♪ >> They disagree on last year's transgender bill.

Hear from 2 more candidates who want to serve you in Frankfort.

>> That is the sum of the spot on the 11 0 hey, you're getting a bye.

Go ahead and set the hook.

But they'll still be a really efficient.

>> Veterans go fish Camp Hero and the VA teamed up to give disabled veterans a special day.

>> Climbing painting exploring inside on top of those are all different ways you can explore sculptures just things.

Culture.

5.

>> And experience sculptures and a whole new way.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Wednesday.

May 15th, I'm Kelsey Starks filling in for Renee Shaw this evening.

Kentucky's Department of Juvenile Justice is now the subject of a federal investigation.

Today the Department of Justice announced it's looking into reports.

>> Of civil rights abuses.

The investigation will examine conditions in Kentucky's 8 youth detention centers and one youth development center.

U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke outlined the scope of the investigation in a post on social media.

>> We will review whether there are unconstitutional conditions, including use of unreasonable, physical and chemical force by staff inappropriate use of isolation, failure to protect children from physical and sexual abuse and adequate mental health care.

>> Today's announcement follows years of reported issues with Kentucky's juvenile justice system including sexual assault and a number of violent riots earlier this year, a state report found Kentucky's Juvenile detention center's lacked clear policies relating to the use of force isolation techniques and training.

It also detailed the department's significant staffing shortages, reforming the state's juvenile justice system was a major issue during the 2023 legislative session.

Lawmakers passed Senate Bill One 62 which among other things appropriated more than 25 million dollars for djj staff raises to help with recruitment and retention.

And in late 2022, Governor Andy Beshear took executive action and began separating male and female juveniles as well as isolating more serious offenders from the general population.

Governor Beshear reiterated those reforms today in a statement following the DOJ announcement, he also criticized the Legislature for not providing more funding for the agency during the past session before saying Kentucky's Department of Juvenile Justice will fully cooperate with the federal government's investigation.

State lawmakers are also reacting to the news Senate President Pro Tem David Givens said the Senate is committed to fixing the issue.

In a statement, he said, quote, It is disheartening that such measures are necessary, but we hope the impending federal investigation will serve as a crucial wake-up call for the Beshear administration.

Big news tonight affecting a sitting member of the Kentucky House, an appeals court has disqualified.

Representative Nima Kulkarni a Louisville Democrat running in next Tuesday's primary.

Dennis HoR lander who ran against Kulkarni in 2018 2020 challenge to the paperwork she filed to run.

Now those papers had to be signed by 2 Democratic witnesses, Portland or says one of her witnesses was a registered Republican who changed her registration after the filing deadline.

Now a judge rejected her landers complaint.

But yesterday a 3 panel judge, a 3 judge panel reversed the decision.

So for now, Carney is out at the 40th District race.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports she will ask the state Supreme Court to reverse this decision.

Kulkarni has one opponent in next Tuesday's primary.

William Zeit Snowe, Republican filed to run in this district.

2 Republicans want their party's nomination in the 45th House district in Lexington, it's an incumbent versus a political newcomer and last year's transgender bill has become a key issue in the race.

Our Clayton Dalton talked to both candidates in tonight's look at primary 2024.

This is my second term.

I I've just completed for sessions.

4 years.

>> It's it's an awesome You know, I'm a fixer a former teacher.

So I know I have to be able to work with everyone.

I've never held any public I was in the car business for 38 I held every position you could have from salesman to finance too.

>> Being a general manager of a couple stores so experience wise, maybe not political, but getting to know people and understanding the people and trying to solve solutions and and work together, I think will help me in in politics itself.

>> Republican State Representative Killian to many has made headlines for breaking from his party on controversial legislation like last year's Senate Bill.

One, 50, which been gender affirming care for minors in Kentucky.

Timoney voted no, no regrets.

Thomas Jefferson has made that decision.

A central part of his campaign.

>> Well, I would have voted opposite of what he did.

>> Jefferson says this is about protecting kids.

>> While while their children, we have responsibilities to protect them.

In my opinion.

My opponents as its governor, it's government overreach and that's why he voted against Senate Bill.

One, 50.

We have some bills that we have bills already in place that protect children, you know, from child abuse and things like that, in my opinion, apparent that would sign off a 13 year-old to change or their gender.

That is a form of child abuse.

>> But to many says it's about parents, too.

I'm I'm misquoted in misstated that I am for gender reassignment surgeries for minors.

And that's not true.

That is not true.

It's never been true.

That story has not changed.

I heard parents, I heard him when they said, listen, my rights are not being protected here.

I voted to protect parent right here and now people are saying that that it's not the case.

Now, this is a parent's rights issue.

The 2 candidates also take a different approach to education, particularly charter schools at one of the things I would also like to do >> is really look at what are we doing effectively in our schools?

And how can we streamlined what our public schools are doing to make them more effective model.

A lot of the school choice discussions that are occurring out and around.

Why can't we implement those in our public schools?

If that's just a simple policy or regulation peas, then let's fix it.

Let's get after it.

Let's make Kentucky awesome.

Seek money follows the student.

So I want to take that 4200 in led to follow the student any where the parent wants to take that students such as if they want to go to a private school.

They want to go to Catholic school.

>> If they want to go to if they want to home school that will empower the parent to help fund the that Todd had a choice.

And with Election Day right around the corner, both are confident they're the right fit for the seat.

>> I don't like how the votes I like him.

He's a nice man are not trying to say anything disparaging about him, but I don't like how the votes and I want to be that conservative voice in Frankfort for the 45th district.

The time for bridge burning is over.

The time for aggression and hate is over.

We have got to work together.

That's why want to KET serving the 45th.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> The winner of this Republican primary will face Democrat Adam more in November.

You'll see the results of that race and all the others.

When you join us primary night, we'll have all the numbers and our panel of experts who will talk about who won and why so join us here next Tuesday at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

More.

Kentucky students are leaving college debt free.

A study from the council on post-secondary education says Kctcs graduates with loan debt.

It fell about 16% over the last 5 years in 2018.

58 1% of graduates owed money in 2023.

It was 42% Council President Aaron Thompson credits the council, the schools and lawmakers with working to slow to a tuition increases and provide more financial aid.

America.

And in Kentucky, new numbers from the CDC show more than 111,000 people died of overdoses in 2022.

Then in 2023, that number dropped to 107,000 and the numbers improved in Kentucky as well after more than 2300 deaths in Kentucky in 2022, that number declined to 2100.

And 25 in 2023.

That's a decline of almost 8%.

The CDC says it's too early to tell what caused the decline.

Flags are at half-staff until sundown today for Peace Officer Memorial Day U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky honored police officers during a speech this morning on the U.S. Senate floor.

McConnell singled out one deputy killed in the line of duty last year.

>> Deputy Caleb Online of Scott County Sheriff's Office.

Tragically shot and killed a year ago.

Not to wait during a routine traffic stop.

In Georgetown.

He leaves behind his wife 2 children.

And yesterday I had to grow just meeting with members of the comments about my.

I'm sure them that their sacrifice.

This is not forgotten.

The last of the heroes, we honor this way.

The holes later told Untied NET departments.

And the vote in primaries.

And their deaths are a reminder of the day they risk be softened state.

Did arrest out of sight.

>> The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says nationwide 136 police officers died in the line of duty in 2023. down 39% from the year before us.

♪ >> I'm Laura Rogers joined by Rylan Barton, U.S. senior editor for NPR States team and Rylan Corps.

Busy week as we are gearing up for Kentucky's primary election.

Early voting begins tomorrow and some breaking news today said Representative Nima Kulkarni being deemed ineligible to run the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversing that decision based on a rule.

They say that was broken and her nominating papers.

Can you break that down for us?

Said?

>> Yes.

And you will learn is the Democratic state representative for a Louisville area district earlier this year.

A former state representative, actually the representative previous previously held or C does or lender filed a complaint saying that cool the paperwork of files from parties.

Nominating papers were impressed that they were filed by somebody who was not of the right of political party, that they were still a Republican when they signed the papers.

You know, this person switch later to be a Democrat.

I'm a lower court, had initially ruled that was fined for it to still be on the ballot.

But now of the Court of Appeals ruled that she will not be on the ballot.

This will likely be appealed.

And the decided by the state Supreme Court.

But it's it's really gone back and forth here.

And it is really a small issue that took place of this, the signature that was not signed, the person, the right political party affiliation.

>> And, you know, we're seeing a lot of these contested legislative races across Kentuckyian in both parties.

They're getting a lot of The race there in Louisville, former state representative Attica Scott running for the state Senate seat that's been held by Minority Leader Gerald Neal there since 1989.

Are you anticipating this being a close race?

>> It really could be.

And these are 2 very prominent legislators by well-known names here.

Obviously, as you said to me, it's been an $0.6 to 79 out of the sky has been involved in a little politics for options for Metro Council person also was in the State House representatives for mean for Congress couple years side of Grace to her little of arson, Morgan McGarvey.

And so that it's a real about a couple well known names in this area.

One thing that's Nobles of Governor Beshear's hack is actually got involved in this race and back general in the space is saying that his experience matters.

But this is a pretty remarkable thing.

We'll see that winds up winning this race.

>> You know, we're seeing that argument between experience or so.

Maybe the Iraq, courage to Then those candidates being challenged by so-called Liberty Republicans.

We're seeing that in Lexington in northern Kentucky.

We're talk about a couple of those races.

>> Yeah, this is a this is one of the big things happening in primary is a lot of money involved in this case.

The Kentucky Chamber Commerce actually, I'm spending a bit of money either defending.

Of the price of your income or establishment Republicans in the state legislature trying to fend off challenges from from a so-called liberty candidates and also trying to help the least one candidate win back their seat one of the more 1000 Republican backers, the Northern Kentucky, a couple of no one says Jillian Timoney for Lexington Area, a statement.

The district is a former educator in Lexington and he's really one of the more moderate Republicans in the legislature.

And that's something that some were concerned.

Republicans have criticized him for that.

He opposed some of the anti-trans legislation that came out of the legislature lately.

He's running against a Saudi named Thomas Jefferson in that district.

And this could end up being pretty closer race.

That also to be a pretty close race in the general election to that district is one that any this year actually perform.

David Cameron last year's election and some words of Lexington.

we'll see if, as you know on the line, the general election, something that Democrats to put another one of those was in northern Kentucky, CNN.

I see a former state representative trying to win back his seat.

He's running against TJ Roberts.

Again, another more conservative candidate on this is an open seat.

The current state route there is running for Senate.

So a little bit of musical chairs there.

Lots of races like these around the state.

Also, Michael mayor of a town in South Central Kentucky as well trying to defend his there.

So that will really get a different label landed after these primary elections.

Is it?

That's a lot of these candidates were were battling over control over the House representatives and what the Republican Party looks like in the Legislature.

Kentucky gone forward.

>> Guests in primary elections are going to be deciding what the future is for the Republican Party as the state in the Democratic Party as well.

But as the state does increasingly become more polarized and tends to lean more toward the GOP is favor another story that we wanted to delve into today is this religious freedom challenge to Kentucky's abortion ban.

This has been an interesting developing story as well.

>> Yeah, Kentucky is one of just a handful of states that has a challenge like this.

There's 3 Jewish women to to block the state's near total abortion ban saying that it violates their their religious This is I think this is kind of an interesting application of the state's religious freedom law, I think the act was passed a couple decades ago.

A lot of different states past these sorts of and it's it's really being applied in a pretty creative way to to say this could be the concern of anti-abortion law violates their religious beliefs.

Me they say that they believe it under their religion, that life, it does not book begin at Conception, which is something that is actually baked into these.

So these anti-abortion laws in Kentucky.

there's someone or challenges that are playing One is in Indiana that had some limited success.

And this is this is a in new frontier for challenges to abortion laws.

this.

It was heard in court earlier this week and we'll see with the ruling is for that eventually.

We'll see if that second defender it out.

>> It is very interesting considering most people that are pro life that the root of that is their religious beliefs that life begins at conception.

And so then to see that argued for the opposite side is an interesting development.

Filing.

Good talking with you as always.

We appreciate your insight into these issues and especially as we get into the primary election.

Again, early voting beginning tomorrow.

Great to get your perspective on these races across Kentucky.

Thank you so much.

>> Thanks, Lauren.

See it.

♪ >> We May 15 is in PS Awareness.

Day MPs refers to a family of genetic disorders caused by the body's inability to produce a specific enzyme.

It is a rare disease that affects one in every 200,000 people.

One of those is an 8 year-old boy in Louisville.

We profiled on Kentucky Edition earlier this year.

Robert Vice was born within PS, but didn't develop symptoms until he was 2 years old.

Since then, his family has been fighting to find a cure for the disease they created rooting for Robert, which is now the only organization in the world focused on finding a cure for more syndrome.

One type of MPs disorder.

>> You don't want to go on this This was not something that we asked for and you hate to see your son go through it.

But and there's a lot of silver linings in.

It's it's incredible.

What what the the loyal and Kentucky community have done for us in for Robert in for kids with work here right now.

We were.

We've several treatments that are in process.

You know, there be an studies we've got to that are in clinical trial.

And we haven't had in clinical trials and 15 years for this disease.

And a lot of this has been jump started with support from around here.

The opportunities are there to start to really push forward the treatments and the technology is there.

And if you have an advancement in one disease, it very likely could lead to an advancement in another.

We think that.

be able to cure care.

One disease, even though it's a slightly different says you should be able to apply the concept elsewhere.

>> You can watch the vice family's entire story, which includes the story of another family who paved the way for progress on KET DOT org slash inside Louisville.

The routing for Robert annual fundraiser happens Friday.

August 16th.

And you can find out more about that online.

Jacobson Park in Lexington had a special group fishing its waters yesterday.

Visually impaired veterans had a late back fishing day with the help of volunteers from Camp Hero and the Veterans Affairs.

Visual impairments Services team or this while fishing is fun for a lot of us, this opportunity means even more to veterans who may not be able to fish on their own anymore due to their disability.

>> What came through it does is we host that's the first responders for mental health support using the outdoors is Alexis.

I was in the Navy the stable medically retired from the Navy.

I then became a police officer in Shepherdsville.

Kentucky had to be medically retired So I started to do with mental health issues because I felt like I was losing my purpose.

My identity start getting back in the outdoors.

Cause I grew up in the outdoors that having a fishing and stuff and I regret that, you know, while dealing with depression.

>> So get back outdoors, beneficial was being a so start bringing other bets of first responders that became friends without major and fellow shipping and we realize how much of a good thing that was.

So in my wife and I bought 160 acres in Jackson County, Kentucky, and we started camp Hero.

This.

What they do is they help with visually impaired veterans transition into everyday life.

And they said a lot of the dismas really miss being in the outdoors.

They really miss being able to fish to really miss, being able to hug since a loss of vision head as if there's any way we could help with that.

That's absolutely there.

One of these pro be in line.

And having just a little bit of a you want to do more.

>> And then you've in the 10 on other people.

So we set up today fishing program where we'll have the impaired better and out paired up with our staff and help where they can come out there and they can cast and everything else, you know, because they used to fish before they lost a bit.

>> So far, so good.

Going to happen.

Call a cruise ship that I'm working on it.

Well, I'm a I'm not like some a disabled veteran and not Kara.

Tell me about it.

And it says something bad.

Going fishing on my voice.

I was all ready to go until 2011.

>> I have.

And I know, but I do.

I collect right card, whatever.

And just take off.

No official want to water.

I didn't say all official.

The Disney, someone a spot on the 11 o Hey, you're getting a bye.

Go ahead and set the hook.

>> But they'll still be a real official still, bill, the field so that the Phil Fish, when they get it and get that excitement that they, you know, once and for people think they can't do it anymore because they they blast moves.

>> And now this showing that you can still do what he was doing prior to last.

I love all those events.

I love being able to go out and do whatever I need to do and meet other veterans and talk to them.

People liked Rocco.

His program here.

And said, are you veterans out?

It's one of the things that he does.

College guys.

You are also helping.

Yeah, it.

It could change the way better look alikes.

>> This was the first partnership between Vest and Camp Hero.

The VA says it hopes to partner with Camp Hero more often in the future.

♪ Will you often see sculptures inside a museum where they are preserved and meant to be seen not touch.

But one Frankfort, nonprofit turns that notion on its head.

The Josephine Sculpture Park encourage is engaging with its art pieces in the natural world around them in its outdoor exhibits, located on a reclaimed farm.

It feels only natural.

It would be the subject of this week's Art and Culture segment.

We call Tapestry.

>> We're here at Josephine Sculpture Park where we have about 80 artworks on exhibit from artists from all over the world they range from large interactive sculptures like this one, too smaller sculptures and graffiti murals as well as sculptures that are way bigger than this.

But the cool thing about just being sculpture Park is that all of the artworks here are hands-on and they're intended to be interacted with in some way, which is really different from most large outdoor sculpture collections that you would find associated with a museum.

For example, our focus is really on providing opportunities for artists to create new works and for the community and visitors to be able to engage with those in a really meaningful way.

So climbing painting exploring inside on top of those are all different ways you can explore sculptures just things, culture park.

So this land actually was my grandparents farm and has spent a lot of time out here as a child and really >> fell in love with the natural world.

Thanks to this property and so as an so many family farms are disappearing in.

This was one of them that was slated for more commercial development.

And I wanted to developed in a way that I felt really benefited the in an enduring way and could >> enable people to have the similar kinds of experiences that I had out here as a child.

So to be able to share that with.

>> Every person in my community and to support artists at the same time.

And to KET this.

Space green was really like.

Those were all.

>> Passions of mine.

You can see the beaches of panels on the sculpture.

There's a composition that is Native Kentucky, native birds and Kentucky native flowers.

This culture is really unique because it serves as a bird blind as well.

We do a lot of land restoration projects at the sculpture Park and behind me is our smallest meadow where we have worked to introduce Kentucky native wild flowers that I'm encouraged birds so the you can hang out inside the sculpture.

And if you're quiet, the birds will come from the cedar ticket and fly over to the meadow when it's in full bloom, its glorious.

It's a really special way to experience art and nature in a in a really unique way.

>> Most of the exhibition is rotating exhibitions.

So every time you come here, there's going to be a little something different to see.

So every time you come here, it's a different season.

It's a different day.

The sky's going to be different.

The birds are going to sound different.

The plant, some plans will be blooming this time.

They won't be blooming next time and the artwork changes in that similar way, too.

So it is very much kind of has its own like lifecycle similar to the natural world.

And I think that keeps it fun for people to come back.

>> The park is free and open from dawn.

Until dusk, you can find some of their events all listed there on their Web page.

We do hope that you will join us here again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition where we inform connect and inspire.

Thanks for joining us.

Have a great night.

♪