music They didn't have access to child protective services because they're no longer considered a minor, but they also do not have enumerated rights as an adult.

So they fall in this legal gray area without any protection.

[MUSIC] >> Kentucky lawmakers are one step closer to banning child marriage once and for all.

[MUSIC] >> So if it's not a business, then maybe, respectfully, you could take some pay cuts.

>> State lawmakers also debate is a college of business.

And should it be easier to fire professors to save money?

[MUSIC] >> Being with President Trump from the beginning means he'll be Maga till the end.

>> And a U.S.

House candidate hits the airwaves with an ad saying he's triple Trump.

>> 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 26th.

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

It is day 54 of the 60 day Kentucky General Assembly regular session as lawmakers near the finish line.

Several bills are trying to beat the buzzer.

That includes an effort to strengthen Kentucky's laws banning child marriage.

Also advancing a bill looking to rein in a governor's pardoning powers.

Our Mackenzie Spink kicks off tonight's legislative coverage from Frankfort.

[MUSIC] >> Senator Julie Raque Adams passed legislation in 2018, which outlawed marriage for children under 18, with exceptions in cases deemed appropriate by a judge.

She says judges have not been following the law, so her Senate Bill 156, would ban all minors from getting married.

Some lawmakers still had questions about potential outstanding circumstances.

>> But I'm wondering if there's a situation where there is a 17 year old young lady who's pregnant and wishes to to marry the father of her baby.

How would that be handled?

>> If she is emancipated, then she would be afforded all the rights and privileges of an adult.

And so that is handled differently.

Because she would be considered an adult, she could enter into a contract.

She could find a place, you know, sign a lease.

And so that would be different if she is 17 years old and pregnant, she would not be allowed to get married until she turns 18.

The reason is that pregnant 17 year old would be afforded more legal status as a minor than she would as a married person.

Underage.

>> Donna Simmons has been working with Senator Raque Adams on this issue for over eight years.

When she was 16 years old, her mother consented for her to marry a 31 year old.

She says married minors lose important legal protection.

>> Going back to my own lived experience when I was 16 and I had the miscarriage, I was not able to consent to my own medical care.

As a married minor, so many survivors have shared the same experience.

They didn't have access to child protective services because they're no longer considered a minor, but they also do not have enumerated rights as an adult.

So they fall in this legal gray area without any protection.

>> Senate Bill 156 passed the House Families and Children Committee unanimously, and now awaits action by the full House in the House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Lawmakers passed Senate Bill ten, which would put a constitutional amendment on this year's ballot regarding the governor's ability to pardon criminals.

>> This amendment does not do away with the power to pardon.

It simply restricts that power during the 60 days prior to an election and in between a gubernatorial election and swearing in, in essence, 90 days out of every four years, there is no power to pardon vested in the governor.

There will be no more hiding in the darkness of the last minute of an administration.

There will be no more allowing the rich and powerful to influence the scales of justice without recourse from voters of the Commonwealth.

>> Former Republican Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin issued several controversial pardons near the end of his tenure, including child sex offenders and convicted murderers.

Supporters of Senate Bill ten say pardons at the 11th hour of a governor's term.

Don't face the accountability of the voting public.

>> I think if a chief executive at the state or national level has got the courage to do a pardon in the first three and a half years of their administration, that's probably a good pardon, because they're going to face scrutiny from the Voters, scrutiny from the media and have accountability.

But as you get closer to that date of leaving office, I think the opportunity for misjudgment and sole person judgment increases.

>> Senate Bill ten passed unanimously out of its House committee.

It will head to the House floor next for consideration and possibly final passage.

If there are no changes to the bill.

It passed with 36 yes votes and one pass vote in the Senate for Kentucky edition.

I'm Mackenzie Spink.

>> Many thanks.

Mackenzie.

House resolution 126 also passed the House Families and Children Committee today.

It would urge the federal Government to provide solutions for the so-called benefits cliff, where those on public assistance lose their benefits but don't yet have their income or other supports to survive.

Kentucky's university professors and campus workers say state lawmakers are trying to weaken tenure protections, a competitive process and status that keeps professors on the job permanently.

As our June Leffler reports, the Senate Education Committee erupted into a debate over the role money should have in higher education.

Here's her report.

>> House Bill 490 allows universities more discretion to fire employees for the sake of cutting costs.

>> Language in this bill is modeled after Faculty Senate approved handbook language at the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.

In the bill, bona fide financial reasons are described as financial exigency.

Low enrollment in a particular program, or major or misalignment of revenue and cost in a particular college department program or major.

>> Universities can already do this, but this measure would make those rules uniform across Kentucky's colleges.

United Campus Workers of Kentucky opposes House Bill 490, saying it degrades the role and protections of tenured professors.

>> I want to remind everyone in this room that our public colleges and universities are not businesses.

They are nonprofit educational institutions that have, for over a century, ensure the intellectual, moral, professional and personal development of the citizens of the state.

If the bill is passed, I envision a future in which degree programs that have been taught for decades will be eliminated in favor of certifications and credentials for money making occupations that, in our current economy, are likely to be obsolete in five years.

I foresee students who are already confused by digital environment filled with lies and misinformation, confronted by the marketing of trendy new majors rather than the proper advising that they need one.

>> Lexington Democrat agrees with the professor, saying this could compromise academic freedom.

>> The reason we send our children to college is so they can get a full scope.

We call an amphitheater of ideas of all different types of subjects, viewpoints, philosophies and then make the best decisions to what is in their best, what they support.

If we do this, our college universities will become more political, not less.

>> Republicans support the bill.

>> I think our institutions do need to be run at a minimum, fiscally as a business, so that we make sure that the money our taxpayers are pouring into, which is very generously poured into our universities, is used and utilized in the correct way.

>> So if it's not a business, then maybe, respectfully, you could take some pay cuts or volunteer your time.

It is a business and it's the business of America to be in the business.

I promote this, but this is going to make us more effective and graduate better students if they know they're going out into a world of business.

>> The Senate Education Committee approved House Bill 490 and 8 to 2 vote.

Both Democrats voted no.

The bill now heads to the full Senate, though it would need concurrence in the House for Kentucky additions.

I'm June Leffler.

>> Many thanks June.

Now more higher ed news, the future of Kentucky's only publicly funded historically black college and university or HBCU is bright, some lawmakers say, as they partner with Kentucky State University's leadership to right the ship on its operations, student enrollment policies, programs and finances.

Today, the full Senate approved a restructuring of the land Grant University and Senate Bill 185, which in part would transition KSU to a polytechnic mission that focuses on applied sciences like science, technology and engineering, and workforce enhancing programs.

The Senate voted unanimously.

>> I don't know that people.

>> Realize how dire the straits were for KSU before they came here, because I talked to a number of them and it wasn't about about them getting their asset preservation money, which is provided for, wasn't about them getting their money for their additional science and technology for their nursing school.

It was about whether we're going to end this in this session with them even operating as a university.

So these individuals that have been mentioned have really climbed a hard hill.

>> So what I see here is not only the retaining of the land grant institution.

We know that that which grows out of the 1890 requirements, but we also recognize that now there is a ability now to have a new start and to go into a position where it can project itself into the future.

>> The legislation would reduce academic offerings to just ten majors, while also cutting staff and limiting enrollment to 1000 students.

Many of its liberal arts programs would be offered only online.

Senate Bill 185 also gives more power to the university's president to shape daily operations, and it requires more frequent financial disclosures to state lawmakers and agencies.

Students with a debt load of more than $1,000 could be barred from admission or enrollment.

Under the bill, KSU applicants would be required to have a GPA of at least 2.5 and a college entrance exam score of at least 18.

The bill now heads to the House for consideration.

There.

Also in the Senate today, a measure dealing with violence in schools was awarded.

Final passage.

Senate Bill 101 would require some middle or high school students who assault a school staff member to be expelled for one year.

The bill leaves it up to the school district to decide if the expelled student should continue to receive educational services outside of the school.

The Senate passed an amended version of the bill today by a vote of 32 to 6.

Senate Bill 101 now heads to the governor's desk.

Kentucky is a step closer to embracing nuclear energy.

Today, the House passed Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Paducah Republican Senator Danny Carroll.

The bill calls for establishing a nuclear reactor site pilot program.

Companies interested in taking part could submit their request to the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority.

The General Assembly would then approve three projects during the 2027 legislative session.

Senate Bill 57 passed out of the House today by a vote of 82 to 11 and now awaits the governor's signature or veto.

State lawmakers are responding to some high profile murders in the state and separate cases involving a missing Bardstown woman and the killing of a young child.

Our Emily Sisk explains as we continue tonight's legislative update.

[MUSIC] >> A bill inspired by an illegal grand jury recording connected to a high profile murder case in Kentucky, is among a handful of judicial matters moving forward.

In Frankfort, House Bill 305, also known as the Crystal Rogers Act, is named for a Bardstown woman who was reported missing in 2015.

Three men were found guilty in connection with her murder a decade later.

Although her remains were never found.

Rogers mother spoke to the Senate committee today about why this legislation matters.

>> My daughter was Crystal Rogers.

She was murdered, and the guy that murdered her, he they recorded their grand jury hearings.

Him and his whole family did.

And we couldn't do anything about it because the statute of limitations had ran out.

>> Grand jury proceedings are not open to the public and are intended to be secret.

HB 305 would extend the statute of limitations for recording grand jury testimony from one year to ten years.

It would also classify recording testimony as a class A misdemeanor, unless the person is a public servant.

In that case, it would be a felony.

The legislation passed unanimously.

Legislation inspired by another high profile murder case, this one involving six year old Logan Tipton, is also advancing.

Tipton was killed in 2015 after Ronald Exantus broke into the family's Versailles home, stabbing Logan and other family members.

House Bill 422 or Logan's Law, would prevent juries from splitting a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict for crimes that occurred at the same time, which is what happened in Logan's case.

Exantus was found guilty of assaulting other members of the Tipton family, but not guilty by reason of insanity for Logan's murder.

Logan's father is championing this measure in Frankfort.

>> There's nothing we can do about Logan, but this is about protecting the next family and saving them from going through the heartache that we've been through over the last ten, 11 years.

No family should ever have to walk down the street in fear, seeing their child's murderer on the sidewalk.

>> If passed, Logan's Law also sets tighter penalties for mandatory reentry supervision when offenders are permitted.

Early release the bill received strong bipartisan support, with a Pikeville Republican saying he believed the justice system made a mistake in Logan's case.

>> Maybe that some instructions weren't given properly or something, but that's clearly an injustice was done to your son's memory.

>> Senate Judiciary Chair Brandon Storms, Senate Bill 48, was attached to Logan's Law and approved.

The additions would exclude violent crime offenders twice convicted from being released under mandatory reentry supervision.

Lawmakers also want to update Kentucky's stalking laws, which is the intent behind House Bill 521.

>> 521 modernizes our stalking laws to include technology related contact, maintain strong safeguards and clear thresholds for harm.

And let's be clear, stalking is not a single incident.

It is an extreme, persistent pattern of behavior that disrupts your sense of safety.

>> Under the legislation, two or more acts of intentional following communication attempts or threats, either in person or through technology, could classify as stalking and lead to law enforcement interference.

HB 521 would classify stalking as a class D felony.

This legislation also passed unanimously, and a bill that drew opposition from Democrats would provide some civil liability protections for gun manufacturers.

House Bill 78 sponsor, said the legislation would prevent manufacturers from being liable for the criminal misuse of their weapons.

>> Violent criminals need to be held accountable and that, generally speaking, the manufacturers of the weapon are not the ones that are responsible for the bad acts.

>> Those who want to file a civil suit would have to prove that the gun manufacturer knowingly violated the law and directly caused harm.

The Senate Democratic Caucus chair said he didn't agree with shielding firearm manufacturers from liability.

>> What this bill does is just give a blanket immunity to gun manufacturers, regardless of whether they have poor design or whether they're subject to improper uses.

>> The two Democratic Committee members voted no on HB 78.

Still, it passed out of committee with three days remaining for a veto proof floor vote.

These measures all move on to the full Senate for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you.

Emily.

In just a few hours after the committee hearing, House Bill 78 was taken up on the Senate floor and voted on the measure, which gives protections to gun makers passed along party lines.

Since the bill had some changes, it will have to go back to the House for either approval or rejection.

In Frankfurt, they're called Christmas tree bills, one bill that's used as a vehicle to attach or get adorned with other bills.

Well, tomorrow we'll bring you up to date on a massive measure to increase campaign donor limits, toughen voter ID rules, and share voter information with the federal government.

And a massive omnibus elections bill, plus the latest on a measure that some say is a mere checks and balances on the executive branch.

But some critics blast as an attack on the governor and executive authority.

Details on those measures and more.

And politics reporter Hannah Pinski will join me, too, to talk about the happenings in the home stretch of this year's legislative session.

A lot from Frankfurt.

We'll have a lot of that tomorrow on Kentucky edition.

Now turning to the 2026 midterm elections, you've seen TV ads for Kentucky's Republican U.S.

Senate candidates.

Now, people in Central Kentucky are starting to see an ad in the sixth district race for the U.S.

House.

>> 2016, 2020 and 2024.

I stood with President Trump every single time.

And in Congress I'll stand with him again.

>> That's from Ralph Alvarado, a Republican who served in the Kentucky State Senate.

In the ad, Alvarado says he is, quote, a triple Trump candidate who says he always backed Donald Trump.

He says he will be Maga to the end.

[MUSIC] As we've reported many times, Kentucky faces a nursing shortage.

A new campaign is underway to do something about it.

Our Toby Gibbs explains it, and this look at headlines around Kentucky.

>> Eastern Kentucky University and Humana have joined forces to create a $125,000 Humana Scholars program to provide scholarships and support to nursing students, the Richmond Register reports.

The program is designed to provide nurses to underserved communities, a study from the Kentucky Hospital Association noted more than 2800 nursing vacancies in Kentucky in 2024, 11.5% of nursing positions.

[MUSIC] The Army's 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, calls a recent drone test a success.

According to w h o p radio in Hopkinsville, the 101st tested whether it could integrate new systems and support ground forces during a live fire test earlier this month.

[MUSIC] Brigadier General Travis McIntosh says drones are reshaping the geometry of the battlefield and the army must adjust.

The Times Journal reports a delay in construction work on the Cumberland River bridge on U.S.

highway 127.

[MUSIC] Construction of a bigger bridge at the south end of the project is taking longer than expected, causing this delay.

The state Department of Highways says the delay shouldn't affect the overall goal of having the new route finished by September 30th as planned.

[MUSIC] Once finished, the new route for us 127 will run from Kentucky Highway 55 in Russell County to the current U.S.

127 a mile northeast of Des in Clinton County.

[MUSIC] If you fly Sky West out of Barkley Regional Airport in West Paducah, there are changes in April and May.

The West Kentucky star says the FAA is calling for inspections of some CRJ aircraft, including some used for flights from Paducah to Chicago and Houston.

[MUSIC] The number of weekly flights will drop from 14 to 12.

Full service is expected to return in June.

And those are tonight's headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> March is recognized as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and a program in Louisville is helping those with developmental and intellectual disabilities learn independence through a college like experience.

They have had three graduates of the program in the last year who are now living on their own.

>> The group of individuals that we're serving are oftentimes they do have an identified disability, but they're not considered disabled enough to consider to be getting continued services.

So a lot of times what ends up happening is they end up staying at home.

They don't get to work full time jobs.

They don't necessarily get to experience living on their own.

So they're kind of stuck in this netherworld where they're at home with their families, and they never really get to get out and explore what they can actually do with their lives.

And we provide the family and the individual a safe place to fail here.

Because when you first move out on your own, you do make mistakes.

So we're providing them a safe place with mentorship, with classes, and a safe place for them to truly live on their own.

>> I didn't want you to be stuck living with family forever.

I wanted to, you know, learn to be independent.

And, you know, my mom was pretty scared that I was that was never going to improve until we found a spring.

And so and so now I'm, you know, I'm, you know, I'm, I'm learning to love the independence and learning to, and learning to learn to do things that, that we were afraid that I could never do it.

>> Our classes go from everything of cooking and cleaning to how to ask somebody out on a date, to going out to the movies or to see a play.

We try to hit on every aspect of what life can be, from the practical to the artistic.

Life is a spectrum, and for us, we want to make sure that our students have the full spectrum of what it could be to live a full life.

>> There's Kitchen Masters, which is teaching me some great new recipes.

There's there's a relationship classes which are teaching me some Ray relationship skills.

I would say that the biggest growth would be would be in some of my social skills.

They're not perfect.

They're not perfect.

In fact, they're still like slowly improving.

But you know, and also, and also, I'm not really being on my phone as much.

>> Another big part when you first move out on your own, some of the deepest relationships you've ever have are with the people that you live around when you're by yourself.

And a lot of our folks have never had that chance, so they come here.

We're trying to also foster and build peer to peer relationships that will last them a lifetime.

>> I've enjoyed it, especially being with Blake.

It makes me feel like less lonely having a roommate.

>> It's good to have a support system, and it's.

I do have a couple of friends here who have.

Natalie as a friend.

>> I just love all the friends that I'm making and the great mentors and and just the independence.

>> The right kind of history or the right subject.

>> The day, the day spree program can house up to 18 students at their current campus, which will be undergoing some renovations.

They're also expanding their student center and instructional kitchen.

[MUSIC] Some very good economic news today for McCracken County in western Kentucky and the rest of the region.

>> This morning, global laser enrichment, or g l e announced the single largest capital investment in Western Kentucky history.

>> Global laser enrichment is investing more than $1.7 billion.

Now, what it all means, we'll tell you tomorrow on Kentucky edition, which we hope you'll see.

Join us again for at 630 eastern, 530 central.

We inform, connect and inspire.

We hope you'll connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, the social media channels, Facebook, X and Instagram.

You can watch full episodes and clips at ket.org.

Check us out on the PBS video app that you can download on all your smart devices and send us a story, idea or just a shout out by email, Public Affairs at KFB dot.

[MUSIC] Thank you so much for joining us.

It is practice Friday, as we like to say here on Thursdays, but we'll see you on the real deal Friday tomorrow.

Until then, have a great night.