[♪♪] >> Renee: MEASLES IN KENTUCKY WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS AND WHERE ARE THE CASES?

>> THE BACKBONE OF THIS ECONOMY IS TOURISM IS LAKE CUMBERLAND.

AND HOUSEBOATING HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY BIG PART OF THAT.

>> Renee: WE HEAD TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MODERN HOUSEBOAT AS "KENTUCKY EDITION" GOES ON THE ROAD.

>> WE CREATED A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE HERE, PEOPLE WANT TO STAY HERE.

>> Renee: AND IT'S HOME TO THE FIRST KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN HOW CORBIN IS KEEPING UP WITH THE CHANGING TIMES.

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

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" FOR THIS TUESDAY, JULY 8TH I'M RENEE SHAW AND WE ARE ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK IN DOWNTOWN SOMERSET WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW ON THE BUSY DOWNTOWN STREETS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YESTERDAY, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO THE CITY BY SHOWING YOU SOME OF THE REVITALIZATION EFFORTS THAT HELPED BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THE SOUTHERN KENTUCKY TOWN AND WE LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LAKE CUMBERLAND WHICH DRAWS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO THIS REGION EACH YEAR.

TODAY WE'LL GO BACK TO THE LAKE TO LEARN ABOUT AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY HERE IN PULASKI COUNTY AND SHOW YOU HOW THE COUNTY IS TRYING TO KEEP FORMER OFFENDERS FROM GOING BACK BEHIND BARS BY GIVING THEM NEW SKILLS TO KEEP THEM ON THE RIGHT PATH.

FIRST, HOW WILL MEDICAID CUTS AFFECT KENTUCKY?

LAST NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" OUR PANEL TALKED ABOUT MEDICAID CUTS IN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S NEW BILL AND THE THINKING BEHIND THEM.

>> THE BEST ESTIMATES I'VE SEEN FROM THAT AND OTHERS SHOW THAT 210,000 KENTUCKIANS ARE LIKELY TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.

ANOTHER 47,000 ACCORDING TO URBAN INSTITUTE ARE LIKELY TO LOSE CONNECT COVERAGE THE INDIVIDUAL MARKETPLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN BUY INSURANCE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AROUND A QUARTER MILLION KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE POSSIBLY GOING TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE, NOT TO SAY REDUCTION IN PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS.

>> Renee: IS IT THE GOAL OF REPUBLICANS TO CUT PEEP OFF OF MEDICAID TO REDUCE THE ROLLS TO HAVE WORK REQUIREMENTS AND PAPERWORK SO ONEROUS THEY CANNOT COMPLY?

IS THAT THE GOAL?

BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT HAS ON THE STATE BUDGET.

>> LET ME TELL YOU, RENEE, THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS NEVER HAD A PRIORITY WHERE WE WANT TO CUT ANYBODY OFF THAT IS NOT WORTHY.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU DEFINE WORTHY?

>> WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY BODY OF WORK IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I'VE BEEN -- I'VE DONE NOTHING EXCEPT TRY TO ENGAGE, UNDER SERVED POPULATIONS AND THREAT THEM COVERAGE.

THAT IS EVERY MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S GOAL.

>> Renee: YOU CAN SEE THAT HOUR LONG DISCUSSION ON-LINE ON DEMAND AT KET.ORG/KY TONIGHT.

>>> THE TAX AND SPENDING CUTS BILL INCLUDES THE PROTECTING AMERICAN FARMLANDS ACT WHICH AIMS TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON SELLING FARMLAND AND ENCOURAGES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT SON AND CURB THE LOSS OF FARMLAND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL PUSHED FOR THAT LEGISLATION HERE IS A QUOTE.

THE PROTECTING AMERICAN FARMLANDS ACT ADDRESSES THE STEADY DECLINE IN AVAILABLE FARMLAND BY EASING THE TAX BURDEN ON OUR HARD-WORKING PRODUCERS.

THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR KENTUCKY FARMERS AND HELP PRESERVE OUR VITAL FARMLAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

END QUOTE.

CENTRAL KENTUCKY HAS MORE MEASLES CASES MORE ABOUT THAT IN TODAY'S LOOK AT MEDICAL NEWS.

THE LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS EIGHT CASES CONNECTED TO AN OUTBREAK IN FAYETTE AND WOODFORD COUNTIES.

PATIENTS HAVE BEEN QUARANTINED AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL RISK TO THE PUBLIC AND THERE IS A SEPARATE CASE IN TODD COUNTY.

THE STATE AS A WHOLE HAS 11 REPORTED CASES SO FAR IN 2025.

>>> IT'S THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER AND IT'S HOT AS YOU KNOW BUT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER FOR MANY STUDENTS ACROSS KENTUCKY.

THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL START THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

BRIAN YEARWOOD TOURED SEVERAL CLASSROOMS YESTERDAY TO MEET WITH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND LEARN ABOUT JCPS' SUMMER PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO HELP KIDS STAY ON TRACK.

HE WAS ASKED ABOUT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FACING THE DISTRICT FOLLOWING NEWS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PAUSING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A DAUNTING TIME BECAUSE OF FUNDING AND BECAUSE OF CUTS TO OUR FUNDING CUTS THAT MAYBE COMING.

BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

BECAUSE 98,000 STUDENTS ARE RELYING ON US TO DO THAT.

>> Renee: YEARWOOD WAS ASKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND SAID THE DISTRICT HAS WHAT IT NEEDS IN TERMS OF BUS DRIVERS AND MONITORS.

>> WE ARE FULLY STAFFED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF BUS DRIVERS NEEDED TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF WITH GREAT SUCCESS.

WE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE.

SO I THINK THAT WE ARE POISED TO HAVE A GREAT START TO SCHOOL.

>> Renee: SUPERINTENDENT YEARWOOD SAID HE IS NOT YET MET WITH STATE LAWMAKERS, BUT THAT MEETINGS ARE ON HIS CALENDAR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS AUGUST 7.

>>> TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH ATTENDED THE STATE'S FIRST A.I.

SUMMIT FOCUSED ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EDUCATION.

KENTUCKY'S OWN A.I.

TASK FORCE HAS ALREADY INDICATED AN INTEREST IN RESEARCHING A.I.

'S USES IN SCHOOLS AND THIS ALLOWS EDUCATORS TO START THE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.

MORE IN TONIGHT'S EDUCATION MATTERS SEGMENT.

>> IT'S HITTING THE SCHOOLS RAPIDLY.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF A.I.

LAWS AND GUIDELINES.

IT'S COME ON THE DISCUSS PIT.

AND WE WANT TO BE THERE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO LEAN ON FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WORLD.

>> IT WENT FROM A LOT OF CONCERNS AND FEAR ABOUT STUDENTS WILL CHEAT AND I'VE SEEN THIS SHIFT TO WE'RE NOT GOING TO -- IT'S HERE SO WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT.

BUT NOT SURE HOW TO START AND REALIZING IT'S IN DEMAND FOR SKILLS FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE FOR THE FUTURE.

WHAT BETTER PLACE THAN OUR SCHOOLS TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> I THINK THE GOALS IS TO GET STARTED IN HAVING THE DIALOGUE ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AND NOT BEING AFRAID OF SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, SCHOOL DISTRICTS REALLY OUR SCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY ARE THE ONES ON THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGY AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME DOWN THROUGH THE PIKE AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE THE BEST AND THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOXES.

>> PERSONALIZED LEARNING IS ONE WE DID THAT BEFORE A.I.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IS WE CAN DO IT FASTER.

IF STUDENTS ARE USING A GAME BASED LEARNING PLATFORM OR HAVE AN ACTIVITY LIKE THE CHAT BOTS AND THEY CAN BE ASKED QUESTIONS AND ADAPTING TO THEM IN REALTIME AND GIVING TESTIMONY WHAT THEY NEED THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE INSIGHTS WE GET FROM THAT TOOL OR PLATFORM AND GO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE STUDENT OR AS GROUP.

CLASS, I'VE NOTICED WE CAN DO THIS AND THIS.

>> IT'S ABOUT INNOVATION AND THE OBSTACLES THE BARRIERS.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER ESPECIALLY IN SOMETHING AS NEW AND INNOVATIVE AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS.

IT IS A LITTLE SCARY.

IT IS A LITTLE SCARY FOR YOUNG TEACHERS AND SCARY FOR OLDER TEACHERS.

BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING WE WANT TO HELP OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS EMBRACE AND BE ABLE TO USE.

>> I WANT THEM TO ONE, UNDERSTAND WHAT A.I.

IS AND HOW IT WORKS AND FUNCTIONS BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

ESPECIALLY WHICH HE LOOKING AT WEBSITES AND DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO USE THEM.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE TANGIBLE IDEAS TO START WITH SO THEY DON'T FEEL OVERWHELMED.

IT'S EASY THERE ARE SO MANY TOOLS I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

TO HAVE A GOAL OR FOCUS THIS IS WHAT I NEED HELP WITH I WILL START KNOWING THERE'S OPTIONS OUT THERE, BUT COULD WALK AWAY WITH SOMETHING THEY'VE CREATED OR IDEAS HOW THE TOOLS CAN BE USED FOR THEIR OR THEIR STUDENTS' BENEFIT.

>> Renee: ONE PANEL INCLUDED JOSH BRAY THE CO-CHAIR OF THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[♪♪] WHEN YOU THINK OF LAKE CUMBERLAND, HOUSEBOATS ARE DEFINITELY ONE OF THE FIRST TINGS THAT COME TO MIND.

SOMERSET IS KNOWNS THE HOUSEBOAT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND THE MODERN HOUSEBOAT ORIGINATED ON THE BANKS.

CUMBERLAND.

THE INDUSTRY HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS AND IS A BIG ECONOMIC FACTOR FOR THE REGION.

OUR CHIP POLSTON WENT ON THE ROAD TO ONE OF THE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE SOMERSET HOUSEBOAT INDUSTRY TO SEE THESE IMPRESSIVE VESSELS.

>> HOUSEBOATING STARTED MORE THAN 70 YEARS AGO, SOMERSET NATIVE SKBRIM SHARP IS CREDITED WITH STARTING THE INDUSTRY WHILE SERVING HIS COUNTRY.

WE VISITED WITH HIM ON KENTUCKY LIFE 20 YEARS AGO.

>> IN 51 I WAS RECALLED INTO THE NAVY DURING THE KOREAN WAR, AND I WAS A OPERATOR ON THE INBOATS THAT LAUNCHED TROOPS AND TANKS AND SO FORTH.

I WAS CIRCLING CRUISING AROUND THE ISLAND DOWN IN THE CARRIBBEAN, AND I GOT TO THINKING YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE FOLKS WHO LOVE A BOAT LIKE THIS AND PUT A CABIN ON IT.

AND SPEND THE WEEKEND AND VACATIONS.

SO WHEN I GOT BACK HOME IN THE EARLY 53, I SET IN MOTION THE PLAN TO DO IT.

AND I HAD A MACHINE SHOP BUILD THE FIRST STEEL HULL FOR ME AND I BUILT THE FIRST CABIN.

AND SOLD IT BEFORE IT FINISHED.

>> SHARP'S GRANDSON HEADS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IN SOMERSET AND PULASKI COUNTY.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMMENSE IMPACT THE INDUSTRY HAS HAD ON THE AREA.

>> THE BACKBONE OF THIS ECONOMY IS TOURISM, IS LAKE CUMBERLAND.

AND HOUSEBOATING HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY BIG PART OF THAT.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF HOUSEBOATS ON LAKE CUMBERLAND ALONE.

THE LARGEST RENTAL FLEET EXCEPT LAKE POWELL IS ON LAKE CUMBERLAND.

SO LAKE POWELL WHILE THEY HAVE A LARGER FLEET OF HOUSEBOATS I POINT OUT THAT 99% OF ALL THOSE HOUSEBOATS OUT IN ARIZONA, UTAH WERE MADE HERE IN KENTUCKY ON THE SHORES OF LAKE CUMBERLAND.

>> THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BOATS ARE MANUFACTURED BY TRIFECTA HOUSEBOATS.

THE NAME REFLECTS THE THREE LARGE MANUFACTURERS IN THE AREA THAT MERGED IN 2014.

THE APPEAL OF THESE VESSELS IS CLEAR... >> I MEAN IT IS AN ALL INCLUSIVE VACATION IN ONE PLACE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY STAY AT YOUR HOTEL ON WATER AND MOVE IT AROUND TO DIFFERENT PLACES AND YOU HAVE THE AMENITIES AS WELL AS THE FUNCTIONALITY OF BEING ABLE TO LAYOUT IN THE SUN ON THE BEACH OR JUMP IN THE WATER AND COOL OFF.

>> IT CAN TAKE FROM SIX TO 10 MONTHS FOR ONE OF THE SERIES BOATS BUILT FROM A TEMPLATE TO BE COMPLETED.

CUSTOMERS WITH OPT TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR BOAT DOWN TO THE APOULTRY AND COUNTERTOPS.

ONE OF THOSE CUSTOM JOBS A MONSTER OF A HOUSEBOAT TOOK TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS TO COMPLETE.

BOATS RANGE FROM $500,000 TO WELL OVER A MILLION WITH $800,000 BEING THE AVERAGE.

FOR THE BUSINESS USED TO FOCUS ON CUSTOM ORDERS TRIFECTA BUILDS SERIES BOATS PURCHASED BEFORE COMPLETED.

AROUND 120 PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED IN AREAS TO BUILD THE BOATS AND SEEING THEM ON THE WATER IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

>> SOMETIMES MORE BEAUTIFUL IS WALKING AROUND THE FACTORY AND SEEING THE PEOPLE ON THE BOATS GETTING THE JOB DONE, SMILING AT YOU SAYING HELLO AND KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR SOMETIMES DECADES AND THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO, TOO.

IT MEANS A LOT TO US.

>> TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HOUSEBOATS ON THE WATER AT LAKE CUMBERLAND THE FIRST NEW MARINA BUILT IN SIX DECADES OPENED IN 2020.

MARINA HAS SLIPS FOR 300 BOATS AND WAS FULL A YEAR AFTER OPENING THEIR DOORS.

HOUSEBOATS RANGE IN VALUE FROM $40,000 TO OVER A MILLION.

OWNING ONE OF THESE AMAZING BOATS IS A GOAL FOR MANY BUT THE RENTAL MARKET HERE IS HOW MANY ARE INTRODUCED TO THE PASTIME.

>> MOST PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AREA, THE FIRST TIME THEY EXPERIENCE LAKE CUMBERLAND, WAS TYPICALLY ON A RENTAL HOUSEBOAT.

THAT THEY WOULD RENT FROM ONE OF THE MARINAS AND COME OUT FOR A THREE-SEVEN-DAY PERIOD WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT WAS HOUSE MOST PEOPLE DISCOVERED LAKE CUMBERLAND.

>> DYSON WORKS AT THE MARINA AND HE AND HIS WIFE LOVE THE HOUSEBOAT LIFESTYLE THEY KEEP THE BOAT DOCKED.

THE COUPLE LIVED IN OHIO AND WOULD MAKE THE FIVE-HOUR TRIP TO CUMBERLAND AROUND 48 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR.

DYSON SAYS THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE BOATS.

>> THEY LOOK AT PEOPLE ON THE LAKE AND THINK THOSE ARE RICH WEALTHY PEOPLE.

HONESTLY AND THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE.

THERE'S SOME PEOPLE ON THE LAKE THAT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT THEY ARE FAR, FAR OUT NUMBERED BY JUST NORMAL EVERYDAY WORKING FOLKS WHO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND WHO WANT TO GET OUT.

THEY JUST CHOOSE TO SPEND THEIR DISPOSAL INCOME DOING THAT ACTIVITY.

>> THE INDUSTRY HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS BEFORE THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OF 2020.

THE NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION SAID THE RECREATIONAL BOATING SECTOR IN KENTUCKY HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $1.7 BILLION SUPPORTING 401 BUSINESSES AND MORE THAN 8700 JOBS.

>> I'M HOPEFUL IT WILL COME BACK.

BUT THAT IS GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE COMING TO THE LAKE WHO HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT, RECONNECTING WITH NATURE GETTING OUT ON A HOUSEBOAT AND SEEING WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> AND WHEN IT DOES COME BACK, THE PEOPLE OF SOMERSET KENTUCKY WHO BUILD THE BOATS WILL BE READY TO ANSWER THE CALL.

>> WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE DEDICATED DECADES TO CREATING A MASTERPIECE.

WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THEIR WELDING, TECHNIQUES AND SKILL SETS OR CARPENTRY AND FINISH WORK IN THE CABINET SHOPS AND JUST THE OVERALL ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR YEARS COME OUT OF THIS, IT'S EXCITING TO KNOW THAT A PRODUCT OF THIS NATURE WAS INVENTED RIGHT HERE IN SOMERSET, KENTUCKY.

>> FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M CHIP POLSTON.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, CHIP.

IN KENTUCKY, ONE-THIRD OF RELEASED INMATES COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME AND END UP BACK BEHIND BARS.

THAT NUMBER IS DECLINING BUT RECIDIVISM IS A CYCLE THAT CAN CAUSE OVERCROWDING IN OUR JAILS AND ADD STRAIN TO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

HERE IN PULASKI COUNTY OFFICIALS ADOPTED A PROGRAM TO TRY AND BREAK THAT CYCLE.

OUR MACKENZIE SPINK EXPLAINS.

>> IN THE DETENTION CENTER HAVE ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ALL WITH THE FOCUS ON PREPARING THEM FOR LIFE AFTER RELEASE.

ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IS JOB TRAINING.

>> JAIL WAS SIGNIFICANTLY OVERCROWDED AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE RECIDIVISM OF THE INMATES COMING BACK IN.

AND WE ASKED THE LOCAL INDUSTRY AROUND HERE IS WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THAT WE NEED THE MOST RIGHT NOW?

THIS IS WHAT OUR IDEAS ARE?

BUT THE INDUSTRIAL LEADERS SAID WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS WELDERS.

>> ONE OF THE LOCAL INDUSTRY LEADERS IS HENDRICKSON A MANUFACTURING COMPANY THAT HAS PARTNERED WITH THE DETENTION CENTER TO HIRE INMATES AS WELDERS.

>> WE WOULD TAKE THEM TO WORK.

THEY EARN THEIR OWN PAYCHECK AT THEIR OWN RATE.

SECURITY BANK HAD CHECKING ACCOUNTINGS AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS SETUP WHERE THE CHECK COULD BE DEPOSITED.

>> BRANDY COOK WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE INMATES TO TAKE PART IN THE WELDING PROGRAM.

AFTER EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING THROUGH SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHE WAS HIRED AT HENDRICKSON A JOB SHE SAYS CHANGED HER LIFE.

>> I KNOW I WANTED TO DO IT, ANYTHING ANY OPPORTUNITY I WANTED TO DO.

BECAUSE I WAS COMING UP ON MY RELEASE.

I PRAYED A LOT YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE BETTER BEFORE I GOT OUT.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT AND GET BACK IN MY KIDS' LIFE AND LEAVE THEM AGAIN.

BY THE TIME I WAS RELEASED I HAD SAVED UP AND WORKED ENOUGH MONEY TO GET AN APARTMENT AND TO GET A VEHICLE WHEN I WAS GETTING OUT.

AND I WAS PRETTY MUCH SETUP FOR SUCCESS AND THAT CHANGED MY LIFE, THAT CHANGED MY KIDS' LIFE.

>> ANOTHER COMMUNITY PARTNER IS GOD'S FOOD PANTRY, BRENDA RUSSELL SAYS RELEASED INMATES FIND THEMSELVES THERE FOR A MEAL.

BUT THE PANTRY ALSO OFFERS FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER HOURS TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR PAROLE REQUIREMENTS.

>> WE CREATE THAT ATMOSPHERE AND ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN COME AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY ARE LEARNING A JOB SILL.

THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO STOCK SHELVES HOW TO RETATE PRODUCT, HOW TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS AGAIN AFTER A LONGTIME OF BEING IN CONFINEMENT.

AND THOSE END UP TRANSFERRING INTO US BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN THEY GO IN APPLY FOR WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HAVING A FELONY ON YOUR RECORD IS HARD TO GET EMPLOYMENT.

BUT THE ONLY WAY THAT THOSE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION ARE GOING TO SUCCEED IS IF SOMEBODY GIVES THEM A CHANCE.

>> JANA SHELL IS FAMILIAR WITH THE INS AND OUTS OF REENTRY NOT ONLY BECAUSE SHE WORKS FOR THE BRANCH BUT SHE HAD TO MAKE THE TRANSITION AS A FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSON.

>> I HAVE DONE MY FAIR SHARE OF TIME AND THE LAST TIME I DID, I DONE 18 MONTHS.

AND I WAS AROUND 30 YEARS OLD AND I WAS JUST SO SICK AND TIRED.

AND BACK THEN THERE WASN'T ANYTHING LIKE THERE IS TODAY FOR REENTRY.

SO I WENT THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT WAS THE ADULT ED OFFICE TO WHERE IT WAS LIKE A SOFT SKILLS CLASS.

IF YOU COMPLETED IT IT WAS LIKE TWO WEEKS LONG YOU AUTOMATICALLY GOT AN INTERVIEW FOR A LOCAL FACTORY THAT WAS IN TOWN.

THAT IS HOW I WAS ABLE TO GET PIE FIRST JOB.

BECAUSE IT'S BETTER NOW EMPLOYERS BEING OKAY WITH WORKING WITH THOSE THAT HAVE A BACKGROUND BUT ESPECIALLY BACK IN THE DAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO.

A LOT OF EMPLOYERS DIDN'T WANT TO.

>> AFTER TAKING AN ON-LINE CLASS WITH THE STATE'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM SHE WAS OFFERED A JOB DEVELOPING THE REENTRY AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BRANCH.

SINCE JOINING THE TEAM, JANA HELPED GROW PROGRAMS ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> WE KEPT GROWING AND KEPT GROWING AND EVENTUALLY THAT IS WHEN ADULT ED PICKED US UP AND STARTED FUNDING AND THAT IS WHEN WE ARE IN 80 SOMETHING COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND JUST IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FOUR YEARS AGO, THAT WE WERE JUST IN LIKE FOUR OR FIVE COUNTIES AROUND THIS AREA AND NOW WE'RE ALL OVER THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> PULASKI WAS ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTY TO PIONEER A REENTRY PROGRAM.

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.

I THINK IT'S GIVEN BACK TO THE WORKFORCE.

I THINK IT'S GIVEN BACK TO THE INMATES TO WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO BE STABLE ONCE THEY GET OUT, SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO ONCE THEY GET OUT.

>> McCOLLUM SAYS OUT OF THE 34 INMATES THAT GRADUATED FROM THE REENTRY PROGRAM ONLY THREE REOFFENDED.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M MACKENZIE SPINK.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

THIS WEEK ISN'T JUST ABOUT SOMERSET.

WE CONTINUE OUR ROAD TRIP WITH A STOP IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CITY THAT IS SITS IN THREE COUNTIES, WHITLEY, KNOX AND LAUREL COUNTIES CLAIM PART OF CORBIN AND THE BIRTHPLACE OF KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN HAS FOUND THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR GROWTH.

>> WHEN I CAME IN AS MAYOR, FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO NOW, MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE SURE THERE WOULD BE A CORBIN IN 100 YEARS.

I WAS LOOKING FAR INTO THE FUTURE LIKE OKAY WE ARE A RAILROAD TOWN WITHOUT A RAILROAD.

COAL HAS LEFT OUR PART OF THE STATE AND WITH THAT COMES OUR RAILROAD JOBS AND ALL THE ANCILLARY BUSINESSES.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT CORBIN IS GOING TO STAY ON THE MAP.

WE RECOGNIZED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO REENERGIZE OUR DOWNTOWN BECAUSE ONE OF THE BUSINESSES STARTED MOVING OFF OF MAIN STREETS LIKE THEY DID SO MANY PLACES BACK IN THE 80s, YOU REALLY SAW THE HEART BEAT OF YOUR TOWN STARTING TO DISSENTIGRATE BEFORE YOUR EYES.

>> CORBIN HAS BEEN ONE OF THE TRAIL BLAZERS IN SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY IN THIS REGION AS FAR AS DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.

CORBIN BEGAN WITH REALLY BUYING INTO THE DIVERSE FOOD SCENE.

WITH PEOPLE LIKE KRISTEN WITH THE WRIGLEY THAT OPENED AND SEASONS RESTAURANT AND THE DEPOT THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE REGION TO COME TO CORBIN FOR A NIGHT OUT.

CORBIN DOES A GOOD JOB OF CREATING THAT CLUSTER OF PLACES TO GO.

SO YOU MIGHT JUMP IN THE CAR FROM 30 MINUTES AWAY AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO CORBIN TONIGHT.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A DESTINATION.

YOU PARK THE CAR AND GET OUT AND SEE WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE GOING INTO AND THAT IS WORKING FOR CORBIN.

>> WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING, WE DIDN'T -- IT WAS AN EXPERIMENT TO GO TO SUCH A SMALL TOWN.

I THINK CORBIN HAS EIGHT TO 9,000 CITIZENS.

SO WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WANTED TO EXPAND TO SUCH A SMALL TOWN.

BUT WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

SO IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.

WHAT MAKES A TOWN SUCH AS CORBIN SUCCESSFUL AS FAR AS A SMALL TOWN BEING REVITALIZED AND ALL THAT IS THERE'S NOT A SINGLE -- IT IS NOT A INGLE IDENTITY.

IT'S RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN ECLECTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HELPS.

WHAT WE DID DO IS REALLY PUT A FOCUS ON OUR DOWNTOWN.

WE MADE IT OUR GOAL TO STABILIZE OUR DOWNTOWN AND CREATE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE A DEFENDANT NATION.

DESTINATION.

AND GIVEN OUR RAILROAD HISTORY AND OUR DOWNTOWN IS RIGHT ON THE RAILROAD WE HAD SOME ASSETS WE COULD BUILD OFF OF.

SO WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DEPOT, TRAIN DEPOT THAT IS HISTORIC THAT WE FIXED UP, WE'VE ADDED TRAINS THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE.

WE ADDED DETECTIVE LIGHTING DOWNTOWN.

AND WE ADDED PLANTERS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

AND WE'VE GOT HARLEN SANDERS THAT IS OUR BIG CLAIM TO FAME AND THEY HAVE DONE A $3 MILLION RENOVATION TO SANDERS CAFE AND IT'S FABULOUS.

>> CORBIN ALSO WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE ARTS SCENE.

AND SO YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF VISUAL ARTS WHEN YOU GO THROUGH TOWN.

MURALS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE PAST FIVE, SIX YEARS.

BUT REALLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE MURALS POPPING UP DOWNTOWN.

LOCAL FOOD AND LOCAL ARTISTS IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IN CORBIN.

>> THE ARTS ARE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE REVITALIZATION OF ANY TOWN.

I THINK CORBIN HAS HARNESSED IT IN A SPECIFIC AND CAUTIOUS WAY TO MOVE FORWARD STRATEGICALLY.

REVITALIZATION HAS TAKEN A LONGTIME IN CORBIN BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN WORTH IT.

AND THE ARTS AS FAR AS APPLYING THAT IS ONE COG IN A BIGGER MACHINE.

ALLOWING THE AFTER AFTER FOR THA PLACE AT THE TABLE IS HUGE FOR ANY COMMUNITY AND CORBIN SETS THE PACE.

>> QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY A TOWN OF 8,000.

WE CREATED A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE HERE, PEOPLE WANT TO STAY HERE.

WE WELCOME NEW PEOPLE TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT JUST KEEPS US VIBRANT, IT KEEPS US GROWING AND, YEAH IT'S A GREAT PLACE ALL THE WAY AROUND.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE FOOTHILLS OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS IN MY OPINION.

>> Renee: A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

STUDENTS FROM SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL ARE HEADING TO A NATIONAL COMPETITION THEY WILL RACE THEIR SOLAR POWERED CAR.

WE PAID A VISIT TO SEE THE STUDENTS IN ACTION AS THEY PREPARE FROM THE RACE.

HEAR FROM ENGINEERS TOMORROW NIGHT AS WE CONTINUE OUR ROADSHOW IN SOMERSET.

WE HOPE YOU WILL TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

YOU CAN CONNECT THE WAYS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN TO STAY IN THE LOOP AND LOOK FOR US ON THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AND SMART TV I'M RENEE SHAW COMING TO YOU FROM DOWNTOWN SOMERSET.

AND I WILL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE TOMORROW NIGHT.

IN THE MEANTIME TAKE GOOD CARE.

SO LONG.

[♪♪]