♪ >> The like kind of came on and said people said we can't KET doing what we've been doing.

>> Why historic flooding could give Eastern Kentucky a shot at solving its decade-long housing crisis.

>> Without these plots, we would just be looking at another field of empty grass, which really isn't benefiting anything.

>> The state is helping bees beetles and butterflies.

Find some new homes.

>> We want to be a little bit about how families are use our community, providing some basic supplies.

>> And giving students what they need to start the school year off.

Right?

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Friday, July.

The TWENTY-SIXTH, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off the weekend with us.

Speculation continues over.

Vice President Kamala Harris's choice for running mate.

Governor Andy Beshear is one of several Democrats in the running.

Kentucky is not considered a swing state in the upcoming presidential election.

Today, Governor Beshear said that's not likely to be a factor in Vice President Harris's decision.

That is.

>> Just about every successful tech.

It going back to 2000 did not have someone in the swing state.

I mean, give me this vice president is going to need to choose who she thinks would be the best running mate, somebody that can communicate to everyone in swing states that outside.

>> The governor was in eastern Kentucky today on the two-year anniversary of the 2022 flies.

We'll have more on that anniversary and just a few minutes.

>> Time now for in the week.

Recap of the major political developments of the week.

And first up, we have a dog.

She is the Republican National Committee treasurer and she's a local Casey Crosby, who many people in Lexington have known for years because of all her hard work and she's doing great things for the national Party Republican Party.

And we thank you for being here.

Thank you for having made.

So you all had a fantastic week in Milwaukee, right?

It was phenomenal.

We had a great week.

It was just so inspiring to hear all the speakers.

Of course, President Trump.

I'm coming off of the shooting and fill our excuse me in Pennsylvania and his message of hope in unity.

And it was just a phenomenal week.

So has that energy that, you know, we've heard and we've seen those of us who watched it.

>> There was a lot of energy and that space has that translated back.

When you return to Kentuckyian other delegates returned to their stopping grounds.

Absolutely.

I have heard from people all across the country, we are united and we are ready to win in November.

We're all very excited and just like it.

So it's just such a great weekend.

So inspirational and everybody's just ready to get to work.

All right.

Let's talk about the vice presidential pick for former President Donald Trump.

JD Vance, a senator from Ohio.

>> Many people are saying now that we have this change the top of the ticket on the Democratic side, do you still believe that JD Vance was the right selection?

Think JD Vance is an outstanding selection.

I mean, clearly loyalty is very important to President Trump and JD Vance.

He's proven he's loyal.

I think his story is amazing.

Being raised buys mammal.

I mean, how many of us can understand all who is involved with our lives?

You know, he comes from very humble beginnings.

You know, he's been touched by addiction.

And I think you just really resonates with people.

And I think when >> people get to know him better, they're going to be really excited and see why President Trump picked him as his as his running mate.

As we know those.

This is what happens in campaigns.

Things that were said many years ago come back to the surface.

>> There was recently a circulation of an interview that JD Vance did.

I believe with Tucker Carlson back in 2021. when he referred to women, some women as cat lovers or something to that effect.

>> When those kind of things resurface, how does a campaign respond or what can be the response?

>> Well, I think sometimes you have to look at context of things in the background and the history that he was coming from him.

He came from a very >> difficult childhood race by, you know, And I think you have to look at those circumstances and where he was coming from at the time during that interview.

I mean, clearly he is somebody who supports family and he's going to be supportive as of president struck Trump's agenda.

And we're thrilled about the the choice.

>> And because he is so young, right under 40, yeah, continue kind of that MAGA wave is do you think that weight into the part for selecting him?

Well, absolutely.

And and not only that, I mean, he served our country.

He was in the he smart.

You went to Yale Law School.

I mean, he is an amazing addition to this ticket.

And I think we're all I mean, we heard him at the convention speak for some people is the first time they really ever had her JD Vance.

And they're all just so impressed with him.

And I think that they make a great team and we cannot wait to pull that pushed him to victory in November.

Of course, there's been some criticism because many even Ike authors, poet laureate Silas Houses come out and said and hillbilly Elegy and said that's not reflective and complete and total of the Appalachian experience, that kind of narrative.

How is the campaign trying to push back against the fact that perhaps JD Vance doesn't really represent a place like Kentucky?

Well, you know, I mean, I can tell my whole family, my husband till families from Eastern Kentucky with his father at her at the Letcher County and he had to leave Eastern Kentuckyian in fact, went to Middletown, Ohio for opportunity.

And I think that that's what a lot of people can identify with.

>> You know, people are going to agree to disagree sometimes with what people write or state that he was telling his truth and what he believed district to be from a young age from when he was a little boy raised by his And so that's his truth.

And I don't think we should be judging people for that as we know from recent polls because of the change at the top of the ticket.

And we should say that Kamala Harris is the presumptive.

>> Democratic nominee that's not official into the convention in August 19 that week.

But how does that change the strategy of the Trump campaign, more prepared to run against the Biden.

But as a Kamala Harris, more of a formidable candidate?

Well, I think when people start to look at her record, which she has quite the record, I mean, the most liberal senator, you know, she was an attorney general.

And I think once people start learning to Kamala Harris is they're obviously going to continue to support President Trump.

And we're seeing that with our fundraising.

I mean, I look at the numbers every day.

We have record set records with our fundraising I don't think I started to changes at all.

I mean, go to the grocery store and buy groceries for your family.

Go fill up your take a cast.

She's married to those age issues with President Biden.

And I think people will see it for what it's worth.

Well, Casey Crosby always good to speak with you.

Thank you so much time.

Thank you so much.

And coming up with different perspective coming from Democratic strategist, will Carly.

>> With us now, will Carly Democratic strategist and founder of Opine Strategies.

Good to see you for a second time this week will.

A couple of things have happened since we last spoke with you this It seems like the presumptive Democratic nominee for President Kamala Harris is going full steam ahead with her campaigning.

She's meeting with different types of constituents.

Constituency groups, shall we say, got an endorsement from former President Barack and former first lady Michelle Obama Talk about apparatus that's being put together right now to to help her at this point said she is getting into the race if this light game.

>> I think this is pretty normal as you get into a presidential election.

She's part of the ticket as a vice president.

Now.

Well, the 2020 and now in 2024.

But the game has changed.

Obviously.

So this is her first real foray into being the top of the ticket.

And I think she's going around and talking with constituency groups to let them know that number one, their input is valuable that she's going to need them and that she's going to put together a robust grass roots and grass tops campaign.

That's going to send Donald Trump back to Florida in Mar-A-Lago in November.

>> What do you make of the poles that were saying that shows the race tightening, that she's within the statistical margin of Former President Donald Trump even former President Barack Obama has called her the underdog.

Do you think that's a correct characterization of her at this point?

>> I think she just got into the I don't know that he's an underdog.

She's a notoriously good debater.

She is a wonderful campaigner.

She does really well with real to retail politics, talking regular folks across the country and she's great on the issue.

So I don't know that I would call an underdog.

I think she's very talented and definitely has what it takes to beat Donald Trump in the fall one of the things I think that you're going to see is a sharp contrast between Kamala Harris's America in her vision for America.

First is a really stark in negative view.

That's coming from the Trump advance team.

I know that to JD Vance right now is getting blistered for his comments about suburban women and women in general that aren't able to have children is being kept.

Ladies, I don't know that he's taking attack.

That's going to bring in the voters that are going to help Donald Trump win in November where it's Kamala Harris is having an inclusive campaign where she's having these conversations around the country with folks to get them involved.

And I think that's the difference.

And that's why she is going to win in November.

>> So we have to talk about because this segment is inside Kentucky politics.

It be speculation on Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, his political stock keeps rising and his political footprints keeps getting larger.

And he tweeted out just a couple hours before we connected this afternoon, no matter what their future holds, Kentucky is my home that will never change because I'm one proud, Kentuckyian I've gotten a lot of tax inquired about what he means by that.

Can you decipher that code for us?

Will Carly?

>> I don't know that it's a code.

I think Andy Beshear's a proud Kentuckyian he was born and raised here.

He served as attorney general.

He served now in second term as governor.

He loves the land and our people.

I think he's probably flattered to be thought of as a vice presidential candidate.

And to be honest, I hope he gets it.

But I think he's letting Kentuckians know that, you know, no matter what happens, whether I'm the vice president for whether I'm still your governor, I'm proud to be from here.

This is where I'm from and I'm going to represent you and I'm going to make you proud because of who we are.

>> We've heard that the Harris campaign has said that by August 7th, they will announce the VP pick.

Do you think the candidates already know?

We know that Kamala Harris will be on the road the Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro.

So does that give any insight on who might be the front runner here?

>> I mean, I think Kamala Harris probably in Pennsylvania because the swing state, I don't know that.

That's a tell for Governor Shapiro.

It obviously does a magnificent job.

There.

I think Senator Kelly is obviously in the running.

I'm sure she'll want to campaign with him, whether he's the vice president or not.

Or governor those going to Iowa on Saturday with a lot of energy around that.

And I think and states in the Midwest like Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, the geography, will be very excited to have any be sure there.

And I think he'll be a really add to the ticket.

If you chose.

>> Well, thank you.

Roll Carly for will real quick conversation.

You know, we'll have you back again.

We always appreciate you take good care.

>> Always grateful to be here.

Thanks for that.

>> The drought continues and parts of Kentucky.

More in tonight's look.

Bad weather and climate news.

Here's the new map from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

It was updated on Tuesday.

The light orange means moderate drought in parts of central Kentuckyian a small part of northern Kentucky.

The yellow means abnormally dry.

The map looks similar to this last week.

Drought wasn't a problem.

And late July of 2022, this weekend marks the two-year anniversary of catastrophic flooding that struck Eastern Kentuckyian 10 storms over the course of several days brought heavy rainfall, flash floods and severe river flooding more than a foot of rain fell in some areas.

45 people were killed as a result of the flooding.

More than 1400 people rescued almost half of those by helicopter.

13 counties were declared federal disaster areas close to 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.

Almost 74% occurring in just 4 counties breath.

It not Letcher and Perry.

Those leading the charge to rebuild say while devastating the disaster has led to real progress on an issue the region has been facing for decades.

The need for affordable housing.

Our Clayton Dalton has more on what's been dawn in the 2 years since the flooding and the work that remains.

>> When deadly flooding to parts of eastern Kentucky 2 years ago.

Whitesburg and Letcher County were hit particularly hard.

>> Here in Letcher County, we lose.

25 1% of our homes were significantly impacted.

This placing people there's so much work to do.

But in that crisis, there's opportunity.

>> Floyd County just to the north was hit hard by the flooding as well.

We had 500 people that are homeless.

This place was full of individuals.

>> Who woke that the met that that morning and the home for go.

Their entire life was gone.

>> William says new housing options for flood victims are almost nonexistent.

>> The housing situation for county similar to what it is across the country.

There is no housing when houses go on the market, they're being sold.

A quick.

That's the reason we have to look to build these new homes.

We're going to have to build new out housing because the homes don't exist to put these people in.

But there is hope.

>> Seth Longleat Homes Incorporated housing development company that serves eastern Kentucky.

We build new houses over 40 years.

We built 275.

>> New houses in a region where that housing market is broken.

>> Long says the lack of safe and affordable housing is a problem that can no longer sit on the back burner.

We've been doing this for decades.

>> And we haven't been able to get in the conversation or get housing to be important.

>> But since the flood impacted so many, the like kind of came on and said, people say we can't KET doing what we've been doing.

We need to do something else.

Plus, we need more housing.

We've lost a lot.

So now that the citizens, the politicians state government to folks are all saying housing is one of the biggest needs here in the community.

>> Jim King is the CEO of Foggy the National organization that helps build homes in Appalachia.

He says the low supply of housing in the region is a serious problem.

>> We don't have enough units.

not just on the home ownership side, but then that effects of cost of and so we're just seeing a lot of inflated prices at a lot of a lot of really high rent and places that.

Already people couldn't afford.

>> Average household incomes in Appalachia are about half the national average, making it even more difficult for people to rent or buy homes moving forward.

Liu says building homes on high ground can protect families from these natural disasters.

>> Governor Beshear and his team have been working on these idea of these high ground sites.

These feel like once in a lifetime events, they not.

They aren't really.

And so the idea that we would like to get people out of harm's way as best we can.

They were really in the flood because this was not 100 year event.

This was a lifetime of I want, you know, a historic of catastrophe.

So we're expecting to see a lot of the site work done on the high ground sites.

There's enough to the region, probably 600, lots give or take and I know the governor and his folks are looking at more potential sites as well.

>> It's the struggle to heal and rebuild.

There's progress.

Innovation and hope.

Since the flooded just 2 years, we finished.

21 new houses.

5 of those houses are net 0 houses that will generate as much electricity as the family uses with the House Electric bill of $21 and $0.50 a month.

That's a big deal.

We're going to be on anywhere from 2 to 300 new homes.

>> We're going to be assisting in the building of 2 to 300 new homes.

A lot of them is going to be through the FEMA program.

A is not what will be done through mountain housing and that.

But we certainly understand if we're going to grow or community, we got we we have to get additional housing and that keeper population and percent long.

There's a silver lining to this tragedy.

>> The flood was probably the best worst thing that ever happened to this community and the way of houses.

Yeah, it's it's sad what's happened, what it's opened, a lot of doors of opportunities to do things differently in the years ahead of us.

>> For Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

Only about 5% of the homes damaged during the 2020 to flood had flood insurance.

According to FEMA.

♪ >> Have you ever noticed plots of beautiful plant life growing on the side of state roads.

The state created those pollinator zones to spruce up your drive, but also to make a home for bees, beetles and butterflies that KET our ecosystem healthy.

>> We're very proud of our native wild flowers here in Kentucky.

We want to show him off without these plots.

We would just be looking at another field of empty grass, which really isn't benefiting anything.

Right now.

We have over 200 plots to our name over 100 acres.

>> That we can account for as pollinator.

not just beautification, not just pretty flowers on the side of the road, actual sustainable habits.

We're very well aware that many pollinator species are not doing so well.

Their numbers are down.

Some of them such as the monarch butterfly are endangered of work soon to become endangered of being extinct.

So we want to do our part as KET and we have.

27,000.

Some miles right away that we could potentially utilize for pollinator plot instead of having mowed grass and conservation.

Also ties into our agriculture here in Kentucky, 40% of some of our of our agriculture relies on pollinators, especially propagate and grow.

So we want to KET in mind those farmers, those local farmers as well.

We have a variety of butterflies, dragonflies and some of those that you wouldn't necessarily expect right away.

We have lost.

We have micro bees.

We have Beatles those kinds of things course.

The something that.

A lot of farmers rely on to pollinate their plants as well.

They're important because they are a very important aspect of a healthy ecosystem.

If you don't have the pollinators, you don't have this great diversity of plant life.

We've come to find out the more diverse ecosystems are more stable ecosystems.

If you have fewer species of plant in an area and there's more likely for it to be hit really hard with a drought with a blight.

So having this very rich ecosystem actually helps KET it alive and supported.

I think it speaks volumes that human beings can have what they need, which is a road access, which is access to the different cities of Kentucky.

>> And we can live right next.

Wildlife as well.

And this is one of those programs where there's very little compromise to be had.

The area's already exist.

Yes, it requires funding to do, but it requires funding to mow.

It requires funding to treat grass so we might as well have something that is more environmentally sound is beautiful to look at is a celebration of our natural fun here in Kentucky.

It's just such a great opportunity for wildlife and it's a great opportunity for the public to get involved in how the state manages there's basins.

>> Interesting, the pollinator plots become self-sustaining after 5 years of growth and care.

♪ >> It's that time thousands of Central Kentucky school students will head back to school with the supplies they need.

>> Thanks to an army of volunteers who gathered this week to put together backpack for kids in need and with the rising cost of school supplies.

Organizers of the event say the need is growing.

More in today's education.

Matt said.

>> We're long annual back-to-school rally out where we provide over 4,000 backpacks in 15 different neighborhood fight to families in need in our community.

The price of everything has gone up.

And so for families who can't necessarily always before the supply list that's distribute it.

We want to be a little bit of a help to our families, our youth, our community, providing some basic supplies for kids that you get a backpack, you get some know for older kids get composition notebooks as well as the finder paper.

And so crayons markers really have a place to get them started on the right.

>> We've been doing this for 10 years now and it just keeps getting better every year.

We just kind of support it financially.

And that was it was easy.

We really want to do was support from start to finish.

We wanted to.

Same to you, sir.

I think that's just very gratifying.

We love to beat up right now.

But the use of a proud moment as a football coach here, guys get out.

>> I'm out here and serve with the door.

>> Here's what we got to actually go to the park for the new, not the to the kids were receiving them for school that year.

And that was just I think, what made it so much fun.

Preston really made it worth it and try to come back every year because to see how excited they were to get those backpacks and their other friends and just seeing that it was something that we've been excited to go back to school, get them all started off on a good and prepared for school.

>> We first started it was just a small number of families are more kids.

They are that it's been nice to see the families.

We can more involved.

And then I think that kind of bridges, the gap between them all and parents that we've got music, food and food trucks.

And a minute, sir.

>> It's not just kind of roster type thing.

It's it's of all kinds of things.

It's it's really like a back to >> back to school bash, students and Fayette Jessamine and Franklin counties are eligible to receive a backpack.

The backpacks will be distributed tomorrow at back-to-school rallies in those counties.

♪ >> Pickleball fans.

This is the weekend for you to stretch your staff and you don't need to go west for some authentic cowboy entertainment.

>> begins has more in this.

Look at what's up around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Saddle up and head to owenton for the wide open.

No Fair Rodeo.

Starting tonight from ball writing to barrel racing.

This event has no shortage of exciting cowboy contests.

Plus enjoy the live music rodeo clowns and best dressed contests.

Proceeds benefit the Wyatt Co Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Have you been honing your pickleball skills this summer?

Well, pickle heads in Madisonville have a chance to prove their paddle prowess at the paddle mania pickleball tournament on Thursday prizes trophies and internal Peco glory at this charity tournament.

The mountains of Appalachia Music Arts and Wellness Festival kicks off tomorrow morning in downtown Harlan.

This community celebration brings together local artists and musicians as well as healthcare providers and wellness workshops.

You don't want to miss it.

When Mayor Ears, as I tell you about the stand and corn festival happening next weekend, there's lots to do with this amazing festival.

Cheer on the pageant court intestines.

Enjoy Stanton's got talent and be sure you don't miss the court eating contest on Sunday.

His next event will be cut the interest of our birdwatching viewership.

Join a northern Kentucky Bird Club that big ball unlike state historic site for a bird identification.

Walk this Sunday.

Bring your binoculars.

Sunscreen.

An ornithological curiosity to this spa, an outdoor event.

Crave food and music Festival is back in Lexington this weekend.

Come celebrate the city's diverse culinary.

Same with over 45 food and drink vendors loss a feast for the ears on the menu.

Enjoy music from regional artists like Abby Hamilton and the dolls.

don't miss summer events.

It's the last 2 days of the soapy fair in Bowling Green.

And you want to get in on all the fun, fair food, live music games and carnival rides are all a part of a perfect day at the fair and the Soaky Fairgrounds has it all.

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

I will be >> Thank youto be Gibbs.

Join us Monday as we continue our look at eastern Kentucky on the two-year anniversary of the devastating flooding there.

Governor Andy Beshear is touring the area today as he looks at the progress made in housing since the floods will show you some of his tour.

That's Monday night on Kentucky edition, which, you know, to join us for at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to Kentucky Edition, e-mail newsletters and watch full episodes and clips that KET Dot Org and look for us all the ways you see on your screen there, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thanks so much for being with us this week.

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

♪