♪ >> I judge decides.

Can Kentucky go back to using the death penalty?

I was just ready.

Just to do.

you know, just live.

A kidney transplant patients as an organ donor gave her a new lease on life.

This is the number one right?

And the world.

So if the history of Kentucky.

We're off to the races as eyes of the world are on the Bluegrass State.

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

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday.

May 3rd, it's Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Friday night with us.

>> The death penalty is still on hold in Kentucky, at least for now.

>> That's according to Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd, who this week declined to remove a court injunction that has blocked executions in the state for nearly 15 years.

His decision is in response to Kentucky.

Attorney General Russel Coleman is request for the injunction to be lifted appearing in court last week, Coleman's office argued a recent change to Kentucky's capital punishment agreement brings the state into compliance with the final lingering concern raised by the 2010 injunction.

But in his ruling, Judge Shepard noted the plaintiff who originally sought the injunction inmate Gregory Wilson had his death sentence commuted by former Republican governor Matt Bevin.

The judge wrote, quote, because the death warrant against Plaintiff Wilson no longer exists and the regulations have been amended.

The court can see no reason to address the issue of injunctive relief at this time, end quote.

We reached out to General Coleman for comment in a statement, he said, quote, Our office is working quickly to appeal the Franklin Circuit Court's order so we can uphold the law as passed by the General Assembly and deliver justice for victims and their families and quote, 2 bipartisan bills that sought to abolish the death penalty in Kentucky were introduced during the 2024 General Assembly.

Both failed to gain traction.

♪ ♪ ♪ Governor Andy Beshear just wrapped up a trade mission to Germany and Switzerland urging businesses to invest in Kentucky and he says another foreign trip is in the works.

>> We do have another one.

We are working on and that is to Japan and South Korea.

Japan is one where Kentucky governor's routinely in do need to routinely go.

They are our largest foreign direct investor.

And I look forward to thanking the companies that have invested in us.

Of course, Korea is is really growing in the investments.

They made us cable and being have the biggest investment that we've ever seen in the global a skate park as well as in fact, for instance, it's expanding in in Campbellsville.

>> The governor's trip to Europe was his first trip there since becoming governor.

He says he couldn't do it earlier because of the COVID pandemic and Kentucky's many weather emergencies.

Some faculty at the University of Kentucky are beginning to lose confidence and their leader.

The Herald leader reports the university Senate will introduce a resolution of no confidence and UK President doctor Eli Capilouto on Monday.

It comes after UK's Board of trustees voted to change the school's governing structure.

The change strips the university Senate of its policymaking authority, turning it into an advisory body only the vote is mainly symbolic and won't directly lead to capital LUDO gang removed from office capital.

has led U K for the last 13 years.

According to U.S. News and World Report, he's also the 4th highest paid public university president and the country.

♪ Time now to go inside Kentucky politics on this Derby week.

And we've got a pair with us, both of whom are founders of their own political consulting firms on screen left.

You see will Carly who is founder of Open Strategies and Iris Wilbur Glick, who he's been on several times before, but now she is the founder of her very own boutique from government relations firm.

I W Strategies and we're so proud of you.

MS Iris.

Congratulations.

Thanks, Fred.

let's talk about that.

Another type of horse That's the political races that are going on and Kentuckyian it really seems like iris all begin with you that the state House races on the GOP side of the ledger, some of those are pretty intense.

You want to give us tick off a few that stand out to you that we should KET our eyes on.

Absolutely.

Thanks, You know, we were able to review the 30 day free report you know, those of us following closely.

That's a really good marker regarding funds coming in and be a dollars being spent by these individual candidates and campaigns.

>> I'm a little bit of a inside is a, you know, outside groups as well.

Yes, very Republican primaries across the board across the map.

You know, I'm monitoring a you know, and and western Kentucky, northern Kentuckyian then central force.

There are some key races, including chairmanship, Ray.

And so I know this program.

You all talked about it before, but there's probably a handful of Republican primaries in the state House and state Senate that are really heating up.

One particularly is getting quite nasty, which we can dive into.

And again, for me, I'm looking at dollar rest looking at district 19 when the incumbent lawmaker to it, chairman of the banking and sharp raising and 130 forte.

That's a great number.

Some of that was carry over of that looks like he'll be well resourced going into the May primary.

>> And we also know that another notable one in northern House district.

66, this is a pretty interesting races.

see at NASA is taking another stab at this seat, but he's got a pretty substantial challenger.

And TJ Roberts will quickly talk about that race.

That unfortunately, I think it is colorful for all the wrong You know, some of the attacks that I've seen and heard about are getting quite personal and a bit off topic.

>> Yeah, I think for us to, you know, being county, there are so many issues about putting Northern Kentucky on the map when it comes to economic development.

You know, I wish I wish both candidates but focus on the issues at hand.

But yes, we're seeing a lot of activity, Lawson, lots of social media activity coming from the individual We've already heard about some outside dollars from some unexpected, a stakeholder such as the the Jefferson County Teachers their their political action committee, a better schools for Senate to get him out as part of that Massey.

Yeah.

So want to go to you will Carling not to leave you out of this conversations there.

There is a pretty interesting race in this state Senate.

>> Almost a pair of incumbents, but not quite a Gerald Neal, who has been in the state Senate.

What since 1989, he's facing a challenge from former state rep and failed congressional candidate Attica Scott.

What's the dynamics in this race?

>> I think those dynamics are that Adam Scott, who has run for numerous offices.

>> Whether it's Metro Council Congress, a state representative is now running to unseat Gerald Neal.

A Senator Neal has done a great job over the years.

I think, you know, his position leadership has made an invaluable part of our not only within the Senate caucus but within the And I think you're going to see some some people like Atticus got that run these insurgent style that are a little of that upset with the status quo, but really outside with mainstream Democratic Party voters are even in the west end of Louisville >> so I'm going to be really interesting to see how that race turns out.

It could be a real bellwether for how primaries will be shaped going into the future for our But, yes, I do feel confident, though, that Senator Neal will pull that out and continue to work with him will be looking forward to that.

>> Let's talk about in Washington, Congressman Thomas Massie of the 4th congressional district, Northern Kentucky area has joined Marjorie Taylor.

Greene calling for the ousting of House Speaker Mike Johnson.

And they say they're going to call for a vote.

They're going to weigh the options over the weekend, iris and then they're going to call for a vote when they return or tell us your thoughts about this.

I wish we had more time to really drill down into it.

You know, there's 2 things happening here.

I think so.

The reality of the political landscape and then the process and procedures.

>> That going to the motion today, Kay, all start was for the political landscape.

First, you know, as recent as yesterday, Congressman Thomas Massie was being interviewed on a political commentary show and he could even come it that he had the support of the Freedom Caucus.

And so right there that illustrates that, you know, I don't know exactly.

You know, the momentum going into the for the procedural portion of I definitely do not want to call up a little.

You know, he made the plea.

You bet you get ad that he's doing this on principle that just the practical implications you know.

>> The Republicans have a slim I don't know why it's such a toxic affiliation for bipartisanship in governing and getting stopped.

I the reality is it's in DC You need to have I first say support to advance policy to actually govern.

And so, yeah, I'm encouraged that my Johnson, Speaker Johnson has worked across the aisle again.

Important piece of legislation done most recently, tons of working that in the past month.

That process wise, you know, there will be a motion to table and I don't even think the motion of a human even be brought more to the full out to the floor because the motion to table will prevail and essentially will sidestep many ability for for them to force a vote today, Kay.

And so I don't think they have the votes there and we'll continue to see people like Congressman Thomas Massie.

I'm trying to make political points and then we'll have other leaders in Washington ready to govern and get something done.

Your take on all this.

Well.

>> I think they're just really extreme strains to the Republican Party right now that aren't interested in governing.

They're interested in a circus.

And that's unfortunate.

I think Mike Johnson has done some actually good things in partnering with the Democrats to govern.

You know, the Congress govern our country to our country forward, whether it's the debt relief I'm sorry, Dan Relief bill for an aid to Ukraine and Israel.

You know, they're they're working together for the first time in these very extreme out of the mainstream candidates like Marjorie Taylor, Greene and Thomas Massie in a few others are still making it very difficult for the Congress to get the American People's business time.

Yeah.

>> And finally, let's talk about the Kentucky Democratic Party is doing a split fundraiser with Florida Democrats.

Well, and this is concerning a carve outs for abortion bans.

Tell us more about this.

>> So Florida has now.

>> The institute in one of the most stringent abortion bans in the country.

They are seeing a lot activity are round this.

A new law that's gone into place it's very similar to the amendment the the Kentucky Republicans tried to pass last year in Kentuckyian the voters roundly rejected that.

So we've actually been able as a party and as a been able to figure out a way to defeat these kinds of extreme walls from getting on the that are absolutely an attack on women's health care.

Right.

And so we're we're hoping to partner with our friends in Florida and our our brothers and sisters down to make sure that hopefully we push back against this rising tide of of it.

Anti reproductive health and attacks on women.

>> Iris, do you have anything to add?

>> This is a complicated You know, politically, you know, we'll just, you know, made a I write out Survation their right to it as recent as last November.

Everyone's ability to about 4 ability to to vote on on the amendment number But, you know, I think for Kentucky, the Kentucky Democratic Party, if this is the issue they want to lean and you know, I think time will tell.

And history is an indicator on this, although that constitutional amendment to not you know, the majority of Kentucky voters are not necessarily and like the you know, that they you know, for abortion.

And so I think it's going to be sort of a delicate issue.

And it's interesting to see the Kentucky Democratic Party fundraise off of You know, based records I've seen, you know, they've already hit sort of the floor when it comes to being able to to gather resources.

So I guess I can.

And then for seizing a political opportunity to try to raise that's slightly outside dollars when it comes to impact the policy.

Again, you know, for elections winners make policy and losers go home.

And right now we have safe super majorities in the House Go ahead.

Real quick.

It's been so.

>> Last last year during the election season, Iris and actually share the stage on Kentucky tonight.

And I brought up the point about it.

These bills about, you bathroom bills, the bills targeting transgender individuals, abortion, things like that that I thought the day would be a an interesting, you know, the the the election results would bear that out right?

But this is iris again saying like I hope Democrats leaning on an issue and we're obviously leaning into these issues and winning on them right now is people are more concerned with, you know, bigger problems.

So I just wanted to say that that we're not losing on these issues and that we actually have the ability to change some people's mind.

>> Well, I guess the true test will be in the general election in November.

If that turns out to be a winning message or not for Democrats or Republicans, either side taking advantage of of that messaging on that particular issue and others.

Well, thank you as always to both of iris and well, we appreciate have a Good Derby weekend.

♪ ♪ Nearly 1000 Kentuckians are waiting for an organ donation.

One donor can save up to 8 lives.

I recently sat down with an organ transplant surgeon from the University of Kentucky and a young woman who has regained a higher quality of life because of a kidney donor.

>> So remind the what you what your condition was and how you are renewed.

>> I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at 35 and was on the transplant for about 3 years and received that wonderful call.

August the 23rd of 2023.

And that started my sick kid life.

Yeah.

>> Yeah.

And how do you feel?

I mean, obviously there's a difference.

R**** and I did.

Yeah.

my gosh.

Yes.

Thank you.

>> I thought that I was maintaining and doing good >> with, you know, with the with the with the disease, even when I dialysis is yeah.

But then lit to lead this next morning from the transplant surgery.

I was up and walking.

I was refreshed in.

I literally was ready to go.

Yeah, I remember you telling me that they had told you can go to work for however, many months you're like, oh, I'm ready to go back after 3 or 4 weeks what I was just >> ready.

Just to do.

you know, just live Matt.

>> After the home at a certain time not have to be connected to the dialysis machines.

You did that overnight.

Yeah.

Just to be able to live in.

Not really wary.

And so yeah.

If if it's just been, it's just been phenomenal.

Yeah.

Been amazing.

And I am so thankful I'm just I'm just thankful.

Yes, just thankful.

Well, Doctor, Mehra good.

He's good to have you on for the first time.

And you had an interesting day today yourself.

I mean, the lid, the beam on her face from being a few months out for a transplant.

>> But today you just did a transplant and a father and a sign.

Yeah, I guess that never gets old for you.

Like the emotion that you hear from patients and see from patients.

Never.

I love it.

I mean, I I went into this knowing how much of an impact I can make on someone's life layer hash Lee's.

I go home every night.

Just so united.

So excited about what I do.

Transplants.

One of those fields where patients just have so much hope afterwards there just so excited pursue the life that they that they deserve and that they've always wanted to have.

And I get to get to see them and see how they transform.

And and what they do.

Yeah, it yeah.

>> Well, you can learn more about organ donation on Sunday at 11:30AM, on connections.

We hope you'll tune in to that.

That's this Sunday, 11, 30, a 30 am 10, 30 central right here on KET.

♪ ♪ ♪ As we look ahead to tomorrow's Kentucky Derby.

See if you can answer this Derby trivia question.

Several former and future presidents have attended the Kentucky Derby who was the first sitting president to attend the Derby.

Now?

Think about it and we'll have the answer for you.

And just a couple of minutes.

Well, we're about 24 hours away from the run for the Roses.

Kentucky Derby weekend is upon us.

And this year it sacs to a special as we markets Esque West Centennial.

That means 150 years more than 150,000 people are expected for the races on Saturday.

But first, the Kentucky Oaks, our Laura Rogers takes us to Churchill Downs.

So much excitement here at Churchill Downs for can't one 50 today and it's all about those l a.

>> And we did have a rainy start to the day.

There's been a few showers off and on.

So that has made for a Lafayette muddy track.

But people are having a lot of fun.

Regardless.

We've been enjoying the fashion with all that today with Marc Edwards.

He's a Paducah lawyer.

He is partial owner to torpedo U.S. running in the Oaks this evening.

He says he is very confident going into that race.

He is pleased with this horse, his performance and he's just thrilled to have a horse in the race.

>> I mean, this is home to school.

I mean, is this is really cool.

We a great, great race or I think she'll win today.

But even they done a thrill.

>> Kind of like Lemon met Ben and Jen Jen sometime between the 2.

Because of the units.

They had to be pink, of course.

So I was facing the black and white and then saw the fabulous hat says sometimes the had times that it just worked out well this year because the hat was a local Kentucky designer.

It's in my DNA.

>> It's like when Sarah from this area, you cannot live elsewhere and not be homesick during Kentucky Derby weekend.

So it is Mile So I have to be here and the passion.

I love the hat.

>> We like to see the ponies to make a few bet.

But it's just the vibe like the whole global by vets like friendly, ever and so happy.

It's finally spring.

>> This is the number one right?

And the world.

So if the history of Kentucky.

What makes it special, the track is good the way.

But what cannot set.

I've got no clue.

Has got to read that.

And they do.

Police should take the they all got around it.

She told me that they should go in.

>> And so you might call the day the second most exciting day of racing in Kentucky as we head into tomorrow.

Kentucky Derby was 15 that race Helton 18.

75?

So much tradition surrounding this live in the world on Kentucky Derby weekend and take it will be here.

We'll be bringing you more from Kentucky Derby one 58 Monday night on Kentucky.

Addition in the meantime for Kentucky edition, I'm Laura Rogers Friday.

Back to you.

>> Thank you, Laura.

Stay dry out there.

And then that pink, the oaks goes pink every year to support survivors of breast and ovarian cancer.

This is the 16th year of the Survivors Parade which takes place right before race.

11, the running of the Kentucky Oaks.

>> The Derby has really gone to the dogs in a good way.

♪ ♪ No, that is Kentucky's first dog Weny this week.

Governor Andy Beshear and first Lady Britainy watched as Winnie the Pooh which made her pick in tomorrow's Derby.

She picked up the ball next to the sign marked epic ride.

The governor says the tennis balls were not treated with any kind of food or anything else to attract.

Wendy's attention during his news conference yesterday, the governor said he was leaning toward Sierra Leone.

Has his derby pick?

Let's see who turns out to be right.

Haha.

Now here's the answer to the Derby trivia question we posed a couple of minutes ago.

55 years ago today on May 3rd, 1969, President Richard, Am Nixon became the first sitting president to attend the Kentucky Derby.

You can see him on the left there and this photo.

His wife Pat, is in the middle and on the right get that California governor and future President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Majestic prints won the race back then.

For more interesting information and to get in the mood for the Derby tomorrow, check out a special derby edition of Inside Louisville with Kelsey Starks and her guest, co-host Chip Polston of Kentucky.

you can find that online on-demand streaming their KET, Dot org.

Now changing sports.

A central Kentucky priest, father Jim Ships Co had an appropriate gift for Pope Francis.

Father Jim gave the pope a University of Kentucky basketball jersey featuring the name of Kentucky's new men's basketball coach Mark Pope.

The pontiff.

Same to like the gift.

♪ Of course, it's Derby weekend.

But your entertainment options go way beyond that.

Our Toby Gibbs explains and this look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Slather on down to Slay this weekend for herpetology weekend at the gorge.

Enjoy educational presentations field.

Her pink bed of mixed reactions and alive.

Reptile show.

This is a must attend event for reptile and amphibian enthusiasts in Kentucky.

If you're looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift, check out the Depot street market in court.

But tomorrow, browse through and takes and they dart flowers, yard sale items and much more.

Don't miss this great community event in carbon.

Most of us know tomorrow is Derby day.

But those strong in the force might know it better has Star Wars Day and McConnell spring to Lexington as a great event to celebrate dress up in costume and enjoy food trucks.

Live performance is Star Wars printmaking and more enjoy an out of this world events and May the 4th be with you?

Refer River Dam State Resort Park is hosting its spring fling gift and craft show tomorrow shop, find our dual rate leather goods and even forged metalwork.

There will also be food booths, including a local Kentucky, proud farm offering fresh eggs jams and jellies Derby hats are encouraged but not required.

They say one man's trash is another man's treasure.

And this next to that takes that to heart.

Tomorrow is junk fest day in August to and there will be antiques collectables and just cool old stuff available to buy, sell and trade and choice of local dining and jumping to some job tomorrow in Calling all green thumbs.

You don't want to miss the natives and heirlooms fest in Somerset tomorrow.

Whether you're a seasoned Gardner just getting started.

This is a great event to pick up some plants and some ecological education.

While you're there, check out the entries of the home tweet home, Birdhouse competition.

The master gardener of Grayson County Association has a similar event happening in Litchfield.

The plant fair in spring Fling is tomorrow and there will be 39, great vendors offering plants, crafts, food and more.

Start the season strong with new plants for your garden and great memories with the family.

And that's what's happening around the Commonwealth.

I'm to begin.

>> Thank you, as always.

Toby gives and to Mackenzie hair for producing and writing that.

Well, we hope you have a great Derby weekend and come back here Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Hope your pony winds take really good care.

And I'll see you Monday night.

So long.

♪ ♪