♪ >> The second victim was found in the rubble.

>> And update from the state's largest city where local, state and federal agencies are investigating the cause of a deadly workplace explosion.

>> If there's a breath entire.

He's always still going to want to go that far anytime the pavement to go off or anything like that.

He's going to be there.

>> A Pulaski County firefighter isn't letting dementia KET him from serving his community.

>> When you hear someone story from.

Their own mouth in their own words.

It is very, very hard to hate.

>> And hear from local story tellers on why they've chosen to take off their mask.

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

♪ ♪ Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday.

It's the 13th of November.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Wednesday with us.

A tragic update to a story we first told you about last night.

2 people were killed and nearly a dozen more injured following an explosion at a factory in Louisville.

The blast caused part of the building to collapse and sent debris flying into nearby homes.

Our June Leffler was in Louisville this morning when city officials talked about the investigation.

>> This is what's left after an explosion at a factory in Louisville.

The damage spilled into residential streets.

Now there's some tarps on roofs blown out windows and large debris in the streets.

>> This is incredibly a sad and tragic incident.

These 2 individuals who have past.

Went to their job.

In an ordinary day to provide for their family when the unthinkable happened.

The first victim who passed away was transported to U of L Hospital and died as a result of the injuries sustained in the blast.

The second victim was found in the rubble.

It's found in rubble late last night as Louisville firefighters went back into the building late last night.

To confirm that everyone had been accounted for.

>> Someone at the company told the city later that day worker could still be missing.

City officials say initially.

>> We'd all been told that at the scene by the business we've been told by the business that all of the employees were counted for.

Tragically, that was not the case.

>> We did find where that victim was.

And at that point, again, trying to show dignity for the family and to make sure that we take care of everyone.

We sent our people back in.

It was about a 3 and a half hour process to safely get into that area to get to that person and recover that victim.

>> With help from other agencies, Louisville's fire Department will conduct an investigation.

>> I know many of you are probably concerns and what actually happened.

Why did it happen?

And I'm going to apologize in advance.

We don't have those answers immediately.

>> The job done since color plant made food coloring.

It is the same site of an explosion that killed a worker and 2003 different company owned it.

Then as shown in this video courtesy of WDRB Secondary to that 2003 events that Dell with a solid anhydrous ammonia that is no longer on site that was not dealt with here.

The only thing we can speak to that is that our inspections of that plant over the past several years showed no other issues.

>> The plant is nestled into a longstanding neighborhood, not that far from downtown residents were told to shelter in place for a few hours.

But officials say there are no lingering health concerns.

>> Air monitoring was set up from the get-go not only on in the immediate area, but the the entire vicinity to make sure that we're keeping the community safe as possible.

>> Wednesday morning, 6 people from the plant were in stable condition and 3 had been discharged from U of L hospital.

The workers are unionized, but a local labor group is offering them some financial assistance.

The company was invited to the city's press conference, but no one showed up for Kentucky June Leffler.

>> Thank you, June and a statement the company said it was grieving with the families and friends of the victims and they thanked first responders for their heroic actions.

The rise of artificial intelligence or AI has been a frequent topic of discussion in Frankfort this year, including its influence on student learning election campaign ads and criminal material like child pornography.

Today, the artificial intelligence task force met for the last time and published its final report and recommendations for the Kentucky General Assembly, including new legislation to outline standards I use by the state funding for research in AI and urging the federal government to do more in regulating it.

Democratic Representative Pamela Stephenson suggested an additional recommendation.

>> Every one of the speakers talked about the impact of AI on criminal justice system.

And that we, in fact, we went as far as to say is we can't tell whether or not something created by AI Israel or not.

It's in the only solution they offer.

It was we say, on our products that its AI generated.

But the crooks don't.

So my question is, could we have someone look at what is the impact of AI on the administration of justice in our criminal Cole?

>> Yes.

So we spoke with the attorney general's office and they we ask that question to him when they presented, they felt lack at the current time.

They had the tools they needed.

We have encouraged them and recommendation number 7 to review laws related to individual lots and continue its continues to collaborate with the General Assembly on issues resulting from a advancements.

I think that's kind of captured within that.

>> What we're saying is if something happens in court will deal with it.

But we're not going to be proactive.

To make sure that people are not falsely accused of them to AI at least through the thinking.

So if it happens, we know our lease to the thinking.

So we know what we know.

And I'm not sure we know what we know.

In this arena for criminal justice and AI.

>> Republican Senator Stephen Meredith also recommended the task force, which is a temporary special committee, become permanent.

Neither of the recommendations were formally adopted.

But lawmakers said they expect multiple pieces of legislation aimed at regulating AI to be introduced in the 2025 legislative session.

Some familiar faces will help lead Republican lawmakers in Kentucky's House of Representatives.

The lower chamber is often called, as we told you yesterday, Representative David Osborne was re-elected to a historic 4th term as speaker of the House.

All other members of the GOP House leadership or also re elected Representative David Mead will continue as Speaker Pro Tem Representative Stephen Rue de remains House majority floor leader.

The caucus chair will continue to be representative Suzanne Miles.

Representative Jason Davis will serve a second term as majority whip.

It's a much different story for Democrats who will soon be under all new leadership in the House.

That's because 2 of the 3 lawmakers and Democratic leadership are retiring at the end of the year.

And a 3rd representative Cheryl and Stevenson lost her re-election bid in last week's election.

The 2025 General Assembly is now just to 55 days away.

Now switching to national politics, U.S.

Senator John Thune of South Dakota is the next Republican leader of the U.S. Senate Republican senators elected Thune in a closed door meeting.

He beat out Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Rick Scott of Florida.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is stepping down as leader but will remain as a senator from Kentucky.

Boone will become Senate majority leader because Republicans won control of the Senate in last week's election.

Senator McConnell put out a statement about Senator assumes election as Republican leader.

It says in part Jonathan's election is a clear endorsement of a consummate leader.

The confidence our colleagues have placed in John's legislative experience and political skill is well-deserved, unquote.

Senator McConnell spoke on the Senate floor yesterday about the work the Senate still needs to complete during the lame duck session of Congress.

That's now underway.

He said the Senate has work to do on defense policy and storm relief.

>> We also need to work truthfully to deliver urgent supplemental assistance.

The state's in communities hit hard but not for disasters.

The region Bonds Gupta knows the power and pain of severe storms and flooding the sure the communities across the South Seas recovering from major hurricane and flooding left the tension, the pension board and before anyone goes on for the whole of the usual need to send federal government funding.

The drug said before, there's never the political advantage to be gained from allowing core government functions.

The good arm.

>> The new Congress convenes on January 3rd.

♪ ♪ >> I'm Laura Rogers with NPR's Reiland Bargain that we are checking in with your island.

Of course, as we like to do, getting some insight on some big news stories this week.

And one was local Mayor Craig Greenberg being pressed on it.

He would sign a consent decree before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

This is concerning that LMPD investigation that the DOJ has been conducting for several months now.

So we're asking, what do we what is a consent decree and how could the Trump administration effect this DOJ investigation and to Alan P day.

>> consent decree is really it's an action that the DOJ can take against are really the federal government can take against any other entity.

But it's an agreement that the city will complete in this case is that the city will complete certain reforms involving its police department and those reforms would be required by the federal judge for them to for them to complete that they're still in the process of negotiating with the consent decree is.

And that's really the question here is whether or not they will come to a final agreement about what Louisville has to do regarding its police force going forward.

This investigation found that little has a pattern and practice of violating a civilian civil rights.

The report from 2023 said that police probe will use force conducted fog internal investigations, use no-knock raids and have been valid search warrant so that there is a the systemic practice of this unknown PD and that there needs to be fixes going forward.

So a lot of this is interesting right now because of the new Trump administration coming in the Trump administration round one did not approve any consent decrees.

It's and it's not that it shut down.

So feasibly if this were to be put in place ahead of Trump's second inauguration, that could likely stay in place.

But there are some questions as to whether or not it, you know what Trump's Justice Department would look like and whether they would have different priorities going forward.

But the city and the mayor saying that he wasn't committed to signing this at this point is it's troubling.

Some civil rights advocates in Louisville who who really want to get this done before the new administration comes in.

>> Another big news story in our state this week is a woman filing a lawsuit in Jefferson County over the state's abortion ban.

She says she's about 7 weeks pregnant and that she's having trouble getting the health care that she needs to be cause of the laws that are in place now, is this a lawsuit that was filed against the attorney general's office?

>> Yes, Russell Coleman is one of the defendants along with other state leaders.

So this is a lawsuit against Kentucky's near total ban on abortion, which went into effect after the Supreme Court struck down.

Roe v Wade and Kentucky had this trigger law in place which banned abortion in almost every case except for and certain emergency cases, which many doctors and and and women have said it's been confusing and it's been a the they still haven't been able to get care.

But this woman, she's she's 7 weeks pregnant now.

So she wouldn't be eligible for an abortion under Kentucky's law.

And she says that you know, that the laws preventing her it preventing her from seeking.

Yeah, the treatment that she needs and that should have to go through great hurdles to go to other states to get an abortion.

Part of why this particular lawsuit interesting, there have been lawsuits against Kentucky's abortion ban before, but they were filed by the ACLU on behalf of abortion providers in the state in the court ruled that actually those providers didn't have standing to really be suing in this case that there need to be somebody who's actually could be potentially harmed by this law.

So another one later filed a lawsuit against the abortion ban, but then her pregnancy failed.

And so she withdrew her lawsuit.

So here's another attempt by pregnant women, too, sue to strike down the abortion ban.

This is really just an attempt to get at what the court had said was wrong with the previous lawsuits, which that, you know, there wasn't a pregnant woman to get standing in this case.

So we'll see where this goes.

>> And we have seen other women in other states that have these very strict abortion laws.

Also bombing lawsuits as well.

>> That's right.

I mean, they're still attempts to try and sue to block a lot of these abortion bans.

A lot of these attempts just haven't haven't gone anywhere.

The lawsuit haven't really the for abortion rights The best attempts so far have been to.

Organize around ballot initiatives, constitutional amendments in favor of abortion rights, a state like Missouri, just this last election approved an abortion rights amendment, even though their their state legislature overwhelmingly passed abortion ban just shows you how.

You really get a popular vote.

Voters were much more in favor of in training and abortion rights than what the legislature did pass that the you know, through their through their process.

>> It's now been a week since Election Day and we are still seeing a lot of conversation and discussion about amendment to that ballot measure that did fail and every county in Kentucky that would have allowed the state legislature to direct some public tax dollars to private education and this even failed in those very populous counties.

Jeff are saying Canton, where they do have a large number of private schools, which has been a bit of a surprise to a lot of people that parents and those counties lighted saying, hey, I could take advantage of this potentially send my kids to the schools that there was a voucher program, maybe use those vouchers.

So this has been an interesting look at how this and then that even failed in counties like that.

>> Yeah, Kentucky public radio to an analysis of the of the results of that vote and exactly what you just said.

That there were very few precincts in Jefferson County for one that that supported, which at, you know, a large population, largest, most private schools as well, where parents and or private schools good, you know, possibly benefit from that policy.

If you're ever put in place, but then get the Fayette County, none passed it.

The impasse in the precincts didn't do well in northern Kentucky's Malik and 3 population, the largest population centers in the state.

This was an overwhelming defeat.

Know County didn't pass in any county.

This is something has come up over and over again in the state.

There's a lot of influence and money trying to push for these sorts of policies in the state and Kentucky INS on a whole.

>> Are not really voting in favor of it.

Even though say they elect a governor like Matt Bevin was.

>> Pushing for policies like these and also can continue to elect lawmakers who have been passing laws like these.

So it's just you've got to kind of going back to the previous comment about abortion lawsuit.

That's a little out of step out of step.

The Legislature's a little out of step where with where Kentucky INS were on a popular statewide level when they get together and try to make these sorts of decisions.

So we'll see what the Republican leadership and said that they're looking for other options to pass some sort of school choice measure.

But unclear what that is at this point that had a lot of trouble passing this to the courts because there's that line in the Kentucky could constitution that says that public dollars won't go to nonpublic education.

>> All right, Roland, we sure appreciate your insight your time today.

Thank you so much.

We will see you again next week.

>> November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month one Pulaski County firefighter and his family are sharing their story of living with Lewy body dementia.

Gilbert Tiger Robinson spent decades serving Pulaski County when he was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 57.

And he continues to serve with the help of his family and colleagues in the fire department.

>> Tiger has been in the fire service for over 35 years.

He was the fire chief here for a while.

And he was a place King County Public safety director in front for not teen almost 20 years and then he worked for Kctcs Kentucky State Park mission.

He worked there for 6 years prior to the diagnosis that we got.

It's not like Alzheimer's.

You know where they don't really comprehend.

He knows when he's having a good that he knows what he's having a bad day.

So, you know, kind of where we're at right now is the he's just kind of being there's no cure or he just kind of being traded with us medication.

It was actually like a kick in the gut because you just don't.

>> You don't expect out of some.

I like Tiger because.

He's always been there forever thing.

It's kind of like allure us.

And I mean, any time there's ever a need.

Tigers, are we still come out to the fire meetings?

>> You know, I would not come out.

We still go to those if there's a fire, but that he can go to course he doesn't fight the fire anymore.

But, you know, there's things whether it be getting tools for more pull in house or something like that.

You know, just something that he can still stay involved.

They're like, you know, or if there's a fire and the lack of he needs to go all coming getting, you know, if haze, just whatever and every time we're here, do you need anything?

Is there anything we can do?

So, you know, we know we have got that from everyone here.

There's always something it.

>> Everybody can have a job on the fire department.

You don't necessarily have to fight for.

But, you know, at 3 o'clock in the morning.

>> It's a blessing to look at and say some may come with a cooler full of cold drinks on 107 degree that.

>> You're dead tired and you look at ISIS in my bag or parents the new Year bring in Stephen.

There happen.

And it just lifts your spirit.

>> It it makes too.

Thank God for, you know.

Putting a man in your life and somebody like him this ballot and this is able to still do.

What he loved doing.

Years passed.

Tom, as there's breath entire.

He's always still going to want to go to far anytime the pages go off or anything like that.

He's going to be there.

If you need him that he's going to be there.

>> It has been devastating.

For him.

But, you know, it's it's it's good that that he can say.

That people appreciate the sacrifices he has my his whole life.

This testimony, you know, and his testimony he has.

He has touched so many lives.

And he's still touching so many lives.

And, you know, if this helps somebody else, you know.

You know, when.

We're buyer for it.

>> And inspiration indeed.

On November 16th, the father's Tri County Volunteer Fire Department will hold a chili cook off to celebrate Tiger Robinson, Andres funds for the Alzheimer's Association.

♪ ♪ Earlier this month, LAX studios rolled out the red carpet for unique performance funded by a grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky on Mask featured local performers sharing their stories of identity hardship and authenticity.

We take you to hear the stories and this week's Art and culture segment we call Tapestry.

♪ >> The Kentucky Foundation for Women offered a one-time grant last year and that can span one year or 2 and it was called the radical timely urging grant.

So I applied for this grant with the idea to do a show with a slate of storytellers.

We have a variety of performers.

He's talking about living their authentic life.

It's people with a body differences.

>> People with no divergence trans people.

Gay people clear people, people who have.

Procedures like abortions mastectomies, that sort of thing, the kind of stories that.

Aren't often heard.

>> science.

>> And sharing my glitter bomb journey to self-love.

So that's my story.

And living in a body that is not accepted in society as the beauty standard as an overweight person, a fat person and my journey to really embracing and loving myself as I am.

>> Most people >> that's the time I grew up very evangelical Christian Southern Baptists spent 10 years of my life and the wearing a mask.

And so tonight I'm gonna talk about how I was able to take that mask off and find community here in Kentuckyian how Kentucky truly is a very friendly, a very welcoming place, even though some of the voices that are the most hateful are the loudest.

>> My story is about realizing at age 38 that I'm gender forward.

>> A lot of people have difficulty.

I think.

Empathizing with trans people and with the things they start with because they don't think they know any trans people.

>> So for me coming out was saying to the hundreds of people in my life surprise.

Already know and love a trans person.

People don't realize the Kentucky.

>> Is as diverse as it is.

There are many different stories out there and their vibrant and they're entertaining or they're important.

And we got to preserve those and share those stories, too.

Because representation is important.

>> I hope that the people in the audience who walk away from the show had a fun time that their heart has been opened.

Their mind expanded to recognize that some of these diverse stories that are being told are people in your own family, they're your neighbors there.

Your students, teacher there, the person at church or the son of your best friend that you grew up with in high school.

I really hope that someone hears this.

That is maybe a young, young gay growing up.

Here's this and realizes that there is hope.

And there is again community here in Kentucky.

>> Diversity is what makes our country so vibrant, some beautiful.

And without that night for city we lose, we lose ourselves.

We lose the American dream.

The American dream should be accessible to all.

So in my students in the morning or standing to say the pledge and they say with liberty and justice for all, I want them to know that that really does mean for everyone.

>> These stories.

In a way, everyone's stories everyone has at some point felt excluded.

We're left out or ignored only in my opinion.

When we hear someone story from their own mouth in their own words.

It is very, very hard to hate.

It is very, very hard to do.

>> We are all human beings.

We all have our struggles in a world where technology or leadership seems to becoming overbearing.

We're gonna need each other.

And we're stronger together than we are apart.

Kentucky on mask is being made into a documentary as well.

Using a mix of the live taping footage and individual interviews.

>> With the performers, a University of Kentucky Oral Health survey in 2023.

Found high rates of dental decay for Kentucky children 2 to 5 years old.

It's not an insignificant thing.

It could be a very serious problem.

>> More about that important survey tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope will see you again forward 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

>> Subscribe to our Kentucky Edition, e-mail newsletters and watch full episodes and clips at KET Dot Org.

You can also find us on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

And we encourage you to send us a story idea at public affairs at KET Dot Org.

Follow KET on Facebook X, formerly known as Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop on what's happening on Kentucky Edition, our public affairs programming and all of the great programmatic offerings we have here on KET.

Thank you so much for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Hope to see you right back here again tomorrow night.

In the meantime, take really good care so long.

♪ ♪ ♪