[♪♪] >> FEMA RESPONDS TO KENTUCKY AFTER TORNADOES KILLED 19 PEOPLE IN THREE COUNTIES.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF OPENING STORES, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE GROWN HERE AND EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PROCESSED HERE, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE TESTED AND RETAILED.

>> Renee: WHERE IS KENTUCKY'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA?

>> I FEEL LIKE AS A NATION WE ARE FACING A REAL CHALLENGE.

>> Renee: WE'RE LIVING LONGER BUT ARE WE PREPARED?

SOME PRACTICAL WAYS TO STAY SAFE AND HAPPY AT HOME AS WE AGE.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" ON THIS TUESDAY, MAY THE 27TH.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT THREE-DAY WEEKEND.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

>>> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP APPROVED KENTUCKY'S REQUEST FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING DEADLY TORNADOES EARLIER THIS MONTH.

THE REQUEST COVERS SIX COUNTIES -- INCLUDING LAUREL, PULASKI, AND RUSSELL, WHERE 19 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

THE FEDERAL DECLARATION MEANS PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE STORMS CAN APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE THROUGH FEMA.

TO DO SO... VISIT DISASTER ASSISTANCE DOT GOV.

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT ONE OF THE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS TO MEET WITH FEMA IN-PERSON.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR SAYS HIS REQUEST FOR CHRISTIAN AND TODD COUNTIES ARE STILL BEING REVIEWED.

MORE THAN 10,000 KENTUCKIANS CAN LEGALLY USE MEDICAL CANNABIS FOR VARIOUS AILMENTS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOWHERE TO BUY IT IN THE STATE IT IS NOT JUST THAT DISPENSARIES ARE NOT OPEN, NO PLANTS ARE BEING GROWN AT THIS MOMENT.

STILL, STATE OFFICIALS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY THE PRODUCT COULD ARRIVE IN STORES AS EARLY AS THIS SUMMER.

OUR JUNE LEFFLER HAS THIS UPDATE ON THE ROLLOUT OF KENTUCKY'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

>> EVENTUALLY THIS DISPENSARY IN LOUISVILLE WILL SELL MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THE SIGN IS THERE, BUT THE STOREFRONT IS STILL BEING BUILT OUT.

INSULATION AND SPRINKLERS ARE EXPOSED.

EVERY PART OF KENTUCKY'S BRAND NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPLY CHAIN IS STILL IN THE WORKS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF OPENING STORES EVERYTHING HAS TO BE GROWN HERE, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PROCESSED HERE, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE TESTED AND RETAILED YEAR.

>> BRAD CLARK RUNS A LAW FIRM FOR THOSE IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP THEIR MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS INCLUDING DISPENSARIES, PROCESSORS AND CULTIVATORS.

CLARK SAYS THE CULTIVATORS ARE GETTING THEIR FACILITIES READY FOR A STATE INSPECTION.

ALL BEFORE SEEDS HIT SOIL.

>> BECAUSE THIS WAS AN APPLICATION PROCESS IT WAS A LOTTERY THERE WERE HOOPS YOU HAD TO JUMP THROUGH BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVE VIABILITY.

>> BUSINESSES HAD NOT SETTLED ON THE DREAM LOCATION DURING THE LOTTERY.

MANY CLIENTS TO FIND THE RIGHT HOME.

>> A LOT OF TIMES ENTREPRENEURS WILL BUILD JUST ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THE PHASE THEY ARE IN.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO OVERBUILD.

WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME THERE WOULD BE PLUMBING ISSUES AND SUFFICIENT FOR THE AMOUNT OF WATER.

THAT FACILITY HAD TO BE MOVED.

>> BUSINESSES ARE ALSO NAVIGATING ZONING LAWS.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL YOU CANNOT BE WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF A SCHOOL OR DAYCARE.

LOCALITIES COULD PASS THEIR ZONING ORDINANCES AND SOMETIMES THEY DIDN'T PASS THEM UNTIL WELL INTO THE PROCESS AFTER PEOPLE APPLIED.

>> STATE LAW DICTATES HOW MANY BUSINESSES CAN RESIDE IN ONE CITY OR COUNTY.

THAT MEANS 19 SHOPS THAT WON THE LOTTERY HAD HAD TO FIND A NEW LOCATION IN A NEWTOWN.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN NEWS OF CULTIVATORS SETTING UP SHOP.

COLORADO PUBLICLY BROKE GROUND ON A GROW FACILITY BEING CONSTRUCTED IN MON CELLO.

THE COMPANY COULD HAVE THE PRODUCT OUT THE DOOR NEXT JANUARY.

ANOTHER OUT OF STATE COMPANY UNVEILED ITS GROW LOCATION IN A FORMER FACTORY IN WINCHESTER.

THAT COMPANY HOPES TO HIT THE MARKET BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> I THINK THE IDEA THIS IS SLOW, I REJECT THE PREMISE.

IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT OTHER STATES THAT HAVE GONE TO MEDICAL LOOK AT NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY IT TOOK YEARS SOMETHING FROM LEGISLATION PASSING OR LICENSES BEING AWARDED TO STORAGE BEING OPENED.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE STORAGE OPENED THIS YEAR AND STORES OPEN WHILE IT'S WARM OUT.

>> SOME SAY THAT IS TOO OPTIMISTIC.

HE IS A HEMP FARMER BUT DOES NOT HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.

>> IT IS A PLANT.

IT HAS TO GROW AND THERE IS A GROW SEASON.

EVEN FOR HEMP MOST FARMERS ARE PLANTING IN MAY AND JUNE AND YOU HAVE CROP TOBER.

SOME PEOPLE PUSH IT INTO EARLY NOVEMBER.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING BY THE END OF THIS YEAR BUT IT WILL BE LIMITED THERE WON'T BE A LOT.

THE MASS MARKET WILL NOT HAVE THE MARKET UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHEN IT'S ABUNDANT.

>> IN THE MEANTIME AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR ALLOWS MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS TO USE MEDICINE PURCHASED OUT OF STATE AS THEY WAIT FOR THE PRODUCT TO SHOW UP IN LOCAL STORES.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

>> Renee: THANK YOU MUCH, JUNE.

ANOTHER SNAG IN THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM, AN INVESTIGATION FROM THE STATE AUDITOR MORE ON THAT INVESTIGATION AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR KENTUCKY'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM TOMORROW NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY EDITION."

>>> MORE THAN 550,000 ADULT KENTUCKIANS HAVE COLLEGE CREDIT BUT NO DEGREE AND A REPORT BY A NATIONAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION FOUND A WAY TO ENGAGE WITH THE LEARNERS.

OFFICIALS ON THE COUNCIL OF CPE HAVE SET A GOAL OF HAVING 60% OF KENTUCKY ADULTS EARNING A DEGREE BY 2030.

OUR KENTUCKY "KENTUCKY EDITION" TEAM SHOWS US THE EFFORTS WITH FIVE YEARS TO GO AND HALF OF THE ADULT POPULATION HITTING THAT TARGET.

>> THE BIG SHIFT WAS THAT PREVIOUSLY, IF A STUDENT HAD AN UNPAID BALANCE, I MEAN ANYWHERE FROM $20 UP TO, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE UNPAID BALANCE IS AROUND 2500 THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THEIR TRANSCRIPTS FOR ANY COURSES WHERE THEY HAD PAID FOR THAT FULL SEMESTER.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS ALLOWS STUDENTS TO REENGAGE IN EDUCATION THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE PERSONAL LIVES.

AND SO THERE'S MANY REASONS WHY A PERSON MAY NEED TO PAUSE THEIR EDUCATION.

WE HAVE A KID, YOU KNOW, WE CHANGE JOBS AND WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE THAT REQUIRES US, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T REALLY FIT WITH OUR ACADEMIC GOALS.

THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF ACTUAL PROCESS BARRIERS TO ENTERING HIGHER EDUCATION.

AND SO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT ARE REALLY FOCUS ON HAVING AN ADULT LEARNER POINT OF CONTACT ON EACH OF OUR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

SO LIKE AN ADULT LEARNER CENTER WHERE THE STAFF IN THAT CENTER KNOW INS AND OUTS OF WHAT SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADULT LEARNERS, YOU KNOW WHAT THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE BRIEF REALLY FOCUSES ON THINGS LIKE AUDIT YOUR HOLDS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HOLDS, WHICH IS WHEN A STUDENT CAN'T REGISTER OR A STUDENT CAN'T, YOU KNOW, DO OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO COME BACK TO US.

ANOTHER ONE IS TO CREATE KIND OF CLEAR PROCESSES FOR STUDENTS AND CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS AND THEN ANOTHER THING IS THERE'S A LOT OF INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING AT REENGAGING THEIR STUDENTS THAT HAVE STOPPED OUT, THAT MAY HAVE A BALANCE.

THEY'RE DOING REPAYMENT PROGRAMS.

THEY'RE DOING DEBT RELIEF PROGRAMS WHERE IF A STUDENT ENROLLS AND THEY COMPLETE THAT SEMESTER, THEY HAVE $1,000 OF THEIR DEBT FORGIVEN.

WE'RE WORKING ON SMOOTHING OUT THE TRANSFER PROCESS FOR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN FINISH THAT ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE AND MOVE INTO A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND GET IT DONE EFFICIENTLY AND WITH A LOT OF AFFORDABILITY.

WE'RE ALSO FOCUSING ON GATEWAY COURSES, WHICH ARE THOSE FIRST CLASSES THAT YOU TAKE THAT ARE SOMETIMES SUCH A BARRIER FOR STUDENTS TO GET OVER THAT THEY CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE FUN STUFF WE'RE WORKING ON STUDENT BASIC NEEDS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THERE'S A LOT OF ADULTS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR TEN, 15, 20 YEARS.

THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE WORK EXPERIENCE AND OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ALREADY HAVE THIS THING CALLED CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY COULD GIVE THEY COULD AWARD AN INDIVIDUAL LIKE UP TO 60 CREDIT HOURS FOR THEIR PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE.

SO REALLY THE GOAL IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ALL OR NOTHING KIND OF OPTION, EITHER WORK FULL TIME AND KIND OF HAVE LIMITED GROWTH IN MY CAREER OR I STOP GETTING ANY INCOME AND I GO BACK TO SCHOOL FULL TIME TO FINISH MY DEGREE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO HAVE THEIR JOBS AND SEE WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM WHEN THEY FINISH THIS DEGREE OR CREDENTIAL.

WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR CAREER LADDER AND WHAT'S KIND OF THAT EARNINGS PREMIUM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET ONCE THEY FINISH THAT DEGREE.

>> Renee: ACCORDING TO RECENT RESEARCH ABOUT 20 PRSZ OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN COLLEGE CLASSES BUT DIDN'T GRADUATE OWED A BALANCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR TRANSCRIPTS BEFORE LAST SUMMER.

>>> LAST WEEK, ON KET WE BROUGHT YOU AGING IN PLACE, A NEXT CHAPTER FORUM.

PART OF OUR ONGOING INITIATIVE FOCUSING ON THE REWARDS AND CHALLENGES OF GROWING OLDER.

THAT SPECIAL PROGRAM FOCUSED ON HOW OLDER KENTUCKIANS ARE AGING IN PLACE, MEANING THEY ARE MAINTAINING THEIR INDEPENDENCE IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES.

A BOWLING GREEN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND HER MOTHER ARE HELPING LEAD THE CHARGE TO HELP OLDER ADULTS TO AGE SAFELY AND HAPPILY AT HOME.

OUR LAURA ROGERS TELLS US MORE.

>> BEING AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST I WORKED WITH THE GERIATRIC POPULATION AND DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR IT.

>> THAT PASSION LED LISA KEARNY TO BEGIN AGE IN PLACE.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO EVERYDAY?

WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO DO AND HOW CAN I HELP YOU MAINTAIN THAT.

>> LITS LIST CONDUCTS HOME SAFETY ASSESSMENTS TO SEE WHAT CHANGES CAN MAKE THE HOME SAFER.

>> I WATCH THEM NAVIGATE AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT AND SEE WHAT THEY NEED FOR SAFETY.

WE LOOK AT THE ENTRY WAY, WE LOOK AT THE LIGHTING IS THERE ENOUGH LIGHTING.

ARE THERE THROW RUGS.

>> LISA CAME ALONG AND MADE ME TAKE UP THE THROW RUGS IN THE BATHROOM.

>> MARY ANN IS LISA'S MOTHER.

>> THE KEY IS TO MAKE A PLAN.

>> SHE IS HELPING HER MOTHER AND OTHERS LIKE HER MAKE THOSE PLANS TO AGE SAFELY AND HAPPILY AT HOME.

>> WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN IS PEOPLE WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A CRISIS.

A FALL CAN HAPPEN IN A MOMENT.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN'T BEAR WEIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WHEELCHAIR AND IS YOUR HOME READY.

>> AND THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT THE FALLS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND INJURY FOR OLDER ADULTS.

>> BALANCE ASSESSMENT BY A PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT, GETTING YOUR HEARING AND VISION CHECKED.

>> WE PUT GRAB BARS UP QUICKLY AND I HAD KNEE SURGERY AND WE WERE GLAD WE HAD THE GRAB BARS.

>> MARY ANN SAYS SHE AND HER HUSBAND CONSIDERED THEIR GOAL OF AIMING IN PLACE WHEN THEY BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN THEIR 70s.

>> OUR HOUSE HAS ONE STEP FROM THE SIDEWALK TO THE FRONT PORCH AND ONE STEP FROM THE FRONT PORCH IN.

AND EVERYTHING IS ON ONE FLOOR.

>> SHE IS ALSO SPEARHEADING EFFORTS FOR BOWLING GREEN TO JOIN THE VILLAGE TO VILLAGE NETWORK.

>> THERE'S ABOUT 300 VILLAGES IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL OF THEM DIFFERENT BUT WITH THE SAME GOAL OF CONNECTING SENIORS TO THE HELP THEY MAY NEED.

>> A VILLAGE MOVEMENT IS A MOVEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

>> AND THAT MEANS COMBATING TWO MAIN CHALLENGES.

>> ISOLATION AND TRANSPORTATION.

>> VILLAGES VET VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SENIORS WITH BASIC NEEDS.

>> A RIDE TO THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR A LIGHT BULB CHANGE.

>> CHANGING A LIGHT BULB IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE HAVE HIGH CEILINGS.

>> MARY ANN WAS INSPIRED BY THE SOCIETY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AT WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

>> THAT GIVES INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION AND THAT CHANGED MY LIFE.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE PROVIDING SERVICES, A LOT OF ACTIVITIES.

BUT THERE'S NO ONE PLACE TO GO TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

OUR VILLAGE IS STARTING WITH WHAT WE'RE CALLING A RESOURCE HUB.

>> LISA KEARNY SAYS THE NEED FOR THESE RESOURCES CONTINUES TO GROW AS LIFE EXPECTANCY INCREASES.

>> THERE IS A HUGE NEED I FEEL LIKE IT'S ALMOST GETTING TO A CRISIS POINT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR INSURANCE AND WHAT IT COVERS.

>> DO YOU HAVE TRADITIONAL MEDICARE, MEDICARE ADVANTAGE?

WHAT DOES THAT COVER.

PLAN SOMETHING THE KEY.

PLANNING IS THE KEY.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, LAURA FOR THAT.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT WAYS TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT IN YOUR GOLDEN YEARS BY WATCHING OUR PROGRAM AGING IN PLACE, A NEXT CHAPTER FORUM AVAILABLE ON-LINE AND ON DEMAND AT KET.ORG.

AND THERE YOU WILL ALSO FIND OTHER AGING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION.

HOPE YOU'LL CHECK IT OUT.

>>> PEOPLE ARE URGED TO AVOID SWIMMING IN A PARK OF A KENTUCKY RIVER.

AND A TAX INCREASE PLAN DIES IN ONE KENTUCKY COMMUNITY OUR TOBY GIBBS HAS THOSE STORIES AND MORE IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AT HEADLINES AROUND KENTUCKY.

[♪♪] >> THERE WILL NOT BE AN OCCUPATIONAL AND NET REVENUE TAX INCREASE IN CAMPBELL'SVILLE FOR NOW.

THE PAXTON MEDIA GROUP REPORTS THE COUNCIL WAS SET TO VOTE ON A PLAN TO RAISE THE TAX TO 2% BUT DURING THE MEETING NO ONE ON THE COUNCIL WOULD SECOND THE MOTION TO VOTE ON IT SO THE PLAN DIED.

THE MAYOR PROPOSED THE TAX HIKE TO FUND A NEW EMERGENCY SERVICES BUILDING.

THE MAYOR SAYS HE WILL NOW LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.

>>> GOODWILL INDUSTRIES IS JOINING THE KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM'S EDUCATION FIRST EMPLOYER NETWORK.

THE NEWS JOURNAL SAYS GOODWILL IS THE FIRST STATE-WIDE EMPLOYER TO JOIN THE EDUCATION FIRST EMPLOYER NETWORK AS A GROUP OF 60 COMPANIES THAT REIMBURSE STUDENTS FOR THEIR COLLEGE TUITION AND OFFER FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULING SO STUDENTS CAN TAKE COLLEGE CLASSES.

THE NETWORK BEGAN IN 2023.

>>> THE STATE ISSUED A RECREATIONAL SWIMMING ADVISORY FOR THE LA VISA FORK OF THE BIG SANDY RIVER ABOVE FISH TRAPPED LAKE.

THE NEWS SAYS IT'S BECAUSE OF A DAMAGE TO A WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM IN VIRGINIA THAT CAUSED THE RELEASE OF UNTREATED WASTEWATER INTO THE FORK.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO AVOID SWIMMING, WADING AND KAYAKING UNTIL THIS IS FIXED.

THE DATE FOR THAT IS STILL UNKNOWN.

>>> THE DEMOCRAT REPORTS Dr. MILLER RESIGNED AS DIRECTOR OF THE WED CO-DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT AFTER 18 YEARS.

THE DEPARTMENT SERVES HARRISON, NICHOLAS AND SCOTT COUNTY, THE WED CO-HONORS WE DAVIS WHO SERVED THE COUNTIES.

THE DOCTOR WILL BEGIN THE NEW JOB IN JULY.

>>> WITH HEADLINES AROUND KENTUCKY, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

[♪♪] >> Renee: ACCORDING TO A STUDY FROM THE APPALACHIAN CITIZENS LAW CENTER ROUGHLY 40% OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S ACTIVE STRIP MINES ARE EFFECTIVELY ABANDONED.

A FEDERAL PROGRAM CALLED THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL REFORESTATION INITIATIVE WORKS TO GIVE THE MINES A NEW LEASE BY RESTORING THEIR NATIVE FORESTS AND WILDLIFE.

"KENTUCKY EDITION" RODE OUT TO ONE OF THE SITES IN PULASKI COUNTY TO SEE HOW THE WORK IS DONE.

>> I'M THE ONLY FORESTER WITH THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING.

MY JOB IS TO PLANTED RESTORE AND PLANT TREES ON OLD SURFACE COAL MINES.

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS STRIP MINES.

IT'S FARMING ON STEROIDS.

YOU ARE GOING TO TURN A MOON SCAPE BACK INTO A NATIVE FOREST WITH WILDLIFE HABITAT AND TO ME, THIS IS THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

BECAUSE I AM BRINGING BACK A NATIVE FOREST ME AND MY PARTNERS, OF COURSE.

AND THERE IS SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

THESE TREES THAT WE'RE PLANTING A LOT OF THEM ARE WHITE OAKS WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT TREE IN KENTUCKY NOT ONLY FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT, WILDLIFE FOOD, FURNITURE, FLOORING BUT ALSO THAT IS WHAT THEY MAKE BOURBON BARRELS OUT OF.

I'M PLANTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WHITE OAKS.

WE DON'T PLANT A FOREST OF WHITE OAK.

WE DO A NATURAL MIX.

WHAT WE DO WE MIMIC WHAT MOM NATURE HAS GROWING AROUND.

IN APPALACHIA, IT'S 80, 85% HARDWOOD.

AND 15-20% PINE.

SO WE TRY TO STICK TO THOSE PERCENTAGES SO WE BALANCE OUT WHAT MOM NATURE HAS GROWING.

MOM NATURE USES HER OWN CALENDAR SO WE HAVE ADAPT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PLANT EARLY, SOMETIMES YOU ARE GIVEN A FEW EXTRA WEEKS IN LATE SPRING THAT IS COLD AND WET WHEN TREES ARE STILL DORMANT AND YOU ARE GOOD.

I WILL BE GOING ALL OVER EAST, WEST KENTUCKY, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, EAST TENNESSEE, SOUTHEAST OHIO.

WEST VIRGINIA THAT PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER.

THE MINE SITES ARE THE SAME.

EACH ONE WILL BE UNIQUE.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS HELPING THESE LAND OWNERS WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PROCESS TO RESTORE BACK TO NATIVE TREES.

BUT IT CAN BE DONE.

AND THERE ARE POTS OF MONEY AND AVENUES TO FOLLOW TO GET GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIPS AND THAT TYPE THING.

WHEN APPALACHIA ALONE, THE ESTIMATE IS LIKE 1.2 MILLION ACRES OF MOON SCAPE THAT'S BEING RECLAIMED OR NOT IF IT IS ABANDONED THAT IS ANOTHER PROBLEM.

BUT THE MINING SPECTERS BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL, THEY ARE ADDRESSING THAT.

WHEN I RIDE BY AND SEE A BIG MOON SCAPE OR MINE SITE OR I SEE A HILLSIDE THAT I KNOW IS MINED OR A MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL SITE, THEN THERE IS A LOT OF TIMES I PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WRITE DOWN WHERE I AM SO I CAN FIND THAT ON A MAP AND FIND OUT WHO OWNS IT AND TELL THEM THERE IS A BETTER WAY THAN GROWING BRIARS ON YOUR PROPERTY.

WE CAN PLANT THAT BACK IN NATIVE TREES NOT SO MUCH FOR YOU, BUT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

>> Renee: AND OUR THANKS TO BLAKE FOR THAT STORY.

THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL REFORESTATION INITIATIVE HOSTS VOLUNTEER PLANTINGS IN CELEBRATION OF EARTH AND ARBOR DAY.

[♪♪] DRAWING ON MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERTISE, DENIS FLEMING GIVES CREDENCE TO A LONG BELIEF THAT ONE OF THE NATION'S FOUNDING FATHERS AUTHORED OR INSPIRED PART OF KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION USING FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTEDS FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON AND TWO OF KENTUCKY'S EARLIEST LEADERS AND CONSTITUTION FRAMERS GEORGE NICHOLAS AND JOHN BRECKINRIDGE, FLEMING PIECED TOGETHER JEFFERSON'S ROLE OF HOW KENTUCKY WOULD BE GOVERNED.

DENIS FLEMING TALKED WITH ME ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK CALLED THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION.

ON OUR SEGMENT WE CALL TURNING THE PAGE.

>> GEORGE NICHOLAS WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES AN ASSOCIATE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON HE WAS BORN IN VIRGINIA AND HE WAS A LAWYER.

HE STUDIED UNDER GEORGE WYATT.

HE WAS THE LEGAL SCHOLAR OF HIS DAY.

AT THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY.

HE IS THE FELLOW THAT AS HE STUDIED UNDER JEFFERSON WHEN WE WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES WITH JEFFERSON WHO WAS GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA THEY BEGAN TO LEARN JEFFERSON'S THINKING ON CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTRUCTS AND WHAT SHOULD BE IN A STATE AND THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

SO I CAME ACROSS LETTERS WHERE HE'S WRITING JAMES MADISON WHO BECAME THE PRESIDENT AND JEFFERSON IS WRITING MADISON AS WELCOME IMPLEMENTING NICHOLAS AND SAYING HE IS GOING TO GO TO KENTUCKY AND HELP THEM PUT TOGETHER THEIR CONSTITUTION.

WE HAD THE HARDEST TIME DEVELOPING OUR CONSTITUTION IN KENTUCKY.

WE STARTED IN 1784 WITH A SERIES OF CONVENTIONS.

EVERY YEAR IN DANVILLE BUT WHEN GEORGE NICHOLAS SHOWED UP AND I FOUND NICHOLAS AND BRECKINRIDGE IS THE FATHER OF THE SECOND CONSTITUTION BUT THEY ARE BOTH BRILLIANTED.

BRECKINRIDGE HAD MORE POLITICAL AMBITION.

NICHOLAS THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE MONEY IN KENTUCKY AND HE WROTE HIS BROTHER AND SAID KENTUCKY'S BEAUTIFUL.

YOU NEED TO SEE LEXINGTON AND SEE THE LAND IN DANVILLE YOU WOULD LOVE IT BUT DON'T BUY ANYTHING REMOTELY OR SOMEBODY.

YOU HAVE TO COME SEE IT FIRST.

SO HE SORT OF GOT BACK INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

AND EVERYBODY IN KENTUCKY KNEW HE HAD WORKED WITH JEFFERSON WHO WAS ALREADY KNOWN TO BE A BIG DEAL.

BUT WHAT I RAN ACROSS IS THE PAPERS OF NICHOLAS THAT ARE UP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IN THE RUBEN COLLECTION OF PAPERS.

HE WAS A LOUISVILLE RETIRED LAWYER.

HE COLLECTED HISTORICAL LETTERS AND OLD NOVELS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS HE HAS THOUSANDS OF PAGES IN PAPERS AND COLLECTED GEORGE NICHOLAS' PAPERS.

AS I STARTED TO SCROLL THROUGH THOSE THEY ONLY DID TOUCH I CAME ACROSS BOXES LABELED SPEECH BEFORE 1792 CONVENTION DANVILLE.

NOTES ON THE KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION.

CHECKS AND BALANCES OF POWERS.

AND AS I SCROLLED THROUGH THE BOXES, IT WAS ALL DIGITIZED YOU CAN SEE IT ON-LINE, I BEGAN TO SEE WHERE NICHOLAS IN HIS HANDWRITING WOULD HAVE HOW WE NEED MORE BARRIERS BETWEEN THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

BECAUSE THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF DESPY TIP IN ONE BRANCH CONSUMES THE POWER OF ANOTHER TOO MUCH AND HE WOULD WRITE JEFFERSON'S NAME AND IT WOULD SAY JEFFERSON AND A NUMBER LIKE 195 OR 127.

I BEGAN TO WRITE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID OH, LET US LOOK INTO THAT.

COUPLE WEEKS WENT BY AND THEY GOT BACK TO ME AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE ALMOST CERTAIN HE IS DOING.

HE IS REFERENCING JEFFERSON HE IS REFERENCING PAGES FROM JEFFERSON'S BOOK NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND THE REASON WE KNOW THIS HE HAD TWO COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION IN THE PAPERS.

THEY SENT US A LINK AND I TOOK I HAVE THAT IN THE BOOK.

AND I PRINTED OUT A COPY OF THEM HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THERE IN JEFFERSON'S NICHOLAS' HANDWRITING UNDON HERE HE REFERENCES JEFFERSON 195.

AND THEY MATCHED UP AND SENT ME A PAGE FROM JEFFERSON'S PAGE 195 ON THE NOTES OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WHERE HE IS TALKING ABOUT HOW HE PUT THESE CLAUSES IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE IN KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION.

>> Renee: WOW.

>> THE REASON HE WAS INTERESTED IN THESE CLAUSES LIKE WHY DID HE DO THAT?

WHY IS HE OBSESSED WITH THAT?

IF YOU LOOK THE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT EXCESSES IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HE THOUGHT IT WAS CRITICAL TO HAVE THAT CLAUSE IN WRITING AND HE TRIED BUT FAILED TO PUT IT IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FEDERALLEST PAPERS THAT MADISON, HAMILTON AND JAY WROTE THEY HAVE NUMBERS 47 AND 48 AND THEY WERE WRITTEN ANONYMOUSLY TO SUPPORT THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

THE PUBLIC COULD READ AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS DOING.

BUT IN THOSE PAPERS, HE REFUSED JEFFERSON'S NOTION ABOUT HAVING A SPECIFIC SEPARATION OF POWERS CLAUSE IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND MENTIONED JEFFERSON BY NAME.

THOSE ARE WORDS ON PARCH.

IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

JEFFERSON DISAGREED TO THE POINT HE GOT THE CLAUSES PUT IN KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION THROUGH HIS GOOD FRIENDS, BRECKINRIDGE AND NICHOLAS.

AND I THINK HE CORRECTLY PREDICTED THE COURTS COULD USE THESE CLAUSES TO PROTECT ONE BRANCH FROM THE OTHER AND THEY WEREN'T JUST WORDS ON PAPER THEY COULD BE INTERPRETED TO PROTECT THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC.

>> Renee: NOW, FLEMING PLANS TO DONATE ALL ROYALTIES FROM THE BOOK WITH A MATCHING GIFT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF LAW OF WHICH HE IS A PROUD ALUM.

>>> KENTUCKY CELEBRATES A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK AND WHY A FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD ACTOR PAID KENTUCKY A VISIT 29 YEARS AGO.

OUR TOBY GIBBS HAS MORE FROM THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

[♪♪] >> ON MAY 28, 1775, FORT BOONSBORO HOSTED THE FIRST KNOWN CHURCH SERVICE IN KENTUCKY AND A MINISTER CONDUCTED A SERVICE TO CONCLUDE KENTUCKY'S FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>>> A BAND OF PIONEERS SETTLED CORN ISLAND IN THE OHIO RIVER ON MAY 27, 1778 AS MORE PEOPLE MOVED INTO THE AREA THE SESSIONS.

BECAME LOUISVILLE.

64 PEOPLE DIED AS AN EF4 TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH WESTERN KENTUCKY ON MAY 27, 1917.

42 OF THE DEATHS WERE IN FULTON COUNTY WITH 17 IN CLINTON COUNTY AND FIVE IN GRAVES COUNTY.

AND THE TORNADO INJURED ANOTHER 345 PEOPLE.

>>> ACTOR WOODY HARRELSON PLANTED FOUR HEMP SEEDS IN LEE COUNTY ON JUNE COUNTY IN 1996.

HE WAS ARRESTED FOR IT.

HE WAS TESTING THE LAW THAT SAID HEMP AND MARIJUANA WERE THE SAME.

AND HAPPY 233rd BIRTHDAY TO KENTUCKY.

KENTUCKY JOINED THE UNION ON JUNE 1, 1792 AND BECAME AMERICA'S 15TH STATE AND THE FIRST STATE WEST OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU TOBY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENTUCKY.

AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION."

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.