>> We are basically allowing juveniles to go into.

Jail and walked right back out.

>> One lawmaker says it's time to treat more teens like adults.

There's a lot of food being wasted and there's all these communities that could definitely use.

>> These foods.

>> Check out how Lexington's Food waste isn't going to waste.

>> Because it's doing things and you're doing things and it's like, you know, it's a little more like jazz.

>> Plus, some Kentucky artists show us why painting with watercolors isn't child's play.

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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday, March, 20th.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Wednesday with OSS.

More tough on crime bills are moving through Kentucky General Assembly.

This session.

One bill passed in the Senate and heading to the House would crack down on teens with guns.

Kentucky additions June Leffler has more in tonight's Legislative update.

>> A Republican from Elizabeth Town says increasing teen violence is alarming.

>> In Kentucky has seen a 31.8% increase in serious juvenile violent crime since 2015 and in Louisville, youth homicides tripled from 2018, 2021.

And they're still on the rise.

>> State Senator Matthew Dineen says these offenders are being held accountable, leaving victims with no sense of justice.

>> We are basically allowing juveniles to go into.

Jail and walk right back out.

Before our policeman even have time to finish the paperwork.

>> The senator's solution is Senate Bill 20, which would tried teens 15 and older as adults for most gun crimes that would likely lead to longer harsher penalties.

County attorneys say the bill leaves just enough judicial discretion to send the case back to juvenile court as needed the net effect of this bill on juvenile gun crime is to practically create a presumption that juveniles with guns would be held accountable as adults.

>> But it does protect the ability to have the particular circumstances of that juvenile situation considered so that if it's appropriate, it could be sent back to to juvenile court.

>> Others say the law doesn't offer such and put it sounds like that court or the prosecutors or the police had to make a mistake.

They had to be wrong.

There was no gun.

In order for a child to be sent back to district court or we've overcharge that child.

So again, a mistake on behalf of the prosecution, this bill reverses the law.

The General Assembly signed off on 3 years ago in 2021.

The Assembly said children should not by default be sent to adult court.

>> Democrats say Senate bill 20 will do little to support victims or prevent gun violence.

We're talking about victims and what is happening 123 JCPS kids.

>> Have been impacted by gun violence.

But we as this body has the judiciary.

Are we as all of the General Assembly, we're not putting money into resources to make sure what are we doing for our kids who have been impacted.

Everybody wants to live in a safe neighborhood to Sweden.

Everybody wants their children to be safe.

So it's not about that.

And everybody wants police officers to be safe so they can KET the peace.

It is not about that at all.

What we wanted to be about is something that's affected that will work.

So my question is.

What does this bill address in any way?

The availability of guns to people that that is so widespread?

It does not address the availability of guns, but I can tell you this if we continue to send these violent offenders back into our neighborhoods and don't hold them accountable.

>> We are encouraging our citizenry.

To defend themselves.

We are can we are encouraging them to go out in to buy guns themselves, putting more guns in our neighborhoods.

>> A Republican says this bill can't stop teen violence, but it will help.

This is only a piece of the puzzle.

>> So I just I'm I'm a yes today.

And I just wanted to point out that.

>> We are very aware of the need for wrap-around services.

>> With Republican support, the House Judiciary Committee advanced the bill now heads to the House for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

>> Thank you, June Terry Brooks of the Kentucky Youth Advocates had this reaction, quote, Senate bill 20 terms away the General Assembly's legacy of being smart about juvenile justice and reality.

It does not a single new element to the existing tool kit for local communities and addressing youth violent crime in quote.

How should Kentucky feel a U.S. Senate vacancy?

That's one of the questions that was answered by a Frankfort committee today.

Right now the governor has to choose from a list of 3 names from the party of the vacating Sen.

But one planned could change that.

Our Clayton Dalton reports on that and should who should have the final say on statues in the Capitol Rotunda?

And if Louisville, local elections should be partisan.

>> When U.S. senators leave their post in the middle of a creates a vacancy.

Should this happen in Kentucky?

The governor picks from a list of nominees and appoint someone to fill the seat for the rest of that term.

But House Bill 6.22, wants to give that choice to the people.

>> When vacancies happened in the representation of any state in the Senate.

The executive authority of such state.

>> Shell shall.

>> Issue writs of election to fill such vacancy.

That's all this bill does the U.S. Constitution does allow governors to make appointments in Lewis, special elections.

And Democratic Governor Andy Beshear says he opposes this bill.

State senators also heard legislation that would give more oversight to the General Assembly.

No statue, no monument or object of art shell be installed or removed from permanent display in the new state Capitol Rotunda.

>> Please remain in the rotunda without the approval of the General Assembly by means of an act or joint resolution explicitly identifying authorizing the insulation removal of the statue, the monument or the object of art.

>> In Twenty-twenty, Governor Beshear removed the Jefferson Davis statue from the Capitol Rotunda claiming Davis's support for slavery made the statue a divisive symbol.

Some Republicans complained pointing out the $225,000 price tag for its removal and relocation.

Today, one Republican state senator says he which is House Bill 5.13, when be on the walls of the state Capitol.

>> Actually wish you got even further.

I just saw an article the other day that the university, Kentucky is trying to persist and destroying the mural in Memorial Hall has been there since the 1920's.

Senator Wheeler is referencing the O'Hanlon mural at the University of Kentucky.

It depicts black people planning tobacco and the Native American with a Tomahawk.

>> Opponents say the mural is offensive, but supporters say it's an artful depiction of history.

The 21st century iconoclast, unfortunately, no shame rebounds and >> it will be a great if we We can expand that to protect other public works of art that are under threat by the left radical left in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Legislators also heard a bill that would in part make mayoral and council races in Louisville, non-partisan Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer said he's not a fan of this specific part of the bill.

>> You know, I despise non-partisan elections.

>> And I'm not.

>> I'm not thrilled with what I consider a regression here on going to non-partisan races.

However.

It was Voltaire who said do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

And I think this is a good bill and other than that one little piece that one little word that I'm not thrilled with because I think all election should be partisan.

>> All 3 house bills pass with overwhelming support and now head to the full Senate for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dollar.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

Now moving on to education news.

One of the 3 finalists for Kentucky education commissioner says he's not going to get the job.

Jim Flan, the man you see here on the right says he is not the quote, preferred choice.

That's according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Flynn is the executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents and the former superintendent and Simpson County.

The newspaper says the other 2 finalists and Miss Superintendent Buddy Berry and Lawrence County Superintendent Robby Fletcher are not commenting.

The Herald leader says the Kentucky Department of Ed will announce the preferred candidate tomorrow.

The new commissioner will replace Jason Glass who left for a job at Western Michigan University.

Martin County is getting 5 million dollars worth of water system improvements.

The money is from a federal spending bill passed earlier this month.

Congressman, how Rogers, a Republican from the 5th Congressional district says the federal government has spent more than 18 million dollars on Martin County water system since 2017 with that money being used to replace and extend water lines, eliminate the use of contaminated wells, install a new storage tank and improve the water treatment plant.

U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says the war between Russia and Ukraine will probably end with a negotiated settlement.

He says that's how most wars and on the Senate floor yesterday, McConnell said Congress should pass an aid package helping Ukraine so it can negotiate from a position of strength.

He said without that help, Russia grows stronger and bolder.

>> If Congress does its job, it will be American weapons.

And Ukrainian have.

And stronger forces and intense industrial capacity.

The recall.

That determine what conclusion the world Rawls from the first major land war in Europe.

1940, thought.

Whether or not a storage area include they can continue to redraw maps for sure.

Whether or not Americans top strategic competitor concludes that were not prepared to defend our interests or equip our friends.

To defend ourselves.

And whether or not the commander in chief and heritage but and fixable quite are.

>> McConnell's comments came just after Vladimir Putin won his 6th term as president of Russia.

♪ >> Time now for midweek, check-in of some major political developments, particularly what's happening in the legislative session in Frankfort with our good friend Rylan Barton, who is a senior editor with in PR states team.

>> Good to see your island.

>> You can see today.

>> So let's start talking.

We are and the hourglass just as it is emptying now, we're going to approach.

I think it's day 53 when they officially gavel back in on Thursday, they've taken some time these first 2 days of the week to really have committee meetings to get things kind of moving through the system.

Let's talk about the budget bills.

We have the of appropriations bill and a revenue bill.

What some movement on the revenue side that viewers need to understand and know about.

>> Yes, so every couple years usually at the state has passed one of these big spending bills along with the case.

So ready to go, which is how the stakes in places where the taxes are cut >> also, >> what is it happened towards the end of the session?

Is other things will end up in these bills?

Are and a lot of negotiating happened the last minute.

So we're in that time right now.

One of the revenue goals the revenue goes moving forward, including a very interesting thing, which changes changes of policy allowing the states ought to matter a tax cuts to to go forward with a little bit more ease.

So the legislature passed the lower E attempt to the lower the state's income Everybody here to play and how much money the state brings in it.

You know, if the state house and spends too much money and he's brought in money than you know, from tax will be reduced once again, the state and you need that level last year.

So the Legislature street a little bit to make it a little bit easier saying that, OK, when you look at all that the money that the state spends don't follow any of the money that we put into the rainy day fund as an actual sending appropriation.

So I'm not counting that you sometimes massive amount of money.

It's a little bit easier.

The state to implement those taxes.

So that was one of the things you know to say, I'm not ready to go allow the state.

The Republican led Legislature is goal of fully eliminating that the income tax eventually and make a little bit easier for that to happen.

>> Right.

So we know there's no trigger that will happen in 2025, but it could be set up where it would be one that would happen in 2020 tz are going into the future.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And of course we know that they're still doing budget negotiations right now and we'll see where they are when they gavel in on Thursday.

Another measure a lot of bills are getting faster action right now since that time is limited, a bill that really addresses adult oriented businesses and sexually explicit performances out.

Why is the LGBTQ community concerned about this and how would it impact them?

>> This started out as a so-called are bearing on on drag shows a any any area where children might be nearby.

It's been amended where there's there's nothing explicitly saying that this track performances, but it does include some definitions that basically trying for months as well.

It has been the amended to as long as the performances but only band performances are things that involves sexually explicit material.

But it also, but it's such a broad definition that this could apply to businesses that show or movie 70 nudity in them.

And as long as they're within a city block of a lot of different places for its might be, it could be severely restricts the ability of those states to have.

the the LGBTQ community, some concern about that element.

But I think even more concerning some of the discussion was developed around this very committee hearing earlier this week.

There's just a lot of it.

Transphobic statements that were taking place and conspiracies that are being Involve me just say that trans people are obviously the subject of that U.S. and and PC conspiracy said if the intended goal of the spruce to indoctrinate children in a particular way.

So even though you know, sometimes the bill doesn't really address some of The discussion around this is pretty pretty toxic on this particular issue.

>> This is not really a legislative policy issue that we're going to talk about.

But it concerns a representative Kulkarni a Democrat from Louisville who is filed for reelection.

And that happened the first Friday in January.

But now there is a petition against are right.

from a former political rival, tell us the story of what's going on.

Why is it happening now?

Doing something months after the filing deadline?

>> Yeah, this this complaint was filed by former Democratic political opponents of this is a dentist or later he's a longtime state representative who represented Nicole during a 2018 primary election and really handily be in that time.

And also in the in the following race by about a percentage.

It's the next for representative for leaders as filed this petition saying that it one of the signatures on represented Nicole Carty spying for this year.

Was he the the signature okay from somebody who is a registered Republican, they needed to be registered Democrat.

And even though this person is switched their party affiliations and that it sounded too late, it's actually after the point what you're allowed to local parties and technicians happened at the end of the year to the next year.

So there's a challenge here.

That's no problem.

Jackson's or or and we'll see where this ends up.

The timing of this is a little bit unusual this to take place before the filing deadline to eliminate any so.

And and breakfast and former Senate more winter is one of the people who could potentially take the seat.

My sister, you know, of a while from now.

So a little curious thing.

But what did you see something that will follow because of sex and the city are present and and her ability to run for reelection to the scene.

Yeah, right.

>> So Rylan and the few days we have remaining a lot to get including the budget.

But aside from the budget, what do you really have your eyes on?

>> We're still waiting to see the final version of that the Anti Dei bill that writes diversity programs and state universities, which is something that's been happening around the country.

A lot of the places Texas, Florida pastor and the Bills last year, Alabama just passed for me to be considering a lot of the states.

Just kinda.

I profile piece of legislation right now and also we're going to see, you if there are any legal challenges over over things like that, obviously the the budget, that's the big thing that lawmakers have to pass this year.

But still, Arden Street have final versions of that to be handed out on the ship and they always fun to be in the top parties.

There the bill that would change the you can see is for the U.S. Senate or Bill.

That's a big one, especially Senator.

All I'm saying that he's going to be resigning from leadership at end of this year unconstitutional minutes lawmakers will have all the way until the end of the of the session.

We even got to be to carry some of the worry about.

And the governor taking action on there.

So a lot of things to be watching these last few days.

So what's it?

>> It's going to be a whirlwind for sure.

Breakneck pace is calming and that is for sure.

Thank you, Ryan, for helping us understand it all.

>> Thanks for that.

♪ >> Lack of access to nutritious food is a real problem in Kentucky, especially among our older adults.

Feeding America says that Kentucky has the 4th highest rate of food insecurity among adults age 50 to 59 in the nation.

Meals on Wings is a program out of UK's Campus kitchen, working to bring healthy meals to Lexington's older adults.

But the food comes from an unlikely source.

Leftovers from restaurants, campus, cafeterias and even UK Chandler Hospital.

>> All right.

Now we are preparing meals for senior citizens around Lexington.

And that includes chicken that we've recovered mustard greens court and strawberries and apples.

>> There's a lot of food being wasted.

It just because there's a surplus amount of food or it just doesn't fit the cosmetic or to safety.

Some of those are not safety in times of the actual fees safety but more quality control.

>> Tonight we have up in their recovery.

And we get a majority of breads and our pastries from them that we use yesterday we had hospital recovery where we've got a majority of our meats and vegetables.

>> We also cannot control what type of food come into operations because obviously any food that weekend rescue front and that barred it from being wasted.

We're going to try to do our bash if we God, you know, let's Anya.

>> From hospital, we're not just giving lasagna only as a meal, but actually adding other veggies or side dishes.

Students here will come up with the man and tried to think of the best way to utilize all the ingredients before they go back but also kind of making it balance enough off to 2 hours or so.

We deliver the meals, but students go in and we don't just drop it off.

We actually built one-on-one relationship with all of the people we're serving.

What is you really unique?

Is that that 55 to 59, even though we won't really call it, older adults, are seniors yet they are the type of populations that may already be having some sort of disability or have to retire earlier.

And yet still do not get any federal or state assistance meals on wheels.

It's one of those program, but it is for older adults 60 and up.

>> I think it's important because a lot of seniors who live on living in don't have the option, sometimes groceries or just You know, you do the best you can.

you know you when you have to choose between quantity and quality that oftentimes quantity wins out.

>> We don't believe this is by all means the primary solution to older.

Do food insecurity or food waste, even.

But we do think that it is a piece of the puzzle.

>> It's not meant to be a It's meant to be stop and it works >> meals on Wings as a program out of the University of North Florida.

That has expanded to only 2 other colleges in the country.

Lehman College in New York and the University of Kentucky.

♪ >> I fondly remember painting with water color when you were younger, but you may not know that many professional artists use the water based medium.

The Kentucky Watercolor Society is celebrating the art form with Aqua Adventure and Art show featuring almost 50 different local and regional artists.

So we're dipping our brushes into water color for this week's Arts and culture segment.

We call tapestry.

>> You know, the pain at all.

A little chilly.

What seems like I'm always working for the painting.

I mean, everything is put down their idea.

I had to do.

I have to think about with water color.

Feel a little more like your because it's doing things when you're doing things.

And it's like, you know, it's a little more like jazz and with responses as opposed I'm in control.

It's like, well, there's work that is very representational.

And then there's also work.

That's Pierre.

>> Abstract.

And so I think we have a lot of variety in the show.

Water based media is very versatile.

Art I think that.

People can find ways to make it very detailed.

You know, if you look at some of the art work pieces, the detail that's involved in some of those pieces, quite amazing.

And then on the other hand, as you as we heard when Charlie was discussing his style, it's very loose and fluid.

Snow.

I think that that lends itself to a just a more transparent type interpretation when someone's painting that way.

So what the variation we get lots of very detailed work with our caller, but then you can also get that sort of flowing water color.

A person is sick or abstract sense as well.

You might have the intention to create a painting and you wanted to be what you're imagined.

But sometimes as you're painting, there are things that happen in the painting that you sort of were unpredictable because of the nature of water color and you, my joy of the more she start to see it evolve that way.

>> move around?

You don't want to go started one's place and go, you know, and work it like it's you know, machine because you.

We're really trying to get the impression of the overall.

That's done more movement and of your attention.

And move your brush cost.

Across these.

>> That's the one thing about watercolor.

I'm continuing to I started that was a great teacher and it's nice to have that guidance.

But then pretty scene.

You know, you want to come up with your own things.

And I like to work with a lot of our own personal photographs and was a challenging sometimes because there's elements within that art work where I'm like, I want to do this Rockwall and that's difficult because I'm never done a rock wall before.

So I might go to somebody what Charles and you know, I see you do a lot of those.

So I'd like to learn your technique.

So there's just different sticks to a painting that you wanted corporation.

You see people who really do well.

So you can always pick up tips on how people incorporate those different elements into their artwork.

So there's always something that one.

>> Beautiful artwork.

Indeed.

The exhibit will run at the artists attic in downtown Lexington until April.

26.

Filling teaching positions and educational gaps are among the biggest challenges facing Kentucky's education system.

This program is.

Such a game changer.

In my view.

>> For staff.

>> Coming up tomorrow on Kentucky Edition, find out how one school district may have found a solution for both.

We hope you'll join us for that story and much more tomorrow night at 6.30, eastern by 30 central on Kentucky EDITION where we inform connect and inspire.

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

Look for some the PBS video app.

You can download that on your mobile device and smart TV and send us a story idea to the address on your screen.

Thank you for joining us tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Until I see you again.

Take really good care.

Have a great night.

♪ ♪