[music] >> People are telling us if we did not deliver these meals, if this was not part of their life, they would not be able to stay in their own home.

>> Financial strains could put some Kentucky seniors at risk of going hungry.

[MUSIC] >> Leadership, at its core, comes down to the ingredients, which are the skill sets, but you've got to know what the right ingredients are and the right combination.

>> A Kentucky educator puts his thoughts on leadership and success down on paper in a book.

[MUSIC] >> Today is Friday.

Today is Friday.

Yes it is, yes it is.

>> And we're all glad about that.

And check out the campaign to help these kids thrive by age five.

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

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for this Friday, May the 29th.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Good to be back with you, and we thank you for kicking off your weekend with us.

It's a source of food for thousands of Kentucky seniors, but the Meals on Wheels program is expecting cuts across the state.

Up to 5000 seniors could lose their home delivered lunches due to stagnant state and federal funding.

Our June Leffler tells us.

>> More high schoolers are visiting with the older folks at a senior center in Louisville, South End today, the tight knit group has pulled some money together for a pizza party.

>> The idea that they're doing the socialization and they're making this thing happen on their own, it's just so important for their mental well-being.

>> Seniors have flocked to these congregate meals for more than 50 years.

The Older Americans Act of 1972 promised seniors federally supported spaces to have lunch and socialize.

>> We just love the people down here.

We play cards, we talk.

We have a lot in common because we're all from Fairdale now.

They're all our friends.

We go to church with them, go to club meetings with them.

So it's like a little family, really.

>> This volunteer delivers boxes of meals to seniors who don't get out as much.

>> In the meals I bring when they cook them.

That may be the only hot meal they get during the day.

>> Me it's my lunch every day.

That's all I cook.

You know what I mean?

Just throw it in the microwave.

>> A local catering company packages these frozen meals.

>> We are providing one meal a day, so it is actually one third of what all the vitamins, minerals, fats, that sort of thing that they are supposed to get.

>> The deliveries also act as wellness checks.

>> Sometimes I put their meals away for them because they can't even put the meals away.

I take garbage out for people if they need it, just if they need anything or somebody to talk to, then that's fine.

>> People are telling us if we did not deliver these meals, if this was not part of their life, they would not be able to stay in their own home.

They would have to either move in with someone else or go to a rehab center or a nursing home, something like that.

>> But stagnant funding and rising food costs means these meals aren't guaranteed.

If Diana Potts Mills went away.

>> I've eaten peanut butter sandwiches and stuff.

>> This year, state lawmakers approved a budget with flat funding.

Despite the $9 million shortfall for the program last fall.

Beshear's administration says, quote, during the pandemic, we doubled the number of meals produced every week to eliminate an existing waitlist, not approving the recommendation to add $9.1 million more in state funds each year is a cruel and careless decision.

That means more Kentucky seniors will go hungry.

Republican House leadership responds, quote, if additional funding is necessary.

The cabinet has more than enough flexibility within its overall budget to address those needs.

Lawmakers are supportive of the senior Mills program, but these are serious questions about management at the state level and the expansion of service beyond the program's original intent.

It's worth noting the General Assembly has not historically earmarked state funds for this federal program.

The state says 5000 seniors could lose their meals, largely those delivered to their homes.

>> There might be changes in operations where they spread the meals out or do some potlucks and things like they used to have to do before, before Covid relief funding and before the the funding really grew for the program.

So kind of getting back to the basics and that will impact every region a little bit differently.

>> But some local governments are stepping in.

>> Basically 525 seniors, we estimate, would have been waitlisted as a result of the budget reduction.

But because our mayor has stepped up, then we're going to be able to continue services and they won't see a lapse.

>> Mayor Craig Greenberg proposed half $1 million this year for senior Mills.

>> Now, that said, this is not a permanent solution.

Both the state and the federal government have far more resources than any local government.

And so we're trying to do what we can, because supporting our seniors is so important.

But we do need state and federal support.

>> The full impact won't be known until July 1st, as senior centers wait on guidance and funding allocations from the state and their local area development districts for Kentucky Edition.

I'm June Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June senior centers say their programs are cost effective in Louisville.

For every paid employee, there are roughly five volunteers helping for free.

If you're interested in volunteering, you can reach out to your local Area Development district.

Now, turning to national news, Pam Bondi, the former U.S.

attorney general, testified today to the House Oversight Committee about the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to Democrats on the committee, she refused to answer questions about President Donald Trump's involvement in the files release.

This was a closed door meeting.

The chair of the committee, Congressman James Comer of Kentucky's first district, spoke to reporters before the hearing began.

>> We're going to do everything in our ability to hold people accountable and try to understand how the government failed.

But they did.

They failed.

There's no question.

It's not not just this administration.

It goes back several administrations.

So we're going to do everything in our ability to try to get justice for the victims.

So documents that still have not been released.

Well, that's what we're going to ask about today.

And we asked about that in the briefing and at the time, what the if I remember correctly, what the attorney general said, the former attorney general was that they had turned over all the documents that they could legally turn over.

Now, we're going to find out.

Those are the questions that we're going to have.

We're going to go the first hour.

What documents remain?

Why haven't they been turned over?

We're going to try to determine whether or not, you know, there could be more documents legally turned over.

I want every document.

I don't want anything held back.

And I think the majority of the committee same way.

>> Congressman comer says the committee will release a transcript of Bondy's testimony today.

He says she could be prosecuted if she lied to the committee.

Now, turning back to State news, a the man accused of killing the daughter of a former state lawmaker has been sentenced to life in prison.

Shannon Gilday was found guilty but mentally ill on charges of murder, attempted murder and burglary.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman says Gilday will be eligible for parole after 25 years.

In 2022, Gilday broke into the Madison County home of former state representative Wesley Morgan and fired dozens of shots.

Morgan was injured and his 32 year old daughter, Jordan, was shot multiple times and died during Gill days.

Trial psychiatrist testified he was suffering from psychosis during the break in while searching for the home's survival bunker.

[MUSIC] So what does cooking and leadership have in common?

Well, it may seem like an odd question, but a leader in Kentucky's higher education space has written a book that describes the secret recipes for success.

Anton Reese, the president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, draws on his childhood memories of his mother, carefully making her culinary masterpieces as a metaphor for what good leaders should do and what they need.

He tells us more about it, and our Turning the Page segment.

[MUSIC] Where Doctor Anton Reese, it's good to have you back on Kentucky Edition.

Soon people will see you on a special program that we did for Kentucky tonight about the state's community and technical colleges.

And you've got a lot of wise words to share there, but you've written a lot of wise words in this book, Secret Recipe for success.

So congratulations on this labor of love.

>> Thank you so much.

It's good to be here with the multi award, Emmy winning Renee Shaw.

>> It's just longevity has its advantages.

That's all.

>> I'll.

>> Say about that.

It's been a good year and I'm very grateful for all the accolades.

But you talk a lot about leadership and how to be a good leader.

And I just want to know because I read a lot of leadership books, what makes this one stand out from maybe some of the others that people have read?

>> Probably the combination of a personal journey heavily on setbacks, resilience, evolving as a leader is one distinction.

I think the approach to that I try to use in general is by using a simple metaphor.

That's one of those universal languages food.

As an islander, you know, the whole idea of secret ingredients, right?

Right.

So so being able to pretty much metaphorically align with skill sets of hopefully fairly easy to follow the ingredients that I offer.

And thus far, it's been a tremendous reception.

>> So when you said being an Islander, people are curious about now, what did he say?

So tell us about your native background.

>> I'm from the Caribbean nation of Barbados, tiny island in the eastern Caribbean, 166mi█!S, just over 300,000 people.

And it's about 80% Anglican, but it is one of the most British of the islands back in the day.

So actually, this year we are celebrating our 60th anniversary as an independent nation.

Yeah.

And so I went, born and raised, went to a prestigious law school that really set the stage for, I think, a lot of my leadership acumen.

The law school in its uniqueness is 281 years old.

Wow.

And we had residents Aulds.

So we had students from all across the British Commonwealth in that one setting.

So we had like a little mini United Nations things going both culturally, but as importantly, academically and in my case, academically and athletically.

>> That's really cool.

So if occasionally you hear a young man, yes.

Now you know that that's an authentic reference right there.

>> Michael Logan.

Renee is just in case you don't make it to heaven, put this on your bucket list so you can just get a slice of Paradise will look like.

>> Yeah, and some people say that about Kentucky.

So Kentucky number two.

Barbados number one.

That's right.

Well, why is it important for you to have used recipes or like this food metaphor?

>> So many of us are raised with brothers, parents, elders.

You know, there's always like those unique.

I mean, there are cooks and then there are those elders that can, as you would say, burn, right?

>> That's right.

>> Yeah.

That's a metaphor.

You may want to explain that later.

But anyhow, food is there.

>> Foot in it is another way, another, another expression.

Yeah.

>> And you know, as a much younger lad, I would try to watch mom's in the kitchen and I would like try to visually recall what she does or to even take notes or daughters.

Now they actually record and you go back and try to recreate that dish and you just can't get there.

And so part of the analogy is, is that leadership, at its core comes down to the ingredients, which are the skill sets.

But you got to know the right ingredients are and the right combination.

And ultimately, leadership is by doing.

And the elders perfected the art of cooking because of that combination of doing, right, modifying, adapting, adjusting, which I think is a great metaphor for leadership.

>> What is the essence of leadership?

What are those core attributes that one must have?

And can you learn them?

>> Yes, yes, you can learn them.

But there's no knowledge that says somewhere someone is practicing and when they meet you in head to head competition, they'll beat you every time.

So you got to practice them.

I identify ten, the top three based on the feedback that I've gotten.

Being on tour now for two years.

On the side at the very top, the one that got the most feedback from I, and I truly believe this.

The late Myles Munroe says the ultimate test ingredient of leadership is the ability to handle criticism.

Renee, I've worked with thousands of folk.

I've met some really good.

I'm in the college setting, really good until they get tested and there's criticism and then there's criticism, right?

And when you get a healthy dose of real criticism for some folk, cancel Christmas, they'll personalize it.

They'll shut down working with teams.

Right?

Inevitably, I would argue that if I meet an individual that says they're successful in leadership and has not been criticized, I'm suspicious.

Yeah, I believe that criticism is inevitable, but more importantly, necessary to sharpen.

>> So do you have some ideas on how people can toughen their skin?

>> Well, one that immediately leaps to mind first and foremost, which blends into some of the other ingredients.

A big part of that is emotional intelligence, though, right?

It's about your self-awareness of where you are emotionally so that you don't personalize everything.

It isn't a conspiracy necessarily against you.

And critique is good, right?

It is good to be tested, right?

I think, by nature.

So I think that that self-assessment is one part of it.

The other part too, is really good mentorship.

You know, having individuals who can see something in you that you necessarily don't see within yourself, but are also willing to go the next step to challenge your thinking and the way that you may view yourself, kind of like a leadership through 60.

>> Yeah.

Right.

>> Sort of approach.

>> Yeah.

Iron sharpens iron, right.

And you don't want to be a dull blade.

That's correct.

That's not effective.

So okay, you mentioned the top three.

Give me another three.

>> I will put as a second one.

Before we can organize others, we must first organize ourselves.

>> Ouch.

>> And yeah, I think a lot of leaders underestimate the importance of good planning intentionally, because there's a lot coming at you really quickly.

And many of us have worked with folk who are very disorganized and Knott plan is certainly, to me an issue.

The other one is, I put it along fundamentals.

I believe that you have to be fundamentally sound because and fundamentally sound, by the way, with those skills, but also guarding your vulnerabilities.

Real quick story.

My first career was in broadcasting news when Eastern Kentucky University go colonels, by the way, bachelor's degree in broadcasting news with honors.

If you were to look at my college transcript, I had one.

See, it was in typing.

I slept through typing class because I thought, hey, I'm a I'm a news reader, I could I got the voice.

I could do this thing.

I did my internship at KET TV there on Winchester.

>> Road, right?

>> And I remember that Gabriel brought me in.

I was ready to get to the set.

Let's get the news on.

And he sat me down.

And the only question he asked, how many words can you type a minute?

And on a good day, maybe 35 with about ten mistakes.

The other part is, as you know very well, it's 10% is what you see on camera.

90% is they're really good writers, right?

And so tightening up your vulnerabilities and being fundamentally sound, I would put as a close second and then third, ultimately communication.

At the end of the day, if you can't communicate in writing and in speaking, communication is both the fuel and the glue that separates the good from the great.

>> Yeah.

Who are some leaders that you really admire and who you try to maybe emulate in some way, or when you see them in certain situations, think they handled that correctly?

>> Wow, that's a really good one.

So I was always a really big fan of General Colin Powell.

I think the combination of his presence, his poise, his steadiness, his ability to communicate with a high degree of he commanded, you know, the arena is certainly one that leaps to mind immediately.

Nelson Mandela, I had the my wife and I had the unique opportunity to see him in person when he came to the U.S.

back in the 90s, you know, as part of that tour.

And I mean, just this whole history, just the presence alone was huge, right?

But then his whole delivery, you know, around the whole idea of, you know, not retaliating, you know, based on his history and the Swahili term of pulling all together.

Those are like two examples of many individuals that, that, that package, the credibility and, and humility, man and humbleness despite incredible positions of power.

>> Yeah, we got, we got almost a man on there.

>> Yeah man.

>> Thank you doctor Anton Reece we really appreciate your time.

And the book is secret recipe for success.

I'll have more with Doctor Reece Monday night on Kentucky edition.

We talk some more about the tripwires good leaders should avoid, and a reality check for those whose eagerness to be the boss is out of step with their level of experience.

That part on Monday night.

Learn about Kentucky history and American history as we get ready to celebrate birthday number 250.

Guest host Chip Polston will be in the chair Monday night, and a panel of experts will join him to discuss Kentucky's settlement and growth on a special edition of Kentucky tonight, join us for Kentucky Celebrates America 250.

That's Monday, June 1st, Kentucky's birthday.

Light some candles at 8:00 eastern, 7:00 central right here on KET.

[MUSIC] Louisville has launched an initiative to help get more three and four year olds into early learning programs before they get to kindergarten.

The Thrive by Five organization was created to explore the idea, and they've launched a pilot program with 26 existing child care and early learning centers.

Our Kelsey Starks takes us inside one of those pilot programs to learn more on the next inside Louisville.

>> Sunday.

Today.

>> They say it takes a village.

For thrive by five.

That village consists of 26 early learning centers identified to be part of the Quality Plus pilot program.

>> Today is Friday.

Today is Friday.

>> So this time in their life, it's a very.

You're in the developmental phases.

So we try to get them socially available emotionally, academically ready.

So there's a lot that happens in that phase and that age group.

>> Max Childcare in southwest Louisville is one of those early learning centers selected for the two year pilot.

They are a nationally accredited level five early learning center.

You can call it a lot of things, but don't call it daycare.

>> When I think of daycare, I think of babysitting.

I think of someone taking their child to somewhere.

I'm going on a date.

I need you to watch my child for a moment.

When you think about a high quality program and when you think about education, we're teaching, we're engaging.

It's not the same.

We're preparing your child for a better future.

And our start to kindergarten.

>> A, B, C, d. EFG.

>> Studies show kindergarten readiness leads to later academic success, and for many parents, it's not only about kindergarten readiness.

Child care is a necessity.

>> So I'm a dental hygienist and so I make good money.

But it's just being a single mom, it's really hard to be able to, you know, pay for daycare and all the daily necessities that we need.

So I've done so many budgets and I've found I've called so many daycares trying to figure out what I'm going to do.

And the cheapest I found was going to be over $400 a week.

I mean, and I couldn't afford that at all.

>> Thrive by five is connecting parents with those early learning centers and offering scholarships for those families who don't qualify for other assistance.

>> I'm in that in-between setting to where I don't get help with daycare assistance or food stamps or anything like that.

So it's like, this program is so great for working families because we'll qualify.

>> The nonprofit is also investing directly in the centers to increase not only access, but quality too.

>> We have received technology assistance, educational assistance.

We've had new reading systems, new sound systems for the reading materials, everything just to keep us going.

Training hours, professional development, and not only us, but they're trying to get as many facilities as they can because that requires a lot to maintain the consistency of a quality child care facility.

>> Thrive by five is betting this is an investment that will pay off in the long run.

>> That's an important part for a kid in this phase, is developing those skills, and those skills turn into long life skills.

And you have to think ten, 15, 20 years from now, these same children who were molding now are going to be our doctors, our lawyers, our caregivers.

So what would you invest in them early on?

Its positivity, a safe and nurturing environment.

That's why that's important because pretty soon they'll be taking care of you and I.

>> Meet the leaders of the new Thrive by Five organization and learn more about the program and plans for expansion on the next.

Inside Louisville with Kelsey Starks Sunday at 12 noon 11 a.m.

central.

Only here on KET.

[MUSIC] Get outside and enjoy what Kentucky has to offer as May turns into June and it's going to be a glorious weekend.

Our Toby Gibbs has the latest in this look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

[MUSIC] >> Catch a rainbow at night.

As one of Kentucky's rarest natural sights, the Moonbow comes back to Cumberland Falls.

The Moonbow is a lunar rainbow created when moonlight passes through the mist of the falls.

Corbin is one of only a handful of places in the Western Hemisphere where the phenomenon appears on a regular basis.

[MUSIC] The best viewing opportunities run from May 29th through June 2nd.

The competition is heating up and so are the grills.

During the Smoke and Velvet Barbecue Fest happening this weekend in Bowling Green.

[MUSIC] The event features barbecue sampling, local vendors, family activities and the chance for attendees to vote for the People's Choice Barbecue Award.

Time for some fairway fun as the Carroll County Fair kicks off tonight in Carrollton.

[MUSIC] The annual event includes four-h exhibits, livestock shows, rides, truck and tractor pulls, demolition derbies, pageants, games and plenty of traditional fair food.

[MUSIC] The event runs through June 6th.

The Highlands are heading south on Saturday as Berrien County hosts the Southern Kentucky Highland Games.

The event celebrates Scottish heritage with traditional athletic competitions, games for children and adults, live entertainment, clan gatherings and food and craft vendors.

Catch Grammy winning singer songwriter Steve Earle at Renfro Valley this weekend.

Earle is known for a catalog of influential Americana and country songs and for his signature hit Copperhead Road, which became an official state song of Tennessee in 2023.

One of Appalachia's most deeply rooted traditions is sprouting up once again in Harlan with the return of the Polk Salad Festival in its 71st year.

The celebration features live music, carnival rides, games, a five k pet and car shows, vendors, and activities centered around the Appalachian Regional Dish Polk Salad.

The festival starts Thursday.

Something big is afoot in Staunton this weekend as it brings back Red River Gorge Bigfoot Fest.

The event features live music, food, a cryptic costume contest and plenty of opportunities to celebrate the big guy himself.

And that's what's happening around the Commonwealth this week.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you as always.

Toby Gibbs a lot of great things to do this weekend, so make it a good one.

And we explore more of the Commonwealth next week as we go with Laura Rogers as she visits Western Kentucky.

>> It is incredible to see the growth that's happening in our community.

The investments are coming in.

People that are believing truly in that infinite possibility of what this community has to offer.

>> People laugh.

>> Because, oh, it says the best town on earth.

And if you want a small town environment, we really do have a great, wonderful town.

>> And a fantastic park there in Madisonville.

It's a great place to go.

Go along with us on a trip to Madisonville and Hopkins County.

That's Monday night on Kentucky edition.

We hope you have a great weekend, and then you come back and join us Monday at 630 eastern, 530 central on Kentucky edition, where we inform, connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the way as you see on your screen through our streaming channel, ket.org, the PBS app that you can download.

Send us an email at the email address on your screen, a good shout out or an idea for a story.

And of course, the socials, we're there as well.

I'm Renee Shaw, have a great weekend and I will see you Monday night.