♪ ♪ >> IT'S DONE, CONGRESS PASSES THE SO CALLED "BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL".

>> IT'S JUST A COLORFUL, BEAUTIFUL BOUNTIFUL WAY TO COOK.

>> MEET THE EASTERN KENTUCKY PHARMACIST PUTTING HER OWN TWIST ON TRADITIONAL APPALACHIAN MEALS.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BETTER LABORATORY TO DO AN EXPERIMENT THE UNITED STATES THAN YOU HAVE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: AND WHAT YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT AMERICA, YOU CAN LEARN BY LEARNING ABOUT KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION, ON THIS EVE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY, IT IS THURSDAY JULY 3.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

DONALD TRUMP'S TAX AND SPENDING CUT BILL OFTEN CALLED THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL WILL BECOME LAW.

HOURS AGO THE HOUSE GAVE ITS FINAL APPROVAL PASSING THE SAME PERSIAN THAT PASSED THE U.S. SENATE JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

THIS IS THE BILL THAT EXTENDS 2017 TAX CUTS..... AND ALSO REQUIRES CUTS TO MEDICAID MEDICARE, AND FOOD STAMPS.

HERE'S WHAT TWO KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN HAD TO SAY... BEFORE THE VOTE.

>> PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT FROM A PRESIDENT WHO CAMPAIGNED ON MAKING THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT PERMANENT, WHO CAMPAIGNED ON PREVENTING THE LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WHO CAMPAIGNED ON NO TAX FOR TIPS, NO TAX OVERTIME, NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

THESE ARE PROMISES THE PRESIDENT IS KEEPING.

AND CONGRESS NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT 77 MILLION AMERICANS VOTED FOR THIS AGENDA AND WE NEED TO GET IT DONE TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THE ECONOMY THE JET FUEL IT NEEDS TO RAISE WAGES FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> THE BILL IS A COMPLETE SLAP IN THE FACE TO KENTUCKIANS.

YES, 35 RURAL HOSPITALS WILL CLOSE, MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

133,000 RURAL KENTUCKIANS WILL BE KICKED OFF THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE, MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

KENTUCKY WILL LOSE $10 BILLION IN RURAL MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

I SERVED IN THE KENTUCKY STATE SENATE FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE COMING TO CONGRESS.

WE GET MORE MONEY AS A STATE IN FEDERAL MEDICAID DOLLARS THAN THE ENTIRETY OF THE KENTUCKY STATE BUDGET CONGRESSMAN MORGAN MCGARVEY, KENTUCKY'S ONLY CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRAT VOTED AGAINST IT.

SO DID REPUBLICAN THOMAS MASSIE, WHO SAYS THE CUTS DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

KENTUCKY'S OTHER HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTED YES.

SO NOW THE THAT THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL HAS PASSED, WE'LL DISCUSS THE MEDICAID PORTIONS OF THE BILL AND HOW KENTUCKIANS COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S COMING UP MONDAY NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT "WE HOPE WILL YOU JOIN US FOR THAT AND SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS.

AGAIN MONDAY AT 8 EASTERN, 7 CENTRAL HERE ON KET.

THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT A NEW STATE LAW COVERING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

AND THE STATE SENATOR WHO SPONSORED THE BILL IS RESPONDING SENATOR LINDSAY TITCH TICHENOR WROTE AN OP-ED ABOUT SENATE BILL 118 THAT REQUIRES ALL ONLINE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO BE TRACEABLE, MEANING IT COULD NOT TAKE PLACE OVER SOCIAL MEDIA OR TEXT.

THE CURRENT LAW ONLY PROVIDES EXCEPTIONS FOR PARENTS, SIBLINGS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS AND UNCLES.

SOME TEACHERS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE LAW ASKING IF FAMILY MEMBERS LIKE STEP PARENTS WOULD BE EXEMPT.

SENATE BILL 181 INCLUDED A PROVISION WHERE PARENTS COULD SIGN A WAIVER TO ALLOW TEACHERS TO CONTACT THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH A NON-DISTRICT APPROVED METHOD.

BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO HONOR THAT PARENTAL CONSENT.

MORE THAN 130 CASES OF EDUCATOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WERE REPORTED LAST YEAR AND SENATOR TICHENOR'S OP-ED, SHE EMPHASIZED THE BILL WAS PASSED 50*U8SLY IN THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WROTE "DESPITE PASSING WITH NO OPPOSITION, I HAVE SINCE HEARD FROM EDUCATION LEADERS ON NEEDED CLARIFICATION.

I'M COMMITTED TO REFINING THE LANGUAGE WHILE ENSURING THE LAW PROTECTS STUDENTS AND UPHELDS THE INTEGRITY OF KENTUCKY'S EDUCATION SYSTEM."

REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE STATE SENATE WERE ASKED ABOUT THE NEW LAW DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK.

HERE WHAT IS MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER MAX WIDES HAD TO SAY BRT CONCERNS.

>> THE INTENT OF THE BILL, HAVE I NOT HEARD ANYONE QUESTION THE INTENT OF THE BILL IN AND OF ITSELF.

WE ALSO KNOW THIS.

WITH ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THERE IS NOT A PERFECT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT LEAVES THESE CHAMBERS.

THAT'S WHY WE WOULD COME BACK AND COME BACK AND EASILY DO ANY CLEANUP THAT COULD BE THERE WHEN THE BILL CAME FORWARD FROM THE FAMILIES COMMITTEE, WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OPPOSITION, AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW.

IF THERE IS INFORMATION OUT THERE SWIRL, WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HANDLE THAT GOING INTO JANUARY.

>> Renee: SENATOR WISE SAID THEY WILL WORK WITH SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE SURE THE LAW IS IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY.

A NEW HEALTH ALERT OUT TONIGHT, AS SALMONELLA OUTBREAK HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

MORE IN TONIGHT'S MEDICAL NEWS.

THE LEXINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 CONFIRMED CASES OF SALMONELLA.

FOUR PATIENTS ARE IN FAYETTE COUNTY, TWO ARE IN JESSAMINE AND MERCER COUNTIES, ONE IS IN FLEMING COUNTY AND ONE PERSON LIVES IN A DIFFERENT STATE.

ALL 10 PATIENTS ATE THE SAME THING, DESSERT FROM RAMSEY'S DINER.

THE EXPOSURE OCCURRED BETWEEN JUNE 17 AND THE 20th.

RAMSEY'S AND MISSY'S PIES, WHICH MAKES DESSERTS FOR RAMSEY'S HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL PRODUCTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA AND ARE ALLOWED TO KEEP MAKING PIES THAT DON'T REQUIRE EGGS.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IT'S TRACED THE EGGS SUPPLIED TO MISSY'S PIES TO A PARTICULAR FARM AND THAT FURTHER TESTING IS ONGOING.

THEY ALSO SAY THIS TYPE OF OUTBREAK IS RARE.

>> I DON'T RECALL ONE THIS LARGE BEING TIED TO ANYTHING THROUGH A RESTAURANT.

IT MOSTLY, WHEN WE HAVE A LARGE SCALE FOODBORNE ILLNESS OUTBREAK, IT'S MORE LIKE A NOROVIRUS WHICH CONCLUDES QUICKLY, MORE QUICKLY THAN SALMONELLA INFECTION.

PEOPLE RARELY GET TESTED FOR THOSE SO IT'S HARDER TO NAIL DOWN THE CAUSE OF THE ILLNESS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE THE PERSON, PLACE, TIME, AND EXPOSURE AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE EXPOSED HAVE WITH THE SAME, IT POINTS TO AN INFECTION.

THE LAST THING I RECALL WAS AT A FOOD COURT AND SOMEONE CAME TO WORK SICK.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ANGLE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

WAS ANYBODY SICK?

THAT'S ANOTHER COMMON QUESTION YOU ASK.

YOU THINK IMMEDIATELY ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS BUT IF SOMEBODY IS SICK, YOU KNOW, THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT, TOO.

AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT TO BE THE CASE.

>> Renee: SYMPTOMS OF SALMONELLA INCLUDE DIARRHEA, FEVER, ABDOMINAL CRAMPS AND VOMITING.

IF YOU ATE AT RAMSEY'S OR MISSY'S PIE FROM JUNE 17-THE 20 AND DEVELOPED ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES YOU TO REACH OUT TO THEM.

THE STATE IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF YOUNG DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PERPETRATORS, ACCORDING TO A NEW STATE REPORT.

STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED LEGISLATION IN 2022 REQUIRING THE COLLECTION OF DATA RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE STATE.

THAT INCLUDES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARRESTS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER USE AND REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE.

ACCORDING TO THE 2024 KENTUCKY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPORT, THERE WERE MORE THAN 32,000 FORMS, REFERRED TO AS JC-3s FILED FOR DOMESTIC OR DATING VIOLENCE.

ALMOST 8,000 ARRESTS INVOLVING DOMESTIC OR DATING VIOLENCE AND ABUSE.

AND MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE RECEIVED SERVICES FROM ZERO-V, THE STATE'S COALITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS.

ZERO-V ALONG WITH THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE, THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS ALL PROVIDED DATA FOR THE REPORT.

WE SPOKE WITH OLIVIA SPRADLIN, A POLICY EXPERT WITH ZERO HV ABOUT THE REPORT AND THE STATISTIC THAT STOOD OUT MOST TO HER AGENCY.

>> WE ARE SEEING ARRESTS AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DATING VIOLENCE THAT ARE OCCURRING WITHIN JC HAD THE 3, JUST OVER 9% OF THE POPULATION IS BETWEEN THE AGES AND 13 AND 17 WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT CHILDREN AS WITNESSES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND NOT NECESSARILY CHILDREN AS COMMITTING IT.

SO THAT NUMBER, TO US, WAS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WOULD WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT IS OCCURRING THERE, WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE.

AND ALSO WHAT ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING?

EVEN ONE INSTANCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS TOO MUCH.

SO REALLY ANYTHING WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF PREVENTION WOULD BE REALLY GREAT.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN NOT GOTTEN MAYBE THE SAME AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AND INVESTMENT AS SOME OF THE SERVICES HAVE.

SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE MORE ATTENTION AROUND AND MORE INVESTMENT IN.

YOU KNOW, ANY TIME WE CAN STOP SOMEONE FROM BECOMING A SURVIVOR OR STOP SOMEONE FROM BECOMING A PERPETRATOR, I THINK THAT IS WORTH DOING.

THINKING ABOUT NOT JUST RISK FACTORS BUT ALSO PROTECTIVE FACTORS, IS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO REFRAME THAT.

AND SO HOW CAN WE CREATE HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT INDIVIDUAL, SOCIETAL COMMUNITY LEVELS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT?

AGAIN, FOR THOSE PROTECTIVE FACTORS.

THE LEGISLATORS AND THE STATE AGENCIES THAT HAVE PUT THEIR TIME AND ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO THE REPORT, AND FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON IT, I THINK IT'S HOPEFUL THAT SO MANY AGENCIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS.

HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S A REALLY COMPLEX ISSUE AND THERE IS NOT ONE SOLUTION TO IT.

I DO THINK, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE HIGH NUMBERS OF CHILDREN BEING IN THIS, BOTH IN TERMS OF COMING INTO SHELTERS, OF RECEIVING OUR SERVICES, AND ALSO OF CHILDREN WHO ARE SHOWING UP IN THE JC-3 TABLE AS PERPETRATING IT, THAT THAT FOCUS ON PREVENTION WOULD BE A VERY WORTH WHILE INVESTMENT.

>> ZERO-V SAID IT RECEIVED MORE THAN 23,000 CALLS TO ITS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOT LINE LAST YEAR.

>> Renee: WE KNOW YOU ARE READY FOR IT.

TOMORROW IS JULY 4 AND MANY WILL BE GATHERING WITH FAMILY TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY.

THE TIME TOGETHER COULD PROVIDE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK ON OLDER RELATIVES TO SEE IF THEY'RE EXPERIENCING ANY CHANGES IN THEIR COGNITIVE HEALTH.

MORE ON WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN TONIGHT'S HEALTH NEWS.

>> THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 7 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S GOING TO DOUBLE IN THE COMING YEARS.

WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THAT AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE WANT TO LOOK FOR ANY CHANGES FIRST OF ALL.

AND, YES, WE MIGHT WANT TO SEE CHANGES IN MEMORY ITSELF.

ARE MY PARENTS MORE FORGETFUL?

ARE THEY REPEATING THEMSELVES MORE OFTEN?

BUT ALSO LOOK FOR CHANGES IN THEIR BEHAVIOR.

ARE THEY KEEPING HOUSE LIKE THEY USED TO?

ARE THEY TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES LIKE THEY USED TO?

ARE THEY MORE DISHEVELED.

LOOK IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

IS IT FULL OF SPOILED FOOD.

IS MAIL STACKING UP?

ARE THEY FORGETTING TO PAY THEIR BILLS?

ANOTHER ONE, ARE THEY BECOMING MORE ISOLATED OR DISENGAGED.

IF WE SEE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR, THERE COULD BE MANY CAUSES FOR THAT BUT THAT SHOULD CONCERN US AND AT THE VERY LEAST, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT AND MAYBE ENCOURAGE THEM TO TALK WITH THEIR PRIMARY DARE-- PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.

IDEALLY I WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, I MAY SEE SOME CHANGES THAT WORRY ME HERE.

AND LET'S BE PROACTIVE.

MAYBE THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT MAYBE IT'S NOTHING AT ALL.

BUT LET'S BE PROACTIVE.

LET'S TALK TO YOUR PRIMARY DOCTOR.

IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS, MAYBE THEY'LL REFER YOU TO A SPECIALIST.

AND MAYBE EVEN LOOK AT IT FROM A PREVENTATIVE STANDPOINT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE, OF COURSE.

AND DIFFERENT BASED ON OUR RELATIONSHIP AND HOW OUR LOVED ONES RESPOND.

AS NEW TREATMENTS COME ONLINE, AND WE NOW HAVE WAYS TO ACTUALLY SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF THIS DISEASE, WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE PAY MORE ATTENTION TO IT, SEE THE VALUE OF BEING EVALUATED.

SEE THE VALUE OF COMING IN EARLY TO SEE IF THEY'RE CANDIDATES FOR THESE TREATMENTS.

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR A LONG TIME, WAITING FOR A TREATMENT THAT FINALLY STARTS TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF A CONDITION LIKE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

WE HOPE IT'S THE FIRST STEP OF MANY TO WHERE WE CAN REALLY EVEN MORE EFFECTIVELY TREAT THIS CONDITION.

SO I THINK IT GIVES US HOPE.

AND IT'S THAT FIRST STEP TO REALLY STARTING TO MAKE MAJOR IMPACTS ON THESE DISEASES.

>> Renee: GOOD INFORMATION THERE.

AS A VEGAN LIVING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, JAN BRANDENBURG HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE CONVERTING HER FAVORITE APPALACHIAN COMFORT FOODS INTO PLANT-BASED OPTIONS.

NOW SHE HAS TAKEN THOSE RECIPES AND PUBLISHED HER OWN COOKBOOK CALLED "THE MODERN MOUNTAIN COOKBOOK" WITH OVER 130 PLANT-BASED RECIPES.

>> AS A LONG TIME VEGAN NATIVE APRIL APPALACHIAN, JAN BRANDENBURG CREATES FAVORITE VERSIONS OF HER RECIPES.

THEY'RE ALL WRITTEN DOWN IN THE MODERN MOUNTAIN COOKBOOK, A CELEBRATION OF APPALACHIA.

>> IT IS TRADITIONAL APPALACHIAN RECIPES, THE FOODSES I GREW UP EATING MY WHOLE LIFE ADAPTED INTO VEGAN FOODS.

IT'S A COLORFUL, BEAUTIFUL BOUNTIFUL WAY TO COOK.

>> HER LOVE OF COOKING BEGAN IN CHILDHOOD WITH HER FIRST EASY BAKE OVEN.

>> BECAUSE AS SOON AS I GOT THAT, IT WAS LIKE MAGIC.

>> AND WATCHING HER FAMILY RUN TWO RESTAURANTS IN PULASKI COUNTY.

>> I GREW UP IN THOSE KITCHENS AND MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD MAKE LIKE 10 TO 12 PIES EVERY SATURDAY MORNING TO SELL AT THOSE TWO RESTAURANTS.

IT HELPED MY DRIVE TO COOK, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF WHAT WE DID, AND I THINK ABOUT THAT SOMETIMES, TOO, LIKE THAT IS THE MUSIC THAT CONTINUALLY PLAYS IN MY HEAD.

>> BRANDEN BERG'S COOKBOOK SHARES STORIES OF HER LIFE IN APPALACHIA AND TRANSFORMS TRADITIONAL MOUNTAIN RECIPES WITH ALTERNATIVES.

>> SOME OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES ARE SHEPHERD'S PIE.

I LOVE THAT ONE.

WE CALLED IT DEEP DISH HAMBURGER PIE BUT I MAKE IT AS A SHEPHERD'S PIE USING EITHER A MEAT SUBSTITUTE OR LENTILS AS THE BASE AND I COOK VERY SEASONALLY, TOO.

I LIKE-- PEACH 350E67S ARE REALLY GREAT RIGHT NOW SO I HAVE A LOT OF PEACHES FOR PEACH CRISP.

IF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THEY MIGHT GET SOMETHING WEIRD IF THEY'RE GETTING VEGAN FOOD, I ALWAYS THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ONE TO HAVE BECAUSE IT FEELS VERY FAMILIAR.

>> Reporter: FROM SPAGHETTI TO CORN BREAD TO CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.

TRADITIONAL TASTES OF THE MOUNTAINS ARE IN THIS COOKBOOK AND THE PLANT BASED INGREDIENTS PROVIDE EXTRA HEALTH BENEFIT TO THE DISHES.

>> YOU CAN SAY THIS IS CHOLESTEROL FREE SO FOR PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US, EVEN IF WE ARE NOT VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN HAVE GOT PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILY WITH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS SO THIS IS JUST AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE FOR ACCOMMODATING THEM, YOU KNOW, NOTHING IN THE BOOK CONTAINS ANY CHOLESTEROL.

AND THAT'S JUST REALLY BENEFICIAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> BRANDENBURG IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL CHEF.

SHE IS A PHARMACIST BY TRADE AND CURRENTLY WORKS IN A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

SHE SAYS IN ADDITION TO ALL THE MEASURING THAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON, PHARMACY AND COOKING BOTH PROVIDE A LEVEL OF HUMAN CONNECTION.

>> I THINK IT IS SERVING OTHERS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TAKE TIME WITH SOMEBODY AT THE PHARMACY COUNTY, YOU ARE SERVING THEM.

THEY FEEL IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU COOK FOR PEOPLE, THEY FEEL IMPORTANT.

THEY FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING.

>> BRANDENBURG SAID ONE OF THE FAVORITE PARTS OF CREATING THE COOKBOOK WAS LEARNING THE HISTORY SOME SOME OF OF THESE TRADITIONS.

>> THANK YOU, BRAND THANBURG SAID THE MAJORITY OF HER FAMILY IS NOT VEGAN SO SHE ENCOURAGES YOU TO NOT BE AFRAID TO SERVE PLANT-BASED MEALS BECAUSE IN HER EXPERIENCE "IF THE FOOD TASTES GOOD, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS."

FOR MANY AMERICANS, THE FOURTH OF JULY WILL BE FILLED WITH PARADES, FIREWORKS AND BACKYARD BARBECUES.

TOBY GIBBS HAS MORE ON WHAT HAPPENED ON JULY 4, 1776 THAT LED TO THE BIRTH OF OUR COUNTRY.

>> THE STORY BEGINS WELL BEFORE 1776.

TENSIONS HAD BEEN BUILDING BETWEEN THE 13 COLONIES AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY, GREAT BRITAIN FOR MORE THAN A DECADE ACCORDING TO CAROL EASTERLY OF THE KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

>> REALLY THE MAIN RALLYING CRY WAS NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

THE COL COLONISTS DID NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION IN THE PARLIAMENT AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PILED ON MORE AND MORE TAXES AND THEY REALLY FELT THAT THAT WAS UNFAIR.

AND THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1760S.

>> GROWING MOVEMENT PUSHED FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN, WAR BEGAN IN 1775 ALTHOUGH NOT ALL COLONISTS SUPPORTED THE REVOLUTION.

THERE WERE THOSE LOYAL TO BRITAIN AND HOPED RECONCILIATION WAS STILL POSSIBLE.

>> I HAVE READ THAT HISTORIANS ESTIMATE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 15, 20, MAYBE 30% OF COLONISTS WERE LOYAL TO THE BRITISH CROWN.

SOME OF THEM FLED.

SOME FLED TO CANADA WHERE THEY WERE RECEIVED AND GIVEN ASYLUM IN CANADA.

SOME DID TAKE UP ARMS WITH THE BRITISH ARMY.

THERE WAS SORT OF A GENERAL UPRISING OF LOYALISTS AND OTHERS JUST TRIED TO KIND OF STAY OUT OF THE FRAY BUT THEY WOULD NOT JOIN THE COLONISTS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

>> IN MAY OF 1776, ALMOST TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS PASSED A RESOLUTION, URGING THE COLONIES TO BREAK AWAY FROM BRITAIN AND FORM THEIR OWN GOVERNMENTS.

MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATE JOHN ADAMS WROTE THE PREAMBLE TO THAT RESOLUTION AND ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT PREAMBLE WAS THE TRUE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

>> NOW ADAMS' EGO AND RIVALRY WITH JEFFERSON MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIS ONGOING INSISTENCE.

>> IN A SENSE, JULY 14 IS NOT INDEPENDENCE DAY.

THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS MET JULY 1, AND THEN JULY 2, 12 OF THE 13 COLONIES VOTED FOR THE MOTION FOR INDEPENDENCE.

DELEGATES SPENT THE NEXT TWO DAYS REVISING THE DOCUMENT ANNOUNCING AND EXPLAINING THE DECISION TO BREAK AWAY FROM BRITAIN, A DOCUMENT ALREADY BEING WORKED ON BY VIRGINIA DELEGATE THOMAS JEFFERSON.

THEN ON JULY 4, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ADOPTED THE DOCUMENT, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

WITH LATE 18th CENTURY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION SLOW, IT TOOK DAYS, EVEN WEEKS FOR WORD TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COLONIES AND TERRITORIES BEYOND, INCLUDING KENTUCKY.

>> IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL WEEKS AT LEAST FOR NEWS FROM THE EASTERN COLONIES TO REACH KENTUCKY, THESE FRONTIER SETTLEMENTS WERE STILL VERY REMOTE.

KENTUCKY AT THIS POINT WAS STILL PART OF VIRGINIA.

THE COLONY OF VIRGINIA.

IN 1776, IT BECAME A SEPARATE COUNTY AND THAT WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFENSE.

>> THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND ITS FAMOUS PHRASES ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS HAVE INSPIRED AMERICANS FOR 246 YEARS AND PEOPLE SEEKING FREEDOM IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORD.

CAROL EASTERLY SAYS THE DECLARATION'S MESSAGE CAN STILL INSPIRE UNITY TODAY.

>> I THINK WE ARE LIVING THROUGH VERY POLARIZED MOMENT RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE IDEALS THAT ARE EXPRESSED IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IS SOMETHING THAT ALL AMERICANS CAN GET BEHIND.

NOW CERTAINLY THEY'RE VERY HIGH IDEALS AND ONES WE HAVE NEVER PERFECTLY LIVED UP TO AS A COUNTRY BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T CONTINUE TO TRY TO LIVE MORE FULLY INTO THEM AND GROW INTO THEM AND WE HAVE HAD ACTIVISTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN OUR HISTORY WHO HAVE CALLED US OUT AND CALLED US TO BE WHO WE SAY WE WANT TO BE IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENTS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF A BEACON FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, A GOAL TO KIND OF CONTINUE GROWING TOWARD AS A COUNTRY.

>> FOR KET, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, TOBY GIBBS.

AS AMERICANS GET READY TO OBSERVE THE FOURTH, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT KENTUCKY HISTORY AND THE ROLE KENTUCKY PLAYED IN THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE U.S. MONDAY NIGHT'S "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WE TALKED ABOUT KENTUCKY'S HISTORY AND THE VALUE OF STUDYING OUR STATE TO BETTER APPRECIATE OUR NATION.

>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT A LARGER NATIONAL STORY, BUT MAKING SURE WE, AS PARTICULARLY AS KENTUCKY HISTORIANS, THE LOCAL AND THE STATE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK SOMETIMES THAT IS, YOU KNOW, DISCOUNTED MAYBE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DIVE INTO SOME OF THESE STORIES AND EXPLORE SOME OF THESE LESSER KNOWN FIGURES AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF PERSPECTIVE ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON TODAY.

EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, RESISTANCE AND CHANGE AND IMMIGRATION, YOU KNOW, TO MEDICAL HISTORY, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO BE A VOICE, IF YOU WILL, TO GIVE SOME SORT OF GUIDELINE.

WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM IT OR WHAT SHOULD WE LEARN FROM IT?

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AS WE TALK ABOUT INDIGENOUS HISTORY OF OUR REGION, AT THE FILSON, WE TALK ABOUT THE WAYS, YOU KNOW, HERE AT THIS INTERSECTION OF RIVERS, THE MISSISSIPPI, THE OHIO AND THE MISSOURI, WE ARE AT THE BULL'S EYE.

ALL OF THE TEUTONIC PLATES IN AMERICA ARE RIGHT HERE.

AND PLAT PLAYS OUT FROM NATIVE POLITICS AND INTERTRIBAL AND RELIGIOUS AND LINGUISTIC GROUPS GOING BACK TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE OF AMERICAN POLITICS EVEN UP TO TODAY.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT PIGGY BACKING ON SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE ROLLED OUT HERE, IN THE PAST FEW MINUTES, IF YOU USE THE ANALOGY OF HISTORY AS A SCIENCE-- I TEND TO THINK IT'S MORE OF AN ART BUT IF YOU THINK OF IT AS A SOCIAL SCIENCE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BETTER LABORATORY TO DO AN EXPERIMENT ON THE UNITED STATES THAN YOU HAVE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS.

YOU CAN TELL ANY STORY THAT IS NATIONALLY RELEVANT RIGHT HERE WITH THE ELEMENTS THAT WE HAVE NAH HERE.

HOWEVER, THAT MEANS GETTING BACK TO Dr. LANG'S POINT, WE HAVE TO BE SO FOCUSED ON OUR LOCAL STORIES AND OUR LOCAL FLEWANCES AND-- NUANCES AND VARIATIONS AND QUIRKS THAT SET US APART BECAUSE THOSE ARE VALUABLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FEED INTO THIS GREAT EQUATION, TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES THROUGH KENTUCKY NATIONALLY.

>> Dr. HOLTON, YOU MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT TO ME ABOUT HOW KENTUCKY HAD NEVER BEEN A VERY NEAT AND TIDY SORT OF PLACE BUT YOU SEE THAT AS A STRENGTH.

WHY IS THAT?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE.

ON THE LICENSE PLATES FOR A LONG TIME IT SAID UNBRIDLED SPIRIT AND THAT'S THE THEME OF A NUMBER OF STORIES WE HAVE COVERED TONIGHT EVEN.

YEAH, IT'S NOT A NEAT AND TIDY SORT OF PLACE.

COUNTY TO COUNTY, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.

SOME SUBTLE, SOME LARGER.

IT'S ALSO A SPACE THAT PEOPLE LEFT.

THERE IS A KENTUCKY DIASPORA, THERE ARE KENTUCKIANS IN DETROIT, THERE ARE KENTUCKIANS IN THE GOLD FIELDS OF CALIFORNIA.

KENTUCKIANS WHO BECOME PRESIDENTS OF LIBERIA IN WEST AFRICA.

IT'S ALSO A STATE THAT PEOPLE COME TO IN THAT INDUSTRIAL ERA.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS LEAVE THE DEEPER SOUTH FOR INDUSTRIAL CENTERS AND SOME OF THE CENTERS ARE PLACES LIKE LOUISVILLE OR EVEN OUT IN THE COAL CAMPS.

AND IT'S NOT A MONOLITHIC PLACE.

WE HAVE HAD INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GERMAN IMMIGRANTS, IRISH IMMIGRANTS, JEWISH IMMIGRANTS, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE PRESENT FROM VARIOUS REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN RESETTLED HERE.

AND SO KENTUCKY IS NOT NEAT AND TIDY BUT THE OTHER WORD FOR IT IS DYNAMIC, A CHANGING PLACE WHERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

AND HAVING ALL THESE DIFFERENT SORTS OF FOLKS HERE, VARIOUS REGIONS WITHIN A STATE, IS A STRENGTH, I THINK.

>> Renee: IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION ABOUT MANY ASPECTS OF KENTUCKY'S HISTORY AND HOW OUR PAST SHAPES THE PRESENT.

YOU CAN SEE THAT HOUR LONG CONVERSATION ONLINE ON DEMAND AT ket.org/KYTONIGHT KEEPING WITH OUR HISTORY THEME, YOU CAN LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT KENTUCKY WITHOUT EVEN HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR CAR.

THANKS TO KENTUCKY'S 2400 STATE HISTORIC MARKERS.

>> I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 125 WORDS THAT I CAN FIT ON A STATE HISTORICAL MARKER.

SO I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION.

IT'S THE BEGINNING.

AND IF IT INSPIRES YOU TO GO AND READ A LITTLE BIT MORE ON YOUR OWN, THAT'S GREAT.

>> Renee: MORE ON THE MARKERS AND WHAT IS BEING HONORED TOMORROW ON A SPECIAL FOURTH OF JULY KENTUCKY EDITION, WHICH WE HOPE WILL YOU JOIN US FOR AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL WHEN WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

I'M RENEE SHAW AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.

TAKE GOOD CARE.