♪ >> Having a child coming for me, I tried to assure them that they are not in trouble per se.

>> What a family court judge, thanks of Kentucky's new truancy law.

We ask our kids.

Senior Casas every year and gear up.

What is the biggest factor in deciding which college to go to and they always say cost.

So it is a huge piece of the puzzle and piece of the decision-making process.

So you want to go to college, but how are you going to pay for it?

The exhibit is designed for people to.

Find an object of interest no matter whether they're interested in the art or not.

>> And Maria has a very special exhibit opening next weekend.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Thursday, October, the 10th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Thursday night with us.

Kentucky's attorney general has taken an unprecedented step to tackle violent crime in the state's largest city.

>> Today he announced there will be a new AGS office in Louisville.

>> Historically.

The office of the Kentucky attorney general has not had an active role in law enforcement here in Jefferson County.

>> That ends now.

>> We know that violence happening here in Louisville has rippling effects across our commonwealth.

When you talk to leaders from the purchase to the mountains, sheriffs judges, police chief of detectives, unfortunately so much of the crime they see across our Commonwealth has a nexus.

Here in Jefferson County.

So we have to tackle it here.

>> But to the people who make the choice to commit violent crimes.

We have one message.

One message that we're reiterating today.

If you pull that trigger.

We will pull you off the streets and put you away for as long as we possibly can so that you do not destroy other people's lives.

>> The new office will initially be staffed by 2 prosecutors and a detective.

They'll work in collaboration with Jefferson County, Commonwealth's Attorney to prosecute cases, according to the agreement, the new office will focus on select cases involving non-fatal shootings, felons in possession of a gun and Louisville's group Violence Intervention Program last year.

There were more than 400 nonlethal shootings and the Derby city.

A new state truancy law is in effect this school year.

It works off the assumption that the quote Rowe, the fact that is standing before a judge can get a student back on the right track.

Our June Leoffler spoke with the Jefferson County Family Court judge to get his take on the new law.

>> And these family court chambers kids can hold on to a stuffed animal for some support.

I don't know anyone that wants to be in front of a judge students that have missed too many days of school can end up in Judge Derwin Webb's courtroom.

>> Having a child come in front of me, I tried to assure them that they are not in trouble per se, but I want to ensure them that the issue why we're here is extremely important.

>> A new state law hopes to curb student absenteeism by getting more kids in front of judges like Web.

>> Paul, the effort applaud the the reason why they're doing it.

But I know in practice it's going to create a strain for U.S.. >> House Bill 611 says school districts must refer students to the local court system once they miss 15 days of school.

Jefferson County Public Schools says last year one in 4 students fit that Bill.

>> Jefferson County had close to 23,000 students last year.

That would fit this role if all those cases war divided amongst 10 family court judges, I'm not quite sure what I would have a chance to listen to all those cases.

>> Divorce custody, abuse and other family matters.

KET Web busy.

Now he's seen an uptick and truancy or status cases on his docket.

>> Last year I would hear maybe 2 or 3 a month stress couple days ago.

Obviously numbers from our liaison with JCPS letting us know that.

Like, for example, one division is going to receive 10 new cases this month.

Another divisions going.

It received 15 to 15 new cases this month.

>> Turn to doesn't warrant any criminal charge for students or parents until it does.

It was status docket.

I finally get a chance to see the young person come into the courtroom.

We will talk about a potential plan on going for in the future and hoping.

>> That plan that will involve outside services.

Are we trying to get with the root of the problem?

Is once we get that problem under control, if you will, will hopefully see a progress com progression over a period of time and hopefully be able to do to dismiss the case at that point, if that does not occur, that case could possibly be referred to.

My depends neglect and abuse case docket.

>> Judge Web does not want to see these cases level up in the court system.

In fact, he rather meet kids before they end up in his courtroom.

>> Attorneys called me and asked me if I could go to school and talked to a kid about something.

I have unknown to get up at 5 o'clock and go to a kid's house.

Can ride the bus to school with them.

I understand also that my words and my actions have weight to them.

And that gives me a chance to show someone that not only is important, but that person that I'm talking to, they are important.

Also.

>> Webb says he and the county's court designated worker are pursuing a new diversion program.

But JCPS for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

Thank you.

June.

Last week a JCPS said it would start sending students names to the county attorneys office this month.

>> That includes 22 kindergarten through 5th graders so far, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell said he doesn't want to prosecute parents to the full extent, but quote, You don't want to test my resolve.

End quote.

Yesterday.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and community leaders cut the ribbon on a brand-new TRIPLEX and Lexington's East and neighborhood.

The Affordable housing was built by gleaning is housing a faith-based organization that uses volunteers to build houses.

Cleanings says faith driven initiatives are key to solving Kentucky's affordable housing crisis.

1, 2, 3, >> And we have a verse in Leviticus that we basically 5.

It's the idea is that all of us have a little extra to get that.

We don't have an entire house to get.

But for every person that gives a little bit a lot as possible.

There were a group of us that.

Really came to realize.

People are struggling with housing, especially those on fixed incomes >> and we sat around trying to figure out what to do and realized it's actually going to take a community in March of 2022, we broke ground for this triplex and what's going to come out of this?

Our 3 house housing units doesn't sound like a lot.

But these 3 housing units are targeting the very low income.

And what we're going to charge them.

Rent is 30% of their income.

That's all they're going to need to pay.

30% affordable housing developments.

Take many different forms and we need all kinds.

Some are huge.

Multi build multi.

>> Unit developments.

Others are rehabilitation of existing structures.

They target different income levels and the gleaming stripe, lax.

He's a small infill project that will really be important to 3 families who will call at how this will be remembered for generations.

>> And as something that God is down because we are a faith-based >> organization.

It's not something that the government and themselves can completely take care of its something that as a community as a group, it's incredibly important for people to be able to express their faith and step out on faith in a way that shares what they have with others.

And I think a lot of organizations realize that homelessness is not going away by itself and its not solvable with government intervention.

That's something where community of people have to come together in order to provide housing for people.

We went to several several churches and a lot of churches had people in them that are have been in the construction their plumbers or their electricians.

And they said, hey, we know what we're doing.

We can definitely help you with us.

All these churches gave so many people that came out and just helped us.

And it was I mean, if we hadn't had the network of all the churches that we reached out to, I don't know how we would have put together a volunteer base that could have built a house.

We could have done it without them.

>> May these 3 apartments be the answer to the prayers of those who desire to make a difference in Lexington?

So we ask your favor.

And your blessing on those who live here.

And we give you the praise.

For you are the one who makes a way where there is no way.

>> Cleanings was awarded $35,000 for this project through Lexington's nonprofit Capital Grant Program.

The money went towards replacing the driveway, fencing, sidewalks and front steps for the House.

New infrastructure.

Money is on the way to more than a dozen Kentucky cities today.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced more than 18 million dollars in community grants and he talked about what the money will do.

>> These grants from the federally funded transportation Alternatives Program will directly benefit Kentuckians by paying for a dozen new projects to improve or install sidewalks, shared, use paths and trails and 3 million dollars of the grant funding will increase the budget for 10 similar ongoing city projects around the commonwealth.

It'll help those communities deal with inflation.

Rising costs to make sure they get the projects done.

These projects.

We'll make a big difference in the lives of Kentuckians.

First they make our families safer.

Second, they provide better more accessible options for walking cycling or just enjoying our beautiful outdoors.

And they will offer new recreational opportunities that are available to every Kentucky.

And as we build our new Kentucky home.

>> During his weekly press or the governor also expressed his sorrow for the deaths of 3 air evacuee members from Grant County.

The 3 died in a medical helicopter crash in Owen County on Monday.

The governor says flags will be lowered to half-staff on the days of their in tournaments.

State Senator Johnny Turner, a Republican from Harlan continues to recover from a riding lawnmower accident on September.

The 15th, the Senate Majority Caucus, says doctors just performed a tracheotomy to help clear an infection in his lungs.

Doctors are optimistic this will allow his Long's to recover.

Turner is at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

♪ >> Normally this is the time of year that college students would be completing the FAFSA.

That's the Free application for federal student aid.

But because of an overhaul of the financial aid process last year, this year's forum is delayed for a second year.

Our Kelsey Starks explains what you need to know if you plan on applying for financial aid for the next school year.

More in tonight's Education Matters segment.

If access them free application for federal student aid.

And it really is the first step like the gate keeper Stapp to get access to all the financial aid options.

It's even if you're applying for a scholarship at the university.

>> They're going to ask if you filled out your FAFSA.

So it really is tough one to be able to open the doors to hear all the options of help, how to help me pay for college.

>> It's an important first step in the college application process figuring out how to pay for it.

The FAFSA simplification Act past in Twenty-twenty requiring an overhaul of the federal student aid system, including the FAFSA form.

>> Educators and professionals that work and that this area have been advocating for a simpler FAFSA form for several years.

>> So this is a good thing, but change doesn't always come easily.

The most significant overhaul of the federal student aid system in years means more students will qualify for financial aid in the process will ultimately be easier and faster.

But last year's initial rollout saw significant problems.

>> The biggest issues were, first of all, normally the FAFSA opens on October.

1st and we gear all of our efforts toward that date.

Unfortunately, that was delayed until December 31st.

If that had been the only hiccup we could have, I think not had as big an issue.

However, even when it opened on December 31st, a lot of students had trouble logging on the system would start and then stab.

There were some changes in the way questions were asked and certain elements were processed that caused some confusion.

So it's been those types of growing pains, if you will, for rolling out a new form that has caused the delay.

That means everything is running behind, including the process for next year.

That delay.

>> He's really impacted FAFSA completion rates, not just in Kentucky, but across the nation because we've been working in a much shorter time frame than we typically have been used to in terms of helping students get into the border and helping them get through the process.

There are 13 KIA counselors available across Kentucky to help get through that process.

>> And they all say in the long run change is good as bumpy as this rollout process has been.

>> When a student and family has successfully submitted it.

We're hearing it's taking 10 to 15 minutes.

And and that investment is worth it because more students are going to have options.

More students are are going to be eligible for that aid.

It takes away the biggest barrier, right?

As is cost, even if it's a, even if it's a perceived barrier and helps break down.

I may have thought my whole life that I can't afford to go to college.

This is the first step to show you if there is help available and that big price tag that you have in your head can come way down.

If you just kind of go through the process.

>> We thank Kelsey Starks War that report we've gathered a full panel of experts to help you navigate the financial aid process for the 2025 school year.

And you can say that discussion hosted by Kelsey Starks this Sunday at 02:00PM Eastern, 01:00PM Central on a special edition of EDUCATION MATTERS right here on KET.

♪ A leading advocate for fatherhood engagement says research shows that when fathers are present, there's less child maltreatment in the home.

Kids do better in school and they're less likely to be involved in criminal activity next week in Lexington, the Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families is hosting a three-day summit to help dads service providers policy, influencers and others.

Darren, the important role fathers, the play and family formation and stronger communities.

David Kosar, the founder and chief visionary officer of the center.

Talk with me earlier this week about the organization and what can be learned at the summit next week.

>> Come one to center for fathers and families is a statewide organization.

Now we're less than a direct service delivering program that we do provide some cross eyed, direct services.

So were designed to propagate too.

The raise awareness around responsible fatherhood and we do it because of all the negative life outcomes that fatherhood mitigate.

So.

>> Talk about those and mitigating those negative consequences of fathers who are not as president as they should be.

What does it look like?

>> Yeah, I appreciate that language of not as president because so many people used the language of apps that are used the language, the fatherless.

And just because one has an absent father does not mean the individuals fatherless.

I just want to appreciate that.

But the fatherhood won a war.

Now that we know by research, we know quantitatively that when fathers, our presence, there's less likelihood for any negative life outcome that you don't want occurring with with someone you love a child educational outcomes are increased.

Less high school dropout, better grades, even more likely to get A's.

Research says teenage pregnancy.

It's reduced when fathers are out treatment or abuse, neglect allocation to or reduced when fathers are there, that's why we do so much work with our state can for health and family services.

We know that.

Crim crime victim victims of crimes or committing a crime chops less likely to be engaged in that wind.

So when I say this about him, every negative life outcome, that is not an exaggeration.

I began to call fatherhood or fatherhood engagement the epicenter or the corner of the universe of Pat polity.

That is to say that all of these negative bangs in our sector converged at fatherhood right?

>> Let's talk about an upcoming workshop summit that you're having.

>> Yeah, so it's a series of workshops.

It's this convening.

We call the Father Kentucky Fatherhood Summit.

This is obviously 2024.

It's our 6th consecutive year.

We've been meeting coming together to bring professionals locally statewide and even nationally to share fatherhood information, emerging practices and trends and trajectories of fatherhood as it relates so human service sectors and other sector.

Yeah, certainly we want father's there because we have come to it.

That fathers need to know with nothing else that they come and get the fatherhood one-on-one that the tense too encourage fathers on how important they are when they're president, but also human service providers, health care business individuals, philanthropists, we like our policymakers to be there because we make policies at time.

That can be informed by the importance of fatherhood engagement.

And sometimes we unintentionally make policies, procedures and practices that are actually counter intuitive to help the family formation as it relates to paternal involvement.

A lot of us couple of specialty elements this year that we're really excited about and others are.

It's it's causing others to pay attention.

One we have a Department of Corrections track not over 90% of men incarcerated fathers.

Kentucky has one of the highest rates of parental incarceration.

So several years ago we partner with the Department for career of Correction that the state level and they pipe in Aurora stream in correctional facilities across the state.

And so we I have no intent.

That is germane to those that are currently incarcerated, incarcerated caregivers.

Another special to track we're having this year is a recovery track.

So we're training facilitators, para team in recovery.

He's a curriculum for fathers that are in recovery.

And as we sit here in Kentucky, no secret to anyone that opioid misuse disorders and substance misuse disorders is a huge issue here.

We believe that when fathers are engaged and are able to reunify with families and build those relationships.

It's going to increase the recovery capital.

It's going to reduce relapse.

So we're having that a particular component on that.

And lastly, this year, we're also have doctor Laura drug, Jan Scruggs, who is a specialist in human trafficking state-wide and internationally.

And we'll be doing a workshop on how fatherhood is actually a protective factor that helps reduce human trafficking, both sexual and labor and other means of human trafficking, which has its share of challenges with.

And so we'll be doing that and having a special session with her to discuss strategizing around that, not just in Kentucky.

But across the federal regions.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> In 2023, Grammy winning artist Janice can announced that she would donate her life's work to Berea College to be preserved and displayed in its library archives next weekend.

This monumental collection will finally be on display from activism to songwriting to being the first musical guest ever on Saturday Night Live and careers were studying.

And now anyone can have access to it.

Students and the public alike.

>> My wife and I were running a foundation at the time called The Pearl Foundation after my mother who went back to college in her 40's and graduated with a Masters.

My wife who had been it teacher and run a school many years before had a student who had gone to Berea and the student kept talking about how amazing the real was.

And we came up and spent the weekend and saw things like the fishery and the arts course.

And we're talking to a lot of the students and we decided to make the real one of the colleges that we sponsored.

When you're a donor, they bother you every year to make sure that they're not forgotten.

And pap maybe deal with them.

My wife, she said if you don't bother us, will KET giving you money.

Well, Theresa didn't listen.

It's kept showing up.

And so we got to like her and we're friends and he was talking about archives.

And I was talking about my archives in how I talk to the New York Public Library are talked with.

Records and not talk to the Smithsonian, but no, no place really made me happy.

At one point.

I just looked at her and I said why not just leave it to The only condition I've laid down to the archivist and the school contractually is that they be open to the public that they not be reserved conditions.

I just want other people, particularly younger artists to be able to benefit the exhibit that they are putting together for this opening event concentrates much more on my what I call bling things like Grammys and awards and gold records plan to make its things like that guitars.

Things fans have made over the years.

My called New Girl after a reporter who told my manager that I was a very rude, Carol, and nowhere near as nice.

A Shirley Temple.

So I mean, my company's rudo publishing retail record.

So many fans started making little the girl dolls that we would prop up at concerts having everything housed in one place.

Kids, people who are interested in the history of the arts in America.

We're the history of women in the arts in America.

The 60 year glimpse of contracts, financial papers, all of that stuff.

If young artist comes here, thinking will the music industry so different today?

You're right.

It is different, but it's the same.

The Portuguese say the flies are different.

The c*** is the same.

The fight to maintain your own integrity as an artist will not change because people will continue making money off your art.

And when there is money involved, their grifters involved.

Part of this hopefully will teach people how to protect themselves.

What I have learned is that the work is what endures and the work is what's important, not me.

The wards.

When you have a song like Jesse being used by the armed forces to comfort the families of missing in action.

Soldiers and other military.

We have a song like at 17 that has changed so many lives.

When you have a song like stars that.

Brings comfort in a different way to performers.

You have created a legacy and that legacy is what will endure long after I'm gone.

>> Indeed, the exhibit is still a work in progress, but it will be ready for the four-day opening celebration, starting the 17th.

The event is named breaking silence after and 1993 album.

Drones are helping people in North Carolina suffering after rain from Hurricane Helene and some of the drones are from a company in Kentucky.

>> Luckily, we've had enough experience that we were able to kind of overcome the challenges of what we were going to fly into and that it really paid off.

>> We'll look at how those drones and their pilots are making a difference Lane's victims.

That story and much more, including inside Kentucky politics on Kentucky edition tomorrow at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop on our stories and other programs here at KET and even send us a story idea at public affairs at KET Dot Org.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so very much for joining us.

And I'll see you tomorrow night.

Take care.

♪