music >> They've received information about being surveilled, having people watching them, tracking their online movements, and really creating a climate of fear.

>> Traveling out of state or receiving a pill online.

Kentucky women are still getting abortions.

This lawmaker wants their privacy protected.

Kentucky's governor and legislative leaders make their pitch to the state's business community for how they want to move the state forward.

>> So the whole thing with speakeasy is we're really playing into that 1920s like prohibition vibe.

>> And step into this medical cannabis store and step in to the Roaring 20s.

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

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for this Friday, January the 9th.

We have made it to the weekend.

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

It's the end of the week.

Week one of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly in regular session, and the prosecution of a Kentucky woman who allegedly took abortion pills is firing up both sides of the abortion debate.

As our June Leffler reports, pro and anti abortion rights advocates alike want state lawmakers to tweak Kentucky's current abortion ban.

>> Melinda Spencer sought medical attention after allegedly taking abortion pills, and she was charged with fetal homicide.

>> Now, the prosecutor has dropped that charge, but she's still in jail.

>> This Lexington Democrat proposes House Bill 23.

It would bar legal prosecution and investigations into women who have had or are seeking an abortion, and doctors or others who discuss abortion options.

>> We have organizations that we know and appreciate that are actively helping women to seek health care in other states.

They've received threats.

They've received information about being surveilled, having people watching them, tracking their online movements, reporting the things that they're doing, and really creating a climate of fear.

>> In Melinda Spencer's case, a prosecutor dropped her highest charge, saying Kentucky's abortion ban excludes women from prosecution.

>> So we've never advocated on criminalizing women.

>> That's Kentucky's leading anti-abortion rights voice, who says she's lobbying lawmakers to restrict abortion pills by mail.

>> What are we going to do with the illegal trafficking of these drugs, these abortion life terminating drugs that are that are already offensive to the laws of Kentucky, but moving up on the schedule first and then not to the degree as a narcotic, but moving on schedule.

So it's recognized on the schedule, which is allowable by the state.

The state has the purview to be able to do that.

Lawmakers can do that.

And then treating it, then moving it up as covering it, like on the trafficking.

>> Kentucky Right to Life opposes the medical privacy bill.

>> So House Bill 23 is just sort of a slap in the face, knowing that that legislation is coming forward on trafficking and bringing those drugs into the state.

>> Policymakers will hammer out this debate this session.

So what's legal now?

An abortion law expert says nationally, women have not faced prosecution for out-of-state abortions.

Some doctors have been indicted, but never women.

>> There would be enormous defenses for someone if a state tried to prosecute them, for instance, one of them being that we, you know, our federal Constitution guarantees a right to travel.

>> Abortion pills are a bit different.

Greer Donnelly says every month, nearly 15,000 abortion medications are sent to people living under an abortion ban.

A very small number have went to jail.

>> So under many laws that criminalize abortion in a state that bans it, for the most part, they have exceptions that, you know, are supposed to protect the pregnant person who gets the abortion.

However, we are seeing a rise.

You know, this has happened for a long time, even before Dobbs.

But we're seeing a rise of state prosecutors who are politically motivated to charge for abortion crimes, using old statutes that have nothing to do with abortion, to try to target and criminalize people.

>> As for federal medical privacy protections, Greer Donnelly says HIPAA does not bar health care providers.

From handing personal information to law enforcement, and that providers are often the ones calling police in these rare, high profile cases.

For Kentucky Edition.

I'm June Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June KET requested comment from Attorney General Russell Coleman's office for this story.

His office has not responded.

Governor Andy Beshear and legislative leadership gathered last night for the annual Kentucky Kentucky Chamber Day dinner.

Speakers laid out their vision for Kentucky in front of nearly 2000 policymakers, business and community leaders.

During his speech, Governor Beshear reiterated many of the themes he laid out earlier this week in his state of the Commonwealth and Budget address.

>> It's always inspiring to be with civic and business leaders who are committed to building a bright future for everyone in our new Kentucky home.

Over the past six years, we've been building that future, and we've been doing it together.

A future where every Kentucky child can achieve their dreams, no matter how big.

It's why folks across the country are no longer looking down at us.

They're looking up to us.

>> Following the governor, the chamber heard from Democratic leadership in the House and Senate.

>> Our work in the 2026 legislative session has to focus on the challenges standing in the way of continued growth.

Employers tell me that the biggest pressures they face are the same ones that families face.

They face the challenges of the rising cost of housing, childcare, health care and basic necessities.

These pressures make it harder to keep workers and families in Kentucky.

>> Decisions being made in Washington are already shifting costs onto the states, counties and local communities.

This is a fact that is more than politics.

That is arithmetic, and it is already reaching Kentucky families.

We know this when federal support for Medicaid, SNAP, and public health and rural health systems is reduced, those costs do not disappear.

They move down the line to Kentucky taxpayers, to local governments, and to the and to the providers.

Our communities rely on.

Rural Kentucky will feel it first and the hardest, because rural hospitals and health departments depend heavily on federal pass through funding.

We must be honest about what Kentucky stands to lose when those supports are pulled back.

>> Members also heard from Republican leadership speaker of the House David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers were both critical of the governor, saying the General Assembly was responsible for many of the state's recent economic wins.

>> We all know that education is the foundation for workforce development.

Yet too often this governor talks about education as a political talking point instead of a management priority.

More than half of our kids do not do math or read at grade level, and science scores are so low they propose removing them from proficiency scores.

That cannot be our future workforce.

Teachers are caught in the middle of uncertainty and parents want accountability, not rhetoric.

A strong economy requires a prepared workforce, and that requires leadership focused on outcomes, not applause or political promises.

That's why we continue to provide record funding for education and are proposing new accountability measures.

>> And so when you see all these indices and the rating agencies that go out and talk about Kentucky is now getting the upgrades, it is because we are dealing with our pension issue, which was one of the key issues of the chambers ten and 15 years ago.

The leaky bucket, talking about tax reform, regulatory reform, all those things that create jobs.

We've done them and we have set the dynamic for job growth and economic development in this state.

>> Senate President Robert Stivers also said now is the time to fund endowed research funds.

The money would go to the state's public universities to help them attract federal grants, while also raising Kentucky's research profile and improving the lives of Kentuckians.

The research funds were created with the passage of Senate Bill one during the 2024 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

You can hear more from Kentucky's legislative leaders, including the Senate President and the House speaker.

That is on Monday nights Kentucky tonight, and we'll also have Democratic leadership to join us as well to discuss the 2026 session.

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

That's Monday night at eight eastern, seven central right here on KET.

Time now to go inside Kentucky politics as we evaluate week one of the Kentucky General Assembly in regular session.

And we're glad to have with us today Karolina Buczek, who is the politics or political reporter for Wlex channel 18 here in Lexington.

Good to see you.

>> Thank you for having me.

>> Yeah.

So you're not too tired from this week, right?

>> No.

Surprisingly.

Surprisingly.

>> So what?

So talk to us first about the pace that this session seems to be taking at this juncture.

What is it like?

>> It has just been a complete difference.

I was very surprised.

I was like, why am I not tired?

Because normally it's go, go, go right from the start.

But things have really slowed down and I'm trying to figure out, is it because we're in this new temporary chamber?

There's really not that much of the public that I've seen around, right.

And that makes a big difference.

There's just kind of an energy shift.

And I don't know if it's just because they're so focused on the budget, which is what they're telling us that they're really focused on, or if they're everyone's just trying to get used to this new normal.

>> Right.

I think it's probably a combination of both.

Right.

And we know that next week we do anticipate the committee meetings to start meeting.

And so that makes a difference in the traffic and the annex building, which is where they'll have those committee hearings.

So maybe that energy will be revived a little bit, typically to a normal 60 day session.

You think that'll make a difference?

>> I think so I think it's just a matter of time before things start, you know, kicking into gear.

I'm sure I will be eating my words and wishing for a slow week.

Very soon.

>> We'll make note of the time and date when you said this, right?

So.

But that does not mean that members have not been active in filing bills already.

I mean, day one, we had some pretty significant pieces of legislation that were filed both in the House and the Senate.

What stood out to you as noteworthy?

>> Yeah, I mean, there are some issues that deal with some.

There are some bills that deal with some hot topic issues.

For example, we saw that bill that has to do with immigrants being able to hold certain elected positions here in Kentucky.

And that, of course, is a big issue considering what happened in New York City.

We have that new mayor, and the country is kind of watching to see what happens.

So some of those issues always trickle into Kentucky, and we kind of see that.

And I mean, do we know if this bill is going to go far?

No we don't.

But that issue will be discussed.

And it's just kind of one of those hot button issues that we see pop up.

>> Right.

And considering the events that happened this weekend in Minneapolis as well, I mean, that's going to take on a life of its own.

We know that both the House and the Senate Democrats both held pressers this week to kind of lay out their priorities, which, you know, always it's raising the minimum wage.

That's usually one thing for for both of those chambers.

But Lindsey Burke had a couple of bills that she's really pushing when it comes to reproductive rights.

>> Yes.

She always has a lot of bills that she's very passionate about.

But of course reproductive rights is a big issue for her.

She has been very outspoken about her own personal journey with that.

And reproductive rights in general is just such an issue that comes up in our legislature.

There's a lot of passion surrounding this issue on both sides, so this is always something that we see a lot of explosiveness on.

But Lindsey Burke actually also has a very interesting bill that she'll be filing, and it has to do with the income tax she wants to tax wealthier Kentuckians.

The 5%, 6% of income tax.

She says that the money's there, the math works out.

And she's like the rest of Kentuckians, can still enjoy that gradual decline to zero.

But she's like, we need to start bringing some money in.

So that'll be interesting considering what the Republicans have tried to do.

And of course, they want to go down to zero.

So a little bit of a conflict there.

>> Yeah.

And we'll see whether or not they'll try to adjust those triggers even more statutorily to get them there.

And because there seem to be a little bit of disagreement about whether they made the triggers the last time, right?

Depending on when you actually counted the money, so to speak.

So and we also know that Democrats are really concerned about the Washington policies when it comes to Medicaid and SNAP and some of those social safety net programs and the impact it's going to have on the overall state budget.

What have you heard about that this week?

>> Absolutely.

It depends who you speak to in the legislature right now.

But House Democrats have voiced their concern and they voiced it pretty loudly.

We also saw those concerns trickle into the governor's state of the Commonwealth address.

>> Right?

>> Yes.

He spoke a lot about these things that we need to invest in affordable health care.

We need to invest in affordable housing.

And these are all concerns that they have because of the changes that happened with President Donald Trump's one big beautiful bill.

>> Yeah, which the governor called the other night on his state of the Commonwealth and Budget address.

The one big ugly bill, right?

We many of us thought while we were covering the speech live the other night, that the governor would have made a more full throated and earlier and pronounced announcement about universal pre-K, that that almost seemed to be like burying the lead in our terminology of our industry, that it came later on in the speech.

Were you surprised about where pre-K fell in his terms of of announcing that as a priority for his administration?

>> Yeah, it was interesting that that was kind of like his finish, but I'm not sure whether he did that because he wanted to end it on that note.

But he made it clear that this is the most significant thing that the legislature can do this year.

And here's the thing.

Everyone that we talk to in the legislature, they agree child care is a major problem, and it's one that needs to be addressed in Kentucky.

Now, the solution that's where they all disagree on.

And I've been asking around.

I'm like, does the governor's pre-K for all plan have a shot?

And people are saying, you know what, the appetite for universal pre-K, it's just not there within the GOP, right?

>> Yeah.

So does it mean he won't still push for it and and run for it?

And just the way the the address was given the other night at the Kentucky History Center with his descent down the stairs, it looked very presidential.

So there's been a lot of talk about who is he speaking to the other night, Wednesday night?

Was it to a statewide audience or was it to a national audience?

What's your take?

>> Yeah, I mean, everyone picked up on it.

Everyone picked up on it.

It was about a 40 minute speech, right.

And it seemed like he wasn't just unifying Kentucky, but it was a speech that kind of went to unify the country.

And I mean, right before that big line that he delivers, you know, the state of the Commonwealth is strong.

What did he do?

He said.

>> This is my seventh state of the Commonwealth and my last budget address in this job.

>> And the way he said it, I mean, he knows what he's doing.

He knows that the speculation is out there.

People are considering him a contender for president for 2028.

And, you know, he's he's playing into it.

He he's hinting at his political ambitions.

>> Yeah.

A lot to keep our eye on in the next 50 something days.

Karolina Buczek, thank you for being among those who do it so well.

Good to see you.

>> Good to see you.

>> Kentucky is suing a chat box company.

A chatbot company, rather, called Character Technologies.

Attorney General Russell Coleman says the company has preyed on children by getting them to share private thoughts and emotions, while also encouraging suicide, self-injury, isolation and more.

Coleman says at least two children in other states have died by suicide as a result of exposure to the chat bots.

Coleman said in a statement, quote, too many children, including in Kentucky, have fallen prey to this manipulative technology.

Our office is going to hold these companies accountable before we lose one more loved one to this tragedy.

End quote.

Now to national politics.

The U.S.

House voted last night to extend expired health care subsidies for Americans who receive health care through the Affordable Care Act.

Those subsidies, which help lower insurance costs for 22 million Americans, expired on January 1st.

The vote was 230 to 196, with 17 Republicans joining Democrats to pass the bill.

All five of Kentucky's Republicans voted no.

The only Democrat, Morgan McGarvey of the third Congressional District, voted yes.

The bill moves on to the U.S.

Senate.

The Associated Press reports senators are working on an alternative bill.

Health officials are warning about potential measles exposure at a Lexington hotel.

That begins tonight's medical news.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says the unvaccinated out of state person stayed at the Hyatt Place in Hamburg from December 31st through January the 2nd.

The patient also ate at Panera in Hamburg on January 1st.

This is at least the third measles public exposure case in Kentucky in the last two weeks.

The Kentucky Department of Public Health says the other two cases are in northern Kentucky.

Now, measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause serious issues, especially in young children.

Symptoms typically begin to show 8 to 12 days after exposure and include a high fever, cough, and red or watery eyes.

The rash associated with measles usually appears a few days after symptoms begin.

A medical cannabis dispensary opens in Lexington next week.

The Speakeasy dispensary is the first of its kind in central Kentucky, and it doesn't look like a typical dispensary.

>> So the whole thing was speakeasy is we're really playing into that 1920s like prohibition vibe that alcohol had to go through.

We feel that, you know, that's somewhat what cannabis is experiencing right now with like heavy, heavy regulation.

And as early as 15 years ago, you know, it wasn't it wasn't even a thing.

Right.

So we're in the early evolutionary stage of cannabis as a medicine and cannabis as a product for people to come in and consume and people to come in and, you know, integrate into their, their everyday lives.

So that's really the the mantra behind the name.

And we, we play into that within the, the, the building itself.

Right.

So the front of house, it's going to be warm and welcoming.

We've got a Jockey Club theme up there that is going to be really cool and kind of nuanced, and then they're going to make their way to the back of house, where the feel really shifts, right?

So the back of house feel is a little bit more dark and moody, right.

That that kind of 1920s speakeasy leather, brick, wood accents.

So the flow and the actual experience, you get to feel that transition happen as you go through the through the facility.

As of next Thursday, we're going to have four strains that are going to be represented here.

And those are all going to be flower options as we progress from there.

By likely the beginning of February, you'll start seeing an introduction of additional strains, additional options from a flower perspective.

And then you'll start seeing the implication or excuse me, the introduction of edibles and some other product categories that will be sold here in the store.

We're going to be massive advocates for patient access as well.

We'll be out in the community trying to educate and help people understand what the differences are between, like a regulated and an unregulated market, and how we can best help them.

We're not clinicians, so we can't diagnose, we can't authorize and validate that, you know, somebody should participate in the program because of a preexisting condition.

What we can do is once they are established as a patient, and they come in here and ask us for assistance, we should be able to steer them towards the proper product.

So they're going to be specific aspects of different cannabis products that are going to adhere to specific ailments.

Right.

So.

As somebody that deals with some type of anxiety induced ailment, right.

They may want to try and indica as opposed to a sativa.

Right.

Because that's going to have a calming effect on them as opposed to an energizing effect.

And, you know, that's that's just a prime example of what we're going to be able to do in that sales process.

So one of the things that they're going to be trained on between now and the time that the doors open is not only product knowledge, but how to engage with that consumer, how to engage with that patient and make sure that the information that's being relayed is being interpreted properly.

And we're making the proper recommendations to those specific products.

>> The dispensary will open next Thursday morning to customers.

It's in the old Frisch's Big Boy building in Hamburg.

That's in Lexington.

Womp womp.

Colder weather is on its way back, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the fun on the way throughout Kentucky.

Our Toby Gibbs has more in this.

Look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

>> Get a taste of one of Kentucky's signature industries at the fourth annual Bourbon Con, taking place at the Marion Griffin Gate in Lexington.

The event gathers dozens of distilleries under one roof, offering tastings, live entertainment, educational sessions and discussions that take a closer look at how bourbon is made and why it plays such a big role in Kentucky culture.

Find out how Kentucky got from Flatboats to fast lanes at a new exhibit opening this Saturday at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort.

The Kentucky Historical Society presentation Flatboats to Freeways Transportation Through Time walks visitors through the evolution of travel across the Commonwealth, from early river routes and railroads to the rise of automobiles, and shows how transportation shaped towns, commerce, and daily life in the state.

Come in from the cold and get creative at Kmac contemporary Art museum's Winter Family Fun Day.

Families can explore hands on art projects suitable for all ages, and see live demonstrations from artists featured in current exhibitions.

There will also be live music and hot chocolate to enjoy at this free event.

The City of Somerset is putting local vendors in the spotlight this Saturday as it hosts the hometown market.

Visitors can browse handmade goods, artwork, clothing and specialty items from local vendors.

The market also features food trucks and activities designed for families and shoppers of all ages.

Hear history in every note is the American Spiritual Ensemble comes to the Grand Theater in Frankfort next Friday.

The critically acclaimed program features vocalist known for blending classical techniques with spirituals, and highlights both traditional music and Broadway numbers.

A Century of basketball flair is headed to Kentucky, as the world famous Harlem Globetrotters bring their 100 year tour to Bowling Green.

The tour celebrates a century of gravity defying dunks and game changing tricks from a team known for combining athletic skills and entertainment that helped shape the sport of basketball and the spectacle around it.

And that's what's happening around the Commonwealth.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you so much, Toby Gibbs.

It's been a busy news week, and Bill Bryant and a panel of veteran Kentucky reporters will talk all about it tonight on Comment on Kentucky.

They'll take a look back at the governor's state of the Commonwealth and budget address the week.

One of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly and regular session and today's 2026 candidate filing deadline.

That and more tonight at eight eastern seven central right here on KET.

Don't miss it.

And we hope you don't miss us on Monday night again at 630 eastern 530 central for Kentucky Edition, where we inform, connect and inspire.

We hope that you will connect with us all the ways you see on your screen the social media channels Facebook, Instagram and X formerly known as Twitter.

To keep in the loop on what's happening here at KET, we always want to hear from you.

So send us a story idea or just a shout out by email to Public Affairs at Keturah and look for us on the PBS app that you can download on your phone and other smart devices.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Thank you for being with us this week and we'll see you on Monday night.

Take good care.