>> It's not about money grab.

It's about safety.

>> Our cameras on Kentucky highways making a difference.

>> From the perspective of the business community, these government shutdowns are never >> Why shutdowns are bad for business in Kentucky.

>> I think that's you see you exhaust all options out there before they look at taking out a student loan.

And what a high school guidance counselor learned about the cost when her own child went to college.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Tuesday, October, the 14th, I'm Renee Shaw and our KET Studios in downtown Louisville.

We thank you so much for joining us this evening.

Federal changes are coming to Kentucky schools.

Not every detail is settled, but the big beautiful bill and the federal government shutdown.

We'll have their impacts on K through 12 and higher education.

Our June Leffler has more as we kick off tonight's Legislative update.

>> Amid the federal shutdown, the Trump administration has laid off hundreds of employees from the Department of Education, specifically those monetary in the civil rights of special education students.

This Democratic lawmaker is a special ed teacher in Louisville.

So last week the Trump administration effectively got to the Office of Special Education.

Can you explain just based upon you are insights?

What will that mean?

For the 15 billion dollars that is appropriated through that department.

>> Education funds are generally forward funded.

And so there was a Trump shove.

funds that should have got out on July 1st of this year and then a larger Trump's that was to be made available to states on October.

1st, as I understand that funding was made available to states on October.

1st.

And so.

>> Well, there's, you know, at least for the time being the availability of funding.

I think there are now new questions around the department's capacity to implement the many provisions of the individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

If the U.S.

staffing cuts are sustained and again, knowing that these were reported on Friday and and folks are still trying to gather Intel.

The National Conference of State Legislatures spoke to a Kentucky Education committee today.

The policy group advise them of what to expect from the big beautiful bill lets students may qualify for free and reduced lunch or medical services in schools due to eligibility changes to snap.

And Medicaid.

>> First.

>> But many schools use participation in the SNAP program as a proxy to certify participation in the free or reduced price lunch school meal program.

If a student is no longer eligible for staff staff but events, the school that me to directly certified the student to use a paper-based application and that can often times be complicated and can result in some time students who may be eligible not be counted for those meal programs.

>> In higher education, student loan borrowers will face a new reality.

>> Previously, the gradual lending was limited at the federal level.

It because the grad plus program the previous program permitted students to borrow up to the cost of attendance and the cost of attendance is set by the institutions that so students effectively face no limits on what they were able to borrow in order to pursue their graduate education through the grab.

Plus program, that program has been eliminated.

There are now new specific limits on how much students can borrow.

Federal rulemaking is underway that will hammer out much of these details for Kentucky edition.

I'm Ju Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June.

The federal government shutdown hits the two-week mark tonight at midnight with no end in sight.

We discuss the shutdown and its impact on the U.S.

and Kentucky economies with for business and economic experts of different perspectives last night on Kentucky tonight, they talked about the shutdown and the ripple effect it can have on people's pocketbooks.

>> The perspective of the business community, these government shutdowns are never good.

These are things that we would like to see taken off the table.

You know, we elect our members of Congress to work through difficult questions and to enter into negotiations with each other.

We would like to see them do that.

Businesses in Kentuckyian throughout the rest, the country depend on various government services for a variety of different things that you can think about federal contractors.

You could think about things seeking IPO approvals for through through the SEC.

stands for the initial public offerings as well as simple things like asking questions of government agencies because when the government shuts down, the rules are all still there.

The questions are also there.

And so this is another one of those things that can create even more slow down to an economy.

And so it is something that we're concerned about and our message to Congress is to do your job going, negotiate figure these things out and get the government back open.

We would like to see Congress as well as the White House engage in these meaningful discussions and not let this founder for too much longer.

We should now be very minor.

If you're talking about just a couple of weeks.

But as that shutdown starts to extend the new start, seen issues in terms of people not getting paychecks.

>> People start cutting back on their spending as a result you know, I'm not seeing that paycheck You know, if you have become a contracting circuit worried about whether or not you're going to be able to your employees.

So you start to see kind of a you hear what kind of affect us place, where we're just kind of barely.

And any kind of disruption, any additional shock to the economy can kind of tip us over to the point where actually turn negative and that could be really problematic for the economy as we kind of move forward.

>> Every 1 billion dollars.

This was the essence I got from a modeling system.

For every 1 million dollars in federal funding loss.

You have about a total actually of 3 million dollars lost to contractors.

Suppliers to the government.

And then the employees of the government not being able to spend as well as the employees of these suppliers to the government of weather is someone who the cells, Lennon or other things to a parachute manufacturer.

We have a couple of apparel manufacturers for the military here in Kentucky.

I don't know how badly the military is going to be affected, but that's a that's a key supplier.

Humana does track care insurance for the United States military.

It also is a is a Medicaid provider along with Anthem in a couple of other major insurance company.

So when you have cuts or rollbacks and spending, it has a ripple effect and that affects local restaurants.

Landlords for people who can't pay their rent can pay their mortgage or what have you not?

>> Among the sticking points, the Republican budget plan and subsidies that help people pay for health insurance.

Democrats say without that help, millions will have to pay a lot more.

One of our guests, Jason Bailey of the progressive leaving Kentucky Center for Economic Policy says it's important to KET those subsidies going and to settle the question.

Now.

I think it is.

>> government shutdown is painful and it needs to stop as soon as possible.

But a doubling of your family's health care costs is the difference between whether people get life-saving care or not.

And a man is in a state that has so many health.

The health challenges are Brady.

I think income.

We're back on that and increasing.

I'm sure it is a big problem.

In one thing I'll say about this, I think it's important to have a fight about health care.

Now there's an opportunity because this is just the beginning of what will be a serious rolling health care disaster to be quite frank.

HR one continues to be rolled out.

We expect over 200,000 Kentuckians to lose Medicaid because of the requirements that will go into effect, the work reporting requirements that go into effect next year.

We expect to see huge cuts to hospitals and providers dead in Kentucky.

We have 35 hospitals at risk of closure.

If those payments go into effect, pending cuts go into effect.

That's more than any other state.

So now's the time now is an opportunity to have an upside about health care.

And I think it's the right thing to do to do that.

>> It was a lively and informative discussion.

Our panel also talked about the tariff impact on Kentucky industries like bourbon and soybean farmers.

And you can see all of that online on demand at KET DOT Org Slash K Y tonight.

Now here's another impact of the federal government shutdown.

Cave tours are closed at Mammoth Cave National Park in South Central Kentucky.

That's according to the National Park Service which says other areas of the park are, quote, accessible as possible, unquote.

Kentucky State lawmaker wants to get rid of a law that allowed for the early release of Ronald exam to us.

He was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the stabbing death of a 6 year-old named Logan Tipton in Versailles in 2015.

But he was convicted of assaulting Tipton's family, a lesser crime which require he serve at least 20% of his 20 year sentence.

Exact list was released from prison last month.

Not by Kentucky's parole board, but through the mandatory re-entry supervision program.

His early release sparked outrage online and elsewhere and led to members of the parole board receiving death threats.

Our Emily Sisk sat down with the lawmaker who hopes to abolish the reentry program.

I don't think.

>> Annie One should be released early from their sentence without the OK?

>> The parole board state representative TJ Roberts wants to file a bill to abolish mandatory re-entry supervision.

The program allowed Ronald de Santis to be released from prison early serving less than half of his 20 year sentence after stabbing 6 year-old Logan Tipton to death and injuring his sisters and father.

This came after the parole board voted unanimously against exam to says release.

>> The Commonwealth of Kentucky fundamentally failed to protect the Tipton family from Ronald exam to sue, committed one of the worst crimes that I could ever imagine.

>> Representative Roberts said there should be no circumstance where the parole board does not approve an inmate's release.

>> It creates a contradiction in of itself where we have created a parole board.

And that parole board is human.

Why have a parole board if we have a set of statutory factors that just automatically really someone attorney and former state Senator Whitney Westerfield explained more on the mandatory re-entry supervision program.

>> Westerfield pointed out that inmates are let go only 6 months prior to their projected release states.

They're also conditions set by the parole board such as securing a jog and meeting regularly with a parole officer.

Westerfield said the program was intended to make re-entry more successful for inmates and cut down on costs.

If you're >> targeting people that are the last 6 months of their obligated.

Stay in custody.

And another was disqualified for various reasons.

Letting them out again with supervision.

Supervision is cheaper and more cost-effective that typically more effective for most offenders, then just detaining them in house.

And then for those 6 months.

>> Westerfield also said provisions from last year's say for Kentucky Act or House Bill 5 would disqualify a violent offender like eggs and tiss from being eligible for early release.

If he had been convicted and sentenced today.

>> It's worth mentioning House Bill 5 actually makes him not eligible for this.

Now, all this happened prior to the House besides the next month.

>> Representative Roberts maintained his position that mandatory re-entry supervision should be abolished and he said exam to us should have served a longer sentence.

>> There are people that it's worth spending tax dollars to KET can find.

Relatives.

And this is the dictionary definition of someone who should be held.

Away from civil society.

>> Westerfield disagreed that the program should be abolished, calling the idea a knee-jerk reaction based on one case he suggested updating the language instead to tighten up which types of inmates could be eligible.

>> The program should be gone the way it should be targeted to the people who actually can benefit from it.

You don't have to abolish the Hope Road home program to make sure something like this doesn't happen.

>> Roberts said he's open to suggestions but wants to ensure action is taken for the Tipton family for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you, Emily.

Ronald exact does has since been arrested again in Florida for failing to register as a convicted felon.

Officials there say they want to move exact us back to Kentucky tomorrow.

We'll hear from another state lawmaker who's planning to file a different bill, but it's still related to this case.

2 Republicans in the Kentucky General Assembly Senator Steve Rawlings and Representative TJ Roberts plan to introduce Bills making October 14th, Charlie Kirk Day.

Kirk is the conservative activist who was shot to death in Utah today would have been his 32nd birthday Rawlings praised Kirk as a tireless advocate for free speech.

The 2026 Kentucky General Assembly will be the last for state Representative Scott Lewis.

The Messenger Inquirer reports Lewis won't seek re-election.

The Republican from Hartford represents Ohio and Hancock counties and part of Davis County.

He served in the House since 2019.

Today, state lawmakers received an update on the highway work zone camera system created earlier this year.

House Bill 664.

Is also known as the Jared Lee Helton Act in honor of a young Mcguffin County native who was killed in a work zone accident 6 years ago.

The law implements speed detection cameras in work zones, which report offenders to nearby law enforcement officers.

Representative John Blanton is the bill sponsor and co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation.

He says the law is already making a difference.

>> Seeing it on the news.

The signs are starting to be put up.

The cameras are starting to be tested.

Ksp is training troopers in the use of the technology so that when the cameras do detect a speeder and it sent to the the trooper officer, the mdt that they can then put that into a physical citation to be issued.

I have heard from folks that already with the the signage in place and and the coverage by the media and all pay is going on that traffic are seeing the signs and they're slowing down and, you know, want that was our goal, right?

So we're already achieve in.

Well, we set out to do now.

All we don't want to do is people get complacent.

They see him and just go back to driving.

The weather were there was about never is about issuing citations.

It's not a money grab.

Compare contrary to what some people want to throw out there.

It's not about money Gram.

It's about safety.

>> Fines for speeding in work zones, start at $500 and go up to $10,000.

If there are injuries or deaths related to a violation, those fines go directly to the Transportation Cabinet's Highway Work Zone Safety Fund.

♪ ♪ >> $158,204.

>> That's the annual gross and calm.

You need to be among the richest one percent of Kentuckians.

The numbers are from a business journal analysis of IRS data, Louisville Business first says about 18,000.

Kentuckians had an income at that level or higher, according to tax returns filed in 2022.

We have important information tonight about a deer disease outbreak in Kentucky and 2 sheriff's offices will cooperate with ICE.

Our Joe Gibbs has more in tonight's look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> At least 2 sheriff's offices have signed agreements to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE.

The Tribune Currier says Lyonne and Marshall County and signed agreements to exercise limited immigration enforcement powers while performing routine police duties such as identifying and reporting aliens at DUI checkpoints.

Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hale Brick says he does not believe there's been an increase in ICE activities in Marshall County.

2 Republicans appear interested in running for state.

Senator Jimmy Higdon is 14th District Senate seat.

The Lebanon Enterprise says James Victory has filed a statement of spending intent with the state while Washington County Magistrate Steven V Carney has already announced his candidacy and then announced in September he would not seek another term in 2026.

If you see a deer that look or act strange reporting to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The state is tracking a deer disease outbreak.

The Mayfield Messenger reports 2 incidents in Graves County, including 8 days a year that made its way into Central Elementary school.

The deer was removed and euthanized.

The state reports about 800 suspected cases of hemorrhagic disease in deer this year.

Up from about 200 last year.

Martin County as a new Appalachian regional Healthcare Mobile clinic.

The Mountain Citizen says it's in front of the health department in 9 as it will offer exams, Pap smears, cervical cancer screenings and jets for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.

With headlines around Kentucky, I'm told he gives.

♪ >> The governor's office reports the death of Jeane forward.

Why from former Kentucky governor and U.S.

Senator Wendell Ford, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says the entire Ford family is in his prayers.

Senator for died in 2015.

The governor says both Fords made an enormous impact across our commonwealth and that they will not be forgotten.

Kentucky has lost one of its most outstanding riders.

A man who touched many lives with his writing and his teaching gurney.

Norman died Sunday at the age of 88 Norman was known for stories of Appalachia, including the novel Divine Rights Trip and a collection of short stories called can folks.

He was a longtime English professor at the University of Kentuckyian director of the creative writing Department.

He also narrated a series for KET exploring the history and culture of different areas of Kentucky.

>> And the cost of going to college continues to rise.

As you probably know.

There are many resources to help lower that cost.

Our Lord Rogers spoke with a high school counselor from Russell County who recently had the tables turned when she said her first child to college last year.

And she says there are some things even she learned in the process.

>> Robin Racing is college and career readiness counselor at Russell County High School.

And Robin, aside from your professional role, you're also the parent of a college freshman.

So, you know, this process very well.

I want to ask how you started planning and saving for those college expenses because we know how costly it can be.

>> Absolutely.

I'm it's scary for parents to think about the financial responsibility of having a student in college.

But there are some things that I did early on.

Whenever my all expressed interest in wanting to pursue college Sunday.

And that was had him walk into a merit scholarship opportunities at colleges based on his GPA and is a city score the KET money that students are in while they're in hospital that has helped tremendously.

And then, of course, following the back so that federal aid from the government.

>> This is your background.

So you had a lot of experience and you KET a lot going into the process, however, is there anything you wish you had known last year that, you know, now?

>> So when I took my sent on college visits to senior year, and I realize that they were couple acknowledges that he really focused on and that a lot of attention and effort into researching that once we made it on campus, that wasn't a fit for And so if one thing I could've changed was I think I would have got him on the campuses earlier, possibly his junior year so we could have eliminated the college is that we're not a fit for him.

>> I want to ask you more about your role there.

Russell County, High School and how you do help repair high school seniors for that college admissions process or whatever they may want to do after they graduate.

>> So after like I made the case on between the student and the military wrap, the partners in our community with businesses, Air Chamber of Commerce era college maps.

I do a lot of planning to set up meetings between students and those.

Those individuals also have FAFSA workshops for parents and students so we can have them bother FAFSA in a very relaxed environment with plenty of help.

I host college application day.

We just had that on 6 excess of over 275 applications filled out.

We had people from all over the state here to help us.

I have seen your newsletter.

I have correspondence with parents.

I do all the scholarships on the credit coordinator.

So I play a role in just making sure that the student feels more prepared and the parent feels better prepared to move that scene on to the next step.

Whatever step that may be.

>> A little role that you play there at Russell County High School.

Any common mistakes that you see people make?

>> I'm possibly some common mistakes that I see students bank across the nation when it comes to following and going out scholarships following the even applying to college.

And when they wait until the last minute, it just makes it harder for them.

>> And then back to that affordability factor.

What is something that you think everything year needs to know needs to consider when it does come to paying for college.

>> I feel like the everything you need to know that there are funds available for college expenses and their scholarships through military opportunities through grants, work, study options.

There are opportunities out there and it never hurts precedent to go ask a financial aid office or scholarship office at the college that their interests and and explain their circumstances and asked for any available funding that might be out there.

But I think that students, EU exhaust sends out there before they look at taking out a student loan.

>> Yes, can definitely save you money in the long run.

Absolutely.

Robin Rixon College and career readiness counselor at Russell County High School.

Thank you so much for your perspective and your expertise today.

We really appreciate it.

Thank you.

>> Thank you, Laura.

Some great advice there.

Hear more advice from our panel of experts on paying for college 2026.

Education matters.

We discuss the changes and this year's FAFSA scholarships Grants and more that program is streaming online on demand at KET DOT Org.

♪ >> It's a big birthday for Lexington.

The city of Lexington is celebrating its 200 and 50th anniversary.

And KET is joining the celebration.

>> Last night, hundreds of people turned out at the Kentucky Theater for a special screening of our newest documentary Chronicle lined the city's establishment and some of its more important moments and events.

Lexington to 50 years takes viewers on a sprawling historical journey that includes the Civil War, the birth of Transylvania University.

Mary Todd Lincoln and so much more the full 3, our documentary premieres Monday night at 8 Eastern 7 Central right here on KET.

It's must-see TV and it's must see TV on Kentucky edition tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, eastern or central time when we inform connect and inspire.

We hope that you'll connect with us all the ways you might see on your screen.

We have some email newsletters that we can send you and you can watch videos and clips at KET Dot Org.

And you can also find us on the PBS video app that you can download on your mobile device and smart TV.

Thank you so much for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw and I'll see you