When will a youth detention facility in downtown Louisville be up and running?

State lawmakers are already entertaining the idea of appropriating more money to make it happen.

It engages families in the care of their babies and helps babies and moms to bond.

A Louisville Children's Hospital is using simple methods to comfort and strengthen newborn babies.

Toyota's largest manufacturing operation is going electric, and it's doing it right here in Kentucky.

Well, these days, we're not going to be in this plane of of life.

And we want to leave something behind for people to remember us by.

And a project is underway to celebrate the great musicians, homegrown and Kentucky production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions, the Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition on this last day of May.

Wednesday, May 31st.

I'm Renee Shaw.

It's good to be back with you tonight.

Governor Andy Beshear has appointed two new members to the Kentucky Board of Education following days of criticism over the vacancies.

Julie Pyle and Diana Woods were selected to serve on the board.

Pyle is co-founder and president of Parent Camp, a national nonprofit organization focused on family school engagement.

She also serves on the Kentucky United We Learn Council.

Woods is a retired educator.

She was a Fayette County school teacher and principal and served as superintendent of Campbellsville Independent Schools.

According to the Cadee Pyle is a registered Republican.

Woods, a registered Democrat, if approved by the state Senate during next year's General Assembly, both women will serve until April 2026.

The appointments come days after the Courier Journal reported the two seats had been vacant for roughly a year.

That drew criticism from Republicans who released a statement bashing Beshear after the appointments were announced.

It read in part, quote, It was only after pressure was applied by journalists and Republicans that he met his legal obligation and, quote, more money and more time may be needed to reopen a youth detention center in downtown Louisville.

During the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill three, which appropriated nearly $20 million for the facility.

Louisville Deputy Mayor David James says the facility needs some serious work, including a new roof and upgraded command center and running hot water in some areas.

He told Louisville Public Media, quote, Nothing with government, especially state government, goes extremely lightning fast, but there is some urgency to get it done.

I would not look for anything within a year, though.

It's going to take longer.

End quote.

State Representative Kevin Bratcher of Louisville is the sponsor of House Bill three during a meeting of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council last week.

He said some provisions of the bill were being delayed, in part because of a lack of space for detained juveniles.

But he also said additional state funding could be on the table.

So my question, my request to you is that we're coming up on a budget year.

We delayed this deadline till July one, 2024.

So please come to the come to the session next session and tell us how you're going to do that.

And if you need more resources, then, you know, let us hear about it.

Don't let us guess about it.

Another challenge to the reopening of the facility could be hiring staff, but Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey said legislation earlier this year that set aside money for DOJ staff raises was helping to attract new employees, something that had been a struggle for many years.

Kentucky George has recused himself from a case involving the state's largest teachers union after his impartiality squashed.

And the Kentucky Education Association is asking the Franklin Circuit Court to block a new law that bars the union from collecting dues through payroll deductions.

The Kentucky Lantern reports Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is defending the new law, questioned whether Franklin Circuit Court judge Judge Philip Shepherd could be impartial in the case because, based on political contributions made to his election campaign by Kesha's Political Action Committee and lawyers representing the union and his order, Shepherd said he did not think that individual donations created grounds for recusal, but PAC donations could more easily undermine public confidence in the court system.

He has directed that the lawsuit be transferred to Franklin County's other circuit judge.

There will be a special election in November to fill the seat of former state Representative Lamine Swann, who passed away.

The 45 year old died earlier this month after suffering a medical emergency.

He represented District 93, which covers part of Fayette County.

The Lexington Democrat was elected to his first term just last year.

Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order today calling for the special election on Tuesday, November 7th.

That's the same day as Kentucky's general election.

Visitation is under way now for Scott County Sheriff's deputy Caleb Connelly.

Connelly was shot and killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop along I-75 last week.

The 35 year old leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Tonight's visitation lasts until 9 p.m. at Scott County High School.

Yesterday, US Senator Mitch McConnell paid tribute to Deputy Connally from the Senate floor.

The hard worker, the man of profound faith and his dedication to protecting and serving his community was known all across the Commonwealth.

I learned I continue to hold his wife, Rachel, their young children, his parents and the entire Scott County Sheriff's Office in our prayers.

Deputy Connolly's funeral is tomorrow at 11.

Also at the high school.

Governor Andy Beshear has ordered flags at state buildings be lowered to half staff tomorrow in honor of Deputy Connally.

He is the first peace officer to be killed in the line of duty in Kentucky this year.

In other news, the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission announced today it will begin research on the potential use of ibogaine to treat opioid use disorder.

Ibogaine is a psychoactive drug that some studies indicate to be a strong treatment for addiction.

It's currently a schedule one substance in the U.S..

The announcement was made outside the state capitol today.

Among those in attendance were Attorney General Daniel Cameron and multiple veterans organizations in support of the study.

Several speakers at the event have had personal experiences with ibogaine and are strong advocates of the drug's use in treating substance use disorder.

We'll have more on this research and a greater story tomorrow on Kentucky addiction.

Kentucky has seen a dramatic increase in the number of newborns experiencing opioid withdrawal.

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome or nows for short means they were exposed to opioid in utero and 2167 cases of nows were reported statewide.

Current numbers show that in Kentucky now, over 1000 newborns are diagnosed each year.

Opioid withdrawal in infants is characterized by excessive crying tremors and even difficulty eating and sleeping.

But researchers at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville are studying how to better treat babies with nows.

It may be simpler than you think.

The eating, sleeping and consoling care approach allows families to be fully engaged in the process.

To help with the assessment of their babies.

To help with the management of their babies through nonpharmacologic approaches and to really engage with the medical team in improving the care for their infant.

Findings show that infants cared for using methods like holding and swaddling are ready to leave the hospital almost a week earlier than babies managed by traditional prescription medication.

Things like skin to skin care, moms holding their babies, consoling their babies, being with their babies.

That's our first line of treatment.

It helps babies and moms to bond in ways that we have not been able to do previously.

The Kentucky General Assembly passed a law in 2013 requiring all diagnosed cases of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome be reported to the state's Department for Public Health.

Since then, research conducted by the department shows of all the babies experiencing opioid withdrawal in the state, over half were born to mothers using Suboxone, an opioid designed to treat narcotic dependance.

Findings show that infants cared for using the eat sleep console method are ready to leave the hospital almost a week earlier than babies managed by prescription medication.

In other news, Kentucky State University has a new president.

The university's Board of Regents selected Dr. Kofi Kargbo to serve as the school's 19th president.

Dr. Ekpo spent the last four years at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, where enrollment and graduation rates increased during his tenure.

He's taking over at K-State in the wake of a state audit which outlined chronic financial mismanagement at the university and a statement, Key State Board of Regents Chair Tammy Dukes said, quote, Under Dr. Iacocca's leadership, the university can advance in many areas and we are pleased to hand the baton to him at such a critical time in the institution's journey.

In quote terms of Dr. Iacocca's contract are still being finalized.

A press release from Kentucky State University says he could assume his duties as president as early as July 1st.

Some good economic development news.

Another carmaker with deep Kentucky connections is going electric.

Today, Governor Andy Beshear announced Toyota is establishing the company's first U.S. assembled electric battery vehicle at its manufacturing plant in Georgetown.

Toyota just announced a $591 million investment that will ensure 700 good paying jobs at the Georgetown facility that is now going to assemble a three row electric SUV that's going to hit the market in 2025.

This ensures a bright future for that facility, which has meant so much for Kentucky and continues to add to our EV portfolio.

Toyota's Georgetown plant is the company's largest manufacturer facility in the world.

Time now to talk about some major developments in Kentucky over the past few days and even just today with Rowland Barton, managing editor of Kentucky Public Radio.

Good to see you, Raylan.

In Seattle, Renee.

So let's start off on a good note.

We've already told our viewers about some good news with Toyota today.

So talk to us about the Beshear.

Governor Bashir had made this announcement earlier today and there's more to say about it.

Right.

This is a big announcement from Toyota that it's going to be building its first or manufacturing its first U.S. electric vehicles in the Toyota plant in Georgetown, a massive facility that's been there since the since the mid 1980s.

This really just shows that the company is looking to reinvest in Kentucky, but also that it's it's trying to double down on reducing its carbon footprint again.

Last week, they they announced that they're going to be joining a power agreement with a solar panel project out in Mt.

Martin County in eastern Kentucky.

And this will be a, you know, an electric SUV.

It's a three row SUV, and it's going to really kind of continue the life of this already very successful car plant in Georgetown and into the future of a lot of the you know, this plant already manufactures Emory's and RAV4 SUVs.

It's going to slowly be transitioning towards this this electric first manufacturing model.

Along with this announcement, there is a announcement that they're expanding a battery plant in North Carolina.

And the batteries for these electric vehicles will be coming from North Carolina.

But in the context of all of this is this is something, you know, Governor Beshear has really been pushing throughout his administration.

There have been all of these economic development announcements with battery plants and manufacturing happening in Kentucky, notably last year with the announcement of the Ford battery plant in Hardin County.

So it's really just kind of doubling down on this manufacturing success story as as really the auto industry tries to start wrangling with a more carbon neutral or carbon non-fossil fuel future.

And it gives the governor another talking point, right when it comes to economic development spin.

So he can claim this is a win.

Whether or not he really is owed any credit for it or not.

Right.

Right.

And Republican leaders of the legislature will argue that this is you know, they're the ones who pass policy.

They're the ones who passed the state budgets and have over the years and passed this kind of economic development first budgets.

You know, notably, you know, and policies like the, you know, the anti-union the right to work legislation from a few years ago.

And that's kind of create an environment that makes these companies more eager to relocate or to move here.

But the governor is going to play that same game as well, that, you know, he's really the tip of the spear trying to attract these companies right now as he is governor, to move here and there have been several who have done that.

So now let's talk about the governor and some appointments that he made that were in arrears.

Actually, The Courier Journal had reported several days ago that there were two vacancies on the state Board of Education and that the governor had until May 31st to make those vacancies to fill those vacancies.

And he has done so with two women.

Tell us about them.

That's right.

Julie Pile and Diana Woods are the newest members of the Board of Education.

These are needed to get in compliance with state law.

There's several rules requiring of the state boards like the Board of Education, to be in compliance with the diversity of whether by race, by gender, also by political party affiliation.

So Julie Pyles in northern Kentucky, involved in education in northern Kentucky in leads an education group there.

And Diane, Diana Woods is a former Campbell County School district superintendent who's been retired and will be joining the Board of Education.

This was a this was an interesting little flare up over the last week.

You know, this really raised attention.

Olivia Crawley from The Courier Journal raised attention about this.

The Republican Party quickly kind of pounced on it and I think really applied pressure on the governor to fill these vacancies, which had been open for for a long time.

And he finally did it.

You know, just ahead of the end of the month to to make sure this board's in compliance.

Of course, these vacancies will have to be confirmed by the state Senate when the legislature is back in session early next year.

So we'll see who's governor at that point.

And and really what the state of the Board of Education is at that point.

Right.

And these women will serve until if they are confirmed through April of 2026.

So another item, the juvenile detention center and Jefferson County, there are some some delays and some news going on here.

Ryan, tell us what's happening there and how it could have implications for juvenile justice reform efforts that were enacted in this last session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Right.

For everybody who's paying attention to the legislative session earlier this year, juvenile justice was a big talking point.

There's a lot of issues with, you know, not enough beds of space, not of staff, you know, problems with behavior, you know, in juvenile justice facilities across the state.

One of the solutions was to reopen the juvenile detention center in Jefferson County, which was closed in 2019 amid budget cuts.

But now some city leaders in Louisville say that that's not going to be possible to reopen at least as quickly as state lawmakers thought it, but they were really hoping would open up this year.

But it sounds like there's plumbing problems.

There's roofing problems or just general facility problems with this.

They're going to need to get fixed.

The legislature set aside $17 million for those fixes.

So they're saying it's not going to go far enough.

But also there's some concerns on whether or not whether they're going to able to staff that as quickly as they want to, because that's really been one of the problems with with the juvenile justice crisis the state's been going through recently.

So all eyes are now kind of shifting towards the state budget next year.

Will lawmakers put more money towards this, you know, specifically this facility in Louisville, but also kind of beefing up the system across the state to make sure that, you know, juveniles who are arrested or convicted of certain crimes, you know, when they're detained, that they're in safe and and also safe places that ultimately will help them, you know, return to society, society and become, you know, still healthy and contributing members of society.

And there were other provisions of House Bill three that also had some delayed provisions, such as the sealed records for three years.

Like that doesn't go into effect for a while.

So there were other provisions that were going to be delayed that the General Assembly had said would be just because of time needed to ramp up and to get acclimated to those changes.

Right.

So it's going to be an ongoing discussion.

I imagine this is something that lawmakers will talk about during the interim session, which begins tomorrow, first tomorrow, next week.

Yeah, it starts in June.

And lawmakers, you know, like to talk about these issues that they will be weighing in on ultimately when the legislative session comes back into session that first week in January.

Right.

And it is a budget session in 2024.

So that's why they only appropriated what they appropriated for, because they were in a different year and they couldn't do that in an odd year.

Well, they could, but they didn't.

But next year, we'll see how that all pans out.

Thank you, Rob.

It's always good to see you.

Appreciate your perspective.

Good to see you, too.

The people who brought world renowned artist Shepard Fairey to Louisville to create an epic mural of Muhammad Ali downtown are staging a new show with his art.

And it's all to raise money for an organization called Artists for Trauma.

Kentucky Editions Kelsie Stark sat down with the group's founder.

Laura Sharp is the founder of Artists for Trauma with a fascinating comeback story of her own traumatic event, how it helped her recovery.

Thank you so much for being here.

Tell us a little about your story.

Thank you, Kelsey, for having me and allowing me an opportunity to share about our trauma.

15 years ago this past Memorial weekend, I experienced my own life altering trauma event, which required reinvention of self.

And how did that actually help spur this idea?

Artists for Trauma.

Well, during that process, I was able to collaborate with six world renowned artists, friends of mine and associate the life altering trauma and the tragedy through different artistic interpretations.

And we're utilizing that template, which allowed me to transcend, to empower other trauma survivors.

Your first major project here was this beautiful alley mural and bringing artist Shepard Fairey to town to create it.

What an amazing thing.

What spurred that and how did you make it happen?

It was an extraordinary opportunity to expand our footprint by honoring past relationships with our team member at Donaldson and our executive team member and partner at Donaldson and his relationship with Shepard Fairey, who also touts and shares the platform that art is an opportunity to exercise your voice.

And so through that and multiple collaborations in the city and with the YMCA, Chestnut Street Family, YMCA.

Shepard Fairey painted a seven story mural of Muhammad Ali and this amazing city that honors the champion.

And we wanted to honor his humanitarian ism and empowerment for the community.

It is an amazing site if you haven't seen it.

What's next for you all here?

Well, what's so exciting about what's next is that Shepard Fairey and Muhammad Ali mural immediately followed with an outside influence show at 1512, Portland and additional art from Shepard as well as other artists were available for display, and that has now moved forward to the Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

And we hope that your viewers and visitors to the city of Louisville will visit Louisville Thoroughbred Society to see that show.

And then next, in September of this year, we have an extraordinary large scale art event scheduled with Danny Wimmer presents again at the Bourbon and Beyond and louder than Life Festival, where we also have interactive, inclusive healing through arts with trauma survivors who visit the music festival as well as medical professionals who work in the trauma field.

Wonderful work you're doing for our community.

Thank you so much for being here.

And you can see outside influence at the Louisville Thoroughbreds Society.

Just give them a call in some of the works.

Most of the works there are still available for purchase.

Thank you, Kelsey.

The Speed Art Museum in Louisville also recently unveiled a special exhibit of art from trauma victims from Louisville Hospital and the Jay David Richardson Trauma Center.

The Roots of Kentucky Music Run Deep Ball and Grain Museum is gathering research for an exhibit that explores the area's rich musical traditions and includes genres and styles from bluegrass to hip hop, ragtime to rock and roll.

Our Laura Rogers shares more on the major projects.

And this is a German issue that they signed for me.

When I was little, I saw KISS on TV.

I thought, What is that?

I started buying records and going to concerts and all that kind of stuff.

The rest, as they say, is history.

It's like, Man, you get another copy of it.

I said, No, I don't.

And you can't have mine.

Music history.

I've got some early 45 to the Kentucky Headhunters.

I've got the platinum plaque that was originally presented to Lowe.

See, I've got some UK posters, Black Blackstone, Cherry.

One of their tours where they headlined Wembley Arena.

If it's an album poster or keepsake from a South central Kentucky band, they are absolutely going crazy trying to find these posters.

And there's only 20.

Tommy Starr likely has it in his role as a radio personality on D 93.

W and S Starr is often the first to play and interview local bands.

Steve Jewell on bass guitar.

That was his first release with them.

Over the years, he has amassed quite the music collection and that stuff started to stack up CDs, fliers, CDs and set up their own own way.

I just kept them.

Starr is now parting with hundreds of items to be included in an exhibit at the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University.

We have this very unique musical landscape of expression here.

Sonic Landscape will explore the rich diversity, talent and dynamism of music across the Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky area.

Ernest Hogan, the father of ragtime music, who was born in Shake Rag here and in our neighborhood here to Sam Bush and nappy Roots to the Hilltoppers, the doo wop group based at Western Kentucky University, to cage the elephant.

Today, it's just this wide swath of different types of music.

What is that story?

Why Bowling Green?

One of the area's most notable successes, the Kentucky Headhunters who originated decades ago, and Metcalf County.

We wanted to be an English rock and roll band, but as soon as we open their mouth, they go, Oh, come on, you guys are from you're from the country.

Well, that's it.

That's the beauty of it.

The band's Picking on Nashville album won a Grammy in 1991.

The group still tours extensively today to have made a living at it.

Something truly love has been really, really special, and I don't take it for granted.

None of the guys and the headhunters take it for granted.

Starr's collection includes mementos from the band's beginnings as Itchy Brother in the 1970s and the earliest iteration of Picking on Nashville known as the Pink tape, when they were just the headhunters.

When they added Kentucky to it, it actually made total sense.

And even relics from the radio show that caught the attention of the band's future record label sometime in 86, latter part of 86.

We started doing the children's show Debbie LLC.

That pretty much cemented the deal with Mercury Records back in the day.

Martin marvels at the musical heritage of the place he calls home.

Kentucky is such a diverse state musically.

There's such a great array of music around here.

We got Mr. Sam Bush, New Grass Revival, Ted Balls had a scene that happened in which a lot of bands came out of that.

The museum has been conducting research for the exhibit for the past several years.

We've been just interviewing people slowly musicians, but also owners of clubs, owners of record stores, recording studios, all content to be preserved and explored when sonic landscape opens to the public.

Hopefully you go away from this exhibit saying, I had no idea.

We have all these great musicians here.

A lot of people like to say there's something in the water.

Maybe there is.

I don't know.

There's just a really huge amount of talent.

And people here in south central Kentucky.

I mean, super, super talented folks.

Here for Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

Talent, indeed.

Sonic Landscape is expected to open in spring of 2025.

Well, we thank you for joining us and we will see you right back here tomorrow night for a special one year edition.

We turn one year old on Kentucky Edition.

We'll see you tomorrow night to celebrate.