>> The level of discourse is really kind of ratchet up.

I guess you could say it's got a little more by Stephen.

>> As the race heats up, Kentucky's biggest city gets ready to elect a new mayor.

Plus the odds of the horse racing world are on Lexington, Kentucky, on day one of the Breeders Cup.

Millions of buying a shot at a 1.6 billion dollar lottery ticket.

And the winner is Kentucky education.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

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

The 4th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting your weekend off with us.

>> More schools continue to close because of flu and other illnesses.

Scott County schools canceled classes today.

Joining other schools that already closed according to the Kentucky School Boards Association, at least 19 of Kentucky's 171 school districts have closed or switch to at-home learning so far in November as a result of students and staff getting sick.

Bourbon County says it will be out until next Wednesday.

Governor Andy Beshear discuss the growing problem yesterday at a press conference.

>> Right now, flu.

Recipe and other illnesses are really hitting our population, especially our children.

The report I got earlier this week is that almost every pediatric bad at our 3 hospitals that have pediatric.

That's nearly all of them.

We're fall and pediatric ICU.

That's we're completely fall.

I hope that's the east in the in the day saw that report.

But I doubt We need to make sure we are watching our kids.

I'm very closely with what's going around right now and getting them the help they need when they are SEC.

Tough news.

The better News COVID continues to be some of the lower levels now that we've seen in the pandemic.

>> So now let's look at the new COVID map out today.

3 counties are back in the high category for COVID levels.

Last week.

There were no red counties at all.

20 other counties in eastern and western Kentucky are in the medium category and the rest are in the low category.

Governor Andy Beshear was in Lexington.

This morning to rally Kentucky hands to vote for Democrats and encourage voters to head to the polls for early voting.

The governor was at pivot brewing in Lexington to share the message and was joined by a number of candidates for the Kentucky General Assembly.

His final message was that no matter who you vote for us, just be sure to vote.

>> Early voting has already I would say we can all laugh a lot up and down about.

♪ Yeah, there are all hurt us >> early voting is available for all voters tomorrow, November 5th, check with your local county clerk's office for locations and polling hours and the final opportunity to vote, of course, is Election Day, which is Tuesday, November, the 8th.

Some of Kentucky's more interesting races this year at the local level.

And one of them is the Louisville mayoral race.

Democratic candidate Craig Greenberg, a national attention earlier in the year after a shooting in his campaign office.

He's looking to replace the current Democratic officeholder.

Greg Fischer and Republican candidate Bill Dieruf is looking to make history.

Republicans haven't held the mayor's office in Louisville since before the metro government was formed in 2003.

Our Casey Parker Bell speaks to W Fp l's Roberto Roldan about the race to run the Derby city.

>> Louisville will be electing a new face to the mayor's office for the first time since 2010, the Republican candidates as Bill Dieruf.

He's currently the mayor of Jefferson tent, a community of about 30,000 located in Metro Louisville and the Democrat is Craig Greenberg.

He's an attorney that's known as the former CEO of 21 see hotels.

Robert, you're old and has been covering the race for W FPL in Louisville.

He says public safety.

He's been the number one issue in the race.

>> After Dieruff, especially he's kind of tap into this E got the nomination of the actual peace President's council, which represents all of the police as well as the union representing corrections officers at the county jail.

And during his speech, he talked a lot about.

How would you know there were folks in the community who are free to even go grocery shopping or a free to to even, you know, go out to their car because of the increase in gun violence and the increasing carjackings.

you know, I think during his really leaned into this, but at the same time, so as Greenberg, a big part of his plan has been, you know, fully funding police officers.

Greenberg has also promised to disable confiscated firearms before turning them over to state Police.

>> Louisville has had 2 straight years of record-breaking gun violence in 2020 in 2021.

But like many races throughout the country, national issues have trickled down to the local level, an abortion has become a key issue.

>> You've seen the rough on the one hand he's running as a Republican kind of downplay that issue on.

And I think that has a lot to do with really what the voter bases in the metro area like will.

But he's kind of downplayed the importance.

Whereas Greenberg has really latched on to this issue as kind of a way to differentiate himself.

Greenberg and Dieruff have participated in numerous debates.

>> I believe in fewer guns on our street, not more.

Anybody here understands or that is watching understands we all want illegal guns off mostly widely.

But Robert Holden says the tone has changed as Election Day has grown closer.

>> It's got a little more feisty.

Greenberg has released some some television essentially saying that that Dieruff is an extremist or he takes money from abortion extremists.

You're about to choose between 2 very different candidates for Mayor.

>> Bill Dieruf once more guns on our streets.

He's backed by anti-abortion extremists.

On the other hand, you're if he's he's really attempted to tie Greenberg, too.

>> Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and his outgoing administration and potentially what he sees as some of his failures.

I opponent it's only represented the elite.

>> He wants to play gracious art and his hotel for over a year.

>> There is no available.

Public polling for the Louisville mayor's race.

The Democrat Craig Greenberg is winning the fundraising battle.

He's outraised dieruff by more than 2 to one Brate and according to rolled in, there are other obstacles for dieruff to be Greenberg.

>> And Jefferson County you know, it's not 2 to one, but it is certainly closer to 2 to for registered Democrats and Republicans.

And it is closer to even so there are significant numbers, essentially that Europe has to overcome.

>> A Republican hasn't held the mayor's office in Louisville since Kenneth Smythe in 1969. for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> As Casey just told us, crime has been a major issue in the Louisville mayor's race.

Even though the numbers show homicides are actually down in Kentucky's largest city this year.

According to Louisville Metro Police, Louisville had 150 homicides at this point in 2021. so far this year, it's 130.

That's a 13% drop.

Non-fatal shootings have dropped from 543 to 366.

That's a 33% drop.

It's not just Louisville.

Lexington is also picking a mayor on November 8 as Mayor Linda Gorton, the incumbent faces council member David Kloiber.

Casey previews that race Monday night on Kentucky Edition.

A Kentucky state representative has drafted 2 bills targeting transgender students.

According to the Courier Journal, one bill from state Representative Bill Ravenna would ban transgender students from using a school bathroom tied to their gender identity.

The other bill would prohibit medical professionals from using terms other than male and female on birth certificates.

Wesley, as a Republican, he is opposed for re-election by Democrat Martina Jackson, other bathroom ban bills as they've been called, have failed in the Kentucky General Assembly.

Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign says the bathroom ban would violate title 9 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Time now for some end of week analysis of some things.

Political heir in Kentucky.

You know, we've got a big election coming up on November.

The 8th and we have with us the dynamic duo with McCarthy, Strategic Solutions on the left to Sherman Brown, a Democratic strategist and on the right is a new Wickliffe, a Republican strategist.

We appreciate you both for being here.

Let's talk about some competitive state House races.

First, Amy, the 33rd House district Jason name is the Republican incumbent from Louisville.

He's got a challenge on his hands with Democrat KET Turner.

Tell us about it.

>> He does.

You know, Jason Bemis, there was a very well-known and well-liked candidate incumbent in House district.

33 and he's talking about the issues that those voters in that particular district are concerned with.

And that is inflation rising prices, gas prices in crime on the other UK turns tragic turn this race into a one issue.

Rice and and and that is on the topic of abortion.

I really just don't think that is going to end up resonating with the voters in House district.

33 and I feel confident that J J something this will be back in the House after Election Day.

Sherman Brown, what's your take on this race?

>> Turner is a newcomer.

She's been running is a he said she has made this kind of a referendum and using a constitutional limit to which we which will talk about kind of throughout this probably which is the constitutional amendment on abortion.

She has been talking about that his votes on abortion.

That's where she's kind of focus.

He's obviously a formidable candidate.

He's a case.

He's the incumbent.

He's also been challenged several times before.

Democrats right now feel good about this race with that say they feel stronger, very confident or guaranteeing a win by any means, but very confident that it is a close race.

And I think all indications look like both candidates working extremely are now doing the door to door everything, anything and everything you can think of.

>> In that area, House district, 67, the Democrat incumbent, this time, I'll start with you.

Charmayne Brown, the Democrat incumbent Rachel Roberts has a challenge by Jerry gearing.

So tell us about this race.

>> Robert also a fairly new to the She's got.

And this is up in Campbell County, Northern Kentucky area.

And this is a this has gotten really nasty of a race of going back and forth with earrings past.

He's got at allegations that I want to know that he's always been convicted of.

There's actually a Web site now than the others, but up about him about his past it's gotten really bad you know, just a dusting use, all kinds of different things going on up there she is running a again.

Just getting her message out.

Talk about what she's done being communicators in the minority.

She's a Democrat and Kentucky but she is, you know, just passed a couple and for folks to say that, you know, sometimes they say Democrats can't get anything done.

You got to get everybody in there.

She's actually working across the aisle and make your voice a built in brake.

>> I mean, out to we should make note because she has Rachel Roberts is a domestic violence survivor herself.

And so the her challenger has abuse allegations that may or may not have been substantiated against him.

>> That's right.

I think it's very clear that the Republican has a very troubling past that might not have place in the General Assembly.

Rachel Roberts even has her previous Republican opponent in an who are Rachel Roberts from for this cycle noting that the stakes are simply too high.

So I think at the end of the voters will return Rachel Roberts to the House for that seat.

And it's also to be noted that the Republican Party House caucus has not provided any support for the Republican candidate So I think that says a lot.

>> A representative Sheryl and Stevenson, who was a Democratic incumbent, Jim Coleman, who was a rising star, perhaps Amy Wickliffe a Republican.

So I want to start with you on this race.

>> Jen called it is a relatively newcomer to the political saying that my goodness, he's probably the hardest worker.

He not.

He's been knocking on door since January of this year.

As soon as he filed to run in the new district, the 88th district and the Cheryl.

And he's been in that seat for the past couple years.

But I think we've seen that that especially with a little bit of redistricting that also Jenna Coleman really, again talking about issues that voters and House district 88 care about.

And it's it doesn't compass.

Lexington, of course, it's no secret that Lexington is seen a spike in crime.

And that is what we're in voters that voters care about.

And that's what we're hearing.

Jim Coleman talk a lot about to try to make some changes and in to address those issues going forward.

But Sherman Brown, we do hear the representative Stevenson.

She has been working at and wearing out the shoe leather and often many people in your party will say that no one can.

>> Out campaign.

Her is at the case.

>> And that fact no one.

Is that how it works?

Now the question here is, is it's a new district or so she's got to this is this is now a lot of Scott County.

>> Looking at that, not not just a a which is which is new.

So she said to get out of work, that word that area.

And so it's almost like having open seat though.

She is the incumbent and that the number other her and Mister Coleman are kind of talking to voters that not voting for either of them have that opportunity before.

Yeah, I would definitely say that no one's going out workers out The shoe leather, like you said, just just pounding the pavement.

And again, I think this is this may be one of those a special moment.

Effects that in a way that, you know, we're not going to know until Tuesday night.

>> Yeah, the 2 big factors here in these races, redistricting and that that Constitution amendment number 2 on abortion.

Last line about 45 seconds.

House district 94, which has a House Democratic leader and at Sherman Brown, Angie Hatton up against Jacob Justice.

So is she possibly facing some unseating here?

>> But I think this is a this is a district where you've first of all, you've got a lot folks that are not because of the flooding.

Think about what your county was, an area that was hit just ridiculous and hard through the flooding.

So you've got some folks who are who are transient or not, even in their homes, maybe don't even have a home right now.

And we're talking about try to reach out and talk to them about voting and she has been on the ground working with our Republican County judge election.

But your county working with other folks all throughout party aside, just doing the work and and part of this, I think is just a just a, you know, the eastern trending a little bit more of a bug in lately.

Over the over the years.

And, you know, I think that that the issue there.

There was a close right now.

>> So I want to ask you, I mean, with all filings, this one a seat that the Republicans say they can pick up.

>> Absolutely taken just as well being a political newcomer.

Has Apple actually jumped right in and ran a really great in tough race.

This is probably the toughest race that I think Representative Hatton has ever happened.

Now, I don't count her out, but I do think that with redistricting and also with the message that I'm sure are, Jacob is sharing with members of that district that they might be better served to someone who's serving in the super majority instead of the super minority.

So we'll see on election night how that race turns out.

>> Well, thank you.

I mean Wickliffe and Sherman Brown for breaking it down for us on this Friday.

We appreciate you have a great weekend.

>> Some AG News now app harvests just opened a 30 acre indoor farm in Somerset.

It will grow strawberries and cucumbers.

The company says it will grow almost a million strawberry plants at a time 8 months of the year App Harvest plans to open indoor farms in Berea to grow lettuce and in Richmond where it will grow tomatoes, the company says between its Richmond Farm and a farm.

It already has.

And Morehead.

It will be able to grow a million and a half tomatoes at a time.

Drivers, you'll be getting safer.

Railroad crossings and 11 Kentucky counties.

You can see the counties listed here.

The state is giving these 11 counties a total of 2.2 million dollars in grants to upgrade crossing signals and lights, crossings altogether and put in new pavement at approaches.

There are 17 projects total railroad companies will pay 20% of the cost of these upgrades.

The Powerball jackpot is now 1.6 billion with a B dollars.

The largest lottery jackpot of any kind and world history.

Now the odds of winning are about one in 221 Million.

That didn't stop people or one Lexington convenience store from trying to look on the bright side.

>> You never know.

You know, you might get a winner that day.

So it's just I like the you know, I guess the chance of the, you know, the the real, you know, the might win some, you know.

Well, you just might.

Kentucky winds even if the eventual winner isn't from the state.

Kentucky gets a share of the money.

And part of that goes to education.

The Kentucky lottery says 69% of Kentucky lottery proceeds go to the winners.

5 1% goes to the stores, selling tickets.

5% goes to administrative costs.

The remaining 21% goes to grab them scholarships for Kentucky students, the Kentucky Educational Exorcist, Excellence Scholarship Program or better known as Keys gets all of its money from lottery proceeds the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority gets a 98% of its funding from the lottery.

♪ A new documentary you'll see right here on KET has its big screen debut tomorrow night in Bowling Green Legends of the Sky.

The Liberty plane tells the story of how the United States rose to the challenge of creating the nation's first warplane during World War.

One.

>> The amazing thing about aviation is that in the history of the course of the world's history and our country's history.

It's still so new.

We didn't develop control manned flight until the early part of the last century.

And look how it has changed the face of this world.

>> My dad was a B, 17 pilot, World War 2.

And to be able to look at the very beginnings of aviation and military aviation in our country was an amazing journey.

>> As the son of a veteran, my father was 30 years of military and in the course of his time in the military, he served in World War, One and Korea and the beginning of Vietnam.

The idea of doing a film about America's first warplane, the Liberty plane.

Was very appealing.

>> The United States had an incredible challenge to try and create a warplane in a very short period of time.

where they could do it is by coming together.

>> This story is about that amazing ingenuity.

The amazing commitment to a cause.

An amazing group of people, men and women that answered the call to make this happened.

We're excited to be able to tell some of the stories of people who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Kentuckyian >> who was the first person to test fly the DH for in France.

We have 2 particular.

>> The harrowing missions in the story.

We went to some leading animators and we were able to CG these actual battle.

So as we have experts take you through it.

You're in the cockpit or in the sky as these airplanes are maneuvering in flight.

>> Really excited about a process that we use for archival film footage to be able to instead of a jittery black and white image, we've been able to smooth the motion out a little bit and 2 slightly color eyes it.

So we think that that brings to life those 100 year old films.

Doing a film about.

These young people that answer.

Their call to service.

Supports the notion of lest we forget the country called.

So they left their lives.

They left their safety.

And they went and served.

The call of the country.

Their stories are too valuable to forget.

>> Indeed they are.

Dorian Walker is also a veteran.

He served in Vietnam in the U.S. Army.

See legends of the sky.

The Liberty Pleine Monday night at 9, 8 central right here on KET.

There is a free screening tomorrow afternoon at 2 local time at the Capitol Arts Center in Bowling Green.

♪ One of horse racing's biggest events.

The Breeders Cup classic kicked off today and Kalen the event attracts competitors from all around the world and draws 10's of thousands of horse racing fans to get the chance to see a few big name competitors and some up and comers.

>> There's just something about being at a live event.

You like being at the World Series or being at the Super Bowl.

Basic thing about the Breeders Cup.

It's the Olympics for horse racing except every 4 years it's held every year.

We we like in our sport.

The breeders in our sport to almost like an Olympic field and trial of that right?

>> There's races for every age, sex, distance and surface.

You know, so there you don't have to try to fit your horse into one race.

You know, it's not going to a mile and a quarter, you know.

And and the first Saturday in May, there's going to be opportunity.

This run your 2 year-old on the turf and on the dirt.

They're going to be opportunities to run them short or long.

So it really those readers a chance to show for their forces can compete.

It gives so many owners a chance to compete on the racing's biggest stage for those will have about 170 center.

And 72 runners compete over the 2 days just in championship races.

>> And between the owners, trainers and all their gas.

It's about 3,000 people that are you know, enjoying the absolute pinnacle of their big Racine at the greatest.

We try to really put on a good show.

The Breeders Cup is a non invitational of them.

So every owner, you know, needs to qualify to be here.

And it is quite expensive to travel, especially from international locations.

So we really want to make sure that they're treated to a first class experience.

It's a huge opportunity to showcase Lexington to the world.

>> You like horse racing or you're just curious something to say.

>> It is certainly something to see.

So you can enjoy some food, some theater and some post Halloween thrills and chills this weekend.

So begins takes a look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> The 13th annual all wrapped up gift and craft show and the 8th annual Deer window retreat or both it Rough River Dam State Resort Park this weekend.

Enjoy art from local vendors.

Musical entertainment, delicious meals and more.

All to show that the park is more than just a summer getaway.

The spotlight acting school and Maria will be putting on villain school both this weekend.

And next watch the cast of Monsters which is convicts and this fits as their world is turned upside down by Frankenstein and his curb in love for Heidi Jekyll.

What will win the forces of evil or true?

Love.

Join the reef.

Enter this Saturday for the first ever Reef Christmas.

Learn about therapy horses as you enjoy the vendors.

A silent auction rider demonstrations and an appearance from Santa and his reindeer.

Speaking of horses, the Breeders Cup is already underway at Keeneland in Lexington.

Join spectators from around the world for this two-day event.

As you care for the 14 different races and what some call the Super Bowl of horse racing.

After a two-year hiatus Burn Hines annual Fall Festival.

Color Fest is back.

It happens this weekend that the burn Heim Arboretum and Research Forest in Claremont.

This fun family event includes Compton, Rolling Nature games, giant slides and more all while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the forest.

Wrap up the spooky season with the final weekend of the USS Nightmare this Friday and Saturday work your way through 2 decks, a par and their captain's extreme tour that may leave you wanting to jump ship.

Discover your inner pioneer the Pioneer Arts and crafts festival in Clay City.

This Saturday, learn what skills and trades were needed back in the 17.

100's while enjoying bluegrass music, food and craft vendors.

Multiple demonstrators and a special book signing with author Alan Arnette.

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

I'm Kobe.

Get yours.

>> Thank you.

Toby is a great weekend.

We hope you'll make it a good one and we hope that we'll see you Monday night.

Right back here at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire tune in tonight at 8 o'clock for Bill Bryant and the crew for comment on Kentucky.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you Monday night.

♪