♪ >> Self-defense is not a privilege.

It's a fundamental right.

A Navy SEAL veteran turned lawmaker wants to lower the concealed carry age from 21 to 18.

>> If you do it to help people out to make this a better place for us to win more.

>> We're at home on the farm with a freshman state lawmaker.

♪ ♪ And a story about slavery and the underground railroad goes from the history books to the stage in Lexington.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Thursday March, the 6th, I'm Renee Shaw and we thank you for spending some of your Thursday night with us.

A military veteran believes that if 18 year-olds can fight for our country abroad.

>> They should also be able to carry a concealed weapon at home, lowering the legal concealed carry age and increasing the punishment for violating protective orders.

Those were 2 of the big topics in today's Senate Judiciary Committee.

Our McKenzie spank has more on the arguments and personal testimonies heard.

And this this morning's meeting as we begin tonight's Legislative update.

Proponents of Senate Bill 75 say lowering the age requirement to carry a concealed gun is about equality.

>> Arguing that 18 year-olds have several constitutional rights as adults and that the right to conceal and carry should be one of them.

>> At 18 years old, a Kentuckyian is legally an adult.

They can vote.

They can sign contracts they can marry.

They can be tried as an adult in court and most importantly, they can serve the United States military.

We trust them to carry a rifle on the battlefield to defend our freedoms.

Yet we deny them the right to carry a concealed weapon to defend themselves at home.

This is an unjust double standard.

One that must be corrected.

>> Back in 2019, the state passed a law which allowed Kentuckians 21 and over to carry a concealed gun without a permit.

A background check or any required safety training.

That lack of training is what opponents of Senate Bill, 75 say.

They find most troubling.

>> personally did not see anything to gain by passing this bill and that s**** 24 years, a law enforcement officer, I was lost and we took training away from carry concealed with constitutional carry.

The idea of people carry a concealed weapon who may not even know how to shoot that weapon is.

>> Terrifying.

The young people in the age group 18 to 20 do not have the developmental capacity.

2 carry a gun without any training, which is why he would be allowing these young people to do.

>> Senate Bill, 75 passed favorably with 5 yes votes, 2 no votes and one pass.

Republican Senator Matthew Dineen was the past vote explaining that he felt the bill needed to include a training requirement supporter of the bill Senate President Robert Stivers explained his yes vote.

>> We have with in recognition of the United States government and the state government.

That teenagers are able to defend our country.

And therefore they should be able to purchase a weapon and carry it as any other adult because at 18.

Our laws recognize them as such.

>> Senate Bill, 75 will next head to the full Senate or House Bill.

38 was heard in the same committee today.

It would increase the penalty for violating an order of protection.

More than 3 times.

>> Currently a violation of an order of protection is a class.

A misdemeanor.

No many no matter how many violations no matter how many convictions that a person has of this when House Bill 38 would do a bomb that 3rd violation, that 3rd conviction of an order of protection.

It would take the penalty up to a class.

The felony.

Marion Pat told the panel how she was violently abused by her ex-husband who repeatedly violated protective orders.

>> He broke his.

The video.

Over 20 times back calling me and texting me, sending me messages.

And then he showed up at my house one morning at 02:00AM beating all the doors, trying to get in.

>> He was rearrested.

Taken to jail.

By the time we went to court in May in the final court case, he had 50 violations against him for domestic violence order violations.

He was supposed to serve until March the 29th of this year.

In December, the Franklin County Jail decided he was a good inmate.

They released him again on December.

30th.

By the first week of January.

He had already broken the domestic violence order again.

When do I get to sleep?

The 20's out.

I doubt.

I only sleep is one easy and >> it's Senator Reggie Thomas raised concern that the bill would allow serial offenders who harassed multiple women to slip through the cracks.

But committee chairman Senator Brandon Storm said he was working with the attorney general's office to amend this problem before the bill heads to the Senate floor.

House Bill.

38 passed favorably and we'll head to the Senate floor for full consideration for Kentucky edition.

I'm McKenzie Spank.

We have a motion.

>> Thank you, McKenzie.

Now more news from the state Capitol today.

Many schools, particularly in the eastern portion of the state, were forced to close for days on end to deal with snow storms and flooding.

One bill this session would offer some leeway for school districts to tweak their calendar without keeping kids in class well into June House bill 241, made it through the House without consternation.

But today the state Senate latched on a much-debated measure about virtual instruction to the school calendar.

Bill.

Our June Leffler explains.

>> Class must be in session 170 days a year, according to state law.

10 of those days can be non-traditional instruction or NTI days because of the severe rain and snow.

Many school districts have already used up those days says representative to be true.

It in elementary school principal.

>> This bill started off as a really good bill for all the districts in the state of Kentucky.

Especially the districts in eastern Kentucky where Ali of >> House bill 241, would let school districts extend school hours.

Take 5 more NTI days and or request 5 days to be waived by the state education commissioner.

Just this year due to severe weather, the House passed it with an 82 to 7 vote last month.

But >> you can take a good bill.

And make it bad.

And I'm afraid.

That with the amendment that I think maybe on this bill.

But I would have to in encourage my colleagues to be against this bill.

>> Republican senators offered a much different version.

This bill is not gonna make it out of the Senate.

And despite.

The clear need for some relief for some of the schools, especially in eastern Kentucky.

The addition of 5 NTI days.

Caused our caucus to have real concerns about 2.41.

So this is an effort to try to KET the process moving forward.

>> Senate leadership and the chair of the Senate Education Committee tacked on another proposal they say will give the bill more traction with their colleagues.

That's a stopgap measure to KET public virtual schools upload in Kentucky, specifically the Kentucky Virtual Academy at Clover Port, Independent report.

Parents have testified in Frankfort in favor of their alternative schooling despite the fact that it fails to test enough students hire enough teachers and KET class sizes spall.

According to reporting from the Courier Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader, they're reporting says the Western Kentucky School District serves 10 times more virtual students than in-person students.

The Senate Education Committee Advanced House Bill 241.

Went up for a vote on the Senate floor today.

>> I think he's contradicting Mr. President that just yesterday we passed a bill talking about and creating an office of governmental efficiency.

And here now just 24 hours later, we want to pass a bill.

It's being managed by company.

There's been found by 3 states in the last decade.

To lie.

>> To cheat at the steel.

There's no way with President Aikins Vo.

For this coming to come here, Kentucky continue to take our state taxpayer money, in my opinion, that's extremely inefficient.

>> Almost 1000 of the students, I'm told, came from the Jefferson County Public School system.

Why would students and families choose a different model for their kids?

Because this is probably the place that best meets the needs of those kids.

Are we hear about the kids or we hear about supporting systems?

If we're if we're here dedicated to supporting the kids.

Let's make it possible.

Under current Kentucky law for families and children.

To be met, where they need to be met by the delivery model that works for them.

>> House Bill 241, past in a 23 to 14 vote and now heads back to the House to approve changes to the bill for Kentucky edition.

I'm Jen Leffler.

>> Thank you so much, June.

Now, if the House doesn't approve those Senate changes, I a conference committee as it's called between the 2 chambers will be appointed to hash out the differences before the session ends.

Now Kentucky is one of just 3 states that prevents felons from regaining the right to vote.

If they aren't pardoned or have their records expunged.

Now, that's according to the League of Women.

Voters of Kentucky, 2 Republican state lawmakers want to address the issue by creating a task force focused on voting rights state.

Senator Jimmy Higdon and state representative Emily Callaway have each draft or their own concurrent resolutions calling for the Kentucky restoration of voting rights Task force.

Speaking to committees this morning, Representative Callaway explain the differences between the 2 pieces of legislation and who would be on those special committees and task forces.

>> Basically, he's has 5 of each from house and the Senate.

And I've got more specific with mind to members of the House to members of the Senate and then I die then and have a representative of the secretary of state or designee, the attorney general or designee.

I've got representative of the Department of Corrections got a representative from the state Board of Elections.

So we're we're expanding out.

We're also bringing in representatives from organizations who are advocating for citizens rights to be restored.

So got 2 of those listed.

And I I I understand it within that discussion.

There is talk of expungement that we can.

We can entertain that.

I mean, this is something obviously that needs to happen.

We're coming at it 2 different ways.

But as long as a task work force is established and the heat moving the ball forward and we have some things present choice.

We 6, I think forward to getting figured out.

>> It's about the resolutions were passed out of committees this morning with some differences and there will now head to their respective full chambers for a vote.

There should either version passed, the task force would begin meeting during the interim session to study existing laws.

Hear from experts and develop recommendations for the legislature to consider later.

Governor government efficiency on the federal level is dominating headlines per actions of the Trump administration.

But could a version of that be implemented in Kentucky?

A legislative panel in Frankfort approved a resolution resolution to create a Kentucky doze sort of House concurrent resolution, 50 calls for the creation of the Kentucky discipline of government efficiency Task force to examine executive branch spending and make recommendations for efficiency in state government.

The bill passed with 16 yes votes.

>> House concurrent resolution.

50 has more tools in the tool belt through a 10 member bipartisan committee to truly examined and do a deep dive into our spending practices to ensure that when we are spending the people's money through our tax system that it is done so in an efficient manner.

Coughs Lee Lima Line.

Every agency.

Plus.

Base.

Plus.

Base.

Plus.

>> Nobody ever looks.

And what's in the base?

And the question is, are there things in that base that may be?

Are working if they're working well after providing services, we need to KET them.

But if there are things in that base that are not productive, that are not.

Being beneficial to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Maybe we need to get them out.

My concern candidly is that this is so structured similarly to the federal doge that is causing such.

>> Poor and chaos within our federal government within our state.

We are having I'm getting hundreds of e-mails from people who are concerned about what is happening.

And I don't want our state government to get into the situation where we are causing more uncertainty at a time when people need certainty and stability.

>> That resolution passed in the state government committee also passed Senate Bill 19, which adds a one minute moment of silence at the top of every school day and Kentucky public schools.

He is a full-time farmer who wants to be a voice for agriculture and Frankfort.

Republican State Representative Ryan Bivens is a Spencer County native now a full-time farmer and the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.

He represents Green Heart and LaRue counties, rural district in central Kentucky.

Our Laura Rogers spent some time with begins on his hodgenville farm as we profile the 2025 freshman class of the Kentucky General Assembly.

♪ >> My father tried to steal a meal, talk about politics, religion because you lose a friend.

Real quick.

I've had to change my philosophy on that.

Not all people.

I think times have changed over.

You better be talking about your religion, your every talk about politics nowadays.

>> Public and state Representative Ryan Bivens is now firmly talking about politics in his first term as a state lawmaker representing the 24th district coming from agriculture being a full-time farmer.

I think it's my responsibility to stand up for the industry events.

His wife Misty and their 2 sons are a first generation farm family.

Farming is a business, unlike any other business.

>> Is row crop Operation Fresh Start?

Farms employs 9 people and we will plan a little over 10,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat.

This year, he owns about 1500 of those acres and leases the rest.

One of the things about agriculture that is so unique.

We are a small family.

Bivens has been strongly involved in the AG community through commodity organizations, Kentucky Farm Bureau and FFA and 4 h. >> I think all of our fiscal responsibility to get involved.

>> I don't care if you're in the business of producing something.

Are you just simply work for somebody?

I think you need to be involved with the group.

>> That advocates for you.

>> When the district 24 seat opened last year, Bivins was encouraged to run to extend his advocacy to the state House.

It's kind of hard to sit back, complain about things.

If you're not willing to put your 9-1-1, yourself in the people that >> have everyday experience out here, people that live real life.

People don't businesses, people who pay taxes.

I understand what needs to go on within government Ivins who lives in Hodgenville, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln says he has a personal understanding of the needs of a role district.

>> Including infrastructure improvements and support for public education.

We have kids that go to the public school system.

I have a wife who teaches in the public school system.

I understand those needs.

>> But I also think that the constituents of this district, they're pretty self-sufficient.

A lot of times.

It's not what you can do for me.

It's what we don't move against them.

We don't want to be left behind.

We want folks to appreciate what we are, who we are, where we live just as much as some would do.

A major city been scoring crop supports Kentucky's distillery market.

>> Bourbon being one of Kentucky's signature industries travel anywhere in the world point to a battle on the shelf and say, hey, that's my product that our girl back on the phone.

He has concerns about the dwindling number of farms in Kentuckyian the loss of farmland wing in a matter of national security people.

We've got to wake up Wednesday.

Snow is not just about protecting farmers.

It's about protecting the land.

The farmers operate.

If we're not able to produce the food that we need in this country.

>> We're going to lose our status as being the powerful nation that we are.

Events has co-sponsor legislation related to eminent domain that he says would ensure our producers are paid fair market value.

>> What their land is worth government touch.

A whole lot of stuff in parks.

Excellent.

Everyone's lots.

>> And you've got to KET that in mind when you're voting on stuff.

When you're looking at different legislation, he says among his top concerns making decisions that will bring positive outcomes for Kentuckians years down the road.

It's not just about us.

It's about generations to come.

We've got to leave the proper groundwork so that way we ensure success.

>> For my kids, my grandkids.

>> Going forward for Kentucky Edition and Rogers.

>> Thank you, Laura.

The events replaced Brandon Reid who is now executive director of the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy.

♪ In other news today, the death toll is 24 from flooding and cold weather in February today, Governor Andy Beshear talked about the continued road cleanup.

>> We're down to only 22 state highways that are close.

14 of those are still for flooding in aid are new to rockslides and mudslides.

Now we're still assessing the damage to our roads and bridges.

But as we're here today, nearly 600 reports of damage requiring repairs for state highways.

We performed 199 bridge inspections and they're all safe.

But 19 will require follow-up to identify repairs and at least 87 of them are impacted in some way by debris.

>> Also at the state Capitol today, the governor observe the 5th anniversary of Kentucky's first confirmed COVID case.

It was March 6th, 2020 today's ceremony honored those who lost their lives and the spirit of community that got the state through the pandemic.

>> So more than 2, 20,450 Kentucky ends have been lost to COVID-19.

>> I remember I was just a child in the 4th grade classroom when I figured out about the first case, the pandemic didn't divide us.

It's simply tested us today.

I encourage us all to remember our loved ones to celebrate their lives and to support each other.

>> As we continue to adapt to our lives without them.

>> Today, Kentucky's had more than 1.7 million COVID cases.

♪ >> William, still the father of the Underground railroad is the subject of a stage performance at the Lexington Opera House this week.

>> It has a historical connection to Lexington and the people involved in creating it have a family connection more and this week's Arts and culture segment we call Tapestry.

>> Sanctuary Road is an operative has been out for about 2 years.

It's based on William Stills document.

Williams still is my great, great grand uncle in 18 72.

He published his records on the Underground Railroad.

He was probably the most influential conductor person in the underground railroad of open with everyone.

That was 6 Cape teen who ever got to Philadelphia.

And so it's based on all his records and it's not for and then also, Peter, still, he's my great, great grand aunt was oldest brothers were enslaved in Lexington.

And so part of the story to a call center where the road it's a collaboration through the digital Access project.

>> Where?

When an enslaved person is transacted, whether they were left is a gift to another a family member or a close relative or close friend in this state.

The transaction was done through would be conveying its.

We have those records found here at the county clerk's office.

And so our connection is the Peter Steele, who is one of the enslaved individuals who were who paid his freedom down the line.

We have a transaction record with him and his brother living in our office.

I play the care to Williams.

Still, who is the main character of the production.

Williams still >> has recorded the risk, the lives and trials of slaves.

And also he recorded, you know, abolitionists as >> But it's also hard because I didn't live during slavery.

You know, I didn't witness I didn't witness someone looked up this or see the whips on the back.

I didn't someone who just didn't have any Someone who was trying to run away.

And so to be in that place is very humbling.

>> And what is the true learning experience that has been great and when someone documents their history, when they tell their story.

>> It's important because that we know exactly what that person is dealing with.

We don't have to go to, you know, secondary sources.

We know exactly what we use to try.

And and it's important for African-American because it's so difficult for us to find.

>> Untraceable streets because most of my research is done in probate court.

And, you know, archives where I'm looking at other individuals wills where they are exchanging people with just the first name and so when someone like William still rights and documents this with precise accuracy.

Yeah, it's it's amazing.

>> And when the composer composes something your rights, you don't know what's going to happen when it comes And so when it becomes a time.

>> Where the political and social atmosphere of the country over place is.

In peril or in a situation of unrest and you have a work that has the potential to shift the conversation of the atmosphere.

It's a true honor.

And and we are in that time right now and it's open to have this work and be able to present it in times like these.

>> of >> In show our family navigating through this system of slavery in found their way back.

The whole agency is all about.

Connection.

It's about family and that's family's connection.

That's what the Underground railroad was about.

>> It was strange because >> they were running away from they had to disassociate with their families.

>> But at the same time it was about them leaving their families better than where they were.

That's what my grant, my great, great, great grandparent when they escaped.

Bakes cave.

So I could be here today.

>> Saying that it's about family.

>> It's about coming to us.

>> Sanctuary road.

The opera is set to be performed at the Lexington Opera House this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Afterwards, a panel discussion will include a conversation about William still and his legacy.

Kentucky has a teacher shortage.

One survey says that in Kentucky, 13% of all teaching positions were vacant for an entire school year.

The new program prepares high school students to become teachers.

And we'll tell you all about the grow your own teachers campaign and who's behind it.

That's Friday on Kentucky Edition, which we hope you'll join us for tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop on all the great programming here at KET and send us a story idea by email to public affairs at KET Dot Org.

>> Hope you have a great weekend ahead.

Kelsey Starks will be with you tomorrow night and that we'll see you on Monday.

Have a good one to ♪