>> If you look at the numbers right now where we probably have more numbers of COVID patients, United States at this time that we've ever had before.

But there's also good news about COVID.

>> Is an electric vehicle charging station headed to a store near you.

>> Was to bury.

You know what, we syndicate down the Hill there pretty much took a lot of time.

>> That soap box Derby.

It's not just fine.

It's educational.

♪ She's from Kentucky.

She is nationally recognized as a genius and she's only 2 years old.

>> 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 for this Tuesday, June 21st, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for spending a little of your evening.

>> With OSS.

COVID cases are up in Kentucky.

New numbers from the state show.

The positivity rate is 12.0.

45 1% for doctors joined us for last night's Kentucky tonight.

They said that while cases are up, they're less severe overall and they told us COVID will be sticking around that masks are still a good idea, especially during air travel and that the case numbers might be worse than we know.

>> If you look at the numbers right now where we probably have more numbers of COVID patients, United States at this time than we've ever had before the reporting is vastly underestimating the numbers.

Most people our testing at home.

We're just not testing.

And so they're way more people out there that are infected were probably under counting by an by an order of magnitude of a 10 or 20.

>> But Doctor Mark Doherty of Baptist Health, Lexington, and the rest of the panel agreed.

Hospitals are not being overwhelmed the way they were earlier in the pandemic.

They still urge vaccines for everyone, including a new group now cleared to get them children under the age of 5.

>> We've had a lot of kids.

There's 20,000 The fy 22 deaths.

So it's not insignificant.

Most of the kids who ended up in the hospital did not always have to be predisposing conditions.

Other comorbidities.

So it's it.

There's a lot of gamble.

There's and we're taking a lot of risks.

It's not worth it as the mom of a 2 and a half field in the 5 year-old.

First of all, I couldn't wait to vaccinate my 5 year-old and now we're very excited because we can vaccinate the 2 and a half year old because we were basically acting as the 4th field around her.

She and now we're where we feel a lot more comfortable about going out and going to parties and birthday parties and seeing grandparents and all the things that we've been missing out on for the last 2 years.

>> The panel says COVID in some form is here for the long haul.

And if I did, people need to think about their overall health.

>> And when he to encourage lifestyle changes, physical activity.

Live state changing when it comes to the food and the choices as Food.

We need to make sure we cut down on smoking vaping, an excessive alcohol.

All these definitely can fit very well.

The philosophy of Hartman induction.

So we need to work on all these together to be able to teach the finish line and tried to live ways space was COVID a COVID of he's going to.

He's going to linger for a long time is not going to get away is mutating constantly without any stop.

And that's why we need to work on the COVID-19 and boost the immune system very carefully to be able to live with the COVID-19 without for the damages.

>> One thing hasn't changed.

According to Doctor John Kline of the University of Louisville.

The need to think about your neighbor.

>> The vaccines we have are directed at a virus that that in some ways has disappeared in the last 2 years.

This is this was built for the original form of the virus in the fall.

We will presumably are going to receive a vaccine that is built to to protect us against Omicron variants either.

Before the 5.

So what I would think is that if you plan to be active and it looks like everyone is active these days because the number of infections is so high and that if you're planning to remain active, you should go ahead and get your first after consulting with your your primary care.

Doctor earners, nurse practitioner so above all, practice good.

Met him at a geisha, an go ahead and get your booster.

If you're going to be active, then about which everyone seems to be anyway and and above all.

Think a little bit about about, you know, the folks around you and particularly the ones who are most vulnerable and what you can do to protect them.

>> Doctor Klein Asalto does he thinks an annual COVID vaccine could end up being bundled with the flu vaccine.

You can learn more about where things stand with COVID-19 by streaming Kentucky.

Tonight on demand at KATC DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight?

2 public meetings are now set for the state's new medical cannabis Advisory Committee.

Governor Andy Beshear pointed 17 members to that committee.

The 17 will travel the state and get public input about legalizing medical marijuana in Kentucky, the first town hall meeting is planned for July 6th and the University of Pi People's Health Professions, Education Building.

A second meeting is set for July 19th at the Kentucky trance.

But Haitian cabinet in Frankfurt.

This was the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center.

After the December 11, a tornado in Princeton.

But it will be making a comeback.

The UK Board of Trustees has approved a 38 million dollar project to rebuild the main building.

That money will come from gifts, insurance and state and federal funds.

UK hopes the design work will wrap up later this year with the building finished in time to celebrate the education centers.

One 100th birthday in 2025.

The water crisis continues.

And Marion in Crittendon County, Marion officials met with the Kentucky Division of Water and National Guard yesterday to discuss options.

Officials are discussing plans to haul water from the Ohio or Cumberland Rivers to supplement the city's supply.

The city will also begin a water distribution program later this week, Marion had less than 10 days of water earlier this month.

Recent rain increase the supply to an estimated 20 days.

Kentucky legislators could be able to call themselves into special session if voters approved a constitutional amendment on the ballot this November.

Currently, the General Assembly can only be called in for a special session by the governor in Frankfort today, a legislative panel discussed potential procedures for lawmaker initiated special sessions.

Our Casey Parker-bell breaks it down.

>> They put us in a place of having to make decisions without information.

It put us in a place of having to rush decisions that were impact on people.

And lives.

And we would have had the chance if we had this sort of legislation in place.

Austin, ourselves, Senate President Pro Tem David Givens says the Legislature's inability to call a special session at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her response to the crisis.

Now legislators are considering the framework for how they could call themselves into special session.

The Kentucky General Assembly meets here early, but those meetings are limited.

A number years mean Sessions are limited to 30 days, even numbered years.

Go for 60 and only the governor can call the General Assembly in for a special session.

We don't do anything to change the governor's ability to bring us back into a limited call.

Special session.

The Legislature will only be able to call a special session if voters approve a constitutional amendment, giving them the power in this year's general election.

Today, legislators discussed the framework for how new special sessions will be called.

If that constitutional amendment is approved, the proposal would require the House Speaker and Senate president to jointly agree to special sessions and bills that were filed during the regular session would be active for legislative called special Sessions.

A new power.

We decided little bill live on through the year.

>> A lot of a lot of legislative bodies do this.

A bill still requires the same readings and saying number of days as it does previously.

But if we were to come back around an issue that a member had filed a piece of legislation on that legislation already be in the hopper, be ready for readings and or action.

Some legislators wondered if the proposed changes would allow a future legislature to wait in past controversial bills after an election either party.

It was in control.

My to trap put off something that is really controversial and an election year to wait till after, you know, after election, just just just a question.

Certainly a possibility would exist.

I think I would I would propose to representative huge that it would not be used.

And if it were to be used, it would have to be.

Very tactfully.

An artfully done in a because understand the governors to go into Santa legislation or not.

Here.

She the governor would have the authority to veto it.

Number one, number 2, the voters in the recall of voters even post-election, I would think.

And I understand the idea of a lame duck groups, it that may not have as much to risk.

Suddenly having the votes and bizarre for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker-bell.

Senator Givens says the legislature will take up the framework during the 2023 legislative session.

>> If Kentucky voters approved a constitutional amendment this November.

Augusta, Kentucky, is the future home of a 23 Million Dollar Distillery.

Augusta Distillery will be a 40,000 square-foot operation on almost 2 acres of land.

According to the governor's office, full production is expected by the summer of 2024, the operation is being built, an historic building that provided metal staffing services from 18.

83 to 2007.

The EPA has denied Governor Andy Beshear's request to allow gas stations in the Louisville area to temporarily stop selling reformulated gas.

That's according to the Courier Journal, reformulated gas cost more because it contains fewer pollutants.

Governor Beshear one of the waiver so that gas stations in the Louisville area could sell gas about 20 to $0.30 cheaper per gallon.

The governor says he will keep looking for ways to lower the price at the pump.

Look for more electric vehicle charging stations in Kentucky, WLWT in Cincinnati says Kroger plans to add more charging stations at its stores in Kentucky and several other states.

Kroger says it wants to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help customers live a more sustainable lifestyle.

♪ Today is the first day of summer officially and the heat is on.

>> The calendar aside, we have our first a 95 degree day in Kentucky.

More than a week ago.

So why the heat wave so early into the season, we turn to a research scientist at the Kentucky Climate Center and as a neck for an explanation.

>> Typically we don't see drops occurring this early in the season.

We really get to our hottest periods in mid to late July early August.

And that's what I'm here in Kentucky.

We have our drive.

What we're seeing right now.

He's a big ridge of high A huge jump.

>> That sort of settled over the Midwest and the South Eastern part of the country.

And is it meanders that sort of changes the type of high pressure we get?

High pressure means the are slowly subsiding and that means we don't see much cloud development and no precipitation.

That means no rain in that needs to drying out of the soil in our atmosphere is we you know, during the summer months because we're tilted towards the sun.

Our atmosphere gets extremely thirst.

So as we warm up, >> it demands more and more walk and the only place you can get it if we're not getting rain is from the Lancer this year.

Right now we are looking at all right.

Really bad conditions going forward.

We just have to wait for the atmosphere, the upper atmosphere to shift patterns, get this heat dome away from us.

So that more precipitation can start sliding in.

Typically, though, as we get later into the summer, the jet stream begins to migrate northward and we lose that energy to force precipitation.

So the longer we go without rain, unfortunately the worse it can get.

We are seeing global increases in.

And average temperature.

So.

This is becoming the new normal.

As part of my job.

I actually look at climate indices associated with each of them has in its sights all across the commonwealth.

And we're really seeing changes is what we call the tropical nights where the the 9 times the temperature doesn't cool off enough.

So that you can get do formation.

Enough to keep the grass green.

So we're definitely seeing indicative of climate change.

So this will be the new Norm.

>> Doctor rap and says to pay close attention to the humidity as if you had a choice.

The more humid it is outside the last time you want to be outdoors working.

Make sure you stay hydrated.

And the best time of day to water.

Your plants and flowers is in the early morning right around sunrise.

♪ Bergen is one of Kentucky's signature industries and it has seen quite a bit of growth in recent years as the demand has grown.

So have the calls for more inclusion in the industry.

One Kentucky distillery is listening to those calls.

It's partnered with the Kentucky Block Bourbon Guild.

An effort to try to attract more young people of color to the distilling industry.

♪ ♪ There have been many stories told about the history of Kentucky bourbon.

But up until recently, one part of that history has largely remained untold that of the contributions, African Americans and slaves may to the distilling industry.

>> If you're looking in historic distillery photos, you always see a row of white men in the front and then you see a row of black men in the back and a lot of people really didn't know the significance of that.

>> Castle in Key Distillery in Frankfort hopes a bottle will help.

People realize that significance in November of 2021.

Castle in Key released the untold story of Kentucky Whiskey Chapter one highlighting African-Americans roles in the bourbon whiskey industry.

>> Not much is.

Told about that today.

So we thought that that's an appropriate way to a relevant part of the history of our industry.

>> But it's about more than just getting the story right.

It's also about creating more opportunities within the industry for people of color.

>> I think in any time you're talking about the longevity of any type of industry inclusivity is the key.

>> 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the untold story of Kentucky.

Whiskey Chapter one went toward a scholarship fund created by Castle in Key and partnership with the Kentucky Block Bourbon Guild to promote diversity.

>> We felt like because both of our organizations were aligned on the effort to bring in more diversity, equity and inclusion into the industry.

We thought it was a great move for us to do this project.

>> The $5,000 scholarship established through the Blue Grass Community Foundation provides financial aid to students of color who want to pursue a career in distilling in Kentucky.

>> So this type of scholarship that we've set up, I think is good because it brings more people into the business that might not otherwise have the opportunity to be in in this business.

>> Our Vince, as more representation in the industry's workforce also makes good business sense.

>> I think it's important for the industry to diversify to for making sure that we're we are well represented in our industry with different people from different backgrounds that can bring new ideas and new perspectives on these old traditions and and really accelerate the innovation and our our industry.

>> And it's not just about attracting a more diverse workforce.

It's also about attracting more consumers.

>> People who actually work in the story are not fully representative of the entire consumer base.

And so it's really important that, you know, if I'm a consumer, I want to be represented about the products that you're making.

Don't just push me to the side and expect me just to purchase a product.

Just because I like it.

We also want to be inclusive and included in the decision-making process and be involved in the future.

The of the industry.

>> Our Vince as Castle in Key plans to release a new chapter of the untold story each year, there will be 5 in all each building on the history of those who helped craft the storied history of one of Kentucky's signature industries.

All parents do it.

They look for signs their child is a genius or gifted in some way for Amanda and Jason McNabb of all county.

The signs were clear early on that their daughter I love was gifted.

Now their 2 year-old has become the youngest American member of Mensa.

An organization made up of those with high icu's.

>> As the big maps tell us they didn't make their daughter a member of Mensa for the attention.

They did it to make sure she has every opportunity to use the gift she's been given.

and she started kind of sounding out a lot of letters.

>> On >> our second birthday, my sister gave her a little tablet.

You can write stuff and so rose started writing some small words like red, blue yellow and she was able to out that this was the work was right away.

>> Yeah.

So without teaching her any of the words phonetically, she was able to put them together.

♪ >> Just what does this say?

To attract some big orange purple and orange and turn that she was sound out and she was like taking her hand along the way.

She was.

So we can look at each other.

We're like, okay, crazy.

And she just started picking up rate.

In other words, what's the next few days?

We're just curious if she was going to be a precocious reader and it could be something the ship's crew out of.

>> And other kids would catch up to her Earth.

This needs to be something that we are fostering and giving her extra resources that she needed.

So I contacted a psychologist and Lexington and tell them that eh, not only was she reading, but it's she was starting to spell things and write things.

And he said, you know what?

I usually don't test them.

That young.

But but let's get are scheduled and go ahead and bring or and I'm curious what what she has going on.

>> I found she was in 9th percentile and she scored superior on most category.

She squirms very superior on knowledge.

>> So he said now she is she has quite gifted.

>> There's not really a lot of resources out there for the kids are on the gifted in the spectrum and they offer scholarships.

They have a program for gifted kids.

There's other.

I have recommendations and it can help.

You know, because there's not a whole lot of information out there really about how to raise a gifted kidder.

You know what you should do?

We should do.

>> And just being able to put on her college applications and men suffer quite 16 years at that point.

So and that would be me.

>> Whenever she received the acceptance email before she even got her little Mensa card in the mail.

I immediately emailed.

>> Them Hayes.

She the youngest, by the way, and then they put us in contact with their PR person.

And the PR guy said, let me call you because things are going to start to get a little bit crazy for you >> Actually, it we've got a lot of backlash from from the Mensa member testing is is young issue.

We did.

>> Yeah, Yes.

Kind of like, oh, look at my child prodigy kind of thing.

We've actually chosen to not have her actual I Q SCORE released.

I don't want to be bullied.

>> Anything to make sure kid an outlier as of teacher the periodic table or the president or >> any of these other feet.

Some kids, she has no interest in it.

So we're not pushing at this point.

She doesn't know what elements are or presidents or any of that.

>> In every other aspect, she is a typical for the fact that >> she reads a little bit of math and you can ride a little bit.

>> Still has to pull 2 year-old tantrums and still fights one, even vegetables or whatever.

>> We have a big basket of flash cards that she loves and she'll bring him to essential Seydoux words.

2 words.

So will the words when she wants to and if she wants to now, but with the Barbies or kitchen and bar blocks, what whatever else she wants to play with them.

I do that.

Just follow her lead.

>> So it's really just letting her and learned her own pace.

I just let her take the reins, you know, just follow her lead.

She has led us on a quite an interesting little adventure.

Okay.

>> Okay.

♪ >> Please enjoy one of the many stories we brought you this season of Kentucky life.

♪ >> On June 30.

You know what?

We syndicate down the Hill there pretty much took a lot of time.

>> That was the right thing is I activity.

>> It's for kids.

Ages 7 to 21.

We build cars they get the cars they drive and its gravity power.

Grace.

>> There's no engine.

No motor.

Just a break in the state.

Whites.

>> That kids learn to drive the vehicle.

They learned the importance of white distribution.

The aerodynamics of the car, the importance of their their position in a car and driving a track.

And of course breaking.

But they learn all that to try to compete me the best computer.

They can be.

So FOX is a really inviting sport so anyone can do it.

You don't have to have like a certain amount of skill or anything.

>> It's it's really find out a lot of friends and X-Box.

And so that's like the second part that I enjoy having.

But the first is that I just love racing.

So boxed.

>> We have 3 tracks in western Kentucky here on Green in Madisonville more pretty without want to get kids and parents that are involved.

It's a great family support.

I'm not going to find a better score if you want to spend time with the kids and parents.

>> It's hard when you have to price your friend because you both want to win and you want them to win.

But when you when you're really proud of yourself, because, you know, everyone here is really good and just as good as each other.

>> For 30 seconds, they want to do this.

But other than that, they love spending time with their competitors and not many sports.

They actually has a deep bond with their actual voters.

What they get to learn the how the race responsibly ethically and has so much fun doing that.

>> What I enjoy the most, the ones that don't have a lot of experience and they're just happy.

They just happy they got them to feel a bit.

The guardrail that in Rick Ross Lyon in the beginning, that kind of a little swerving.

And then as the day goes, the target straight or gay straight or that you will see the confidence building job.

And once the child believes in themselves, that makes all the difference in the world.

>> When you get the bug for soapbox, you travel.

>> You got here.

People from Georgia to get people from West Virginia, people from northern Kentucky, southern Kentucky, western Kentucky, all over the place.

>> The race all over the country.

We love Kentucky people racing up.

Here's a great facility.

Last year we drove over 33,000 Miles, a couple of flights for races.

So we're a little bit different.

It's been one of the best things that ever happened to me.

So I recommend it to anyone.

>> Watch find.

That looks like a lot of fun.

Appreciate that piece from Kentucky Life tomorrow night.

We're going to have an interview, of course, of Rylan Barton to check in with him for midweek.

Check in a political news and the state and then we'll also have a check in with the moon mission at the Morehead State University Space Science Center.

So you don't want to miss the show tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly News.

Our Kentucky addition, e-mail news letter and watch full episodes and clips at KITV Dot Org.

And you can also find Kentucky edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

You can follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Also to stay in the loop.

>> And I hope you'll follow me on Twitter at Renee K T. Thanks so very much for watching until I see you again tomorrow night at 6.30, eastern.

Take really good care.

Have a good night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪