♪ >> and frankly, if I had to bet, I think the President Biden will pass the torch to a new candidate.

They are now.

>> Well, President Joe Biden withdraw from the presidential race here from our Kentucky tonight panel.

>> We're asking you because Kentucky's gift to the world.

♪ >> See how the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and museum is sharing that gift.

>> I didn't want him to be one of those statistics that wind up sitting at home.

>> The pieces are falling into place to help families in Western Kentucky overcome challenges.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KU Team Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Tuesday, July, the 9th, I'm Renee Shaw coming to you from inside the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Thank you so much for being with us tonight.

>> Here you can watch and listen to the sights and the sounds that make bluegrass music.

You mate, where we're standing is what's called the picking parlor, where you can touch the instruments like the man's land and the base and all kinds of great string instruments.

It's how bluegrass music is so unique.

We'll have much more on the museum and its exhibits coming up in just a few minutes.

Now in today's news, it's now up to a judge to determine if a new state law banning certain vaping products violates Kentucky's constitution.

Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate heard arguments yesterday in a case centered on House Bill 11.

The bill was passed during the 2024 legislative session and signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear back in April.

It limits the sale of vaping products to a small number of brands approved by the FDA.

Lawmakers in support of the bill say limiting sales will help KET them away from underage smokers.

Opponents say the bill will close small vape shops without reducing the risks for kids.

And they argue the FDA has on fairly limited the number of approved vaping products, which is a matter of the U.S. Supreme Court will take up later this year.

The Kentucky Lantern reports Judge Wingate said it will take a while for him to review this case.

House Bill 11 is set to take effect January first of next year.

A community prayer is underway and Florence after a mass shooting at a home Saturday that left 4 people dead and 3 more wounded.

Police say the gunman.

21 year-old chase Garvey led police on a chase that ended with the gunman's a car in a ditch.

Police say Garvey died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In addition to that, Florence is also dealing with the death of Jameson back a four-year-old who wandered into traffic and was hit by a car early Sunday morning.

Tonight's prayer event last until 8 at crosswords Crossroads.

Florence, the state senator for the Florence area.

Senator John Schickel put out a statement saying in part, quote, Let us unite to support one another.

And remember those we've lost.

We must find solace and strength from our faith and community, unquote.

With 4 months to go before the presidential election.

It's not clear President Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee.

His debate performance June 27th has prompted calls for him to bow out of the race.

But he's vowing to stay in.

We talked about it last night on Kentucky tonight.

Here are some of the observations from our panel.

>> President, I have one real objective in this debate and that was to convince the American public that he was fed unable to serve another term.

He did not give us that reassurance and that the faith, that's just what happened.

And Democrats, Republicans alike, you can say bad, bad night, whatever.

But that actual objective.

That was the reason it was called.

He had one real mission and it didn't happen.

And you saw people standing there really and shock and then and then in distress and sadness in many ways, every subsequent event after those, he continues to say things or do things that call it into more question.

It's not like a.

>> Here we are.

I really was sick.

You know, are I I mean, we we all week, we're all human, right?

We we we're all fallible.

We all air.

>> But when you KET doing it right, and you don't actually regroup to that place, he's not going to get any younger.

That's the reality.

And neither is President Trump was 4 years young as 9, but very, very good there.

But no, I mean, your heat.

There is a there's a trajectory, right?

And it's not going to get better.

>> When you have to talk about somebody who they have to move campaign events up and and not having him do as much late at night.

Well, we're in fall than multiple wars, a potential wars, 8 to 14 hours away.

What happens when that call comes in that China is attacked Taiwan or China.

The Philippines is fired up or something else happened in Russia and Ukraine on that.

That performance may be worried about the next 7 months.

Just the immediacy of the things.

So I think the Democrats have have a decision to make because if you decide that he's unfit to run in 7 to discern so much from now.

How is he fit to serve as president now?

Does there need need need to be in a move made now?

I think there's a whole host of questions that come out of that debate, not not least of which are.

Everyone kind of has this tip toe around this for what, 6 months, a year 2.

What did the White House not tell us?

When did they know things that I feel like?

I'm rewatching the middle seasons, the West Wing here take at this point to take a page out of Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packer playbook.

But I tell him to look into the camera.

It's a body, relax, relax.

Everything's going to be all right.

>> The first part about this is and this is one of the beauties of the Democratic Party is we will have lively in can take risk debates where that where that where the family reunion, if you will, the party of the United States, where you have people from all different boats coming together and they not see that say I do have these conversations going back and forth everything.

But in the day, once we realize what is at stake and what's most important to people, we we will then get together and then Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee for president will continue to move forward.

It's really discouraging that.

>> When you look at that debate Joe Biden had a bad night, but Donald Trump because he is willing to lie.

>> Again and again again.

>> And say things that are just so absurd.

Like you have the largest tax cut in history.

That's just simply not true.

But nobody says he doesn't know the real answer to that question.

He doesn't know if he had the biggest tax cut or what.

But He lives.

Joe Biden has a bad night and we talk about it for 10 days in this very frustrating to watch that again and again that Donald Trump's able to get away.

Well with the Supreme Court might be able to get away with murder.

He's able to get away with murder in these things and we don't talk about who want to get out?

>> Was processed.

>> The last person you heard their former Congressman Mike Ward says he believes that within the next week President Biden will bow out of the raced.

There is a lot of interesting animated discussion on Kentucky tonight from last night.

You can do it online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight?

Weather news Kentucky ends are warned to KET an eye out for certain kind of moss and Winchester can boast about a new golf court carts, travel record.

Our Toby gives has more on our headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> Kentucky State University's president says the university is on its way to being back on track and thanks for students will enroll in the fall.

The Kentucky Lantern quotes Kofi Acampo as saying his vision.

This took issue towards sustainability while supporting academic programs that are needed in Kentuckyian the U.S. a cop appoints to the new STEM programs including bachelor's degrees for cybersecurity and agricultural engineering.

Last fall, the university total enrollment was 1689 acampo tells the Kentucky Land or the goal for this ball is 3,000.

Scientists are keeping an eye out and Kentucky for us for an invasive species of moth that could devastate one of the state's biggest industries efforts to track and limit the spongy moths have been ongoing for more than 4 decades.

According to Louisville, Public Media, the spongy moth loves White Oaks.

The source material for bourbon barrels.

The species will feed on the leaves, which will ultimately cause the trees to deteriorate.

Carl Harper manages the Citizen Science Program public program through the University of Kentucky that allows volunteers to aid in researching invasive species like the spongy moth.

He tells Louisville public media, quote, We're trying to let the general public know about these pests because every IED that is out there can look for it that will help us mitigate the spread of invasive said, quote, Louisville public media reports hundreds of specimens have been found in eastern Kentucky.

But so far there have been no established populations of the mosque that have been identified in the state.

Camp.

Nelson National Monument will be celebrating 160 years this weekend by looking back on its history.

Camp Nelson became the 3rd largest recruiting station for black soldiers during the Civil War with over 10,000 men and listing that Nelson State fan tells W E K you that noted historians are coming from across the country to percent topics related to Camp Nelson and the African-American experience, including descendants of the soldiers.

The park officials will also host a variety of free activities over the weekend, including guided programs.

Winchester Business owner set a world record for longest distance, traveled in an electric golf cart in 24 hours.

The engine House Pizza Pub co-owner Chad Walker.

Well, over 387 miles on his electric golf cart, which is about the distance from Lexington to Chicago, Winchester Sun reports.

It's been certified by the well-known Guinness Book of World Records.

But a world record wasn't all Walker was driving at Winchester Sun as he used the opportunity to raise $8,700 to sports scholarship funds for the Winchester Fire Department.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm so begins.

♪ ♪ >> Kentucky is known as the birthplace of bluegrass music and home to the man known as the father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe.

The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, right where we're standing here in Owensboro is preserving and honoring the legacy of bluegrass music.

And a new exhibit highlighting the career of music icon Jerry Garcia.

So is the wide influence of the music born in the Bluegrass State.

So buckle up as Kentucky Edition goes on the road.

>> Grass music is Kentucky's gift to the world so they can all be traced back to Bill Monroe who is from right here in Western Kentucky near Owensboro.

>> it's interesting when you think about a genre of American music, no one debates, that fact and bluegrass music came from from Kentucky >> trying to the quaint people with really the cultural roots of bluegrass music.

So there's a lot.

that happens here at the Hall of Fame, all focused on educating and encouraging people to engage and go deeper with story.

>> The idea, I think a museum and generals is an educational with the Jerry Garcia exhibit a kind of envisioned.

We had 2 different camps, but we're going to be.

Having visit the museum and things that that one being our traditional bluegrass fans.

But normally come to see the museum.

But then also the Grateful Dead fan base that heads were going to be visiting as well.

And I felt like we were going to navigate a path between both worlds.

But hopefully the Bluegrass fans, well, they're going to learn.

He was very dedicated to the banjo and playing bluegrass and was a very committed to it.

And then I'm on the other side.

The Deadheads are going to learn a little bit more.

Maybe they'll walk away, learning about Broken Arrow Button.

Scruggs.

I think.

>> Every culture has its folk music to some degree but there's something about bluegrass music.

This very compelling.

I think it that feels authentic.

I think we're bluegrass.

Music really shines is it's all about the human connection around the song around the music.

He there's a listener or as a direct >> Garcia mean, we didn't really have to search too far in his background to find that will address connection.

That was in his first on our music that his plan for grass and folk music in the early 60's.

But and then the grateful that started in 1965.

But beyond that, he continued to play the banjo and also decide projects produced notably in the way.

Was a kind of a bluegrass with David Grossman, Peter Rowan and John Kahn.

Investor Clementson.

3 of those guys are in our whole thing already.

So it just made perfect to don't exhibit on his blue grass roots and how much they're such a connection there.

We want to tell a chronological story and really kind of it.

Explain how much he started in bluegrass, but he never stopped, you know, so he kept going and bluegrass all the way up until the end of his career.

And when he passed the great thing about having these temporary gallery spaces is that we can have a little fun with that.

And maybe tell a story that's outside of that court said that in court history of the past.

Pollack on the branches.

And so that's what I feel like we've done with this exhibit.

So I'm just really kind of like I said, a path that we were trying to go down between both worlds and hopefully everybody has something new to learn from it.

>> It's astounding to how many people really connect with grass music.

And it's just a joy to do that.

And host people from all over the world because they want to come here to experience it firsthand is right at the head waters, you know, Friday ground 0 ♪ >> Owensboro is also home to services and support for those with intellectual disabilities, including autism.

Back in the spring, we introduced you to puzzle pieces and their new satellite location devoted to early childhood education.

Our Laura Rogers shows us how they're helping kids and youth create healthy, happy and independent lives.

>> 11 year-old skyla comes here every day after school.

This is our home away from home with his mother says he was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 and a half years old.

He could understand what you're saying.

But he couldn't tell you what he needed.

What do you drive?

The closing Styler received early intervention at school, but his mother would know to some regression after summer break.

I changed after enrolling in the summer session at puzzle pieces.

When we transition back to school after that summer, it was almost like seamless.

He almost went back ahead of.

>> Other Pearson, brother does have 4 x lack from his own disability.

He was the 11 person, I think every born with his type of disability inspired by her and spent 6 years as a special education teacher.

>> Before receiving a grant to realize her other dream of opening the doors here at puzzle pieces.

And I was the janitor out, has the bill or as the executive director, I was the direct support professional.

I was all of the things.

HR, everything now just trying to live out a dream for the purpose of those individuals with disabilities of creating and a door that could be open for them and creating opportunities like I wanted for my brother puzzle.

Pieces began with 32 clients and 7 staff members and over a decade later, they've grown to serve 400 people with more than 100 employees.

Good job.

Nothing looks very cookie cutter.

We have a framework of what we want to target as far as life skills, social skills, executive functioning job skills.

It's a place for them to be comfortable and find other people that they have things in common with Blair neighbors is director of Autism Services.

Whole puzzle pieces serves people with a variety of intellectual disabilities.

It is estimated that 60% of them are on the autism spectrum.

We do things like >> executive functioning skills, life skills, social skills, money skills.

I try to pick things that are super important them that are actually going to help them function out society and in life with a 200 person waiting list puzzle pieces recently expanded to a new satellite location right across the street from the main campus focusing on early childhood education.

For those 18 and under with an autism diagnosis, they go on outings where they practice their social skills and then their daily.

>> Life skills they do had Jean, he loves the Friends are a big part.

I wanted him to be able >> what he belonged being part of a community and building relationships.

Also important for young adults like Carter.

I cried.

>> After we got them the tour and I KET it was where we had to be Donna and her son Carter.

Now in his 20's relocated from Michigan to Owensboro after finding puzzle pieces.

>> I was looking all over the United States.

Donna has noticed improved communication skills and her son and a willingness to try new things.

It is families like hers that originally encouraged him and his vision.

And I realized.

>> Not everybody was like my brother.

The families were like my family and they were looking for what was life after high school.

And now that life isn't rich for the hundreds of people coming through their doors.

Once they graduate.

We have other programs here.

>> That they can filter into.

So we have a great supported employment program that helps our clients find careers.

They're also developing young adult programming for those with autism.

At the collegiate level, offering a future with opportunity and possibility for kids like Skyler puzzle.

Pieces will always be a part of our village >> and has also written a couple of children's books with plans to release a memoir in August.

One of Kelsey Starks, the host of News Quiz and Inside Louisville is from Owensboro.

And so is her dad, Kirk Kirkpatrick.

Recently, they got to the other to discuss the changes they've seen in his lifetime and the success of the riverfront project and the people who make ours bar all a very special place to live.

♪ Well, I am fortunate enough to be here in Owensboro with the man.

>> Many refer to as the master of ceremonies and Allen Sparrow.

I refer to hand as dad and I am really excited to introduce our love you all to him.

And he is excited to introduce you to Owensboro.

So you have lived here your entire life.

Yes, I am.

And tell me why.

What made you want to stay?

>> Well, right after college, I had a a good job here.

I met my wife.

She had a great job in Washington, D.C., and thought, well, we'll move their b***.

She wanted to be closer to family to.

And we said, let's start here.

We have other authors throughout the years and then we had you.

And all the sudden priorities change.

We look at education and look at safety of the community and it just fit in.

>> And a lot of people don't realize Owensboro has of really diverse economy here.

>> We do.

We're very The main business in this region is agriculture.

And it's difficult to overestimate the impact it has had.

But there are huge corporations here in Owensboro.

In fact, I think about 60 national headquarters of businesses located here.

If you've ever had ragu spaghetti sauce or Bertolli, Spaghetti sauce, the chain from Owensboro, they can and ship a million gyrus of spaghetti sauce a day.

That's 150 semi trucks.

And let's talk semi trucks.

The Owensboro River Port Association.

They're here on the river.

Of course, they transfer products up and down.

If you took all the products that they shipped in one year and put them in semi trucks back to back, it would go from Owensboro to New Orleans.

>> So you've lived here your entire life.

You've seen a lot of changes and that time, what are some of the biggest changes here in Owensboro?

Well, >> there've been a lot of changes, but there's been one dramatic dynamic change.

And that's what I call our Renaissance back in 2006 or 7, a part of downtown is boarded up.

It was not going forward and that means you're going back bridge and the community.

I think as a whole lot of corporate citizens, boys and girls, everybody just kind of got together and said we got to do something different ride on the coattails of the Riverpark center chain.

110 million dollar riverfront.

That includes one of the number one parks and the world as well as a mile of probably the most beautiful riverfront on the Ohio River.

>> What about other communities who are also struggling?

Small town downtown?

What can they take away or learn from how Owensboro was able to transform?

>> Well, I think the thing that has many of them is the example that we said it can be dot.

How do you pay for something like this?

Well, I thought it was very unique that the community decided to tax themselves and what they did.

They put in insurance premium tax and everybody so and it wasn't just for people that were working.

It wasn't for the rich people only or whatever.

Everybody had his share of that.

If you had an apartment, your insurance when very much.

But if you have a yacht and 4 million dollar home, you'll be paying more.

So everybody had a least a little bit in the project.

And I think that's what made it such a benefit and one that drew us together.

>> One of my favorite things is how you and others and so many people here take such pride and really give back and not just in a small way in big ways and make real change in this community.

That's truly what Owensboro is about.

To me that's for is so unique.

It's large enough that you can have an impact, but it's not so large that it's >> daunting.

But let me give you a couple of examples.

Here is a and the mayor's assistant.

She's probably 23 years old.

She finds a grant for a walkway will be about a quarter of a mile long.

If they can come up with matching funds.

We could have like a quarter mile green walking area.

Well, people thought I mean, quarter of a mile green mocking at she didn't see the quarter mile.

She called what it was a emerald necklace around the entire city walkway, not a quarter of a mile today.

The Green Belt is 17 miles long and is one of the greatest assets to our community.

And it's all because a super power.

Another example.

Here's a guy who is an art major.

He just wants to do something different, says I think I'll make a big.

Mural on the side of this building.

Well, it sounds great until you realize the amount of work it.

He didn't care.

This one person.

Gary Bielfeld ends up making a mirror mural the size of a building that becomes an iconic part of Winnsboro.

Maybe another good example.

It's the bridge itself.

Good friend of mine.

20 years ago said he had seen the David Letterman show and when the David Letterman show Open, there were lights on the bridge in New York.

Why don't we put lights here in orange for all?

Well, it's a great idea about it.

$50,000 back then.

It really was a pipe dream except for David.

Did she said no, we're going to do it 3 years later, he actually had a news conference on top of the but I don't mean on the bridge.

He stood on top of there.

And I know he did because I was up there too.

>> Announcing that we're going to right the edge, even though we didn't have all the that next day, a lady whose husband had helped build the bridge.

Donated $10,000.

And from there tonight, you'll see the bridge are a lot different than when Dave Live.

It.

But it's going to be beautiful.

And then there's Terry would bird the Bluegrass Museum Hall of Fame.

It was an idea that he's been working on for 25 or 30 years.

It's a reality today because of his passion and desire to make this happen.

Those 4 people all had help.

But I can assure you that without those for those 4 elements in Owensboro would not be here.

And that to me is the essence of the Owensboro community.

>> All about the people.

Thank you for letting me introduce you to one of my favorites.

Back to you.

>> Thank you.

Kelsey and Mister Kirkpatrick that I do it for us from Owensboro.

We've got a lot more tomorrow about this great region.

So tune in at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition.

Have a great ♪