>> this is at salute.

Willful in tension.

UL.

Kentucky lawmakers didn't hold back as they debated been passed.

A bill affecting transgender students.

>> Our ability to work together to really look at exactly what do we need in schools and how can we prepare our future teachers so that they're ready?

>> Erasing the teacher shortage by getting future educators trained and ready for the class room.

>> We're no longer satisfied to be a food bank that waits where hunger to come to us.

>> Every a food bank is taking food to the people with the help of local police.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

The only entered Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday, March 17th, Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off your weekend with us.

It was a mad dash to pass bills before midnight and the start of a 10 day recess that began today for Kentucky.

Lawmakers scores of measures were advanced out near breakneck pace yesterday to get to the governor's desk for him to consider among them a bill affecting transgender youth that combined ideas on school policies and parental rights with restrictions on gender, affirming care for trans kids.

Meanwhile, a bill to legalize medical marijuana hangs in the balance.

Our Casey Parker Bell has more on both of those measures and tonight's legislative update.

>> This is an app salute.

>> Willful in tension.

UL.

Hey, it.

>> There were fiery legislative speeches on some of the most controversial legislation of the session played yesterday afternoon.

Some legislators called Senate Bill one 50 a life or death bill for trans students.

>> This bill is not about protecting kids.

It is about silencing kids.

It is about bullying kids.

And it is about eliminating children that you do not understand.

>> Senate Bill, one 50 originally contained language allowing teachers to call trans students by the pronouns of their birth gender.

But legislators added language that would ban transition care for trans youth.

Some of that language was found in the original version of House Bill 4.70, the 2 bills combined to create one massive bill on trans issues.

Legislators also added language that would require schools create policies on bathroom.

Use policies that will require students to use bathrooms, an agreement with their gender at birth.

There was disagreement among Republican ranks on whether the bill went too far.

And you have a night.

>> An issue of protecting children from potentially going down a course to destroy their lives and never be able to get it back.

And some think that's a principle, right, that you should be able to make that decision.

I strongly disagree with that.

>> What would it hurt?

To allow doctors to have access to these puberty blockers to give these kids time.

>> To work through their teeth, the issues that they face.

Why can't we trust their doctors as we do for every other issue?

>> Language in the amended Senate Bill, one, 50 does allow for mental health treatment of trans youth.

Something that was restricted and House Bill 4.70, the Senate gave SB One 50 final passage last night with a 30 to 7 vote.

Ben Senator Danny Carroll was the only Republican senator to vote against the measure.

Yesterday.

The Senate also made history for approving medical marijuana legislation for the first time after refusing to take up bills on medical marijuana in previous sessions Senate Bill, 47 move through the upper chamber.

The House has passed bills legalizing the drug in previous sessions.

Some senators voting for the bill changed their mind on the legislation.

None more notably the Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer.

>> And people have asked me why.

Because they know about.

Stubborn guy.

Why did you change your mind?

One word.

>> 2 Republican senators who have worked in the medical field had differing opinions on whether the bill should be passed.

>> With the interim growing techniques and the increased concentration of these chemical compounds.

I'm not really convinced.

>> That this.

it's a.

>> And I don't know the science behind this.

A truly don't.

Who knows.

And health care for 40 years, but I've heard enough experiences.

The people benefiting from pick, especially children with seizure disorders.

And our Vietnam Desert Storm.

Afghan veterans too.

Find some relief from post traumatic stress disorder.

>> Senate Bill 47 wouldn't go into effect until 2025. given Kentucky legislators another session to make changes before medical marijuana becomes legal.

The measure would allow people with medical conditions like cancer and chronic pain to receive a medical marijuana card and obtain the drug.

>> And by passing this, we will say give our citizens the opportunity.

To use medical cannabis for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Senegal.

47 passed the Senate.

26 to 11 but still has to get approval from the House before being sent on to the governor.

The House has passed medical marijuana legislation in 2 of the previous 3 legislative sessions.

We'll be talking about LGBTQ+ issues and the General Assembly's recent actions Monday night on Kentucky tonight and we want your questions and Send them to us.

That's Monday at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

More than 100 bills are now waiting for Governor Andy Beshear to review and potentially sign into law.

That includes Senate Bill.

One 62, a bill that goes along with House Bill 3 and reforming the state's Department of Juvenile Justice.

Key provisions of Senate Bill one.

62 are investing.

55 million dollars over 2 years to support comprehensive reform.

Transitioning djj back to a regional model requiring the state's 8 djj centers to be under the supervision of one person who reports directly to the commissioner and requiring the facilities to have sufficient treatment for children with severe emotional and mental needs.

Now other bills waiting on the governor's desk include House Bill.

One 53 commonly referred to as the Second Amendment sanctuary bill.

It would ban local law enforcement from enforcing federal firearms bans a similar bill in Missouri was recently ruled unconstitutional.

House Bill 5.38 school discipline.

Well is also ready for the governor's signature.

It allows teachers to remove disruptive and violent students from their class and allows principles to remove them permanently for the remainder of the school year.

It also provides options for alternative education and Senate Bill 107, which would give the Senate confirmation power over the appointment of a new state education commissioner lawmakers return on March 29th for the final 2 days of the 2023 General Assembly.

The governor has until then to issue any vetoes.

Secretary of state Michael Adams said he received 5 bills with the governor's signature on them today.

One of those bills, the Senate bill.

28 that allow small farm wineries to sell and deliver up to 30,000 gallons of wine to retailers each year as opposed to going through a distributor.

The bill is in response to similar legislation for microbreweries that passed last year.

Governor Beshear also signed House Bill 4.44.

Giving most state workers a 6% raise.

>> This is something that you all have earned and you deserve it.

I'm really grateful to each and every one of you.

So let's sign into law.

So, you know, the 6% is coming.

>> The race takes effect July first of this year, some Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice employees are not covered by this because they were given a separate res.

>> Time now for in the week with us a major political developments in Kentucky, particularly in the state Capitol this weekend.

We have our election night commentators with OSS, former Kentucky secretaries of state Bob Babbage, who is the founder of the government relations firm babij co-founder and Trey Grayson who is with Frost Brown Todd and he Iran's there government relations affiliate Civic Point always have to look at my notes on that part.

Just said Frost and that cover, right?

OK?

So we had a lot of things happening in the mad Dash.

This now veto period that we're in for 10 days trail.

Start with you.

What are some highlights of what was passed and headed to the governor's desk?

>> So I think a couple of the big highlights we say highlights were not acting are not being judgmental.

Yeah.

Just to be clear, the green machine issue got There was consensus to actually prohibit the gray machines is of the the slot like machines that are in restaurants and bars and communities towards one of the places.

It was not only the legislature and the governor signed it immediately.

So while the bill doesn't actually go into effect until summertime that she's done and it wasn't clear where that was going to be headed.

When I think of us, let's predict it would have said that.

But we weren't sure medical marijuana.

Yeah.

Cleared the Senate for the first time with a pretty big news yesterday.

Still has some work.

You know, they still have to go to the governor would have personally sign and Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer came across to get to the other side there and explain why he was voting.

Yes.

And so what are your?

>> Highlights couldn't quite a baggage there said in a word it was compassion that pulled him over the 2 most ask about bills, at least in our experience even before the session.

Medical marijuana and sports betting.

So one was actually >> a dress in a way that we think it will finish up the other still pending, maybe not enough votes to pass, but by Tuesday of this week, we had 30 bills that are going to have to set.

And then Wednesday, Thursday, Sessions, we had 85 additional bills completed a tremendous amount of work.

Still some think spending bill for change worked on.

Coming up.

sports betting question I'm sure will loom out along with a number of other things.

I think this will be the most active today Vo Brig Ryan, Anderson memory, because so many things are still to come House Bill 5, which is the barrel tax issue for Brain House Bill 9, which is the grants opportunity for Kentucky to secure 7, 8, 9 million dollars roughly speaking of federal money over the next 3 years go into a process.

It kind of sets up a framework for that.

And other things that maybe aren't as big a headline grabber, right?

But people care about a whole lot.

>> Well, the headline grabber.

Yeah, actually, these are headline grabbers.

I think it's the right what happened yesterday with a simple F one, Senate Bill, one safety which took on most of House Bill 04:17AM.

And the point was made that, you know, there's a lot of time spent on a bill that affects one percent of the Kentucky population.

So, you know, why has this risen to the level of prominence and importance for this General Assembly?

>> the do you write about the narrowness of the direct narrowness, but this is an issue that a lot of Republicans care about apparently so much so that even when it looked like it had the issue had had died the day before an that there was a big push by Representative Josh Cowan, how Senator Jay Williams in the Senate to try to figure out and they ended up I think what they call the South Dakota model, which was similar to 4.70, which is that for those who are, you know, they're not alone numbers here.

That's the gender transit.

Germ gender affirming care bill that would have prohibited that.

And then some of the one among other things for them rights bill is how it's framed in and they put them in the house.

>> Along with some of that language about bathroom restroom.

Great locker room.

Yeah, wasn't quite are true bathroom banner.

I know it.

But it essentially leaves the locals to have to Doppler around what will become fans.

>> And so it became it was a really a really heated debate over the over the session and also from the gallery.

You know, lots of really hard only the case.

>> We return.

Now we'd be that we have no way of even met out, We heard it when you heard it, Bob.

>> Because we put 4 hours and on the for those bills you just talked about some in the business community say how about more focus on economic There were steps taken to Ed teachers to create better and faster track for people who want to teach.

Also effort for health care.

Workforce workforce is always a big issue all across the board.

>> But why do we hear the business community come out and strongly and testify against those bills?

>> I'm not sure that dynamic exactly.

But the business community was saying.

For all the time we spent their lives spent time on economics.

There was a manufacturing got at it on to a bill that came off a conference committee.

That was a negative that had to turn into a positive in the business another aspects of economic development law that could have been address along the way were put off to next year and that next year's budget year.

And I and that's often the time when we do those things.

So I think, you know, one of the challenges the business community has in Frankfort is it's got a big it had a very large issue said.

And there are, you know, I I work with a group called can take up its, which was a business coalition.

>> That was that weight in July issued some statements in advance on some of this legislation.

But the supporters of this legislation have were, you know, much more narrowly targeted.

It's also it just a reminder.

I mentioned earlier, all the new people, a lot of the new folks are coming from the EU.

More extreme sides really, of both parties.

Well, the majority party is can flex its muscles.

And so we saw that where leadership was trying to craft a more moderate course.

The original Senate Bill, one Senator Danny carols, the amendment which got approved before was tabled on the House on simple season House before 70, which it would narrow the prohibitions on gender affirming care.

Some opponents of that.

This still didn't like that.

But it was a much, much more measured Still give doctor some ability and flexibility.

But those those look kind of liberal, libertarian and social conservative because there's a lot of them right now and they have a loud voice and kind of, you know, leadership sort of had to go along.

And that's what happened.

>> Well, that of the conversation we have on Kentucky tonight after the session.

Yeah.

About how leadership dinner did or did not do that successfully.

So we'll talk more about that.

The talk to you guys.

Happy Saint Patty's Day Biden and for those who work at tonight, Hope that's a good sign.

Yeah, thanks for that.

Thank you.

>> Thursday, the Kentucky Supreme Court heard arguments in a case involving the removal of a Confederate statue in Louisville, Friends of Louisville, Public the Louisville Metro government accusing the city of improperly removing the statue of John B Castleman from Cherokee Triangle Park in 2020, the group claims the city's landmarks commission did not follow due process and that 2 of the members on the board had a conflict of interest because they worked for then Mayor Greg Fischer who had called for the removal of the statue.

>> The mayor has all the facts and ultimately came out in the Courier Journal and elsewhere that made him kind of.

>> But his footing in concrete with regard to this particular statute for political reasons, which makes it even more significant.

That his appointees were the ones acting upon it.

>> The Jefferson County Attorney's Office told the justices that the appearance of impropriety was not enough to overturn the decision to remove the statue.

Chief Justice Lawrence be Vanmatre question.

That argument.

>> You don't think that voting in favor of your employer on an application where you're at will employee is subject to the regional appearance of impropriety.

Yes, they're saying that's the argument that this is a parent.

I understand the think the wall.

>> As set out and help to hilltop basic resources says we're going to look to the decision and we're going to look to the whether or not there's substantial evidence that supports that decision.

As the ultimate determination.

>> It's not clear when the court will rule on that case.

♪ >> We continue to look at how Kentucky colleges and universities are addressing the teacher shortage as our Laura Rogers tells us, it begins with educating the educator.

>> We just trust in Berks is a sophomore at Western Kentucky University getting her diploma to become a science teacher.

>> Wanting to help students understand something that I find so interesting is why I'm passionate about.

>> Teachers in training are in high demand.

We have fewer students going into teaching, but at the same time we have so many teachers leaving the field.

The reasons for which are very, >> you know, it's not desirable when you see that your teachers are being overworked, like who wants to go into that job.

Teaching is a demanding job.

It's not just a 9 to 5 job.

It's an everyday always thinking about students.

>> Doctor Casey says labor shortages in the school system have worsened since the pandemic.

>> With Super Intendent striving buses, we have teachers that are taking their prep period to go teach another class where the where there's no one to teach the pandemic also change some priorities and the classroom trauma informed care, social, emotional learning at all.

>> Pieces that we touched on earlier but did not have the same focus and it is it with intentionality that we help our teacher candidates prepare as schools increasingly find it difficult to fill open positions.

>> WKU is among the colleges and universities helping to provide solutions.

WKU has been very creative in how we are supporting our districts.

>> It actually our enrollment is up slightly from the numbers we had pre-pandemic.

The thing that makes me the most excited is whenever students get them a homicide like they understand it and they understand the importance that that's the no tie.

Seeing how the knowledge they find in the classroom connects to the real world outside of the box.

What percent Burke says a student ambassador for the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

She's also involved in-kind each program that aims to increase enrollment for the next generation of math and science teachers in Kentucky.

Collins was also in sky, teach.

>> Please ask me questions.

If you don't know where I'm getting this information.

It huge offered a lot of things.

One was observing early in the classroom.

So you've got to watch master teachers in the classroom and then teach those same You designed your own have.

>> Our teacher candidates in the school's learning the school environment, learning the culture and learning how to interact with WKU offers a classified to certified program apprenticeship models and the dual credit program in high schools to encourage and prepare future educators.

>> I feel tga the most important profession we have because now teachers have the opportunity to shape.

I future generations and without strong teachers were not going to have the doctors in the computer programmers in the people we need for future generations.

>> Being in the communities, classrooms and teaching has been a great opportunity to get the hands on experience.

>> Thank you, Laura Rogers for that report.

As we've told you before, WKU is also partnering with Harden County schools to help teacher education majors have less student debt.

They'll match financial aid offered by the school district.

♪ >> Collaboration and resources, equal success.

That's what the Brea Police Department believes as it continues.

Its Berea Cares Initiative launched in 2021.

The initiative has led to various partnerships between police and local resources like the Berea Food Bank.

We spoke to Berea as police Chief Jason Hayes and Tony low from the Berea Foodbank about how the partnership is helping them fight hunger where it lives.

>> The cares initiative sense for collaboration and resources, equal success.

And this was the initiative that was first started by former Chief Eric Scott.

The program created to help us form partnerships and relationships within the community that will benefit the community.

So how we got involved with the food Bank was Tony KET about the cares initiative and wanted to form a partnership there and had reached out to Scott.

It was a really simple thing in a meeting.

One of our board member said, you know >> what if the Brea Police Department had an emergency food box if they encounter a family in the course of their work that needs food.

The chief of police like the idea and the Brea Police Emergency Food Bucks Program was born.

They folded into their Berea Cares program and less than a month later, we had the whole program I've been going.

It's a special box.

That's a place in the trunks of vehicles coming directly from the food Bank.

And Tony, make sure it's food that >> can be in the trunk and cruiser and one expire for people.

You would cook has all the makings for a spaghetti dinner.

Pasta and pasta sauce.

There's beings.

There's rice their soup as peanut butter.

There's other process.

There's a couple of cans of veggies.

There may be some chilling just enough to get people through a couple of days so they can come to the back and for people who can't cook their food, there's open each chef Boyardee and uses and sausages.

Breakfast cereal, sandwiches and things like that.

It's beneficial for the officers to carry the food because we might reach people that might not be able to make it to the food bank or might not know about my family's that we not respond to a call for service at their house.

>> And we noticed that there might not be food in the cupboards or sometimes will have welfare checks where people say, hey, go check on the family.

I think they don't have much food.

>> It helps people on the spot who need it you and puts that help in the hands of people who are most likely to encounter people who need help immediately on the can encounter somebody at 2 in the morning with a family crisis that needs food.

But the police are.

And so we've made it so they can act immediately without thinking about it all.

Just.

But the important thing to us is that.

We're no longer satisfied to be a food bank that waits for hunger to come to us.

We want to find ways to reach into our community.

Find hunger where it really is and do something about it.

The police are partners in this.

>> Maria faith community outreach, the organization running the Food Bank, also partner with police to administer the Front Daily Fund.

That fund offers lodging and transportation to people in crisis situations.

♪ >> You don't have to be Irish to enjoy some of this Saint Patrick's Day inspired events this weekend.

Our Toby Gibbs has more in our look at what's top around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Go on to the sea with the market.

House Theatre's youth production of Disney's The Little Mermaid Junior in Paducah this weekend.

Join Ariel and her friends as she seeks love freedom.

And to be a part of your world in this classic fairytale fit for the whole family.

Royalty is coming to catlettsburg this Saturday with the first-ever fostering possibilities, Princess Tea Party.

Some of your favorite princesses are coming together as guests are invited into a magical world full of pictures.

Craft stations, refreshments with a sprinkle of fairy dust.

Test your lock as well as your endurance during the Shamrock Shuffle.

5 K run the Saturday and Carlisle Open to all this fun run through the park is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Great American Bluegrass Jam is bringing together the best of the bluegrass this weekend in Owensboro featuring the Kentucky Fried Pig and Hotel Jam the State Federal championship tours of the Green River Distilling Company and the Bill Monroe home place.

This is one weekend you don't want to miss.

The show must go on.

Takes on a whole new meaning in the Broadway hit the play that goes wrong showing this weekend.

And next in Lebanon, drama goes from bad to worse.

Is anything that can go wrong.

Does go wrong in this award-winning production.

See inside Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory this weekend and next in the Lexington Children's Theater production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory join Charlie, the roof to August this max and violent for an evening of magic and mischief and more sweets than you can imagine.

And that's what's happening around the commonwealth until we get this.

>> It was always do begins.

March is Women's History Month.

Louisville is taking action to help women and girls what the city is doing and how Monday on Kentucky Edition, which we hope you'll join us for its 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips at KET Dot Org.

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

>> And so this is a story idea at public affairs at KET Dot Org fall.

KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

And particularly while we're in session, you can follow me on Twitter at Renee KET.

Thank you so much for watching this week.

Happy Saint Patty's Day to you and yours.

Have a great weekend and we'll see you right back here again Monday night.

Taking care.

♪