♪ >> Donald Trump isn't wasting any time picking his candidate for governor of Kentucky.

>> The ghost of slavery, the Ghost of Chicken.

We're all still hovers over the American body politic.

>> 2 days before June tape, why the holiday resonates in 2022.

I challenge you think and get comfortable with >> retain of juggling.

Then I tried to get them to expand into something else.

>> A Kentucky college campuses overrun with clowns.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the Kaye E T and Aument for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the Kaye E Team Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION.

Today is Friday, June 17th.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for letting us spend a little bit.

>> Of our time with you.

11 months before Kentucky's Republican primary for governor, former President Donald Trump already has his candidate yesterday on social media.

Trump announced he's endorsing Daniel Cameron, Kentucky's attorney General Cameron then Re tweeted the endorsement and that Trump says that Cameron's outstanding in every way the move comes at a time when the Republican field for governor isn't set.

President Trump's former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft has been discussed as a possible candidate.

She was saying with Trump at the Kentucky Derby in May.

We'll discuss that endorsement with political analyst Scott Jennings and Matt Erwin.

That's coming up.

And just a few minutes.

A Kentucky town was less than 10 days from running out of water.

Recent thunderstorms have helped increase the water supply.

But the threat remains.

Marion, a town of about 3,000 was forced to drain nearby Lake George after discovering a breach in the levee.

Our Casey Parker-bell spoke with Marion City administrator about what the community is doing to conserve water and how others can help.

>> We stressed that people should only be using water for none necessities that any beyond necessities should be disk and, you know, discontinued in the temporary time period.

>> What can other communities and the state due to help you on the situation?

>> Well, that's a great question.

I I will say that we are very thankful we've received communication.

I'm from I believe Hopkinsville City Council member that wanting to work with the city there and organize a way to help us get more bottled water.

We've been working Mayfield and the emergency management team in that county have been providing us water that they had stockpiled, I believe from the tornado incidents.

And so they've been supplying us water.

Obviously, we had to prepare for the worst-case scenarios and they tell them that means as far as what the state can do.

There's there's several different layers that the city is that the city would request in the state.

One, of course, is that we would insist that the state consider heavily providing us some kind of declaration of emergency at the state level that would a certain state capabilities to support us primarily the State Guard, the State Guard has access to different like pumps.

And water purification equipment and even water tankers and man power.

That would be helpful in and would be without a doubt utilized by community in the next few months.

Yesterday, the Marion City Council implemented the city's strictest water conservation level.

>> Marion citizens are no longer allowed to fill.

Pools must limit watering their yards and are unable to receive new building permits.

44,000 pounds of baby formula arrived in Louisville yesterday.

It's part of operation fly formula.

The campaign to bring in baby formula from other countries to ease the shortage here in the U.S.

The Courier Journal says the shipment is the equivalent of more than a half million 8 ounce bottles.

The shipment went from Louisville to Indianapolis for distribution.

Kentucky has received 2.3 million dollars in grants to help some of the state's most vulnerable citizens.

The money will go to help protect older adults and those with disabilities.

Our Casey Parker-bell spoke with Erik Friedlander, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services about how the money will be used.

>> A lot of the money is going to be used to shore up and expand our long-term care ombudsman.

These are the folks that actually go into nursing facilities in the long term care facilities.

Oftentimes folks don't have visitors to this going to be a lot of additional support for those folks to to go into to more facilities and see more people.

And there's also a piece of the grand think those 2 really some emergency shelter, peace for individuals, adults who are not only at risk but may need some emergency shelter and it's it's a good thing we really haven't had in Kentucky.

So go a long way to helping support that.

>> Of the volunteers that can be hired in the full time people that can be hired.

Will this be enough staff to help meet Kentucky's needs?

Or is morning?

>> You know, there's never enough.

The challenge with adults and in the community, not just facilities in the community.

and exploitation.

Those are big challenges.

And so this this will go a long way to helping.

But but but, you know, to say enough is really difficult thing we through the pandemic.

I'm not necessarily more abuse and exploitation.

But what we're seeing is worse.

needing that additional support that those additional eyes on folks, this will go a long way to help.

>> The 2.3 million dollars awarded to the stage.

2.1 million from the grants will go to adult Protective services to help hire staff conduct visits and investigate complaints.

Another 200,000 will go to the office of the state.

Long-term care ombudsman.

That funding will help increase emergency elder housing and provide education on resident rights.

Kentucky's biggest university has its biggest budget ever.

The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees today approved a 5.6 billion dollar budget over the next fiscal year.

That top 500 million from the current year.

It includes a 2% tuition hike in a pay increase for UK employees.

I asked UK spokesperson Jay Blanton what's driving the growth in the budget?

>> What?

What's driving those numbers?

And they're all things that our president talks about that we do to advance the state to think about a healthcare enterprise that has about a 200% increase in revenues over the last 10 years.

That means we're treating more patients, healing more communities across Kentucky this year.

We're going to welcome the largest class in the history of the institution.

About 6,000 students.

That means more students coming in and in getting the workforce preparation and being ready for the careers that will advance our state because we need that skilled workforce.

We need folks to be ready.

Is Doctor Capital says the lead lives of meaning and purpose.

You think about infrastructure?

We're building a new health education building that will House 4 colleges that will create more doctors and nurses and physical therapists in those public health professionals that we know now are so vital after the last 2 years in a global pandemic.

So all those things and and and then finally, we've state policymakers, a governor and a legislature that have made historic investments in this place over the next 2 years.

They will invest more in the universe of Kentucky than ever before in our history.

About 500 million dollars in new capital projects and renovations across our campus and operating dollars.

All tied to performance art or much of a type of performance.

We now get funded, as you know, their performance funding model that measures 11 different things all time around.

Things like how many students are graduating?

How diverse are you?

Are you graduating students in those critical areas like science and technology, a graduate student who come from more challenging economic backgrounds.

We're doing so well.

And those areas that we're getting more funding.

So all those things are driving historic growth.

>> There's some sad news for the big Blue Nation.

Former UK basketball player and broadcaster Mike Pratt has died at the age of 73.

He played for the Wildcats from 1967.

To 1970, at a time when UK, 1, 3 SEC conference titles and went to 2 elite Eights Pratt later coached in went into broadcasting of been the UK sports networks, radio collar Man since 2001.

♪ Sunday is June teen.

It celebrates the end of slavery in United States on June.

19th 18.

65 union.

Army troops freed the last group of enslaved people in Texas.

Brian Clardy, who was an associate professor of history at Murray State University.

Talk to us about the relevancy of the Juneteenth holiday.

>> As Americans is the institution of chattel.

Slavery is something that we have never really worked through as a society.

We recognize that tension, Chile, slavery happened.

There was the civil war.

There was the man to patient proclamation.

That was the 13th amendment.

The sleighs what free.

And then we go right to reconstruction.

If we get that far.

We treated as a tangential issue, but it's very consequential and look at how America's wealth was developed in the earlier years.

How that impacted the development of the American economy in the 19th century going into the 20th.

It's certainly has a of an influence on how we do each other in society, society of the relationship African-Americans and whites.

Certainly the political dynamic is in place there because right after slavery had ended, didn't write the school reconstruction ended.

You saw situation where African-Americans were not only just voting in record numbers but also hold an office at every level, federal, state and local that comes to a crashing halt after 18.

77.

>> Highlighting the importance of African American history as one of the goals of a new multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Kentucky, the Commonwealth Institute for Black Studies is focused on research around issues of race and racism.

We spoke with an associate professor about the important role.

The institute plans to apply on a global stage when it comes to black studies and how new funding by the university will help with that goal.

>> Black studies and black history are extremely vital at this particular moment.

We're dealing with a large scale crises of race, relations of democracy, students from across the state need to have this kind of experience and learn the kinds of ways in which not only the historical information, but also the cultural at the social science being produced out of black cities.

>> So the Commonwealth, this to black was founded in As a result of I think years of work by colleagues and scholars here at the University of Kentucky who really been promoting African-American and Africana studies when we saw the tragedies around Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in 2020.

>> This really spurred administrative support for this idea research institute at the University, Kentucky and Black Cities.

>> Our mission really is to to tell the story of black studies right to really critically engage in in a multi an interdisciplinary manner to explore the ways in which >> African American experience.

Not only here in the United States but across the globe.

History needs to look at not only be kind of celebratory nature of of events, whether it's, you know, you know, the American revolution, but also it needs to look at some of the horrors of the American experience, right?

And that those horrors, whether it's the lynching, the institution of slavery, the trail of tears gender discrimination that we see even up until this day.

These are kinds of questions that I think that if trying to grow and improve as a nation, that these are the questions that we need to take on black studies since its founding in the 1960's is taking on these topics head on.

So I think this is who will grow and quickly become one of the leading kind of research institutes in the country indefinitely.

One of the leading research institutes and the southeast.

And this will be done in a couple ways that the projects that we've already started to Central Kentucky slavery us to to racial violence and Kentucky as well as our race and sports initiatives that these projects that are in the current kind of data collection stage, we'll be producing kind of the results of of their work.

These results, I think will be critical and not only changing the narrative around these issues but also become, I think, and well received across the nation.

Among scholars, research research support and his $200,000 that the administration has provided for worse is is extremely valuable to allow that our research groups to continue these research projects, whether it's the Central Kentucky slavery attitude or whether it's a recent sports or whether it's racial violence.

In Kentucky.

The brought hope is that this the study of race will really further democracy here in the United States.

But across the globe.

♪ >> The Kentucky governor's race is just getting started and there's already big news this week as former President Donald Trump indoors, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

How does that affect the race?

Conservative commentator Scott Jennings and Democratic strategist Matt Irwin.

Talk about that and more in tonight's inside Kentucky politics.

Scott Jennings and matter when thank you so very much for being here with us.

Far inside Kentucky politics.

Lots of good stuff to get to will get to the main item.

>> And that is the endorsement that Daniel Cameron who is running for governor received from number 45 is he said Donald Trump, Scott Jennings a have to ask you.

What do you think of this and is this really wanted by Daniel Cameron?

>> Oh, yes, definitely.

When you're in a contested Republican primary, especially in a state like Kentucky where Donald Trump remains quite popular.

This was a highly coveted endorsement.

I was surprised candidly, Renee, that it came so early in the cycle, but certainly this is a boost to Daniel.

I consider him to be the front runner already because of his name identification.

You know, the fact that he's become something of a national figure.

But this this was a big boost to him.

And I'm certain it's going to be a help to him in his fundraising and organizational efforts.

>> So I have to ask, though, the UN Ambassador Kelly Craft, who has not jumped into the race yet.

What does this say to her or about her?

>> Well, I at first of all, I think she is still going to run.

I work for her or any of these candidates.

But my impression is she is undeterred.

Still plans to enter the race, although it has to be a disappointment, of course, given that, yes, she's been very loyal to President Trump in terms of having served in his administration has done a good job for him, by the way, into diplomatic posts and also been a big political helped him.

Some sure was a disappointment.

I believe that she's going to run anyway.

And I think Ryan corals, the agriculture commissioner, is also going to stay in the race.

I don't think he was expecting to compete for this particular endorsements open.

My anticipation is Renee.

We're still going to have a yes, 3 really solid candidates at the top tier of this Republican primary.

>> And we've yet to hear from some other prospects like maybe a Matt Bevin who might try to make another run for this.

What do you think and what are you hearing?

>> I anticipate is going to take a look at it.

I don't think he would have been competitive for the Trump endorsement.

Trump endorsed him last time and I think was quite disappointed that and the fact that have been lost after getting Trump to come into the campaign late.

So I don't think it would have been competitive for Trump, but obviously with Trump in the race and backing someone else is quite popular.

And Cameron, certainly that will make Bevin think twice.

Of course, Bevin's biggest chance to get the nomination would be a fragmented feel.

So if there's a number of candidates that would cause you to be able to get the nomination with a low percentage of the vote.

That would be the best way to set this up for him.

Yeah.

>> Matt, I do have to ask you here we are.

We're in the middle of these January 6 hearings where we're not getting the best picture of president former President Donald Trump.

Do you believe that this endorsement is something that Daniel Cameron should be proud of in town even in Kentucky or do you think this could be harmful to him in the long run?

>> I can't speak for him.

I mean, I would be proud to endorse him, but that's me.

Speaking.

The only thing I'd say is, you know, it's 11 months before the Republican primary.

So it is very, very early.

And I know that you can in the know this team to keep catch folks off guard yesterday 11 month has returned last night.

>> So there's a lot of on >> or other Republicans in the field too.

So try to turn the strength and weakness and you never know what's going to happen is.

>> Without the ball.

>> So I've been.

>> Interested to see if the length of time it wakes up every now the primary, if some of the effect doesn't wear off and we still don't know what it what it is yet.

But yeah, with the volatile everchanging figure like Donald Trump.

You really never know where you stand.

I think there's a lot of Republicans across the country recently in primaries in places like Alabama where they thought you know, they thought they had Trump support and were they didn't.

And then if they're Trump supports bus, but over the top or turn in the week, I don't know if it's the golden ticket that some folks think it is.

>> Do you think Andy Beshear should be afraid should be concerned about this endorsement giving an extra edge to Daniel Cameron at this particular point.

>> Absolutely.

And I think that Donald Trump was going to support whoever the Republican nominee was going to be and whoever the Republican nominee is is going to face one of the, you most approved in weld lights, governors in the country.

And here, though it was.

It's not as if this somebody new into the equation.

It just brings it in early into a primary.

No, I still think Governor approval rating with a pretty remarkable track record on economic development is the capper to do this.

>> Scott, I do have to ask about what we consider to be or perceived to be a frosty relationship between the minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the former President, Donald Trump.

And we know that Daniel Cameron is very close to Mitch McConnell.

Explain to us how this the political calculus here for both Mitch McConnell and Daniel Cameron.

>> Well, first of all, I think General Cameron is defined by his abilities and his performance, not by his affiliations.

It's actually true that he work for Mitch McConnell.

It's also true that he gave one of the most heralded speeches of the 2020 Republican National Convention on behalf of Donald Trump.

And I'm sure President Trump remembers Danial speech quite fondly.

So Ingles his own man.

And I think that's how he should and will run his campaign.

And I'm sure Donald remembers that he was supportive of him during his own campaign for reelection.

So I think while Daniels affiliation with you know, raises interesting questions about this sort of the interim Republican jockeying going on.

I think I wouldn't discount Daniels own personal relationships with a wide variety of Republican leaders.

His performance in office.

And frankly, just the view among a lot of Republicans that he is a rising star in the as a lot of ability and that people want to see him do well.

Whether you're McConnell or Trump or are number of other people.

>> Good to see you both.

Gentlemen, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thanks.

>> 100 middle school students are heading home after 2 weeks of western Kentucky University.

The summer camp for academically talented student source.

Cats offers a variety of classes.

And while the students are high achieving, they don't take themselves too seriously.

>> This was not I found face.

When I work for Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey circus.

>> And then powder before you do any other callers.

>> This is my 50th year Rougly clown.

This was probably 73.

>> the darndest things.

>> Nick is awesome.

He's hilarious.

He actually was like the Clown College.

The Bandit.

>> I got to make it the cloud cause or union >> teaching clowning and I called up reserves.

35 has cast using Put your right hand behind.

>> I love learning how to juggle.

It's really difficult.

And I've been here for a week.

I still haven't got it.

The lake, the littles and bouncing peacock feathers like on the first day.

This is like that.

We get to learn today that school.

>> Mister Wilkins try like challenging with different things you haven't tried before.

>> All right.

We tried very hard to create an atmosphere that it's accepting of any student here and enjoy each >> It origin of the villain.

Clowning mysteries in history and Russian That's that.

>> It's a great learning experience for them.

I think one of the things I really like about it is it.

When they arrive, they take their cell phones away from them.

>> And they're not allowed to watch television.

So it it forces them to communicate with each other with the council's and the activities that, you know, has a deal with like verbal contact and not necessarily from texting or talking on a cell phone.

I I like doing active stuff like juggling stilts.

>> You folks ready >> still.

Yeah, it's really interesting.

And juggling life still walking and thought what you would challenging thing can get comfortable with one a retain of juggling.

Then I tried to get them to expand into something else.

I'm not throwing this way this way.

>> Yeah.

And you get to learn the skills that you really want to learn anywhere else.

>> Yeah, I was not rigged.

Election aside to improve in.

I feel like got on and like road around a little bit.

I had a lot of funds as I do it again to get >> you know, this group this year, they're off the charts there.

It's amazing how eager they are to learn how they persistent and and trying new things.

>> I guess it's just like a good environment to meet people like learn new This was our clown car.

We've got.

>> 17 clouds coming out.

That one of the cars of dots and due to it's a great.

Confidence booster for these to this kind of gives them an outlet.

2.

They come out.

Covered instead of an intruder.

>> And it helps them the.

I think in their public speaking in anything that they're doing, where they're in from the public.

>> Don't try that.

Still walking at home, OK, fishing music and plenty of Juneteenth holiday activities.

KT still be.

Gibbs has more weekend ideas.

And tonight around the Commonwealth.

>> Juneteenth celebrations are happening all around the commonwealth this week, the African American Coalition of Hopkins County is helping put on the first annual Juneteenth Festival in Madisonville this weekend.

Over in Louisville, the 3rd annual Juneteenth Solidarity ride will take place on the morning of June.

18th.

Joining the 13 Mile ride to help celebrate this federal holiday.

What is Juneteenth hop on over to the interactive performance by Keith McGill in Frankfort to learn the history and meaning behind this celebrated day downtown Somerset is joining in the weekend.

Fun with its own Juneteenth Jubilee on the 18th with speakers, music vendors and more this educational experiences.

One you don't want to miss the Appalachian Polyps are hosting a special Juneteenth literary event at the Lyric Theater in Lexington.

Listen to members of the Appalachian Poets with special guest and sees Crystal Wilkinson and Frank X Walker over in Ashland.

The group Ashlynn for Change is coming together to put on its own Juneteenth celebration.

Happening on the 19th in Central Park.

Celebrate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.

The first food truck Friday of 2022.

Is happening tonight in Lawrenceburg with very special guests.

Zach attack band bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for an evening full of food and music for the whole family.

>> Louisville will be celebrating Pride Month with the 2022 Kentucky Anna Pride Festival and parade on Saturday.

June 18th.

This is one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in Kentucky with a huge parade to kick things off.

Vendors from all over and performances all weekend long.

You have what it takes to be a warrior.

The Warriors challenge obstacle run is happening this Saturday at Kingdom come state park in Cumberland run, swim krawl'n climb your way to victory to show everyone the warrior you are Lulac's Battlefield State Resort Park is hosting its very own fly fishing weekend hosted by Kentucky's wildlife expert and author Bill Carmen, whether you're a beginner, you have been fishing since birth.

Come learn this ancient art and see what you can catch.

Ashlynn is one and only craft beer fest is back for its 7th year for confessed.

Is this Saturday in downtown Ashland with 15 tastings, local food and regional retailers and live music.

This is a day you won't want to miss.

And that's what's going on around the commonwealth, I'm told, begins.

>> Another eventful week in Kentucky, politics with former President Trump endorsing Daniel Kammen for governor.

That will be one of the topics on comment on Kentucky tonight.

That and the new lawsuit over Kentucky's new abortion law in COVID numbers are also in the picture.

And Senator Mitch McConnell support for the framework of a gun safety bill.

All of that and more be talked about on comment on Kentucky coming up tonight and online at KATC DOT Org.

We hope you'll see you again on Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky addition, we inform connect and inspire.

Have a great weekend ahead and we will see you real soon.

Take good care.

♪ ♪