♪ >> This man is in and the race for Congress from Kentucky's 4th district yet, but he's already picked up a big endorsement.

>> And that's why the post that Terre of what we think it's really hurting Kentucky farmers.

>> We go one-on-one with Senator Rand Paul to talk about the government shut down the economy and his idea for increased tourism and eastern Kentucky.

Wayne Rooney.

The beauty.

ups truck to view of the river.

And see that and more as we explore one Kentucky city's main street.

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

♪ ♪ Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Monday, October, the 20th.

>> I'm Renee Shaw and we thank you for joining us this evening.

President Donald Trump has his candidate for Congress in Kentucky's 4th district, but he's candidate isn't running yet.

Trump has been criticizing the current Congressman Thomas Massie.

Massey is a Republican, but he has publicly disagreed with Trump on budget issues.

And Massey is leading an effort for Congress to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Something Trump, of course, opposes.

Trump has vowed to back a primary opponent to Massey in 2026.

Friday in a truth Social Post Trump said he backs Ed guile.

Ryan, a former Navy SEAL from Shelby County who ran unsuccessfully for the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024, this is video from Gall Ryans commercials in that race.

A race eventually won by Aaron Reed.

Last year ago, Ron spoke to the Courier Journal about his background and his position on the issues.

>> I saw now and I want to Army Ranger school.

One of the toughest.

Training schools next to SEAL training.

>> In the world to be a better leader than it did that for me.

And then island Rangers in combat.

>> But that leadership experience, that's a crucible of food, sleep on the Nile in hardship and arduous conditions to simulate combat made me a better leader.

I saw that out as a junior officer to make myself a better leader.

You I'm going to protect the Second Amendment.

I'm pro Life Pro Constitution.

And I'm gonna protect our values.

Part of part of my campaign is positivity.

Prosperity and the protection of our culture.

I'm going to fight inflation, eliminate the income tax and wasteful spending and cut regulation.

I believe in accountability and transparency combat the games that not only illegal drugs, increased penalties for dangerous criminals and hold officials that are doing catch and release accountable outlook generationally as a legislator for the for the best interest of these communities, these counties, my district and the Commonwealth.

>> President Trump said this in his post Friday, quote, Unlike light weight Massey, a totally ineffective loser who has failed us so badly.

Captain Ed Go High is a winner.

Who will not let you down run and Ron, unquote.

Politico reports that goal Ryan thanked Trump for his support on Saturday but did not officially launch a bid.

He said he would make an announcement about what's next Kentucky's junior U.S.

senator laced up his hiking boots to show his effort to buoy adventure tourism in Appalachia.

That in turn, he says will benefit the Eastern Kentucky economy.

Senator Rand Paul was in the Red River Gorge last week to promote the creation of the eastern Kentucky Leaf and Blossom Trail.

Similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

This group will engage communities and businesses to create a trail system that will bring visitors to areas of the region.

They haven't been able to get to before.

Senator Paul hopes the trail will attract tourists away from the overcrowded tourist areas of nearby states.

>> I think we can compete for Tennessee and North Carolina Mountains are every bit as beautiful.

If not more beautiful.

>> And but they're getting a lot of traffic.

It's so crowded down in Tennessee and places.

But I think we can siphon off a lot of that business and they millions of dollars of business saying the future of Eastern Kentucky.

A lot of it is tourism.

>> After Senator Paul High, some of the scenic trails as you see and the Red River Gorge.

We caught up with them for launch at a local restaurant.

How McKenzie Spink spoke to the senator about some of the headlines at the federal level like the government shutdown and the release of the so-called Epstein files.

>> The U.S.

is in its 3rd week of a total government shutdown.

Senate Democrats want to negotiate the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are expiring in December warning that premiums could double for many Americans.

Senator Rand Paul says the subsidies that are expiring primarily benefit the upper class and the insurance companies.

>> This isn't in the ending of the original Obama care subsidies.

These are add-ons up.

Seems if you make 170,000 ares year you get an extra $3,600 a year.

Most people we're going to be watching this.

Don't think making $170,000 is poor.

They think of that has been pretty well off and they don't need a subsidy of all this is done is made the insurance companies which are so I don't is a good idea, but it's not really material in the sense of the debate we're having is over just opening the government and the spending levels.

>> Senator Paul has been a critic of President Trump's in the past.

I asked him about the president's idea that U.S.

cities should be used as training grounds for the military.

>> Policemen are trained that if you're standing in front of my office, you're allowed to do it.

He's used a citizen, want to protest a mamas.

We don't shoot you.

We don't arrest you necessarily.

The army is less nuanced and this and so army, we're talk to kill the enemy, subdue them.

So it's a different sort of rules of engagement.

And that's why analysts is a disaster.

You're eating one policeman as opposed to the army patrolling our cities.

>> A procedural move called a discharge petition led by U.S.

Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky's 4th Congressional district that could force the House to vote on releasing the Epstein files.

But there still aren't enough signatures.

Senator Paul says he supports the release of the documents to help restore the public's faith in the government.

>> There is this perception out there that very wealthy people got away with something?

Probably because they're wealthy.

Now, I can't prove that, but I think we should get the information forward because we all need to have confidence in our government time to releasing the obscene documents.

I have voted that way.

We had a vote that came up that has put for primarily by Democrats.

But I voted with Democrats to least Epstein files.

>> Last week the Treasury said that the Trump administration is putting together 20 billion dollars in aid to Argentina to ease its economic crisis.

Senator Paul says we can't give money that we don't have even to our allies.

>> In order to give them 20 billion and literally we have to borrow the money from China and then Senate Argentina.

This year.

China's buying 0, no soy game.

Our farmers are hurting because of that.

Where is China buying our soybeans from Argentina?

Brazil been part of this is from the tariff war.

And that's why the POWs, the chair of what we think it's really, really hurting Kentucky farmers.

>> Regarding the government shutdown, Senator Paul says he expects it to end soon but that he opposes both the Republican and Democratic spending plans because of the multi trillion dollar deficits attached to both plans for Kentucky edition.

I'm McKenzie spank.

>> Thank you, Mackenzie.

This week, a bipartisan team including Senator Paul plans to force a vote on legislation that would block the president from carrying out any military action against Venezuela and less Congress declares war this month.

The U.S.

struck 5 boats off the coast of Venezuela that were suspected of carrying drugs, killing 27 people.

Thousands of Kentuckians took to the streets on Saturday taking part in a nationwide day of protest against the Trump administration.

Washington was one of more than 2 dozen cities and the state to hold so-called no Kings rallies.

It was the city's second such rally this year.

Organizers say the crowd and the sense of urgency even greater this time around.

>> This moment can not be overstated.

The reason for all of you is you want to see the waves in Hawaii because with every single day that passes, I was on the road going to be erased.

Our communities less safe.

And regular people because he knows something powerful cities all ♪ A dictatorship.

The bank consolidated right now.

>> It's the courage of ordinary people to put a stop to.

That's why all here we need to make our voices heard.

Now.

If we get beyond a certain point, if authoritarianism has consolidated, he won't be able to speak out and we will have lost.

That point is not here yet.

We have a chance to save our democracy.

A lot of people have the same concerns.

They believe the rats were right here today.

I think it's just even more enthusiastic and more.

>> Joyful.

Then it wasn't here.

But we're also this sense of urgency has not And we know that this moment there made a big thing going on in the government that we have to try to address.

>> People are being stripped of their status and their humanity.

People are losing the very protections they sought by coming to this country.

People who came to this country to become a part of it as I how and as many of you have.

People who are working to make this a better country for all its people as all of you are trying to do.

Everyone here today.

Wants to do something immigrant and refugee along here.

I want you to stand with the immigrant and refugee from here.

>> But you know what?

This message isn't just a slogan.

This is a call to action.

>> My friends at a Dhaka obviously are here.

You know, they live in fear of ice, but they fear to go outside and they they go to work and they come out.

That's all they did.

So I'm here for those that don't have a voice.

I'm here for those that feel marginalized by society.

I'm here for everybody that cannot come out here today.

I'm here today because human rights matter to me.

>> I would like to see a brown people be able to walk down the street to not be disappear.

I would like to see our Constitution.

I'm I'm honored and I just want the freedoms that we have always had.

Lying.

I'm tired of gaslighting.

I would just love.

I'm a better country for my children.

>> I have a really diverse family.

So I'm fearful that they won't be able to be their true selves, that they won't have benefits that I've enjoyed.

I mean, I'm I'm semi retired.

So I'm worried about my future.

But I I want everything we had.

I would love.

Comfort and innocence.

And I know that's gone.

>> I definitely here for the other person that has laws are being in chains currently.

this young I'm going to have to grow up in a world where, you know, people can get married, people that they love or we get the health care that they need.

I'm worried that one of the situation to one day be me or someone that I know and they won't.

And they will get the things that they need.

>> The most important thing is to KET this momentum going live TV to come together on one day.

Have a big protest, have a big march in and then sort of leave and not do anything out there right now.

But we have to go back home and we have to make sure that we're still resisting and the ways that we think that we need to we need to push to KET going.

>> Some Republican state lawmakers have criticized the know King rallies online.

A state representative TJ Roberts shared pictures on social media that he says show Saturday's rally in Florence.

He characterized it as, quote, open borders, filth, vandalism of public property smears on our incredible ICE agents and the same vile rhetoric that got Charlie Kirk killed in, quote.

Governor Andy Beshear says he's found more than 9 million dollars in state money to continue serving free launches to Kentucky saying years last month the state announced all funding for senior males had been exhausted.

That was abrupt news for senior meal providers and state lawmakers called on the governor to find a solution.

Beshear says his finance cabinet will also evaluate the senior Mills program, which have doubled and per meal cost since the pandemic.

>> No, Kentuckyian should face hunger.

And while I'm glad we found a tool temporary solution, we must ensure that we understand our people's needs as well as the cost controls and procedures for the senior meal program to appropriately budget and run these programs in the future.

>> The governor also says the state will cover expenses for the federal government's temporary assistance for needy Families program since the federal government will not during it shot down.

Bashir promised payments for just the month of November.

He says the federal government will also stop food stamps or snap next month.

Bashir did not say the state would offer additional assistance for that program.

The Democrats have their nominee for a special state Senate election and district.

37 on December, the 16th Senator David Yates resigned recently after Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg picked him to become interim Jefferson County clerk after the death of Bobbie Holsclaw Democrats in the district have picked Gary Clements, president of United, Steelworkers, local 60 93 to Ron in that special election.

Clemens is also a veteran of the Army reserves and a statement state Democratic Party Chair Colmon Eldridge says, quote, Gary Clemens is uniquely qualified to go fight for our families and the general assembly and quote, Republicans have not yet hit their nominee.

♪ ♪ Thomas, more University and Crestview Hills and northern Kentucky is joining the Kentucky community and Technical College system to launch what's called Pathways to more a program that will let students at any of the 16 kctcs colleges transfer to Thomas more easily and with more support.

It's the first partnership like this between Kctcs and a private university students will benefit from the advice from both institutions and students who transfer to Thomas more full-time will receive a $4,000 Transfer Scholarship.

Thomas Moore, President Joseph below says, quote, We are proud to partner with Kctcs to empower more students to achieve their academic and personal goals with confidence and clarity, unquote.

High schoolers and one Kentucky school district have.

Have counseling help at their fingertips.

And Bullet County schools partnered with a local based software company to create an AI-powered app that high school students can access counseling, resources more about this in tonight's Education Matters.

Report.

>> We are here to write an education for them, but we can't really provide that unless their basic needs and their emotional support are taking care of first.

So I really think that this app provides that for them and they can show up to school knowing that they have a means of support.

24 7, even when they're outside of these.

Well spearheading a lot.

The kids were already using AI chatbots to give emotional support.

But using something brabec of chatgpt can be a little risky because it's just connecting to the bride Internet and not exactly what you want.

A vulnerable teenage population looking to for advice.

And we just really strongly that we needed to set up a flow that kept a human in the loop.

I think it's really critical of AI.

So is the Slingshot team's work really closely with the coalition to understand what the needs were?

We worked really closely with counselors and staff to understand what they're concerned, where how we can build something that work for them as well.

And then the bill.

But the mobile app and a Web app.

So the app is very user friendly.

>> There was resources.

There's little characters that you can personalize based on your mood.

There's a chat box so you can go and you can like type in whatever you're feeling or whatever you need.

Help with.

And it will provide feedback or information on that topic.

The app itself has a chop pot that's been trained on data provided by counselors and staff.

So it's only connecting to that verified data on how to give feedback on how to coach kids.

They're emotional >> situations.

So the tab itself is there.

Then there's also a resource action.

Something we're hearing from kids is no handouts and pdf.

Sorry, okay.

But it's not in that really resonates with us.

So we're taking those same pieces of content that tell you how to navigate a tough situation.

And we're turning it into a quiz or a quick article or a podcast or something that really feels like it lands a teenager and then we also have a way for them to digitally reach out to their counselors that they need in-person support.

So there's feedback of that could the stigma around having to go down to the office or request an appointment that that was a real barrier to getting human help.

And we were able to build a flow which students could go in and say, you know, I'm raising my hand.

I need help.

We're hoping to see a decrease in the number of >> wheeling him into health issues that we see that we are also hoping to just gives students out what to know that they're not alone and to know that they have somewhere that they can go to a mission that just on their phone.

It's an easy way to just go and say, hey, I'm not doing so.

I need to talk with somebody.

And so I think just seeing the amount of >> help the students are getting go up and the amount of until health issues go down, that would always say our first line of defense is a is a human.

But >> it says here is as backup as well.

♪ >> Which Kentucky City has a ferry boat, no franchise stores and a connection to one of the most famous families in Hollywood.

Augusta, Kentucky sits on the bank of the Ohio River.

And even though the population is small, the city has a big impact on tourism.

Our Emily Sisca takes us to the heart of Augusta and tonight's segment of Monday's on Maine.

I guess is kinda by this step back into time.

Like a home.

Our town.

So everything about it is Smalling Queen Small and quaint.

Indeed.

>> Augusta, Kentucky is home to 1100 people and it sits right on the edge of the Ohio River in Bracken County.

Even though the population is small, it's tourism impacts are mighty.

The view helps a lot.

We have nothing in front of us between us and the river, which is fantastic.

Roof like Hawk is a lifelong resident of Augusta.

>> I've lived here in Augusta far.

You 7 years now.

>> Getting coast, 88 in her 87 years like Hawk described the change she seen in the city with one word progress.

Oh, my goodness.

We used to not have tourists.

Now, Augusta sees plenty of tourists last year.

Bracken County brought in 2 million dollars in tourism revenue and visitors come from across the world.

I've had somebody.

And as far as the Republic of China.

Germany.

So what brings these travelers to the river city tourism director Janet Hunt said it's a few things.

If you like bourbon, you need to try that guests a distillery, if you like white Christmas, you got to see the roads were doing >> In fact, the Rosemary Clooney Museum has the largest collection of white Christmas memorabilia in the world.

And speaking of the Clooneys, Augusta is the hometown of the famous family.

George Clooney still makes frequent visits to Augusta where his parents reside.

9th got 2 kids.

>> Brings Lamb and his wife Amal.

It's a normal thing one and not so typical saying about Augusta is the lack of chain stores and restaurants.

We don't have any franchise.

And everything's open by individuals.

Are family owned a walk down Main Street shows not just one but 5 different restaurants in the city of 1100 people.

One of those is the Beehive Augusta Tavern, which offers an upscale dining experience.

KET Swan Duggar took over as general manager about 3 years ago.

It's always been my dream to run a restaurant.

I have tried several times to leave.

Hospitality has been doing it since I was 16.

>> And I can never leave.

Swogger said many people learn about Augusta on social media and decide to make the trip.

>> If you can get people to come to a guest of the fall in love and they come back and they bring people in the brain groups and >> and they really truly love it.

And one of the places for those visitors to stay is the benchmark in which has 12 unique rooms and the only coffee shop in the city.

All of our guests will get free complimentary coffee in the mornings.

And it's also open to the public one experience.

Visitors literally can't miss is the Jenny and ferry which runs back and 4th between Ohio and Kentucky every day except for Christmas.

That is experience itself.

It takes probably about 5 minutes.

Tourism continues to grow in Augusta has families like the gloss look to open up new attractions like an antique car museum.

>> There's roughly 40 42 in our collection.

Most of the antiques are early 20's, some early 30's as well.

>> The family plans to open the museum in the spring and they've already gotten a positive response from the community.

>> Last couple weekends and the weather is good.

We put them all out sign and in the parking lot.

And we have company all day long.

stay for hours.

>> And for Laycock who has seen lots of change in 87 years.

Her favorite things about Augusta remain constant.

>> The scenery.

The beauty.

ups truck to view of the river contents care of us.

We'd like to hear.

>> Leaders in Augusta said it's their mission to KET a local businesses alive and maintain what they call hospitality from the heart for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you, Emily, for that.

Well, finally, we wouldn't have the Kentucky hot Brown without the Brown Hotel in Louisville.

And we're Hee Haw star with a notable nickname are to be.

Gibbs tells us more in this.

Look back at this week in Kentucky history.

♪ >> Union forces clashed with Confederates at the battle of Wildcat Mountain in Laurel County on October.

21st 18 61.

It was considered the first union victory of the entire war.

Will Spain Brown hotel opened on October 25th 1923.

It would welcome an actor's presidents and other celebrities and would be the birthplace of the Kentucky Hot Brown in 1926.

Also in Louisville, doctors at Jewish Hospital performed the first hand transplant during surgery that took 15 hours on October.

25th 1999.

Happy birthday to Lewis Jones.

Better known as Grandpa Jones, the country music star best known as a regular on the TV show.

Hee Haw was born October 2019, 13 in Niagara in Henderson County.

You would think maybe grandpa.

Long before becoming a >> country.

Singer songwriter Merle Travis, a native of Rosewood in Muhlenberg County, died at the age of 65 on October.

20th 1983 Travis wrote many songs about coal miners, including 16 times a song made famous by Tennessee.

Ernie Ford.

Speaking of music, the western Kentucky University Music Group, the Hilltoppers appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on CBS on October.

26 1952.

>> Prince Charles now King Charles attended the Kentucky Georgia College football game on October 22nd 1977.

>> It gave one by Kentucky.

33 to nothing.

And that's a look back at this week in Kentucky history.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> And speaking of history, KET is celebrating Lexington's 200 50th birthday.

Our latest documentary takes you on a sprawling journey beginning on the banks of town Branch Creek, the Civil War and Great Depression while featuring several notable figures in the city's history.

The full 3 our program also includes so much more that you can start watching time night at 7 at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

Don't Miss it and I'll see you tomorrow.