♪ >> She's definitely someone that I would be excited to support heading into November.

We action from Kentucky.

Democrats on changes at the top of the ticket.

>> Well, this year actually fits the bill more closely than any other possible contender.

>> What our Governor, Andy Beshear's chances now to be the VP.

>> It is my firm belief Director Cheatle that you should resign.

>> Kentucky congressman asks for the Secret Service director to resign.

And today she did.

>> It's not just about individual protection.

It's about community immunity.

>> Plus, Kentucky sees an outbreak of whooping cough.

What you can do to protect yourself and others.

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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday, July 23rd.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for winding down your Tuesday with us.

>> We have more Kentucky reaction tonight as Vice President Kamala Harris now has an a fella cuts to win the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.

According to the Associated Press, she needed the support of 1976 delegates.

The AP says with the support of numerous state delegations, including Kentucky, she has now surpassed that number.

She's also getting key endorsements, including from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

USA TODAY reports Harris has asked for information from 7 potential running mates, but so far Governor Beshear has not been asked.

President Joe Biden will address the nation tomorrow night at 8 Eastern 7 central about his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.

And you can see that speech live right here on KET.

Coleman Elbridge chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party put out a statement about Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign for the presidency.

It says in part, quote, Vice President Harris has a remarkable record of public service from tackling housing costs is a U.S. senator to protecting consumers as California's chief law enforcement Officer Harris is ready to serve as president on day one and finish the job that Joe Biden started end quote.

The Warren County Democratic Party in Kentucky tells us its excited to rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

The tell us the message they hope to see moving forward.

He's one of unity.

Our Laura Rogers has more from Bowling Green.

>> My phone has not stopped ringing.

My inbox is getting inundated with people who are excited.

Jeanne Smith, this chair of the Warren County Democratic Executive Committee.

She calls President Joe Biden's exit from the race and important decision.

It's making decisions for the best of the country for the good of the people.

And I think that's what he ultimately decided to do.

Smith says she's not overly concerned about the timing of that decision.

Despite their only being about 3 and a half months to go until the general election.

I'm not worried about this change at all.

If anything, I think it's made people realize how exciting politics can be.

She believes the unfolding events and created energy within the Democratic Party and says her chapter is eager to hit the campaign trail.

Once we have a nominee, we are all hands on deck.

We're going to push that campaign forward and through the finish line that nominee is presumed to be vice President Kamala Harris.

She is definitely someone that I would be excited to support.

>> It's not like all of a sudden you're going from an unpopular candidate to a popular.

>> One, Scott Lasley as chair of the WKU Political Science Department.

Right now, Vice President Harris's favor ability ratings are somewhat similar to Joe Biden's.

>> He expects the GOP to portray Harris as an extension of the Biden administration, especially on issues of immigration and inflation.

>> What the big difference is she's going to have this next month or so, really as a roll out where she can introduce yourself to a lot of people across the country, even though she's been vice president.

Lot of people now are a lot of people don't know very well.

He says one way people will learn more about her candidacy.

Her choice and a running mate who got a probably a handful of choices.

You know, a lot of folks mentioned a number of governors, including the Bahia, obviously and this year's on the list.

>> And that excites.

Kentucky Democrats like Jeanne Smith.

I think he has shown that he is a compassionate leader who's willing to make hard choices and serve the public.

>> For the most part, vice presidential candidates don't move the needle a whole lot.

>> But he says it is an opportunity to assemble a team creating the message you send to voters for the most part of a presidential candidate.

You really want to wait making mistake, particularly as you're going to see yourself to a lot of folks that don't know me very well.

>> We want our government to be functional.

We want to be functioning for the people.

>> I'm not going to be the message that the Democrats are going to have to get out there.

>> And Jeanne Smith and the Warren County Democrats say they aim to help spread that message.

As we draw closer to the November general election.

>> We'll send it to members a delegate and a volunteer to the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago reporting for Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers, Renee.

We're up today.

Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Wisconsin to campaign in her first battleground state.

Democratic leaders, Charles Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries also officially gave her their endorsement.

Well, Democratic consultant will Carly of Kentucky has worked with more than 40 political campaigns over the last 20 years.

A frequent commentator here on KET.

I talked with him a bit ago about the change at the top of the ticket and the political stock that keeps rising for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as he makes headlines as a possible pick for VP.

>> Democratic strategist Mo Carly, thank you so much for a few minutes of your time this afternoon.

>> That you're having your name.

>> So let's talk about the big story of the week so far.

And that's Kamala Harris who today has same to secure enough delegates to be the presumptive nominee, Democratic nominee for president.

There are some, as you know, Mister Carly who are saying this was rigged all along for her.

And then essentially there's going to be a coronation.

Your response to that?

>> I don't know where those people get that information from.

Look, I think Joe Biden had a very difficult debate He's been the best president of my lifetime.

No doubt.

But we obviously we're beginning to see feel his age and in order for the country move forward, Joe Biden does what he does.

Every time he put the country first.

I think Kamala Harris as vice president is served honorably and has done a great job to creating one of the greatest economic recoveries in American history.

And the job numbers in the economy proves that as well as ushering in credible amount of pandemic relief.

And making sure that working class Americans have a real shot at the American dream.

Again.

So, no, I don't think it was some kind of conspiracy or a coronation.

I think kids.

A promotion for really for her for her great work and all the things she's been able to do.

And I look for her being our next president.

>> So given the fact that all of this kind of came to a head around what one?

45 1.46?

In a Sunday afternoon.

And Kamala Harris, the vice president, has a bold been able to raise.

If you count other money.

She raised 81 million dollars within 24 hours.

And that doesn't count either It which is been said that history-making when it comes to a presidential contest.

This early on.

What does that mean in terms of the delicate process now, right when the DNC, I understand they're setting the rules for the convention.

How does this change with the convention would normally look like considering these developments or does it change it at all?

>> So I think it's not going to change it.

Now, the Associated Press just ran a survey of Democratic has the vice President Harris has 1976 of them pledged, which is the threshold for sure that she will be the So it's my understanding the party will do the roll call vote next week before can the convention convenes?

>> And she'll be the nominee.

So I don't think you're going to see any positioning are jockeying around floor Doesn't look like there's anybody with any to challenge Certainly no incredible.

And they shouldn't so really now with the the the storyline will be is who will she's like this for vice president and how will that affect the ticket?

>> So you essentially just at answered a question I was going to ask does where she stands with that delegate count meeting.

That threshold mean that that does edge out in a kind of competition that could surge at the last minute that pretty much puts back to bed.

You say.

>> Yes, I think that is wrapped up.

Again, shes that game is over.

Yeah.

>> So now let's talk about the VP position, right?

A lot of scuttlebutt around Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and of course he's commented on morning Joe yesterday.

Be ram that sound where he talked about he wants to do what's in the best interest of Kentucky.

But, you know, you have to give it some thought.

What are you?

How do you think he stands right now?

And who do you think are it is the top 3 contenders when it comes to of the peace elections.

>> I think number one, the other big 80.

But this year stamp, right?

I'm a big fan of his.

He's the most popular Democratic governor in the country and one of the most popular governors period in the country I'm certain he is on a short list for vice president I just don't think you can be have a better profile actually for somebody that's going to be Kamala Harris's governing partner for the next 4 years.

And running mate.

But I think other people on that list are Governor Roy Cooper from North Carolina.

Governor Shapiro from Pennsylvania, Mark Kelly from Arizona is a senator there.

And my guess is Governor Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan.

Some of the things we have to think about, though, are the dynamics that all consultants and strategists went over.

You know, should there be 2 women?

Can we afford to lose a Senate seat as Roy Cooper to old as well at 67 as Josh Shapiro in his first year as in his first term as governor.

Is he too and season?

So when you really look at everything, I think Governor Beshear actually fits the bill more closely than any other possible contender to be the next Vice President United States.

Right.

So what is the really bring?

I mean, he doesn't bring the electoral votes in Kentucky is going to be probably squarely behind.

>> Donald Trump in this election.

What does he bring to Kamala Harris?

Well, I think he has an incredible jobs record.

Number one, an incredible record and economic growth in a southern state that a trail behind most of the nation.

>> For my entire lifetime.

But he also brings a sense of compassion and integrity.

He's a man of faith that really focuses on his family values and treating your neighbor like you would treat yourself I think those those values resonate in Wisconsin and Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Guests in North Carolina.

And I think that will translate if you look at the history of running mates in the past, there are not a lot of people that come from swing states.

It's people that can connect as well as the top of the ticket, whether that's Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton picked Tim Kaine from Virginia, not a swing state at the time was pretty blue eyes.

Donald Trump picks Mike Pence from Indiana it's I think.

Who's the best partner for you in the long term gives you strength where you might have some weaknesses where your weaknesses are where you're running.

Mate strengths, I think for Kamala obviously is from California and is, you know, been a prosecutor and vice president and the She's never had any executive experience outside of that AG Office.

Governor Beshear shares that AG office.

But he's also put and asing years as governor of a common one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

And I think his ability to talk about domestic issues, issues that states are facing a and hostile state legislature's because sometimes the Congress doesn't exactly get along with the executive branch very well.

He's shown that he can work within those spaces and really bring great results.

And I think that that's something he definitely brings to the table.

>> Well, Carly Democratic strategist, we always a preacher and appreciate your insights.

Thank you so much for your time.

Hey, thank you so much for having me here next.

And other political news today, Kimberly Cheatle resigned today as head of the U.S. Secret Service members of Congress from both parties called for her resignation yesterday.

Has she testified about the July 13th assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania during a Trump rally, a sniper fired at Trump from a rooftop, wounding Trump and 2 other people and killing a retired firefighter Congressman James Comer of Kentucky, chair of the House Oversight Committee was among those calling for her to step down.

Here is Congressman Comer from yesterday.

>> The Secret Service has a 0 fail mission, but it failed on July 13th and in the days leading up to the rally.

The Secret Service has the aos and of employees and a significant budget.

But it has now become the face of incompetence.

The committee has a long track record of providing oversight of the Secret Service.

Our predecessors.

But Jason Chaffetz and Elijah Cummings among others worked together to get issue warnings and recommendations to address on the shortcomings in the agency's makeup and operations.

Unfortunately, those warnings and recommendation have gone unheeded.

A former president and current candidate for president was shot in the head by a sniper within 500 feet of the podium.

This is We're concerned the Secret Service lacks the proper management to KET protectees safe from bad Americans demand answers, but they have not been getting them from the Secret Service.

We are instead learning about new facts about the events surrounding the attempted it assassination every day from whistleblowers and leagues.

Americans demand accountability, but no one is yet to be fired for this historic failure to today's witness.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle who is here under subpoena to answer questions about how the agency failed President Trump and the victims who attended the rally in Butler, It is my firm belief Director Cheatle that you should >> also today the U.S. House announced a bipartisan committee will investigate the Trump assassination attempt and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky criticized the Democratic lead U.S. Senate for not taking any oversight action.

Now turning back to Kentucky, we're learning more about the speaker's lineup for the annual Fancy Farm picnic and western Kentucky.

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman will not be among the speakers, according to the pick.

Next political Chairman Stephen Elder, we reported last week that Governor Andy Beshear would not be there.

Kentucky secretary of state Michael Adams will be speaking and we still haven't heard from U.S..

Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul about whether or not they will attend.

Kentucky is among the top 10 states with the most natural disasters.

That's according to data collected from FEMA between 2011 2023 by New York University's Institute for Public Knowledge, Kentucky made the top 10 list with 20 federal disasters and a 13 year period.

Flooding is the most common disaster in the U.S..

According to FEMA, a majority of federal disaster declarations made in Kentucky were the result of flooding.

The report also ranked counties with the highest number of disasters, 8 eastern Kentucky counties landed among the top 10 in the nation with Johnson County at number one.

Data shows those counties had 4 to 5 times more disasters than the national average between 13 to 15 disasters compared to the national average.

A 3 many of the counties that made the list were hit by deadly flooding in 2022.

Friday will mark the two-year anniversary of that disaster that claimed more than 40 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes.

And we have more disaster news.

A new report looks at the link between surface coal mining and the 2022 eastern Kentucky floods and some western Kentucky tornado victims are getting new homes.

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

♪ >> Volunteers of America Mid States will spend $123,000 to ensure more black women get access to treatment for substance.

Use disorders.

The Kentucky Lantern reports the Kentucky Association of Health Plans awarded the Money to Access Justice to fund a study on the effectiveness of the non-profit Freedom House.

The program is for pregnant and parenting.

Women who have substance use disorders.

Jennifer Hancock, the president of Volunteers of America, Mid States tells the Lantern this move is a response to the high rates of maternal mortality along black women and the disproportionately high overdose rates among black Kentucky ends.

The results of the study are expected in April of 2025.

♪ Recent studies suggest the Eastern Kentucky floods in July of 2022. were worsened by the environmental damage from surface coal mining, the Kentucky Lantern cites a recent study published by Kentucky's former top geologist Bill Haine Berg who compared water amounts in surface mined areas to an mined areas in some of the counties hardest hit by the 2022.

Flood.

According to the study, 50% more water poured into areas adjacent to mind land and 50 to 150% more poured into small tributaries originating from Milan.

Hamburg tells a Kentucky Lantern.

He believes his study shows surface coal mining made the floods, quote, significantly worse on quote.

♪ Several families displaced by the December 2021.

Tornado outbreak in Western Kentucky now have new homes.

The Paducah Sun reports the Appalachian Service Project collaborating with the Graves County Long Term Recovery group to build 12 new homes in Mayfield, Mayfield resident William Parker received a new home after his house was destroyed by the storms.

He tells the Paducah Sun the group's work was, quote, a godsend and quote.

Kentucky tourism has released a free game to give people the opportunity to explore some of the state's attractions.

Louisville public Media reports the Great Big Kentucky adventure features an old-school pixel art style and place.

Similarly to a classic Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis Game.

Players can defeat monsters.

Jump over obstacles, collect coins or cookies and explore places such as cage cities.

Dinosaur world and the forest giants of Shepherdsville.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm told he gives.

♪ >> Kentuckians are turning to weight loss drugs at a higher rate than the rest of the country.

Details in today's medical news.

Data from Purple Lab.

The health care analytics company shows a little over one percent of adults in the U.S. have taken glp one drugs like Ozempic for weight loss.

The company says among adults in Kentucky.

That number is almost double Purple Lab says at least 2.6% or nearly 120,000 Kentuckians have taken the drug since last year and eastern Kentucky, more than 5% of adults are using glp one drugs.

The drugs are commonly used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

But they've exploded in popularity as off-label weight-loss drugs, Kentucky has the 7th highest diabetes rate and 11th highest obesity rate in the country.

State health officials say Kentucky is seeing an increase in protest.

This case is commonly known as whooping cough.

Experts say one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from whooping cough is by staying up to date on your immunizations.

And tonight, a medical news, Kentucky additions Clayton Dalton talks about where the state currently stands and what Kentuckians can do to stay safe.

>> Kentucky health officials say they've identified 130 cases of pertussis or whooping cough.

So far this year, Lexington has seen some of the worst of the outbreak.

>> My hometown of Lexington, we've experienced a concerning how break of whooping cough also known as pertussis.

According to recent reports, they've been over 50 confirmed cases in just the past few months.

Will be cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can be particularly dangerous for infants and young children causing severe coughing, fits breathing difficulties in some cases, even death.

This outbreak is a stark reminder of what can happen when immunization rates fall.

It's not just about individual protection.

It's about community immunity.

>> Experts say the decrease in immunization rates is a lingering effect from the COVID-19 pandemic.

>> During the disruptions of the pandemic, many families fell behind on their routine wellness checkups.

And with them, they recommended immunizations.

Immunization rates in Kentucky have still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels that drought in community immunity is fueling the return of these vaccine.

Preventable illnesses like measles and pertussis diseases mentioned we've really not seen in their prime since the Victorian era.

They are dangerous.

Highly communicable disease that have been eradicated until recently.

And we're starting to face the perfect storm scenario where Foles in our community immunity are only becoming larger as those immunization rates to climb.

>> Getting vaccinated is an individual choice, but it impacts others.

The higher the vaccination rate in the community, the more protected it is from diseases like whooping cough.

>> As students head back to school reminded of the critical role that immunizations play protecting the health of our communities.

Immunizations are one of the most effective public health interventions.

We have.

To protect our children from preventable diseases and help maintain the overall health of our communities.

>> Children should be vaccinated against whooping cough before kindergarten and teens and adults should re up at least every 10 years.

For Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

And this year's legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill 274. which allows pharmacists to continue providing vaccinations to patients 5 years and older, increasing access for families across the state for more information about the whooping cough vaccine.

The state urges you to talk with your doctor.

♪ ♪ >> One of Kentucky's most high-profile golf tournaments is moving from Nicholasville to Louisville.

Louisville's Valhalla Golf Club is already home to the PGA Championship one year from now, the river city will also host the Isco Championship.

One of the stops on the PGA Tour.

>> For just such an important part of our city.

We have the Kentucky Derby every year.

We talked about the PGA Championship.

Right now we're hosting the country's largest women's basketball tournament is right here in Louisville as it's going on right now.

There's so much more every day.

So from Muhammad Ali to Lamar Jackson, Justin Thomas, we've got some great local sports heroes were excited to crowns a new local sports heroes here at the is going to get the chips welcome PGA Tour to Louisville, Kentucky.

Thank you all so much to come >> Next year, Hearst Born Country Club will host the championship.

Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville has held that event for the last 7 years.

The World Class event 4 million dollar purse to the top golfer.

Proceeds from the its Gold Championship will go to the Windy Novak Diabetes Institute in Louisville.

♪ ♪ >> Coming up tomorrow, the school year is getting closer.

We'll Kentucky's biggest school system be ready.

>> A few weeks ago, the Board of Education went into an agreement with tart to have 70 drivers come over and assist us in our best rates this year and getting them ready and certified to be on the road this year requires several significant steps.

>> How the Jefferson County Public School system is reaching out to city bus drivers as part of a strategy to get more drivers ready for the first day of school.

That story and much more tomorrow Wednesday on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope that you'll join us for at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our Kentucky Edition, e-mail newsletters and watch full episodes and clips of KET Dot Org can also find us on the PBS video app on your mobile devices.

Smart TV.

Send us a story idea at the address on your screen and of course, follow KET on all the social media channels, Facebook X and Instagram.

Stanley, thanks so much for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw now.

See you here tomorrow night.

Take it.

♪