[♪♪] >> AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE OUTCOME IS ARE JUST HUGE.

THESE ARE REAL DATA AND REAL PEOPLE.

>> Christie: A COLLEGE DEGREE PAYS DIVIDENDS HOW MANY ADULTS HOPE TO GET ONE.

>> IN FACT FIVE OF THE TOP 10 WETTEST YEARS IN KENTUCKY HAVE HAPPENED SINCE 2011.

>> Christie: AS THE SONG GOES KENTUCKY RAIN KEEPING POURING DOWN TO SET A NEW RECORD.

>> THE FULL CIRCLE OF HIS LIFE AND SERVICE AND DEATH.

>> Christie: HONORING AN AMERICAN HERO MORE THAN 80 YEARS AFTER HIS SACRIFICE.

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

[♪♪] >> Christie: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" FOR FRIDAY MAY THE 9TH I'M CHRISTIE DUTTON IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO FILLING IN FOR RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

KENTUCKY'S SIX CONGRESSMEN AND TWO SENATORS AGREE THE STATE NEEDS FEDERAL HELP AFTER THE STORMS AND FLOODS IN APRIL.

ALL MEMBERS IN KENTUCKY'S DISEL GATION SENTED A LETTER TO DONALD TRUMP BACKING ANDY BESHEAR'S REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE AND HELP FOR THE WHOLE STATE.

THE LETTER DESCRIBES THE RAIN FLASH FLOODS AND TORNADOES AND THEIR IMPACT ON HOMES AND ROADS.

THE LETTER ALSO STATES QUOTE AS COMMUNITIES BEGIN TO REBUILD AND FAMILIES BEGIN TO RECOUP THEIR HOMES, FEDERAL ASSISTANCE IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING KENTUCKIANS CAN SAFELY RESUME THEIR LIVES UNQUOTE.

WE'VE SEEN THE WETTEST START TO THE YEAR EVER IN KENTUCKY.

THE KENTUCKY CLIMATE CENTER SAYS THIS JANUARY-APRIL HAS BROUGHT THE MOST RAINFALL IN 130 YEARS OF RECORD KEEPING.

THE STATE-WIDE AVERAGE IS MORE THAN 206 INCHES OF RAIN UNFORTUNATE -- 26 INCHES OF RAIN THIS YEAR.

THE RECORD IS 2011 WHEN THE STATE PICKED UP 64 INCHES OF RAIN FOR THAT YEAR.

METEOROLOGISTS SAY WE ARE ON PACE TO BEAT THAT.

>> 2025 HAS BEEN THE YEAR OF RAIN SO FAR.

WE HAD A WET JANUARY THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A FLOOD EVENT IN MID-FEBRUARY ON THE WEEKEND OF VALENTINE'S DAY AND PRESIDENT'S DAY WHERE WE SAW 2-6 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN CENTRAL AND WRN KENTUCKY THAT RESULTED IN FLASH FLOODING WITH AERIAL FLOODING, RIVER FLOODING, LOTS OF EVACUATIONS, PEOPLE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES, DECLARING DISASTERS.

AND THEN IN EARLY APRIL WE HAD MORE RAINFALL TO THE TUNE OF 5-15 INCHES ACROSS MORE OF KENTUCKY SAVE FOR THE SOUTHEAST REGION AND WE WILL SWOLLEN RIVERS A LOT OF EVACUATIONS, ROAD CLOSURES AND BIG ECONOMIC IMPACT.

"THUNDER ONEVER LOUISVILLE" WAS CANCELED GOO TO WEATHER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THIS YEAR.

ESTIMATED LOSS IN REVENUE WAS $10 MILLION.

>> Christie: THE RAIN HAS ALSO PUSHED BACK CORN AND SOYBEAN PLANTING AND THIS SPRING STARTED OFF ON A WARM NOTE.

MARCH AND APRIL WERE EIGHTH WARMEST ON RECORD FOR THE STATE RUNNING MORE THAN 3° ABOVE AVERAGE.

AS FAR AS THE REST OF THE YEAR, METEOROLOGISTS SAY SUMMER USUALLY BRINGS MORE POP-UP THUNDERSTORMS AS OPPOSED TO WIDESPREAD RAINFALL.

>>> KENTUCKY'S MAMMOTH CAVE IS BIG SOON MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK COULD BE BIGGER.

A NEW BILL BEFORE CONGRESS IF PASSED WOULD LET THE PARK BUY 551 ACRES OF LAND FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TO PROTECT THE GREEN RIVER WATERSHED, HELP WIDE LIFE AND BRING IN MORE TOURISTS.

THE BILL IS SPONSORED BY CONGRESSMAN BRETT GUTHRIE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT AND U.S.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL.

SENATOR McCONNELL PUT OUT A STATEMENT.

QUOTE KENTUCKY IS LUCKY TO BE HOME OF A ABUNTED DENT TREASURES.

BEYOND THE ROLE OF DRIVING TOURISM THE PARK PLAYS A ROLE IN ECONOMIC GROWTH SUPPORTING GOOD JOBS FOR THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

UNQUOTE.

A NATIONAL REPORT SHOWS MOST ADULTS WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE WANT ONE.

AND THERE'S GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

JUNE LEFFLER SPOKE TO KENTUCKY'S LEADING HIGHER EDUCATION OFFICIAL FOR THIS SEGMENT OF EDUCATION MATTERS.

>> GALLOP AND STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION SURVEY SHOWS MORE THAN HALF OF ADULTS WITHOUT A DEGREE CONSIDER STARTING OR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

THAT DOESN'T COME AS A SURPRISE TO THOSE NO HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> WE ARE HEARING THE NARRATIVE THAT HIGHER EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT AND YOU DON'T NEED A CREDENTIAL OR DEGREE.

YOU DO.

6 THREE% -- 63% IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY WILL NEED A CREDENTIAL OF SOME SORT IN ORDER TO GET A JOB BY 2030.

90% WILL NEED ONE TO GET PROMOTED.

SO IT MATTERS.

AND THE SURVEYS SHOWED THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

>> A REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKIED FOUND GRADUATES WILL EARN TWICE AS MUCH OVER A LIFETIME AND PUBLIC DOLLARS SPENT ON HIGHER EDUCATION TRANSLATE TO MORE MONEY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESSES.

FOR THESE REASONS, KENTUCKY OFFICIALS HAVE SET A GOAL OF GETTING 60% OF KENTUCKY ADULTS A DEGREE BY 2030.

>> AND THAT 60 IN 30 WE ARE AT 56.2%.

AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY INVESTED IN US.

THE GOVERNOR SEES THE VALUE.

ALL OF THE THINGS WE DO ARE CONNECTED TO THAT IN OUR POLICIES AND PROCESSES OUR PERFORMANCE FUNDING LEVEL GOING TO THAT CORRELATION BETWEEN A HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE AND TAKING KENTUCKY TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> AARON THOMPSON WROTE THAT FEDERAL CUTS COULD DERAIL THAT PROGRESS.

CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING CUTTING THE GEAR UP PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS COLLEGE AND CAREER RESOURCES IN KENTUCKY'S POOREST SCHOOLS.

>> WE'RE SEEING SUCH A BIG RETURN ON INVESTMENT ONCE AGAIN FOR THAT MONEY INVESTED.

GEAR UP WE'VE HAD GEAR UP IN KENTUCKY SINCE 2000.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN IT SINCE 2000 AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE OUTCOME IS ARE JUST HUGE.

THESE ARE REAL DATA REAL PEOPLE.

THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT HISTORICALLY ARE FIRST GENERATION, WE ARE PREPARING THEM FOR COLLEGE AND THEY ARE HAVING SUCCESS.

>> DATA SHOWS SINCE 2011 STUDENTS OF GEAR UP PROGRAM HAVE HAD HIGHER HIGH SCHOOL GRADES ACT SCORES AND MORE LIKELY TO GO TO COLLEGE THAN THEIR LOW INCOME KENTUCKY PEERS.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

>> Christie: THE GALLOP REPORT ALSO ASKED ADULTS WHY THEY STOPPED GOING TO COLLEGE.

THE TOP REASONS ARE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AND THE COST OF COLLEGE.

>>> WELL IT'S COLLEGE STUDENTS GET READY TO FACE THE WORLD ONE ALREADY HAS EXPERIENCE THAT'S OUT OF THIS WORLD.

ASA O'NEAL A STUDENT FROM WEST LIBERTY IS GRADUATING FROM U.K. WITH A DOUBLE MAJOR IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND PHYSICS.

ASA O'NEAL WAS A 2024 ASTRONAUT SCHOLAR AND A FORMER NASA SCHOLAR.

HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN RESEARCH ON CRYOGENIC CO2 SCRUBBERS AND AERIAL VEHICLES THAT OPERATE WITHOUT CREWS.

WE TALKED TO AS SA HOW HE BECAME INTERESTED IN THIS.

>> I ALWAYS LIKED TO BUILD THINGS.

I GREW UP ON I AFARM AND LIKE TO WORK HANDS ON.

I LIKE TO SEE THEORY COME THROUGH INTO APPLICATION.

AND TO BUILD THE AT ANY TIMES TO BRING THEM FROM THE WHITE BOARD TO FRUITION.

THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER BACKGROUND HAS GIVEN ME THE SKILL SETS TO DO THAT.

THE LAST TWO SUMMERS I'VE HAD THE FORTUNE TO INTERN AT NASA AND WORKED ON A VARIETY OF GROUNDBREAKING TEMPERATURES INCLUDING DRONE TECHNOLOGIES FOR FIRST-RESPONDERS AND MOST RECENTLY AT JET PROPULSION LABORATORIES CRYOGENIC CO2 SCRUBBERS THAT TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO HELP US ON SUSTAINED LUNAR AND MARS PRESENCE IN THE FUTURE.

I LEARNED A LOT AND IT'S HELPED ENABLE ME TO MOVE INTO MY CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH.

U.K. IS AWESOME.

IT WILL HELP PREPARE YOU IN ANYWAY.

FOR ME THAT WAS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL DISCIPLINES.

IT WILL PREPARE YOU TO ACHIEVE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO COME TO U.K. TO LEARN THE THINGS I ENJOY AND ACHIEVE THINGS ELSEWHERE.

IT IS A MIX OF EMOTIONS FOR ME MOST OF ALL I'M HUMBLE AND THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BEEN HERE.

>> Christie: AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

ASA O'NEAL PLANS ON EARNING A PH.D. AND LOOKING AHEAD TO A CAREER IN SPACE PROPULSION TECHNOLOGY.

>> WHO COULD BE THE NEW LEADER OF KENTUCKY'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT THE SEARCH STARTED WHEN SUPERINTENDENT FOR JCPS, MARTY POLLIO ANNOUNCED HE IS RETIRING NEXT MONTH.

NPR'S RYLAND BARTON HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TWO FINALISTS.

>> ACCORDING TO LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA TWO FINALISTS, BEN SHULDINER SUPERINTENDENT OF LANSING SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MICHIGAN AND BRIAN YEARWOOD THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE MUCH SMALLER DISTRICTS AN JEFFERSON ABOUT 10,000 AND 29,000.

JCPS HAS 94,000 KIDS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

20-24TH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.

NEXT, THEY WILL HAVE A LIVE Q AND A SESSION LATER THIS MONTH.

THIS ALL COMES BECAUSE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLLIO IS RETIRING AT THE END OF JUNE.

HE WILL BE THE PRESIDENT OF IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE INDIANA'S COLLEGE SYSTEM.

HE REALLY WORKED HIS WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE JCPS SYSTEM.

THIS WILL BE A DIFFERENCE BOTH CANDIDATES ARE NOT FROM THE DISTRICT.

HE WAS A JCPS, MARTY POLLIO WAS A JCPS HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND IS LEAVING WITH THE TEACHER SHORTAGE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS THAT THEY'VE HAD THERE.

AND A LOT OF WORRIES ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

AND ALSO FOR SEVERAL YEARS, A LOT OF TENSIONS WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE.

SO WHOEVER GETS THE JOB WILL HAVE A FULL PLATE OF ISSUES TO DEAL WITH.

>> Christie: VOTERS IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY'S SIXTH DISTRICT WILL HAVE AN OPEN SEAT TO FILL.

ANDY BARR IS RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

THE COOK REPORT SAYS GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS QUOTE INVESTED IN SEEING A DEMOCRAT WIN THAT RACE.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO GET HIS TOP AIDE ROCKY ADKINS OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN TO RUN FOR THAT SEAT.

THE SEAT HAS BEEN IN REPUBLICAN HANDS SINCE BARR WON IN IN 2012.

>>> 100 PLUS DAYS INTO THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WE WILL TALK ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS ON MONDAY NIGHT'S "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

JOIN RENEE AND HER GUESTS INCLUDING A FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM KENTUCKY.

THAT AND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS MONDAY AT 8:00 P.M. EASTERN, SUB7:00 P.M. CENTRAL HERE ON KET.

>> WORLD WAR TWO ENDED IN EUROPE 80 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK AND A KENTUCKY SOLDIER WHO SERVED AND DIED IN THE REST WAS LAID TO REST AT HOME.

KENNETH BURGESS WAS AN ARMY RANGER REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION IN ITALY IN 1943.

HE WAS OFFICIALLY ACCOUNTED FOR THIS PAST SEPTEMBER WHEN SCIENTISTS WERE ABLE TO USE DNA AND OTHER ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY HIS REMAINS.

ON WEDNESDAY, BURGESS WAS GIVEN A FUNERAL AND GRAVE SITE SERVICE WITH MILITARY HONORS.

>> NUMBER ONE, IT BRINGS CLOSURE FOR FAMILIES.

AND TWO IT BRINGS TO LIFE THE STORIES THEY'VE HEARD FOR DECADES ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONE.

NOW IN THE CASE OF THE BURGESS FAMILY THEY CAN PUT THE PRESENCE OF HIM HERE WITH THE STORIES OF HIM FISHING IN THE GREEN RIVER OR THE LETTERS HE SENT BACK FROM FORT DIX.

>> Christie: WE WILL HAVE MORE ABOUT THIS HERO AND THE REMARKABLE WAY HE WAS RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY.

SEE OUR SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAY "KENTUCKY EDITION" ON MONDAY MAY 26.

[♪♪] TIME TO GO INSIDE BUSINESS AND THIS IS OUR SEGMENT WE CALL THE BUSINESS BEAT AND WE HAVE TWO HERE ALMOST A YEAR AGO TO GIVE US A IS IT THE US UPDATE AND WE'RE GLAD.

JEFF VAN HOOK, AND RGL INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY AND JASON RAINY MOUNT STERLING MONTGOMERY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CHAMBER.

DID I GET THAT RIGHT?

WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET IT ON THE LOWER THIRD.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

LIKE A YEAR ANNIVERSARY FROM WE HAD YOU LAST ON.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN A YEAR.

I WILL LET YOU GO FIRST JASON YOU HAVE ALMOST BREAKING NEWS FOR US.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW WHEN WE TALKED OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'RE WORKING ON THE NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK AND WE WERE PLEASED TO FIND OUT THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO GET -- WE'VE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR MORE FUNDING FOR THAT SITE.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS BEING ABLE TO PUT IN WATER, SEWER, ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE, SO IT'S TURN KEY FOR AN INDUSTRY TO MOVE IN AND COME TO MOUNT STERLING ON THAT SITE.

THAT WILL BE COMING HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND WE HAVE FOOTAGE OF THAT SITE.

>> Renee: GREAT FOOTAGE.

TALK ABOUT HOW VAST THIS IS IT LOOKS GORGEOUS.

>> YES, IT IS.

IT'S ACTUALLY A LONGTIME SEVERAL GENERATION FAMILY FARM AND THE FAMILY SAID, HEY WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT IN THIS NEXT ITERATION.

IT'S BEEN A THREE-YEAR PROJECT.

THE FIRST KENTUCKY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE WE APPLIED FOR WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT SITE AND THAT'S ALMOST A YEAR AGO TO THE DATE AS WELL.

Y'ALL CAME OUT FOR THAT THAT GROUNDBREAKING.

AND WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD ON IT.

>> Renee: AND HOW MANY ACRES?

>> IT'S 165 ACRES RIGHT OFF INTERSTATE 64.

RIGHT NEXT TO OUR EXISTING WOODLAND INDUSTRIAL PARK.

ALL THOSE UTILITIES ARE RIGHT THERE AND EXTENDED OVER TO THE SITE.

>> Renee: JEFF, WHEN YOU WERE ON YOU HAD EXCITING NEWS FOR US THEN AND WHAT IS THE UPDATE?

BRING US UP TO SPEED?

>> THE RGL REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY A COLLABORATION BETWEEN LINCOLN COUNTY AND GARRET COUNTY.

WE GOT A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET FOR $62 MILLION TO BUY PROPERTY TO MAKE A MEGA SITE IN ROCK CASTLE COUNTY.

AND WE ARE TWO PARCELS AWAY FROM HAVING THE 1400 ACRES UNDER OWNERSHIP.

>> Renee: WOW.

>> AND IT'S EXCITING.

IN THAT TIME WE'VE GOT A LOTTED OF DUE DILIGENCE DONE.

WE GOT DESIGNATED BY THE GUILD AS ONE OF THE FIRST SIX SITES IN AMERICA TO GET THE NEW NATIONAL STANDARD FOR SITE READINESS.

>> Renee: CONGRATULATIONS THAT SOUNDS IMPRESSIVE EVEN IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.

>> THERE'S 14 SITES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT RECEIVED THE SITE SELECT FOR GUILD AND IT IS THE NEW PREMIER SITE READINESS PROGRAM IN THE INDUSTRY.

AND THEN BESIDES THAT FOR RAIL SIDES CSX WE RECEIVED THE SELECT SITE RATING.

IT JUST SHOWS THAT THE FORESIGHT IN THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND THIS PROPERTY THAT IT WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT WITH GOING TO HAVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

>> Renee: BUT YOU ALL HAD THE FORESIGHT TO THIS THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD INVESTMENT AND PITCH TO THE LAWMAKERS.

>> WITHOUT VISION YOU HAVE TO HAVE VISION.

AND THAT'S THE THING LIKE JASON ON HIS PROPERTY TWO COMPLETELY SEPARATE SIZES BUT WE'RE GOING AFTER DIFFERENT THINGS AND THAT IS THE THINGS THE STATE HAS DONE, THE LEGISLATURE HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO FUND IT.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE CD ASKING FOR THE FUNDS IS THAT THEY ARE RE8ING KENTUCKY TO BE IN A COMPETITIVE NATURE AND AS FAR AS SITES AND HAVE A BIG INVENTORY.

>> Renee: WHAT MAKES A GOOD SITE?

>> INFRASTRUCTURE YOU HAVE TO HAVE UTILITIES AND THE POWER.

AND THEN POPULATIONS AROUND YOU.

AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE WORKFORCE AND LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, EVERYBODY HAS A WORKFORCE PROBLEM.

BUT WE GOT TO GET BETTER ABOUT OUR STORY AND WE GOT TO DO MORE IN THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DID, I NOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LAKE CUMBERLAND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD I'M GETTING MORE ACTIVE IN THAT ROLE TO TRY TO UPLIFT.

AND THAT IS THE THING JASON WOULD TALK ABOUT, IS ME AND HIM WE'RE NOT THAT FAR APART BUT WE ARE IN THE REALITY OF WORKING TOGETHER.

BUT IT'S BECOME MORE OF A REGIONAL FOCUS.

AND THAT'S WHERE KENTUCKY IS GOING TO RISE ABOVE SOME OTHER STATES NOW WE ALL EVERYTHING WE DO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLABORATION AND WORKING TOGETHER.

>> Renee: AND WHY IS THAT A NEW NOVEL IDEA OR APPROACH THAT IS TAKING UP?

>> IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO REVISIT HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER.

OUR KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF CHAMPIONING RIGHT THE KPDI PROGRAM A PROGRAM THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

>> Renee: KENTUCKY PROJECT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

>> TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE PRODUCT AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, I THINK JEFF AND I ARE NICE EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAM WORKS IN CREATING MORE PRODUCT FOR THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND IDEALLY NEW JOBS GROWING THE TAX BASE.

MORE DISPOSAL INCOME IN THE COMMUNITIES.

>> THAT IS WHERE THE VISIONS COME IN BECAUSE WHEN YOU KNOW THERE ARE FUNDS AND IT'S COMPETITIVE FUNDS YOU GOT TO PUT YOUR THINKING HATS ON AND THINK OKAY WHAT IS IT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS WHAT DOES OUR REGION NEED HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT THE MOST PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PROGRAM DID FOR US BECAUSE WE KNEW ALONE WE WERE 17,000.

BUT WHEN WE JOIN THE THREE COUNTIES WE ARE 62,000 BUT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF BULL COUNTY AND DANVILLE.

WE HAVE SOMERSET PULL AS SKY AND THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SKID SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WHICH HAS 42 COUNTIES THEY SERVICE AND YOU START TALKING WITH THOSE PEOPLE AND SAYING I'VE GOT THIS IDEA THIS VISION, AND THEN EVERYBODY COMES IN AND SAYS THAT THEY'LL SUPPORT IT OR THEY SAY WELL, IF HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS AS WELL.

>> AND MOUNT STERLING MONTGOMERY COUNTY WE ARE A PART OF THAT GREATER LEXINGTON REGION THAT BRANDING GREATER LEX THAT COMMERCE LEXINGTON'S LED ON ALL THE COMMUNITIES IN OUR OFFERINGS, WORKFORCE OFFERINGS AND BRANDING IT'S SOMETHING NOTABLE AND THEY HAVE TAKEN A NICE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THAT AND I'M GLAD MOUNT STERLING CAN BE A PART OF THAT.

WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR AREAS IN KENTUCKY THEY ARE THINKING REGIONALISM HOW CAN WE LEAN INTO THAT MORE AND EXPOSE SITES.

SO ANY EXPOSURE WE CAN DO FOR THE FOLKS I REPRESENT WE WANT TO DO IT.

>> Renee: AND WHAT JOBS ARE WE THINKING ABOUT HERE?

>> OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT KENTUCKY'S STRONG IN METALS INDUSTRIES AND STRONG IN STRONG IN AEROSPACE AND AUTOMOTIVE WE HAVE THE SUPPLY CHAINS.

IT'S CONTINUING THE ADVANCEMENT IN THOSE SECTORS TO RETOOL, RETHINK, GET READY FOR THE FUTURE.

IT'S STAYING CONCENTRATED ON THAT AND NEW AND EMERGING INDUSTRIES IN THE MED TECH.

SO WE DON'T RULE ANYTHING OUT.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE ONES THAT ARE HERE.

RETENTION IS REALLY WHERE IT'S AT WE HAVE TO RETAIN WHAT WE HAVE AND GROW THAT MARKET.

>> Renee: YEAH.

THE POINT WE MADE LAST YEAR.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE JOB CREATION BUT RETENTION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

ANY FINAL WORD?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE OUR GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT IN MOUNT STERLING.

IT'S THIRD OR FOURTH BUSIEST GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT IN KENTUCKY MANY HOW DO THOSE LINEAGES AND HAVING CORPORATE PLANES IN AND OUT HOW CAN IT BENEFIT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.

>> SMALL REGIONAL AIRPORTS ARE IMPORTANT AND OUR UTILITY PARTNERS.

TOUCH-TONE ENERGY.

KENTUCKY UTILITIES IS FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITHOUT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, IT TAKES THEM BECAUSE WE'RE RELYING ON THEIR POWER.

SO AND THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND HAVING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS ENHANCE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UTILITY PARTNERS.

>> Renee: PEOPLE COULD LEARN A LOT FROM BOTH OF YOU.

JEFF AND JASON.

THE J & J.

>> IT IS A GOOD ITERATION.

>> Renee: CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND TELLING US ABOUT IT.

>> GOOD TO VISIT WITH YOU.

>> WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[♪♪] >> Christie: THIS WEEK WE'RE INTRODUCING TO LOUISVILLE'S MUSIC COMMUNITY WITH SOPRANO AND MUSIC PROFESSOR EMILY ALBRINK AN ACCOMPLISHED SOPRANO WHOSE TALENTS HAVE TAKEN HER ALL OVER THE WORLD BUT IT WAS GROWING UP IN A MUSICAL FAMILY WHERE IT STARTED AND CONTINUES TODAY.

>> HOW DID THE MUSIC COMMUNITY IN LOUISVILLE FOSTER THAT?

LIKE WHAT IS THE MUSIC SCENE?

>> WE HAVE SUCH A FABULOUS MUSIC SCENE.

GOSH, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE, SO LUCKY.

WELL, I MEAN KENTUCKY OPERA HAS BEEN MY HOME OPERA COMPANY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

DAVID ROTH GAVE ME OUR LATE WONDERFUL DAVID ROTH WHO WAS AT THE OPERA FOR YEARS HE GAVE ME MY FIRST START RIGHT AFTER I HAD DONE A YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM AT THE KENNEDY CENTER AND RIGHT AFTER I FINISHED THAT HE SAID I WANT YOU TO SING HOW ABOUT YOU SING?

AND I CAME AND I SANG THAT ROLE AND IT WAS MY FIRST BIG ROLE AT A MAJOR COMPANY.

AND HE WAS SO SUPPORTIVE AND BARBARA LYNN JAMISON WHO NOW IS LEAVING, SHE HAS ALSO BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF MY CAREER.

AS HAS TEDDY ABRAMS I'VE BEEN SO FORTUNATE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA IT'S UNPARALLELED IN THE FACT WE HAVE THEM HERE.

IN A TOWN OF OUR SIZE IS LIKE IT'S JUST REALLY REMARKABLE.

THAT'S BEEN -- I'VE BEEN SO FORTUNATE TO MAKE MUSIC HERE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT THERE ARE SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NULU PLAYERS, AND SEVERAL DIFFERENT DERBY CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL.

ALL THIS CHAMBER MUSIC AND WONDERFUL MUSICIANS WHO PLAY IN THE ORCHESTRA WHO COME AND CREATE THEIR OWN STUFF ON THE SIDE.

IT'S JUST RICH.

>> YES.

>> Christie: AN AMAZING TALENTED SEE THE INTERVIEW AT KET.ORG.

>> WELL, TAKE MOM OUT FOR BACON OR ART OR A BIKE RIDE THIS MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND OUR TOBY GIBBS HAS THOSE AND OTHER SUGGESTIONS IN THIS LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH.

[♪♪] >> WARMER WEATHER MEANS GREAT CAR SHOWS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

CHECK OUT THE CORVETTE CRUISE IN AT WILDERNESS DISTILLERY TOMORROW ENJOY MUSIC, FOOD TRUCKS AND SUPER COOL CARS.

ALSO TOMORROW IS THE WILD ABOUT SHELBYVILLE ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL EXPLORE SHELBYVILLE AND HEAR GREAT MUSIC AND DON'T MISS THE BOURBON, BUTTER AND BACON BAKE-OFF.

IT WILL BE A GREAT DAY.

AND SOMERSET FOOD STOCK 2025 THIS FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL WILL HAVE VENDORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE SHOWING OFF THEIR MENUS.

ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND GREAT FOOD.

THRILL SEEKERS SHOULD HAVE TOMORROW ON THEIR CALENDARS IT'S OPENING DAY FOR KENTUCKY KINGDOM NO LOUISVILLE THERE'S ENOUGH STUFF TO CHECK OUT FROM THREE NEW RIDES TO THE PLAYGROUND.

BE AMONG THE FIRST TO STEP FOOT IN THE KENTUCKY KINGDOM THIS SEASON.

PENDLETON COUNTY TOURISM INVITES YOU TO THE UNIQUE ART WALK, ART TO BUY, ART TO CREATE AND LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL ART TO ENJOY AS YOU STROLL DOWNTOWN.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET IN EXERCISE OR TO EXPLORE MORE OF PADUCAH CHECK OUT THE PEDAL IN PADUCAH EVENT STARTING AT THE LIBRARY RIDERS WILL EXPLORE A 10 MILE LOOP AT A LEISURELY PACE.

ALL AGES ARE WELCOME AT THIS FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.

AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Christie: THANK YOU.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US MONDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

FOLLOW KET ON FACEBOOK, X AND STATE IN THE LOOP WITH INSTAGRAM AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.