♪ >> It's a milestone for gas prices in Kentucky.

But this time it's good news.

>> The ruling doesn't ban abortion, doesn't big.

Lots of Bush.

>> Kentucky Senator Rand Paul speaks on whether American needs a nationwide abortion ban.

I think that.

>> The more that technology is integrated, your lives, the more a part of this craze, something more Penn made.

>> And made a couple of heavy metal artist.

And we don't mean music.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Tuesday, July 26th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Tuesday evening with us gas on average is now below $4 a gallon in Kentucky.

AAA says the average price of gas in Kentucky is $3 and $0.96 for a gallon of unleaded lower than the national average of almost 4.33. a month ago, the Kentucky average was $4 and $0.63.

So it's dropped almost $0.70 since then.

Today, Edmonson County has the lowest average at 3.55.

Jefferson County is at 4.27 and Fayette County is at 4.23.

Last expensive gas is welcome news for people who make a living and tourism and hospitality.

It's an industry already hurt by the COVID pandemic.

Now the state's tourism industry can apply for 75 million dollars in help from the state.

But the people applying will have to show the impact of the virus in order to be eligible.

25 million will go to local tourism commission's so they can promote their communities.

25 million will be used to attract conventions and meetings.

15 million will go to statewide marketing this afternoon, we spoke to Mike Berry Secretary, the Kentucky Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet for more.

>> Kentucky is a great place to live to work and play and the governor and the General Assembly in a very historic bipartisan manner.

A lot of 75 million dollars for the tourism industry in.

And we're excited that we're beginning that process, that 75 million dollars of federal money is divided into 4 pools.

Are they call it ranches?

But these affect different segments.

The tourism market.

So, for instance, the first pool would be used to promote Kentucky as a destination.

The second pool will be able to go to tourism throughout the commonwealth.

So the more impactful that tourism is in that community, the more they will be eligible for the 3rd cooler.

3rd tranche of money will be determined by the square footage of meetings and conference centers and convention centers.

So that will actually go to those convention and visitors bureaus and knows tourism commissions that operate facilities.

The 4th pool is a competitive grant program that takes into consideration multi-jurisdictional promotion and marketing.

In other words, you could have 2 different attractions or or or 2 different areas of the state go together and market tourism to come to them.

When we do surveys, people tell us that they view Kentucky is a safe destination they thought that we behave responsibly during the pandemic and people are willing to come and travel to Kentucky.

We're we're seeing the strength of outdoor tourism, as we always have an outdoor recreation lakes.

Of course, our state parks, et But we're also return to travel in our cities and communities and as well.

And and that's new this year.

People are taking those weekend trips and going to Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green Ashlynn Northern Kentuckyian spend some time in the urban areas as well.

Tourism was about 11.8 billion economic impact for the state which is huge during COVID.

That number in Twenty-twenty drop to about 8.9 billion.

>> We have not yet published the 2021 numbers, but I can tell you it is come back strongly.

And I look at the trends that we're seeing him 2022 and I think we're going to be back at that 2019 number a lot quicker than any of us ever would have guessed.

There is a lot of pent-up demand for people to travel.

you know, we're telling people across not only the nation but the world.

Kentucky is the place you need to be.

>> About an hour ago on social media platform, Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer criticized the governor for taking credit for the 75 million been allocated to the tourism industry by the General Assembly.

More on that on tomorrow's edition of Kentucky EDITION.

Kentucky's COVID positivity rate is up again.

The state says it's now 19.11%.

That's compared to 17.7 just last week, 80 of the state's 120 counties are in the red zone backs up from 61 a week before.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky says it's proper for states to decide whether abortion should be legal.

The decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court June 24th to eliminate the federal constitutional right to abortion.

Senator Paul spoke to pastors at the Galt House in Louisville today.

Afterward he was asked if he favors a nationwide ban on abortion.

This video is from the Courier Journal.

>> One of the things about federalism and hasn't been discussed much because I think it's become such a partisan issue in this or that nerve.

Nobody wants anything to do with the rational, intelligent discussion about it.

But there's an intelligent discussion about this.

The ruling doesn't ban abortion.

It doesn't because abortion.

The ruling allows the states to decide who is going to happen is many states and many cultures in those states are very much in in favor of abortion.

And the longtime California, Illinois, New York >> and I-15 20 others say they're going to still have very, very play unrestricted access, if not subsidize access to abortion.

No state.

You have some restrictions.

The state ordered for people living in different states.

And we know from sort of societal more isn't federalism allows us to live in the same country and have disagreements and people tend to sort of gravitate to you know, sovereign and the states that they really were.

And so California has gotten more and more of that little New York is one more little in Kentucky says were conservative but I think federal as well as people to pick and choose.

And I think that there will be different laws in different states.

And I think there will be a good way for us to figure out this new path.

>> In other news, how much fraud exists in Kentucky's public assistance programs?

Well, that was one of the many topics during last night's Kentucky tonight here on KET is we discussed work wages and welfare.

Our panel discussed how much fraud there really is.

What should be done about it and whether or not fraud is limited to just the poor.

>> Well, front does exist in every program.

I think we saw that a little bit with unemployment insurance and maybe more than a little bit with snap in particular.

It is very specifically what they call intentional program violations.

Just one when someone is intentionally giving incorrect information is less than one percent.

We are very high government transfer state.

>> You need to be to bring in a lot of federal and state related benefits.

And Kentucky's always kind of had an attitude of being somewhat satisfied with that status quo.

So I think it's very reasonable to take a deep dive into those issues and to try to dissect, why do we have such high rates, a government transfer?

Why do we have so many people are dependent on benefits and see if there is anything structural at play that the legislature can address.

The other thing I would add to that is, you know, I I do think Friday is ultimately worth looking into and that's this something that should be closely track.

I think most people would agree that.

>> Any program where taxpayers are getting Should have integrity.

And what I mean by integrity is that people who should be on the program are able to get on it without formidable barriers.

And that's something that test and in some of his writings has certainly of size, but as well, a program with integrity would mean that people who shouldn't be on the program aren't on the program, the amount of money that went to the airline for Temple.

>> It's comparable to the amount that's gone to the Ukraine, Ukraine or to take and we want to make sure just wasn't used for stock buybacks, higher salaries for executives.

>> With that?

>> Cash reserves.

Things like that that really went into maintaining employment and program within the company's 4 employees.

So there's 2 sides to it.

Would you know, people focus a lot on brought among the poor.

We have to make sure that there's not among the powerful and wealthy too.

>> Our panel also discussed the percentage of adults in Kentucky who are not part of the workforce.

Panelist Dustin P go policy director for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy so that many mothers can work outside the home because of the difficulty and cost finding quality child care.

And speaking of which Kentucky's legislators are working on ways to improve access to childcare and early learning the cost of high quality childcare is an obstacle for many parents, especially women entering and staying in the workforce.

Average child care costs in Kentucky rival college tuition at around $12,000 a year for one child, the Kentucky General Assembly established a task force to create proposals to improve the early education system.

Last legislative session.

The group met earlier today to hear from business groups already providing child care for their employees.

Our Casey Parker-bell filed this report.

>> Really what we want to hammer home here today is the.

Significant stresses that the access to quality child care for working families is placing on the ability of individuals to actively participate in the workforce.

>> There are about 180,000 open jobs across Kentucky and for every 2 jobs, there's only one person actively seeking work.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says childcare Why many people are leaving their jobs?

>> got feedback from working families that about 50% of them won in 2.

Its site childcare as the reason that they exit the workforce.

And when you look at women in particular, it's about 3 quarters.

>> To help with employee retention, some businesses are offering child care to employees.

And today legislators heard testimony from Kentucky businesses that are already providing child care on site representatives from Rockcastle Hospital and Toyota say the programs are valuable but that they lose money, providing them.

>> It's truly is not about making money.

You need to expect losses because you will have them as we do most every year.

And the positives far outweigh the monetary loss.

>> You know, just having that child care Development Center.

We believe is a an advantage for us when it comes to hiring and retaining.

>> Toyota's onsite daycare has over 80 children on the waitlist to get in and they're having trouble finding people to work in the child Care Center and the director of Rock Castle Hospitals, Child Development Center says people creating programs like theirs should expect a losses.

But Senator Danny Carroll says increasing the options for families that need childcare is central to solving the problem.

>> We've got to make it where it's mainstream for larger businesses, not just 2, he'll pay for childcare but to provide team to have a center at that facility.

That's that's our goal.

That's what we've got to do is a state.

We've got it.

Expand the number of facilities we we can't just work on the demand.

We've got to work on the supply.

>> Bovell Representative Josie Raymond says she has concerns about using workplaces as the backbone for child care across the state.

And Charles, all from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce says there are concerns for businesses that may be interested in starting their own child care programs.

>> I worry someone losing their job and their child care.

At the same moment, that would be a double whammy that I think would make it nearly impossible to to back on steady footing.

But another conversation that players one factor influencing that decision is often a liability conversation because as the employer, especially if you're a large employer, you take on an on-site child care center.

You are opening yourself up.

>> 2 potential liability associate of running that center for employers.

Losing employees can be expensive.

>> The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce says that the cost of replacing a worker can be up to 150% of the last employee's salary for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker-bell.

>> Thank you, Casey.

Parts of 2 Kentucky highways now honor a U.S. Marine killed in a crash in Norway and March.

Corporal Jacob Moore of Catlettsburg was one of 4 Marines killed March 19th yesterday.

The state renamed Parts of Highway One, 80 and Highway 3 in Boyd County after corporal more Moore was a 2016 graduate.

A Boyd County High School.

♪ Weather is a big these days.

And in part 2 of our interview with Kentucky AG Commissioner Ryan Quarles, we talk about the impact of the recent drought conditions on farmers and their crops and the tornado recovery efforts on ad communities.

The commissioner talks first, though, about the weather's toll on crop yields.

>> The damage, unfortunately, has been done, especially for so our Ro Cross particular corn that that excessive heat long period without rain really cause issues of pollination.

And that's going to cause severe reduction and yields and there's some corn.

It won't be harvested at all.

And then and the non real crop in areas like their cattle We know that anytime there's a shortage of hey causes the price of raising beef to go up.

And so we did see a period of some cattle being sold off just because I know the hay issue going to be little bit more severe.

However, as of late July, things are looking a lot better across the state.

However, the further out West you go the worse the conditions are.

We do know that out and west and western Kentucky around the land between the both sides, there's going to be complete, you'll losses.

And so we really could have used a route soaker rain about a month ago that would have been one of crop saving rains.

But unfortunately, part of the state didn't get it.

>> Raising hope campaign, which sounds like a very optimistic and hopeful slogan.

What does that encompass?

We know that mental health issues exist all across Kentucky.

>> However, out our farming communities as a farm kid myself, sometimes we're kind of considered individualistic are rugged were last persons that may have to knowledge.

We need to go talk with someone for help, but we know that especially during COVID that America is experiencing a mental health crisis and we want to make sure that all Kentucky INS, particularly those in rural areas, know that there is help available.

We have a new suicide prevention hotline and just went online.

That's 9, 8, 8, call that if you know someone, if yourself need some help but raising hope campaign does exactly this.

It brings together a lot of tools in the tool box, something like a utility bill fall of options.

We have a new smartphone that people can get on and say checking on your mental health.

We also have collaboration with the University of Louisville Nursing Schools are getting nursing students out into rural areas to not just checked blood pressure, make sure to other tetanus shot.

But hey, are you doing OK?

It's have some mental health conversations as well.

We know that the suicide rate among American farmers is unacceptably high.

It rivals those of of our our that of our veterans as well.

A lot of folks don't know.

That is going to say that's probably not widely known at all.

And one of the problems are is that we simply don't have good data about knowing what exactly the problem is and how to define it.

And so we're working with the University of Kentucky and the Center as well to get out among communities.

We're sponsoring a farmer events across the state were we asked people to voluntarily to a survey as we get better information about how to better define the problem.

So for us, it's not only reminded Kentuckians that there are resources.

Visit our website raising hope there is a hotline, 9, 8, 8, if you or someone, you know, might be going through some tough times.

And the last point I'll make on this is that and the farm community, we talk sometimes a different language than a lot of folks may not be familiar with that.

We go through a drought.

Both we go through a flood or if we a a a bag, a crop or one through bad financial, a situation.

Sometimes the person on the other end of that hot line needs to be educated on what it means to go through a drought.

What it what a flood means.

Excedrin or have the NGO called on a far mortgage.

And so we're actually trying to train our responders to know farm talk a little bit better as well.

That's interesting.

>> Reminds me of what the AI community, which is really heavy and western Kentucky area that was devastated by the tornadoes of December 10th and 11th.

But I just think about what is the impact on?

I mean, their equipment with that?

We know.

I mean, sure is that's no small investment.

if there were insured, etcetera, I mean, can you talk a little bit about that?

>> More piecing together Western and West Kentucky.

And actually we had tornado damage on farms as far east as Spencer County alone.

And so 200 miles of destruction.

And so one of the things we know for a fact of the tornadoes adversely her agriculture more than any other industry.

And of course, a loss of human life was staggering and really sad.

We also are going to be spending probably in my estimate 5 to 10 years cleaning up the tornado damaged, including flat tires.

How the Beatles from the brink said rep. And so we're really good about working with our extension agents working with Kentucky Farm Bureau, my office and and other cloud Raiders.

We raised 1.6 million dollars of donations to get back out those farms which are affected.

And we're about to deplete those funds.

And so we're not playing games with tornado relief funds.

We're getting it back out into the community.

We're helping them out.

>> Last night we talked with commissioner calls about his bid for the Republican nomination for governor.

You can see that on our website at KET Dot Org slash Kentucky edition.

♪ >> Into buildings near downtown Louisville.

A small village has sprung up.

Hope Village is a Tenet community providing shelter and other resources for those experiencing homelessness.

And as you'll see putting up the tents is opening doors for the city's homeless.

>> Then home with.

We kind of lose hope news, 12 new direction.

To help better give him something that I believe that every bad and the stability.

>> So outdoor space is really just a sanction space.

That secure enough for people can feel comfortable living outdoors where they can come and gather and live in community with each other and be safe.

The whole village.

It is a referral based program they were friends come from at this city, but we have the capacity to hold 53 that we have to have a separate areas.

We have one area that is very much community, kind of focus.

And then our second space is actually whether residents live.

And we tell people that's the home it provides basic >> That light looking up and warrants fresh close to a meal, especially when this hot that no basic needs.

It's really, really hard to get.

Get around it.

Even death have a stable life.

>> All of our partners and providers come here, which is one thing that is very different from some of the services that we see.

Each of our residents are signed, a care manager.

And so they have to meet with them weekly as well as we have what we call family meetings.

And those are mandatory as well.

What we do is we create resources, but we try to commit.

We try to be a breeze, connect all of these things that are out there for people that people don't know about.

>> It wasn't for this place.

I wanted to get consistent council.

Consistent, very consistent medication.

Man, am I know great.

You wake up in the morning.

The medication go.

>> We're trying to work with everyone to get housing, a lot of what we do is just making people feel stable, feel cared about.

>> The people here they can motivate.

I mean, the process of going back to Cannes things getting my degree in business management.

I believe that my purpose is to help you been would have Yeah there.

This is transformational work, right?

This is not transitional.

This is not a solution.

It's a stepping stone is the difference between a village in a group of people all program.

Lot.

I believe it's more personal.

That's where anybody in the air comes together to help each other.

Surviving the ground.

>> Whole villages, a yearlong pilot project and residents can stay for the entire year.

Angel Todd said she is hopeful the city will approve the project for at least another 2 or 3 years.

♪ And the U.S. there are roughly 500 professional blacksmiths all creating vastly different work.

But very few are blurring the lines between function and art, quite like husband, wife Matthew and Connie.

Maynard with pieces featured from Manhattan to San Francisco and even a few abroad.

These artists blacksmiths based in Lawrenceburg are firing up unique designs.

You won't find in a catalog.

I think that.

>> The more that technologies into their lives more a part of this craze, something more handmade.

>> And that touches you all on them.

Human level.

This is on his way to live.

First of all.

But then the fact that we managed to do it together.

>> We don't have a lot next.

At the end of for day.

>> All day long.

>> What a there.

Anything with >> When I was a kid, my granddad had a series of books called FOX 5.

There was a couple chapters and one of the blacksmithing.

And for some reason, it just really struck a chord with me and growing up in Pike County.

It was like.

Liz, literally on the side of the road to get out of mountain snow.

I had the ability to set up a little forjan grand as barn.

Thankfully I didn't burn it down and he didn't stop me.

And that sort of said a little spark.

And then that grew later in life to him to decide to take a crack at doing this full time and it and it took off.

>> What I met Matt, so he was doing in.

I just KET he was an artist.

He was taking this far pass.

Craftsmanship and I watched what he was doing is that I can do everything you can do just smaller.

So had learned it in small medals or jewelry as an undergraduate.

And I've never been taught how to weld, but I can sot like all of this made sense.

So I said I want in and just kind of nudged my way into the shop.

I was hoping that this commission's.

>> We create artistic little work.

Some of the sculpture and a lot of it is really are potentially driven.

Makers.

Really a lot of a lot of artistic liberty.

>> Asked us to work on Gates for their culinary garden.

We did one gate in the spring, the water and the other gate with a fall theme of harvest.

Those on either end of the garden.

And then as you come down the Hill, there's a beautifully well built Stone Bridge and we did the medal railing on there representing the wheat and so didn't and makers.

>> We actively try to blur the line between function and sculpture with the railings because and I think that there's no reason that something can't serve a purpose and still be artistically.

Interesting.

We're not doing the fastest process where we're doing something that does take more time and more labor.

But I think the end result is worth so much more.

The work that we do is appealing to people because there's so effort put into it and heart you and I believe that translates to just, you know, there's a little bit of or sold in the 20's.

>> We've >> No, I don't know.

Somehow we do.

We KET each space.

Know it's about communication.

>> If you can't do that is to do so.

So far okay.

>> Yeah.

He's just a really great guy to the first got my own and bowl and set of hammers was like.

I really take this guy having this is the fall guy.

>> And then when he bought me a welder, I was like I'm going to marry this when both look at things with our 2 different perspectives and come together.

I think that makes a good parent.

>> We want people to be happy with the things we create.

Not just now but 10, 15 years.

If we can leave something in this world that makes it a little better.

Hopefully that loves us and gives people a little bit of joy.

Then we've done our job.

>> A beautiful job.

They've done indeed.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and hopefully inspire.

Subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition, e-mail news letter and watch full episodes and clips at K E T Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV and follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thank you so very much for watching tonight.

I'll see you right back here again tomorrow night at 6.30, eastern.

Take really good care of great night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪