>> We can apply her pardon.

In the meantime, something we will take a very close look at.

>> Governor Andy Beshear urges people to take action on their marijuana convictions as he considers what to do about possible pardons.

>> I think it's absolutely for.

County to adopt this.

And I think that other school districts to do the same thing.

>> Imagine this.

An app that lets you track a child's school bus.

>> They are for the big they are everywhere here in the fall in the water.

>> A university professor and an avid outdoorsman way.

And on a recent report showing forever chemicals in Kentucky.

Fish.

>> I flew my 40's a little my 50's a room and 60's.

But there was no reason that I should stop.

>> And an astronaut with Kentucky ties on why he was such a frequent flyer.

>> 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, October, the 14th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting your Friday night off with us Governor Andy Beshear wants a state review of how many Kentuckians have been convicted of marijuana possession.

That's after President Biden pardon everyone convicted of federal charges of possession.

The president urged governors to do the same on the state level.

Speaking yesterday, the governor said he's not aware of anyone in Kentucky being held in jail solely for having marijuana.

Most of the time a person receives a citation on Lee.

>> But if all you have on your record, yes, a simple possession of marijuana, a class B or when it was a class, A misdemeanor.

I'm looking up line for a pardon.

In the meantime, it's something that we will take a very close look at as we further analyzed our ability to move towards legalization of medical cannabis as well as this request on simple possession.

>> The governor says he's still considering what he can do about legalizing medical marijuana through an executive order.

He was again critical of the Kentucky General Assembly for not taking action.

Letcher County is the only county in the high COVID category.

According to the new COVID map out today.

That's down from 8 counties in the red a week ago.

16 other counties are yellow for medium COVID levels and 103 counties are low.

But yesterday the commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health Doctor Steven Stack said there are still COVID variants around and he urged Kentuckians to get their booster shots.

We know now there are many factors when it comes to a person's health.

They include poverty, access to care and nutrition.

Today, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Doctor Robert Califf was at UK health care.

He discussed what he thinks is needed to improve health outcomes and Kentucky.

>> One of the points I made my lectures weekend of the put all of our resources in a very high-tech care.

I'm all for high-tech era.

Wanted to care.

When I get said.

But we haven't done so well with regard to primary care preventive.

Madison.

One of the most important trends going on in our health care outcomes.

Now, as said, we're seeing the wealthy, highly educated people are living longer and longer the better and better.

Less well well, as wealthy people are actually doing worse.

It's not that they're holding steady.

And this other dimension that's now world status being a very risky factor.

Row.

People are very significant decline in life expectancy.

Right now.

So rather than setting behind the walls of really impressive and to medical center.

University Health system getting out there in the community.

In the counties that are.

Roast for things not going.

So I was really important.

Part of it.

>> The commissioner also discussed tobacco.

Kentucky has one of the highest rates of tobacco use in the country behind only West Virginia.

30 million people in the U.S. use tobacco and 500,000 people will die from tobacco use this year.

Kentucky will see more deaths than the national average commissioner.

Caleb says current law prohibits the FDA from eliminating tobacco products from the market.

The court system is about to start up again and not county for the first time since the 2 lifelines, the circuit court clerk's office will open October 31st in the Judicial Center on West Main Street repairs are still under way to the building.

So circuit and district court judges will have court proceedings remotely for now or they could be moved to other counties if all parties agree.

The state recently released a report concerning certain substances and Kentucky Fish has often referred to as forever.

Chemicals are used in things like nonstick cookware carpet and firefighting foam.

They can build off and people fish and wildlife and their potential health implications.

>> These are chemicals that are found lots of different types of manufacturing processes.

And if >> material is.

So they can get into the environment in just about any way you can for use of products from the manufacturing process.

>> From landfills from pretty much anything.

It allows them to have contact with the soil with water with the arrests.

>> I think when you start putting keywords like for ever in front of chemicals, I think it's hard to ignore.

>> They are something that have been tested.

>> Pretty significantly for the last few years to really try to identify concentrations and see where those different chemicals are at the environment.

Also in people.

>> Be in Kentucky.

You know, the vast smallmouth we love blue.

He officially crossed the fission catfish in the summertime is here.

>> Fishing in a lake or in a water body that has these types of contaminants and the fish.

My life has just been in use those.

>> Obviously, then secondary making 2 countries become more sensible and Hewitt.

Those you eat those Texas.

So the fish, one office.

>> stop going to fish fries with the family and friends.

Probably will pay attention to how often we have.

Those may be.

>> We through the 100 little collab, which is our water quality lab.

that's part of our student training and research past university.

We are certified for the state and the drinking water wastewater, all different types of now season.

So as part of that process as these the guidelines come on board for how to test and analyze for these substances.

And if you see what types of concentrations are allowable for health regulations, we are in the process of working through some development studies to be should become certified and be prepared for when those when those are on a roll.

>> Another thing to KET in mind that this is not just an issue for Kentucky.

It's national global issue.

Currently EPA is working on it to set up federal federal guidelines.

>> I'm glad that Kentucky has stepped up as has done.

The studies is released to the public.

>> We get our water from the natural environment, whether it's from the lake or river spring.

And so if those are contaminated with any type of chemical, we need to make sure we have a good process for detecting and filtering and removing those contaminants as best we can.

>> This is an issue that's going to affect generations down the road.

My kids, their kids to sit here and think that they may not be able to eat something out of a fresh water is hard to think about what could be reality if if somebody some group something doesn't happen going polls.

>> With this report, state officials remind you that fish is a good source of nutrition they recommend eating no more than one meal a week or one a month for locally caught fish depending on the type.

Boone County schools recently started providing parents with a phone app that allows them to track their child's school bus in real time.

The app will notify users when the boss is within a certain distance to the stop.

And when the bus arrives at school, it also automatically updates if any delays or eyes providing a sense of safety and security for both parents and students.

>> I think the miser Uap is extremely easy to the very first time that I opened up the app I was able to get on without any issues and immediately it zoomed in on a map where the bus was and I could see that it was coming right into my neighborhood.

And I KET exactly.

>> Where it was located and when it would be.

>> To the bus stop for my daughter.

>> To be where she needed to be.

>> Our total student enrollment and Boone County is a little north.

I believe about 21,000 students.

Probably 15 to 16,000 of those students on a daily bases get on one of our buses to and from school.

And so we were out looking for some way to better communicate with our work community.

One buses might arrive a little bit late when they might be delays.

We take a look at a lot of different products that are out there and down selected the My View app as a part of also a whole installations UPS products here for buses.

>> overarching.

Goal for Boone County schools.

And safety.

Parents want more than anything for their children to be safe.

And so he's been county schools.

So I think that the reason for this app was so that.

Parents could feel that sense of safety just to blow this thing out or in?

Well, the app talks to our zone, our GPS system.

Once you're in the app, you see a map.

You're allowed to set I call a lecture on a fence.

We're on alert zone around both your school or your local address around a key place in your neighborhood.

>> The applications, whether you're in it or not, will push out a message to you.

When a tour bus centers that a word.

So wherever you establishment, I think that's one of the big keys of this application is the peace of mind.

It provides parents.

And the sense of control gives those parents to.

This is one of those unknowns of life that we can make go away.

And I think that extra peace of mind is stansell for people.

I think there's a lot of uncertainty that parents have to go through right now.

>> And it's a it's a big help.

>> a big help and need parents and Boone County are encouraged to sign up for the app today and the county hopes to see other districts follow suit.

>> Time now to review some major political developments in Kentucky this week with a pair of partisan pundits.

We have of us will Carly, a Democratic strategist on screen left and then we have Republican strategist Scott Jennings.

Thank you both for being with us.

Want to start some good news for that.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, a 59% approval rating, according to morning Consult.

That was really This week.

It's up from 55% from last quarter.

Want to go to you.

Well, Carly, about what can you take away from this Of course, this is been a governor who's gone through several crises.

The natural disasters COVID is that what we're seeing in these numbers and is he vulnerable in a few months when there's the Republican primary really heats up for the Kentucky governorship.

>> I think Governor Beshear has done an absolutely outstanding job of being able to convince Kentuckians that he's the person that they can trust going to cross party lines and has been able to be a great advocate for people all over the state with an unprecedented economic development record.

Again, just this past few weeks, he's had another investment from Ford, Super duty truck he's had 2 polls that show him in the high.

The low 60's, which is I think the 9th best in the nation, which a public poll by morning consult.

He finished again with another million dollars this for his reelection campaign, which puts him in for a half million dollars in the with 4 million cash on hand and, you know, I think it's going to be very difficult for any Republican to unseat Governor with his record and the way Kentuckians have really relied on his leadership and bought into team Kentucky.

>> So Scott Jennings, I want you to respond to what Mister Will Carly had to say there.

But also this Daniel Cameron or the president, former President Donald Trump kind of doubled down on his endorsement of Attorney General Daniel Cameron who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, considering that the time that we had this conversation, the January 6 hearings were in suing and did some more information was unfolding.

Could this end up being an albatross around the neck of Daniel Cameron?

This endorsement by President Trump and how much should he doubled down on it?

>> Well, I think in terms of a Republican primary having Donald Trump's endorsement, especially in Kentucky is is still pretty good and it's going to be good until next May.

And the generally in the state of Kentucky, obviously Donald Trump won it was overwhelmingly popular here it really gets to the larger question of who's going to win out in terms of strategic direction of the campaign.

Andy Beshear personally has good numbers right now.

I agree with will on that.

I think the morning consult poll was a good good result for Andy Beshear, but his party has, I think pretty bad numbers.

Any Democrat image overall in Kentucky is pretty low.

Republican image is high and rising.

And so if you're Daniel Cameron or in the Republican Party gets the nomination, you're going want to nationalize it.

And so people like Donald Trump and others are going to try to nationalize the race while Andy Beshear is going to try to localize it, make it about him in his leadership in the Republicans want to make it more of an ideological fight.

One party versus the other.

So from that perspective, actually don't think it's bad for Daniel to have Donald Trump's endorsement either for primary or general election purposes.

>> So let me ask you Skytta.

Also this week, Kelly Craft released a campaign video touting her selection of state Senator Max Wise.

He's chairman of the Education committee as her running mate.

So coming out with an ad that says he's my guy and he's all in says why?

Because she didn't have to even name a running mate.

So early and now she really seems to be telling him along.

>> it was an interesting strategic choice because the new Kentucky law doesn't mandate that gubernatorial candidates do this right now.

But Max comes from a very Republican part of the state.

So if you think about the dynamics of the Republican primary multi-candidate field could be more people getting in between now and January.

Carving out a regional strategy around a running mate could prove to work to her benefit.

Max coming from, you know, part of the state, we just have a real concentration of of Republican voters who tend to turn out in primaries.

Max is a good guy.

Well, thought of in Frankfort, a smart guy.

So I think it was a good choice for her, but other than 80 Bashir who is also already named his running mate.

It's a it's a different strategic choice than the rest of the Republicans have made.

I suspect because they're waiting to see how the primary develops and and and how the thing unfold over the next few months.

>> Well, you have any comment to this.

>> I would just say that, you know, Kelly Craft, it's going to be a well-funded candidate.

I think it's interesting.

She chose a running mate and I really think it's a demonstration of how weak she is actually organization.

We around the state, someone like Ryan Quarles who's been here a long time, has obviously a very much stronger organization.

Daniel Cameron, who's been attorney general here, even just for a couple years as some organization here.

I Miss Craft being in this race this early not being probably unknown quantity outside of just her name to a lot of the folks in the Republican Party statewide.

I think she Max to really give her.

I think some gravity in the within the party structure amongst the file.

I think that's going to be a problem for her.

she makes it to the general election.

>> So let's pivot real quickly and talk about Scott Jennings, U.S.. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN on Wednesday that he's confident he be reelected.

Republican leader didn't say majority or minority even know.

Former President Donald Trump says that McConnell should be replaced.

Does McConnell even care for wine and any kind of in danger of losing a Republican leadership because of how Trump feels and is voicing a?

>> Yeah, great I if Mitch McConnell says publicly he has the votes on something you can almost always take it to the bank is the best vote counter in Washington.

I do expect him to be reelected as party leader.

In fact, he'll break Senator Maine's fells record of being the longest serving leader of either party in either in the United States Senate will be a great achievement for him and for Kentucky to have elected someone with such longevity.

Donald Trump's never had all that much influence over the conference in the Senate.

I don't think he's going to be able to shake Mitch McConnell.

Lot of history right now.

He's been elected by acclamation 7 times by his colleagues and and that seems to be a doing a good job at the top of the pile for the Republicans.

I think value is inclusive leadership in the in the conference.

>> And he did tell CNN that he would serve out the entirety of his term, but he did not commit to or even comment about whether or not he would run in 2026.

Can Scott Jennings give some Intel?

But no one else has so far.

>> I don't I don't know anything you don't know.

I consider Mitch McConnell to be in a strong position in Kentuckyian in Washington.

He is only 2 years into his current term.

And so I think we'll take it 2 years at a time.

But I consider him to be the state's senior senator and hit until he tells me >> Well, we'll leave that right there.

Scott Jennings, will Carly, appreciate your time.

Thank you, gentleman.

♪ >> Currently in his 12th year at the University of Kentucky, doctor Eli Kappa Ludo is the longest tenured president of any current public university president in the commonwealth.

And that time he has led the state's flagship university through a multi-billion dollar transformation.

I recently sat down with Doctor Capital and I asked him to reflect on the work he's accomplished so far.

>> Any success we've had at the University of Kentucky has been because of an enormous collective effort.

When you stand up a mass vaccine clinic and 5 to 6 days and deliver 250,000 shots of hope to COVID pandemic.

It is.

It is who we are.

So when I got here and I talked about some of these things are really didn't know how we were going to do it.

But it's not talking more and more people.

We discovered the ways we could do I want to first make clear that we part the we part.

Tremendous.

A group of dedicated administrators, faculty and staff.

I'm fully supportive board that was ready we came up with those imaginative ways and to get all that started.

But it's not about the building.

Just not about the bricks and mortar.

We KET we had the infrastructure in combination with a remarkable talent.

To move the things that were important to Kentucky.

We need more people with we want to healthier wealthier was or conduct Kentucky.

Great teachers and researchers.

Great caregivers working within modern infrastructure can deliver on those things.

So we built the an even stronger foundation.

On top of a incredible tradition of of service.

And we've been able to move all those numbers in the right direction.

>> You can see my full interview with doctor Eli Kappa Ludo the president of the University of Kentucky this Sunday on connections at 12 Eastern 11 central right here on KET.

And celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Kentucky Humanities hosted retired astronaut story Musgrave at the University of Kentucky where he shared his experience working at NASA.

We sat down to talk about his life on earth and in space.

>> I've been a Marine.

I'm a very experienced parachutist.

I'm a pilot flying out of bluegrass.

So after medical school.

I came here to do a surgical training.

And then my surgical training win a National Academy of Science and NASA put their heads together.

But how they get more from space flight.

So they have this idea of flying formally trained scientists and space.

And as is my goodness, if that's going to happen, that is me.

So I made that transition to become more competitive for the astronaut selection process, even though I was taken as a scientist, astronaut, they wanted everyone to be a military pilot.

So they sent me off to the Air Force to become a military pilot.

And I loved every second of the Air Force.

They were spectacular.

That is one of the most wonderful years of my life.

And so it comes back to NASA.

Then and very shortly to guests and signed is a crew member and I was very the communicator from mission control to 25 other missions.

My first experience goes right around it.

And so you hope that will go well, you slide into 0, Jay, very fast.

The rocket shut down and you're you know, you're right.

The G's of going up there and all of a sudden.

And your arms are flown up here.

Everything flown.

It's remarkable to look at Earth and all the different ways that you can.

It's remarkable to look at the heavens and the sun and the planets and all the rest of that.

And there is really no surprise you to look at it and that kind of way.

was on the first launch abort where we had that the engines on the pad we had lived and just didn't go anywhere.

We shut the engines down is not nice.

You're waiting for the Big Bang.

I wasn't the only shuttle flight to lose an engine after getting off.

I like NASA and I like what I did there.

And I like the I like flying in space and I was awful good.

So I can't do it.

I flew my 40's.

I flew my 50's affluent 60's.

But there was no reason that I should stop.

If you're not excited about something new, not going to do well, and it's not going to go well.

So the important thing is just be good at whatever you're doing.

Be good at it.

>> Well, that's some sound advice.

What a remarkable career story.

Mosque Musgrave was part of 6 different space flights during his time at NASA.

♪ >> Another busy weekend in the Commonwealth from Court day in Mount Sterling to a celebration of Kentucky's state Flower.

Toby Gibbs has more in tonight's look at what's around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Enjoy all things hand at the trade County Country Ham Festival in KET is this Friday and Saturday.

The event will have a petting zoo and illusionist inflatables, carnival music and of course, plenty of hand.

Spooky season has come to cave city with the Spooktacular Halloween festival this weekend.

Enjoy hayrides movie night.

Bingo feel games, arts and crafts and a magical pumpkin patch round out the festive weekend with trick or treating for the kids.

The 51st Parkland Heritage Festival is this Friday and Saturday at the Parkland Community center with delicious food live country music, crafts, horse, drawn wagon rides and much more.

This is one weekend you don't want to miss.

Shorts.

Goldenrod festival is back at Blue Lakes Battlefield State Resort Park this weekend to celebrate these yellow beauties of the Sunflower family with different tours of the grounds, informative speakers, a bird walk and so much more.

Unleash your inner pioneer.

Big bone lick Salt Festival this weekend.

Listen to a story teller.

You prehistoric artifacts.

Watch a blacksmith work and see how salt was extracted from the springs.

A big bone all while enjoying folk and bluegrass music.

And to Bowling Green this Saturday for the 4th annual Harvest Festival.

This family fun fall event kicks off with the final farmers market of the season and includes craft vendors live music food trucks fall activities and so much more.

Somerset's signature fall event.

The Moonlight Festival is back this Saturday in Fountain Square.

Take in the beautiful Kentucky weather.

As you walk around, enjoying local food vendors, live music, local art work and the festival signature drink summer cider.

Kentucky's oldest festival.

The Mount Sterling Court Day is this weekend in downtown Mount Sterling join thousands from around the country with this four-day ultimate shopping adventure as you enjoy handmade crafts, collectibles, country, ham sandwich and a little bit of history.

And that's what's going on around the Commonwealth.

I'm Cole Higgins.

>> Thank you to be a lot of great stuff to do.

So make it a good weekend.

The University of Louisville Hospital and Central High School have partnered to create a new pipeline for students in the Pre Med program.

Students are gaining real world experience by shadowing doctors on rounds and witnessing surgeries.

While also earning college credit.

That story and more.

That's Monday night on Kentucky edition.

And we do hope we'll see you Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episode to K T Dot Org.

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

>> And follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop and also want to follow me on Twitter at Renee K E T. We'll see you right back here again on Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central.

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

♪