(music) >> And he makes more time for hugs.

That's what I began.

Did for me.

>> An emotional father makes the case for a psychedelic drug to help Kentuckians with PTSD and depression.

[MUSIC] The buck stops with us.

>> If we don't give adequate rates, there's not going to be adequate service.

>> The Kentucky Public Service Commission chair talks about rising rates, bigger bills and unhappy customers, and we had heard rumor that.

>> There was a time capsule in the cornerstone.

There sure was.

>> And a century old time capsule is uncovered at a new Louisville housing project designed to bring stability to those living with HIV and Aids.

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

[MUSIC] >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky edition for this Friday, March the 13th.

We know you're not superstitious and we thank you for jumpstarting your weekend with us.

A priority piece of legislation is vetoed today.

Governor Andy Beshear vetoed House Bill one.

The bill would have allowed Kentucky to take advantage of a federal scholarship tax credit initiative made possible by the so-called one big, beautiful bill that was approved by Congress last year.

Individuals could contribute up to $1,700 a year to scholarship granting organizations or Sgaus.

That money, then, could be used to support educational costs for students in private and public schools.

In announcing his veto on social media today, Governor Beshear said, quote, Kentuckians have said loud and clear public dollars should only be used for public education.

The Republican supermajority hasn't listened.

I have.

End quote.

But State Representative TJ Roberts, a Republican from Burlington who is one of the sponsors of House Bill one, was critical of the governor's veto.

Quote.

He says Beshear's veto is a direct rejection of education, freedom for Kentucky families.

And I will lead the charge to override this veto in the House to ensure educational freedom for all Kentucky families, end quote.

State lawmakers will have a chance to override the governor's veto when they return to Frankfort next week.

A state lawmaker wants Kentucky to explore the potential benefits of a powerful psychedelic, which could be used to treat drug addiction, PTSD and depression.

Our Emily Sisk explains the purpose of Senate Bill 77 as we kick off tonight's legislative update.

[MUSIC] >> It's a simple bill that may, in the future have one of the greatest impacts on our society since the recognition of antibiotics.

>> Republican Senator Donald Douglas wants Kentucky to take the lead in researching ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic that's native to West Africa and comes from the root bark.

There is evidence that ibogaine can be used to treat drug addiction and PTSD.

>> It's given under a doctor's guidance, a doctor's supervision, and in a controlled environment where the patient is watched closely over about 24 to 48 hours post treatment.

Of course, we recommend counseling, and counseling is suggested to help deal with some of the remaining psychosocial changes that that the patient may go through.

>> Right now, ibogaine is an illegal drug in the United States.

Earlier this week in the Senate Health Services Committee, lawmakers heard from former substance users who had traveled to Mexico to receive the treatment.

A Lexington man explained how the treatment changed his life.

>> If you think if anybody is skeptical, if ibogaine works, you should listen to the words of my ten year old son when I came back home.

When asked, give me three things that you notice about daddy that's different post post treatment.

And he said.

He said you're not angry anymore.

You don't yell.

You smile more.

Which makes me think he's happier and he makes more time for hugs.

That's what I began did for me.

>> Senate Bill 77 sets up a framework for clinical research of ibogaine.

An amendment to the bill removed language that called for research funding from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Committee.

Only a handful of other states are participating in ibogaine research currently, but Senator Douglas wants Kentucky to join that group.

>> Some people say, well, what about the side effects?

And to that I always say, well, why do you think we want to do research and studies?

We've got to do that.

>> Another Republican lawmaker, a former Navy Seal, voiced his support for the bill, saying he's seen the drug work for fellow servicemen.

>> Some of my colleagues may be side eyed in this bill a little bit, because it has to do with psychedelics, and I honestly would be one of those folks as well.

Had I not seen dozens and dozens of my Seal Navy Seal brothers who have had to travel out of the country to to take part in this type of treatment?

Many of these folks.

My brother's were days or weeks away from committing suicide from issues that they had from post-traumatic and brain injuries.

And this is the only thing that we know of that actually works.

>> Senate Bill 77 passed off the Senate floor with a vote of 35 to 2 and advances to the House for consideration there.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you.

Emily.

Senator Donald Douglas, who is the sponsor, said a handful of other states, including West Virginia and Tennessee, have already signed off on ibogaine research.

The Kentucky General Assembly wrapped up its 47th day of the 60 day session today.

Kentucky's House advanced a measure to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks.

As our June Leffler reports, it's an effort to keep Kentuckians from being ripped off by scamming con artists.

>> The FBI and consumer protection agencies say crypto machines are scammers.

Best friend KET spoke with this Indiana woman last summer who lost nearly $400,000.

>> My handler knew where the nearest crypto machine was to my house two blocks away, and he instructed me where to go and what to do.

>> She now works with AARP to educate seniors on how to avoid scams.

The same group advocated for new protections in Kentucky.

>> Elderly people were being called and asked to go and put cash into these that if you don't go down immediately, you've got a warrant that's coming to your house.

Or if you don't do this right now, your accounts are going to be seized.

It's all these.

Fraudulent people out there that are preying on our elderly and even our middle class.

>> Just this week, Indiana's governor signed a bill banning these machines in his state.

A Kentucky plan doesn't go that far under House Bill 380.

Kentucky's finance cabinet would monitor these machines like it does traditional cash ATMs and Bitcoin buyers would find new disclosures and guardrails at the kiosk.

>> Right now, they can put as much money in them as they want 50 $100,000.

What we've done is we put it at a $2,000 a day maximum.

>> The House approved House Bill 380 unanimously.

The Senate passed its own version earlier this session.

Both now need approval in the opposite chamber.

Another measure with bipartisan support, any hospital could soon form their own police department on their medical campus.

>> Healthcare workers today are increasingly find themselves in dangerous work environment.

While there are only 10% of our workforce.

They suffer 80% of the workplace violence injuries.

Hospitals today functions like small cities.

Large campuses operate around the clock, employ thousands of people, and serve thousands more patients and visitors every day.

In situations where seconds matter, having trained law enforcement already on site can make the difference in protecting lives.

>> House Bill 248 passed in a 84 to 4 vote.

Three Republicans and one Democrat voted against the bill.

It now heads to the Senate for Kentucky addition, I'm June Leffler.

>> Many thanks.

June.

A state lawmaker says the death of a ten year old boy in Breathitt County is what led him to file legislation aimed at strengthening the state's child protection laws.

More in our look back at legislative news from earlier this week that we call postscript.

[MUSIC] Jayden Spicer was killed last year.

His mother is charged with his death.

State Senator Brandon Smith of Hazard participated in the search for Spicer, whose body was found days after he was reported missing.

Smith filed Senate Bill 138, known as Jayden's Law, in his honor.

The bill would make child abuse homicide a capital offense and raise the penalties for manslaughter and first degree criminal abuse.

It also raises the age of victims protected under the state's child protection laws.

From the age 12 to 18.

Smith told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that he wants the bill to send a message.

>> We just basically stripped it down to where a person is guilty of child abuse homicide when he or she intentionally abuses another person or knowingly permits another person of whom he or she actually has custody of to be abused, and thereby causes the death to a person who is under 18.

Child abuse is a capital offense.

We're.

We should be.

Children in the state of Kentucky should be one of our greatest priorities.

After all, there are.

There are future.

But I want people to know that we can't stop what's happening, but I want them to understand that if you do this in Kentucky, there's going to be the highest possible punishment that we can get out to them.

>> The bill, which passed the committee, also calls for the termination of custody rights for parents or guardians accused of serious crimes against their children.

[MUSIC] The head of the Public Service Commission, or PSC, says it's the most important agency many have never heard of.

But the PSC members often get an earful about steep spikes in ratepayers energy bills during extreme cold snaps or heat waves.

Angie Hatton is chair of the Public Service Commission that sets utility rates in Kentucky.

She stopped by our studio mid-week to discuss the causes for the sometimes wallet draining power bills, and whether the PSC has the power to make sure your power bills are affordable.

>> Nationwide.

Utility bills are increasing at more than double the rate of inflation.

It's every utility in every state.

And you know, I travel to conferences and meet public service commissioners from around the country, and they're seeing the same things that I am in the three years that I've been on the Public Service Commission, affordability has risen to the top priority and topic of discussion at all of these conferences.

You know, public service commissioners across the country are increasingly targets of folks who are so angry and scared about the rise in their utility bills, and there's only so much we can do.

But, you know, commissioners in other states have had to hire full time security, travel with security.

They've had death threats.

It's it is a very intense responsibility that we have.

And I think that folks are acting out of fear as much as anger because they some of the bills really are, are getting, getting pretty high and pretty scary.

>> Yeah.

So let's, let's talk a little bit about you mentioned in other states, public service commissioners have gotten security.

Is that the case in Kentucky?

And who would pay for that?

>> We have security at our public comment hearings, and that's usually local law enforcement, local sheriff's departments, and then the state police Capitol security provides security at our hearings when we need it.

And some of the more contentious cases.

I have not had death threats.

I've had a lot of social media.

I don't know if we'd call it harassment, but some some very, very angry people in high numbers.

>> Any of it rise to the level of really causing you concern and have you run it by security to ask their thoughts on whether or not you should be more concerned and should take precaution?

>> I didn't, but other people have done certain things by security on my behalf because they were concerned.

But my mother says that I have more nerve than sense, so maybe I don't don't have the sense to actually be scared, but I want to give everyone grace who says things to me and about me, because I understand where it's coming from.

You know, I have to set rates for myself, for my grandmother, for my neighbors, for my every friend I've got.

And it's a it's not an easy thing to do.

>> Yeah.

So let's, let's talk about that a little bit.

What kind of parameters do you have when you're deciding rates?

And is it first and foremost, the thought of how it's going to affect the rate payers and the advocacy groups that may petition the PSC on rate payers behalf?

Or do you look at it clearly from an objective point of view?

Whose side are you on?

Some would say.

>> We are supposed to be the balancing authority.

You know we are.

We are supposed to make sure that the power can stay on, that it's reliable, that the service is reasonable and adequate, but also that the rates be fair, just and reasonable.

And so we have to we're not allowed to just make decisions based on emotion.

If we were, it would be a lot easier, you know, if we could just hear emotional.

>> You never do a rate increase, right?

If that were the case.

>> Yeah, yeah, that would be a wonderful scenario.

But we have to make sure that utilities get enough money to provide the infrastructure, the maintenance, the upkeep of the lines.

And it's actually a constitutional taking.

If we don't, it's.

>> What do you mean by that?

>> Confiscatory.

So confiscating confiscatory rates are those that don't provide the reasonable cost for utilities.

And just like our cost, utility costs have gone up.

So the cost of a transformer has doubled.

The cost of a power pole has gone up 75% in the last like 6 to 8 years.

And so if if we don't give adequate rates to cover the costs for the utility, it's a taking under the Constitution.

We have taken private property from a private company and redistributed it to the public without recompense.

So the.

>> Consequence would be.

>> Well, we'd get overturned by the circuit court, or if we weren't, the utility would not be able to operate.

And when you turn your power switch on, nothing would happen.

I mean, we're we're the buck stops with us.

If we don't give adequate rates, there's not going to be adequate service.

>> People would question why are the rates going up?

What's the reason?

>> Well, you know, inflation across the country is all costs are going up.

You know, and.

These utilities have to buy gas the same as we do.

They have to hire workers the same as we do.

But then there's also the consideration of the expansion of demand for electricity.

So we have data centers and AI and electric vehicles are more a problem in other parts of the country than than they are here.

I don't mean problem, but yeah, more electric vehicle use in other parts of the country and that's contributing to it.

But the more demand for electricity is, the more the electricity companies power companies have to keep up with, with the infrastructure that feeds that demand.

>> You are from Eastern.

Kentucky, right.

And you served in the state House and was a leader there.

And, you know, this conversation that you hear from folks in that part of the state where it rivals their mortgage, I mean, 800 to $1000 a month.

We just heard it the day that we recorded this conversation, a woman was living in a single wide trailer, two bedroom, and was paying 800 or $600 a month to, to heat her home.

And so you think, my gosh, that's out of reach and not sustainable for someone to be able to heat their home or cool their home.

>> Yeah.

It is.

It's heartbreaking.

And we still have an open case with Kentucky Power because we just made a ruling on their rate case, but it's still open for appeal.

And so the applicant, the power company, could appeal and other parties could appeal.

You know, the attorney general made a plea for 0% increase.

So I assume they could appeal since we were didn't feel we were able to do that and let a court decide whether we could.

So any of the parties could still appeal.

So don't need to get into details of that.

However, we can talk about that territory.

One of the main issues with that territory is the population.

They've lost 12,000 customers over the last 12 to 14 years.

They're looking at potentially as much as another 40% decrease in population.

And none of these systems were designed to for decreasing population.

Because, you know, I'm the very last house in my hauler where I live and I pay my electric bill.

So I'm entitled to service.

And if there used to be 100 houses on that hauler and now there's 60, you're dividing the cost of that infrastructure among much fewer people.

And so they have 162,000 customers over 20 counties, but they used to have a lot more and they don't have industrial customers anymore.

With the downturn in the coal industry, people moved away and businesses closed.

And so there's Knott industrial customers to pay industrial rates and pick up a whole lot more of that infrastructure.

So the I mean, until the population changes, you know, because of economic development, it is really hard to see a light at the end of that tunnel.

So we we do everything we can to cut out any unreasonable costs.

But the fact is those costs are being spread among fewer people.

>> Yeah.

I'll have more with Angie Hatton, who's also an attorney next week when we talk about the impact data centers could have on the power grid and rates and the prospects for nuclear power in Kentucky's energy portfolio, that's part of our conversation that will air Monday night on Kentucky edition.

[MUSIC] A new apartment complex in Louisville aims to bring stability to those living with HIV and Aids who are at risk for homelessness.

Our Christie Dutton takes a look inside the new housing facility and a 1925 time capsule discovered during the construction.

>> Today is House of Ruth Reed landing day all across the city of Louisville.

In honor of what you all are doing.

[APPLAUSE] Congratulations.

>> Mayor Craig Greenburg was on hand for the official opening of Red Key Landing, a newly constructed building with 40 apartments for families and individuals of a vulnerable population.

>> It is designed to offer supportive housing for men and women aging with HIV who who just need a safe and affordable place to call home because you have no shot at managing your HIV and taking your medications on time and getting to your many doctor's appointments.

If you don't have housing, housing is where it all starts.

>> U.S.

Congressman Morgan McGarvey says supportive housing can have a ripple effect, improving the life of the individual and the community.

>> When we invest in a 40 unit place like this, a landing spot for people who have HIV, for people who have problems in their lives, they are able to get back on their feet to get care, to find work, to go back to school, things they couldn't do unless they had a roof over their head.

>> While housing is the foundation of Red Key Landing, they offer other wraparound services like on site food assistance, educational support and health resources and counseling.

>> A home is sometimes not enough.

They also need more care, more attention, whether that's to get enrolled in Medicaid, whether that's workforce training, whether that's help with their substance abuse issues or mental health issues, whether it's just getting a driver's license so they can get back in line to find a new job or a new career.

>> For one of Red key Landing's first residents, the sense of community and caring staff is the top amenity.

[APPLAUSE] >> The moment you see them and you look them in the eye, it's just the willing to help people and find out what's going on in their life.

To have somebody that knows what's going on and pays attention to you, and so they can help you, not even now, but looking toward the future.

>> Looking toward the future.

And a look 100 years into the past as demolition to make way for Red Key Landing revealed a relic from 1925.

>> And we had heard rumor that there was a time capsule in the cornerstone.

There sure was.

>> When they looked inside this cornerstone, they found that time capsule filled with artifacts from a German evangelical church that once stood here.

And when they built the red key landing, they replaced the cornerstone and replaced the time capsule with artifacts from the house of Ruth.

>> So this is what was in it.

And pretty much everything was destroyed.

We've been able to figure out a couple of things.

This was their evangelical book of worship, basically the order of service.

This was most likely the newsletter, because there is a picture of the church.

>> Reflections of a century old community to one that's just beginning.

Red Key Landing hopes to carry on the legacy of building a strong foundation and caring community for Kentucky edition.

I'm Christie Dutton.

>> Thank you Christy.

Inspiring story.

Indeed.

Much of the funding for Red Key Landing was provided by a $6.5 million federal grant.

Get ready to enjoy Saint Patrick's Day weekend, and singer Christopher Cross is headed to Kentucky.

Our Toby Gibbs has more in tonight's.

Around the Commonwealth.

>> Get ready to Shamrock and Stroll this Saturday in Lexington with the all tech Lexington Saint Patrick's Parade and Festival.

The festival opens at 11 a.m.

with youth activities, traditional Irish dance, piping, music and cultural offerings.

Irish food and goods will be on hand for anyone exploring their Irish roots or simply borrowing a few for the afternoon.

The parade sets off down Main Street at 1 p.m.

a day at Blue Licks battlefield State Park takes on a mystic twist as it hosts the mountain mystical market.

Local metaphysical vendors, crafters, psychics and healers will be on hand.

Browse crystals, art oddities, jewelry, pottery and more.

Kids under 12 are admitted free at this family friendly event.

The Fraser Kentucky History Museum in Louisville is putting a happy twist on history with the Pursuit of Happiness family day inspired by the Fraser's America 250 exhibition, families can explore the stories from 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, making the pursuit of happiness a right of all Americans.

Take part in hands on crafts, scavenger hunts, guided tours and other activities.

From the pursuit of happiness to a show of gratitude, the Josephine Sculpture Park is inviting the community to come together for joyful.

A gathering of gratitude.

Next Friday, there will be live music, dancing, arts and crafts and food, all to celebrate those who help the park thrive year round.

Multi-grammy Award winning artist Christopher Cross is coming to the Lexington Opera House.

Cross's career spans more than four decades and has produced such hits as sailing, Ride Like the Wind and Arthur's Song.

The concert takes place next Tuesday.

The East Kentucky Stampede Championship Rodeo is set to take the reins at the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville.

It's a full lineup of rodeo action, with events ranging from mutton bustin to saddle bronc riding, calf roping and steer wrestling.

The action kicks off next Friday.

Western Kentucky is shuffling the deck on collectibles with the Paducah Hobby Hangout, an all inclusive hobby and collectibles show.

The family friendly show is designed for beginning and experienced collectors with a wide mix of cards, comics, toys, vinyl records, memorabilia and other collectibles.

[MUSIC] There will also be food trucks on site.

The show takes place this Saturday, and that's what's happening around the Commonwealth this week.

[MUSIC] I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you so much, Toby Gibbs.

Well, that'll do it for us this week, but we'll see you Monday night.

Same time, same channel.

You have a great weekend and we'll see you soon.

Take good care.

[MUSIC]