>> Where >> in Trumbull County surveying the damage after a Thursday tornado.

>> And we must to learn from one another.

>> Does that mean it's time to Ditch Dei policies on Kentucky's college campuses.

>> I am a firm believer in the housing first approach.

I really deeply believe housing is medicine.

Housing is health care.

>> And a home and a healthier life.

More on the project giving medically vulnerable Kentucky hands.

Both.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday March, the 15th, we made it to the weekend.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Severe storms yesterday caused damage and left thousands without power.

>> But it doesn't appear anyone was seriously hurt.

Governor Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency after a confirmed EF 2 tornado in Trumbull County along the Ohio River yesterday afternoon.

Touchdown about 6,000 customers lost power with more than half of those in Trumbull County.

The state says the storm's damage more than 100 buildings today.

We went to Milton in Trumbull County to see how the community is doing.

>> We were ready for it.

mean, everything worked are times where to send out alerts.

But we just didn't expect it.

>> So right now we're doing damage We have 5 teams out doing damage assessment.

We're somewhere between 50 and 100 homes total and businesses.

I would say 20 to 30 of those are either destroyed or majorly affected.

We really have a bunch more just from knowing, you know, we have we have water companies that are running out of water.

We have nursing homes that are on generator power.

Our shelters, injury power, so does have a backup generators.

Is the primary goal that we're going to be focusing on.

You know, that's the hardest right now as we're still expecting the power to be off until midnight tonight.

You know, so office walk to firstly, we're all banded together.

I got probably 15 other emergency management people from all across the state there here.

Hopefully.

>> The storm in northern Kentucky was just one system that swept through the state yesterday.

It was a loud night in Lexington and across central Kentucky as thunderstorms roll throughout the region.

Today we spoke with the National Weather Service in Louisville about staying safe during severe weather.

>> Breckenridge County need county in a sauce.

Really big thunderstorms where there was some rotation in the clouds there.

But luckily, as far as we know, the players happened just yet, but they had some wind damage there and some hail lot of places saw not just tornadoes, but a lot of wind damage.

A lot of big, large hail and those who do just as much if not more damage sometimes and tornadoes.

So there's a good thing actually out there that bodies of water will stop tornadoes.

And we saw a really cool video where this is a myth and not the case or tornado actually cross in Indiana near Madison, Indiana.

It crossed into Trumbull County.

The air and what right across the river.

No problems at all.

Kentucky is a unique in the Midwest here where you have a different air masses to collide and every march, April may springtime, you get the winter and that's leaving us the cold air and the warm air from the south.

A lot of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

And when those 2 air masses cold light, you get some really, really big thunderstorms and tornadoes.

So that's why it's very important right now to have a plan in place to know ahead of time.

What's going to happen in severe weather strikes?

>> Governor Andy Beshear will tour storm damage in Trumbull County tomorrow morning.

Now on to Frankfort news, Kentucky's House voted to get rid of dei or diversity, equity and inclusion policies on college campuses.

Many Republicans argue dei offices do more harm than good Democrats.

Caution what Kentucky's colleges and economy would look like without it.

Our June Leffler has more as we begin tonight's Legislative update.

>> Universities want every student to succeed and that sometimes means giving extra support to black low-income veteran where students with disabilities.

>> And we treat students differently on those bases because they are different on those bases.

And we and it's not in a way to discriminate against other students that or not, but it's a way to provide additional supports those students that meet those criteria in order to help them to be successful.

>> The council on post-secondary education says Dei is essential to reach the state's goal of getting 60% of adults, a college degree by twenty-thirty.

We simply can't afford to leave anybody behind.

But Senate Bill 6 says Dei is not living up to its promise.

Some students say these are just administrative offices and they are doing the work that student Resource Center's are doing, which would be protected, says Republican Representative Jennifer Decker.

They feel uncomfortable on campus.

They can come in there and there's there's spaces they can sleep.

They can eat.

They can study did visit Dei office on one of the same campuses that I have this at all of those spaces.

And I ask if if that office had much in him interaction with students and the answer was no Senate.

Bill.

6 also tells college professors how to teach controversial topics.

And that is the only thing that is not allowed in this bill is.

For something to be taught without allowing debate when it comes to legislating around campus speech.

Opponents say the bill reads like word salad and doublespeak.

>> This bill reads like a Choose Your own adventure Park.

It shouldn't be that we have to flip forward to find this and put it back where to find them.

>> Dekker overhauled states Senator Mike Wilson's bill, her Anti Dei Bill House Bill 9 never made it to a committee vote in the House.

>> When is the last that you spoke to Senator Mike Wilson about Senate Bill 6 or House Bill?

9?

But children.

I took the House Bill 9 to him.

We discussed it.

We discuss the differences.

>> And I have not spoken to him since.

>> Nearly every Democrat spoke out against Senate Bill 6 on the House floor Friday, including those who are part of marginalized groups themselves based on disability, faith or race.

All of our lives are different.

Our life experiences are different.

And we must to learn from one another few Republicans spoke in favor of the bill on the House floor, but nearly all did vote for the bill.

All House Democrats voted no for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

>> Senate Bill 6 now heads back to the Senate with the proposed changes from the House.

Dozens of states are considering Anti Dei bills.

Conservative groups like the Manhattan Institute and the Heritage Foundation both spoke in support of Senate Bill 6 to a House Education Committee last night.

Kentuckians will have more than elected offices to cast votes on this November.

A proposed constitutional amendment that could enable more school choice options.

4 Kentucky students was approved today.

The Kentucky Senate passed House Bill.

Half past the bill.

2078.

It passed the House earlier this week on a 66 to 31 vote.

It's next headed to the November ballot for Kentucky voters to decide the question they'll be asked is whether to amend the Kentucky Constitution to allow public money to be used on non public or private schools.

The Family Foundation supports House Bill 2 executive director.

David was reacted to today's Senate vote by saying, quote, Education always works best when parents are empowered with educational choices for their children, I'm thankful the General Assembly is looking to move Kentucky forward by providing families greater freedom to choose the best education for their children, end quote, the Council for Better Education opposes House bill to its spokesperson.

Tom Shelton, a former school superintendent put out this statement, quote, starving public schools of the critical resources they need to operate effectively.

Not only compromises the quality of education available to every child in our state, but also erodes the principle of equitable access to education for all end quote.

Letting Kentucky voters decide who can and cannot vote is another question.

They'll be asked to decide this November Senate Bill.

One, 43 ask voters to decide if the state constitution should be amended to prevent non citizens from voting.

Having already passed the full Senate.

The bill cleared the full House today and there was robust debate today on House Bill 5.

That's the extensive anti-crime bill that passed the Senate today.

And it now goes back to the House for final approval.

You can see all of today's nearly four-hour debate online at KET Dot org.

Slash legislature.

Checking up the structure of the state government agency has stirred some controversy and passionate reaction this weekend.

Frankfort, Senate bill 3, 6, to move the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to the Department of Agriculture and its new Republican Commissioner Jonathan Shell.

Fish and Wildlife is currently under the tourism arts and Heritage Cabinet, which is overseen by Democratic Governor Andy Beshear sponsored by state.

Senator Jason, how Senate Bill 3 would also strip Governor Beshear from being able to appoint commission members to the department and instead give that authority to Commissioner Shell speaking on the Senate floor today.

Senator Howell said the bill is needed after years of conflict between the governor and the Fish and Wildlife Department.

>> The longstanding friction between this governor's office and Fish and Wildlife is well documented.

It's almost not the conflict back and forth between the governor and the fish and wildlife, but it's a cost that comes with this.

Removing fish and wildlife from this perch seeing cause fish and wildlife, more money to buy the things that they need to do to operate.

Unfortunately, this current governor doesn't have a monopoly on interference with fish and Wildlife.

This situation is going back through the governor that preceded him and governors and proceed to do.

While much as discussed in this process about politics.

To me, this move makes sound policy >> But several sportsman organizations representing Kentucky Hunters and anglers have been vocal in their opposition.

So was state Senator Robin Webb, the Democrat from Grayson who herself is a hunter and rancher.

>> Opposition to the U.S. is not in the fans of the executive branch, not a commissioner.

Thought about the commission.

It's not about the appointees.

This is about the future of an agency.

>> That is the one of that.

Were the envy of the nation.

Every sportsman's organization is against this.

I'm not one e-mail for.

>> A congressional Sportsmen's Foundation.

Our latest national legislative pop caucuses, including the collegiate call.

This is the governor's caucuses, which are governors, not a member, but, you know, we are all operating under one umbrella.

The National Sportsmen's Alliance, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Delta Waterfowl Field and Stream wrote an article about it.

Kentucky Backroads Hunters and anglers by asked Boone and Crockett well forever present Forever.

American Sport Fishing Association Sport Club International.

Look at Kentucky Sports, one of the National Wild Turkey Federation have all come out strongly against these bills.

And I stand in solidarity with the sportsmen and women and this.

>> They say that don't have a lot of us here to represent.

>> I'm against this measure.

>> Floor amendment attached to the bill by Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer also seeks to attach the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to the Department of Agriculture.

Senator Thayer said the governor would still be able to appoint members to the horse Racing Commission.

But the appointments would be subject to Senate confirmation Senate Bill 3 narrowly passed the full Senate today with 20 yes votes and 16, no votes.

It now heads to the House for consideration.

Time now for into week review of what's been happening in the state capital.

That's all we're going to have time for.

And we have our 2 favorites with us.

We have Bob Average and Trey Grayson.

We're going to dispense with titles because you know who they are.

>> Let's get right to it.

The budget.

So the Senate version of the budget bills they passed.

So now the stage is set for negotiations which could be happening even this weekend and Monday.

Right?

So talk to us about the difference between the 2 bills, mainly and how long will they actually come to an agreement?

How long would take him to come to an agreement?

>> So if you look at, I think that to me, the biggest difference was the Senate spent down more the rainy day fund and then allocate it to economic development projects all across the state.

The house, there are some of that, but it wasn't as there were not a lot like Pacific earmarks.

And so when McDaniel is going through, 25 million for this 150 million for this to me, it will be fascinating to see is how do you not leave those in right after rolling him out?

And it surprised me a little because I thought that my way into the final document to this to make winners and But they it was over close to 2 million extra dollars in the rainy Day fund.

The Senate spent over the House.

I figured history and many others they would go to conference with a long list of things that neither had finally decided and work those out and balances in that process.

>> Im proud that back and forth.

Not going to be that way.

Smithfield said citing so many significant things.

Now, when you go in, I'm sure there's a houseless that doesn't exactly match a right cause or many requests.

The Senate reportedly had some filings just on there.

Email us.

Your idea kind of thing with a lot of detail a lot of emphasis, a lot of passion.

They narrowed it down.

But still a lot of things out there that people will care about.

Maybe not nearly on the scale as 50 or 100 million dollars, but key to projects and programs and the Senate version also kind of sets the course for the for the income tax trigger in 2026.

Right on track with the House say that they said they didn't do that, but perhaps that might be a byproduct.

>> Yeah.

And that's where the that's where we have House Bill one and House Bill 6 or structure so that the house but one draws down the rainy day fund.

The Senate budget makes clear that that doesn't count for the math.

All right.

And determining the budget surplus.

Retirees got a good shout out to an extra the 13th check that have been proposed by the governor is in lieu of a cost of living adjustment yet.

But I think the retirees might.

>> Chalk that up as a win.

Yeah.

The state and the think about that is it's a one time thing.

The right.

And that was McDaniel come making that point.

We want to be a one-time investments.

We don't want to recurring things because we don't expect necessarily >> to have this much money and that they would rather use recurring savings to cut income tax right.

>> So now let's talk about the couple of controversial bills.

I mean, this has been a big week between the Kentucky Safer Act, which we may get to, but also the Anti Dei bill that affects Kentucky colleges and universities.

That debate just wrapped up shortly before we started to talk here in this would ban the dei offices programs, initiatives, efforts even deal with scholarships.

We heard people on the floor talking about how this could affect athletics Where is this?

What the what is this all about and why now?

>> there's been debate all across the country in Florida was really the first state that move to try address the advocates of these look, those would say is an overreach by what college administrators were policymakers.

And so to kind of rein that in for the for the pass this bill and then the man had been sued.

The Heritage Foundation of been kind of singing the Gospel across the country.

So all in legislatures, all across the country that are controlled by the Republicans are having this conversation.

What's interesting about this particular debate is there was a House version.

The Senate version, the Senate version was narrower than the House that didn't go quite as far.

The Senate passed its version of the House House had passed that they basically stripped out the Senate version, put the House version in and from what we can tell it wasn't exactly done in conjunction with the Senate's.

I think one of the things to watch over the next week or so is where they reached consensus.

We saw this happened last year on the transgender The the House took the Senate bill.

One 50 change that made it much more consistent House priorities and ultimately they prevailed.

So I will this will be enough to fight this coming week and it could but nothing passes them.

I something will happen when the 2.

And we know that.

Doctor Eli Capilouto, president of UK had come out on SB 6, but we haven't heard anything about this new revised really House Bill 9 with Jennifer Decker's.

>> This time around, we know the universities also have some asks.

And so they're going to be very careful about how far they go with this right?

>> They will be.

But this is important to university life and also are important just in the last 20 or 30 years of the movement we made as a country to be more inclusive, more sensitive, more open to how we build a workforce.

How we build a future.

This is quite a debate that was probably the longest debate of the today hours.

Yeah, yeah.

I was 4 and emotions.

That's right.

>> White, Anderson, to see because athletics was mentioned quite a bit weather.

We'll hear anything from a call-up Harry.

>> Or stoops.

And you said in the ICU, the saying too, black athletes.

Yeah.

Down toward a skip Kentucky.

That's right.

I mean, that came out this week, right?

So that doesn't bode well, perhaps.

Okay.

So now let's talk about the site safer, Kentucky at which they were still debating.

Actually, they just take it up and we started to record.

>> And this is the big sweeping anti crime bill that sets no more increases for some penalties.

3 strikes law, all of these types of things.

And it had 2 Republicans kind of going head-to-head on this.

Senator Schickel John Schickel whose bill did prevail or its version of the rewrite.

the judiciary Chairman, Whitney Westerfield.

>> Yeah, this to have fought over the last couple years on the approach to criminal criminal Westerfield has been in the camp that has been became or the criminal justice reform movement over the last few years, which is kind of lost favor in the legislature and check all is often often voted no on this particular bills.

They're both leaving.

So it's a it's kind of poignant with the 2 of them kind of battling for the last time.

So say for Kentucky Act, it was unveiled that like its last fall.

Yeah, and overtime and Samara.

But it's a big omnibus criminal justice reform package.

It was narrow from its first press conference to its second press conference to it was introduced in the House too and was passed the House.

This version is different.

So we're going to have to iron out those differences.

But it does appear that there's a real high priority for both chambers of leaders of both chambers.

I'm confident something will come you know, next week, Schickel prevailed over Westerfield in their final battle on 7 criminal was right.

And I think a real quickly, Bob, you know, one of the things that Whitney Westerfield said Art for a walk in the studio is that there are groups who are opposed to this bill who will not come out and say it because they too have a stake into the budget.

>> Et cetera.

And they don't want to be against law enforcement, right?

Who wants to be against crime or for crime as it were absolutely.

>> Given the rising crime in America and certain Kentucky places in the last few years.

It's not a shocker that we put so much emphasis on this.

It was an enormous bill.

Lot of pieces, a lot of parts, lot of interested a pro or of like a lot of legislation.

This may be there to talk to the future rearranged will to perhaps try the price tag is Could be a 10 years.

Yeah.

And early estimate was 60 million a year for that kind of Law enforcement taxpayers and lawmakers are going to want to see results right now.

>> We'll KET our eyes on is going to be a big week next week, even though they don't gavel in until Thursday.

They're having meetings that start could be this weekend.

We know there are some that are scheduled on Monday.

Yeah, this today.

So we'll see what happens when they go back in.

Thank you all.

Rest stops going to be a big week next week.

♪ >> We turn now to some medical news, an organization with the mission to improve health outcomes for those living with HIV has expanded its outreach by creating affordable housing for medically vulnerable Kentucky INS Kentucky.

Public Health Commissioner Doctor Steven Stack spoke at the first fundraising event for the initiative telling the crowd Housing is health care.

>> There's so many circumstances where people are such a risk because they just don't have a roof over their head.

People living in stable housing, stable, affordable housing have much better chances of good health outcomes in their health care.

There's a direct correlation between those 2 things.

I am a firm believer in the housing first approach.

>> I really deeply believe housing is Madison.

Housing is health care that when someone doesn't have a stable place to stay when they don't have a safe place to stay when they have a place to get it a proper rest really can't store medications where they can have proper nutrition.

You don't have a chance at having a healthy life.

You don't.

You don't even have a fighting chance of a short when you're struggling just to get by with shelter yourself, let alone dealing with all the other necessities of life.

>> We're short of affordable housing in Kentucky.

So we're trying to raise money and raise support building in creating new housing units with the greatest need.

Here is where people that are medically sometimes just one medical crisis away from not being able to afford their daily living needs next, then the next month.

So the key is to get people house and then work with them on their critical needs overtime.

>> I'm all for to be safe, supportive, secure housing during my recovery.

Convalescence that can change for better with a ball when they took the lead after care.

I was able to thrive and he'll more deeply to support provided to the ground work that helped me restructure, re, energize and refocus.

The basic needs platform.

The increase my capacity to care more fully independently for myself.

I don't know that we spend enough time talking about the cost for.

>> Creating housing.

It's not team.

So there's a lot of resources and enables doing this event today so that we can raise critical funds and make that contribution as well.

>> They've all Kentucky Open Stonewall Terrace, its first affordable housing development for medically vulnerable individuals last year.

♪ >> Enjoy some good food music and other fun activities this weekend.

Of course, our Toby gives reviews your options.

And this look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> The Bluegrass Hall of Fame and museum is taking over downtown Owensboro this weekend for the Great American Bluegrass Jab enjoy downtown businesses.

Learn about the history of the genre and of course, here the best the Bluegrass has to offer from Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder to the Kentucky State Fatal Championship.

Owensboro will be leading bluegrass and you won't want to miss it.

Somerset's 12th annual Shamrock Shuffle is tomorrow morning.

Participate in the 5 K come in costume or cheer on the runners.

But no matter what.

Don't miss the huge after party downtown tomorrow to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day Pulaski style.

It's march.

And you know what that means?

We're whittling down the best basketball teams in the country.

But it's sports.

Aren't your thing.

Franklin County is a great March Madness event that everyone can get in on downtown Frankfort.

March Madness.

Burger Week kicks off tomorrow and local restaurants want you to check out their unique $7 Burger Creations.

The flavors of Frankfort will be on full display.

Sure to check it out.

The Whisky files series is returning to Hermitage Farm and Ocean.

And the first tasting is Wednesday with Carson.

Taylor, a peerless Distilling Taylor is one of the most accomplished professionals and the whisky industry will be providing his expert insight as you sip Kentucky's most iconic beverage.

Enjoy the commentary.

The whiskey and even some time with the farms.

Resident courses.

Most of us have heard about the solar eclipse coming up on April 8th.

But if you want to learn more about this special celestial event, Rough River Dam State Resort Park.

Has you covered serve a Tory education.

Scientists from WKU will be presenting a program all about the eclipse.

If you want to impress your friends and family with your scientific solar knowledge, this event is the perfect opportunity Duke is known for its impressive quell the scene.

But Eastern Kentucky is showing up this weekend to display their quality quelled artist.

The Raleigh County regional, quote, show features 9 counties worth of talented quilters.

And you're invited to view their hard work tomorrow, witnessed the winning quilts and shop the many craft vendors and booths that will also be at the event.

Tomorrow in Louisville is the 3rd annual pro.

Amber Go Bad Burgos.

A unique Kentucky students served with cornbread or corn muffins and the best bird use from around the city will be available for you to try best cocktail.

Invest corn bread will also be awarded to this event is shaping up to be a delicious opportunity.

Be sure to get the barbecue Bash Derby season is fast approaching.

And if you want to show stopping had for this year's race, the hats on for healing option in Louisville is a great place to find one this Thursday.

Enjoy food cocktails in over 250 hats and fascinators to bet on funds raised benefit the coast are for Kids.

Child Abuse Prevention Act, so bring some friends and find the perfect hat.

And that's what's happening around the Commonwealth.

I'm Joe, be good.

>> Thank youto be lots of cool things to do all over the state and we hope you make it a great weekend and come back here Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire.

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

Send us a story idea.

Public affairs at KET DOT Org and look for us on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

It's been great to be with you this week.

Hope you have a terrific weekend.

I'm Renee shot into a sea again.

Take good care.