music >> She lived with goodness, purpose, and service.

[MUSIC] >> Honoring a fallen airman from Kentucky who gave her life in military operations against Iran.

[MUSIC] >> Senate version is certainly better than the House version.

>> Why?

The governor says he's still not satisfied with Republicans state budget plans.

[MUSIC] >> I'm concerned about my 14 year old grandson.

He will enter high school next fall, and I'm scared for him if this bill passes.

[MUSIC] >> Plus, action today on a bill letting some young people carry concealed guns.

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

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky edition for this Thursday, March the 19th.

I'm Renee Shaw, and we thank you for spending some of your Thursday night with us.

Kentucky is mourning the loss of another fallen service member during Operation Epic Fury.

Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt was a native to Bardstown, where her Air Force aspirations began.

Our Laura Rogers has.

More from Nelson County.

>> Leadership, teamwork and community service.

Those things came second nature to Ashley.

>> Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt graduated from Nelson County High School as home of the Cardinals.

Students are encouraged to take flight, words Pruitt took to heart.

>> Her freshman year.

We were having our first unit evaluation from headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC.

>> That was a couple of decades ago, but the memories are still fresh for Colonel Donna LOU Casey.

>> She was so poised and so confident and so good.

>> Pruitt served as a flight commander and junior ROTC, where she and her fellow cadets impressed LOU Casey with their hard work and determination.

>> They built the foundation for a really great program, and it really left a legacy and a foundation for several years to come.

>> The team also served her community through organizations like March of Dimes, Four-h, and relay for life.

>> She was just involved leading mentoring and performing service at a at a young age.

>> So it came as no surprise to LOU Casey, herself a retired colonel with 25 years in the Air Force that Ashley would pursue and achieve a successful military career.

>> There was no.

Maybe about it with Ashley.

She was determined and committed and devoted to achieving that goal.

>> Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt entered the Air Force in 2017.

She paid a visit to her former ROTC instructor.

Before she left.

>> She was talking about going to be a boom operator and all that stuff, and she was thrilled, very excited and looking forward to reaching that step in her journey.

>> That journey would come to an end March 12th in a mid-air collision over friendly territory and a combat mission in western Iraq.

>> Air refueling.

You think about that just by its nature.

You have a plane that's up in the air, maybe 30, 35,000ft up.

That is reaching a boom out that's maybe 50ft long to refuel another aircraft midair.

So there's an inherent risk in that every day.

And they're doing that all of the time because that's how we move our aircraft, how we deploy the other aircraft.

>> Pruitt was assigned to the sixth Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

Back home in Bardstown, flags are at half staff as the community mourns the airman's loss.

>> I consider Ashley, of course, to be a true patriot.

She absolutely loved her country and a true hero.

>> A true hero indeed.

Tech Sergeant Pruitt was just 34 years old.

She leaves behind a husband, a daughter and stepson.

The city of Bardstown says in part, we are deeply saddened by the loss of Tech Sergeant Ashley Pruitt, who gave her life in service to our nation during a refueling mission in Iraq.

Her courage, dedication, and selfless commitment to protecting others represent the very best of our community and our country.

It goes on to say Bardstown will forever honor her sacrifice and remember her as a true American hero.

End quote.

Turning now to Frankfort news.

Two more bills are heading to the upper chamber, positioning them closer to final passage.

One bill allowing adults under the age of 21 to carry concealed weapons, and another making child grooming a felony.

Our Mackenzie Spink explains in tonight's legislative update.

>> Grooming is the intentional r develops a relationship with a child for preparing them for sexual abuse.

House Bill four would make this behavior a felony, but there are concerns about penalizing well-meaning adults in roles of leadership with children.

>> Let's say a coach or a teacher, Sunday school teacher, a troubled child.

They.

They take their time to work with that child that's having some struggles.

Help me get comfortable with the protections that that person would have as far as their intents intent not being misunderstood.

>> We have to prove not only that they committed certain objective functions, but they did so with ill intent.

This is an incredibly difficult barrier to do as a prosecutor.

It's going to be difficult.

But in cases such as the one which involved middle school that my daughter attended, the interactions were so clearly inappropriate that there was no other explanation for it.

It was going to we could have proved the intent through that.

>> Kelly says.

Adults in positions of trust understand the appropriate channels of communication with minors, especially in the wake of last year's Senate Bill 181, which established more narrow guidelines for school employees communicating with students.

>> That is just how we're operating now.

People know that if you're in a position of authority and trust, there should be designated channels when you're communicating with youth.

And so I don't think this will create a chilling effect more so than what our society is generally moving to, which is you're going to be dealing with children.

There need to be appropriate means and methods of communication.

>> House Bill four passed and will head to the full body next, as well as House Bill 312, which would allow 18 to 20 year olds legally carry a concealed firearm.

Under the bill, applicants would have to pass a background check and complete firearms training.

>> Right now in Kentucky, citizens who are aged 18, 19 or 20 can legally vote sign contracts, join the military, serve in combat, start a family, own a business and possess a firearm.

Yet under current law, these adults are prohibited from carrying that same firearm concealed for self-defense.

>> The concern raised by gun control advocates was the risk of 18 year olds bringing their weapons to school.

>> I'm here today because I'm concerned about my 14 year old grandson.

He will enter high school next fall and I'm scared for him if this bill passes.

Now, I know that guns are not currently allowed in schools, colleges, hospitals, airports.

But I expect that teenagers getting used to concealed carrying will try to bring them to schools.

And metal detectors and security are not perfect.

>> Representative Maddox says the bill does not change any laws about whether it is lawful to carry a firearm, and that the 18 to 20 year olds would still have to go through all of the same requirements and safety training as other adults applying for concealed carry permits.

For Kentucky edition.

I'm Mackenzie Spink.

>> Thank you so much, Mackenzie.

The Senate Judiciary Committee also passed House Bill 188 today, a measure from State Representative Kevin Jackson that would increase the penalties for assaulting health care providers in jails.

Another bill in Frankfort looks to make major changes to the state's assessment and accountability system for K through 12 schools.

The Republican sponsor says students need to be measured for individual growth, but not all members of the majority party agree.

Our Emily Sisk has details on a student assessment measure.

>> House Bill 257 would make significant changes to the assessment and accountability model for Kentucky's Public Schools Bill, sponsor representative J. T Payne said.

One change is that students would be subject to less standardized testing.

>> We hear a whole lot that students are subjected to way too much testing in our schools.

>> The bill would remove the on demand writing component, where students are given a time allotment to write an essay.

It would also remove the school climate survey, which Representative Payne said is too subjective.

In its place would be a measure of chronic absenteeism, which is when a student misses 10% or more of the total school days.

>> We know that one of the most reliable indicators of student success, lifelong student success, is attendance.

So I think that a measure of quality for our schools is the measure of attendance.

>> Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said.

A key part of the bill is a focus on individual student growth.

>> Where did you get the child and where did you take the child is an important measure as opposed to the change component that was there.

So instead of comparing this year's third graders to next year's third graders, we'll be looking at the individual student.

>> Another key part of HB 257 is the ability for schools to create a local accountability system, where the community can give feedback on what's expected of their graduates.

A Senate change to the bill lays out some indicators for this, including the number of teachers who are National Board certified, the rigor of academics, and the number of high schoolers who complete the Fafsa.

A Northern Kentucky Republican spoke out against these indicators, however, saying they overcomplicated the legislation.

>> The bottom line is we are measuring process and not results.

What we need to be measuring is competency, not the process or how good you how many certified teachers you have, I don't care, I want the results of the kids.

>> The bill, in its current form, encourages schools to create a local accountability system, but does not require it.

Once a majority of school districts opt in, then it would become a requirement.

House Bill 257 passed out of the Senate Education Committee on an 8 to 4 vote.

It now moves on to the full Senate for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you.

Emily.

Commissioner Fletcher emphasized the new assessment model will still test students in reading, math, science and social studies.

He says this will allow schools to keep track of student growth from past years, and omnibus gambling bill cleared the full House today, but not before a major change was adopted.

House Bill 904 deals with horse racing, sports betting and prediction markets.

Today, State Representative Nick Wilson filed a floor amendment that also would require sports wagering books to accept bets up to $1,000, except in cases of suspected fraud or problem gambling.

The floor amendment passed with bipartisan support, despite the objections of the bill's primary sponsor.

>> Sports books are limiting bets from bettors, but not for the reasons you might think.

Not because someone lost too much money, not because of fraud.

And actually, it's the opposite.

If somebody is winning, they're more likely to be limited.

>> And as the gentleman from Whitley rightly pointed out, the people running the sports books, they know us better than we know ourselves.

They know who shouldn't be betting, who can't afford to bet who's who's in over their head.

They know who's really good at it.

And they have.

The pattern has been the way these companies have worked is they target losers and they ban the winners.

And I think this is a good step at righting the ship.

There is, to my knowledge, no other state of the 39 states now that have legalized sports wagering, that have adopted a provision like what the gentleman from Whitley is bringing before you today, a $1,000 bet.

And I'm not saying anybody shouldn't be able to win, but a $1,000 bet in certain situations could lead to a very, very large win for the customer and loss for the book.

I just have a lot of concerns with making a change like this in the business practices of the licensees who are licensed, who are regulated in a time when we still don't have a mature marketplace on this, and in a time when we are doing major, major things to change this.

>> Now, once again, that floor amendment was approved.

House Bill 904 also proposes raising the age of sports wagering in Kentucky from 18 to age 21, and it puts a tax on prediction markets, which have been in the news lately for allowing bets on elections and even specific actions in the war with Iran.

The bill also bans certain prop bets on in-state collegiate athletes, and it creates a charitable gaming task force that will meet during the interim House Bill 904 passed by a vote of 79 to 15, and it now heads to the Senate for consideration there.

Yesterday, the Kentucky Senate passed its version of the state's two year, $31 billion spending plan that Senate leaders call disciplined and balanced.

It differs from what the House had approved.

State Senator Chris McDaniel, the Senate Budget Committee chair, said, quote, we have taken a thoughtful approach that protects the Commonwealth's financial position while making targeted investments where they are most needed.

Quote, Governor Andy Beshear offered his take on the Senate budget today.

>> The Senate version is certainly better than the House version.

In most respects.

It's better for the Kentucky State Police, which would take a major hit under the House version, and then public safety would have taken a hit.

It's better for Dcbs, though.

There are still challenges that I'll walk through.

The two most significant impacts, though, of the Senate budget, where it still needs major changes to not cause major problems.

Our first in Medicaid, the Senate budget will be $2.7 billion short on what's needed for Medicaid over the next two years.

We've got to sit down.

We have to do the budgeting, and it's really clear that what they've put in there is simply not enough.

And that is going to be borne by our health care system that has already been hit so hard by the big ugly bill.

Think about it.

The big ugly bill which cut trillion plus dollars.

Federally, meaning we're taking billions of cuts before this budget, assuming we would have had a budget that fully funds Medicaid, we were already looking at 35 rural hospitals potentially closing 20,000 health care workers, possibly losing their job, and 200,000 Kentuckians kicked off their coverage.

Okay, now add an extra $2.7 billion that's removed from that system as well.

>> The governor also says the Senate budget doesn't spend enough on community based services, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF, and the Snap program that's better known as food stamps.

He says it could lead to cuts in the number of social workers since the House and Senate budget plans have differences, the two chambers will iron out their differences in what's called a conference committee.

That's a bipartisan group of negotiators from both chambers.

A final version of the budget will then go to the governor for him to sign or make line item vetoes.

The Republican dominated General Assembly, though, has enough GOP votes to override any of the governor's vetoes.

A program that puts books into the hands of young readers could soon expand its reach in Kentucky, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program provides free books Monthly to children from birth to age five.

A legislative panel voted in favor of a measure today that directs the Department for Libraries and Archives and the state Health cabinet to explore ways to increase enrollment in the program.

The sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 54, Minority Whip, Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, says the collaboration will give Kentucky's more vulnerable children access to the program.

>> Imagination library does amazing work trying to reach vulnerable families.

They work with family resource centers, churches, hospitals and public libraries throughout the Commonwealth.

Yet the cabinet is uniquely situated to help them reach these children, these vulnerable families, earlier and easier.

For example, the cabinet could automatically enroll children in foster care.

We think there are about 2000 eligible children in foster care that are not currently enrolled, and the cabinet could do that in a way that protects confidentiality while making sure that children are enrolled in that program, they could collaborate on ways to increase enrollment through hands or put information about Imagination Library on birth certificate forms in high poverty zip codes.

There are more ideas and the opportunities are really endless.

And they're exciting.

>> The resolution passed the Senate earlier this month.

It now moves to the full House for a vote by the entire membership there.

[MUSIC] Now to some Washington news Mark Wayne Mullins nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security moved ahead this morning after a close 8 to 7 vote by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, only one Republican voted no, and that was the committee chairman, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, yesterday.

During Mullins confirmation hearing, the two argued about Mullins reaction to a neighbor's 2017 attack on Rand Paul in Paul's yard in Bowling Green.

Mullins said he understood why the man attacked Paul, and Paul said Mullen has never apologized for his reaction to the attack.

If confirmed by the full Senate, Mullen would take over for Kristi Noem.

Mullen is a U.S.

senator from Oklahoma now back in Kentucky.

Louisville could give new city workers health insurance immediately, and one Kentucky county won't even consider data centers for the next six months, our Toby Gibbs explains in this look at headlines around Kentucky.

>> Churchill Downs faces a fine of more than $5 million.

The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority, or Hisa, says Churchill Downs has failed to pay its fees to Hisa.

The Courier Journal reports.

A three person AIC board found that Churchill violated federal rules and ordered the racetrack to pay $5.2 million in fees and interest.

Churchill is required to pay by March 26th for each day it doesn't pay.

The TRACK won't be allowed to simulcast racing the next day.

[MUSIC] Churchill says it's committed to the safety of its horses, but Hyzaar has exceeded its authority.

[MUSIC] According to the Georgetown News graphic, the Scott County Fiscal Court is blocking the county from considering data centers for at least six months.

That will give the county time to consider zoning ordinance changes, the newspaper says.

The pause stems from concerns about the impact of data centers, which use considerable electricity and water.

[MUSIC] Louisville is looking to give new city employees health insurance immediately, instead of the current waiting period, which can be as long as 30 days.

Louisville Public Media says the city hires about 140 new people every month.

Council member Jose Raymond, a former state lawmaker, says right now, new city workers either have to pay for expensive short term insurance or go without.

The council is now waiting for a fiscal impact statement to see what the changes would cost.

A McCracken County student is making it easier to find blessing boxes throughout Kentucky.

[MUSIC] Blessing boxes contain food and other essential items to help people meet everyday needs.

Ava Adams said she had trouble finding them, so she expanded her website to Matt.

More than 1200 blessing boxes across the state.

The Paducah Sun says she hopes the website will inspire more people to donate to Blessing Boxes.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> And Health news prescribing lifestyle changes.

That's what a new program with Appalachian Regional Health Care aims to do.

Earlier this year, the health system launched the Lifestyle Medicine Service line at its clinic in hazard, making the initiative the first of its kind in Kentucky.

>> Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses evidence based everyday lifestyle interventions as our forefront of medical care, and that may differ a little bit from primary care because we do not prescribe medication, we prescribe lifestyle changes.

We focus on whole person health and going back to the root causes of what's causing some of these chronic conditions, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity.

We focus on six core areas that they call the pillars of lifestyle medicine, which are nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep avoidance of risky substances, as well as positive social connection.

So we see how all of those interact together and ways that we can make some small habit changes to reduce our risk for chronic disease, treat chronic disease, and even often hopefully reverse chronic disease.

So rural populations like the ones that RH and our community serve, we do have higher rates of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

So, you know, just in comparison to rural areas with those being higher, RH felt the real need to establish this service line to really hone in on those lifestyle changes for our patients.

You know, we have we do have great resources within the RH system, and we are continually trying to increase the amount of resources we have for our patients so we can give them the best care possible so they don't have to travel.

You know, some people may not have the means to be able to drive to receive care.

So any way where we can meet that patient's needs to reduce their risk of chronic disease, reduce their hospital admission rates, reduce their medication costs.

That's what RH that's what we're going to try to do.

So my role as a provider, you know, we want to give evidence based interventions.

But also I take on the role as a health coach in my opinion.

So I really bring the patient in to be a part of our team together.

I don't just tell them what to do.

We go through and we discuss their readiness to change and we discuss their why.

Why did they come see me?

Why do they want to improve their overall health and optimize their longevity?

And then once we establish that, we can take a look at their past medical history, recent lab work and discuss how are we going to do this?

How are we going to improve your hemoglobin A1-c?

How are we going to improve your sleep and your energy?

And we discuss this in great detail and let them be truly involved in the decision making.

And so that makes it very personalized for the patient.

I tell them all the time, I'm like, if there's anything that I could do, it's, I want to see you live healthier longer.

We have one body.

We have to take care of it.

>> Appalachian Appalachian Regional Health Care has also participated in Food is Medicine, another program that focuses on prevention but solely through nutrition.

[MUSIC] The latest from the Kentucky General Assembly.

Tomorrow, as we move closer to the end of the 60 day session.

Plus, it's been a busy week in Kentucky politics with two U.S.

Senate debates one Democrat, one Republican.

Will get some perspective on those two debates and the other political news of the week with our commentators, Trey Grayson and Bob Babich, as we go inside Kentucky politics tomorrow on Kentucky Edition.

You don't want to miss that or anything else at 630 eastern, 530 central on Kentucky edition, where we inform, connect and inspire, we hope that you'll connect with us all the ways you see on your screen on the website that you can download clips at KET dot o r g. Look for us on the app and the social media channels, Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop.

I'm Renee Shaw practice Friday is over.

The real Friday comes tomorrow and we'll see you then.

I'm Renee Shaw take