>> We can't become content.

Just because we're seeing progress doesn't mean we just stop.

>> Lexington is saying its lowest number of shootings in a decade, but the city says it's just getting started on curbing gun violence.

>> He has to catch up financially.

You can't just be popular come January against the barrage of spending.

>> We break down Kentucky's U.S.

Senate race, as new reports show who's leading in the rush to raise the cash.

>> Our food supply is dependent on this next generation of students.

>> And they're learning how to produce that food for their friends and neighbors.

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

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for this Friday, October the 17th.

We have made it to the weekend.

I'm Renee Shaw, and we thank you for kicking off your weekend with us.

Good news for Kentucky seniors.

State lawmakers say there are now funds to continue the senior meal program.

Republican State Senator Greg Elkins says the state's budget director transferred money from the cabinet for Health and Family Services to prop up the program.

It's unclear if that has happened, how much money was moved and how far those dollars will actually stretch.

Federal money that helped expand the program earlier this year has dried up.

Some area development districts who administer the senior meal program say the state didn't ask the General Assembly for enough money to keep the program running.

A number of lawmakers also pointed fingers at the Beshear administration.

A spokesperson for Governor Beshear says they hope to finalize a plan soon, and will have more information to release on Monday.

Want to drive a semi?

Well, you first have to take driving tests in English.

That's the goal of new legislation introduced today by Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky's sixth district, which he says will prevent undocumented immigrants from getting a commercial driver's license or CDL.

His bill also gives the U.S.

Department of Transportation the power to revoke a state's authority to issue cdls.

This comes months after a deadly semi crash in Florida.

The semi driver got his CDL in California.

U.S.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the driver shouldn't have been given a CDL because of his immigration status.

In a statement, Congressman Barr said, quote, by issuing cdls to illegal immigrants, states like California are undermining federal law and endangering public safety.

Our bill restores accountability by strengthening President Trump's authority to hold liberal states in check when they define federal law, and recklessly grant cdls to illegal immigrants, end quote.

Time now to check in on some major political news of the week.

And we've got our favorites with us.

We've got Trey Grayson and Bob Babich who are with us.

It's the third Friday of the month, so that's our standing date.

Good to see you.

Good to see you.

Let's talk dollars.

The fundraising numbers came out for this quarter.

Daniel Cameron seems to be banking on his name I.D.

to make up for some very lackluster fundraising.

I mean, he came in, and we're going to put this full screen on the screen for folks to see.

Bar raised 1.8 million.

Cameron brought in 411,000.

And businessman Nate Morris has 4 million.

But the bulk of that, roughly 3 million he loaned himself.

What do you make of those numbers, Trey Grayson?

>> None of them are particularly surprising.

You know, I think that Cameron did, to his credit, have an increase from this quarter to last quarter.

He's still obviously fallen pretty far behind.

Bar is still keeping up that blistering fundraising pace.

And I think the question we all have was we knew Morris would put money in, but how much could he raise?

In addition, the million is pretty good.

Although most it didn't seem like a lot of big names, a lot of it seemed from out in the out in the country, and he had a long time to raise it.

So I think there's a real question of how much, you know, how much interest an individual donor community is there in his candidacy.

But there was also some polling that came out.

And what was striking to me about the polling was it reinforced the story that Cameron has trouble raising money, getting endorsements, but the Republican voters still like him.

He's still leading.

And so, in some respects, what we we learned a lot of new things.

But the race, I would still analyze it the same way as we've been.

And I'll let Bob analyze that.

>> Yeah.

Because even, you know, speaking to the polling, there was a Daniel Cameron poll and there was Andy bar poll and even bars narrative has been this is a two man race, right.

That Nate Morris is just out there.

He's the spoiler.

But it's really between Andy Bar and Daniel Cameron.

>> And that's a good pitch for bar to make.

Cameron is popular.

People like him.

Republicans have had a history of voting for him twice, for attorney general and twice when he ran for governor primary in general.

So when you put all that together, he does catch on.

And the polling, that's a name, you know, bar not so much.

But in central Kentucky, he has a clear advantage and he's getting around a lot of places.

And Nate Morris put up 3 million.

If I'd put up 3 million we might have won our last races.

You never know, but didn't quite have it at the time or now.

We have wondered about what that would be and also what he would raise.

He's getting some national attention from groups that are backing multiple candidates.

5 or 6 Nate Morris like candidates with that strong message.

And and if they do that and move it enough, then Morris will have more funding from some of those personalities, some of those mega donors who are helping multiple Republicans around the country.

>> Is it the populist outsider message that the same type of folks that are behind the Morris campaign that are.

>> Populist freedom, liberty and.

>> And and business background?

I think some of the profile is, yeah.

>> Capitalist angle there for sure.

Yeah.

Cameron faces the challenge now in this new fundraising period.

I think Trey and you definitely weigh in on this.

He has to catch up financially.

You can't just be popular come January against the barrage of spending will.

We'll see.

That's that's a tough challenge.

He has less than one tenth on hand of what Barr has.

And Barr is going to keep on going.

That's what people wanted to see this time.

That's definitely what we're going to want to see when that next quarter closes out.

Can he keep the popularity long enough to raise enough money to be really strong next May.

>> But Trey you know, dollars don't vote, right?

Right.

But it does probably sour a little bit of the optimism about his his vitality of his candidacy.

>> And I think that's why they were so focused on the surveys, even though there was some slippage compared to some surveys a couple months ago, he still had a pretty comfortable lead.

And I think, you know, the thing that he does still have going for him, we talked about this is there are millions of dollars spent in 2023 burnishing him as the kind of Republican, the kind of conservative that the party should like.

And a lot of that 23 ways is trying to raise the turnout to get more Republicans to stay home in the off years now, because that's sort of the way the electorate is trying to get them.

That Daniel is the kind of guy you want to come out and vote for so that that brand is still there.

And in Louisville, which is a tough market to crack because it's so expensive and so big and western Kentucky same.

It's different.

It's diffuse.

And this media market where it's not as simple.

When we were running by TV, by radio, by mail as much as you can now you can't just do that.

You have to hit a lot of different platforms, a lot of messaging.

And so Cameron's residual brand is pretty powerful.

And when he gets out on the stumps, people still like him.

>> But he's not on TV yet.

>> Well.

>> That's the challenge.

>> He doesn't have to be able to reinforce that to remind voters, hey, remember me from a couple of years ago?

You really liked me.

And they're like, oh yeah, we did the one thing, from what I can tell, it does look like he's working harder at raising money.

I think he's recognizing the challenge, and he's going back to all these folks reaching out.

He was making more phone calls.

I got more reports from people saying he finally called me, and that's going to bear some fruit.

And that may be why he did a little bit better this quarter because of the decline from the first quarter of the second quarter, was a real burden to carry this quarter, raising money.

So the fact that he saw an uptick, I think is evidence of that.

>> Yeah.

So we're still waiting for the President Trump endorsement, right.

Would that make a.

>> Difference on the money thing, which we don't have any votes to count.

So counting the money is key.

Yeah, right.

A couple of years ago when Cameron came out of that primary and didn't really kick in the fundraising apparatus right away for the general, you got a lot of time.

But Beshear, immediately the Friday after the Tuesday had an enormous, maybe record breaking fundraiser.

So he was ready to have the financial lead the whole race.

The adage is still true in our nation.

Whoever spends the most wins the most.

That's the way it goes.

That's a little shaded, because a lot of people who spend the most are incumbents, and we tend to reelect most of our folks around the country for most offices.

But money does speak to others who want to be for a winner, pick a winner just like Keeneland tomorrow or Churchill Downs.

And that that edge now is changing.

But you would have thought too with Cameron.

Not in the the dogfight and seeing Maurice and Barb beating up on each other, they might have come down still with their name recognition in the polling.

Everybody in Washington and other places saying Cameron's 1517 points ahead he is.

If the election were today, he'd win.

>> Yeah.

>> But the election's not today.

>> That's right.

Yeah.

And I think we also the other thing you mentioned Trump.

You know, we talked about primaries here.

There's the one person primary to get Trump to endorse.

And then there's the traditional primary that we're all used to.

If you're Nate Morris you know this was not an awesome quarter.

First quarter introduction.

You're still you're not pulling all that great even though you spent some money.

You're fundraising.

You know, again, lots of money around the country.

You had your own money but not a ton from the state.

And then the the positive negative.

He is pretty much you know, one of the polls showed 1618 right about the same.

And he's got the highest negatives in the race for the fresh faced outsider guy.

That's a problem.

Now he's getting if he's got enough money from his own and from his outside, he can define himself and do that outsider lane.

But if you're Donald Trump looking at this race, you're not going to immediately endorse Nate Morris, which is good for Daniel Cameron, and that's good for Andy Barr.

And it may be that we start to see Barr focus a little bit more on Cameron, to try to soften him up with some of those resources and give credence to this.

It really is a two person race.

>> Well, we'll keep watching.

We'll keep talking.

That's what we do.

Thank you guys.

>> Thank you.

>> Thanks.

More than 600 Kentucky families stand to benefit from a flood buyout program.

Governor Andy Beshear s office says the state is working with six counties to buy up homes and flood prone areas.

The homes are in Floyd, not Letcher, McClain, Perry and Pike counties.

You must volunteer to participate in the program.

It's made possible by more than $100 million in federal funding, with the state contributing a little over $11 million.

The City of Lexington is on track to experience the lowest number of shootings in a decade.

One Lexington's anti-violence plan, called All Hearts on Deck, is credited with decreasing gun violence in the city by 60% since 2022.

But with 17 homicides in the city so far this year, the director of One Lexington says the city needs all hands on deck.

He put out that call to action Thursday at a symposium on youth and young adult gun violence.

>> Our all Hearts on Deck strategy is the reason that we've seen so much progress as far as gun violence, and so we want to continue moving in that spirit of all of us coming together.

And that's what today is about.

>> It is a community wide strategic plan.

You this is your plan.

>> All of these community partners that are here are the ones that helped us create our strategic plan.

And so now we want them to be a part of the process of implementing.

>> It, seeing what the community is doing to prevent gun violence is interesting because we all do it in a different kind of way, but we all serve the same purpose, and that I take away just seeing what everybody is doing at their level.

>> I want them to see themselves in this plan.

Right.

It's one thing to use your expertise and say, we need to do this, we should do that.

But how do you see yourself fitting into that larger puzzle?

Right?

What piece do you specifically play and represent?

And so that's kind of what we want to we want them to envision themselves as actually doing the work as well.

>> I have my own nonprofit, and with Exhilarating Ink, I wrote a grant to one Lexington to do teach teens and older adults how to transition into adulthood.

We're teaching them skills, and we know that a lot of times when people are involved with violence, it's because they lack some skills.

They don't have jobs, so they find ways to survive.

They don't have housing, so they find ways to survive.

So if we can teach you something to help you survive and stay off the streets, then we feel like we're doing something.

>> You know, we have seen in Frankfort and our work with substance use that, you know, it sometimes is three steps forward, two steps back.

We have really admired the way that one Lexington has approached this problem of gun violence among youth and young adults, and have really seen it as a testament to the importance of utilizing and sharing data with the community of investing in preventive approaches, and in really making the solutions to these problems that that seem really intractable.

A whole community effort.

We really believe in Frankfort and our work.

That's the only way to tackle these kinds of issues.

And we've seem to be seeing the same spirit and energy here in Lexington.

So we're just really very inspired and here to learn.

>> We can't become content.

Just because we're seeing progress doesn't mean we just stop.

But how do we keep that progress going?

We got to continue to adjust as new things change in our community.

So I think coming out of today, we'll know exactly what we need moving forward, and then it'll just get in the war room and start analyzing things and, and continue this downward trend.

>> Some of the ways one, Lexington wants to make the city safer, making community centers more accessible and providing more mentoring and free tutoring for students.

Kentuckians covered by Medicare.

That's the health insurance program for those aged 65 and older, have some of the worst health outcomes in the country.

That's according to a new report looking at how Medicare is performing.

It's from the Commonwealth Fund, which researches health care issues to improve health policy.

This report was based on several key measures, including access, quality and cost of care and population health.

It found that in Kentucky in 2023, 66% of Medicare patients had at least three chronic conditions.

That was higher than the national average of 62%.

Kentucky also had more.

Kentuckians over the age of 65 also reported going without medical care because of the cost.

Only Mississippi and Louisiana scored worse than Kentucky in the overall report.

And tonight's sports news.

The government shutdown could impact the University of Louisville's basketball season.

The women's team is scheduled to take on Connecticut at a U.S.

Air Force base in Germany on November 4th.

A source told The Associated Press that if the shutdown continues until Monday, the game would be moved to a neutral site in the U.S.

on the same day, a Louisville spokesperson deferred to ESPN, which is airing the game.

ESPN said it's, quote, exploring contingency plans, end quote.

October is Farm to School Month in Barron County.

A community wide effort provided a Hands-On lesson and how our food gets from the farm to the table.

Our Laura Rogers takes us there for our agricultural segment we call rooted.

>> I need more apples.

>> The real goal is trying to get kids to know and understand where their food comes from.

>> And what better way to do that than by hosting a hog roast.

>> We have always felt that our ag programs, especially in the school district, should reflect the community.

>> Barron County Schools have a dedicated farm to school coordinator and Andy Jo Moore.

>> It's one of the coolest things when you can help students produce food and give them the opportunity to enjoy that meal amongst their friends, amongst their peers.

>> To do so, the school district connects with local farmers and Sustainable Glasgow.

>> They were doing an event and we were doing a hog roast and we said, hey, why don't we partner together and make this big?

>> And they did, selling 500 tickets and inviting the entire community.

>> To enjoy the meal.

>> We'll show them what you guys are doing, how amazing your students are.

We'll feed them with our food locally.

Everything comes right here from the area.

>> That is a connection to our local economy.

That's a connection to our local agriculturalist, our farmers.

>> There are a lot of farmers in Barron County.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture reflects more than 1600 farms across 230,500 acres, the most in the state of Kentucky.

>> When you live in an agricultural community, the support comes from every angle, and that's very encouraging.

>> The connection between the kids and the farmers.

That's what we want to facilitate.

>> Sustainable Glasgow people from the farmers market, people from the Agriculture Department and our food and nutrition services will begin meeting and having discussion in June July.

>> From pressing fresh apple cider to picking the flowers for table arrangements, every detail meticulously planned and executed.

>> The kids actually churn butter for this event from country milk.

>> That's used on the menu tonight with the cornbread.

>> Hannah Simmons says her students get excited to see what they're learning in class.

Translate to this event.

>> We see so many changes within the agriculture industry, the way technology is changing agriculture.

Our food supply is dependent on this next generation of students.

>> And if last night is any indication, we're in good hands for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

>> Thank you.

Laura looks yummy.

The dinner supported Sustainable Glasgow and the Kentucky Double Dollars program, which helps people in need get more for their money at the local farmers market.

Did you know there is a near exact replica of New York's famous music Box theater in Louisville?

The Brown Theater is celebrating 100 years this year.

This week on Inside Louisville, Kelsie Starks explores the history of this iconic theater that's had a tumultuous story in Louisville.

>> In the mid 1990s, the venue was facing some real, real challenges.

The first part of that was in 1995.

There was a stage door.

Johnny, which was a Tommy Tune musical, was created and teched and built at the Brown Theater.

And that was the first time that a touring Broadway production had been made, essentially in Louisville, and that also served as a fundraiser, which then led to the increase, you know, the next round of fundraising, which in 1998 resulted in the theater reopening.

Re Re Re Christening, right.

>> As it's been through a lot.

>> Yes.

Back to the brown, but a different brown J. Graham.

You know, they originally in 1925 was J. Graham Brown.

Now this was named after W.L.

Lyons Brown theater.

And with that you know, there was a whole new all new rigging system, computerized marquee, you know, new HVAC system, you know, all of all of the amenities.

So, yes, that happened in, in 1998.

>> All those things that we know and love about the Brown Theater today as it continues and now celebrating 100 years.

>> Part of the story of the Brown Theater includes Louisville's Fund for the Arts, the nation's oldest United arts fund.

Learn about both legends and the arts community on the next Inside Louisville that airs Sunday at 12 noon 11:00 central right here on KET.

Have a close encounter with little green men.

Kick up a little mud or pick a pumpkin made of glass.

It's all possible this weekend, as our Toby Gibbs shows us in tonight's look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

>> Load up the ATV and take an off road adventure this weekend in Harlan County as it hosts the Fall Crawl Travel, Kentucky's highest elevated off road park with 7000 acres to ride on at the Black Mountain Off-Road adventure area, there will be live music, food, inflatables, train rides, and vendors along the way for riders to check out.

Get ready for a good time at the first ever Old Town Fall Festival, happening this Saturday in Berea.

At the center of the festival is the Glass Pumpkin Patch featuring handblown, pumpkins, gourds, acorns, and other seasonal items.

There will also be a variety of artist demonstrations to explore, including live pottery, glassblowing, needle felting and painting.

Local food and drink will be available throughout the day.

Evening activities include a pumpkin glow display and contest, live music, kids games, and activities.

If you want to take a road trip through history, head to Middlesboro Saturday for the America 250 Road Show.

The Kentucky Historical Society and America 250 are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with events around Kentucky this weekend, it's diving into the fascinating history of Bell County.

You'll hear from local historians, explore historical markers, and engage with history at different activity stations.

Take a journey back in time to the 1864 Civil War with The Haunting of the Hills tour of the Battle of Frankfort.

Walk the same trail used by Civil War soldiers over 160 years ago, and discover how local militiamen defended Fort Hill and saved the city from destruction by Confederate raiders.

There will be food, drinks and activities to enjoy once you reach the end of the tour, including trick or treating, pumpkin painting and games.

It's fall, y'all, and they're celebrating the season in Hopkins County at the Hanson Lions Club Falls Street Festival.

Browse booths filled with vintage and craft items, and enjoy a beer garden and food trucks with local cuisine.

There will also be bounce houses and a petting zoo for the kids.

Wear your costumes for a chance to win prizes.

Bring a nonperishable for the club's food drive.

Color Your World at the 17th annual Via Street Painting Festival.

Join 150 artists who will turn the sidewalks of Louisville's Waterfront park into jaw dropping masterpieces.

Right before your eyes.

Live music, a food court, bounce houses, local vendors, cosplay and plenty of other family friendly activities round out the event.

Want to show your pumpkin carving skills are a cut above the rest?

Then check out the pumpkin carving workshop at Carter Caves State Resort Park.

Create your own jack o lantern and help light up Cascade Cave.

Pumpkin carving tools will be provided to create a pumpkin masterpiece, or you're welcome to bring your own to place in the cave.

For the glowing jack o lantern display.

Something out of this world is landing in Hopkinsville this weekend, where they're paying tribute to the granddaddy of UFO stories at the first annual Goblin Con, UFO, and Paranormal Expo.

It's been 70 years since the famous Kelly-hopkinsville encounter, when locals said little green men dropped by for a surprise visit.

And now fans are bringing the legend back down to earth.

The event features workshops and panels with special guests discussing all things paranormal, from aliens and goblins, of course, to ghosts and Bigfoot.

Kentucky's oldest running festival, Court Days, is back in session in downtown Mount Sterling.

The four day event draws tens of thousands of people from all parts of the country, who come to take part in the tradition that includes more than 500 vendors, live music, food, a mullet contest and other activities for the whole family.

The event is free and runs through Monday, and that's what's happening around the Commonwealth.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you, Toby Gibbs.

Capitalizing on its beauty.

On Monday, we learn about a new project to bring more tourism to Eastern Kentucky.

Plus, we go one on one with U.S.

Senator Rand Paul to talk about the federal government shutdown, President Trump's use of the military, and much more.

Those stories coming at you Monday night at 630 eastern, 530 Central on Kentucky Edition, where we inform, connect and inspire.

We hope that you'll connect with us all the ways you see on your screen by the social media channels Facebook, Instagram and send us a story idea by email to Public Affairs at ket.org and look for us on the PBS app that you can download on your smart devices.

Thanks so very much for being with us this week.

Go out and make it a great weekend to come.

A lot of great things to do all across the Commonwealth, and we'll see you right back here again Monday night.

Have a good one.