♪ >> Worries double medical was included in that exit objective in his exact actually.

What makes it worse for them?

Clarity on confusion, debate over a House bill that aims to clarify Kentucky abortion law.

Really?

There's a lot of unknown right now.

We do know about possible federal funding cuts to Kentucky libraries.

♪ ♪ And forget the townies.

Someone in Kentucky is going to win a Bradley.

>> 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, the 26th.

>> I'm Renee Shaw and we thank you for winding down your Wednesday with U.S.

Governor Andy Beshear has vetoed House Bill 90 a bill Republican lawmakers said would, quote, clarify medical exceptions to Kentucky's near total abortion ban enacted in 2022, the bill says doctors have to make, quote, reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child.

It says doctors can intervene to remove Mueller and at topic pregnancies manage miscarriages, treat sepsis and more.

But critics of the bill, including the governor, said it creates confusion rather than clarity.

Here's a quote from the governor's veto statement.

Quote, House Bill 90 creates an exhaustive list of specific emergency situations and which abortion may be provided to save the life of the mother.

The bill is silent on any other emergency situations.

No one, including legislators can possibly create an exhaustive list of emergency situations that may occur at a hospital or medical facility.

Gaps in the law are literally a matter of life and death, unquote.

On Monday night's Kentucky.

Tonight, we heard from those who lobbied for and against the measure.

It's the most important thing was to make sure to get clarity.

Did those conditions, those medical conditions?

>> The different types of a spontaneous abortions.

We would call a miscarriage, intentional miscarriage, dispel those out sepsis.

You know, no patient.

When someone said to me they had a doctor that was so concerned that he was waiting for his temperature, his patient, a spike in temperature when she was threatening a miscarriage that should never happen.

We don't want that to happen for any woman in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

So there was a lot of discussion on what was the most important to address at this time at the of this these problems existed.

We came to you back in 2022.

And we said the doctors told you that the omnibus anti-abortion bill, the trigger ban, all the bands that were moving then.

>> We're going to cause these problems.

You didn't listen to us that you didn't bring us into those conversations.

You flat out ignored the science and all the statistics.

The doctor's the same doctors are telling you now that this isn't going to work and actually the legal changes on how that they can defend themselves in court.

I'm going to make it harder and chill them and you're not listening >> It's because one of the most important things we did here was to make sure reasonable medical was included in that exit objective in his exact actually what makes it worse for them.

And when we look to other states that have it, let's take 10 says, for example, Texas uses that same practice and it was of what it has been.

What stopped them from being able to provide abortion care in life, threatening life-saving cases.

>> You can see more of that robust conversation online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight?

We have reaction to the governor's veto from both Planned Parenthood and the Family Foundation.

Here's a statement from Planned Parenthood Alliance advocates quote, House Bill 90 was never about clarity or compassion.

It ignored medical standards, use antiabortion rhetoric like maternal fetal separation and would have forced doctors to delay care during medical emergencies by vetoing this bill.

Governor Beshear put patients over politics and protected.

Kentuckians from needless suffering, unquote.

And from the Conservative Family Foundation, they say, quote, Governor Beshear, shameful veto of House Bill.

90 proves that he's just a mouthpiece for Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry rather than protecting the lives of both women and babies.

Beshear is apparently only interested and really belies an abortion on demand and promoting harmful misinformation about Kentucky's pro-life laws.

HB 90 is a pro mom and pro baby piece of legislation that simply provides clarity to Kentucky's existing pro-life laws to protect maternal health, unquote.

Governor Beshear also vetoed a bill that would redefine Kentucky's waterways to align with federal standards supports of Senate Bill 89 argue it would remove red tape that stifles progress and cold production and even home building in his veto message.

The governor said the bill fails to protect water system sourced from groundwater, which he says will quote, result in pollution, sickness and more dangerous flooding and he vetoed House Bill 684, which would make several changes to Kentucky's election laws.

The governor said one change would make voting more difficult by removing credit or debit cards as acceptable forms of proof of identification on social media today, Republican secretary of state Michael Adams said Beshear, quote, just murdered bipartisan election reform, unquote.

He encouraged all Democrats who voted for the bill to join Republicans in overriding the governor's veto.

The Republican-dominated General Assembly will have the chance to override more than a dozen bills vetoed by the governor when it returns for their final 2 days of the 2025 session beginning tomorrow.

We'll have full coverage both online and on demand that K E T DOT Org.

Now turning to action on Capitol Hill in Washington, Congressman James Comer of Kentucky's first district says he's lost confidence and public radio.

The Republican is chair of the U.S. House Oversight Committee.

Well, today, the House Oversight Doge Subcommittee held a hearing entitled Anti American Airways Accountability for the heads of NPR and PBS witnesses included CEOs of National public radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.

The subcommittee recommended pulling all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Congressman Comer accused in PR of no longer delivering the news.

And instead Aaron propaganda, Alaska.

>> The people that listen to NPR, they're totally the this inform on the truth.

And then, you know, I have a problem with that because you get federal funds and I do believe that was wrong for public radio 30 years ago.

Maybe 20 years, you'll maybe 5 years ago the but the cause of technology today.

I don't think there's a role for public radio anymore.

And I think you've abused.

The privilege that that you had with receiving federal funds as a dedicated better.

KET is a PBS member station.

>> Kentucky's public libraries are reacting to an executive order dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

>> It's a federal agency that provides financial support to museums and libraries along with zoos, aquariums botanical gardens and historic sites.

It also comes as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments concerning the federal government spending billions a year to help schools and libraries offer Internet services.

Our Larry Rogers has more on what it could mean for the Commonwealth.

>> In Kentucky, public libraries are very good stewards of the public dollars.

>> Libraries may have to stretch that dollar further.

If you are grants come down from the federal government.

What I'm afraid of is that if the federal funding goes away, >> that they will have to make decisions about what areas that they're back to have.

The best host, a budgetary expenses go to personnel, technology and facilitates the funding structure does vary from county to county in Marshall County.

Public Library is primarily funded by local property taxes.

My concern is a direct impact.

It's the indirect impact.

It's how it will impact the Kentucky Department for Libraries and archives which is a huge support system for libraries across the state of Kentucky.

That department is the means by which the Institute of Museum and Library Services or Imls distributes Block grants.

One example of the way this money was used was for $10,000 for of the Mobile and Jackson County.

Heather Defund Mock says Kentucky has the largest book mobile fleet and the country.

A Marshall County Public Library received a $10,000 Federal Grant in 2022.

To get workers certified following staff turnover during the pandemic.

Marshall County.

When you look at the statistics were kind of a health debts.

Are Tammy Blackwell referring to the high ratio of doctors to the local population?

A library used imls funding to purchase health KET.

Some blood pressure, diabetes and stress management.

And I've worked with health care providers to make sure that the information in there is good, solid information that people can use of the incline.

Public libraries also offer Internet access.

This is something that every day Kentucky Incease they are reimbursed for those expenses through the schools and libraries.

Universal Service support program, otherwise known as ear 8 funding.

It is tens of thousands of dollars each year for this library, a fraction of the 8 billion dollars subsidizing those services across the country.

A lawsuit is currently pending arguing that the FCC has raised the tax without proper congressional approval at the Supreme Court agrees.

Blackwell estimates it will cut off 100 people in her county from Internet access in our community.

There are large areas where Internet it's just not accessible.

People need Internet in 2025, especially in rural communities.

We use it for education.

We use it for jobs taking we use it for telehealth.

They also use their local library for many of those services like public libraries do is they look at their communities.

They see what the needs are and then they find ways to make those names last.

Well says she's most concerned about small role libraries who aren't and taxing districts.

They probably will not survive a cut in imls funding which she says would especially be with that comes with the cut.

Is it the right program building for Kentucky edition?

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

Another setback today in court as the Trump administration tries to deport migrants who are supposedly.

>> Members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Agua, a federal appeals court today back to lower court judge who ruled the migrants had been denied due process and never had the chance to challenge the accusations against them in court yesterday, Kentucky Attorney General Russel Coleman joined 25 other state attorneys general and backing the Trump administration's effort in a statement to Coleman said, quote, deporting violent gang members who are in this country illegally, including those affiliated with the Venezuelan Gang Tren Dog Law will help KET Kentucky family safe, unquote.

NASA is giving 3 million dollars to the Louisville based National Stem Cell Foundation.

The money will help the foundation find more space-based research on brain cells in order to fight Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and multiple sclerosis Kentucky state Capitol today.

The National Stem Cell Foundation explains how 0 gravity help scientists see cells differently.

>> When you're looking at cells on Earth, you're looking at them slightly flattened by the effects of gravity under a microscope, even if you put them in a centrifuge to simulate microgravity, you're still getting a different behavior, then you will.

When you watch in space which is in 3 D, if you can see the cells talking to each other in a way that's not possible under it.

>> The NASA award was made possible by $300,000 in matching funds from the Kentucky General Assembly Senate President Robert Stivers says this could lead to cures.

Kentuckians need.

>> When Khalid to me the U.S. it was like, okay, we want to make this happen and we'll give you every 2 you can because one.

It sets up really well to make Kentucky.

For this type of research, too.

It marries will already doing here with the NASA program.

And 30.

Think about the impact it can have on individuals, personal laws and things can happen with the research that we continue to promote, whether it be with Alzheimer's, be with cancer.

diseases that this is looking at.

>> The foundation has already been a part of 6 missions on the international Space Station.

This grant will help fund more.

Questions tonight about whether Doctor Kim shot still is still president of the University of Louisville.

The university's board of trustees are meeting this evening to take a personnel matters.

WDRB and Louisville reports Axel said she couldn't to comment when asked yesterday if she was still on the job, became November of 2022. more on today's board of trustees meeting tomorrow night on Kentucky edition.

♪ >> In Tyler Rogers, joined by National Public Radio's Reiland Barton and Rylan.

We are getting an update from the governor's office about the bills that have been coming across his chest, the ones that he's chosen to sign he has vetoed well, the bills which probably not surprising considering we see a GOP super majority in the General Assembly, Governor Beshear, of course, a Democrat.

So there's going to be some difference policy.

Can you tell us more about some of these vetoes and what this could potentially mean down the road?

>> difference between this year and the legislature, although he does, you sign quite a few bills that come across the desk as well.

But as you said, 12 bills, a lot of them, you know, the controversial ones we've been talking about throughout this legislative session, House Bill 4, that's the bill that attempts to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs at colleges and universities this year said that the bill is about hate.

It tries to ban universities from having diversity programs of diversity.

Offices of this is something that some universities and Kentucky have already gone out of their way to eliminate the head of.

And, you know, a lot of federal and state action on this issue.

It's a bill that came up last year as well.

It says that these are practices that are designed to provide what the sponsors say.

Its differential treatment for certain students.

And that's students based on race, sex, color or national origin.

So a lot of advocates are worried that this will totally foot over diversity and even the language program.

So programs for a second language learners in Kentucky.

So there's a lot of worries around the standard still is a lot of fun to see what how exactly this is going to be implemented if and when it goes into effect.

And it's very likely that lawmakers will override his veto on this during the final 2 days of the legislative session.

Just a couple quick other vetoes that he made as well.

Others that a bill that would kind of change how tenure and contracts for university professors work in Kentucky.

This is something that has been pushed for.

A lot of other Republican led states to really create a review process for all from professors and Kentucky, which >> that does get at this question of tenure, that policy where some university professors can enjoy the benefit of not worry about getting fired, except for some extreme there except for if they violate certain company policies.

But this one.

>> The creative review process where they would also be reviewed on based on their performance.

And this year, the to the saying that, you know, this is going to limit upon imported protections for universities and the university should be the ones in charge of this and worried that this would also make it harder for universities to attract professors to the state.

>> So all of this legislation does relate to education and something else that I want us to discuss here is a lawsuit that was filed by Kentucky students.

Attorney General Russel Coleman has filed a motion to dismiss that complaint.

Tell us more about this.

>> Yeah.

So this is the lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Student Voice team.

It's a group of students and other education advocates in the state.

They're trying to get the courts to force the legislature to spend more money on education.

They say the legislature hasn't done its job to adequately fund Some of us are trying to mimic a lawsuit from the late 1980's in which the courts, the Kentucky Supreme Court to the same thing the legislature had to abide by that and change its funding formula to more adequately fund schools across the state.

So the attorney general's office has filed a response to the saying that this is in the way of going about doing business, that laws are made by the legislature.

The courts shouldn't be the ones to decide this and that every court decisions since that 1989 ruling has has affirmed that.

Yeah, this is just the initial response here.

We're waiting to see what.

>> What we're hearing how how this will shake in the court.

And if it >> ultimately is appealed up to the state Supreme Court.

It's a big, ambitious attempt and also been a Republican leaders are saying that they do adequately fund education.

There's this kind of conflict over this and whether or not how people are measuring this mother, that accounts for inflation.

So yeah, we can see how this rolls out.

>> And then also pertaining to education.

President Trump signing that executive order to dismantle the Department of Education at the federal level.

And we gotten there.

We've heard a lot of response to that decision and I would ask you about Senators McConnell and Paul who representatives Kentucky.

What have we heard from them on this matter?

>> Yet they do have a little bit of a different response.

This is something Rand Paul's really applauding the president for doing this.

He says that this is something he's long wanted to do, that, these are decisions that should be made by states.

And you know that there should be federal guidelines telling states what to do.

A real one of the issues, though, is that with this federal education decisions comes, federal education dollars can take your seats about a billion dollars in federal education, money.

Mostly clear to the Department of Education.

But for some other programs as well.

I think that's interesting on one side and kind of expected for involved because it's expected he's expressed similar opinions on this.

But McConnell's response has been much more muted so far.

Here he is in favor of reducing federal spending, he says.

But he says that this is ultimately something it's going to be decided by the courts, which is very likely the Department of Education was created through legislation and we'll likely have to be undone through legislation if there's a Republican Congress down.

So we'll see if they can muster the support to do something like that.

But McConnell also wouldn't go so far as to as to say, even supports that.

So it we've seen lots of differences between McConnell and Senator Paul over the years.

And this is another one.

I think a lot of this to have to do with McConnell kind of being but towards the end of his career.

And also, you know, not really getting along with President Trump and feeling a little bit more a band with a little more slack to to oppose the president's policies.

One early state are not not totally endorse.

The money doesn't agree with them.

>> Especially since he stepped down from leadership, he said he felt like he had a little more freedom to voice his opinions and thoughts on those >> Roland Martin, the National Public Radio, thank you so much.

Always good to talk.

>> Is the season for high school musicals.

Schools across the Commonwealth are presenting their spring productions right now.

But for the first time, many of them are competing for a spot in the national spotlight.

Our Kelsey Starks has more on the first-ever KPA Bradley Awards.

And tonight, Arts and Culture segment we call Tapestry.

♪ >> Now there is a lot of talent out there when it comes to high school musicals.

And that is exactly what the New Bradley Awards from the Kentucky Performing Arts are all about.

>> Nick Coval is the VP of Education and Kentucky Performing Arts or KPA.

>> So tell us what these new brand new awards are all about.

>> That's right.

So the KPA Bradley Awards are a regional awards program of what we call the Jimmy Awards.

So I'll start by talking about the Jimmy Awards for a moment.

Jimmy Awards also known as National High School Musical Theater Awards.

And they are essentially in the Tony Awards for high school musical theater for our country said this is the highest honor and high school musical theater for young folks across the United States but has since they have been found in since 2009, our region has actually not been represented.

So we're changing that KPA.

We're really excited to be launching a regional words program here in Kentuckyian southern Indiana called the KP Bradley Awards to celebrate our region's young artists.

That's an amazing and, you know, spring musicals are underway right now.

So judging is underway.

What are these judges?

>> Looking for and that and how were you decipher ring when it comes to, you know, you've got schools with big budget productions and some smaller budget projection.

Absolutely.

So we have a team of about 10 educators who are all theater, arts professionals in some way, shape or form who are going out to our 16 participating schools.

And this year's program, they're actually going to view the high school musical and the high school auditorium or theater.

They have a set of rubric for various categories.

They're watching the students there watching the technical elements of the show.

They're scoring them.

And then they're also providing written feedback to the students and educators as well, which is a huge asset for the school to beginning the outside perspective.

And so we have a variety of schools that are represented in the program.

Like I said, 16 and some of them are magnet schools.

Some of them are schools or maybe there are other programs run by a teacher that just feels really passionate about it.

And we really celebrate that diversity of Peter programs.

And we really want to ask you to KET the schools where they are.

Understand what they're doing with the resources that they have and the students homes are going to shine through.

No matter what that looks like for the school.

So we're really excited to see the students what they're capable of.

Yeah, that's so exciting.

And so the nominations will be announced in early May and then culminate with that.

The big ceremony on June first at the Kentucky Center.

And this is really like the Tony Award.

It really is.

We really want to celebrate all of our nominees and early May when he announces nominations and then at the June first, a word ceremony similar to the Tony Awards.

You can expect us were giving out those awards to the person that wins in each category of also some performances from the students.

We'll see performances from all of the school cast that are nominated for best of all musical.

We'll hear so performances for best actor and actress nominee is and then maybe my favorite part is the show will open and close with a showcase ensemble featuring 2 students from each school.

So all of the schools are going to see themselves represented up on the stage.

That's amazing.

Red carpet and all and so but that they're getting a lot more than a trophy or an award.

The winners are going to go on to New York City to compete nationally.

But there's more than that right?

Absolutely.

So the winners of our best actor and actress in a leading role category will be sent to New York all expenses paid by KPA to participate in the Jimmy Awards, which as he said is not just the word ceremony.

It's actually over weeklong experience of master classes, workshops with I mean that the stars of Broadway, the students will often see their headshots put up in Times Square.

It's a really big deal for the students and their their with other students from across the country who love the arts just as much as they do.

And we're really excited for Kentuckyian southern Indiana to have a spot on that national stage.

Yeah.

What an incredible at what the schools have to do to get involved.

Maybe they didn't get involved at this year.

But for the future, how to schools getting Bob Salute Lee.

So this is our first year we have 16 schools that are participating.

We certainly hope to clear that in the future this year we just worked a spring musicals, but we're hoping to expand that in the future as well.

So any school that's interested in being involved, if they do a high school musical, they can just go to Kentucky Performing Arts Center or look up the KP words and reach out to us there and we'll get in the rest of the information from back.

Fantastic.

Thanks so much.

And I'm really excited about this.

The inaugural KPA Bradley Awards happen June 1st at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.

Back to you.

>> Thank you.

Cal say the Bradley Awards.

Our partnership with the Louisville Theatrical Association and named in honor of Bradley broker.

>> Whose work with Lta was instrumental in bringing touring Broadway shows to the Kentucky any area.

A recording studio on Wheels has rolled into Lexington for its 200 50th birthday.

Helps us to get people to talk about their city.

>> How long they've been here, their history, how the past informs the present, what they want.

Lexington look to look like in the future.

>> Learn more about story core and how you can add your voice to the library of Congress.

That story and more tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which, you know, is at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

We hope that you'll connect with us all the ways you see on your screen.

Facebook X, formerly Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

We welcome you to send us a story idea by email to public affairs at KET Dot Org and look for us on the PBS app that you can download on your smart device and phone and check out our programs online on demand at KET DOT Org will be in Frankfort tomorrow as we wrap up the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly in regular session.

Don't miss it.

We'll have that coverage online throughout the day.

I'm Renee Shaw and I'll see you tomorrow night.

♪