[MUSIC] Kentucky fans mourn the passing of a Wildcat basketball legend.

>> Races all over the country.

Cd6 being one where we didn't think there was going to be a race.

[MUSIC] Now is a race.

>> Will a Central Kentucky congressional seat stay red or turn blue?

>> It's a way for them to look at this monument and say, women have come a long way.

>> And see one of the few monuments for women veterans.

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

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for Friday, October 16th.

I'm Marvin Bartlett.

Thanks for joining us.

The Safer Kentucky Act is now before the Kentucky Supreme Court.

The justices will decide if the omnibus tough on Crime bill passed in 2024 is legal.

And as our June Leffler reports, the court's decision may determine how long 400 violent offenders stay behind bars.

>> Safer Kentucky Act or House Bill five increased the minimum time someone could stay in jail for a violent act.

Yesterday, the Kentucky Supreme Court heard arguments on whether lengthier sentences should apply to those who committed crimes before the law was on the books.

The case concerns Toby Berry, who pleaded guilty to strangling someone when he was 17.

It was understood by his defense, the prosecutors and the judge that his plea deal could get him out of jail in two years.

But the state Department of Corrections denied that and stuck him with his earliest release date of eight and a half years.

The DOC is arguing against Berry's claim.

>> A defendant enters a plea and gets a promise of a 20%.

Isn't that a contract between the state and the defendant?

>> It is a contract, but this court has also held that you cannot plea to an illegal sentence, and that would.

That's what the sentence would be.

>> So would the remedy be to allow all these people to set aside their plea of guilty and go back and start over and renegotiate?

>> Berry's lawyer says his parole date has been amended, but the case has now turned into a class action lawsuit that now concerns the fate of more than 400 offenders who committed crimes before the summer of 2024.

The attorney general's office argues not everyone deserves to have their sentences amended.

>> We have James Cecil, who's qualifying offenses were incest and second degree rape of his natural daughter.

We have Rodolfo Amaya, whose qualifying offense was second degree manslaughter.

Police found his victim dead in the front seat of his car with the victim's toddler still in the back seat.

>> Even if they are granted 20% parole eligibility, the determination of whether or not they're going to be released is up to the parole board, whether or not they would even face the parole board is up to the parole board.

So to simply say that our decision would unwind the sentencing dates for these individuals who committed these heinous acts, I think is just incorrect.

>> In that 400, how many of them pled with.

And then between the plea and the sentencing, the law changed.

>> I don't have a number on that in front of me.

Your honor.

>> I think that's the situation.

It really bothers us as a court.

Is somebody bargained for something, entered a plea, and then it changed.

By the time sentencing came along.

>> Well, and that's that's a good point, Your Honor.

And again, that goes to the individualized determination for each of these inmates as to who would fall into that category and who would not fall into that category.

And that's one reason that we contend that a class is not appropriate in this circumstance.

>> Lower courts have sided with Barry and his counsel.

If the state's highest court agrees.

Nearly 300 violent offenders would immediately become parole eligible for Kentucky Edition.

I'm June Leffler.

>> The Safer Kentucky Act sponsor.

State Representative Jared Bauman of Louisville told us, quote, I am hopeful the Kentucky Supreme Court will recognize the importance of upholding this law so our state can move forward with its commitment to protecting public safety and holding violent offenders accountable.

>> Bottom line.

>> A Northern Kentucky businessman is suing Kimberly Guilfoyle for defamation.

Eric Deters ran for governor of Kentucky in 2023 and for Congress in 2024.

He says Guilfoyle asked him for $100,000 to help pay off her credit card debt, and she offered him access to high level Trump administration officials in exchange.

President Trump asked Guilfoyle to resign as ambassador to Greece after that claim was made public.

And she did.

But she also denied his claims, saying he owed her money and that he was a, quote, known blackmailer.

He is now suing her over those statements.

President Trump will be in Eric Peters neck of the woods.

Northern Kentucky tomorrow for a Republican rally less than three weeks before the November 3rd midterm elections.

The president will speak in Highland Heights.

That's in the fourth Congressional District, where Republican Ed Gallrein is running for Congress against Democrat Melissa Strange and libertarian Jeremy Todd.

Yesterday, a reporter asked Governor Andy Beshear if he was nervous about President Trump's visit and the impact it could have on races in Kentucky.

>> I'm not nervous at all.

I welcome the president to come to Kentucky and say, Pretend I'm on the ballot, because I want everybody facing that $4,500 of extra costs that President Trump taxed you on through his tariff policy.

I want President Trump, who we all know made the choice to go to war with Iran, because he tells you that has caused your gas and diesel to skyrocket.

The other day, he said Iran didn't close the Strait of Hormuz.

He Donald Trump did.

So come on and listen.

He must think that his Republican candidates are in trouble.

Look at the states that he's been in.

>> Tremendous war hero.

>> KET will be in Highland Heights for President Trump's visit there tomorrow.

Look for full coverage on Kentucky edition on Monday.

>> We have made it to the weekend, so that means it's time to go inside.

Kentucky politics.

I'm Emily Prince and I'm joined by Mr.

Sherman Brown and Mr.

Trey Watson.

Gentlemen, thank you for being here in the studio.

>> Great to be here.

>> Thank you for having us.

>> Absolutely.

We are glad to so many topics for us to dive into.

Let's start off with the first one.

Tomorrow, President Donald Trump is scheduled to be in the Bluegrass State for the second time this year in Northern Kentucky.

Specifically.

Now, he's, of course, going on a countrywide travel, a midterm blitz.

He says, Trey, I want to start with this with you.

Why specifically is he coming to Northern Kentucky?

>> You get a two for one.

It's you're in Northern Kentucky.

It's where the airport is.

You know, you always have to consider presidential travel.

And I both work events.

The presidential people.

And you've got to be somewhere near an airport where Air Force One and motorcade can get there.

So Covington makes sense.

Northern Kentucky makes sense.

And you get a two for one with Kentucky races and Ohio races.

You have a hot Senate race, hot governor's race in Ohio, open Senate race here.

So I think, you know, it kind of makes sense.

Just travel logistics wise that you can you can get a two for one up there.

>> Fair.

If he's so focused on Ohio though, why not meet in Ohio?

>> I think that I don't know the Ohio numbers well enough, but usually that Cincinnati area becomes kind of a swing area.

If it's going to be a close election.

So kind of Hamilton County and those suburbs, I would assume that that's kind of the media market they're trying to hit.

And again, you know, he's he's also got Kentucky.

There's going to be some some bleed over coverage, obviously down to Lexington, where you have the open congressional race.

So again, I think the appeal of getting that kind of two for one hit there by coming into the Cincinnati area, Cincinnati media market makes sense.

>> Sherman, I want to turn to you.

>> I will jump right in because I think his numbers are, you know, just plummeting.

You look at specifically in those races.

So the governor's race in Ohio, the Senate race in Ohio, I don't think they want him.

I think it is similar to what you saw in Texas, where Ken Paxton went on the record saying, you know, he's actually hurting me.

Being here, having things that are going on.

And I think in Kentucky, you're seeing it more in the urban areas.

I think, you know, CD six, we'll talk about that here.

And I'm sure with with Zach Dembo and Ralph Alvarado, I think, you know, just looking at who has come in for Alvarado, maybe they don't want him here.

And I don't know if that's you know, they can say that on their situation or they're, there for their own race.

But I think that's what we're seeing nationally is his numbers are not where they were.

And a lot of people have tied themselves to him.

And now they're, you know, cleaning up their websites, taking them off their websites.

>> So I think having Trump is a calculated risk because he agitates Democrats who don't like him, but he also excites the Maga voters that do like him.

Well, most of those Democrats that don't like him, they're already voting in this midterm election.

The reason that Republicans are struggling in a lot of the country is we have an enthusiasm gap issue.

We have Republicans who are frustrated about things the president has done, and they're not showing up, or you have the Maga people who just don't vote when the president's not on the ballot, or he's not giving them specific instructions to vote.

So I think the, you know, the risk reward there is.

Yeah, you're bringing in somebody who's going to make these Democrats mad and may help them on turnout, but they're already turning out.

We need to get our people to turn out.

So I think the hope is that that kind of evens out, that that calculus a little bit.

>> Any specific policy matters or buzzwords that you expect to hear from him?

Sure.

I'll start with you.

>> It's the same speech everywhere.

It's it's liberals and, and, you know, the lamestream media fake news, it'll be it'll be the same dog and pony show.

It's like going to see the Rolling Stones.

It's the same concert every time.

>> Same set list.

>> Yeah.

>> It won't be liberals.

It'll be communists and socialists.

He puts them together and throws it in.

It doesn't matter what they mean.

They're just, you know, the words that he uses to kind of attack everybody.

>> Well, we'll see what happens.

We know the Andy Barr Ed Gallrein are both confirmed to be there, but we will see what what unfolds there.

So we did touch on the sixth Congressional District.

And I want to ask another question about that, looking at the sixth district.

Now, there had previously not been any debate scheduled between Zach Dembo and Ralph Alvarado where we would actually see them.

At the same time, we found out recently that they are both slated to appear on Fox 56 in Lexington.

I want to ask, you know, if you're running these campaigns, why make the decision to do that at this point?

And what do you expect to hear?

Sherman will kick off with you there.

>> I think when I look back at the primary, I don't think that a lot of folks, I think Democrats thought this was an opportunity.

I think with, again, with the Trump numbers kind of kind of going down races all over the country, CD six being one where we didn't think there was going to be a race.

Now is a race.

And in some the last two polls that I've seen them leading, one outside the margin of error.

>> So those polls.

>> Polls are polls.

I mean, you know, we'll we you and I say this every time election Day is what matters.

I mean, as far as the polls, especially when it's a close race like this and trying to figure out who's going to turn out.

I think.

>> That's the number.

>> One thing.

I think what Trey said earlier is, you know, Democrats are excited.

Will Republicans show up?

And does Alvarado bring them out specifically in this Lexington-Fayette County?

You know, obviously going to be a going to be blue.

What happens in those other counties and how much is it really, really red or is it more pink?

And that's that's really the question.

>> We do polls.

You do what we call a heat check.

It's, you know, are you very likely, somewhat likely, very unlikely, somewhat unlikely.

And even one of those polls, again, I don't trust the numbers on them because the methodologies.

But one of them, I think it was the change dot change research one had Dembo leading by 5% among people who were definitely going to vote Alvarado up 23%.

I think it was people who were somewhat likely or somewhat unlikely to vote.

So this entire campaign, this election in CD six, comes down to do those Republicans vote.

Do your one out of four Republicans, two out of four Republicans, do they show up at the polls?

If they do, Alvarado wins by probably five points.

If they don't, then Bill wins by one to 1 to 4 somewhere in that area.

So it's it's 100% turnout game at this point.

You know, the debate, I think just the Democrats have been hitting Alvarado hard.

It's a chance for him to come straight to camera, defend himself against some of those attacks.

Hopefully stem any sort of bleeding that's happening there.

And and try to get motivate those lower propensity Republicans to show up to vote.

>> I think it's going to be interesting to just to see where the Republicans are with both the war, the war in Iran and the tariffs.

Like just to see, is that something that where they are like, you know, I'm just going to stay home or do they flip or do they stick, you know, stick with Trump and go that route?

I don't see that happening because of just what we're seeing nationally.

But if those other two options, if they just stay home or do they come out and flip and vote Democrat in this situation.

>> When we see these two debate, any particular topic that you're curious to hear them speak on, maybe you feel like they haven't spoken too much.

>> I think I think all these things have become so produced and rehearsed.

I don't know that you're going to hear it's going to be a lot of talking points.

I just somebody's going to have to have to literally make a mistake for, for it to become interesting.

>> That's the that's the, that's the only thing that can happen at this.

At this point.

It is trying to get your opponent off their game, say something that they respond to.

>> But, but even then, it doesn't matter.

Usually stuff like that doesn't matter unless you put points behind it on TV.

And we're almost.

We're going to be probably too late for that even to really matter.

So, you know, it's going to be interesting for us political watchers how big of an impact will have on the election?

I'm not sure.

>> Yeah.

>> Emily has more with Sherman Brown and Trey Watson on a special Monday edition of Inside Kentucky Politics as they discuss the upcoming General Assembly races in Kentucky.

[MUSIC] Tonight, sports fans across Kentucky are remembering Cliff Hagan.

Hagan has died at the age of 94.

He was a University of Kentucky basketball player under Adolph Rupp in the early 1950s, including the 1951 championship season, and played pro ball with the Saint Louis Hawks.

He later served as UK athletics director from 1975 to 1988, and owned a chain of restaurants called Cliff Hagen's Rib Eye.

A judge wants more information about Jonah Bevin, adopted son of former Governor Matt Bevin.

Our Toby Gibbs has the latest on that case and more in tonight's look at headlines around Kentucky.

>> The judge in Matt Bevin's child support case wants more information about his adopted son, Jonah's education.

The Kentucky Lantern reports judge Angela Johnson ordered the additional information during a hearing Thursday morning.

[MUSIC] Jonah Bevin is seeking financial support from Matt and Glenna Bevin.

Judge Johnson says she wants to know if Jonah Bevin has the skills necessary to be a successful adult.

[MUSIC] PAC or political action committee.

Spending is benefiting Republican candidates for the Kentucky General Assembly.

[MUSIC] Kentucky Public Radio reports.

Business backpacks had spent about $900,000 on ads to boost seven GOP candidates, with very little spent to help Democrats.

The biggest beneficiary is State Senator Julie Raque Adams of East Jefferson County, who has received about a half million dollars in help.

Adams is opposed by Democrat Sarah Cole McIntosh.

Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas and Electric are saving money with a million digital smart utility meters that let them check meters remotely.

But people aren't using a green button tool made possible by those smart meters.

The Kentucky Lantern reports only 15 customers use the green button connection, which lets ratepayers share real time utility data with a third party that can help people save money.

A former Public Service Commission chair, Kent Chandler, says utilities don't want ratepayers to use it because the utilities would make less money.

A KU LG&E spokesperson says customers can use the online portal to sign up for energy efficient programs.

A firefighter who died in 1936 is now part of the Kentucky Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

Albert Coleman of Covington died of a heart attack on September 16th, 1936.

[MUSIC] He was one of the first firefighters in Covington to drive a motorized fire truck.

The Northern Kentucky Tribune says his great grandson, Joey Loyd, told his story on Facebook last year that led to his name being added to the Frankfort Memorial earlier this month.

[MUSIC] And those are tonight's headlines around Kentucky.

[MUSIC] I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> There has been a growing effort in recent years to share the stories of military women and to bring more awareness to their service and sacrifice.

Morgan County was on the forefront of that effort by putting up one of the few monuments in the country dedicated to women veterans.

Almost two decades ago.

>> At a club meeting in 2007, we were going to start our plans of work for the year, and we always do a veterans program, and I had read an article in the Herald-Leader newspaper about how few monuments there are in Kentucky that honor females.

And during our conversation that evening, it just came up with the idea that it would be really nice for us to do that in Morgan County.

>> The reason that there are very few monuments for women is because, well, the ratio of men to women.

And of course, it had always been the men that had gone to war and the women that had stayed back and done the more feminine jobs, such as the clerical and also the medical jobs that that are needed.

I think it's just the the numbers that had always been in the military.

And of course, that is growing like everybody else back in 1977, I joined for a job.

And then, you know, it becomes a way of life.

And so I was only in four years, two months and 11 days.

And I was my first duty station was Hawaii.

I was an electronics technician.

>> I love to sculpt.

I love to create.

And I'm a veteran also.

And so to honor female veterans seem really special.

There aren't that many bronzes that that do that life size bronze that contained as much detail as possible about women in the military.

Their dress, their role, what they did, and obviously trying to incorporate as many symbols that that would support where they were, where they are, where they might be.

>> We started out with the idea of just one, because we figured that was all the money that we could raise, and Steven had the idea of, oh, let's do three.

Let's do past, present and future.

So that's what they depict.

Sergeant Morgan is her name, and of course, she's back with World War Two era.

There were women could only be medical field being the medical field or being a bookkeeping type field.

And so that's why she has a clipboard in her hand.

Then the statue that is down on her knee, we call her commonly call her the combat girl, because in the present, you know, we have a lot of females that are over in combat or other ones standing saluting the flag here in the park is the future.

And of course, she's dressed big officer.

And you know, she might, she might be a chief of staff.

You know, one of these days.

So that will be exciting.

>> It seemed that the women have changed or the military has changed their attitude towards women over time.

So it seemed really nice to be able to go back in time, come up to the present and sort of project how far a woman could go in the military, which to the very top.

>> It's a way for them to look at this monument and say, women have come a long way from the turn of the century, 1900.

That is not the 2000, but we have made great progress.

We still need to make more progress.

But yeah, this is this is a way to say, hey, she did it.

I can.

>> Too.

Nowadays, when people walk by and they say, oh, thank you for your service, I say it was my privilege.

And it was it became my privilege because I was doing something great for my country.

And that's how I felt.

>> So that was.

>> The monument dedicated in 2009, is one of just 16 in the United States dedicated to military women.

[MUSIC] A great Mount Sterling tradition is underway court days and you can enjoy Oktoberfest and the annual Salt festival.

Toby Gibbs has details in this.

Look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

>> The women of Appalachia are making some noise in Pikeville this weekend at the Mountain Girl Experience.

The event highlights the work of women artists, musicians and makers from Appalachia and includes live music, art exhibitions, workshops and educational programs.

Court is in session in Montgomery County Court days.

Kentucky's oldest festival returns to Mount Sterling for three days, with more than 500 pop up vendors, antiques, crafts, food booths and live music on two stages.

The festival kicks off today.

This Boone County tradition is worth its salt when it comes to Kentucky.

History.

The Salt Festival focuses on the history and traditions surrounding salt production in Kentucky.

Demonstrations include historic salt extraction, flint knapping and European settler skills.

The weekend also features indigenous drum and dance performances, folk and bluegrass music, storytelling, children's activities and access to the park's bison herd.

Paducah is putting a little oompah in its October as it hosts its Oktoberfest event.

The outdoor festival in downtown Paducah features live music, local food and plenty of family friendly activities.

[MUSIC] The event takes place on Saturday.

Kentucky creativity is falling into place in Berea this weekend at the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen.

[MUSIC] Fall Art market.

The market features work by Kentucky artists and craftspeople and includes handmade arts and crafts, artist demonstrations and opportunities to meet participating makers.

[MUSIC] Admission is free.

Bowling Green is harvesting a full day of fall activities downtown this Saturday.

The downtown BG KY Harvest Festival marks its 10th year with an expanded arts and crafts area and a street fair along College Street.

Activities include live music, food trucks, craft vendors, children's activities, hay forts, inflatables and carnival style games.

A traditional dish is the main course at this festival.

The Anderson County Burgoo Festival is a three day event celebrating folk cuisine and includes live music, kids, carnival rides, vendors, pageants and other entertainment.

And that's what's going on around the Commonwealth this week.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you Toby.

We're about an hour away from tonight's comment on Kentucky Bill Bryant and his panel will look at measles in Kentucky.

A Mason County data center and election politics.

That's on the way at 8:00 eastern, 7:00 central here on KET.

Join us again Monday night at 630 eastern, 530 central for Kentucky Edition, where we inform, connect and inspire.

Subscribe to our Kentucky Edition email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips@ket.org.

[MUSIC] You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device, and smart TV.

And you can send us a story idea at Public Affairs at ket.org.

And follow KET on social media such as Facebook and Instagram.

Thanks for joining us.

I'm Marvin Bartlett.

[MUSIC] Make the rest of your evening a good one.