♪ >> The bottom line is that biological boys do not belong in girls, sports, period.

>> What a Kentucky congressman has in mind for schools that disagree.

It's much easier to build healthy kids than it is to feel sick.

Adults.

A major part in building healthy kids is nutrition and state lawmakers are saying how government assistance is contributing to that.

>> We went to the property out of the story.

We said this is it.

This is our forever home.

>> And hear what convinced a group of bourbon making war heroes to build a multi-million dollar distillery in southern Kentucky.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday, July, the 11th, we made it to the weekend.

I'm Renee Shaw and we thank you for kicking off your weekend with us.

Kentucky Congressman is working on new legislation he says will protect women's sports.

Republican Andy Barr of Kentucky, 6 district discussed his proposal on FOX and friends this morning.

>> The bottom line is that biological boys do not belong in girls, sports, period.

Biological men do not belong in the private spaces of our girls and daughters.

And this bill defending Girls Athletics act would give the Trump administration the tools to enforce President Trump's executive order denying federal funds to school districts and institutions of higher education that do not follow his executive order.

Once you pass a Congressman Barr was joined on the program by former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines who has been outspoken against biological men competing in women's sports.

>> Barr says the new bill will be introduced next week.

A similar bill passed the House but was defeated in the Senate earlier this year.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky made stops in Georgetown and Richmond today to discuss his recent actions in Washington.

The senator made headlines for his decision not to support President Donald Trump's tax and spending cuts Bill which was signed into law last week.

Senator Paul said he couldn't support the budget because it adds trillions of dollars to the national debt.

The senator also took time to talk several other policy issues.

He was critical of an agricultural spending bills supported by Senator Mitch McConnell.

That would close a loophole and the 2018 farm bill allowing the sale of hemp products with low amounts of THC.

He also said he would vote to support the president's rescission package, which would strip federal funding and foreign aid and money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helped spawn KET.

>> I am concerned about the ad, the AG bill in the House and what's going on in the Senate.

The language to me, I think what will kill them industry completely.

The hemp industry is a legitimate industry who originally bought it.

>> And I'm very, very worried.

You need to be loud, inactive colleague, everybody in our delegation and others.

And this being a national grid's to try to get a better definition.

There are people adding stuff to to help that I think is synthetic that you could have some regulation on that side of the vote for the rescission package.

We'll see whether or not it's all public television or a portion of it.

But I will that rescission package was not the way I would design, but I have a feeling it's going to be an all or nothing on this.

But I would say is that.

>> It's still so small.

And our problem is so large that it's not going to fix.

The problem is the tip of the iceberg.

>> The Senate is expected to take up the rescission package next week.

If it's not passed by next Friday, the rescission request will expire.

Kentucky Attorney General Russel Coleman says the council on post-secondary education is letting illegal immigrants pay the in-state tuition rate to attend college.

>> Coleman says it's illegal and he just sent a letter to Cpe President Aaron Thompson and Governor Andy Beshear asking them to stop the tuition break.

This comes after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit against this year.

And Thompson Coleman says the law is clear that illegal immigrants are not eligible for special educational benefits that American citizens do not get.

We asked the Cpe for response to this.

A spokesperson says, quote, the council is taking attorney General Coleman's opinion under advisement as it works to resolve this issue and quote.

The Kentucky General Assembly's Make America Healthy Again.

Task force was held and it was the second time that it's met during this interim session so far, the supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program also known as SNAP, which are food stamps, was the main discussion point as our Emily SISK reports, lawmakers debated if SNAP recipients are getting nutritional foods more about that in tonight's legislative updates.

>> More than 280,000 households in Kentucky utilized SNAP benefits in the month of June.

The Food Assistance Program gives families a specific amount of money they can spend on food each month ahead of Thursday's task force meeting co-chair and Senator Shelley Funky from Meyer explained why they wanted to take a deeper look into the health of SNAP recipients.

>> We believe SNAP was created to meet some nutritional needs, but it for actually resulting in obesity.

How that nutrition lack, what are their health outcomes?

>> The senator also discussed how she believes improving the health of Kentuckians can lighten the load of Medicaid costs.

This comes after the passage of President Donald Trump's quote, big beautiful bill which will make cuts to Medicaid.

>> If we can get ahead and work on the prevention side.

Then we're OK, cutting the cost in that area and perhaps those dollars are as needed because we're going to be a more well, Kentucky.

>> The task force her data from the nonprofit and chronic disease about what kinds of foods snap participants are consuming and what the number one most purchased product is.

>> Numerous studies show us that SNAP participants are getting more than half of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods.

The same research also shows us that sugary beverages alone.

Which contains 0 nutritional value.

The number one grocer expenditure among snap households in the U.S. Representative Matt Lockett, co-chair of the Task Force pointed out that in rural parts of the state convenience stores might be the only local food source that accepts SNAP benefits.

>> The closest place to get food might be a dollar general, which is chips and Cokes and snacks.

>> A representative from feeding Kentucky do further into Lockett's claim.

He explained how food deserts or places without nutritional options are impacting the state.

>> Quite appallingly.

One in 5 Kentucky children are food, insecure.

We have the second highest rate of hunger nationwide in the age bracket 50 to 59 and we have 4 counties in Kentucky that rank nationally when it comes to food.

Insecurity rates.

>> There are opportunities, however, to encourage and support the purchase of non processed foods.

One such program incentivizes purchases at farmers markets by doubling assistance dollars.

Another option, the Lexington Mobile market brings Kroger markets to areas without large grocery stores.

It's currently center in Lexington and serves 40 surrounding counties.

>> This is a way that they can receive that fresh produce about try traveling 10 plus miles to get it.

Also accept snap, which is a game changer for these communities.

If they don't have to use the debit cards.

>> As nearly 80% of SNAP beneficiaries are children.

The task force wants to focus on their nutrition.

It's much easier to build healthy kids than it is to heal.

Sick adult for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you so much, Emily.

Some state lawmakers asked if certain processed foods could be restricted from snap usage task force presenters said this could cause a strain on retailers but say it's not completely out of the question.

♪ >> So as you know all this week, we have come to you from Somerset Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week as we looked at business education, the arts.

>> And more in southeastern Kentucky tonight.

Our Toby gives looks at the history of and some interesting facts about the region that as we go again on the road.

>> Cumberland Pulaski, Russell and Wayne counties have a combined population of 108,000.

According to the U.S. Census of 2020 Pulaski County founded in 17, 98 is named in honor of count chasm near Pulaski, a Polish nobleman and soldier named a brigadier general by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War settlers first arrived in Wayne County and 17.

75 when Benjamin Preiss founded prices station along the Cumberland River, the county is also named for a war figure.

General Mad Anthony Wade.

It's believed Cumberland County founded in 17.

98 is named after the Cumberland River, which was named after the Duke of Cumberland and Russell County is named for Colonel William Russell, who served in both the revolution and the war of 18, 12 Union and Confederate forces clashed twice in Pulaski County during the Civil War.

The Union won the Battle of Mill Creek in January of 18.

62, the community is now called Nancy the boys in Blue also won the battle of debt until in 18.

63, the first railroad came through the area in 18.

75 bringing industry and an increase in population.

The building of the Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River led to the creation of Lake Cumberland.

The dam was built to control, flooding and create hydro electric power.

But it also turned tourism into 150 million dollar a year business.

Cumberland County was home to the first commercial oil.

Well in the U.S., though, drillers were actually looking for salt brine when they drilled in 18.

29, the county was the birthplace of Joel Owsley Cheek founder of Maxwell House Coffee and the home of Pearl Carter Pace, AKA Pistol, Packing Pearl.

The first woman elected sheriff of any county in America in 1938.

Senator John Sherman Cooper is from Somerset.

The Republican served in the U.S. Senate.

3 separate times totaling about 20 years.

He was mentor to U.S..

Senator Mitch McConnell, Miss America 1944.

Venus Ramey is from Pulaski County, along with a Rose will Monroe, one of 4 women who inspire the iconic World War.

2 figure Rosie the Riveter for Kentucky edition.

I'm Toby Gaps.

>> We thank you as always.

To be gives for that history lesson.

The capital of like Cumberland will soon become the southern anchor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2021.

Horse soldier Bourbon broke ground on its 200 million Dollar Distillery in Somerset.

The company was founded by retired U.S. Army Green Berets who served in Afghanistan and would later be named a horse soldiers for fighting against the Taliban on horseback.

The movie was based on their story and it was released in 2018 the same year.

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck began his mission to bring or soldier bourbon to Kentucky.

>> Here's that story.

>> I was at 5th Special Forces group at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

And we were actually in a training exercise when we learned about the attacks and less than a month and a half later, Greenberg ration 5th Special Forces group are inserted behind the lines in Afghanistan.

Their story was so unknown for so long and it wasn't until the movie and maybe the books and everything out of brought some notoriety.

But as I look back, we still would have done something together as friends.

It really started is just a hobby, a month's friends just to go see distilleries and then a veteran distillery lettuce actually work there.

And that's when you start thinking maybe I could.

Maybe we ought to.

When the movie came out, we finally put some of the burden.

We had been aging just for ourselves into a battle, literally credit off the label or soldier.

And that's how this brand began.

We were secretly looking for a location.

And if you want to be a good bourbon, you got to be a Kentucky bourbon.

So we had looked in Louisville and Lexington and we got an e-mail one day from the young mayor, Alan Keck, who just one his mayoral race.

And it said I would love to bring your distillery here to Somerset.

Me actually showed this downtown area.

We're in now.

And so we were buying a used truck in Indiana and we just stop by.

And we literally called him an hour out and that big and probably us for months search for where we're building our distillery today.

Before I even got sworn into office, we film the a bourbon pitch video.

>> And this is what was done.

I was sent to anybody who would listen and I learned of American freedom.

The story, you know, the horse soldiers in our soldier Bourbon from a podcast, a buddy of mine heard about him on a podcast.

So let's send him an email and see what happens.

And that led to about a 11 month recruitment.

They announced they were going to build and cut what happens.

And, you know, then supply chain and then interest rates and a slow things down.

But they never wavered in their commitment to our community could happen anywhere.

And they said we want to be in Somerset.

What makes Somerset different than any other locations that small town feel.

If you show up here in downtown, there's just a little bitty town square in a fountain.

>> And it just brings you back to that emotional small town America that most of us grew up in.

And we went to the property out the distillery.

We said this is it.

This is our forever home.

Green Berets are known as expeditionary on Turner's.

We go to remote places with very little funding.

We're a very tight-knit team and we take on problems that are unexpected.

So when you think about how you start a business, maybe you just have this idea.

Then you put the team together.

You look at the problem, you formulate a plan.

You decide how much resources and then you attack it every day.

The city of Somerset and the county and the state.

The government has helped us every step of the way.

So I say this has been a world-class example of how veterans can transition, but yet with the power of the city and local governments, it makes our dreams come true.

The distillery's name is American Freedom.

Distillery and all we wanted to do was live the American dream.

We've been defending right and this country as we defended it on its edge is is it's given us.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And the pursuit of happiness for us was a starter on business amongst their friends and families find a small town.

America places settle back into and live out the rest of our days.

Just believing in what we were defending.

>> The horror soldier Bourbon, Distillery is scheduled to open on July 4th 2026. to coincide with America's 200 and 50th birthday.

From bourbon to boating Lake.

Cumberland area has a lot to brag about when it comes to tourism.

There are more than 4 million visitors every year to Lake Cumberland.

But there is much more tenure folks to the South Eastern Kentucky region and making sure infrastructure can be a help.

Not a hindrance is top of mind.

I spoke with State Representative Josh Bray of Mount Vernon and vice chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee in Frankfort about that.

And also how state lawmakers are preparing for the upcoming budget session next year, too.

>> What can you tell us about what you're doing right now when it comes to crafting the budget and when will Republicans kinda say here's what we propose?

Will you wait till after the governor's address or when you do it before?

Yeah, I mean, so right now we just we have meetings with every stakeholder you can think of, you know, we're meeting with.

>> Universities were meeting with groups about Medicaid were meeting with providers.

I mean, you name it.

Anybody that is affiliated with the state government.

We've got meeting set within.

And so we get their feedback.

We hear their issues and then, you know, we start prepping to craft the budget itself.

As far as Tom Lawn.

I mean, that to be honest with you, I don't know.

It's one of those things.

It'll be ready when it's ready.

And and it even once it's filed, there's still a lot of work to be done.

>> And how much do you have to consider what's happening in Washington while you're even doing this kind of preparatory are and the kind of work right now, does that factor in at It absolutely does.

I mean, because of, you know, a lot of stuff that could get pastor has been passed.

You know, it's it's got an effect on the state budget.

So we're very fortunate in Kentucky.

We've got a lot of strong leadership.

So we've had a lot of conversation with, you know, our senators office with with Chairman Guthrie, Chairman Comer.

>> Just keeping up.

They KET us very well informed of what's going on.

What could be in the package.

You know that they passed the big beautiful bill, but there's other packages that are going to be worked on over the next little bit.

So mean, we're very well informed on that.

we've got our own policy issues and then we have to react to what they do with the sea as well.

Yeah, right.

>> How does the budget picture like are the state's economic picture?

Look right now?

Do you consider it healthy, vibrant?

How would you describe the law with its absolutely healthy?

You know, if you look at just where we are now, let's say compared to 5 or 6 years ago, we've built one of the largest budget reserve trust funds in the country.

We had an unprecedented amount of investments last budget cycle through House bill want something that, you know, we've never thought was possible.

Investments in the local communities, whether that's water projects, sewer projects, road projects.

There's been a lot of good things like that.

But we're also being very fiscally minded, very fiscally conservative.

We're maintaining a healthy reserve just like any family has to do at home, right?

You've got to make sure you've got a savings account built up in case of there's a rainy day or in case there's some kind of emergency.

And that's what we've done here.

So any time we say floods or tornadoes, you know, we've had cash in the bank to kind of come in and and step up and help local communities where really the Commonwealth hasn't been in that position before where we're sitting right now, the center for rural development.

This is actually a FEMA center or however, you describe where people can come here and get some disaster relief.

And so we think about we were a few months out from those devastating weather events that happened, particularly in London.

But Somerset saw.

>> Impact as well.

So when you think about natural disasters and how much more it seems that the Legislature has to respond to that in the communities have to respond.

I mean, how much more do you think the legislature needs to evaluate policy around disaster relief?

Are you already keeping pace with it?

You think?

No.

I mean, we've historically, you know, whether it was the Mayfield floods or I mean, the Mayfield tornado or the Eastern Kentucky floods a few years ago where the >> Eastern Kentucky floods this year that, you know, the flooding that went on statewide this year.

It's something that we've obviously got to be mindful of.

You know, I believe there's resiliency tax for set up this year just to kind of KET abreast on.

You know, maybe there's things we can do as a state government to make the process little better.

Maybe there's policies we can we can put in to help mitigate some of the damage.

But, you know, I fully trust that they'll that all that out.

But, you know, our focus right now just maintain the fiscal health of the commonwealth.

So that if something does happen, you know, we've got the resources to respond.

>> Let's zoom in and talk about this region.

There was a pretty flattering report that came out in Kentucky monthly about the way the fiscal health of Somerset, Pulaski County.

Right.

And we look at overall what's happening here.

Do you see that in areas Rockcastle County, other areas where, you know, there's a regional focus is not just Somerset Pulaski proper, that's benefiting, but that is really causing some growth in the areas that surround it.

>> Yeah.

And you know, that's one of the things I'm most excited about because I come from a local government background and I can remember just locally win, you know, maybe a city and county didn't get along or maybe this county was doing something great.

But this county was.

And so we were everybody was like Solow, but it's not that way anymore.

I mean, if you look at it, you know, some of the large investments are large projects we've got going on there, the regional in nature, you know, in my home county, they've got a mega site that was funded through House Bill one, but it's a regional project.

Rockcastle County, Garrett County in Lincoln County came together to form a partnership in order to make that happen and the same things going on down here.

You know, when you look at what's going on in this entire region, this a travel corridor down 4.61 from I-seventy 5.

I mean it a lot of it is.

We've got very strong leaders in all of these counties and all the cities and and they work well together.

And, you know, the that report was a testament to that.

Yeah, yeah, we're do.

You think there could be some more strengthening if you could look at a 5 year strategic plan?

What would be a couple of the elements you think should be first and foremost.

>> In Pulaski County, in particular, you know, like Cumberland is a huge tourist destination, particularly from out of state people.

You know, I watch him every weekend.

Get off in Rockcastle County and you know, it backs up traffic tremendously on a long 4.61.

So weak it.

But, you know, back home, it's it's difficult to travel on Fridays or Sundays.

You know, when people are coming or going right.

And so within the transportation plan, we widen for 61 made sure that the money was there for the design and implementation of that the to connect the Cumberland Parkway to the interstate, to make that the interstates power, that that money has been allocated.

There.

This region here.

A lot of it is road infrastructure because they've got, you know, the water infrastructure, the sewer infrastructure, just making sure that that's available.

That's done that that I know in speaking with local leaders, that's always our number one priority is hey, can we widen forcing I wanted to make it easier for people from Ohio to get in here.

>> I'll have more of my conversation with state representative brain next week.

When we talk about artificial intelligence and public policy that could come to address that technology.

In nearby Cumberland County leaders are taking a unique approach to encourage its young people to get involved and stay involved in their community alongside an internship program, the Cumberland County Civics Club is a fully staffed fiscal court formed by students from the local high school.

>> That one of the things that we found was a primary problem is they didn't have a voice.

They didn't have a seat at the table.

Fortunately here in Cumberland County, Fiscal court, all of the magistrates thereof.

Gave the youth of our county, not just one seat at the table, but multiple seats at the table.

>> Coming up on Monday, we take a closer look at how Cumberland County is combating the so-called brain drain.

♪ ♪ >> Enjoy some yoga art or the sound of music this weekend.

>> Our Toby Gibbs has those options and more and this look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Yoga enthusiast.

Practice the downward dog while hanging out with bison this Saturday and big Bone lick State historic site.

Bring your yoga mat.

Spend an hour going through a guided yoga session alongside bison.

The class is open to all skill levels.

The ice or art center is putting its permanent collection on display this weekend.

The exhibition features artwork the center has collected over the past 68 years.

These art pieces showcase the history of the center and how its identity has been shaped.

>> Take a trip back in time at the Midsummer in chanted Week ended Eminence where your best Flower crown watched of jousting and spent some quality time with your friends and family at this Renaissance Faire happening Saturday and Sunday.

If you're in Morehead this Saturday, head to landing strip campground for the Wild roots market with over 60 vendors, live music and fresh produce.

This is a great event to spend under the summer sun.

But the S P ends and community theater fans.

The our center for the arts is putting on Rodgers and Hammerstein's the sound of music Saturday and Sunday grab a ticket and support some local talent.

Fans of the anime and those who want to try cost playing for the first time an inmate tested Frankfort is on Saturday.

Hear from the voice.

Actors participated trivia and getting community with those who enjoy the style of Japanese animation.

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

I'm told to get.

>> Thank Youto big ebbs and the Master Music festival is happening in Somerset and we are not talking Donna talking about Somerset in southeastern Kentucky.

We spoke with Somerset Mayor Alan Keck on yesterday's Kentucky Edition as you'll remember, he ran for governor in 2023, what are his future political plans?

Will we give you the lowdown on Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central on Kentucky EDITION where we inform connect and inspire.

Thanks for joining us all this week from Somerset.

We've got some great programming and stories coming up.

>> Next week on Kentucky EDITION.

And you can send us an idea by email at public affairs at KET Dot Org.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you Monday night.

Taking care.

♪