music >> We will make America great again.

Thank you.

Kentucky.

[MUSIC] >> The president makes a stop in Northern Kentucky.

We'll hear what he had to say about affordability and the attacks on Iran.

>> It was in his heart to serve his country.

[MUSIC] >> A community mourns the loss of an American hero.

[MUSIC] >> We were just just a hair short of getting a $30 million feature film here in the rural parts of the state.

>> And how can Kentucky lawmakers lure Tinseltown to the Commonwealth?

[MUSIC] >> 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 12th.

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

President Donald Trump made a big appearance in the Bluegrass State yesterday as he visited a packaging facility in Hebron, Kentucky.

He spoke to around 1000 attendees touting affordability and endorsing a congressional candidate.

He also talked about the attacks on Iran as fuel prices are on the rise.

Our Emily Sisk was there and she has the latest.

>> We Will Make America Great Again.

Thank you.

>> Kentucky President Donald Trump addressed this crowd in Hebron for more than an hour, talking about a multitude of things, from affordability to the attacks in Iran.

The event was held at Verst Logistics, a packaging facility near the airport.

The president said, because of the one big, beautiful bill which passed last summer, more products are being made in America.

>> We're making more and more things in the USA, more than we ever had.

More people are working today in the USA than at any time in the history of our country.

And Ford Motor Company, a good old staple, has announced a $2.

Billion assembly plant in Louisville, Kentucky, which will support more than 2200 Kentucky jobs.

>> The president shouted out a few more Kentucky economic developments, including Apple's glass making factory in Harrodsburg and the uranium enrichment facility in Paducah.

While Trump boasted about the tax cuts in his one big, beautiful bill, he also called out the Republican congressman from Kentucky who voted against it.

>> You know what the name is?

He is the worst person.

His name is what the hell?

How did he ever end up in Kentucky?

His name is Thomas Massie.

>> Trump went on to spend much of his address talking about the fourth district congressman, who he called a nut job.

Massey is up for reelection in the May Republican primary.

>> Thomas Massie is a disaster for our party.

He comes from a state that I won by a landslide, got the highest vote in the history of of your Commonwealth.

>> Trump has endorsed Massey's primary challenger, Ed Gallrein, a former Navy Seal and farmer.

The president called him an American hero.

>> Just give me somebody with a warm body to beat Massey and I got somebody with a warm body, but a big, beautiful brain and a great patriot.

He's unbelievable.

>> Gallrein then joined Trump on the stage, pledging his support to the president.

>> You deserve an authentic, true Republican conservative that stands shoulder to shoulder with our president and the Republican Party and against the Democrats who are trying to destroy our nation.

>> The president was also certain to address the attacks on what he called the terrorist regime in Iran.

Late last month, the U.S.

military began bombing Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.

>> Over the past 11 days, our military has virtually destroyed Iran.

It's tough country.

Their air force is gone, totally gone.

That took that took the better part of about three hours.

They no longer have radar.

They don't have anti-aircraft equipment.

But oil prices are already coming back down and it's going to come down.

But we're not leaving until that job is finished.

And it's going to be very fast.

>> Toward the end of his speech, Trump made mention of all three Republican candidates in the race for the U.S.

Senate, starting with sixth District Congressman Andy Barr.

>> With us today are some of the amazing warriors who, unlike Mansi, stood up for the working people, including a wonderful man who's been with me all the way, Congressman Andy Barr.

Your former Kentucky attorney general, Daniel Cameron Daniel and chairman and CEO of Morris Industries.

A good man, Nate Morris.

>> The president did not endorse a specific candidate, all three of whom have been vying for Trump's support for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you so much, Emily.

The president also touted his Save America Act.

The legislation would require proof of citizenship and ID for voters.

It also looks to ban gender reassignment surgery for minors, as well as banning biological men from playing in women's sports.

Coleman Eldridge, chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party, commented on President Trump's visit to Kentucky and this message.

He said, quote, President Trump can't sell his failing economy to Kentuckians struggling to buy groceries and gas.

All of Kentucky's toughest economic challenges of the past year are directly tied to his policies.

His one big, beautiful bill is actively closing rural health care facilities.

The only prescription for lowering costs for the American people is to hold Trump accountable by electing more Democrats.

End quote from Coleman Eldridge.

While President Trump did mention the war in Iran, Governor Andy Beshear criticized him for not using his Northern Kentucky appearance to explain the reasons for the war.

Here's the governor today.

>> And what concerned me is he talked a lot about politics when he currently is waging a war with Iran.

He had a chance, just like he did in the state of the Union, to justify the war, to tell the American people the why and the how.

And he spent very little time on it.

I think if you're going to take the United States to war, number one, you've got to have a strong justification that you share and sell to the American people, not a justification.

That's changed 4 or 5 times in ten days.

Second, you've got to have an imminent threat.

Why are you going to move from diplomacy to force and not start with with with force?

Then you've got to have just a clear vision of what winning looks like.

I have real concerns when we have to have unconditional surrender.

And then I hear the president say, but we may have killed anyone who could actually do that.

And the last thing is you need planning so that you can get Americans out of the area before instead of leaving them to now scramble.

>> Hardin County is grieving a fallen soldier who gave his life in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Sergeant Benjamin Pennington died Sunday, a week after he was injured in Saudi Arabia.

Our.

Laura Rogers went to his hometown and filed this report.

>> The quaint community of Glendale, known for antique shops, festivals and the Whistle Stop.

>> A lot of people know Glendale through that avenue.

>> It's now known as the hometown of an American hero.

>> The community is heartbroken.

I'm heartbroken.

>> This is unreal.

It's kind of like a nightmare.

>> 26 year old Sergeant Benjamin Pennington was wounded and later died in an Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia.

>> The doctor that was attending, Ben, told his mom and dad the night that he died that your son's a hero and what your son did in the military saved lives.

>> Brother Mike Bell of Glendale Christian Church, says it was Benjamin's lifelong dream to serve in the military.

>> He loved the service.

He always wanted to be in the service.

And when he made his commitment to be in the service, he was 100% gung ho.

>> The Pentagon says.

Sergeant Pennington was assigned to First Space Battalion, First Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado.

His death follows the recent loss of six other service members, four of them with ties to nearby Fort Knox.

>> When they lost their lives, I thought, oh, how awful.

And I said a little prayer for their families, but this comes home, and when it comes home, it's a whole lot different.

And I think that's a feeling across the whole county and maybe the whole state that these things happen in other places.

They don't happen here and it happened here, and it's real and it's one of our children and we hurt.

We really hurt.

>> Pennington graduated in 2017 from Central Hardin High School, where his father is the track and field coach and a statement from the school district, they said in part, Sergeant Pennington represented the very best of our community, state and nation.

We are profoundly grateful for his service and his devotion to our country.

His dedication was exemplary and he has proven that by rendering the ultimate sacrifice, our hearts go out to his beloved family.

>> Mackenzie Ben carry his mom and Tim his dad.

They are people that if you know them, you love them.

>> Their family will be embraced by everybody in this county.

>> Flags flew at half staff and Hardin County through sunset Wednesday.

Judge executive Keith Tall says officials will present that flag to Pennington's family.

>> It's never going to be enough, but it's just something that we could do.

>> There are more plans to honor Sergeant Pennington's service and sacrifice in the coming days.

>> I just appreciate any person that serves their country in this way.

>> Ben was doing what Ben wanted to do, and I am in a safer place because people like Ben do what they do.

That I don't know what it is, but they do what they do and I can go to bed at night comfortable knowing that I'm safe and we all can.

>> U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky recognized the service and sacrifice of Sergeant Pennington on the Senate floor this afternoon.

>> Well, I'm confident today.

Glendale and the rest of Hardin County are surrounding Sergeant Pennington's parents, Timothy and Carrie, with support.

His son was, by all accounts, deeply admired by neighbors, pastors and coaches who helped him become the man he became.

>> State Senator Matthew Deneen represents Sergeant Pennington's hometown.

Yesterday in Frankfort, he spoke about the young man before the Senate passed a resolution adjourning in his honor.

>> Talk to many people back home that grew up with him, his teachers.

Folks from Glendale, small town.

They all say the same thing.

He was an honorable young man dedicated to his country, his community, and he was a true servant of his Lord and Savior, his family and his community.

And he exhibited that every day.

He gave his life for what he loved doing, what he grew up wanting to be.

>> Funeral arrangements for Sergeant Pennington have not yet been finalized.

And other Frankfort news since the 2024 election, school officials have taken heat over claims they spent public resources to oppose the School choice ballot measure.

The Kentucky attorney general warned educators at the time, but didn't pursue any charges.

Now, a pair of northern Kentucky Republicans want stiffer penalties, so that doesn't happen again.

Our June Leffler has more as we begin tonight's legislative update.

[MUSIC] >> It's already illegal for public resources to be used for political speech, but such infractions could result in a $500 fine or a class A misdemeanor on a third offense under Senate Bill 59.

>> That if something is illegal but there's no penalty for violating the law, it may as well be legal.

It adds.

Those penalties campaigns should be funded by voluntary contributions.

You should not be compelled to finance advocacy with which you disagree.

>> Resources include public dollars and the working hours of public employees.

>> So just to be clear, if a public employee during the workday sends a message for or against a measure on their official email that would be illegal under this bill.

>> That's correct.

>> Okay.

Thank you.

>> But Senate Bill 59 goes further than that.

Currently saying school district employees couldn't even offer impartial words on a proposed ballot measure.

>> Look, I mean, my I think our public servants are often the best subject matter experts about issues that would appear on the ballot.

You know, I can even think of a specific example.

I mean, we have a recall provision for when school boards raise taxes.

So if that question went to on the ballot and the finance director of that school board would not be able to present impartial information about the budget impacts to the school district, if that recall went through.

So I, I just I object to the word impartial in all of this bill.

To me, that's simply an impartial means unbiased.

>> The bill also says it applies to regional education associations, not just full time educators.

The Kentucky Education Association, the statewide teachers union, opposes the measure.

However, a lawyer for the Kentucky School Boards Association says his organization should be immune.

>> Seems to me that what you've described is the SBA would have virtually 100% of their resources provided by the local school district by the tax dollars.

So therefore, would this bill prohibit Csba from using those funds to speak for or against a ballot measure?

>> I don't believe that it would, because, like I said, just because we provide a service that government pays for, it does not make us government.

I think if you also look at the Supreme Court case, Citizens United, that gives corporate entities a right to free speech.

I think that sort of covers this as well.

>> The House State Government Committee passed Senate Bill 59 with one no vote for Kentucky edition.

I'm June Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June.

The bill now heads to the House floor, possibly for final passage.

Kentucky wants to attract even bigger film projects to the state Senate.

Bill 324 builds upon last year's film credit Bill, which created the Kentucky Film Office and a $75 million tax credit expansion to attract more productions to Kentucky.

Our Mackenzie Spink brings us an update on the program's success from the new executive director of the Kentucky Film Office.

>> Meg Pfister is a Kentucky native with 15 years of experience in the Los Angeles and New York film industries.

Now, she's back home as the new head of the Kentucky Film Office, and she says the industry is taking notice of the state's film landscape.

>> Kentucky has built a lot of momentum in this industry, and we are in the spotlight right now.

When I was out at the Sundance Film Festival, Kentucky was brought up without anyone knowing that I was a part of this program, and it was really in the eye of everyone in the industry as a place to look to work.

>> Part of Senate Bill 324 is raising the minimum that a production has to spend before it can qualify for the tax incentives in Kentucky, Pfister says this will attract larger projects to the state and therefore more opportunities for Kentuckians.

>> This will make sure that we are safeguarding the incentive cap for projects that will be larger and bigger impact for the state.

So they'll hire larger crews, they will work longer days, and we will have less of the low impact one day shoots kind of falling on the table.

And really these minimums are on par nationally.

So it keeps us competitive regardless.

And what we're hoping to grow Kentucky's industry to be more in the 5 to $30 million range.

So those will already meet all of those minimums.

>> Bill sponsor Senate President Robert Stivers says last year's Senate Bill one set up the right framework for film tax credits, but he quickly learned that it needed to be amended.

>> What this does is it puts some things in place that should have been in place shortly after last year's session, I spent two days meeting with Paramount, Amazon, MGM Disney in LA.

We met and it was like we were just just a hair short of getting a $30 million feature film here in the rural parts of the state.

That's what educated me on the need, because we didn't have certain parts of this per diem listed in there, because it was going to have to be out of state talent, and that couldn't be considered for the credit portion of our tax credits.

>> Senate Bill 324 also expands the tax credit program to include music videos, commercials and video games as qualifying productions.

>> We wanted to make sure, for the purpose of just not having some of the things related to the movie industry that we include commercials, gaming, music, all these different other areas.

So the talent doesn't have to go from state to state.

They can stay here and create the the environment and ecosystem that is conducive with all the talent ranges.

>> Senate Bill 324 passed unanimously and will head next to the Senate floor.

The Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee also passed Senate Bill 249, which would allow federal Pell Grants to be used for qualifying workforce programs as well as higher education opportunities for Kentucky edition.

I'm Mackenzie Spink.

>> Thank you, Mackenzie, for that report.

Also, that committee passed House Bill 333.

It would allow churches to build affordable housing on its properties.

If it passes the Senate floor, it would next, head to the governor's desk for his approval.

Knott L3 Kentuckian has the health care they deserve.

Now, that's according to advocates at the Reproductive Freedom Rally on Thursday.

They want lawmakers to stay out of decisions they say should be between Kentuckians and their physicians.

And they want students to have access to sex education in schools.

>> In my party, we pride ourselves in limited government and individual liberty, and there is no greater liberty than the right to make your own health care decisions without a bureaucrat standing between you and your doctor.

When I think of the pursuit of happiness, the ability to control one's own fertility is at the very heart of that promise.

Right now, Kentucky is facing a quiet emergency.

A critical shortage of OB GYNs in our rural counties.

Women are driving over an hour just for a routine checkup.

When we make it harder for clinics like Planned Parenthood to operate, we aren't protecting anyone.

I have been a patient at Planned Parenthood.

I didn't go there to make a political statement.

I went there for health care.

>> Our public schools are prohibited from providing true, comprehensive sex education, leaving many young people without the information they need to understand their bodies and to protect their own health and safety.

And the consequences are real.

Kentucky ranks seventh in the nation for teen birth rates and above the national average in teen pregnancies.

Elementary teachers tell us about students who are terrified when they start menstruating because they have no idea why they're bleeding.

And under Kentucky law, their teachers can't talk to them about it.

>> When students have access to sex education, they're able to see the signs.

When they're in an abusive situation, they're able to learn how to say no confidently.

They're able to go get STI tested.

They're able to know how to have sex safely, because restricting sex education isn't going to make students stop having sex.

It's going to make them stop having sex safely.

>> Also, State Representative Sarah Stalker, a Democrat from Louisville, discussed House Bill 817 at that rally, which she filed to counteract House Bill 714, which would criminalize any woman who has an abortion.

[MUSIC] Details tonight on a Kentucky town's Swat team agreement and an invention from a young Kentucky beekeeper is our Toby Gibbs takes a look at headlines around Kentucky.

>> A judge has ordered former governor Matt Bevin and his ex wife, Glenna, to file financial disclosures as part of their divorce settlement or face possible contempt of court, the Kentucky Lantern reports.

Judge Angela J. Johnson of the Jefferson Family Court said the Bevins acted in bad faith by concealing their financial status as their adopted son.

Jonah tries to gather information as he seeks financial support.

Jonah Bevan is 19.

He says when he was 17, his parents abandoned him by sending him to an abusive youth facility in Jamaica.

It's the 50 year anniversary of the twin mine explosions in the Scotia mine at Oven Fork in Letcher County, 26 coal miners and mine inspectors died in the two explosions.

[MUSIC] Nine people died instantly in the first blast.

Six died later than 11 more people died in the second blast, the Mountain Eagle reports.

Victims, friends and families gathered Monday at the mine's entrance to mark the anniversary.

Lincoln KY reports.

The Ellesmere City Council has okayed an agreement with the northern Kentucky Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, better known as a Swat team.

The agreement means Ellesmere in Kenton County will be joining forces with the team, which will respond to situations beyond the capabilities of local law enforcement.

Alexandria and Southgate have similar Swat team agreements.

He's a young Thomas Edison, Elisha Smith, a sixth grader from Rosehill Christian School in Ashland, and his father, Rocky, are beekeepers.

[MUSIC] They tried to use so-called Robin guards to keep other beehives from attacking their own bees, but those guards didn't work, the Daily Independent reports.

The 11 year old Elisha used a 3D printer to create a modified Robin guard that successfully keeps other hives away.

[MUSIC] They're now waiting for a patent for Elisha's invention.

[MUSIC] With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> If you pay for water, gas or electricity, you should care about decisions from Kentucky's Public Service Commission.

>> We set the rates for utilities.

We are the most important agency that that you've never heard of.

>> Tomorrow on Kentucky edition, I sit down with the chair of the Public Service Commission, former state lawmaker Angie Hatton, to talk about the proposed changes to that important state board.

A lot to learn about that.

Tomorrow night at 630 eastern, 530 central right here on Kentucky edition, where we inform, connect and inspire.

We hope that you'll connect with us all the ways on your screen.

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To stay in the loop and stay connected to us, we thank you so much for joining us on this Thursday.

It's practice Friday, as we like to call it.

We will see you right back here again tomorrow night.

Take good care and have a good night.