>> This bill, not only compromises.

We're asked me to explain my humanity, but it also brings into question my livelihood.

>> Bills in limbo.

What legislation could pass the Kentucky General Assembly?

>> He's going to kill Kentucky kids and you couldn't care And that's why we're doing because you're killing them all the unbelievable.

>> Strong disagreement over the impact of a bill dealing with Kentucky's transgender use.

>> I'm able to gain more knowledge by being in school and also being hands on with the students.

>> And check out a program where students spend calm.

The teachers.

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

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky edition on this Tuesday March.

The 21st, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Tuesday night with OSS.

>> This year's lawmaking session is nearing its end.

But next week, legislators will get a chance to pass bills that didn't get approval before the VA to recess.

Lawmakers will consider some familiar topics before they call an end to this year's frantic session.

And tonight's Legislative update, our Casey Parker Bell reports on some of the bills with a chance to still head to the governor's desk next week.

>> Next Wednesday and Thursday, members of the General Assembly will get a last chance to give final approval to legislation.

One of the 2 most substantial bills left would legalize sports gambling.

>> I'm here to tell you about taking a industry that exist.

In darkness in the shadows and legitimizing it legalizing and regulating it to protect the consumers of Kentucky.

>> House Bill 5.51, was approved by the House early last week and now waits for action by the Senate.

>> The bill would appoint the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to oversee the sports gaming industry, an industry that is already legal in 6 of Kentucky's border states.

>> Governor Andy Beshear has already signaled his approval to the legislation.

So I will certainly sign sports betting if it gets to make.

I want to be very clear about that.

It's something that I have pushed for 4 years and I believe it is very close to having the votes that it needs and I believe that this is something that Kentuckyian overwhelmingly want medical marijuana has been debated in previous sessions of the General Assembly, a measure to approve the drug has passed the House 2 out of the last 3 years.

Now the Senate has passed a bill legalizing medical cannabis for the first time.

And by passing this, we will say.

>> Give our citizens the opportunity.

To use medical cannabis.

>> Senate Bill 47 past the upper chamber because some senators change their mind on the legislation like Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer.

>> But on behalf of those who suffer and can find some relief.

I've come to this decision and people ask me why.

Because they know.

Stubborn guy.

Why did you change your mind?

One word.

>> Governor Beshear has said he's in favor of Senate Bill.

47 to giving some hope to those who have tried to pass medical marijuana legislation in previous Sessions.

Another bill would change how Kentucky, Texas, the bourbon industry House Bill 5 would repeal property taxes on locations were bourbon is aged in Rick Houses.

It's often referred to as the Bourbon Barrel tax.

It is not our right to to be the home of the bourbon industry.

We're seeing this.

>> More more all the time.

Of the over the several years.

Kentucky's continue to lose market share.

Kentucky now has less than 3% of the distilling spit a distilled spirits licenses in the country.

>> The tax would sunset over 15 years beginning in 2026. proponents of House Bill 5 se lower taxes lead to more investment.

The local communities say losing the tax could impact their ability to provide services to citizens.

Also creating controversy.

The session with Senate Bill one 15.

The bill would limit were drag shows can perform in Kentucky.

This bill is not.

Anti LGBTQ.

This bill is pro children.

For some reason.

People want.

This type of content in front of children.

And I would dare ask why.

Why do we need to sexualize our children?

This bill, not only compromises are asked me to explain my humanity.

>> But it also brings into question my livelihood.

As a drag performer who depends on drag shows and drag performances for income.

This do not only tells me that I'm not really a human worthy of rights, but I'm also not worthy to work.

And I'm not deserving of that ability to make money.

>> We'll see what happens with these bills left in limbo when the General Assembly returns next week for Kentucky EDITION.

I'm Casey Parker Bell >> thank you, Casey.

The Kentucky General Assembly reconvenes for the last 2 days of the legislative session next Wednesday and Thursday, March 29th and 30th.

Any bills passed during those 2 days will not be eligible for veto overrides by state lawmakers.

Before recessing last Thursday, lawmakers passed Senate Bill one, 50 a bill dealing with Kentucky's transgender youth.

Now, here are some of the prison provisions of the bill.

It bans gender affirming medical care for trans youth.

It allows teachers to use a student's gender pronoun at birth.

Even if that means ignoring the students wishes it bans schools from providing instruction or presentation on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression with students.

This is like the don't say gay measure in Florida, but Kentucky's version is broader and it keeps school boards from allowing transgender students from using restrooms, locker rooms and showers that are different from their birth sex.

We discussed Senate Bill, one, 50 and other legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community last night on Kentucky tonight.

Among other things, our panel discussed the testimony of Jerry Miller, a former Republican state representative who has a 7 year-old transgender grandchild.

Miller testified against Senate Bill one 50.

>> Kristie, thank you.

7 year-old Jerry Miller.

You brought him up.

He's a seven-year.

We should be compassionate person.

But do you think that he should get on hormone therapy?

He think he should have some kind.

That's not the case in which someone starts hormone therapy, which you clearly have no idea what you're drugs before I start getting consultation with their physician for typically right around the time of puberty is getting ready to hit is when you go in puberty regulators and you don't start hormone replacement therapy until late teens that that is the typical treatment.

But once again, they have no idea what they're talking about because they just want to score cheap political points.

That's all this isn't the end of the day.

He's scoring cheap political points on the ice age over every he's going to kill Kentucky kids and you couldn't care less And that's why we're doing because you're killing them are unbelievable.

>> Governor Andy Beshear has not said if he will veto Senate Bill one 50, but he has been critical of it.

He says he agrees that it could lead to more trans youth suicides.

If he does veto the bill Republicans in the House and Senate will have the chance to override the veto when they return to the Capitol on March.

29th last night on Kentucky.

Tonight we shared with you the story of Luke Behind a 21 year-old who regrets the decision to seek gender affirming medical care at age 16.

>> Was a young teenager who had a history of mental health issues.

Rushed home at the time.

And I had also been heavily heavily, you know, prey upon and sexually exploited on line to the fight that already has gotten involved.

And I sort of spiraled into this a tour to myself and my body to the point.

I found these online spaces that we're told you don't get your test this year.

Double.

>> You know, it's it's a normal teenage things.

He has you at all around it.

It's because their employ in the wrong body and someone.

and vulnerable.

And really, you know, that's trying to find anything to grasp onto the time.

And I really believe that.

And as a result, you know, I told some mental health professionals out or the time of the year.

We need to tell your parents.

They can leave that out.

We need our is today only a firm to this.

No one.

Question.

Why?

You know, on the sun.

As a teenager and ceilings popped up.

They'd only affirmed They haven't fully to my parents.

And scared them.

You know, the line of you want you want to win the other.

We're living son, which it's not the doctor and say that's the line of an accident.

>> It's also plainly not true.

From there.

So I went down the medical.

That was really the only option we were sent to correct.

And my very first medical intervention was a double mastectomy.

16.

That the months later I was on sex hormones, which was testosterone.

And that for 4 years until I really around and started doing things together.

I really think you know what I want for my life and the lives of the eye.

That really was not a swipe it and sent it back and sent to the long-term impacts.

I consent to being a medical patients for the rest of my life.

In the slaying.

Not to mention is that gold image there stop by and saw service done to me.

reportedly, I watched all of my muscle mass at this point.

Pretty much just waste away a >> I don't Be able to carry a child.

>> All this stuff that they you know, they looked me in the eyes of 16 and told me this is fair.

>> You know, I'm I'm to the point or >> I grew up a little bit >> I currently feel it just rip abandoned by the medical professionals that this.

>> Are now you an activist on the opposite side of the LGBTQ community.

>> Most of the transitions we are lesbian, gay or bisexual in some way.

And, you know, framing it as if we're some activists and games.

We just want to protect kids.

I think is a little insidious because the argument here is not you or against you either.

You hear are on the side of the LGBT community and you want to make our state or your instant pot.

But it's not the argument that is going on here.

The argument is it cannot consent to this level Americanization.

And also this is a lot of trains in the way it, you know, children who maybe aren't on board or feminine, you know, maybe this new chance to grow up.

It really isn't as simple as it's not.

Against the LGBT community is protecting children or whether those kids end up transition later in life.

Whether the end of the day, whether they end up street, no matter how they end up.

It doesn't matter.

Is there still children and still cannot consent?

And they deserve to grow old Guard bus.

What kind of adult they are ready to?

>> Yesterday we shared the story of a Lexington mother who spoke out against the anti trans measures in Frankfort incorrectly, identified her child as transgender.

They are non binary.

I apologize for the error.

You can see more of last night's discussion about legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight?

A state Senate committee began hearing evidence in an impeachment case for a former Commonwealth's attorney, Rodney Goldie Junior is accused of providing legal favors for a woman in exchange for nude photos of her.

He was a commonwealth's attorney for the 21st circuit covering in a fee, Montgomery and Rowan counties last month, the Kentucky House voted to impeach today.

A Senate committee began reviewing evidence in the case, Brian Wright is a commonwealth's attorney and the 29th Judicial District.

Today.

He tell the committee what he found to be most troubling about the accusations against Goldie.

>> The man to say about, you know, the comment about incentives never heard and talking about incentivizing her to produce things to him in exchange for him taking direct tax.

The fall was in his discretion is Commonwealth's attorney requesting a judge to withdraw a warrant.

>> Getting court dates moved around, talking to other prosecutors and judge about getting a car released or cellphone released from events.

Those are things that he was doing in his capacity as Commonwealth's attorney.

Another person, another citizen.

That's that's not a prosecutor.

Can just go to the judge that he was drawn this warrant and not give some reason.

He he had by virtue of his office.

Some some degree of of influence with the judge that he felt that the judge.

Almost certainly felt like there was some legitimate reason why he was asking for that.

And most of the judge, presumably he's doing this in exchange for hoping to get videos or pictures.

>> The Senate impeachment Committee has requested the House present its findings to the full Senate.

It's unclear when that will occur.

The Senate can accept the recommendations, reject them or proceed to a full trial on the Senate floor.

A conviction requires a vote by two-thirds of the senators present.

♪ ♪ Ashland and board county will host the Appalachian Regional Commission's annual conference in September.

The IRC is an economic development agency involving the federal government and 13 state governments.

Governor Andy Beshear was there for today's announcement along with a man who knows the area.

Well, his senior adviser and former state representative Rocky Adkins.

>> You know, I'm proud to have been raised and still live.

♪ In and they are.

So the community.

A few days on the lift in for the Middle Fork in the Lee County say that again, the lift in for the Middle Fork in La County.

You understand what it means to live in rule Kentuckyian you understand the heritage of our a R c states and counties.

You understand how people to get into doubt.

People lived given it all to make our communities the best they can possibly be.

And when the governor.

Ms mentioned mentioned the mountain regions raised.

They are seeing communities.

The governor didn't get a mention mention.

But those are the communities that helped build America.

There's no question about that.

When you specially look at the 2 states that are well represented here today and folks who have come from all over our region, governor, to be here today.

They're from all over.

This is a regional conference.

Yes, rule showcase a national Boyd County ruin the show face this entire Tri-State area.

We're going to do that.

But this is about the A R c. >> The conference's September 11th and 12th at the Delta Hotel and Ashlan the same is Appalachia rises, resilience, strength and transformation.

People attending the conference will discuss workforce development, outdoor recreation leadership and other topics.

The political website, the Hill reports that senators don't expect U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell to return to work until mid April after the Senate's Easter and Passover break.

McConnell fell and suffered a concussion at a Washington, D.C. Hotel March 8.

He was in a DC hospital until March 13th when he left for rehab facility.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas said he spoke to McConnell today on the phone and that he's doing better than eager to get back to work.

Mitch McConnell is 81 years old.

The Louisville Urban League says its president and CEO Kish Comey prices, quote, transitioning out of the role just after 5 months on the job she succeeded.

City court rental to lead the Louisville Urban League for 7 years.

The Urban League isn't saying why prices leaving the Courier Journal reports that Lyndon prior the organizations, chief engagement officer will become interim president and CEO during the search for a permanent leader.

Louisville is getting almost 2 million dollars to improve its traffic management system.

The money is from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

This is part of the infrastructure bill passed in 2021.

The money will allow Louisville to install smart technology at 4 flood-prone underpasses.

It will mean smoother traffic and safer roads.

Rick Pitino, the former basketball coach at both Kentuckyian Louisville has a new job.

Pitino will take over as coach at Saint John's, a school in the Big East Conference.

It's a six-year deal.

Pitino, 70 years old.

He will leave his current job at Iowa.

And New Rochelle, New York.

But, you know, just led Iona to the NCAA Tournament where the team lost to Connecticut.

♪ Most education students don't enter the classroom until senior year when they began student teaching.

But UK students are getting a head start with what's called the embed program.

The program allows students to learn concepts in class on Monday and then apply those lessons in elementary classrooms.

On Wednesday, we spoke to faculty students and graduates about a program that teaches the teachers.

>> Our program is a professional sequence of 3 semesters with pre practicum track to cam and then student teaching everyone in the program regardless whether they're in bed placement or not, they'll be in the classroom for 5 weeks full-time doing the full time.

Practicum traditionally would teach on campus for the 1st half of the semester and then they would leave and go out into the field for 5 weeks.

But we wanted to build up to that by teaching on campus on Monday, having them going to an end.

That placement that very next Wednesday to teach what we were doing in class before getting to that five-week placement.

>> So they just get a lot more confidence and everything before they start the placement full time.

>> The word is later.

>> Being in college, you don't often get that experience of being in the classroom and working with kids.

The embed program does great able to get them the experience that they need as well as the with the faculty and staff at a local elementary school.

I found the program very helpful and I was able to get that one-on-one experience with students as well as watch and work with my mentor.

Teacher can see exactly really how she teaches and then use the strategies that I was learning from my professors at the University of Kentucky in order to effectively meet my students needs.

>> It's just like a perfect way to connect irion practice everything we're teaching on campus there immediately getting to apply a target instruction from MS roles.

Basically I follow her footsteps and then also during in that I'm still going to school.

>> So I'm able to get critiques from bar professors and I'm able to gain more knowledge by being in school and also being hands on with the students.

It's probably the best experience I've had so far with being in the education program.

>> And how do you find it?

I want to be a teacher because of my teachers in the past, I grew up less fortunate than many people and my teachers always make sure that I was OK, then the classroom hands on this is everything that I imagined to get that experience before graduating in stepping into your classroom for the first time.

I think it's definitely important to without getting that >> I think you can step into a position not really knowing what's expected of you.

>> With the end that they're getting so much face time with students and are so quickly with these models, they quickly figure out is this what I really want to do?

And so they they get into that career and they're confident and they feel prepared.

>> Schools participating in the program this year include Veterans Park, Pick a Dome and Breckenridge Elementary.

♪ ♪ As you know, March is Women's History Month.

The city of Louisville's Office for Women is aimed at raising the status of women and girls through education, advocacy and legislation.

Our Kelsey Starks sits down with the head of the office to find out what it's all about.

>> Louisville's office for women was first established in 1991.

It's part of the Office of Equity, which was recently elevated to be part of the mayor's office.

Gretchen Hunt, is that director of the Office for Women.

Thank you for being here.

You know, a lot has changed since 1991 when it comes to women.

I'm still a lot of work to do, though.

So tell us why you think this is such an important part of Metro government and your overall priorities for this office?

Absolutely.

So it's important for Metro government and for all of community to be focused on gender equity.

And what we all can do, our shared responsibility to raising the status of women and bring about gender equity in whatever part of government were in.

And so our priorities for the office are really to strengthen women and thereby strengthening the community.

So this year we're focusing on strengthening women's leadership, the building at pass the to engage more with community.

We are strengthening protective factors against gender-based violence, things like domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault.

We're also focusing on investing in women and growing women in the child care sector and businesses and supporting women's economic status.

And then we're trying to build capacity across government like that, like I talked about so that everybody can say, you know, what's the impact of this program on women?

How can we raise the status of women, whether we're in planning or zoning or infrastructure, whatever we're doing, how can we be a part of the solution?

In the first part, there was the leadership component.

So one thing that you all have launched is the ambassador leadership program for Women.

And this just started in January.

This is the first a group of women to come through here so halfway through with a 6 month program.

What have been your takeaways on that so far?

And where do you see this program going forward?

What are the goals?

So these 24 women are rock women and gender, diverse individuals.

We have a mixed group and they represent all parts of the city's south along West Little nice Little bowl and they are diverse racially in age in their experience and they are ready to stand up and roll up their sleeves and get to work.

I think this group is the tip of the iceberg of what we're seeing in the city, which is that women feel an urgency to be heard to be seen him to be engaged.

We have awareness events.

We have the second in a four-part series on raising women's economic status and it's on strengthening the childcare infrastructure.

So that's on March, 21st and it's I'm here in Louisville and we also have an upcoming training that engages the community to address the safety and well-being of black women in our community by addressing domestic violence, bringing national expert.

So we have a number of events that we want to bring in community partners, faith communities, business leaders, everybody to be a part of the solution.

A little bit more about program on the 21st and that he childcare.

Infrastructure is so important right now and what is going to come out of that or what do you hope comes out of that?

Yeah.

So we'll have a date.

A presentation by chair air isn't of Kentucky.

Anna works to really give us a level said where we are in Louisville in Kentuckyian how we need to strengthen that infrastructure because childcare is infrastructure without it.

Women can't work.

We can't thrive as a community.

So we're going to be looking at what funding, what investments, what policies and what community sport needs to go into really strengthening this so that people can thrive.

Because right we know that one reason women are returning to the workforce Post-covid is that lack of it?

Top care and we've got to do something about it.

We hope to raise community sense of urgency around it and that is open to anyone coming up on March.

21st to that next mayor's night out event is happening on May.

The 18th.

Thank you, Cal say the Office for Women's Ambassador Program will accept applications for its next leadership training program.

>> Later this fall.

Couples who create together stay together.

>> They're spending hours weeks, months on a single piece.

The best part is unloading the count and scene.

The beautiful pieces that you've created.

>> Made the artisans behind of Wood and play.

That's tomorrow night on Kentucky edition, which we hope will see you 4 at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episode.

Add clips.

>> At KET KET Dot Org, you can find us on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV and we hope you'll send us a story idea at public affairs at KET Dot Org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the boat.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

We have a good show lined up for tomorrow night and we sure hope to see you then.

In the meantime, take good care tonight.

♪