>> With cases on going on, I think probably within the next month will probably the one And eastern Kentucky health director talks COVID and why she thinks her county is one of the few that still in the red.

>> 4 candidates for Congress make their arguments on.

KET, a recap of last night's Kentucky tonight ahead.

>> We're bringing in a virtual world and you can actually train our team members before we have to have a cooling of the economy actually exist.

>> How new technology is letting workers hone their skills at the Georgetown Toyota plant.

>> I've been born and raised in Kentucky.

I mean, I would think there's no way it could inspire my word.

>> And making a fashion statement from head to toe.

A young woman shares her talent for making a quintessential Kentucky accessory.

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

Leonard Preston Down for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Tuesday, October, the 11th, I'm Renee Shaw.

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

>> Kentucky's COVID positivity rate went up a little bit over the last week, but most overall trends are looking better.

The positivity rate is 7.91%.

It was 7.7 a week ago, but it was more than 9, 2 weeks ago, as we told you Friday, most of the state is now green, meaning low COVID levels.

Only 8 are still in the red, meaning high.

All 8 of them are in eastern Kentucky today.

We spoke with Martha Alice, the Floyd County Public Health director.

She predicts Floyd County won't be in the red much longer.

>> We have only 18 cases in the last 3 days.

So I think the reason that, you know, there's 3 different categories that they to get the community transmission.

And that is.

>> How many people have been admitted into the coming?

Local a local hospital beds or feel?

>> And how many cases we have a lot of mail.

The new admissions per 100,000 is that 21.4.

So anything greater then TN Mike's a semi.

How little?

So to me, I feel a lot.

You know, we're at we're at 109 are home outcomes.

So of course, we probably have a lot of sick people here.

But and relative to the number of people that are getting tested at doctor's offices, much lower.

That was so our positivity rate can go up because of that.

that's my theory.

Our positivity like what now is a live 1.7, 4.

But like I said for the last 3 guys on high 18 new cases and we have 4 people in the hospital that we know of.

the cases are definitely going down.

I expect probably within the next month will probably be and that don't want at least a hope.

But that is my theory now.

I can't speculate on what other counties are doing.

You know, when there's Hopkins mission, you're waking moment, too.

You know, wear your mask, stay up-to-date with vaccinations.

We are seeing more clouds coming to get bivalent.

They started.

but some nationwide mines love my young people.

So that's our focus for the next coming months.

>> Alice says the Floyd County Health Department is currently working to roll out a program that would incentivize vaccines for school aged children.

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman was an eastern Kentucky yesterday visiting people living in travel trailers and Whitesburg in Car Creek State Park.

She said the state will be with flood victims until every life and every structure are rebuild.

Wy MTN Hazard reports.

There are 25 families living at Car Creek Campground.

And it's not clear how long they'll be living there.

We're last that a half hour away from the Kentucky Rising concert at Rupp Arena in Lexington to benefit Eastern Kentucky flood victims.

Chris Stapleton, Dwight Yoakam and Tyler Childers will be performing.

The money raised goes to the Kentucky Rising Fund which will help people with short-term needs and long-term recovery projects.

Politics, Kentucky tonight hosted 4 candidates for Congress last night from districts.

1, 2, 3 here on KET.

We heard from James Comer, congressman from the first district.

He's seeking a 4th term.

His Democratic opponent, Jim Eos Brooks did not meet our criteria to appear if Congressman calmer is reelected and the Republicans take over the U.S. House, he's in line to become chair of the House Oversight Committee last night.

I asked him where his focus would be as chair of that committee.

>> And right now there are 3 major national security threat.

And I think you're going to see the House Oversight Committee play a big role in a Republican majority.

Number one is we believe what's going on at the southern border is a national security threat and we want to hold people accountable.

Not only do we want to get the border under control.

We want to help people who have been making decisions on allowing the border to be so loose in the to allow so many illegal drugs and human trafficking in illegals across that border.

We want to hold some people accountable for that.

Secondly, we've been focused from day one on the origination of COVID.

We believe that that there are people within the federal government who KET a lot more about what was going on in that lab.

Then they have admitted and we want to get to the bottom of that and hold people accountable.

And then the last one that's been in the news a lot lately is we believe the president's son and brothers, our national security threat, we believe they've been influence peddling for a long time.

So we're going to hold some very high-profile Biden family, influence-peddling investigations in the House Oversight Committee.

>> Hank Lindemann as a Democrat running in the second congressional district.

He's running against Congressman Brett Guthrie who did not respond to our invitation to appear last night.

Letterman says he supports legalized marijuana and he thinks 90% of Kentuckians agree.

New told us he believes the working class they're not being represented in Washington.

>> My focus would always be how can we benefit working people have?

Is this law that we're talking about or how does this program we're talking about?

How is it actually going to help people on the ground in the second district working Americans throughout the country?

The main focus that they understand is that working people have not been sharing in the prosperity of the American American economy for 30 or 40 years.

That really since the 80's, the worker share has been dropping in the economy.

You know, we have an economy after World War, 2 people who worked Sheridan prosperity as you increase and they got a healthy share of it.

And that was back when, you know, when I was growing up and I suspect when you were growing up, you believe that your life could be better than your parents?

And unfortunately, the generation today cannot feel that way.

They do not feel that their lives will be better than their parents.

>> We also heard from Democrat Morgan McGarvey and Republican Stewart Ray from the 3rd Congressional District Contest, which is in the Louisville area.

The 2 disagreed on abortion and gun control.

And I asked both of them about the biggest current threat to American democracy as they see it.

>> One of the most serious moats we could make would be in the case of national security.

And certainly we're problems all over this world with an out of control.

Russia and invasion in Ukraine and a watchful eye in China.

A monitoring what's going on and considering what their options are in awe Taiwan.

So I definitely think that national security is and the possibility of the most serious vote.

Then a congressman could ever taken.

That could be too send our troops and our to war.

And I would take decisions very, very seriously.

And I think that's one of the most serious issues before our entire country right now.

And it's it requires serious times.

And and I would I would be prepared to make those of us in the guardian.

>> Your response to the greatest threat to American democracy as you see it.

>> When asked the constitutional convention?

What type of government have you given us?

Benjamin Franklin responded to the public.

If you can KET it.

I think the actions of Donald Trump.

Culminating on January 6th with a terrace insurrection, our nation's capital to overthrow a validly held election.

As a threat to democracy.

That continues today.

As Trump is playing in primaries.

As you see, he had a 21 in 5 record.

As you see, people like Liz Cheney who stood up and said that what happened on January 6 was wrong.

Not even get 30% of the vote.

And Wyoming primary.

I think that we have to have people in Washington who are willing to stand up for democracy.

As Representative Obi said when he left democracy doesn't guarantee a happy ending.

We have to make sure that we have people there who are standing up for free and fair elections who are working to KET the democracy that we have and to KET the American people united to make this country truly as great as it can be.

>> You can see all of those interviews online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight you can also see last week's interview with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker online on the next Kentucky tonight.

Coming up this coming Monday, interviews with some of the candidates in the U.S. House districts, 4, 5, 6, That's next Monday at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

More politics a new morning consult poll of all 50 states shows Governor Andy Beshear with a 59% approval rating in Kentucky one year before the 2023 election for governor.

35% of Kentuckians disapprove of the governor's performance in office.

According to the poll, he is the 9th most popular governor in the nation and the most popular Democrat Governor Beshear's approval rating has gone up since the latest morning consult poll which at 55%.

State Senator Stephen Meredith, a Republican from Litchfield, will take over as chair of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee chairman Senate President Robert Stivers announced the change Monday.

Meredith will succeed Senator C B Embry who died of cancer last month.

Meredith said, quote, I have some very large shoes to fill, but I was able to learn a lot from CB while serving as vice chair over the last few years.

I will dearly miss him as well.

All of us here in the Kentucky General Assembly, unquote.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is launching a new plan designed to prevent gun violence today she announced $150,000 will be allocated in partnership with the Community Action Council.

Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants of up to $7,000.

Each Mayor Gordon was joined by one Lexington director, Divine Koroma for today's announcement.

>> Putting resources directly in the hands of organizations that are already doing the work.

And we have a lot of great organizations, individuals right here in Lexington, grassroots, pounding the pavement each and every day doing the work.

But they need to be amplified.

We've got youth We've got people that work with victims and survivors.

And so it's time for us to get the resources in the hands of those with the lived experience.

Those with the Pete, those that are our peers and those that are doing the work.

>> The mayor also announced additional funds will be coming from a group called Cities United, which has been working with the city to develop a strategic plan for reducing gun violence.

>> And developing this plan, we identified 2 gaps in services, victim services and re entry services.

Cities.

United is helping us bridge those gaps through a $30,000 grant.

That will be used to support services for victims of gun violence and programs.

For those who are leaving our jail.

>> Lexington is seen 37 homicides so far this year.

That ties last years, which was a record high.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is running for re-election.

She's being challenged by David Kloiber, a council member in the 6th district.

We'll hear his take on the mayor's new initiative tomorrow and crime right here on Kentucky EDITION.

And western Kentucky.

A judge is accused of trying to silence reporters WFP.

Allen Louisville reports that the Judicial Conduct Commission accuses Judge Jamie Jamison trying to stop Wk MS Murray State University's public radio station from searching for video showing the judge walking around the courthouse in his underwear.

Jamison is a judge in the 42nd Judicial Circuit.

The commission accuses the judge of calling the radio station's manager and pressuring him to drop the story.

Wk MS never ran it WFP L reports that James has already suspended from the bench due to other allegations of misconduct.

Kayla and honored the late Queen Elizabeth.

The past visitor to the track by planting 6 cherry trees in her honor.

This past Saturday.

There are now 3 trees on each side of the infield tote board.

Queen Elizabeth visited can land on October.

The 11th 1984 during one of her many visits to Kentucky.

Kaylyn President Shannon Arvin said, quote, Queen Elizabeth was an unmatched horsewoman and a tremendous patron of the thoroughbred racing.

And we are honored to pay tribute to her racing like a C. ♪ ♪ Kentucky's immigrant community is growing about 4% of Kentucky residents are immigrants are refugees and those people make up more than 5% of Kentucky's labor Force.

Kentucky Edition contributor Kelsey Starks has more on one of the many resources out there on the front lines to help.

Well, the Americana Community Center here in Louisville serves about.

>> 5,000 people every single year.

Jana Bennett is a development coordinator with the center and she's here to tell us all about the center and what you all do head have been doing for years now more than ever.

These immigrant and refugee populations are needing your help.

Tell us about the history of this center and where it is now.

>> Sure.

Americana community Center was established in 1994 as a program to help house the newly arrived.

Families who are coming from an immigrant or refugee backgrounds.

But we have since expanded in the almost 30 years now provide not only support to find housing, but also other basic needs such as work.

School system as well providing different opportunities for people to just get involved with.

So the local community beyond those basic needs being served.

>> Yes, so many programs you all offer and just critical needs for these families who are coming here.

what are some of those programs that you offer?

I know a new one is and focusing on mental health.

>> Yes, I would say that we have always been aware of the needs for mental health services for the refugee and immigrant population.

Many of these families are coming from very traumatizing situations that have forced them to relocate to Louisville.

However, that new hasn't always been being met in the most efficient way.

And we have been really focusing on expanding our mental health services.

We just hired a new mental health counselor who is available to see individuals and families and also gets to see the youth participants that participate in our after school program one-on-one.

You know anything about it.

These are families and people of all ages who are coming many of them do not speak English and just navigating those systems alone very difficult.

>> Where is the majority of the population here in Louisville coming from?

>> So I will say just to start the Americana is a very unique organization in Louisville because we serve people who come from all over the world.

So over 100 different countries last we do see that we have a lot of Cuban coming to Louisville.

There's a very big cube population in Louisville, Dir or news releases for the Cuban population.

But besides that, we also see a lot communities from Somalia and then, of course, recently, as you've probably heard about in the news from Afghanistan and Ukraine as well as Haiti and other Caribbean countries.

>> Yeah.

What are these families?

What's the biggest challenge would you say?

What are these families need the most when they come here?

>> So when a family arrives in Louisville, what they need are just to meet their basic needs.

And a lot of that is navigating the social systems that are in the city, but also the United States.

And they are coming from not only a language barrier where they might not have enough English to understand the systems, but also limited are interrupted education or interrupted work so finding social workers which we have at our center to help navigate those barriers.

Are those systems or other are really what is needed to overcome those intense >> And now you've got some great success stories there, too.

I know you see those all the time.

>> Yeah, I will mention one of my favorite stories to mention is we have a garden or we can call her Sarah.

She's a participant in the adult participants.

A mother of 3 young children.

And she, you know, has had a plot in our garden for a couple years now.

She loves to grow squash and beans.

But besides that, she has become a very important community leader because she is from Ian Martin speaks Karin, which is her native language and he's able to communicate to the other gardeners in participants who speaker and witches.

We have a lot participants who speak that language and may not may have limited English.

So she is able to be an interpreter for our garden coordinator and other people who work in Americana.

And that is something that we see over and over again at Americana is just these natural community leaders arrive Louisville or rather rise in when we see that happening at our center often that is wonderful.

And so.

>> I know there's many, many ways people can get involved from helping with the gardening program to helping tutor kids.

And you can find out all of that information at the annual dinner that is coming up on November 5th, when a back to you.

Thanks, Cassie.

An Ashy said you can find out more information on volunteer opportunities and resources on American his website.

>> And for the first time the Americana Community Center's annual dinner will be held at the center.

And as Kelsey said, that's coming up November.

The 5th.

♪ ♪ Today in Georgetown Educators and Workforce Partners got an inside look at some new ways.

Toyota plans to transform its North American manufacturing facilities.

Virtual reality robotics and 3 D printing were just a few of the innovation showcased by engineers at Toyota's North American engineering headquarters.

>> All right.

And then Mister facing what the future customers demand or requirements are going to be for a product.

Our stance has been, you know, it every product for every customer.

So we're really diversifying our portfolio.

We've been in the forefront leader of hybrid vehicles for quite a long time.

Now.

And we also, of course, have plug-in vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and also were recently venturing into rbv products are battery electric vehicles too many of our technology here today, really?

It's centered around the development of a battery electric vehicles in the future.

We're on the show.

Many different types of innovation that we're developing for future manufacturing facilities.

One is really how do we educate our now workforce, you know, to build that part of the future.

>> Today we are able to show different types of virtual reality where we can bring our current product in the future product.

Our future tools that currently don't exist today we're bringing in a virtual world and we can actually train our team members before we have to have a to him.

We'll be able to actually exist and we can do that right here in our lab right here in Georgetown, Kentucky.

>> I >> Finding a capable and, you know, diversified workforce is really key for success today.

And in our total production during center in Georgetown, Kentucky, we just had many community leaders, education here in our laboratories.

We advertise, you know what great things we're doing to innovate our products for the future, making those relationships with our local schools, local leaders and really joining forces and really identify what our future skills are going to be.

We can transform for future products.

Our folks here in Georgetown, Lexington area may not realize that right here in this building in this production turning manufacturing center that I'm in today.

It really is our North American headquarters.

That leaves all of the 14 manufacturing facilities that we have in Mexico, Canada and here in north in United States to really develop new technologies that we will implement and all of those to feature a effective facilities again, to build the product of the future.

>> Toyota's North American engineering headquarters supports all 14 Toyota manufacturing plants across the region and houses more than 600 engineers.

Now, here's some business news from far Western Kentucky.

The Jackson Purchase Distillery is increasing its operation in Fulton County and creating 54 full-time jobs.

The company's investment will grow to 26 million dollars.

That's 3 times its original investment.

The company says it will make more than 60,000 barrels of spirits annually wants the full investment is made.

Governor Andy Beshear says this is the latest evidence of the growth of Kentucky's bourbon and spirits industry.

♪ ♪ Hats play a key part in several Kentucky customs and traditions, whether it's Derby day performing on stage or working on the farm.

A young woman in Warren County built hats by hand, inspired by folklore.

Other creatives and the beauty of the Bluegrass.

>> I got and making what I was 14 years old and I saw all the desire cover of Bob Dylan album we have this super fun key hat on all the feathers and flowers.

And I just always like the look of it.

I started thinking of well, what does it take to make a hat like to build it from scratch.

I had just moved from living in apartment, paying rent into this camper.

And I'd freed up a lot of funds that I can invest in tools and things.

I think it's important to me to do everything by hand, the old-fashioned way.

And once I got the basics down, that really opened the dying that I do was a lot of trial and error.

The most challenging part physically is the blocking.

As pop culture, major, focal or minor and folklore is really what I love doing.

I loved seeing those people in reading about them and learning about these processes.

But I wanted I was just more hands on.

I wanted to be doing it.

It can take, you know, a week or a week and a half.

By the time I get from start to finish and everything has dried out.

Got to wait for it to drive to put in the sweat band and finish it up and do all that.

There's a lot of stopping in waiting with head making.

If I'm just doing a basic cat that doesn't have to be dot, I could have it done 3 or 4 days.

Maybe sometimes people want to add their own feathers are little trinkets, little bridges and things that they have family heirlooms will say, well, can you add this in somehow and I love doing stuff like that just because it it continues.

That tradition.

Kentucky inspires everything that I do.

>> I remember growing up.

I was very desperate to get out of Kentucky in the 2 big city.

>> And now I just I can't imagine.

With all of the flooding is happening in eastern Kentucky really came out how many of these musicians and artists stunned just magical people have come out of Kentucky.

>> Well, my favorite place that people wear my hat says on stage have a lot of musician, friends that I have suited up in my heart.

Traveling heads over the years.

>> I have one client that head officiated a wedding and hers.

I like for them to make a statement.

But I also like that they are functional.

You can wear them just, you know, to the grocery store, our mind to the grocery store.

Some time.

They stand out.

That's the first thing you're going to see if you've got on the cool hat.

>> Melissa Patterson says she taught herself how to make hats by watching online tutorials.

The Kentucky Supreme Court is hitting the road going to Shelbyville to answer some Kentucky INS questions and to hear an important case about charter schools in Kentucky will have coverage of that case.

When you join us tomorrow night on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope you'll do tomorrow at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire.

We hope you subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition, e-mail news letter and watch full episodes at KET Dot Org.

>> You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app and your mobile device and smart TV, you can follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and you can also follow me on Twitter at Renee K E T. Thank you so very much for joining us.

Have a great night and hope to see you right back here again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky.

Addition until then taken care.

Have a great night.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪