>> ♪ ♪ >> I LOOK AT THIS LIKE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER REPRESENTING KENTUCKIANS, AND THAT'S..

I PUT MY BLINDERS ON AND I JUST WANT TO DO MY JOB.

>> MORE FROM STATE SENATOR ROBIN WEBB ABOUT HER PARTY SWITCH AND THE CRITICISM SHE'S GETTING FROM BOTH PARTIES.

>> PLANNED PARENT HOOD PROVIDES SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND IN PARTICULAR WOMEN WHO ALWAYS CAN'T AFFORD TO GET HEALTHCARE SOME OTHER PLACE.

>> DEMOCRATS STAND UP FOR MEDICAID AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND SAY IT IS NOT ABOUT ABORTIONS.

>> YOU WANT TO HELP WHERE YOU CAN.

CERTAINLY, IN SMALL COMMUNITY, MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT.

>> AND SEE HOW THIS COUPLE'S PASSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE HAS MADE THEM A FORCE FOR CHANGE IN KENTUCKY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 3RD.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR SPENDING SOME OF YOUR TUESDAY NIGHT WITH US.

ROBIN WEBB A STATE LAWMAKER FOR OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY HAS CLAIMED MANY IDENTITIES.

THE LONG-TIME DEMOCRAT HAS BEEN A COAL MINER, RANCHER AND NOW REPUBLICAN.

SHE SHARED WITH US WHY SHE MADE DECISION TO SWITCH POLITICAL PARTIESEN TONIGHT SHE OFFERED A DEFENSE TO THOSE WHO CLAIM SHE'S BETRAYED DEMOCRATS AND THOSE WHO SUPPORTED HER.

WE PICK UP PART TWO OF OUR CONVERSATION RIGHT THERE.

>> I WANT TO GO TO ESSENTIAL SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION FROM FOLKS IN YOUR DISTRICT OR DEMOCRATIC PARTY ASSOCIATIONS HAS ACCUSE YOU "OF DECEIVING AND BETRAYING YOUR SUPPORTERS."

AND RENEGGING ON A PROMISE YOU MADE TO RUN ANOTHER TERM AS A DEMOCRAT.

>> I NEVER PROMISED THAT.

LET ME BE VERY CHAIR CLEAR.

I NEVER PROMISED THAT.

I DON'T RECALL PROMISING THAT.

WOULDN'T PROMISE THAT BECAUSE, LET ME TELL YOU, JUST TO BE HONEST, AND TRANSPARENT IN THIS, I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPONENT THE LAST RACE.

I WAS BLESSED.

THANKFUL.

BUT I TOOK THAT TO MEAN THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY VOTING RECORD BEFORE THEN, SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE SURFACED SOMEWHERE AND SOMEHOW IN THE REPROTECTS OF MY DISTRICT AND THAT'S FINAL BUT I APPRECIATED IT.

AND, I DIDN'T BETRAY ANYBODY IN MY OPINION BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF IT NOW.

YOU KNOW, THE CYCLE.

AND, SO I'M PUTTING IT OUT THERE.

THERE IS A FILING DEADLINE COMING UP AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

AND EVERYBODY IS LIKE RESIGN AND ALL THIS STUFF.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE'RE SET UP.

PEOPLE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES HAVE CHANGED PARTIES.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, SEVERAL TIMES.

INDEPENDENT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY PARTIES THERE ARE.

I CAN LIVE WITH IT.

BUT, SO THAT SO ME IS NOT A PROBLEM.

AND IF YOU LOOK BACK, THIS IS NOT A DECISION HAS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

THIS IS BASED ON THE STRUGGLES THAT I HAVE HAD INTERNALLY, WITH MY CONSCIENCE, AND, MY VOTE.

I WOULD SAY, AT LEAST THREE YEARS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT MY FUNDRAISING ACTIVITY, I GOT THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY BANK ACCOUNT.

AND YOU KNOW, I CAN RAISE MONEY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I RAN FOR THE SENATE, IT WAS MOST EXPENSIVE AND ONE OF THE MEANEST, SHORT OF -- IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THAT'S OKAY.

BUT, I DIDN'T RAISE MONEY BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THAT RAISED MONEY AS ONE THING, WHEN THERE WAS A POTENTIALITY THAT I MIGHT NOT STAY THE COURSE.

>> SHOULD YOU RETURN THE MONEY THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC CONTRIBUTORS IN THE PREVIOUS PSYCHLETHAT ROLLED OVER FROM 2018 TO 2022 WHEN YOU WERE UNOPPOSED?

>> THE LAST TIME, I GOT MONEY FROM THE PARTY, I THINK IT WAS 2017 AND THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.

YOU LOOK AT MY FINANCIAL REPORTS, I GOT MONEY FROM A LOT OF REPUBLICAN REPUBLICANS HISTORICALLY THROUGH THE YEARS.

SOME OF MY BIGGEST WERE REPUBLICAN, BECAUSE OF THE JOB I HAVE DONE AND FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS.

AND SO, I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY IN █MY ACCOUNT AT THIS POINT.

I HAVE BEEN -- THE PARTY HAS NOT ASKED ME TO RETURN IT BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH IN IT.

IF THEY WANT SOME OF IT, THAT'S FINE.

BUT ALSO, I HAVE A MIXED BAG IN THAT, RIGHT.

>> SO AS WE COME UPON THIS NEW ELECTION CYCLE THE FOLLOWING DEADLINE, TO CHANGE YOUR PARTY, YOU NEED TO DO IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE KNOW THE FILING DEADLINE HAD BEEN MOVED UP, RIGHT, AND CLOSER TO JANUARY.

SO, DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF HAVING DONE THE DEMOCRATS A FAVOR TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO PERHAPS FIND A DEMOCRATIC REPRESENT iFROM THE SENATE DISTRICT NUMBER 18 OR NOT?

>> SOME OF THE DISPLEASURE THEY HAD WITH ME ON MY VOTING RECORD.

THEY ARE NOT ALL PLEASED WITH ANY ANYWAY.

THEY MIGHT WANT TO SEE ME COME TO A CALL THROUGH THE YEARS AND THEY CERTAINLY HAVEN'T LISTENED TO ME, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, OR HAD MY INCLUDED ME IN ANYTHING AND THAT'S OKAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE -- AND I'M NOT THROWING ANYBODY BEHIND THE BUS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE DYNAMICS OF PARTY AND PARTY LEADERSHIP AND, INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION AND HOW THINGS HAVE GONE AND I DON'T LIKE IT.

I DON'T LIKE THE -- I DON'T LIKE HOW PARTIES OPERATE OVERALL SOMETIMES, BUT, THAT'S THE SYSTEM.

>> AND YOU HAVE TO OPERATE IN IT.

THE TIMING OF THIS TO ME, IS THE -- >> SO WHILE YOU'RE HEARING IT FROM THE DEMOCRAT, SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, WELL, SHE'S GOING TO BE A RHINO, REPUBLICAN IN NAME HONE ONLY.

>> THEY SAY THATTANT A SOME OF THE CAUCUS NOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> DO MAYBE CURIOUS, DO YOU AGREE WITH THE TRUMP AGENDA, PRO MAGA MOVEMENT AND DO YOU SUPPORT WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN FROM THE PRESIDENT SO FAR?

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT HIM AT ALL.

THIS IS ABOUT THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

I DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON A LOT OF THAT.

AND ANY PRESIDENT, OF ANY PARTY, I HAVE AM NOT GOING TO AGREE WITH ESPECIALLY AS A STATE LEGISLATOR.

I HAVE STATE AUTONOMY.

I'M BIG ON MY INSTITUTION.

I'M BIG ON SEPARATION OF POWERS.

I'M CONSTITUTIONALIST.

I'M A CONSERVATIVE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTITUTION, SO, YOU KNOW, NO, I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, THE PROCESS PARTICULARLY.

NOW, SOME OF THE SUBJECT MATTER IN THIS AGREE WITH DOES DOWNSIZING, MAYBE SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE GOVERNMENT -- I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LOOKING AT THAT.

PRESIDENT CLINTON DID THAT.

SO, THAT WAS BACK IN THE DAY.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK PARITY AND EVERY ADMINISTRATION DOES IT TO SOME DEGREE.

SO, BUT NO, THIS ISN'T ABOUT THAT AND THIS ISN'T ABOUT REALLY NATIONAL AGENDA BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M RUNNING FOR.

>> SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WONDERING ABOUT MOTIVE.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR PEOPLE IN AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

>> NOTHING.

>> I MEAN, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING OFFERED TO ME.

I GOT A CHAIRMANSHIP OF A TASK FORCE I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND I HAVE EXPERTISE IN.

>> BUT THAT WAS BEFORE YOU SWITCHED.

>> THAT WAS BEFORE AND GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.

SO, THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> AND YOU HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT SWITCHING WHEN YOU GOT THAT SAID TASK FORCE IN.

>> NO.

AND, SENATOR STIVERS SENT ME PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD, FLOOD MITIGATION.

HE KNOWS MY BACKGROUND AND KNOWS ME -- I'M, YOU KNOW, THE STATE SPENT MONEY WITH ME TO DO IT.

AND THAT WAS THE DEAL.

I DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING.

I ASKED FOR, YOU KNOW, A DECENT -- AN OFFICE COMPARABLE TO WHAT I HAVE NOW, YOU KNOW, GOOD HELP.

BUT OWNERSHIP THAT, NOTHING WAS OFFERED TO ME.

>> AND NO CHAIRMANSHIP.

>> OH, NO.

>> NO POSSIBLE.

POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP POSITION.

>> NO, NO, NO.

NO.

I MEAN, I'M HAPPY, THEY HAVE ALWAYS -- I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AT THE TABLE.

I HAVE GOT THE COMMITTEES, SAME COMMITTEES.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN ME MY COMMITTEES.

MY BUDGET EXPERTISE, THEY HAVE ALWAYS DEFERRED TO.

AND I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL PASSING BILLS BECAUSE I WORK WELL ACROSS THE AISLE.

WHEN I WAS IN THE HOUSE WITH THE SUPER MAJORITY.

I HAD REPUBLICAN CO-SPONSOR ON ALMOST EVERY BILL.

SO, I LOOKED A THIS LIKE, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER REPRESENTING KENTUCKIANS AND THAT'S -- I PUT MY BLINDERS ON AND I WANT TO DO MY JOB.

>> >> WITH WEBB'S DEFECTTION TO THE GOP, REPUBLICANS WIDEN THEIR SUPER MAJORITY IN THE STATE SENATE TO 32 MEMBERS TO DEMOCRATIC 6 AND THE 100 MEMBER STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THERE ARE 80 REPUBLICANS AND 20 DEMOCRATS.

>> NOW, AS CONGRESS WORKS THROUGH ITS BUDGET RESOLUTION, KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS ARE HIGHLIGHTING THE.

IMPACTS THE SO-CALLED BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

CONGRESSMAN MORGAN McGARVEY AND SPOKE ABOUT WHAT MEDICAID CUTS COULD MEAN FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE.

>> I HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER IN MY FAMILY.

I CHOSE TO HAVE A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY FOR TWO REASONS.

I HAD THE PITTER-PATTER OF THREE-YEAR-OLD FEET RUNNING AROUND THE HOUSE.

SHE'S NOW FIVE, BUT I FELT LIKE I OWED IT TO HER TO GIVE MYSELF THE BEST CHANCE I COULD AT BEING HERE FOR HER AS LONG AS I COULD BE.

AND I CAME OUT OF THIS CHAPTER OF MY LIFE WITH AN EVEN GREATER SENSE OF EMPATHY.

EMPATHY FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE VERY SIMILAR STORIES, EMPATHY FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE STORIES THAT I CANNOT FATHOM, AND EMPATHY FOR PATIENTS WHO NEED AND DESERVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE THAT WE BELIEVE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

>> THE DISASTROUS BUDGET BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS GOING TO HURT KENTUCKIANS.

IT'S GOING TO HURT KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

IT'S GOING TO HURT KENTUCKY WOMEN.

IT'S GOING TO HURT KENTUCKY CHILDREN.

IN KENTUCKY, 48% OF BIRTHS ARE COVERED BY MEDICAID.

JUST LOOK AROUND.

ONE OUT OF EVERY TWO CHILDREN BORN IN KENTUCKY IS HERE BECAUSE OF MEDICAID.

WHEN YOU CUT THAT AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYS THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WOMEN LOSING THEIR HEALTH CARE WHEN THEY ARE PREGNANT.

GO FORWARD.

46% OF THE KIDS IN KENTUCKY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH MEDICAID.

SO WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE, GREAT.

LET'S GET RID OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.

HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE MEDICAID IN KENTUCKY WERE CHILDREN.

THEY DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN WORK REQUIREMENTS.

THEY'RE KIDS.

>> ONE OF THE NASTY PROVISIONS IN THIS BILL IS THAT IT CUTS ALL MEDICAID FUNDING TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> SOME ANTI-ABORTION LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

BUT WE KNOW THIS ISN'T ABOUT ABORTION.

MEDICAID DOESN'T EVEN COVER ABORTION.

AND HERE IN KENTUCKY, IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTROL OVER BIRTH CONTROL, CANCER SCREENINGS, STI TESTING, GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE IN PAIN WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE.

>> NOT ONLY IS THIS CRUEL, IT MISSES THE POINT OF WHAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROVIDES BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR WOMEN, AND IN PARTICULAR, WOMEN WHO ALWAYS CAN'T AFFORD TO GET HEALTH CARE OR SOME OTHER PLACE.

>> PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS TWO CLINICS, IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

IT LAUNCHED TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR KENTUCKIANS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH EARLIER THIS YEAR.

MORE THAN A THIRD OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S KENTUCKY CLIENTS HAVE MEDICAID.

ARE USING MEDICAID.

THOSE PROPOSED MEDICAID CUTS ARE PART OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SO-CALLED BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

AND THE PRESIDENT IS NOT HAPPY WITH U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL'S CRITICISM OF THE BILL.

SENATOR PAUL SAYS IT WILL ADD TO THE NATIONAL DEBT AND IN RESPONSE, THE PRESIDENT POSTED THIS.

RAND PAUL HAS VERY LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, ESPECIALLY THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH THAT IS COMING.

HE LOVES VOTING NO ON EVERYTHING.

HE THINKS IT'S GOOD POLITICS, BUT IT'S NOT.

THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS A BIG WINNER.

UNQUOTE.

NOW, BACK TO STATE POLITICS OR STATE NEWS, AS LAUREL COUNTY CONTINUES HEALING FROM THE TORNADO A FEW WEEKS AGO, ONE ASPECT OF THE RECOVERY EFFORT IS ANIMAL RESCUE.

KENTUCKY MUTTS ANIMAL RESCUE HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND IN LONDON HELPING TO REUNITE ANIMALS THAT WERE LOST DURING THE STORMS AND SUPPORTING THE PET OWNERS WHO NOT ONLY HAVE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES BUT THEIR FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS THAT THE AFTERMATH OF THE MAY 6 FOR THAT IS UNLIKE ANYTHING HER TEAM EXPERIENCED.

>> THE FIRST DAY, WE WERE IN ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS.

ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS LIVED THERE.

AND SHE WAS KILLED.

SO WE WENT TO SUNSHINE HI HILLSD FORCES IMMEDIATELY AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO FIND MISSING ANIMALS.

>> THERE IS A LITTLE GIRL ON VACATION AND HER DOGS WERE ACTUALLY WITH HER GRANDPARENTS HOUSE THAT WAS DEMOLISHED AND THAT WAS THE FIRST DAY THEY WERE THERE.

AND THE DOGS WERE ACTUALLY IN THE RUBBLE.

WE STARTED MOVING STUFF, AND HELPING THEM AND CARRYING STUFF AND WE COULD HEAR -- HER NAME WAS HANNAH.

SHE WAS A SHE WAS FOUND AT THE VERY BOTTOM UNDERNEATH THE MATTRESS.

PRAISE GOD SHE WAS NOT HURT AND NOTHING WRONG WITH HER AT ALL.

>> KENTUCKY MUTTS HELPED TO REUNITE SEVERAL DOGS WITH FAMILIES BUT THERE STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WITH ANIMALS IN THE AREA.

>> WE HAVE SEVERAL MISSING THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH TO TRAP.

THEY ARE TERRIFIED.

THE DOGS ARE TRAUMATIZED AND THEY ARE TERRIFIED.

SO, WE'RE STILL WORKING, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT AREA THERE.

AND THERE IS LOTS OF CATS MISSING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH, FORGOTTEN FELINES WHICH IS THE CAT RESCUE LOCALLY THAT WE PARTNER WITH.

AND, THEY ARE OUT THERE SETTING TRAPS FOR THE CATS TOO.

>> FINDING MISSING ANIMAL JUST ONE PART OF KENTUCKY MUTTS' WORK IN LAUREL COUNTY.

THEY ALSO TRANSFER SHELTER ANIMALS OUT OF THE AREA AND INTO FOSTER CARE IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM AT THE LOCAL SHELTERS FOR THE STRAYS FOUND AFTER THE STORM.

>> OUR COMMUNITIES CAME TOGETHER IN A MAJOR WAY.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS, WE HAVE PULLED DOGS FROM THE SHELTER TO OPEN SPACE FOR THEM.

THEY ARE SEEING A LARGE INFLUX OF DOGS SO WE PULL AND OUR DOGS ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO THE VET.

OUR VETS HAVE BEEN UP HERE AT THE AIRPORT DURING FREE MARKETSHIP AND RABIES RACK SINS SO IT IS ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

>> KENTUCKY MUTTS HAS A TENT SET UP AT THE AIRPORT WHERE OPENERS CAN PICK UP FREE SUPPLIES OR BIG LOST DOGS TO HAVE THE MICROCHIPS SCANNEDCH AND FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE COMMAND POST, THEY MAKE REGULAR DELIVERIES TO THE COMMUNITIES.

>> WE HAVE FREE TICK MEDICINE AND CRATES.

WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WANTED.

WE HAVE IT AND THEY NEED TO REACH OUT.

>> CROOK AND THEY ARE HER TEAM SAY IT HAS BEEN HARD WORK BUT SERVING THE LONDON COMMUNITY, HUMAN AND ANIMAL, IS WORK WORTH DOING.

>> IT IS LIKE WATCHING A MIRACLE TO BE TRUTHFUL WITH YOU.

IT IS VERY REWARDING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REYOU FLIGHT PETS WITH THEIR FAMILY AND EVERY LIFE WE SEE SAVED, IT IS ABOUT HOPE, AND WE ALL NEED HOPE RIGHT NOW WITH THIS, WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> KENTUCKY MUTTS ANIMAL RESCUE CAN ALSO HELP PET OWNERS WITH LONG-TERM CARE LIKE VETERINARY SERVICES, AND EVEN TEMPORARY FOSTER CARE WHILE FAMILIES GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION."

>> THANK YOU.

KENTUCKY MUTTS SAYS THE MOST IN DEMAND DONATION ITEMS ARE FLEA AND TICK MEDICATION AS WELL AS PET FOOD.

>> LAST YEAR, WE LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE CALLED, THE NEXT CHAPTER.

FOCUSING ON THE REWARDS AND CHALLENGES OF GROWING OLDER.

AS PART OF THAT INITIATIVE, WE'RE BRINGING YOU A SEGMENT OCCASIONALLY, THAT WE CALL, THRIVERS.

A CELEBRATION OF OLDER KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE CHALLENGING THE IDEA OF AGING AND RETIREMENT IN THEIR NEXT SEASON OF LIFE, LIKE YOU CAN CALL IT REWIREMENT INSTEAD OF RETIREMENT.

THAT'S WHY, 93-YEAR-OLD JOHN ROSENBERG AND HIS WIFE JEAN ROSENBERG.

THE TWO ARRIVED IN FLOYD COUNTY MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, DRAWN BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE OVER THE LAST FIVE DECADES.

>> IT IS UNLIKELY THAT YOU'LL FIND ANYONE IN THE CITY WHO DOESN'T KNOW JOHN AND JEAN OR HASN'T BEEN IMPACTED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

MARRIED FOR 58 YEAR, THEIRS IS A PARTNERSHIP CENTERED AROUND SERVING OTHERS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT OUR VALUES ARE PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.

>> I'M JEWISH.

JEAN IS A QUAKER.

JUDAISM, ASKS YOU TO TRY TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO REPAIR THE WORLD.

BUT THAT'S JUSTICE, AND, TAKING CARE OF THOSE ORPHANED, AND A STRANGER AND PEOPLE WHO ARE AROUND YOU.

BUT, THAT'S PART OF YOUR LIFE.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS ANYTHING EXTRAORDINARY.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO BUILD THE WORLD THAT YOU WANT TO LIVE IN.

AND YOU GET █ENGAGED IN COMMUNIY ACTIVITIES.

AND BEING MARRIED TO JOHN ROSENBERG HAS NEVER -- I NEVER HAVE TO WORRY THAT THERE WON'T BE SOMETHING TO DO NEXT DAY.

>> FOR JOHN, A LIFE DEDICATED TO HELPING OTHERS WAS SHAPED BY TWO EXPERIENCES: THE FIRST AS A CHILD IN GERMANY, WHERE HE AND HIS PARENTS WERE TAKEN BY NAZIS FROM THEIR HOME TO A COURTYARD, FORCED TO WATCH SCRIPTURES BURN AND THE SYNAGOGUE BLOW UP.

AFTER SPENDING A YEAR IN AN INTERNMENT CAMP, THE FAMILY LED FLED TO THE U.S. >> THE FAMILY, MY FATHER AND MOTHER VALUED SO MUCH COMING TO THIS COUNTRY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BE HERE.

AND TO FIND A HOME IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THEN, WHATEVER OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAPPENED TO BE LIVING.

>> JOHN ALSO SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS AN OFFICER IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE.

HE SAYS IT WAS ON A TRIP HOME FROM ENGLAND WHERE WITH ANOTHER OFFICER WHO WAS BLACK THAT WOULD EVENLY SET HIM ON THE PATH TO BECOME A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER.

>> WE GOT TO WASHINGTON D.C., HE SAID THAT HE WOULD SEE ME AGAIN WHEN WE GOT TO ENGLAND.

AND I SAID, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

AND HE SAID, WELL, I HAVE TO GO BACK OF THE TRAIN WHERE THE BLACKS SIT.

AND IT WAS A VERY IMPACTFUL INCIDENT, I THINK, IN MY LIFE.

I THINK IN A MAJOR WAY HELPED ME TO REALIZE WHEN I ENDED UP GOING TO LAW SCHOOL THAT I WANTED TO TRY TO WORK IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION AND EVENTUALLY, I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND GET A JOB IN 1962.

>> JOHN AND JEAN WORKED TOGETHER ON CASES INVOLVING VOTING RIGHTS AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.

>> AND WE WERE WE WORKED VERY LONG HOURS, AND WE -- IT WAS NOT EASY.

AND WE GET TO KNOW A PERSON, AND I ENJOYED BEING WITH JOHN.

CO-ALWAYS MAKE A SITUATION -- HE COULD ALWAYS MAKE A SITUATION, HE WOULD ALWAYS MAKE ME LAUGH AND I LOOKED FORWARD TO TELLING HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MY WORLD.

AND IT GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER.

SEEMED VERY NATURAL.

>> I MADE OMELETS.

>> HE WAS ONE OF FEW FELLOWS THAT I KNOW WHO HAD FOOD IN THEIR REFRIGERATOR.

>> THEY MARRIED AND IN 1970, LEFT THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION.

>> OUR SON MICHAEL WAS BORN IN 1970, THE BEGINNING OF '70.

AND THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION CAME IN AND WE, LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO BACK OFF ON SCHOOL DESEGREGATION SO WE DECIDED, PRETTY MUCH TO LEAVE THE DIVISION IN THE SUMMER AND GO ON A BIG CAMPING TRIP.

>> DURING TRIP, JOHN GOT A CALL FROM A FORMER DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COLLEAGUE THAT WOULD TAKE THEIR LIVES IN A NEW DIRECTION, TO A COMMUNITY THEY WOULD END UP CALLING HOME.

>> PRESTONSBURG.

>> AND MY FRIEND SAID, WHY YOU DON'T STOP IN CHARLESTON AND THEY NEED SOMEONE TO RUN THIS SERVICES PROGRAM, A NEW DIRECTOR IN KENTUCKY.

>> JOHN OPENED THE APPALACHIAN RESEARCH AND DEFENSE FUND KNOWN AS APPLE RED OFFERING FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN THE REGION.

JOHN SAID, IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ACCEPT HIM.

>> AND SO, WHEN WE MOVED AND FIRST STARTED THIS ORGANIZATION, THERE WAS A LOT OF ANIMOSITY SO IT WAS HARD.

BUT OVER TIME, PEOPLE SAW THAT, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS HELP.

APPLE RED OPERATED FOR MORE THAN 55 YEAR, EXPANDING TO 37 COUNTIES AND HELPING THOUSANDS.

JOHN RETIRED FROM THE ORGANIZATION IN 2001 AT THE AGE OF 70.

>> I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY, THE MARK THAT I HAD LOOKED AT WAS, I WAS STILL -- I ENJOYED WHAT I WAS DOING, BUT, IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD TIME TO STOP AND HAVE THEM BRING IN SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WAS NEW.

>> BUT ANOTHER OFFER KEPT HIM WORKING AFTER RETIREMENT.

>> I FELT VERY PROUD TO BE A LAWYER IN KENTUCKY.

I ENJOYED PRACTICING LAW.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT.

AND, TO DO THAT.

AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE WAS INTERESTED IN HAVING ME WORK WITH THEM PART TIME ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ELDERLY WORK, SO I COULD KEEP DOING LEGAL WORK AS LONG AS I I WANTED TO DO IT.

AND I HAD TWO OTHER APPLE RED LAWYERS AND WE STARTED IN A SMALL OFFICE IN PRESTONSBURG.

FIRST YEAR, WE CALLED IT THE APPALACHIAN CITIZENS LAW CENTER JEAN ROSENBURG HAS ALSO FOUND SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

SHE FOUNDED THE FLOYD COUNTY MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM, STARTED A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT SINGLE MOTHERS ATTENDING THE BIG SANDY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING A SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE PASSED IN PRESTONSBURG.

SHE ALSO ESTABLISHED CHILD BIRTH PREPARATION CLASSES.

THE RESULT OF WHICH THE ROSENBURGS SAY THEY STILL SEE TODAY.

>> WE STARTED THIS NON-PROFIT CALLED THE BIG SANDY FAMILY CHILD BIRTH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

ONLY A LAWYER WOULD COME UP WITH THAT NAME.

>> SO THEN, WE HAD THESE ANNUAL GET TOGETHERS OF THE PARENTS AND TODAY, WHEN I GO WITH JEAN, WITH LETTER SHOPPING, SOMEONE WILL SAY, JEAN, LOOK, REMEMBER THAT LITTLE BABY THAT YOU TAUGHT US ABOUT?

HERE IS A 6-6 GUY GETTING GROCERIES OFF THE SHELF 20 YEAR, 30 YEARS LATER.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE SAME COMMUNITY HAS WAS ONCE UNSURE ABOUT THEM HONORED THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS BY NAMING A NEW TOWN SQUARE AFTER THEM.

>> IT WAS A LOVELY GESTURE.

I MEAN, I'M SURPRISED.

BUT IT WAS A LOVELY THOUGHT, AND THEY -- THESE THREE WOMEN AND THE WAY THEY DECORATED AND IT WHAT THEY DID, AND NOW IT IS A NICE PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN AND PLAY WITH THOSE BIG CHESS PIECES, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> AS FOR LEGACY.

>> I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE MY LEGACY TO BE A SENSE OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN MANY FORMS.

>> AND HAVE A GROUP CALLED THE ROSENBERG CIRCLE WHICH, WE DIDN'T INVENT BUT IT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA.

THE IDEA OF KEEPING THAT ORGANIZATION GOING AS PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR, I THINK, JUSTICE IS IMPORTANT, JUSTICE ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> THEY ARE TREMENDOUS COUPLE INDEED.

JOHN AND JEAN RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARD FOR COMMUNITY WORK AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

ONE OF THE PROJECTS THEY ARE MOST PROUD OF, THE EAST KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM IN PRESTONSBURG WHICH THE TWO OF THEM HELPED TO FOUND.

THE CENTER SERVED AS A HUB OF STEM EDUCATION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

FOR MORE ON HOW TO THRIVE AS WE THRIVE AS WE AGE AND FOR AGING RESOURCES, LOG ON TO KET.ORG/THENEXTCHAPTER.

THERE YOU WILL FIND A VARIETY OF AGING-RELATED TOPICS AND OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES.

SO CHECK IT OUT.

>> VOTERS IN KENTUCKY'S SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WILL BE ELECTING A NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS IN 2026 AS INCUMBENT ANDY BARR RUNS FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND DEMOCRAT CHERLYNN STEVENSON IS ALREADY RUNNING.

TWO MORE CANDIDATES WILL OFFICIALLY ENTER THE RACE TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

YOU'LL HEAR FROM BOTH OF THEM TOMORROW ON KENTUCKY EDITION.

AT 6:30, 5:30.

WHERE WE CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

SEND US A STORY IDEA AT PUBLICAFFAIRS@KET.ORG.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

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