This 4th of July weekend had the wrong kind of fireworks for hard working.

They have the skills.

They just need the chance.

How the Chamber of Commerce is offering a second chances and filling jobs.

That's our plan at this juncture.

And Cameron will take part in a northern Kentucky rally with Eric Dieters.

But not everyone thinks that's a good idea.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions, the Leonard Press, Endowment for Public Affairs and the Katie Millennium Fund.

Good evening and welcome to the Kentucky edition for Monday, July 3rd.

I'm Casey Parker.

Belle, filling in for Renee Shaw.

Kentucky is cleaning up again after more than one wave of storms blew through yesterday.

The National Weather Service says damage in Casey County indicates an EF one tornado hit about 745 last night.

Thousands lost power, many of them in central Kentucky.

Many are still without it right now.

About 38,000 customers lacked power just after 9:00 this morning.

Lexington was one of the communities hit the hardest.

Here's a look at some of the branches and even entire trees down.

Some of those trees fell on cars.

Kentucky power faces possible fines after the December 20, 22 winter storms.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission says Kentucky Power wasn't ready for a power supply shortfall.

That's according to a story in the Kentucky Lantern.

The commission says Kentucky power violated a state law that requires utilities to, quote, furnish adequate, efficient and reasonable service.

The company could face fines of up to 20 $500 per occurrence per party.

And when cold weather hit last December, Kentucky power had to buy additional power from an outside group at additional cost.

Kentucky Power ratepayers to pay that additional cost.

The Public Service Commission rejected that and said the company could have avoided that higher cost through better planning.

Two new homes are on the way for Letcher County families affected by the July 2022 floods.

On Friday, Governor Andy Beshear and FEMA announced ten manufactured homes will be available on a four acre tract of land near Whitesburg land donated by the electric County Fiscal Court.

Families can buy the homes and money from the team.

Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund will help the families add the foundations, porches, shutters and landscaping.

The governor calls it a first of its kind partnership between local, state and federal groups to support a safe, high ground community.

Kentucky Republicans disagree over whether their candidate for governor, Daniel Cameron, should attend a northern Kentucky rally with Eric Peters in September.

That rally is known as Freedom Fest.

Dieter's is a former attorney who ran for governor in the May primary.

He has said he's likely to run against incumbent Congressman Thomas Massie and the 2024 Republican primary.

Friday, Massie said it would be a mistake for Cameron to attend the rally.

In a statement, Massie said attending the rally, quote, damages the AG's credibility and jeopardizes his election.

When Katie caught up with Cameron as he campaign last week, he said he would be there.

Obviously, freedom sounds exciting and I know a lot of folks attend and so I look forward to participating and that's our plan at this juncture.

Dieter's has said he expects former President Donald Trump to attend Freedom Fest.

July 3rd is National Crown Day, also known as Black Hair Independence Day, celebrating the signing of the Federal Crown Act in 2019.

The act bars discrimination based on the hair, texture and hairstyle.

There's been a movement to pass a state version of the Crown Act, something that hasn't happened yet.

Despite some support in both political parties.

The hair that God gave you ought to be the hair that you get to wear.

I have filed since Bill 63 to put the Crown Act in statute in the Senate.

I know the Representative has filed it in the House and I look forward to one of these bills making it across the finish line and getting to the governor's desk, who I believe is very supportive of Bill.

We've got our work cut out for us, though.

There's still some some folks that don't quite see the value of this and don't believe that this is important.

But don't give up.

Press on and we'll move the no votes to yes votes.

Yeah, it'll take longer sometimes than we want, but we're not done and we're not out of the fight yet for this session.

So keep pressing hard.

Call your legislator, call your senator.

Tell them why this is important to you.

They've been hearing why it's important to me and my your little girl and my five year old little boy.

I want to make sure that it's important for them.

If we can move this forward, it will be liberating.

Liberating you all and say that word.

Liberating.

There will be liberty for you to be who and what you are and not be judged by the color of your skin or the texture of your hair.

But as Dr. King said in 1963, by the content of your character.

So keep pushing.

Keep fighting.

Do not relent.

He will not relent if the Crown Act does not pass this year, next year, just a year after that.

So keep pushing.

That's wonderful.

Although the State did not pass the Crown Act during the recent session, several individual communities have passed versions of it.

Breaking news from the racing world.

Churchill Downs in Louisville says it's extending its ban on trainer Bob Baffert through 2024 because of continuing concerns about safety and racing integrity.

Churchill bound Baffert banned Baffert in 2021 after Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned steroid.

Brant County is Kentucky's poorest county in terms of median income, and Oldham County is the wealthiest.

That's from a new study by tech company Smart Asset.

The company says the median income in breath at county is around $32,000.

That's the lowest median income in the state.

But the county does not have the highest poverty rate.

That's Harlan County at 33.2% compared to a statewide poverty rate of about 16%.

Oldham County has the highest median income at $109,000.

A new report from the Annie Casey Foundation ranks Kentucky 40th in the nation when it comes to overall child well-being.

The report notes that child care challenges are a major contributing factor to the low ranking.

A new lawsuit just went into effect over the weekend that is aimed at helping working families pay for child care.

Kentucky Edition's Kelsey Starks brings us the details.

Starting July 1st, child care could be more affordable for working Kentuckians.

Shelby Sommerville is with Greater Louisville, Inc to explain this new program and how it all works.

This is a public private partnership that will match employee contributions for child care.

Explain how it came about and what it all means.

Sure.

So House Bill 499 was passed during the 2022 session, and that created the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program, which will start July 1st, as you mentioned.

And what it is, it really is a public private partnership to try to help employers attract and retain talent.

We all know child care is a huge barrier to the affordability and access of it.

And what this bill does is if an employer wants to provide a stipend to their employee for child care, the state will match up to a certain amount of that fund.

So it's really going to be a great employee retention and attraction tool.

Yes, of course.

So this is something employers need to apply for.

Who is eligible and how do they apply?

Sure.

So most employers in Kentucky will be eligible.

There's $15 million that are set aside for this in the budget, but 25% of that are for small businesses.

So it's really aimed to target small to medium sized businesses that need more talent right now and can't compete in other ways.

And so they are going to apply through the cabinet for Health and Family Services once they figure out what they want to do internally.

And it's kind of a rolling application.

Applications are open right now.

Okay.

Well, you know, we've all seen those statistics, like you said, one of the biggest barriers, particularly for women getting back into the workforce.

Is that available in affordable health care?

Even more important now, though, because some federal funding is running out this fall, is that right?

Yes.

So it's a different program.

But the the CAP funding at the state level, there's a federal apportionment that's going to be running out this fall and that's really going to take a toll on the affordability and staffing and all of that for child care services.

So this is really timely right now for this program to be starting up, right?

The Employee Child Care Assistance Program or AP could have those contributions matched by up to 100% by the state.

So if you qualify, though, it depends on your household income.

Again, those applications are open for employers right now.

You can find out more at the Kentucky Division of Child Care Online.

Back to you.

The average cost of child care in Kentucky is between six and $7,000 a year.

That's more than the average cost of many house of housing in many Kentucky counties.

Microbus is pulling back on plans to build a factory in Hopkinsville, at least for now.

That's according to the Kentucky New Era newspaper.

The move comes after the Biden administration announced it would cancel plans toward a $200 million grant to micro vest.

Some Republicans in Congress claim the company had ties to China.

Microbus denied that the company is based in Texas.

It makes electrical equipment parts to increase workforce participation across Kentucky.

The state's Chamber of Commerce created the Fair Chance Academy to educate and train employers on best practices for hiring and supporting people in substance abuse, recovery, and people who were previously incarcerated.

We have a significant amount of individuals that could be working but aren't working.

So, you know, one population that we want to think about when we when we dove into our workforce participation and why it's low substance use disorder and the incarceration rates of our state really are at the top of the list in terms of why our workforce participation is lower.

So the Fair Chance Academy really is a three day immersive experience for employers who are motivated, engage and ready to hire from these populations.

I think it's important for businesses to understand that we have an untapped talent in those who are justice involved.

And it's really important for companies to realize that your past should not be an indicator of your present and future success.

And that's what this Academy helps to sort of digest, which is great.

So we have individuals that are in active recovery.

They come in, they speak to the employers, they discuss the barriers that they're facing and how an employer can maybe ease or transition them into the workforce.

And then the very first day, we do a reentry simulation with Department of Corrections where they're able to speak with incarcerated individuals that are getting ready to come out, which is really imp employment is critical to reducing recidivism.

So we've spoken to individuals that are three months to be released and every single person says, having a job before I get released helps me to make better decisions.

People in recovery want to work.

People who are reentering the community from being just as involved want to work that they can't because they are facing so many different challenges, because they have so many requirements placed on them that maybe they have to show up to a probation office for good reason, but they still have to show up there.

They have to go to court order treatment, or they have to undergo lots of different supervision hours.

These are all things that are important that they have to do as a part of their rehabilitation or their role.

But because they are also required to work an eight hour shift, that may be a barrier that's placed on them so they can't work at that job creating these opportunities where we can like figure out, okay, so what's really going on?

Like, what are the things that we can do to help support you?

So that way you can be here.

Maybe it's a four day work week, and that way on the fifth day, you can go take care of all your supervision and treatment opportunities and needs.

So that way you can then work all the four days that we need you.

Right.

So are there things that your company or business can do to help alleviate some of those pressures that that really great and talented employee can offer your company?

These people are hardworking.

They have the skills.

They just need a chance to prove that.

And I think through the Fair Chance Academy, we've been able to break down those barriers, break down those stigmas, where now employers are eager.

We've seen 96% of our employers are ready and willing to hire individuals coming out of incarceration.

We've seen over 100 individuals being hired from recovery centers into sustainable jobs, but that starts a lot of times with the employer and changing a lot of their practices.

But the talent's there and they're ready to work.

So yeah, multiple employers from different parts of the Commonwealth participated and graduated from the program last month.

It was the Academy's third cohort.

Kentuckians can now legally use at home HIV test under a new law that went into effect last week.

House Bill 349, passed earlier this year, was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear.

Health officials and advocates say testing is a powerful tool in the fight against the disease and that the approach to testing plays a vital role in removing the stigma around HIV.

More in tonight's look at medical news.

One in seven people living with HIV don't know that they have the virus.

So that's why testing is so important.

Just being able to raise that awareness, if you know your status, you can do something.

If you're negative, you can prevent it.

If you're positive, you can get treatment.

So we're looking at people who are having risky sex, basically unprotected sex with someone that they don't know or somebody that, you know, hasn't been tested.

The earlier the better when you get a positive test, because medical advances today have been so amazing that we can have the ability to kind of keep people really well and they have the same trajectory as anybody else.

If they stay in medical care and stay on their medications, if you feel that you've been at risk at any point in time.

HIV testing is free and you can come back.

We recommend people who are at risk for HIV to get tested like every 3 to 6 months each year, probably about 300 people are diagnosed with HIV.

In Kentucky, the CDC has flagged Kentucky as an area for concern because we have higher rates of opioid use, we have higher rates of injecting drug use and always on the verge of some potential outbreaks.

And so the whole state of Kentucky has been flagged by CDC to have extra emphasis on HIV prevention.

I would say it's always got the potential of being a health emergency if we don't stay ahead of it.

And so not only do we want to stay ahead of it, but we really do want to eradicate it.

I think the goal is by 2030 to get to zero new infections.

We make sure for every person that we serve who are living with HIV, we stay up to date with them and make sure that they are staying consistent with medical care and their medications.

We provide housing support because we know somebody who's stably housed is much more likely to be successful with their medical care and medication adherence.

Real serious work on trying to end HIV for good.

And I use that term for good.

Meaning it's final, but it's also in the best interest of everyone in the community.

With the advancements that we have in medical care and medications.

It's not the crisis that it was back in the eighties.

In the nineties, we've seen a lot of improvements, but it's still something that we just don't want to rest until it's been taken care of, because as soon as we let it stop, it'll just come on back.

Nothing we have done so far eliminates it.

There's no vaccine yet.

There's no cure yet.

And so it hasn't gone away.

We just have to outsmart it.

According to the state cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Of the 3600 AIDS cases diagnosed in the last ten years, 24% were unaware of their HIV infection until one month before their AIDS diagnosis.

This means many had been infected for ten or more years before ever testing one of the state's largest 4th of July celebrations is already underway at Louisville's waterfront park.

Kentucky Edition's Kristie Dutton has more about this two day event.

Fireworks on the 4th of July is a favorite family 4th of July event, and people come from across the state to see it.

And this year, there's something new added to it.

Here to talk about it is Ashley Smith with Louisville's Waterfront Park.

Now, what's going on for tonight?

This is like the new exciting event.

Well, tonight we have a free movie screening for the 30th anniversary of The Sandlot.

It's very exciting.

We'll have some cast members here to introduce the movie and you have an opportunity to to meet with them a special VIP tent, if you like, that the event has started just a moment ago.

We just opened the gates.

The movie starts at 8:00.

I think the VIP is leading into the event.

Okay.

And you can have a chance to purchase tickets on our website.

And all of that goes to the play Forever Charity.

Oh, that is so cool.

And it's nostalgic, too.

Yes.

And of course, movie from 30 years ago.

That's right.

And of course, the movie screening is completely free, so you don't have to pay to attend.

Nice.

Okay.

Now, tomorrow is the big night with the big fireworks.

Tell us what's going on tomorrow and your best advice for people coming down here.

Well, the event opens at 5:00.

We have great children's activities from a variety of cultural institutions throughout the community, beginning at 5:00 through 830.

We have live opening entertainment from Deejay Always and the Derby City Dandies.

We have a color guard provided by the United Automobile Workers Union Local 862.

We have the orchestra performing beginning at 830.

Yes.

And that is a treat.

It's a lovely treat.

Yes.

If you've not seen the orchestra perform, I mean, in with the fireworks, it is spectacular, right?

Oh, it's just there's nothing like it.

I mean, it's like it's the most beautiful thing that we can do on the 4th of July is to have the orchestra perform under the stars, outdoors, in the open air with the river breeze.

It's just lovely.

And your best advice for people coming out?

Leave your pets at home.

Leave your coolers at home.

Don't bring glass.

Just be prepared to have a great time.

Okay?

And it's free and open to the public.

It is all free and open to the public.

That's right.

Ashley Smith from Louisville's Waterfront Park, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for having me.

Back to you.

The event will have some local star power for the Star Spangled Banner.

Kentucky's Zachary Johnson will perform the anthem with the Louisville Orchestra.

He's featured on this season of America's Got Talent.

Happy birthday to the man who wrote Kentucky State Song.

And meet the Louisville boxing champ not named Muhammad Ali.

Toby Gibbs has more in this.

Look at this week in Kentucky history.

July 4th, 1794, on the 18th birthday of the United States, Colonel William Price hosted the first known Independence Day celebration west of the Alleghenies.

As 40 veterans dine in honor of the holiday in Jessamine County, July 4th, 1924, Frankfort dedicated a monument to almost 25,000 black Kentuckians who fought for the union during the Civil War.

Thelma Stovall, Kentucky's first woman lieutenant governor, addressed thousands of people during an Equal Rights Amendment rally in Washington, D.C., on July 9th, 1978.

Stephen Foster wrote Kentucky is a state song male Kentucky Home Despite Never Living Here.

He was born in Pennsylvania on July 4th, 1826.

Its Billy Foster was partially inspired by visits to Federal Hill, a plantation in Nelson County owned by his cousins.

And Federal Hill was renamed my old Kentucky home in honor of the song.

On July 4th, 1924, Muhammad Ali is not the only boxing champ from Louisville.

Louisville native Marvin Hart won the world heavyweight boxing title on July 3rd, 1905, beating Jack Root in Reno, Nevada.

Hart was known as the Louisville Plumber because of his former occupation.

He wasn't a champ for long.

He lost the title to Canadian Tommy Burns on February 23rd, 1906.

And that's a look back at This Week in Kentucky history.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

It's always fun to take a look back with Toby when Vince Saura immigrated from Iraq to the United States.

She experienced an artistic freedom.

She never had before.

Her desire to create unique paintings has rendered some incredibly creative pieces.

So I ended up here because my husband is from Louisville, and we always talked about since we can't be in my home country.

Let's be in your hometown.

And we moved here in 2009.

I grew up in a family, a Kurdish dad and an Arabic mother in Baghdad.

I was born in 1976 when I was three.

Saddam Hussein took power, and that was like an immediate transition into a whole different state in Iraq of terror.

Some people felt it directly.

Some didn't.

So there was always an undertone of turmoil.

And, you know, that feeling of trying to protect me and and shelter me from whatever, going out outside, being my siblings as well.

The work is it is beautiful.

It is.

And you want to know more about it.

And it it reveals itself the more you look at it and the way that Vivienne paints and her background kind of go into making it interesting and it does give you something to talk about.

Before coming to the United States, which was like ten years ago.

A lot of my work had a symbolic theme that kind of talked about a specific character being a female artist and Iraq and the nineties and the early 2000.

I couldn't just approach any subject.

Also, I couldn't like show or portray human figures or a female body in a certain way.

I experienced a lot of freedom within my work the last specifically seven years, and I'm kind of like thirsty all the time to go and paint and work.

I'm very interested in and creating a painting that doesn't look like any other painting that they need to evolve.

Art is about good.

Art is about something new.

It's about finding a way to express something that hasn't been done before.

It's the it's the control and the randomness.

And I found that duality in the work is very successful because it's.

It's really satisfying me in a visual way.

And during the process itself, you'll see gardens and you'll see animals and you'll see creatures.

And you you'll see energy and almost explosive things in that that painting and what you discover are maybe very different from what I discover.

I'm absolutely fine with with people, you know, translating the work in a different way.

A lot of yours.

So things that I didn't even see in the work, which was interesting.

America Celebrates Birthday Number 247 tomorrow on a special Kentucky edition, we'll take a closer look at exactly what led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776.

And what better time to become an American?

We'll take you to a naturalization ceremony as some new Americans take their oath of citizenship.

See all that and more on a special red, white and blue edition of Kentucky Edition tomorrow.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 630 Eastern, 530 Central for Kentucky Edition.

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We hope you enjoyed our show.

Have a happy 4th of July and thanks for joining us.