MUSIC >> I don't want to speculate about anybody's health.

The only things that I know I've read and I and I can't verify.

>> Still plenty of questions about the health of U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell.

And the governor says no one's giving him the answers.

>> It is something that's still not openly talked about in some families or in some communities.

>> Encouraging conversation around a very difficult topic.

>> This will be an investment for the total region, bringing people here to see this facility and taste good.

Kentucky bourbon.

>> And a new Kentucky bourbon has a patriotic twist.

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

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for this Thursday, July the 2nd, I'm Renee Shaw.

We thank you for spending some of your Thursday night with us.

Weather is on many minds as we head into a very hot holiday weekend.

Governor Andy Beshear urged people to be careful, stay cool and drink plenty of liquids.

And during his Thursday news conference, he talked about the continuing cleanup from deadly storms last weekend.

>> Since I've been governor, Kentucky has now experienced 15 federally declared weather disasters.

I expect this last weekend's flooding to be the 16th.

Every disaster comes with its own heartache.

It comes with its own set of challenges, and I'd say Kentucky is the best state in the country responding to natural disasters.

That doesn't mean it gets easier for the families that suffer the loss, loss of a loved one, or for Kentuckians who lose their home or have it significantly damaged.

Just yesterday I visited the Lake Cumberland area and Richmond, two of the hardest hit communities.

Let me tell you, all the damage is serious, but these Kentuckians are strong and we're going to be with them every step of the way as we rebuild together.

These floods took the lives of four people, each one a child of God, taken from us far too soon.

As always, the Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund is open for donations.

100% of these go directly to survivors, and before anything else, they pay for the funerals of those we've lost.

That is one less thing for families to have to worry about during such a difficult time.

If you'd like to help, the website for donations is on the screen right now.

Our emergency management teams are out conducting damage assessments.

This is how we get the information we need to apply for public and individual assistance.

That's assistance to counties and cities and utilities for damage.

And the individual assistance is is help to families who have suffered damage.

This support is going to be essential as we work to recover and to rebuild.

And you can help for those who have damaged or lost a home or more, we're asking you to fill out a damage assessment survey.

You can access this at the Kentucky Emergency Management site, which is on the screen.

It only takes a minute and it will help us better understand and respond to your needs.

>> Two reporters asked the governor about U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell's Health.

Senator McConnell went to a Washington, D.C.

hospital on June the 14th.

There has been limited information on if he's still there, why he went, or when he might return to work.

Those details have been scarce.

Here's what the governor said about that.

>> We have received no information, no updates.

If there's been any direct outreach, I'm unaware of it.

I don't want to speculate about anybody's health.

The only things that I know I've read, and I and I can't verify if if if he's been in the hospital for several weeks, they need to communicate more directly.

I don't even know if he's been in the hospital for, for, for several weeks.

>> The Courier Journal is now reporting that Senator McConnell is still in the hospital.

In a new statement, his spokesperson says he continues to improve and is in contact with his staff.

Charles Booker, the Democrat running to fill the retiring McConnell Senate seat, says this is the people's seat and the people deserve answers.

Here's part of his statement.

Quote when we don't know if our senator is alert, conscious or capable of serving, that's not a partizan question.

It's a Kentucky one, end quote.

Booker's opponent, Congressman Andy Barr, provided a statement to PTSD in Paducah.

It says, quote, Kentucky is praying for a speedy recovery for Senator McConnell.

We are grateful for his service to the Commonwealth.

I look forward to continuing to work alongside Senator McConnell and President Trump to deliver for Kentucky, end quote.

According to a 2024 law passed by the Kentucky General Assembly, the governor would have to call a special election to fill a U.S.

Senate seat in the event a senator cannot complete his or her term.

Some state lawmakers are raising concerns about Kentucky's medical cannabis program.

Medical marijuana became legal in the state back in 2025.

Since then, around 25,000 patients have received their medical cannabis cards, but that number is much lower than anticipated, with about 400,000 Kentuckians potentially being eligible.

Our Emily Prince was at today's committee meeting in Frankfort, where some Republican lawmakers questioned if the benefits of the program outweigh the costs.

>> I really think we're spending a lot of money here, and we've helped a lot of people that are not in this state, and our job as this committee is to be the front line to protect Kentucky agriculture and Kentucky farmers.

And I don't think we've done that.

>> Some members of the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture shared concerns today about the status of Kentucky's medical cannabis program.

They post a problem with the process to become a licensed cannabis cultivator, and questioned if Kentucky farmers were really benefiting from the program.

>> Of the growers that have qualified, how many of those actually had Kentucky farmers who had hemp license prior?

>> So we have two current licensees that were active in good standing, hemp licensed.

>> Business, a total of.

>> Of I think there's 78, 80 businesses currently.

>> Were you reviewing farmers to see if they had passed hemp license, if they were already involved?

So we.

And once again, I'm trying to make sure that our Kentucky farmers, who are the individuals I trust and have the most faith in of doing this in a way that we can trust and believe in.

I want to make sure our farmers were fairly treated in this process.

>> They were required to check a box on the application to tell us that they were a hemp business.

That was in good standing.

And then we reviewed those applications first.

That was our process.

That's exactly what the law told us to do, and that's exactly what we did.

>> In order to be chosen as a licensed medical cannabis grower, businesses had to complete a rigorous application.

If their application was accepted, they were entered into a lottery system to determine who would actually receive a cultivating license.

Flynn said.

Nearly 5000 businesses applied.

Only around 80 were awarded a license.

>> Many of the concerns I hear from folks is, is that the licensing process itself, the lottery process was really.

Skewed, I guess you could say in a way that they felt like Kentuckians were kind of outnumbered in the process.

>> Flynn said.

The Office of Medical Cannabis was required by federal law to accept license applications from businesses out of state.

Another concern brought up at today's meeting was the cost of medical cannabis products to patients, Flynn said.

Right now, prices range from around 40 to $75, which must be paid out of pocket.

>> How can we quickly address bringing these prices down, or is there a quick fix?

>> There is no quick fix to to bring prices down.

>> Flynn said.

Because the program is in its beginning phases, it may take a while for prices to decrease.

But he said costs have already come down in the last several months.

A Southcentral Kentucky Republican said based on the lack of patients and the high cost, he'd like to consider shutting the program down.

>> In my personal opinion, we need to go back and look at maybe we just need to can this and open it back up so they can go to other states and buy this, because I think we're wasting a whole lot of money.

>> An executive order that previously allowed Kentucky patients to bring in medical cannabis from other states expired on June 30th.

For Kentucky Edition.

I'm Emily Prince.

>> Thank you.

Emily.

During today's presentation, leaders from the Office of Medical Cannabis gave suggestions on how to make the drug more accessible to patients.

That included the removal of a notary on the application and allowing for telehealth visits with a qualifying physician.

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this weekend, Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky says AI will be important to help America succeed for the next 250 years.

The Republican is chair of the U.S.

House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Speaking with Punch Bowl News, Guthrie says he recognizes why many Americans are concerned about the prevalence of data centers, adding he wants to make sure local communities have a say.

>> There are a lot of valid concerns.

This is like a new industrial revolution.

Could you imagine the concerns?

You mean this iron horse is going to come through our town and completely change the.

The stagecoach goes that way and this is going to reroute the whole traffic.

I mean, it's disruptive and people should be anxious about it.

And to dismiss concerns about it would not be being a good leader.

And so you need to listen to people and see their concerns.

So the thing that I would like to see is not change any local zoning.

So if you're a Bowling Green, Kentucky, and you have an industrial park and you say, this is this is an industrial land, this is the place to go, and this is a home residential area, and that's where homes are going to go.

And while the federal government says, no, we need a data center that's going there, that's absolutely not what we want to do.

We want to ensure that local zoning is preserved.

We also want to ensure what the federal what the president has done with the executive order is that these data centers don't come in and put burden on local people.

So we do it, like I said, we're supposed to do this week, the rate payer protection plans that that these large data, large loads, they can't come in and compete and raise the price for local local communities.

And so those concerns are real.

I do think there's some opposition to the opposition, and there are people that are trying to address real concerns and trying to sort that out and finding the right balance is what we're trying to do.

>> According to the legislative calendar, there are only few legislative days left before the midterm elections.

Still, Congressman Guthrie says he thinks there's a real chance of passing permitting reform legislation centered around data centers.

In other news, Paducah and McCracken County are getting about $24 million from the U.S.

Department of Transportation.

Congressman James Comer, who serves the first district, says the money goes to the River Port Authority's Riverport West project.

Comer says the project will mean new opportunities for economic growth throughout the region.

The project allows for the extension of the main port, which serves the meeting point of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

The port moves farm products and manufactured items from companies headquartered in Paducah now to a shake up in Louisville.

The Courier Journal reports the State Fair Board has voted to remove David Beck as president and CEO of Kentucky Venues.

Kentucky Venues website says that title now belongs to Michael Berry, the former Kentucky secretary of tourism and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Festival, was appointed to the State Fair Board earlier this week by Governor Andy Beshear.

That move came days after the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional, a 2021 move by the Kentucky General Assembly to move control of the Fair Board away from the governor.

House Speaker David Osborne commented on the recent shakeup, saying, quote, the reorganization sends a clear message that the governor does not care about a board's record of success, but rather how many political allies he can stack on it, end quote.

The State Fair Board governs Kentucky Venues, which manages the Kentucky Expo Center and the Kentucky Convention Center.

Together, the two centers bring in close to 5 million visitors to Louisville each and every year, with a statewide economic impact of more than $430 million.

A new $200 million distillery opened in Somerset this week.

Horse Soldier Bourbon has opened its own distilling operation just a few miles, where this military team turned entrepreneurs got the call to serve in Afghanistan in the days after nine over 11.

Our Mackenzie Spink tells us more about their story and the new distilling campus.

>> Just in time for the country's 250th birthday.

The opening of Horse Soldier Farms celebrates Kentucky's rich bourbon industry, as well as the service of the veterans who started the company.

Its origins trace back to a 2001 training mission on the Cumberland River, when the September 11th terrorist attacks sent that Green Beret team to Afghanistan, some on horseback.

>> Horse soldier Bourbon joins Kentucky Signature spirits Industry with a back story that celebrates both our Commonwealth and our country.

When our nation needed them most, this group of dedicated soldiers answered the call and defended our nation.

And now, some 25 years later, the Horse Soldier team has returned to the Commonwealth, bringing new jobs, award winning and delicious bourbon and tourism to bring this thriving Somerset community even further.

>> In 2015, Horse Soldier Bourbon launched its award winning whiskey.

Now they're back in Pulaski County with a 100,000 square foot facility expected to have a $100 million impact on the Lake Cumberland region.

>> Ten years ago, a small group of us decided to start over and build this.

It takes about ten years to make the bourbon you'll be enjoying this weekend.

So the whiskey in your glass and this company grew up together in the dark, waiting to be ready.

We aged together somewhere back in another life.

This group was selected for a certain kind of difficult work.

And selection isn't about being the strongest, the fastest, or the smartest.

It's about being the one who takes one more step after everyone else stops.

That's who fills this bottle.

>> The group's unique history is included in touches across the facility, as well as the design of the bottle.

>> Some of you are fans, and you know there's 12 hidden meanings in this bottle, and I won't explain them all today.

They're yours to discover.

But the shoulders, for instance, is because we had to carry the weight of our nation.

And the cross and hatchet is from our Ranger and Green Beret brothers.

And the medal is a play on words, and it means the courage to try.

But the glass is just the vessel.

What matters most is what's inside, and what's inside isn't only bourbon, it's also the spirit and all of us that distill it.

>> The tourism impact of bourbon distilleries is not an accident.

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers says it's good to see the end results of legislation that paves the way for opportunities like this new distillery.

>> I remember back in 2014 when we changed the tax code to make it more conducive to have your stock here without it being taxed on bourbon industry alone.

Then we changed, I think, in 15 or 16 with the Tourism Development Act, which allowed the sale of alcohol on site and to become a tourism destination and venue, we wonder if those things are going to make a difference.

And then you go through and you continue to try to work on a tax code and regulatory system to create an economic dynamic where people can chase the American dream.

And now you're seeing the American dream has been caught by this group.

And we thank you for what you have done and the investment not just in Somerset and Pulaski County, but this will be an investment for the total region, bringing people here to see this facility and taste good.

Kentucky Bourbon.

>> For Kentucky Edition.

I'm Mackenzie Spink.

>> Thank you.

Mackenzie.

And according to recent data, last year was Kentucky's fourth straight record year for tourism, with over $14 billion generated in economic impact.

There's good news about an Elizabethtown domestic violence shelter slated to close.

And what's the most stressed out zip code in Kentucky?

What a survey says is our Toby Gibbs looks at headlines around Kentucky.

>> Spring Haven will stay open.

It's a domestic violence program in Elizabethtown.

Last week, we told you its partner organization, zero V, was ending its relationship with Spring Haven for financial reasons, forcing Spring Haven to close after 40 years in operation.

The Kentucky Lantern reports that Spring Haven is now teaming up with Lexington based Caritas Care Solutions.

Karen Berg says the partnership means a continuation of frontline clinical care and emergency shelter resources.

From the Paxton Media Group.

A judge has stopped a former city clerk's lawsuit against the city of Bloomfield and Mayor Chris Dungeon.

Karen Biederman sued the mayor and the city in 2024, a year after the mayor fired her.

She says Mayor Dungeon fired her after she asked for receipts from the mayor for city funds paid to his mother in law and daughter.

Judge Joe Ballard says Biederman couldn't prove the claims in her suit, so he issued a summary judgment for the city and the mayor, effectively ending the suit.

But Biederman can appeal.

[MUSIC] What's Kentucky's most stressful zip code for parents?

It's 41018 in Erlanger.

Lincoln, KY.

Says a nationwide survey of 3000 parents looked at how parents are affected by financial strain, childcare costs, school expectations, commuting, household duties and work family balance.

Erlanger's 41018 was deemed the most stressful zip code in Kentucky and the 36th worst in America.

The Bowling Green Daily News says 14000 people from all over America spent more than $2 million during Duncan Hines days the first week in June, and those numbers are up from last year.

The celebration of the famous food enthusiast includes music, a parade and a classic car show.

250 years, 250 flags.

Earl Howard of London, a U.S.

Marine Corps veteran, decorated his property with 250 flags to celebrate America's birthday milestone.

Howard told The Sentinel Echo he visited seven foreign countries during his 1950s hitch in the Marine Corps, and it only strengthened his appreciation of the United States.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Important research into suicide prevention is happening at Western Kentucky University.

Grant funding is supporting a couple of projects in the Department of Psychological Sciences.

Our Laura Rogers has more from Bowling Green.

>> One week before the attempted suicide, for example, they got into an argument with one of their.

Their friends.

>> Nathan Meredith is a graduate research assistant at Ku.

>> Each of these timelines.

This is an individual person who has a unique story.

>> That story is a difficult one as it explains the events, thoughts, and feelings that led to a suicide attempt.

>> The order in which they choose their cards, lay out their cards is really personal.

>> Where do we move from the thoughts to the action?

>> This is the card sort task for self-harm or cats.

A process for adolescents and teens to have a serious discussion without having to say a word.

>> What are they thinking?

What are they doing?

Are they reaching out for help?

Are they receiving help?

>> There are more than 100 cards to help them work through all of that and exercise.

These researchers are using at Life Skills, a Bowling Green crisis unit.

>> We're trying to see if this might become something that we can use clinically, that might help youth understand their own suicide attempt and how they can then go forward and try to prevent themselves from getting back into that space.

>> Doctor Amy Brown is a professor of psychological sciences at Ku and says while suicide rates are slightly dropping, it is still a big concern.

>> Kentucky is above the national average, both for all ages and for youth.

>> She received grant funding totaling $231,000 for both this research project and for Calm training, an acronym for counseling on Access to Lethal Means.

>> The whole goal of the Calm training is to teach clinicians on how to have those tough conversations with people about their access to lethal means.

When they're in a crisis.

>> Those lethal means primarily refer to firearms and medication.

>> We don't always know when someone might be suicidal or when they might make a suicide attempt.

If we can make their environment safe by securing firearms and medication so they don't have easy access to them, that's a huge part of suicide prevention.

Firearms are.

>> Pretty prominent here.

A lot of people do own them and have them in their home.

>> And that can make for a difficult discussion.

>> A big part of it is a conversation on what the person is comfortable with.

So whether that is putting in a safe, putting it with a trusted person.

>> The training guides, graduate students, licensed mental health professionals, and others on how to have that conversation.

>> There would be risk factors that the clinician would notice that they would deem them kind of at risk for crisis.

>> The goal of both of these projects is prevention and intervention.

When it comes to suicide and self-harm.

>> We're able to identify some of these distinct warning signs between the transition from, you know, just thinking about suicide to attempting suicide.

Those are really potentially actionable targets.

>> While there's no one size fits all approach to these sensitive situations, they hope to spot patterns that can lead to a deeper understanding.

>> Maybe there's some warning signs that could be identified to predict the transition from non-suicidal self-injury to an attempt.

>> And that could lead to reducing risk and saving lives.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

>> Thank you Laura.

After Calm training, the researchers surveyed clinicians on how they're implementing those skills and knowledge.

They also survey youth who take part in the card sort task.

Feedback that's potentially helpful for future therapies.

Race fans can now learn about Kentucky Derby winner 152 through a new exhibit at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Golden tempo won the big race May 2nd.

Each year, the museum creates a winner's circle exhibit that includes artifacts and multimedia updates.

It lets people re-experience the race long after it's over.

Saturday, some of the people associated with Golden Tempo toured the exhibit, including trainer Cheri DeVoe.

>> Thank you to everybody.

>> It would be remiss if I didn't mention that I am the first female to win a Kentucky Derby with limited number of starters, and that's not something I set out to do, and that wasn't the main focus of me being a trainer.

But when it happened.

I've had a lot of support and I've had outpouring stories from the community about how much it meant to them or to their grandkids, their granddaughters, daughters, and, you know, and even older.

So that's part of something that I wasn't didn't necessarily seek out, but it has landed in my lap.

And that's something that we can't take away from that moment either.

>> The exhibit will be in place through mid May of 2027.

On July 3rd, we'll be celebrating July 4th.

We'll have a special episode of Kentucky Edition tomorrow as we get you ready for America's 250th birthday.

What exactly happened on July 4th, 1776?

Well, we get a history lesson and so much more from Toby Gibbs tomorrow on Kentucky edition, Monday, July 6th.

Please join us for Kentucky tonight as we discuss America's next 250 years when it comes to civic engagement and service among our guests, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and former Kentucky lieutenant governor and former mayor of Louisville Jerry Abramson.

And you can send your questions and comments on that program Monday night at eight eastern, seven central, right here on KET.

Don't miss it.

Hope you have a