[♪♪] >> I PROPOSE CHANGE IN FEDERAL HEMP POLICY HAS DEMOCRAT KENTUCKY'S U.S.

SENATORS AT ODDS.

>> IT'S BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR YEARS.

>> A FAMILIAR FACE TO KET VIEWERS GETS A ROADSIDE HONOR.

>> YOU'RE HEDGING YOUR BETS THAT YOU ARE THE CUT SHORT VEIN IS GOING TO BE IN APPALACHIA.

>> HOW AN EASTERN KENTUCKY 'SEED SWAP' IS GIVING OLD-FASHIONED FOODS NEW LIFE.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH.

I'M KELSEY STARKS IN OUR KET STUDIO IN LOUISVILLE, FILLING IN FOR RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

AS OF JULY, DR. STEVEN STACK HAS TAKEN CHARGE OF THE STATE'S CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

HE IS OVERSEEING KENTUCKY'S LARGEST STATE DEPARTMENT, WHICH ADMINISTERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HEALTH BENEFITS AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

HE TESTIFIED BEFORE STATE LAWMAKERS TODAY.

>> SO WE'VE RECENTLY GONE THROUGH THIS COVID PHASE AND WE'RE SEEING THE COVID VACCINE NOW NO LONGER RECOMMENDED TO PREGNANT WOMEN OR CHILDREN.

AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO RECOMMEND FOR OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE COMING IN WHO ARE AT VACCINE ARE FULLY INFORMED OF THE POTENTIAL RISKS NOW THAT ARE NOW KNOWN.

>> INFORMED CONSENT AND EDUCATION OF A PATIENT HAS BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS ALL ALONG.

SO EVERY TIME A PATIENT GOES TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE, THEY ENGAGE WITH A CLINICIAN.

THEY SHOULD BE ENGAGING WITH A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHO'S LICENSED AND OVERSEEN BY BOARDS OF LICENSURE IN THE STATE.

THEY SHOULD DISCUSS THEIR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, AND THEN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO DO.

SO I THINK THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN IN PLACE AND CONTINUES TO BE IN PLACE.

THE VACCINES ARE STILL FDA APPROVED.

THE EVIDENCE IS VERY COMPELLING THAT THEY REDUCE DANGER AND RISK.

BUT THAT IS A DECISION THAT WOULD BE MADE BETWEEN THE PATIENT AND THEIR LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

IN KENTUCKY, WE NEVER MANDATED OR REQUIRED THE COVID VACCINE FOR ANYBODY.

THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, NOT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OR THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

>> PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS OVER THAT BECAUSE OF THE FORCEFUL RECOMMENDATIONS COMING DOWN FROM OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND I MEAN, THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE IS JUST ATROCIOUS.

AND WE'VE REALLY NOT EVER RECOVERED FROM THAT.

BUT BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION.

THERE IS INFORMATION THAT'S EXCHANGED BETWEEN A DOCTOR AND THEIR PATIENT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY SO IMPORTANT.

BUT HOW ARE YOU RECOMMENDING THE PATIENT HAS FULL INFORMED CONSENT ON THE DANGERS OF THAT VACCINE, ESPECIALLY FROM OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND PEOPLE WHO COME IN TO ASK ABOUT THAT?

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT THE INGREDIENT LIST WAS BLANK.

IT WAS A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER.

NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS IN THAT VACCINE.

NOW WE KNOW AND NOW WE KNOW THE DANGERS.

HOW ARE PEOPLE GETTING THAT INFORMED CONSENT?

>> BY ENGAGING WITH THEIR LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, LIKE I SAID.

AND AS FAR AS FOR US, I THINK THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING THAT THE BENEFIT IS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES PEOPLE CAN TAKE.

BUT THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IS THAT WE'VE GIVEN THOSE VACCINES TO BILLIONS OF HUMANS AND SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES.

>> OTHER LAWMAKERS ASKED STACK WHAT'S THE VALUE OF THE STATE'S COSTLIEST SERVICE: MEDICAID.

>> YOU KNOW, WE GOT AROUND $22 BILLION THAT WE HANDLE AND MEDICAID AROUND NEARLY 3 BILLION WHEN IT COMES TO SNAP.

SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF OUTCOMES YOU ANTICIPATE.

WHAT OUTCOMES ARE YOU SEEING BASED ON THE DATA YOU COLLECTED?

BECAUSE I'M SEEING SOME RATHER ALARMING ISSUES, CONCERNS WITH OUR MEDICAID OVERSIGHT BOARD ON THE OUTCOMES AND HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY AND THE PAYBACK WE'RE GETTING IN TERMS OF HAVING PEOPLE HAVING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE."

>> WE HAVE SEEN OUR HEALTH RANKINGS NATIONWIDE GO FROM 47 TO 41 OVER THE LAST 5 TO 7 YEARS.

AND THAT'S AMERICA'S HEALTH RANKINGS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.

SO LET ME PLEASE BE CLEAR.

I DON'T WANT TO OVERSIMPLIFY THIS, BUT A REALLY BIG PART OF IT IS PEOPLE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE LIVE SICKER AND DIE YOUNGER.

IN OUR STATE, WHICH IS HISTORICALLY ONE OF THE SOCIOECONOMICALLY MOST IMPOVERISHED STATES IN THE COUNTRY, ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

I APPRECIATE THERE ARE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON MEDICAID AND ITS ROLE.

BUT IN KENTUCKY, ONE IN THREE KENTUCKIANS ARE ON THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

THAT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE HAS ENABLED THEM TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND ENGAGED IN SOCIETY AND THEREFORE SHOW UP AT WORK AND DO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

Dr. STACK JOINEDDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEFORE THAT HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND SPENT MUCH OF HIS EARLY CAREER AS AN ER DOCTOR IN LEXINGTON.

>> A JUDGE HAS DISMISSED STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL GROSSBERG'S STATE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION.

BUT A FEDERAL LAWSUIT CAN GO FORWARD.

GROSSBERG IS A DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKER FROM LOUISVILLE.

HE'S BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ACCUSATIONS OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR MADE BY SEVERAL WOMEN.

GROSSBERG FILED SUIT AGAINST THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION TWO MONTHS AGO, ACCUSING IT OF DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION.

IN JUNE, THE COMMISSION FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE GROSSBERG HAD VIOLATED THE STATE ETHICS CODE.

THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER REPORTS JUDGE PHILLIP SHEPHERD OF FRANKLIN COUNTY DISMISSED GROSSBERG'S SUIT THIS MORNING, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT GROSSBERG WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A CASE IN THE FEDERAL COURTS.

>> KENTUCKY'S TWO U.S.

SENATORS ARE ONCE AGAIN AT ODDS.

THIS TIME, IT'S NOT ABOUT SPENDING OR FOREIGN POLICY-IT'S ABOUT HEMP.

OUR TOBY GIBBS EXPLAINS.

IN 2018, SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL CHAMPIONED A FARM BILL THAT LEGALIZED HEMP AND ITS DERIVATIVES, INCLUDING CBD.

THAT MOVE OPENED THE DOOR TO AN EXPLOSION OF HEMP-BASED PRODUCTS NOW SOLD ACROSS THE U.S. JONATHAN MILLER IS WITH THE U.S. HEMP ROUNDTABLE, A KENTUCKY-BASED ADVOCACY GROUP.

>> THE 2018 FARM BILL LEGALIZED AND IT LEGALIZED HEMP'S DIRE REF ACTIVES AND THREE TERMS THAT APPLIED TO CBD BECAUSE THERE WAS CLEAR CONGRESSIONAL ATTEMPT WE NEEDED TO NOT ONLY LEGALIZE HEMP FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES BUT ALSO FOR CBD EXTRACTS AND THE LIKE.

>> BUT SENATOR MCCONNELL SAYS WHAT STARTED AS A WAY TO GIVE KENTUCKY FARMERS ACCESS TO A NEW CASH CROP HAS MORPHED INTO SOMETHING UNINTENDED.

SOME COMPANIES ARE NOW USING THAT LAW TO CREATE INTOXICATING HEMP PRODUCTS, INCLUDING GUMMIES AND DRINKS, WITH FEDERALLY LEGAL LEVELS OF THC.

>> A PART OF THAT INDUSTRY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT LAW AND ARE MAKING SUPER PSYCHO ACTIVE DEADLY IN SOME CASES SUBSTANCES THAT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

KEVIN SABET IS WITH SMART APPROACHES TO MARIJUANA, WHICH DESCRIBES ITSELF AS "OPPOSED TO THE COMMERCIALIZATION AND NORMALIZATION OF MARIJUANA."

HE SAYS THOSE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY ONES CONTAINING DELTA-8 THC, HAVE BEEN LINKED TO HEALTH ISSUES AND EVEN THE DEATH OF A YOUNG CHILD IN VIRGINIA.

LE TA 8 IS THE SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA, THAT IS DELTA 9THC THIS IS A SYNTHETIC DONE IN A LAB AND DELTA 8.

>> THAT'S WHY SENATOR MCCONNELL IS NOW PUSHING FOR NEW LANGUAGE IN A SENATE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT WOULD BAN ANY INGESTIBLE HEMP PRODUCTS WITH QUANTIFIABLE LEVELS OF THC.

CRITICS SAY THE MOVE WOULD GO TOO FAR.

>> IF IT WERE TO PASS, THEN 90 TO 95% OF ALL HEMP PRODUCTS WOULD BE BANNED, INCLUDING NON-INTOXICATING CBD PRODUCTS.

>> ENTER KENTUCKY'S OTHER U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL, WHO OPPOSES THE PROPOSED BAN.

HE REPORTEDLY THREATENED TO DELAY VOTING ON THE ENTIRE APPROPRIATIONS BILL UNLESS THE HEMP LANGUAGE IS REMOVED.

>> HE IS CERTAINLY A CHAMPION OF THE INDUSTRY, AND WE ALSO HAVE FOUR KENTUCKY CONGRESSMEN WHO SIGNED A LETTER ASKING SPEAKER JOHNSON TO REMOVE THE SAME LANGUAGE FROM THE HOUSE BILL.

>> MILLER AND OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY SAY THE ANSWER ISN'T A BAN, BUT RATHER STRONGER REGULATION.

HE POINTS TO KENTUCKY'S OWN LAWS AS A MODEL.

SENATE BILL 202, WHICH WAS PASSED DURING THE 2025 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SETS LIMITS ON INTOXICATING INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) TO REGULATE THE GROWING INDUSTRY OF HEMP-INFUSED BEVERAGES.

KENTUCKY DOES WHAT THE INDUSTRY FAVORS WHICH IS KEEP THE PRODUCTS OUT OF THE HANDS OF KIDS, ENSURE THAT GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES ARE USED IN CREATING THESE PRODUCTS.

AND ENSURE THAT LABELING IS TRANSPARENT, AND ALLOWS FOR CONSUMERS TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BUYING.

THE RISKS HE ARGUES ARE TOO HIGH.

>> I GET THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING.

>> I GET THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING, BUT WE'VE GOT TO PUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND PEOPLE'S LIVES OVER PRIVATE PROFIT.

>> THIS ISSUE IS TOP OF MIND FOR KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER JONATHAN SHELL.

HE SAYS HE AGREES MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS, BUT SAYS HE ALSO WANTS TO PROTECT KENTUCKY'S HEMP FARMERS.

>> WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS... HOW DO WE WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION TO BRING CLARITY AND SECURITY TO A GOLD STANDARD INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY WHICH IS OUR HEMP INDUSTRY.

WE ARE THE FIRST STATE TO ADOPT THIS BUT THERE ARE GRAY AROUNDS AROUND THIS.

WE HAVE A VIBRANT HEMP INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE AND WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE BAD ACTORS THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THINGS PASSED IN THE PAST.

>> TWO VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON HOW TO PROTECT HEALTH AND JOBS IN A STATE WHERE HEMP IS NOW A BUDDING INDUSTRY.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> POLITICO IS REPORTING SENATORS HAVE AGREED TO REMOVE LANGUAGE BANNING HEMP PRODUCTS FROM THE AGRICULTURE FUNDING BILL.

IT'S UNCLEAR IF THE CHANGE IS ENOUGH TO ALLOW LAWMAKERS TO VOTE ON THE BILL BEFORE THE AUGUST RECESS.

>> LEXINGTON'S MAYOR WANTS FOUR MORE YEARS.

THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER REPORTS MAYOR LINDA GORTON WILL SEEK A THIRD TERM LEADING KENTUCKY'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY.

GORTON WAS ELECTED IN 2018 AND RE-ELECTED IN 2022.

SINCE LEXINGTON AND FAYETTE COUNTY MERGED GOVERNMENTS IN THE 1970S, NO MAYOR HAS EVER SOUGHT A THIRD TERM.

GORTON IS 77 YEARS OLD.

THERE'S ALREADY ONE OTHER CANDIDATE.

RAQUEL CARTER, WHO OWNS A REAL ESTATE COMPANY AND IS A FORMER CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, SAYS SHE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

>> STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS GATHERED IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY TODAY TO DEDICATE A ROADWAY TO A FORMER JOURNALIST.

PAT CROWLEY WORKED AS A NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND FRANKFORT REPORTER FOR 27 YEARS.

HE DIED IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR AT THE AGE OF 63.

CROWLEY WAS A REGULAR PANELIST FOR COMMENT ON KENTUCKY HERE ON KET AND REPORTED ON NEARLY 20 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

TODAY, FAMILY AND FRIENDS UNVEILED THE PATRICK J. CROWLEY MEMORIAL PARKWAY AFTER NORTHERN KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS SPONSORED A JOINT RESOLUTION EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE DEDICATED ROADWAY STRETCHES ACROSS U.S. HIGHWAY 27 IN NEWPORT, FORT THOMAS, AND SOUTHGATE.

MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE DEDICATION, INCLUDING GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR.

THE LEADERS SPOKE ABOUT CROWLEY AND THE IMPACT HE HAD ON THE REGION.

>> HE WAS ABSOLUTELY GENUINE, POWERFULLY TALENTED, AND PERFECTLY SUITED TO BE A LOBBYIST, A COMMUNICATOR, AND AN ADVOCATE.

HE WAS ABLE TO WRITE SO WELL ABOUT STORIES HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY BECAUSE HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS LIVING THEM JUST LIKE YOU WERE.

LIKE PAT, THIS ROAD'S BEEN A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR YEARS.

IT SERVES AS A CRITICAL CONNECTION THAT LINKS THE CITIES OF FORT THOMAS, SOUTHGATE, AND NEWPORT.

THIS CORRIDOR SERVES THOUSANDS OF KENTUCKIANS EVERY DAY, CONNECTING COMMUNITIES AND CONNECTING PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT PAT DID IN HIS TIME ON EARTH, HE CONNECTED PEOPLE.

>> CROWLEY'S WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR TODAY'S DEDICATION.

THE LONGTIME JOURNALIST WAS A NATIVE OF FORT THOMAS.

[♪♪] I'M LAURA ROGERS WITH NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO'S RYLAND BARTON GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY.

AND LET'S BEGIN OUR KFORTS WITH THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES.

WE KNOW THAT HAS REENTERED THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION AS OF LATE.

AND ANTICIPATED POTENTIAL TESTIMONY FROM MAXWELL HIS ACCOMPLICE AND FORMER GIRLFRIEND AND HOW KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION PLAYS INTO ALL OF THIS.

>> KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS IN THE MIX HERE.

JAMES COMER FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE AND THEY VOTED TO SUBPOENA MAXWELL TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT SHE KNOWS ABOUT HER FORMER ASSOCIATE, THE DISGRACED FINANCEER, JEFFREY EPSTEIN WHO DIED IN JAIL IN 2019 AHEAD OF A TRIAL.

COMER AND THE COMMITTEE WILL BE HEADED TO FLORIDA SOON TO DEPOTS HER.

SHE AND HER ATTORNEYS REQUESTED SOME LEGAL IMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THIS.

THEY HAVE DENIED THAT.

AND MADE REQUESTS RELATED TO TIMING SHE IS APPEALING THIS TO THE SUPREME COURT AND AS ANOTHER APPEAL PLANNED THE SUPREME COURT WILL BE DECIDING IN THE FALL WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE UP THE CASE.

IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN THAT WOULD BE DELAYED.

THEY WILL BE HEADED TO TALLAHASSEE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND COMER HEADED TO THE FEDERAL PRISON TO DEPOTS HER AND FIND OUT WHAT ELSE SHE KNOWS.

THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO SUBPOENA THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR FILES THAT IT HAS RELATED TO THE EPSTEIN CASE.

ALL OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH RECENT REVELATIONS AND QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR MONTHS AND YEARS ABOUT HOW WELL PRESIDENT TRUMP KNEW EPSTEIN OR WHAT IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES.

WE KNOW THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI HAS TOLD PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT HIS NAME APPEARS IN THERE, TRUMP DENIES IT'S ANYTHING INCRIMINATING AGAINST HIM AND CONTINUES TO SAY IT IS A FRAUD PUSHED BY DEMOCRATS AND THIS HIS OPPONENTS IN THE INTERVIEW COMER SAID THAT HE AND REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE TAKE THE PRESIDENT AT HIS WORD OVER THIS AND HIS WORD THAT TRUMP'S DAJ WILL TURNOVER RECORDS RELATED TO EPSTEIN.

MAXWELL MADE THIS REQUEST TO TALK TO CONGRESS AFTER THESE QUESTIONS CAME UP AGAIN, SHE HAS REQUESTED THE TERMS, THOUGH.

TRUMP HAS HINTED AT PARDONING MAXWELL.

HE SAYS IT'S WELL WITHIN HIS POWER AND WE ARE IN THE WAIT-AND-SEE MODE TO SEE IF MORE INFORMATION COMES OUT FROM HER AND HOW THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HOW THIS COMMITTEE MIGHT RESPOND TO IT.

ONE OTHER PART OF THIS INTERVIEW HAS INTERESTING UNRELATED COMER HINTED AT A RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2027.

HE HAS GOTTEN A HIGH PROFILE POSITION IN CONGRESS.

HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR BACK IN 2015 AND LOST THAT PRIMARY ELECTION BY 83 VOTES TO MATT BEVIN WHO WENT ON TO WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP FOR A TERM.

COMER SAID REPUBLICANS ARE TIRED OF DEMOCRATS HAVE THE GOVERNORSHIP IT'S ONLY BEEN ANDY BESHEAR AND HE CAN'T RUN AGAIN IN 2027 BECAUSE HE IS TERM LIMITED AND ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE HIGHER ASPIRATIONS AS WELL.

>> A LOT OF SPECULATION OVER CONGRESSMAN COMER'S POTENTIAL POLITICAL PLANS INCLUDING IF HE WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND YOU WONDER IF HE WILL MAKE MENTION OF THAT THIS WEEKEND AT FANCY FARM.

>> RIGHT.

OR HINTS AT IT.

HE HAS BEEN IN THE MIX.

HE WAS IN STATE GOVERNMENT FOR SO LONG TWO-TERM AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER AND A REPRESENTATIVE.

SEEMED LIKE HE HAD A CAMPAIGN THAT WAS READY TO ROLL IN 2015 AND HE IS BUILDING UP THAT NETWORK AGAIN TO TRY TO RUN IN THE ELECTION.

>> ANOTHER DEVELOPING STORY, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR JOINING A LAWSUIT ENTERING KENTUCKY, INTO A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THIS CONCERNING THOSE WHO RECEIVE S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS CASE.

>> YEAH.

SO BESHEAR FILED THIS LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF KENTUCKY SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS DEMANDS RELATING TO PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM STATES.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ASKED STATES TO TURNOVER PERSONAL INFORMATION LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES FOR PEOPLE ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

SO THAT'S N.A.A.C.P.

CALLED FOOD STAMPS.

ASSISTANCE THAT HELPS KENTUCKY RECEIVE.

THE LAWSUIT IS LED BY ATTORNEY GENERALS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK AND 21 OTHER STATES THAT ARE DOING THIS AND ALL THESE ATTORNEYS GENERAL, BESHEAR IS THE ONLY GOVERNOR WOULD FILED THIS LAWSUIT ON THE STATE'S BEHALF.

THIS COMES AFTER THE TAX AND SPENDING BILL THAT CONGRESS PASSED EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE TRUMP SIGNED.

CUTS $230 BILLION IN S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS AFFECTING 575,000 KENTUCKIANS WHO RECEIVE S.N.A.P.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT GETTING 0 THAT INFORMATION WILL HELP THE ADMINISTRATION ELIMINATE FRAUD AND ABUSE IN THE SYSTEM.

THE OTHER CONTEXT IS BESHEAR TRYING TO RAISE HIS NATIONAL PROFILE AND BEING THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC STATE OFFICIAL IN THE STATE-WIDE OFFICIAL IN KENTUCKY HE IS TRYING TO TAKE THE CHARGE ON SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF SOME OF HIS PRIORITIES.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE SAW BESHEAR AND A LOT OF THE SAME ATTORNEYS GENERAL SUING OVER FROZEN EDUCATION FUNDING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DONE ON ITS OWN IT WAS NOT AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION ENDED UP RELEASING MOST OF AT THAT TIME FUNDING IN RECENT WEEKS.

IT WASN'T REALLY DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF THE COURT CASE BUT BESHEAR WOULD ARGUE THAT BECAUSE OF THAT PRESSURE, THE ADMINISTRATION RELENTED.

I WOULD SAY, TOO, THAT SOME REPUBLICANS JOINED IN ON THAT EFFORT INCLUDING MITCH McCONNELL THERE WERE EIGHT OTHER REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO JOINED IN.

THAT RESOLVED ON ITS OWN AND WE WILL SEE WHERE THE S.N.A.P.

BENEFIT LAWSUIT GOES.

>> ANOTHER LAWSUIT I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT, THIS ONE A KENTUCKY MOTHER SUING A SO-CALLED GHOST GUN MANUFACTURER.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO REPORTED THIS STORY THE KENTUCKY MOM IS SUING A COMPANY FROM NEBRASKA IT SELLS PARTS THAT CAN BE USED TO BE ASSEMBLED INTO A GUN.

ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT HER SON KILLED HIMSELF WITH ONE OF THESE GHOST GUNS AFTER PURCHASING THE PARTS.

HE WAS TOO YOUNG TO BUY A GUN.

HE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SCHIZOPHRENIA, IT TROUBLE WITH THE LAW ALL WOULD HAVE PREVENTED HIM FROM BUYING A GUN IN KENTUCKY.

GHOST GUNS BECAUSE MANUFACTURERS SELL THEM AS PARTS THEY DON'T HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS AND THEY DON'T REQUIRE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND TURNED INTO A GUN THAT DOES EVERYTHING THAT A GUN CAN DO.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUT A POLICY IN PLACE TO TRY TO STOP THE MANUFACTURERS FROM SELLING THE PARTS.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT ACTIVISTS SAY THE SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTS GUN MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE USED FOR PERSONAL USE.

AND THIS CASE, AND IN THE STORY THIS ADVOCATE SAYS TRYING TO PREVENT SUICIDE BY LIMITING ACCESS TO GUNS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO TRYING TO PREVENT SUICIDE SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH OTHER MEANS.

WE WILL SEE WHERE THIS GOES.

>> A MOTHER MOVED BY TRAGEDY FOR SURE.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IN THE COURTS.

RYLAND BARTON WITH NPR GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, LAURA.

[♪♪] >> AFTER A FLASH FLOOD IN 2010, A GROUP IN PIKE COUNTY TOOK ACTION TO PROTECT AND CELEBRATE ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY-HEIRLOOM SEEDS.

THE APPALACHIAN HEIRLOOM SEED SWAP IS A YEARLY TRADITION IN PIKEVILLE THAT ATTRACTS GARDENERS AND FARMERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ACCORDING TO ORGANIZERS OF THE SWAP, IT'S NOT JUST A CELEBRATION OF SEEDS, BUT APPALACHIA ITSELF.

MORE IN ROOTED.

>> THE IMPETUS TO BEGIN THE APPALACHIAN SEED SWAP IN PIKEVILLE WAS THE CREEK FLOOD WHICH WAS PROBABLY 15 OR 20 YEARS AGO.

WE WERE UPSET BECAUSE HERE IN PIKE COUNTY THERE IS A WHITE CALLED THE FARMER BROWN CUE SHAH.

THE FARMER LOST ALL OF THE SEED DURING THE FLOOD.

WE DECIDED WE CAN'T LOSE THE FARMER BROWN KA SHAW AND WE CAN'T LOSE WHAT IS OURS HERE IN PIKE COUNTY AND EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND SO WE GOT WITH THE EXTENSION SERVICE AND SAID THEY WOULD SUPPORT IT AND WE WOULD DO A SEED SWAP.

THE FIRST YEAR WE HAD SIX VENDORS AND HOPING FOR 20 PEOPLE TO SHOW UP.

AND THERE WAS PROBABLY BETWEEN 50 AND 75.

AND THE NEXT YEAR IT DOUBLED.

NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 40 VENDORS TYPICALLY.

AND ANYWHERE IF THE WEATHER IS GOOD, PEOPLE ATTEND FROM SEVEN TO EIGHT STATES THAT WAS TRAVEL AS FAR AS FROM NEW YORK.

WE HAVE FROM LOUISIANA.

WE'VE HAD THEM FROM MISSOURI, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, JUST ALL OVER.

>> FOR SOMEBODY COMING TO THE SEED SWAP FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING ANYTHING TO COME.

IT IS A BUY, SELL, TRADE AND LEARN EVENT.

YOU CAN COME AND YOU SHOP WITH OUR VENDORS AND WE HAVE CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS THAT WILL HELP YOU TO TAKE HOME SEED SAVING KNOWLEDGE AND HELP YOU TO IN YOUR HOME GARDEN AND, AGAIN YOU ARE GETTING A PIECE OF OUR APPALACHIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

>> THEY ARE HEIRLOOM SEEDS NOT HYBRID SEEDS.

HERE IN APPALACHIA WE ARE BLESSED WE HAVE THE MOUNTAINS THAT KIND OF PROTECT US FROM CROSS-POLLINATION.

HAVING THESE HAIR AUTO LOOM SEEDS THEY DON'T A-- HEIRLOOM SEEDS THEY DON'T GET THE CONTAMINANTS THEY STAY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GROWN THEM FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

AND THE SEED SWAP MADE US REALIZE WE DIDN'T NEED TO HOLD ON TO THEM WITHIN THE FAMILIES WE NEEDED TO GET THEM OUT.

>> THE COMMERCIAL SEEDS ARE GROWN FOR PRODUCTION, GROWN FOR SHIPPING AND GROWN FOR APPEARANCE.

WELL, MOST HEIRLOOMS WERE SAVED MOSTLY BECAUSE OF TASTE.

>> IT IS REALLY ROOTED IN COMMUNITY.

WE ARE A VERY RESILIENT AND SELF RELIANT PEOPLE.

WE HELP OUR NEIGHBORS.

THE SEED SWAP BRINGS PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER.

FARMERS, GARDENERS, AND HISTORIANS, AND WHEN YOU COME TO THE SEED SWAP YOU GET THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PIECE OF APPALACHIAN HISTORY.

>> DIVERSIFYING OURSELVES AND OTHER AREAS TOGETHER, BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS A CHANCE FOR US TO SHARE AND FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THINGS.

AND I THINK -- AND JUST HELP BUILD CULTURE WE NEED MORE CULTURE IN THIS WHOLE COUNTRY.

BUT PRESERVING THE SEEDS AND PRESERVING TASTE SLOW FOOD AND ALL THAT.

>> THEY GROW OUR STUFF AND IT GETS AROUND SO THERE'S NOT JUST ONE SPOT.

YOU ARE HEDGING YOUR BETS.

THAT YOU'RE THE ROY NEED CUT SHORT BEAN IS GOING TO BE IN APPALACHIA OR THE SEA ROW BLACKBURN TOMATO IS STILL GOING TO BE HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> THIS YEAR'S SEED SWAP WAS IN APRIL.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SEED SWAP, REACH OUT TO THE PIKE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE.

[♪♪] >> IT'S BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING SEASON, BUT VOLUNTEERS AT THE YMCA AREN'T BUYING SUPPLIES-THEY'RE HELPING TO GIVE THEM AWAY.

>> IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO RALLY AROUND OUR KIDS AS WE START SCHOOL AGAIN.

>> FIND OUT HOW THIS BACKPACK PACKING PARTY IS MAKING SURE KIDS HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR-THAT'S TOMORROW ON KENTUCKY EDITION.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION," WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT, AND INSPIRE.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR KENTUCKY EDITION EMAIL NEWSLETTERS AND WATCH FULL EPISODES AND CLIPS AT KET.ORG.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND KENTUCKY EDITION ON THE PBS VIDEO APP ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AND SMART TV.

SEND US A STORY IDEA AT PUBLICAFFAIRS@KET.ORG.