public School system held a signing day for teachers last week.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports educators and families gathered to celebrate 17 teachers seeking ranked one or 2 certification status.

It's grow your own initiative.

The newspaper reports the event marks the start of teachers work with Bloom Board, a talent development program centered around flexible education instruction.

WCBS will pay most of the $6,000.

Tuition dropping the cost to 1500 for teachers.

Graduates of the grow your own program commit to staying with the district for several years helping secure local educators as hiring becomes more difficult.

A blue more representative tells the Bowling Green Daily News that over 1200 Kentucky educators are currently enrolled in the program and more than 200 have already graduated in the past 3 years.

The event is the second signing day held by WCBS in recent months.

Eastern Kentucky University made a nonprofit magazine's list of Best Bang for the Buck rankings South.

The Richmond Register reports that Washington Monthly ranks schools based on how well they help students from not wealthy families.

Earn degrees affordable prices Ek you write 109, how to be 228 schools in the south category for 2023. out of the Kentucky schools that made the list.

The KU ranked 11th out of 27 university finished about the University of Louisville, northern Kentucky University Morehead State University and western Kentucky University.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Kobe again.

♪ >> For more than a year, Madison Central High School Richmond has hosted a unique program called the Inspire Academy Inspire students with moderate severe disabilities are prepped for a career following graduation.

>> And he's a career development sooner for students with moderate to severe disabilities, therefore pathways that would be foods clerical janitorial and retail in 9th grade we kind of start instilling means vocational skills.

>> As soon as they come to the high school, it just looks different.

And really they're working on independent work skills >> being able to focus on a specific task for a certain amount of time.

>> And getting it.

>> Those.

Work skills bill in the classroom and then in 10th and 11th grade, they start to kind of go out more into the community with our employment specialist.

>> Thank you so much.

It's by the time they reach 12th grade, they get to choose a pathway into the inspire academy.

>> And then that's when we really focus on that specific skill set.

If they really like food service will put him in the food service pathway and then they get to practice those skills.

>> 3 days out of the week and we also get employment, a placement kind of job training.

You would say.

And then hopefully they get to have a paid position.

The skills that they obtain in a lab setting.

>> Is something that you cannot acquire when you're behind a desk.

Before we started the program, we only had 2 students that were unpaid positions.

And currently we have 8.

>> I've been working at a job right now.

Making money.

It's about that and a dime.

>> I feel like the best feeling in the hope at.

>> I feel like for students who?

Most of the time they're having the decisions made for them or they're limited in their choices because a lot of times people were while take them seriously or they don't think that they know what they want to do.

But our students are just like everybody else they want.

They have that a sense of belonging and they want to belong and they want to serve a purpose.

And so having them get to choose.

Helps them to really take on that role and stick with it.

After that leap here, my experience is.

>> I'm just like we just want me to do things on my own.

>> If I need help I can just ask.

>> Just be in the pan and the U.S. say what?

>> I need a what I want.

>> I think if the the thing that they're doing you a peek understand why.

And I ever act with them.

And I your at the other student.

And they get, you know how common it is for all.

>> We see the confidence within our students.

We see leadership skills.

They aren't timid.

I can't wait to see what they do.

Once they do graduate, they have the tools and they feel very empowered and ready to take on the world.

>> Bright futures ahead.

Indeed.

10 students are enrolled in the Aspire Academy Program.

♪ >> We talk Frankfort, politics with NPR's Rylan Barton tomorrow and Frankfort could soon consider a half a billion dollar package to help support pregnant women in Kentucky.

Details on the outside act.

That's also tomorrow on Kentucky edition, which you know is at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

We hope that you'll connect with us all the way as you see on your screen, Facebook X and Instagram.

Send us a story idea to public affairs at KET Dot Org and look for us on the PBS video app that you can download on your smartphone and tablet.

Thank you so much for watching.

Kentucky Edition this evening and we hope we see you right back here again tomorrow night.

Take care if you're braving that winter weather out there and we'll see us and have a good night.

♪ ♪ ♪