It's a good jumping off point, which is how people are looking at it.

It's just it's a baseline.

And so going forward to see how we improve or worsen.

Kentucky released its first ever report on domestic violence.

What are the results show?

We have heard many families say that our resources have literally saved a life.

How an organization in Oldham County is equipping parents with confidence and courage and helping shape a better future for Kentucky children.

And car makers are getting plenty of static about getting rid of AM Radio.

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 KET Millennium Fund.

Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for this Thursday, July 6th.

We thank you for joining us.

I'm your host, Laura Rogers, filling in for Renee Sharp.

The fancy farm picnic is August 5th and the governor of Kentucky will be there.

Governor Andy Beshear today confirmed he will attend the annual Western Kentucky political event, his first fancy farm appearance since becoming governor in late 2019.

All Republicans running for constitutional offices have confirmed their appearances.

And we just heard Buddy Wheatley, the Democrat, running for secretary of state, will also be there.

And you'll see all these candidates live right here on KCET.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron is asking Louisville Mayor Greg Craig Greenburg to stop an appeal against a Louisville photographer who refused to take pictures at a same sex wedding.

Chelsea Nelson's refusal put her at odds with the city's fairness ordinance.

She sued in 2019.

A federal judge agreed with her that the ordinance violated her right to free speech, and the city appealed.

Greg Fischer was mayor at the time.

Last week, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian graphic artist who refused to create wedding websites for same sex couples.

Cameron says after that ruling, Greenberg should drop Melville's appeal in the Nelson case.

Greenberg is refusing.

According to w l k Y and Louisville mayor.

Greenberg says, quote, For decades, the Louisville Fairness Ordinance has expressed the will of our community, and it enshrines our commitment to ensuring every member of our diverse city is treated with respect and dignity.

In short, it offers protections for every person in Louisville to be full and complete citizens.

The arguments against the fairness Ordinance and against treating all citizens with respect are not new.

They are tired and old arguments from a past that most of us are happy to leave behind, unquote.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

Pamela Stephenson, the Democratic candidate for Kentucky attorney general, is not currently license to practice law in Kentucky.

Stephenson is a long time attorney in the US Air Force.

Her campaign says she is on track to be admitted to the bar in Kentucky by August.

Since leaving the Air Force, Stephenson has been doing her legal work in Clarksville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville.

She is licensed by the Indiana Bar Association.

The state released its first ever report on domestic violence in the Commonwealth.

According to the report, more than 45% of men and 35% or 30 45% of women and 35% of men have experienced domestic violence or stalking in their lifetime.

Our Casey Parker Bell spoke with Sarah Ladd of The Kentucky Lantern about what the report contains and how the data can spur new action.

So, Sarah, this domestic violence data report that was released late last week, it's the first of its kind in Kentucky.

So why are we getting this that a report now on what's its significance?

Sure.

Well, this report basically is the the fruition, if you will, of a bill that Senator Whitney Westerfield worked on last year and that bill which passed the legislator legislature, Governor Andy Beshear, signed it.

It directs the criminal justice statistical analysis Center to create this report every year, with the idea being basically that we know Kentucky is really ranked really poorly when it comes to domestic violence.

You know, we're one of the worst states for it.

And so the idea behind this legislation was then that you can't really address an issue this significant without collecting all the information that's possible.

And no one, I don't think assumes this report covers everything.

But that's a really good jumping off point because it shows how many people called the crisis lines.

It shows how many arrests were made.

It shows how many of these forms were filled out from police officers who responded to these calls.

So we're seeing different regions broken down as well.

So you've scoured this data in your reporting.

What are some of the interesting findings as you looked at it?

Yeah, absolutely.

As I mentioned, the children is something that, you know, we know that seeing domestic violence or experience violence in the home is automatically an adverse childhood experience.

And Kentucky ranks really bad for those.

And they can inform a lot of things in life, a lot of health outcomes.

And so we saw in this report that while adults did make up the majority of the people who received services for domestic violence, there were 1700 children who under the age of 12 who received both shelter and non shelter services in 2022.

There were 379 children from the ages of 13 to 17, and for children whose ages were not known.

So we've got quite young children and there were also 24 youth from the ages of 13 to 17 who received services because they themselves were victims of dating violence.

So you've got a total of 1300, slightly more than 1300 children receiving services in 2022, which is something the youth advocates groups will definitely want to look at and and see, you know, what kind of long term impact we're looking at when it comes to that.

Lads, State Senator Whitney Westerfield indicated he is looking into legislation that would make electronic reporting of many domestic violence reports mandatory.

The full domestic violence data report is available on the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Web page.

Justice K-Y.

Gov.

And if you are experiencing domestic violence and need help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at one 800 7997233.

The number of women in the US returning to or looking to reenter the workforce is at an all time high, according to the latest numbers out from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It is encouraging news coming out of the COVID 19 recession that took more than 13 million women out of the US workforce, while labor force participation among women between the prime working ages of 25 and 54 is made almost a full recovery.

Nationally, women in Kentucky are still struggling to reenter the workforce.

We spoke to Charles, All, the executive director of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's Center for Policy and Research, about why it's taking Kentucky longer to rebound.

We are seeing tremendous amount of job growth in Kentucky and throughout the nation as a whole.

I would say it was anticipated that we would return to some some level of increased primates, labor force participation in.

I think what might be more unexpected is the fact that we return to it so quickly.

Kentucky tends to trail the nation as a whole when it comes to overall labor force participation.

If you take a look at primates, labor force participation, the story is no different.

There again, we're trailing with the nation generally around three points or so.

Something else that's caught my eye with Kentucky labor market data, though, is overall female workforce participation, particularly prime age.

Female workforce participation is is again following that trend.

It's lower than it is at the national level that if you drill in a little bit deeper, there's something that does raise your eyebrow, which is the unemployment rate for women between the ages of 25 and 34 is about 5.7%.

That's almost twice as high as it is for men in that same age group in Kentucky.

And that's that's a really curious thing.

You don't quite see that discrepancy at the national level.

I think you can hypothesize that childcare challenges is probably going to be a pretty significant contributor to why that particular age group, those 25 to 34 year old women might be facing some more difficulty in getting a job.

Ultimately, while the unemployment rate tells you if you have a group of people that don't have a job, but they're actively trying to find one.

Kentucky has some of the lowest or has the lowest unemployment rate that we've ever seen.

But that particular group is really struggling to find employment, or at least more so than others.

And you would have to imagine that lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is probably going to be a pretty big driver when you think about, you know, the dynamics of that particular age group, 25 to 34, that's that's a pretty common age to have young children.

And so that that's something that I have noticed that I think is problematic and I think certainly needs to be addressed from a policy perspective.

All said, one of the big drivers in the increase in labor force participation is, not surprisingly, inflation.

He said Many families need two incomes to get by in the current economy.

And on the subject of jobs, are we talking about artificial intelligence or A.I.

and its impact on jobs?

Next Monday on Kentucky tonight, join Renee Shaw and her guest as they discuss how I will affect your future.

That's Monday at eight Eastern, seven Central here on KCET.

Some good business news today in Warren County.

Southern Coil Solutions says it will invest $27 million and create 30 new jobs.

The company will spend the money on a steel coil warehouse, distribution and logistics center.

It will take up nine acres with work to be complete in December.

The head of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association is urging car makers to keep putting AM radios in cars.

At least seven car companies have stopped putting AM radios in new cars, including BMW, Mazda, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Ford planned to do the same thing, but backed off.

Toyota plans to keep AM radio.

Katie President Chris Winkle told Western Kentucky University Public Radio that 82 million Americans use ham radio each week to get news, entertainment and talk shows.

And he says people need a ham radio to get the national Emergency Alert system.

He also says AM radio is not Internet based and doesn't rely on the Web or cellular network.

So it's more reliable.

Operation Parent in Oldham County aims to equip parents with confidence and help them navigate the tumultuous situation that can arise in children's lives.

We sat down with the organization's founder and she shared how her personal experiences motivated her to help others.

Our oldest son was involved in a very violent fight.

At the same time, our oldest daughter, who's one year younger, was involved in what I'd call kind of a toxic relationship.

And they were just two issues that we didn't see coming we weren't prepared for, and we didn't know how to parent through them.

And so my natural reaction was to withdraw and isolate.

And that's probably the worst thing you can do when you're you hit a bump in the road.

So the heart behind this organization is to say, man, this stuff is out there.

Don't don't feel the need to hide.

There is a community of parents going through the same or something different.

We're called Operation Parent.

So our focus is on parents.

We're all about prevention and education.

We're a nonprofit that focuses on today's toughest parenting challenges, things that include everything from technology to drugs and alcohol to mental health.

And we're just trying to help parents who have children between the ages of, say, first grade and 12th grade.

Be aware of what issues could be affecting their child, nonacademic issues, and help them know early warning signs and things they can do to prevent major problems.

So we deal with cell phones, anxiety, vaping, bullying, gaming, drugs, eating disorders, depression.

So social media, which is always changing.

Alcohol and relationships.

And these are sort of the most prevalent topics that we see and feedback from parents and schools.

It all started with our parent handbook, and it's a handbook that addresses about 25 of today's toughest parenting challenges.

And we update the information every 18 to 24 months.

So it's never stale.

And parents really appreciate that.

It's a nonclinical publication and it's practical tips for parents on how to identify issues and what to do if they spot them.

We have heard many families say that our resources have literally saved a life.

We've also heard families say that they were in the middle of something with their children and they went to open this parent handbook and how it helped them and how some freedom came from that and how some breakthrough in their family came from that.

And so really what our our handbooks are so valuable because they give you the information, but they give you an action item to take with you to kind of implement with your teens.

I don't know of any other community that's going to be able to drive up and point to a building and say that's all about parents and that's a place where parents can be loved and that's a place where parents can be educated so that they can hold their family together.

The concept of let's equip our parents, let's give them the right resource at the right time is resonating across the state.

And we want to be the ones that can help parents with what they need.

Operation Parent recently applied for a grant source from the Kentucky Opioid Settlement Fund with hopes that they'll be able to provide parent handbooks to the families of every fourth, sixth and ninth grader in the ten counties hit hardest by the opioid epidemic.

And Lexington, the health department is reporting an increase in cases of Legionnaire's disease, a type of pneumonia.

The use of outdoor pools and hot tubs is a factor in the increased number of cases, along with recent rain and stagnant water.

Rain the last couple of weeks has helped Kentucky's drought picture.

Let's look at the U.S. drought monitor map from two weeks ago.

You see sections of the state and brown, which means moderate drought.

The yellow areas are abnormally dry.

Now let's switch to the new map finished on Tuesday.

And as you can see, most of Kentucky is now white, which means normal.

There are still some yellow and brown areas, mostly in northern and western Kentucky.

That Kentucky Science Center has opened its latest exhibit, this new interactive exhibit, to explore something we all experience but in our own individual way.

Kristie Dutton tells us more.

The Kentucky Science Center's brand new hands on exhibit.

It's called Uniquely Human.

It's exciting Merger between humanities and health sciences.

Joining us is Mike Norman, CEO of the Kentucky Science Center.

So how would you describe uniquely human?

That is a great question.

We are so excited about this new exhibit.

This is something we've been working on for four years now.

And what it does is it inspires us to learn about ourselves, to learn about others, and to through that, create a stronger, better community and better understanding.

So it's different than your normal health service.

Health sciences, human anatomy.

We don't want to do that.

So this is targeted for ages 12 through 25, so it's a little bit higher.

So it's middle school, high school, young adults.

And what we did and I'm so proud of this, one of our stakeholder groups was made up of teens and young adults.

So they told us this is what's important to us.

This is how we want it to look, what we want to talk about.

Now, we had a group of advisors that medical professionals, health professionals that made sure the science content's accurate and up to date, But it was really what the target audience wants and what they want the space to even look like lip colors and furniture and everything.

So it is really incredible.

This is something we haven't done anything like this.

I've been to Science Center about 12 years and we have not done anything like this, so we're thrilled with it.

It is so cool.

And I've been there.

I saw it.

I love how it's interactive, too.

So it's not just something you see.

It's something you get to do and be a part of, too, right?

Absolutely.

We're all about do science and hands on.

And, you know, excuse me, I don't want to put a bunch of text on panels.

You can look up stuff on your phone and find that kind of information.

This is about the call to action is really there.

You know, through.

We have about 20 interactive, innovative experiences and we have them clustered into different categories.

And through each of those is a call to action.

You know, we want you to reflect on yourself and we want you to connect with empathy with others, and then we want you to act on that.

Okay.

Now, the Kentucky Science Center as a whole.

Why do you wish people knew about it?

That it is such a great place and it's it's not a museum and you know, people say, oh, your science museum.

And I think the expectation is you're going to see old science equipment and redesign about what this was 100 years ago.

That's not who we are.

We're about science literacy, promoting that science literacy and nurturing lifelong learning.

And so, you know, that's from cradle to grave that sounds awful, but it really is all ages.

And the other thing what we really want to promote is that steam workforce pipeline.

There are so many careers that are related to science, so many careers out there.

And something for everybody.

Something for everybody for all ages.

So that's what we want them to know.

Thank you so much for being here.

Mike Norman, Kentucky Science Center.

Thank you for having me.

Back to you.

The Kentucky Science Center is located in downtown Louisville and is open seven days a week.

If you'd like to visit or want more information, go to k y Science Center dot org.

We're launching something new here at k e t Kelsey Starks, host of News Quiz and a frequent contributor to Kentucky Edition, is debuting a new show called Inside Louisville.

The Owensboro native recently sat down with Renee Shaw to talk about how the show is going and what you can expect.

Well, it's good to see you, Kelsey.

Thanks so much for making some time for us.

No, thank you for having me.

Well, you've been quite busy in addition to the contributing segments that you have for Kentucky Edition.

You have been working very hard and the launch of your own show, that's Louisville Centric called Inside Louisville.

And we see that right behind you.

Congratulations.

That's.

Well, thank you.

And thanks to you.

You've been a lot of help along the way, too.

Well, it's going to be a great series and we're excited about finally being able to tell the stories and meet the interesting people of Louisville.

And you are such a superstar there that I know you're going to have some big gets, as we say in the business.

And can you give us a preview about what we can expect this first season?

Sure.

I am really excited about some of the initial guests that we have, you know, coming from a background in news.

It's very rare that I get to sit down with somebody for a really in-depth conversation.

And that's what we get to do on this show.

Really share the stories, the interesting people, the really interesting stories about Louisville in a 30 minute show.

So we really get to sit down with some interesting people.

We talk to Teddy Abrams, the music director for the Louisville Orchestra, Chef Edward Lee.

We have talked to a couple of soccer players and some other interesting names, Dan Oliver from Dan O's Seasoning about the entrepreneur chef here in Louisville.

So it's been a really fun time so far and I'm really excited on what else it's going to bring throughout the year.

While we're excited to see it and you can give us the airtime for it, in addition to talking about why you think this is so important and such a critical time for the rest of the state to learn about Louisville.

Yeah, it really is.

Sometimes Louisville, I think, gets a bad rap.

And we are the largest city in Kentucky and a lot of people have visited.

Some people who live here may not even know some of the really interesting history and stories from Louisville.

And some people maybe have never visited and want to learn a little bit more.

But we have a really vibrant community here and a lot of interesting, dynamic change makers that we're going to talk to a great food scene that will let you visit and the history as well of our city.

So I think it's a great time for everybody throughout Kentucky to learn a little something about the biggest city in the state, and hopefully it'll spread the word of some of the dynamic things happening here in Louisville.

Well, speaking of dynamism, because like you said, you have had a long career in news and you've been a part of the Kati family for a long time as host of News Quiz that is extremely popular, not just in Kentucky, but even has a global impact.

Talk to us about how you view your role with this show and the energy that I know you're going to bring to it and the perspective you have of having lived in Louisville for many, many years and serve the community so well.

Well, you know, I am a native Kentuckian.

I'm originally from Owensboro, and I've lived in Louisville now for about 15 years, and I'm happy to call it home now.

And I have been very fortunate to have worked with Katie after a long stint in local news here at us in Louisville.

I was immediately hired to do some freelance work with Katie and doing news quiz, and that really brought me into the Katie family and I was so fortunate for that opportunity.

I love News Quiz.

It is a show that brings current events into classrooms, which I think is so important to get the younger generation interested in things happening around the world, end up on current events on in a way that's on their level.

And so this show is actually taking it kind of to the next level and allowing me to talk to a different audience, an adult audience.

But it's appropriate for kids, too.

So your kids don't have to leave the room when it comes on like some news shows.

Yeah, but it's I think everybody who watches across the board, whether you are in Kentucky or anywhere else, you're going to learn something.

You're absolutely going to be inspired by some of the stories that we tell.

And I think it will be an uplifting half hour that happens every Sunday, every Sunday at noon beginning July nine, noon, 11 Central.

That's right.

That's right.

You have your own Instagram.

I don't even know what you call it.

So, Paige, help me out here.

Kelsey.

Yeah, we do have an Instagram page, I guess, but you can follow us on Instagram at Katie in Lou.

And yeah, I hope you do do that because I would think that there's a lot of cool stuff there.

We're going to have a lot of behind the scenes and a lot of digital content that's going to really take you behind the scenes of every single episode that we do.

And I trust me, I've already learned so much about the city that I call home, and I think you will, too.

Well, thank you, Kelsey.

It's one a pleasure, an absolute pleasure and honor to work with you.

And I know this is going to be a high, high success.

And I can't wait for the first episode, July 9th, 12 noon Eastern, 11 a.m. Central right here on Katie.

Good to see you, Kelsey.

Good to see you as always.

Rene, thank you so much.

Very much.

Looking forward to this new show and all of its great guests.

The first one is Teddy Abrams, music director of the Louisville Orchestra.

Again, Inside Louisville debuts this Sunday at noon Eastern, 11 Central right here on KCET.

For people all over the world, it's the foods synonymous with Kentucky.

Today is national fried chicken Day.

If you're haven't seen fried chicken today, or at least this week, you have plenty of company.

According to one survey, 49% of Americans say they eat fried chicken at least once a week.

6% of Americans say they eat it every day.

On the other end of the scale, 30% of people said they eat fried chicken once a month or less.

The Department of Agriculture says the average American ate more than £65 of chicken in the year 2018.

Now that's a lot, but in Australia the number was £205.

Americans eat about 8 billion chickens a year, the equivalent of almost 22 million per day.

Some children rely on their school cafeteria to receive lunch every day.

So what happens during summer break?

You know, a child that's had poor nutrition during the summer doesn't come back to school as ready to learn as they might have if they'd been well nourished.

So we take a look at the program feeding Kentucky's children this summer.

Tomorrow on Kentucky edition, we hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 630 Eastern, 530 Central for Kentucky Edition.