>> As the campaigns and the counting begins.

See the candidates on the last day of election 2023.

If students haven't lived in rural communities, sometimes there are misperceptions about it.

Sometimes there's fear.

Some parts of Kentucky made more doctors at Kentucky College wants to send them there.

I think it makes people happy and I just like to see people happy.

And for middle schoolers are spreading kindness and uplifting their classmates.

>> 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 on this Election Day is Tuesday, November, the 7th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending a little time with us tonight and hopefully more later on.

It is, of course, Election Day.

It's like Christmas for a lot of us as Kentucky Alexa, governor and other statewide constitutional officers.

The polls have closed in the eastern time zone.

They close in the central time zone about half an hour along with the governor.

Kentuckians will be electing a Lieutenant Governor on the same ticket.

Kentucky is also electing an attorney general, secretary of state auditor, treasurer and commissioner of Agriculture.

There is also a special election and state House district 93 to fill a seat left vacant after the death of state representative la means wine.

So stay with us right after Kentucky Edition because Katie's election coverage begins and Ernest at 70 Stern 6 Central, we will start bringing you election results and we'll have reports from Democratic and Republican campaign headquarters.

In addition to that, we have a team of the best veteran political observers around here in our K E 2 C studios to analyze the results and will be with you throughout the evening.

So join us for that.

Starting at the top of the hour.

Governor Andy Beshear wrapped up his bus tour yesterday with stops in eastern Kentucky, Lexington and Louisville.

We joined him at his Lexington stop where supporters packed him to hear the governor speech this year was joined by the rest of the Democratic ticket.

His father, Governor Steve Beshear and Hadley, Deval young woman who appeared and this year's TV ad centered on abortion this year is well known for his messages of unity.

But that did not stop him from engaging in some Election Eve rivalry.

>> Folks in 2019, we came together.

We shocked the world and we beat Matt Bevin.

And tomorrow we're going to be Daniel Cameron, too.

I am grateful.

Grateful on Election Eve to be in the town.

I was born in the town.

I went to school in a Fayette County Public School graduate.

I'm grateful that you see the potential in front of us as a state.

You see the opportunity that's right in front of us and you are willing to work to make sure we create that better future for the next generation.

>> As expected this year also touted his economic accomplishments and his support for teacher raises and Universal Pre K now the Republican candidate for governor Attorney General Daniel Cameron voted today in Louisville.

We were there as he cast his ballot.

>> Reporters asked him how he felt as he voted.

>> I feel very good.

You know, I was reading this morning about the emotional and they had sent me a text this morning about being in the sun.

So we're at peace and we feel very good about Levy.

An old field having run are racing again.

Just grateful for this opportunity.

We ran a fantastic campaign and I think and judging by the fact.

>> So tight right now.

So we feel very good about the campaign we've We've got a strong ticket, a grateful that my wife by my side and he adores well course.

You all know we're expecting to another one and May of next year, another boy, another boy right?

>> Well, congratulations to them.

Reporters asked Cameron if you would respect the outcome of the election if he lost and he said he would.

For political consultants gave us their takes on the governor's race when they joined us last night on Kentucky tonight, I began by asking Tre Watson, founder of Capitol reins PR about how Daniel Cameron was failing going into today.

>> I think he's coming on strong You know, we just had the Emerson poll come out and show the race pretty much and I think he's really is really coming in the last couple of weeks as messages.

He's a he's been It's a lot more focus to his family kind of crowd, not some of the outside groups that are controlling the messaging.

It's more his message now.

And I think that's why you're seeing this this boost that he's having here towards the end is his match is really taking hold and that I think he's he's poised for forget election night.

>> Will Carly, if you're Andy Beshear, how do you feel tonight?

I feel like you feel pretty good.

The governor's a strong campaign.

He's done some incredible things economically for the commonwealth.

He's been a leader for for folks throughout the especially creating a scenario where there's vision versus division you know, Republicans are closing ranks but think the governor's got a great track record.

He's going to come people.

>> Know who the governor is as a person and they may say or maybe don't agree with him on every issue, but they trusted that whenever he showing up to work that he showing up for them, he had to stand in front of them every day for like 2 years.

And so they know that even if he's had to make some hard choices or or do things that he's got their best interest at heart.

He has been, you know, running for something throughout this entire election and instead of against someone and I think that has really resonated with voters.

>> Republican Rebecca Hart Babij co-founder said Cameron did well in the 5 face-to-face encounters between the 2 candidates and she thinks Cameron was coming on strong in the final week.

>> I think General Cameron's performances towards the end there, he definitely came on strong U.S..

Most people felt that his last couple to pay performances were the best.

And so at connecting with voters and making the case, especially I think.

Republicans are feeling like having even sort of the election being November 7th rather than November.

Second is really they're feeling like they're getting stronger and stronger towards that end of October.

And having just even another 5 days really are another week to come in and close the case that they're they're gains here.

>> You can see the entirety of last night's program online on-demand at KET Dot Org Slash K why tonight now there are 14 people running for statewide office today.

14 people of different backgrounds and different experiences.

And you're about to hear from all 14 of them right now.

>> And the most beautiful state in the country were meeting Kentuckyian swear they are.

You've got to go all all corners of the commonwealth of Kentucky.

I'm getting out across the state this race in running has national significance.

You can't be team rather team blue.

You have to be team Kentucky.

Whenever a look at the circumstances that we have in the state of Kentucky, I see nothing but opportunity by the grace of God.

>> This will be a street.

We're here to make real business decisions to help real Kentuckyian Kentucky.

I mean, this is >> the biggest governor's race in the country this year.

♪ >> Historic winning streak.

>> Going from attorney general to the governor is really going from defense to offense Iran towards problems and not away from them.

I'm willing to do whatever is necessary for the people here of the Commonwealth.

This and you've got to be able to govern for every family and take that partisan hat off the moment you're elected and do your best for everyone.

We want to make sure that this commonwealth is a shining city on a hill.

A model, an example for the rest of the nation to follow it.

>> I quite that legislative experience and local government experience.

>> Try to be the next right thing and and see what comes getting things done for Kentucky involves relationships.

>> Involves knowing people and I believe we've got those established and we will establish them even more as we work.

And so every challenge we face our look at it through the lens of the kids in my classroom and their families and also know that the future of Kentucky's economy is in our classrooms today.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Wyman in the Constitution.

Ashley, to join me.

Making Kentucky great.

>> Many ways that we can be moving the state forward.

And that's really what I hope to do is secretary of state.

I want to protect our games, protect all we've done to expand access for people and also protect all we've done to improve security as well.

Our work across the aisle and with governor this year to get things done as secretary of state, you have to work with both sides have to be respectful in this business.

I'm doing that every day.

I'll be a secretary of state for all Kentuckians.

I'd say it's in everyone's interests are also part of that.

I see in this job.

I would be the first treasure in nearly 40 years elected that has any type of professional training or formal education and finance.

I'm the only candidate.

>> On either side that is serving county office and the only President county officer running for state office.

And that's what's in the back of my mind is where we moving as a commonwealth.

What do we need for the moment?

And can I can I do anything to help in that?

Kentucky spends too much taxes too much and borrows too much and it saves too little.

So I know what it will be like as auditor.

Just look at what I've been like as treasure.

I'm just the most qualified person for the job.

>> I've got a background that has me ready to go to start U.S. auditor.

I have.

Really valuable skills in the marketplace that can be used for this job.

I really believe in fiscal responsibility.

You know, I'm someone who believes the financial literacy being good with money.

So it's the kind of job that I really do enjoy.

So it's a natural fit.

I cared deeply about Kentucky and all Kentucky INS.

Every Kentucky in votes for the commissioner of agriculture because it really impacts every Kentucky ends live.

When I look at our culture and the reason that I'm running for this position is I see so much opportunity in the future.

>> Of what we can grab.

I would say that I've spent my entire life preparing for this.

Has this position in this courier.

>> You know, I'm pretty authentic person.

I think there's not much put on to me and that's the way I'm going to govern will never get in there.

>> The difference between vision and a vision.

This is a race about crazy versus normal.

Kentucky is where woke goes broke.

Kentucky's dot.

>> I still contend today that I am the most qualified person was are low here.

>> Iran towards problems and not away from the unite in the nation are going to be in the Commonwealth.

♪ ♪ >> Now turning to other news, fire crews and southeastern Kentucky are trying to contain several wildfires burning in the area.

The Kentucky Division of Forestry reports there are more than 50 wildfires over the weekend.

Officials in Harlan County have declared a state of emergency with at least 6 wildfires burning close to homes and electric substation.

2 firefighters have been injured battling fires with dry conditions and rain not expected until later this week.

Forestry officials said putting out the fires will be difficult.

153 homes are now complete or under construction with money from the team.

Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund.

This means the state has passed the halfway point in its goal to build or repair 300 homes after the 2021 tornadoes hit western Kentucky so far about 11 million dollars have been spent.

More than 20 million has been committed to the project with construction underway in 9 western Kentucky counties.

More than 150,000 people donated more than 52 million dollars to the fund.

Kentucky is about to retire too cold generation units.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission will at Louisville, Gas and Electric and Kentucky utilities retire the units at their plant and southwestern Louisville.

The units were made in the 1970's and the company say they've outlived their useful life LG and E and KU will build a natural gas unit.

John Crockett, president of both companies said, quote, We put forth the least cost plan to continue serving our customers in a safe and reliable manner.

End quote, the companies had to prove to the commission that customers won't be charged more or go without reliable energy.

Kentucky lawmakers led by state senator and Lieutenant Governor candidate Robby Mills passed a law this year that requires utilities to get state approval to retire coal units.

Mills testified against the utilities and September.

His running mate, Republican gubernatorial candidate Daniel Cameron issued a statement saying, quote, The fight to protect Kentucky coal continues to those who have been victimized by the anti coal agenda.

I am more determined than ever to fight for you and quote, the utilities hope to retire more coal units in Trumbull and Mercer County.

The commission declined those requests.

There's a new push to make Kentucky's road safer for stranded drivers.

And Richmond pays tribute to an officer killed in the line of duty 8 years ago.

Our Toby Gibbs tells us more and this look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ ♪ >> About 8 years after an officer with the Richmond Police Department died.

Officers gathered last week to remember him.

The Richmond Register reports that Officer Daniel Ellis was shot while looking for a suspect in an armed robbery.

The wreath laying ceremony was held around.

Ellis says crews are outside of the department.

Ellis were shot in the head and died 2 days later.

He was 33.

Officials with triple a bluegrass state legislators to change Kentucky's slow down, move over law to include drivers stranded on the side of the highway.

WLKY reports that a spokesperson said it's important to slow down when passing a vehicle on the side of the road and move over when possible.

The officials said between 2017 2021, 30 stranded drivers were killed by passing cars.

As of now, Kentucky's law only covers first responders, construction workers and their vehicles.

Eastern Kentucky University and its office of Military and Veterans Affairs held a ribbon cutting for a new veterans Memorial site on campus.

The Richmond Register reports the site features the fallen soldier statue and granite benches with names of service members.

The memorial is at the car lot just garden on Lancaster Avenue.

The hope is visitors, wind dog tags on the statue stainless steel frame to create the effect of wind chimes.

A nonprofit focused on food access is partnered with Allen County schools to open a free food pantry for families.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports that the Feeding America, Kentucky heartland Pantry.

We'll be at the Patriot Academy about 700 children in Allen County struggle with having access to healthy food.

The pantry will be available to families throughout the week.

I'm Joe Gibbs with headlines around Kentucky.

♪ ♪ >> The University of Louisville is working to address the doctor shortage in Kentucky.

The School of Medicine has received a 16 million dollar federal grant to attract train and financially support medical students who they hope will eventually practice in underserved communities more.

And tonight, a look at medical >> The purpose of this grant was to ultimately to increase the number of primary care physicians in Kentucky but to do that, you have to train people to be partner care physicians.

So fortunately here at the school of Medicine, we have a lot of programs already in place that focus on training our medical students are pretty medical students to go into primary care fields.

So, you know, there is absolutely a lack of people and voices and and all of that throughout Madison throughout the country and Kentucky is no different than that.

We know that.

Well, first of all, underrepresented in medicine.

Students make great doctors.

That's the bottom line.

Second patients often like it when they have a doctor that looks like them or that comes from a background similar or grew up in a similar kind of environment.

It makes the relationship and more meaningful.

So the more we can have a diversity in our physicians, the better care are divers, patient population will guest another exciting part of this what we're going to be focusing on in West Louisville.

If this is our community, this is where we are.

We want our students to have the opportunity to be a part of the growth in West Louisville.

Be a part of that growth and their medical system in West Louisville because it's it's there and just waiting for us.

>> 2.

Be a part of them.

The partner is a true partner to make a difference and help disparities.

>> You know, a lot of the health needs and the needs for physicians are similar in those locations.

Some of them are different, but some over similar.

So we thought maybe we can take some of what we know.

We do well, for example, at Rover and now do it in West Louisville.

Part of it is that we don't have training programs that send students out there.

You know, so students don't know what to expect and if students haven't lived in a rural community, sometimes there are misperceptions about it.

Sometimes there's fear what I would like for this grant to do is increase their diversity in their workforce.

That is one of the things I really would like to see.

But I also want to see >> that we're having our students are eventual positions going into areas of like what I grew up in and for the students that may be coming up behind them, the sea.

That's possible.

But this is what I want to be because they have the experience.

They are able to see someone.

In those spaces that they may not even the vision people.

>> The school of Medicine's existing programs including The Post Baccalaureate P pre-med program and that rover rule track will be expended with the new funding.

In addition to scholarships, the students will receive academic coaching to ensure they graduate.

♪ ♪ >> With a simple phone call for Franklin County.

Students are making lives brighter.

The middle schoolers created the kind line where people can call in and hear a positive message and maybe a joke.

What started off as a way to cheer up their classmates after the pandemic has now spread beyond their school.

>> like the COVID thing happen.

People were kind of like not can make student everything because everybody was at home feel like he and I guess we just so that we needed to include everybody.

And we just people just needed a little pick me up.

>> I was just going through pictures.

>> I'm on my iPad Nano.

>> So like a picture about like.

Something is about this phone number like the bill to call and it would like have like some information.

And I was like, well, if we did this for cans, I mean, I like a positive to take a pause in messaging like early from Egypt towards the end of the school year >> we all I I sent out a text message the state and it was basically about like I know a lot cheaper, but I wanted to start.

And then they have like a bunch of fantastic ideas and the sort of mold it all together.

They have reached out and this.

So we want to talk to you.

We've got an idea we want to we want to share with innocent, OK?

>> So at the end of the year they came and they share this And I was like, oh, my gosh, I love this idea.

And they were like, we just don't know how to get started over the Our tax department called.

They're like we've got great news.

We found an extra line.

>> At your school this school year, we got our Sha.

We needed a fresh call and we just sort of built from the >> It means a lot more like when kids say it other than adults because like the kids.

>> They feel like if I do say yes to listen, but they need it like from somebody at the they're a chair.

They know like, hey, I'm going to end this.

Maybe this other kid, my age is going to 10.

>> Middle school for even us as adults.

Sometimes middle school is the time in our life when we think was maybe the most unkind to us.

And so I think one really amazing thing is that and one of the most unkind times of your life, whether that's being unkind to yourself because you're going and changing so fast or trying to figure out who you are and maybe that comes along with being unkind.

Others that their idea is to do the opposite of that and to try to spread kindness.

>> And when you're feeling down there, when you think positive make me laugh.

And there they make her laugh.

And so.

Michael say, make us laugh.

Dan, they'll probably make other people laugh and just wait and see people like calling having a good time.

Let's get to the joke.

>> Why did the jacket lantern not cross the road?

I don't >> He didn't have the guts to.

You know, first kids were stopping on the highway saying.

>> How can how can we be a part of the common?

So that's when they got the idea to do the form because kids wanted to be a part of what they were saying, which is the idea of being kind.

>> We've had 14 people fill out the form.

And I think we've had 5 or 6 come up and do a message peer to peer attention and middle school is everything at this age.

And so knowing that they can call and hear up here say something positive to them and give a pick Adults have said, you know, my child calls it every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

And sometimes it's kids that.

You would not expect that would be the call and can learn.

And so I just I think it's a wonderful resource.

And and kids are using it.

>> Have a great day.

Ty.

>> What a great idea.

The 7th graders are getting national attention for the kind line.

>> They recently did an interview with People magazine here they are holding up the issue.

>> The issue is out on newsstands now.

Congrats to them tomorrow.

We'll recap today's election results.

Will it be 4 more years of Andy Beshear or a new governor?

Daniel Cameron?

We'll talk about it all with Rylan Barton of Kentucky, Public Radio.

And we'll take a look at the largely unknown African-Americans who pioneered the horse racing industry.

That's tomorrow's tapestry segment on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope you'll join us for.

We're just now a few minutes away from Katie's election coverage and will have election results wall to wall and reports from Democratic and Republican candidate headquarters.

Plus, our team of veteran political observers are going to be here in our studios to analyze the results and we'll be here with you throughout the evening.

That's coming up.

Right.

And just a few minutes, we'll make off the air for Kentucky addiction, Kentucky election coverage.

Katie's election coverage begins and just a bit, we hope you'll join us tomorrow night.

We wrap it all up.

Put a big bow on it on Kentucky edition at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, Central connect with us.

All the ways you see on your screen and send us an e-mail for story ID and public affairs at KET DOT or you can download our programs by using the PBS video app on your smart device or your tablet.

>> And connect with us on Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thank you so much for watching.

Hang with us.

A lot more to come tonight on KET best election coverage around.

See just a bit.

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