♪ >> This bill is very, very clear.

This is not inhibiting free speech.

>> But it's not clear to everyone doesn't attempt to help one group on college campuses hurt others.

I'm gravely concerned.

Lawmakers are anything but silent about a proposed moment of silence in Kentucky.

Schools.

>> I was really overwhelmed at the amount of people that reached out to me and said we think you should do this.

This is your time.

>> Meet the youngest serving member in the Kentucky General Assembly.

And is this man about to be primary with help from the White House?

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday March, the 11th, I'm Renee Shaw and we thank you for spending some of your Tuesday night with us.

We begin with breaking news from Louisville.

WDRB Reports Junior Bridgeman a former University of Louisville basketball player and business later collapsed during an event at the Galt House in Louisville today.

There are reports he was having a heart attack Bridgeman played with you of Al from 1972, to 1975.

He went on to a successful business career involving fast food chains and Coca-Cola.

He owns part of the Milwaukee Bucks and well as jet and Ebony magazines.

Bridgeman is 71.

We will KET you updated on this story.

Now to Frankfort, a measure to combat Anti-Semitism on college campuses is advancing in Kentucky State House, but not without pushback.

Senate Joint resolution.

55 would direct more resources to Jewish students, especially and the face of harassment.

But there's a rift among some lawmakers about the approach our June Leffler has the latest.

As we begin tonight's Legislative update.

Pro-Palestinian activists testified today that this resolution would target their speech against the Israeli government.

>> The Trump administration has already cut some of Columbia University's funding and detained a pro-Palestinian activists in the name of Anti-Semitism.

I do not feel cared for as a June living in diaspora by policy produced by organizations that seems different.

More over and occupation protest been very successful online.

Neo-Nazi radicalization campaigns.

I feared the for the ways this bill can be used to sanction and harm students and educators speaking out for found abuses by a country that our country materially supports and arms the pro Israel rabbi says this resolution does not target protests.

>> This bill is very, very clear.

This is not inhibiting free speech.

But when someone goes to the dorm room, one of my students university, Kentuckyian carts, a swastika into her dorm room.

When someone says we're going to come to get you for what you did in Gaza to my 9 year-old child as she walked across University of Kentucky's campus.

That has nothing to do with the policies of Israel.

>> A Democrat from Louisville says this resolution seems in start contrast to House Bill 4 that dismantles dei programs, offices in policies that ban differential a preferential treatment of gender, racial and religious minorities in higher education.

>> I do have concerns that I think is important enough to restate about what we're doing at our universities, with diversity, equity and inclusion in our effort to KET students safe.

It feels like we are trying to pull together a very specific group of students who while there are definitely incidents that I do not condone it feels tone deaf to what is happening to so many other groups of students are Muslim students, for example, our LGBTQ students, black students.

>> Senate Joint resolution.

55 passed through the House, post-secondary Education committee today and now heads to the House floor for a final vote.

One Republican and 2 Democrats passed on the measure.

2 Democrats voted against it for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June and other news and Frankfort, a large crowd gathered in Frankfort today for the annual statewide Fairness Rally.

The group rallied in opposition of several bills targeting the LGBTQ community, including House Bill 495, which would overturn Governor Andy Beshear's executive order banning the practice of conversion therapy.

>> I wasn't a conversion therapy through churches through licensed therapist and people.

I trust it.

I spent years trying everything that they told me to simply change who I am.

And it didn't work.

Because there was never anything wrong with me to begin with.

2 weeks ago, I stood in the state Legislature committee.

They dismiss my story in my lived experience.

It just didn't matter to them as if I was making it up.

But I know the truth.

God knows the truth.

You know the truth and all who have survived this know the truth as well.

>> Last year I signed an executive order officially banning the practice of so-called conversion therapy on minors.

Now, this legislation in the General Assembly, they would overturn that ban.

And I want you to know that if it passes and it reaches my desk, I will be do it.

I believe guys said that we're going to have this rally on this day.

>> On this day.

As I am a want in.

A black woman.

And the only LGBTQ person serving.

On the day.

But I've got to go on the House floor in battle, diversity, equity and inclusion.

>> So I will say to you all, it's thank you for being here today.

Thank you.

For standing in the gap.

This is our civil rights movement.

This is our time to show what this is our time to organize.

This is our time to stand together.

>> Now in other news from Frankfort, a bill that could give lawmakers more discretion when it comes to lowering Kentucky's income tax is swiftly moving through the Capitol House Bill one was the first bill to be signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear.

This session.

It reduces the income tax from 4% to 3 and a half percent beginning in 2026, the Republican dominated Legislature wants to say the tax eventually reduced to 0.

Currently lawmakers can only cut the tax rate by half a percent each year if certain fiscal triggers are met.

Well, today a committee passed House Bill 775 which would allow them to reduce the income tax by as little as 0.1%.

State representative Jason Petrie chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee discuss the bill this morning.

>> We stick with the same definition of individual income tax, equivalent C, but we also account for rather than it's either a half point reduction or nothing.

This allows 4.1 reduction of point to reduction of 0.3 reduction of point for reduction or 0.5 reduction or going 7.8, depending on how we do that particular year.

Mister Chairman.

>> I don't know that we can do that, but I would love to think about it.

>> But this will allow womb.

I think something similar to this has been in effect in North Carolina.

Maybe Indiana no impact current.

No impact in future unless further.

Actions taken by the General Assembly.

>> House Bill 775 passed out of committee this morning and was taken up on the House floor this afternoon.

Just a few hours later, the bill includes more than 100 pages of changes, including a proposed tax on cannabis infused drinks and the encouraging of large-scale entertainment events.

Several Democrats said they weren't sure if they could support the bill and criticized the process.

Still the bill easily passed by a vote of 67 to 18 and it now heads to the Senate for consideration.

There.

Now, Kentucky state senators voted to allow 18 to 20 year-olds to carry a concealed gun on reducing the age requirement from 21 years of age Senate bill, 75 comes from a freshman lawmaker from Shelbyville.

>> Opponents may argue that 18 year-olds are too young to carry a firearm responsibly.

But let's look at the facts.

Kentucky law already allows 18 year-olds to purchase long guns own and openly carry a firearm.

This bill does not change existing laws regarding who can legally possess a fire.

It simply allows law for adults to carry concealed.

Just like those.

21 and older.

>> In a country.

And in a state where we have children dropping dead.

Gunshot wounds.

At a higher rate than any other reason for children to die in this state.

Would we possibly consider putting more guns in the hands of more children.

>> The vote on the Senate floor today was 26 to 11.

5 Republicans sided with Democrats, though, one Democrat from eastern Kentucky voted for the measure.

The bill now heads to the House protecting students.

That's one of the goals of Senate Bill.

38 passed today by the House standing Committee on transportation.

It would equip school buses with cameras to monitor drivers who illegally pass school buses during stops.

>> General 38 attempts to address a major problem we have on our Kentucky roadways.

Drivers violating stop arms on our school buses.

And if you've never driven a school bus, you're probably have no reason to know just how big this problem really is.

>> I realize that I'm not I'm not a most favorable of cameras and many instances myself, but I really don't have no sympathy for anybody that passes.

And a stopped school bus.

And we've been fortunate in this state so far.

But there are there are still several children that are killed each year.

But people.

Not observing the arm that's out there.

And and honestly, I think if we could, we could capture and the needs that would.

Convict them.

Or show who's doing that?

I think it's very well worth the effort.

>> Senate Bill 38 also banned school districts from using fully autonomous vehicles to transport students.

That bill now goes to the full House.

Schools would be required to begin the school day with a moment of silence lasting between one to 2 minutes.

If Senate Bill 19 becomes law, it's already passed the Senate and still needs House approval.

Schools already have the option of a moment of silence.

But this would make it a requirement last night on Kentucky tonight for Kentucky.

Lawmakers talked about how the moment of silence bill would work and whether it's a good idea.

>> The proponents of the bill brought it brought studies that say if you put this in place in schools, you know it.

It helps the kids with their day and gives them a better mental focus.

And so that was the reasoning behind the bill.

You know, we'll see if it makes its way all the way through the process, but it can doesn't allow teachers to lead a prayer of any sort or any religion that center.

We just want to make sure our viewers understand what it does and does not do the does not you care to chime in on this.

You lose that, you know, and >> I'm obviously not a good spring.

But again, we can already do that in schools down.

There's.

>> And not only schools that their schools that do pledge allegiance every day, the district and I'm from we do that every every year that we've been Mayor elementary schools, whatever.

So it's something we can already do you know, when it's really not going to have.

I mean, you say we will have a moment of silence and it will happen.

But a lot of people are doing that now.

>> Are you for it or against it?

For again?

It is a here's what I don't like it.

I like pretty obviously.

But is that is as superintendent my 17, it's coming out at me.

I hate when things are mandated on school districts in for years.

I mean every session I will be approved.

I'll be watching what they do.

Here comes more mandates tonight, Golden home for Sunday, KET, on so I think we just have to be careful.

and we asked so much of our schools nowadays.

>> I'm gravely concerned because I think the moment of silence laws and they're happening across the nation are just strategies to return prior to our schools.

Everyone, anyone can pray during the school day, but to mandate a moment of silence.

And I watched the committees today.

I watched the KET broadcasts on them and the person sitting next to Senator Gardner was not an educator.

He was not a researcher.

He was a rabbi.

And so don't tell me no matter what he says that there's not an intent for this to be prayer, we can do it already.

And I think that this just puts another burden on teachers in order to make the kids sit quietly.

And I think unless we come back and do something serious about cell phones, majority of those older kids are going to be sitting there listening to music during that moment of silence.

>> This mandates, a moment of silence, says nothing about prayer whatsoever at that scene on the floor.

To me, there's a difference between talking about religion as I see a sword or shield with you being used for sort and totally opposed to the actions, but it.

But it is being being used as a shield to help people a cold or reflect.

Do whatever they can do that.

>> Our panel also talked about legislation rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion or dei programs, policies and offices in higher education.

You can hear that and more about Kentucky education online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight?

At 26 years old.

He's the youngest lawmaker in the state legislature.

His interest in politics began before he was even old enough to vote.

JT Payne is an assistant principal at Henderson County High School in Western Kentucky.

Our Laura Rogers paid him a visit there as we continue getting to know the 2025 freshman class of the Kentucky General Assembly.

♪ ♪ >> I was born in Henderson County Andrade, Kentuckyian, now live within the city of Henderson.

>> City and county that JT pay now represents in the Kentucky General Assembly after the district 11 seat opened last year.

I was really overwhelmed at the amount of people that reached out to me and said we think you should do this.

We've got kind of open doors at the right time.

Payne has long been interested in politics and served as student body president at Murray State University had been involved in different campaigns.

And I intern for Congressman calmer and college and I really enjoyed that experience.

She studied agricultural education at Murray State and would go on to teach Henderson County High School.

It served as adviser at the greenhouse where we spent some of our conversation by grandparents operate at a farm.

And I grew up in a rural area of the county this year.

He was promoted to principal of the career and Technical Education unit Anderson County High School actually has the largest CTE unit under one roof in the state of Kentucky.

>> Pain is passionate about helping young people prepare for the workforce.

This legislative session, he filed House Bill 193 pertaining to dual credit scholarships.

We actually in Kentucky have one of the most robust dual credit scholarship programs.

My bill was to clean up some of the statutory language to make the program more paying calls, managing his education career with his work as a state lawmaker, a, quote, balancing act that's worth it.

When you look at any role community and then we say a lot of similarities between the far West and the Far East.

As you know, we have to fight for resources for our area, be on the Golden Triangle.

So I think it's important to have legislators that understand the importance.

>> Fighting for rule Kentucky, whether that be on the east or the West and to bring those resources back com.

>> As an educator, he wants to continue to see stability in the state retirement system and to ease the regulatory burden on teachers.

Think a priority for the legislature should be to stand out of the way.

Right?

We now that teachers are experts.

We know that our administrator is are the experts in the field and they're going to do what's best for students.

Pain also wants to see more productive dialogue focused on policy over party.

I have friends, colleagues that are Democrats and I'm a conservative and that's the way that it should And >> and that's not what's necessarily marketed on the news.

And that's not what he's necessarily politically popular.

But I still view terms like collaboration and compromise.

Have you those things is as positive terms.

And that's what I taught my students in the classroom.

And then that's what I'm going to lift back.

>> Payne says he's seen that collaboration and compromise firsthand and city and county government in his own community.

>> We have a lot of mixed representation as far as party goals, but they all work together hand in hand.

And we've seen a lot of growth as you drive around our area.

You see new businesses use a new housing development.

You say a lot of people being engaged in the culture of our community and it's that bipartisan collaboration that I live and that I thrive.

And and that I feel like Henderson has adopted as a member of Gen Z, he describes what he believes to be his generation's priorities.

And they really don't sound that different from that of many others.

Really.

Our generation wants to see.

>> People's lives improved.

All right.

We want to say the world be an easier place to succeed.

>> We want to say lower prices.

We want to see more friendly tax policy.

>> And pain hopes to be a voice for those priorities.

Frankfort, Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura Representative JT Pains District, 11 comprises all of Henderson County.

And his first year on the job.

The head of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System says he's working to Right-size the organization.

>> And program offerings and be able to expand in areas like health care where there's growing demand.

Ryan corals, who served in the state legislature for 5 years before becoming state AG commissioner is a product of the community college system himself.

And part 2 of my interview with Dr Corals.

He shares Kctcs his proposal on dual credit and addresses questions about faculty tenure.

We pick up our conversation with efforts to ease the course credit transfer from two-year colleges to four-year universities.

>> Well, regardless what happens this session, we are already working very hard with our our ones like UK, a new bill to renew transfer agreements in just 2 weeks ago, we signed a historic deal with Western Kentucky University and the other comprehensives are in line as well to make sure that if you are a student at kctcs, you get your associates degree that it's a seamless transfer to a public and also a private universities here in Kentucky as well.

However, we still occasionally sometimes hear of a student that took a class that that did not.

I have that class transferred.

So we're trying to work the kinks out.

We know that the General Assembly cpe the governor's office all want to make sure that it is seamless.

One, Kentucky, higher education system and kctcs.

We have 14,000 students every year transfer to a four-year.

And so we're going to continue to run your transfer agreements, but also identify perhaps across or to that may have to take.

All right.

Yeah.

>> I did not say that I was going to ask is but it made me think about it because there were some discussions today a little bit that didn't quite go there about 10 yr.

Yes.

And you know, the representative Tipton has the bill about.

It's not really called tenure as he pointed out during a committee hearing.

But it has some effect on the firing of faculty and even the president should be or she not be doing his or her job.

>> What will be the potential impacts on Kctcs if that measure were to pass?

>> Well, we do have tenure, faculty members at Kctcs but not not every college as well.

So again, we're gonna wait to see what's actually in the bill to see how it would impact us as well.

But as it as a sitting president, I would encourage an annual evaluation, which is actually required my board of regents.

And so for us, we're gonna wait to see how it impacts us.

Yeah.

>> What do you see as being some pressure points on the community and technical college system where we have a commitment to access for all affordability and workforce.

And so one thing we pride ourselves on is that we're half the price of a four-year public university, Kentucky to make sure that we pride ourselves on the market at the same time, 4,000 full-time teammates, a kctcs.

And so when it comes to our budget, we like to say where the value leader in Kentucky.

But the same time you make sure tuition is affordable.

And so there's always going to be budgetary pressures as well.

This thing is is that we're happy to be educating Kentuckians.

He had a couple bumps in the road, whether they're in our prisons or jails.

They're seeking treatment at a recovery center across Kentucky.

And also don't forget, we're the largest provider Gds in our state over half a Geezer ward through kctcs.

And so we're educating Kentuckians that that may need a little extra help.

It costs us a little bit more.

So that's another area.

We're proud of that work.

Well, thank you.

Dr calls.

Always a pleasure.

Thank you so much.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Well, its springtime in Kentucky, a lot of students are choosing where to go to start a college career.

High schools are currently taking our dual credit classes.

And so start with us.

And the sky's the limit after you get through a kctcs.

The.

>> So that reminds me of another question is there's a recommendation for you all to be the sole dual credit.

Is that right?

And and why do you want to have such ownership of it?

>> We'll right now.

Kctcs provides 70% of all do credit in Kentucky.

And so my team after all for years.

So of an analysis recommended that we become like Florida where we are the sole provider.

However, we know that that politically it will not happen.

And so we just want to start a conversation about dual credit in Kentucky because now there's so many choices for students.

I think it is appropriate that we work with CP and our other public universities and private so that our high schoolers have a better and maybe a phising opportunity when they choose which store credit classes are in the Texas where the start that conversation.

>> Enrollment at Kentucky's community and technical colleges is up by 7% from this time last year.

President Coral says Kctcs is working toward a more active role in preparing students and aviation maintenance as well as stone masonry.

♪ >> Yesterday the U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's choice to be secretary of labor.

But both of Kentucky's U.S. senators voted against her.

Lori Chavez, Durham, or is a former Republican member of calmer Congress from Oregon.

The Senate confirmed her 67 to 32 with 3 Republicans voting against are Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul were among those 3.

They were critical of her for being too pro union during her time in Congress.

In a statement, Senator McConnell said, quote, Lori Chavez-deremer is a record pushing policies that force hardworking Americans into union membership.

So just more of the same, most Americans believe joining a union should be a personal choice, not a mandate, which is why more than half the states including Kentucky, have adopted right to work laws, unquote.

Senator McConnell also voted against Trump nominees.

Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy junior.

Senator Paul continues to criticize the president's tariff policies and their impact on the stock market.

Today, President Trump announced he was doubling U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum then reversed a decision.

The Dow Jones Industrial average ended today down 478 points that follows yesterday's 890 point decline.

♪ Senator Paul says investors are voting against the idea of higher tariffs.

And here's what he said today on a post on X, formerly Twitter, quote, the stock market is comprised of millions of people who are simultaneously trading.

The market indexes are a distillation of sentiment when the markets tumble like this in response to tariffs, it pays to listen, unquote.

President Trump wants to see someone run against Congressman Thomas Massie of northern Kentucky's 4th congressional District.

Trump says Massey should have an opponent and the 2026 Republican primary because of mass his opposition to a budget plan.

The House just passed this afternoon.

The budget plan, if passed by if passed, would KET the government running through September.

Massey says he will vote against it because he says it keeps government spending the same level as the Biden administration.

Here's what the president said about Massey quote, Congressman Thomas Massie of beautiful Kentucky is an automatic no on just about everything.

Despite the fact that he has always voted for continuing resolutions in the past, he should be primary at all caps and I will lead the charge against him.

He's just another all caps grand Stander.

Who's too much trouble and not worth the fight in, quote.

♪ do it for us on Kentucky edition tonight.

But we hope to see you right back here again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook X, formerly Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

>> And send us a story idea by email to public affairs at KET Dot Org.

Much more coming from the state Capitol tomorrow.

And that's where all be.

And I hope to see you then take good care.

So long.

♪