Public school students going part-time.

The idea behind this proposal in front.

>> We're living in college experience right now.

Can tell you better than anyone else.

What's going on on campus?

>> What 2 college students think of bills affecting colleges.

My hope is that the General Assembly doesn't pass either them if they get to make a veto them.

What bills does the governor have in mind?

We're a veto.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky.

Addition for Thursday, March 7, I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for the shot.

>> Colleges and universities have part-time students.

But what about K through 12 schools?

A new bill in the Kentucky state Senate could make that a reality.

How would this work and why our Clayton Dalton tells us as we kick off tonight's Legislative update.

More choice in the public system.

>> And the removal of any barriers for economically disadvantaged students that may be in the system.

Those are 2 main goals.

Kentucky has almost 650,000 public school students.

That's based on full-time enrollment data from the Kentucky Department of Education.

>> But what if students were able to attend public school?

Part time opting into some classes and out of others.

>> A parent guardian or other person with custody of a child subject to compulsory attendance under this chapter, a partially satisfied the compulsory attendance requirements by enrolling a child as a student in a public school district on a part-time basis.

4 courses offered in the district schools.

That's the key component of the bill.

Part-time students could be partially educated at one public school.

>> They would have to seek the rest of their education at a private or home school students could not be part-time at to public schools.

And the bill sponsor says school districts wouldn't be compelled to accept students, especially those with discipline or attendance issues.

We didn't want a possibility to come up where.

County school.

Has kids that are.

Truancy issues disciplinary issues and they get the audio.

I'm gonna pawn these off on the city's core.

The independent school.

This bill allows that school.

To take that into account and put that into their non resident pupil policy so they can that can be addressed are not forced to take those those cuts.

Part-time students could be allowed to participate in clubs and sports and for some school superintendents, this creates a problem.

You know, we all know that athletics are oftentimes a tremendous incentive.

>> To promote student participation and it results in greater student outcomes in achievement.

I would be concerned that little Billy, who maybe love soccer comes to us so that he could participate in soccer.

He enrolls in one class for us again, we don't know what he's doing through the through the course of the day and at the end of the day and a workforce development is something that everybody in this room is concerned with, not be concerned that we're not putting out the type of student the state of Kentucky that I know that we all want to see.

>> But one legislator who has experience homeschooling says she likes the bill.

>> And I wish when I was home schooling, I could have had an option to get assistance in some of those core subjects that I know probably were being taught a little better than I was able to do it home.

And I think this is a really innovative way to accomplish the goal that we have for all of our K 12 students, whether they're home schooled, whether they're in private, whether they're public.

To make sure they're receiving the best education possible.

>> Senate Bill, 2.10 got mixed reviews.

The single no vote came from fellow Republican state Senator Danny Carroll, 2 legislators, a Democrat and Republican registered pass votes.

Still, the bill passed out of committee with bipartisan support and amendments are expected as the bill moves forward.

It's next.

Stop the Senate floor for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

The bill sponsor said he's open to working with Kentucky superintendents to more narrowly defined part-time status.

>> Getting student rowdiness on school buses under control.

Is the goal of the bill gaining momentum in the state Legislature?

House bill 4.46.

Requires local school boards to set expectations for bus riding students and their parents and establishes disciplinary actions for misbehavior even up to losing bus riding privileges last November.

The Courier Journal reported that the state's largest school district, Jefferson County was forced to cancel nearly 100 routes after bus drivers organized the sickout and 143 called off work because of student a ruling this.

>> Certainly if for some reason the system unintentionally fails and a response to a dangerous situation report result in a driver feeling still threatened or unsafe, transporting a specific student.

This concern should be considered this bill directs boards to implement a policy that will allow a driver to opt out transporting that student.

And that will look different for different counties and is not meant to be burdensome for administrators or other drivers when considering other routes and options it is intended to reduce unintentional, fails within the system.

And with the dressing potentially dangerous students and circumstances, drivers have a huge responsibility and we should respect and address concerns thoroughly.

You know, this just started winning.

>> We had busing issues in Jefferson County and we come to find out discipline on the bus is one of the reasons that we were losing drivers.

And as we continue to examine this issue in Jefferson, we found out the whole state is having some issues.

So this is a I believe this will be a good way to address these problems.

>> In setting guidelines, local school boards would work off a model policy developed by the state Education Department.

Students and parents would have to sign a form acknowledging the policy.

Each school here failure to do so could mean bus riding privileges revoked House Bill 4.46.

Cleared the Senate Education Committee and that needs approval by the full Senate.

Having enough drivers to get kids to and from school is also an issue.

Lawmakers are trying to settle.

Louisville Republican Emily Calloway's House Bill 4.47. allows school districts to use passenger vehicles like vans.

The shuttle kids back and forth to school school districts could own lease or contract vehicles and drivers wouldn't have to have a CDL commercial driver's license like school bus driver Stu, which proponents hope will lure more folks to take on bus duty.

>> We've got kids in drivers seeing really late nights on the bus.

And that's that's quite frankly, unacceptable in smaller districts having a 30 ton vehicle transport only handle a handful of students on Kirby back roads is antiquated and unnecessary.

And so this bill will improve our entire Commonwealth Public schools, transportation routines.

By allowing the districts to include specifically 9 passenger vehicles in their daily bus routes.

We will see a more efficient approach to transporting our most precious cargo implemented statewide.

>> The Senate Education panel approved House Bill 4.47.

It now advances to the full Senate dock.

The student body presidents from every Kentucky public University gathered in Frankfort today.

They spread through the capital to talk with legislators about the issues important to college students.

>> With a plethora means with all kinds of different accidents around of our state capitol and worse than the time to meet with our local representatives to achieve those best benefit our university that the student body since is not really one of the things we're we're kind of, you know, lobbying on behalf of the university, the ways more logging on behalf of our student body things that we believe that are impacting our student body.

So a great example that the dei legislation, a large majority of our student body here that we represent is again set piece of legislation.

So I was especially meeting with state legislators, representatives com explaining to our thoughts and give them kind of sustained perspective.

sums alternately sometimes it seems to be a little bit forgotten.

So the hope one of the rally's they just meet with those representatives and just explain are going to be on the saying so they could have this and well-rounded the system, making these really important decisions that affect the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

One of the things that I can 100% guarantee.

That's where very a unified around is a mental health issues in Kentucky say buy presents.

We all kind of got together and realize a big effect that mental health has on college students.

And so that's going to be one of our main unified points that we've all shared offense in each We've done research space office in Boston College's we share of each other.

We have unified effort to try to help combat the mental health crisis affecting some of the incidents.

So we do have a few different meeting >> For this morning talking a lot in Kentuckyian across the United States right now is making sure.

Well, it's a portable for all students and so that everyone can see the value of higher education by getting that degree.

We're just hoping that those continued efforts to be a prince.

>> By everyone here and that we can continue to rally for, you know, more affordability so that every college student or college aged student, Kentucky or even high school age students can benefit from a great education system.

An awfully stay in state.

The better bet for the Commonwealth in the future.

>> I think that students have one of the strongest voices from the perspective of we are the future of We'll be the people that we're looking to take on these positions going forward.

But I think it's also important.

We'll talk about that first hand.

Witness were living in college experience right now.

Can tell you better than anyone else.

What's going on on campus and the problems that are facing 6.

So that's why I think it's so important that are here and be able to advocate for the things it seems the >> lawmakers have drafted a resolution recognizing October 10th is higher education, mental health thing.

Kentucky.

The resolution is waiting to be heard on the House floor.

The Kentucky House and Senate are each considering bills to limit diversity, equity and inclusion programs often called Dei at colleges and universities.

Today, a reporter asked Governor Beshear about the idea behind Dei.

>> And what it tries to do is to provide a little extra help to to those that.

The have had to go through more than most people have to go through what most people don't >> see is that the definition of dei, the federal definition?

It's used everywhere.

>> Yes, it includes people from different races, but it also includes people who live in areas of high poverty, which is a lot of our great state.

It includes veterans who that extra help includes individuals with disabilities who also deserved that extra opportunity, a passing these bills will not only harm our institutions of higher education.

They will make us less attractive for business and they'll make us appear less welcoming us in Kentucky is on a roll.

We're on the biggest best economic development win streak of our lifetime.

We ought to say to the rest of the world come on in MS is our chance to be something special to be something bigger and better.

Then maybe we even.

>> Ever dreamed up that do that.

We have to be a type of welcoming state.

My hope is that the General Assembly doesn't pass either them if they get to make a veto them.

And even if that vetoes overridden out those businesses, I hope those college students and others know they've got somebody here in Frankfort that believes diversity is a good thing.

>> The governor has already vetoed one bill, a bill blocking local ordinances that require landlords to accept tenants who pay with federal housing vouchers.

The Kentucky General Assembly overrode that veto yesterday.

So will become law.

A state lawmaker says he supports the public's right to transparent open government.

But what cost to the people who run state government as Kentucky additions?

June Leffler reports the bill would chip away at Kentucky's Open Records act in the name of personal privacy for public employees and officials.

>> Requesting public records is a bit of a fishing expedition requests can shed light on what our government is up to.

But a Jefferson County Republican says it can catch much more than that, including the personal details of public servants lives to subject >> probably almost a half a million people in this stay tuned to work for a public agency or unpaid board volunteers to this kind of scrutiny in their personal life.

This crossing the line House Bill 509, says only emails from official account could be searched.

Not private e-mails.

>> And public workers and officials would face consequences if they do conduct the public's business through their private emails.

Transparency safeguard.

But the same doesn't apply to text messages and not every public servant has a work or board issued cell phone.

Think it's laudable that this bill says.

>> You if you have a public email account, you shouldn't privately email.

However, it doesn't say you shouldn't text on a private device about public business.

I understand the concerns and I think we can work through them.

But the answer can't be no text messages ever available person who never available because that's the only thing people choose to communicate.

The public will pay the price.

>> Jefferson County, Democrat agrees.

>> The public record is a public record regardless of where it's stored.

But this bill proceeds from the false belief the public business is not the Publix business.

The Kentucky Open Government Coalition and the Kentucky Press Association oppose the bill.

>> We have a number member gun is a shunt to try to get information that a JCPS about what happened during the epic meltdown, a busing in the first few days, the school year we requested emails and all records and they come back and told us we only have like 2 e-mails kuz the superintendent of transportation director and everybody else been texting throughout this whole thing.

But under this bill.

We would not have the right to see what employees were texting each other during the JCPS melt them.

We think that's a loophole that that can be and should be plugged.

>> The bill sponsor says not everything should be considered of the public's interest.

>> You know, in this open law was passed in the 1970's people had verbal conversations.

Of course, we're not disclose, will hit telephone conversations were not.

The schools will come out ahead.

You know, scrap of paper that through in the trash can.

That was not the schools.

Will those have been supplanted or monitor about text messages and emails?

And I think we've got to have an environment where people can have a discussion asking what terms the committee meeting without everything.

Being labor and subject to a search.

>> House Bill 509, passed in the House State Government committee.

The vote was partisan with all Democrats opposing the measure for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

>> Kentucky's General Assembly enacted the Open Records Act in 1976.

2 years before that came open meetings Act which says any meeting of a public body that meets a quorum is open to the public.

Interfering with the legislative process could result in being charged with a new crime under a bill that cleared a House committee Wednesday morning.

Sawyer's Bill State Representative John Blanton is the sponsor of House Bill 6.26.

He said the bills designed to address 3 specific things.

When someone prevents lawmakers or staff from going into or between rooms when someone enters a legislative chamber or room and refuses to leave and when someone engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct all with the intent to interfere in the legislative process.

The first 2 scenarios would result in a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense, a class, A misdemeanor.

After that, the 3rd scenario could result in a Class D felony for a second offense.

>> Last year.

>> We actually had a disruption when we were passed SB One, 50, there were a lot of noise in the chamber and those what those people were escorted out in some were arrested.

We had some authority to do that at that time.

As do we not have that authority?

I know you want to be sure.

But we were pretty clear.

To to continue our business.

>> So very good question.

Representative And it goes back to that definition.

Does the 5.19?

'02, 0, is that applicable?

I believe that was probably what was utilize last year this just.

Put it more plainly so that our troopers will have that.

And if you recall, and again, those people have the right to have their voices heard.

Its staff with our ability on the floor to be able to have a debate which is healthy as well.

Right?

We we got cut off and got shot right to vote.

And so it impeded our ability to do the work of our constituents for people who want to get up.

Regardless of what side of the issue that was on and have their voices heard.

So if stoffels, our voices to some degree.

So this just a and a practical manner clarifies it.

So that the troopers that are working have something to go by.

>> The bill passed the committee along party lines and now heads to the full House for consideration.

♪ >> As we told you yesterday, U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky endorsed former President Donald Trump's 2024 run for the White House.

>> That's despite former President Trump's past attacks on McConnell and McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, a former member of Trump's cabinet and in 2021 McConnell said Trump was responsible for the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol yesterday reporters asked Senator McConnell about his decision to endorse Trump.

>> lead in Game 6.

And thank you so that you >> don't worry.

The 25th 2000 and 21.

Shortly in the attack on the go.

I was asked a similar question.

I would support the nominee for to calm the Navy plans, you you didn't really answer the question as to whether or >> he was in.

♪ And that means you're comfortable with.

>> I don't have anything to add what I just said.

And I said to be 2021 shortly after the attack on the couch.

You know, we support President Trump if he were the nominee when our party and he obviously is going to be the nominee of our party.

>> McConnell's endorsement came one day after Trump won most of the Super Tuesday primary contests.

Trump's last major Republican Pet competitor, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley dropped out of the race yesterday.

♪ >> Frontotemporal dementia has received a lot of attention lately after actor Bruce Willis talk show host Wendy Williams announced they have been diagnosed with the rare neurological Disease.

The Alzheimer's Association in Kentucky says while rare is one of the most common drivers of dementia in people under 65 hear.

More now on the types of dementia, symptoms and ways to KET your brain healthy.

And today's medical news.

>> Dementia is an umbrella term and so it is calls up with the individual has issues with memory thinking and reasoning.

And so that it's not just one disease.

can be caused by Alzheimer's Disease vascular dementia frontotemporal the not dementia, which is also known as FTD FTD when your frontal lobe in your temp oral over affected these parts of your brain to help you rationalize help with your emotions.

And so a lot of times there's behavior changes.

There's personality changes.

It effects your speech and oftentimes your mobility too.

So early it is important because you have more options in treatment and also gives you time to plan some of those warning signs that a lot of people come to us is like, well, forget, Mike.

He sometimes like is warnings on?

>> Not necessarily.

There are different warning signs that if you can't retrace your steps, that is a warning sign.

If you do lose your keys if you can't go back and remember where you were if you go in in a room and you forget, why are there everyone does that.

But if you KET going in and out of that room and cannot remember, that is a problem.

This is what dementia does.

It interferes with your daily life.

if you're used to doing something that you're no longer able to do, if not being social like he used to.

So there's a lot of misconceptions about behaviors to that.

Come Alzheimer's, like maybe you'll get angry or mean, but when you meet one person with Alzheimer's or dementia, you've met one person.

So every person just like our brains are different and there's techniques and strategies to help that person live their best life and that they are still a person and they will need to be treated with dignity with Alzheimer's Association.

We do provide education programs that help with some of those communications strategies.

Understanding the different behaviors.

Because as you progress through the disease with Alzheimer's or related dementias your communication skills change your behavior, changes.

>> So also MERS typically, you know, it are 65 and older is whenever you may start developing some calmness in issues.

But there is something called the younger onset.

Our early onset and that can happen as early as your 40's in your 30's.

So it's important to have the knowledge of what those 2 warning signs are, what the disease is at the start of Eid.

It's never too late to have healthy habits.

We talk about what healthy for your heart is healthy for your brain.

Managing your diabetes, making sure that you have control blood pressure, getting sleep.

There's a lot of linkage between a comment to decline and sleep and also challenging your brain track, trying new things to cross word puzzles, protecting your bright.

Make sure you're wearing your helmet if you're biking.

You know, if there's any brain injuries that increase your risk of certain types of dementia.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Earlier we showed you part of Governor Andy Beshear, his weekly news conference during those news conferences.

The governor names a team, Kentucky All-Star.

Before we go tonight, here's this week's winner.

>> You also this incredible rescue last week as a semi truck was dangling off the second Street bridge between Louisville and Indiana for at least 45 minutes.

It was a life saving mission in, you know, who was there with the crane to help rescue the driver, professional firefighters in Louisville, the firefighter who repelled down.

Look at this.

I mean, hundreds of feet in the air.

Talk about bravery.

This individual's name is Bryce Carton.

incredible interview afterwards, he said he prayed with the driver and then he complimented her just pretty special saying she remained calm and they were able to to get it done.

I want to thank fire, including Fire Chief Brian O'Neill and others involved in the response, including EMS, Louisville, Metro police as well as our Kentucky Transportation Cabinet employees, you know, make sure the bridge was safely reopen.

>> The governor went on to thank all firefighters and first responders for the work they do.

And alternative school in Louisville provides a launch pad for its students.

>> These are kids who have been been met with some of life's greatest challenges and our mission in helping them build a life after break is vital to their success.

>> We'll head to Breckenridge Metro, a school that offers nursing automotive family and consumer science classes alongside standard high school courses have students like it.

Find out tomorrow on Kentucky Edition.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and spot subscribe to our Kentucky Edition.

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I'm Casey Parker Bell.

Thank you for joining us tonight.

I hope you have a great evening.

♪ ♪ ♪