♪ >> It could be America's next vice president.

What Tim Walz did on a campaign stop in Kentucky.

>> tariffs.

>> Kentucky's senior senator on where he disagrees with his party's presidential nominee.

It feels.

>> Politically divided.

And right now, I think a lot of people would agree with that.

>> Check out this amazing corn creation, the meaning behind the message.

Coming up.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Thursday, October, the TWENTY-FOURTH, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for spending some of your Thursday night with us.

>> The death penalty is still on hold in Kentucky after an opinion today from the Kentucky Supreme Court and 2010, the Franklin Circuit Court blocked the use of the death penalty in Kentucky saying some of the lethal injection protocols were unconstitutional.

Among other things, the court was concerned about the possible execution of inmates with low icu's earlier this year.

Kentucky Attorney General Russel Coleman asked the court to allow executions to resume.

He said the problems have been addressed.

But in May, Judge Phillip Shepherd decided not to lift the ban for now saying it was still unclear if the changes were constitutional.

According to the Courier Journal, the Supreme Court decided today there was no reason to overturn Judge Shepherds ruling.

So for now, Kentucky still cannot execute anyone.

Yesterday afternoon, Minnesota governor and Democratic candidate for Vice President Tim Walz made a campaign stop in Kentucky.

Kentucky additions Clayton Dalton was at the airport to catch a glimpse of the potential second in command more and tonight's election, 2024 update.

♪ >> Tim Walz plane landed at the Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, where he and his daughter hope were welcomed by a group of Kentucky dignitaries.

That group included Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman and Congressman Morgan McGarvey.

What are his predecessor?

Former Congressman John Yarmouth was also there.

Yarmouth and walls are old colleagues.

They served together in the U.S. House of Representatives in the late 2000 and early 2010's.

Following was quick stop on the tarmac.

His motorcade swept them away to a campaign reception in downtown Louisville.

Hannah Penske, politics reporter for the Courier Journal was allowed inside the event.

>> He basically talked about how we're getting close to the election and all Kentucky isn't considered a swing state.

There was a lot of talk about how Kentuckians would still be important to a potential Harris administration.

And he also touted as well how the Louisville fundraiser raised over 2 million dollars for the hairs Victory fund.

You know, Governor Walz's appearance was pretty short and sweet and his speech only lasted about 20 minutes and he was only in Kentucky for a total vote total of about 2 and a half hours on.

So I think, you know, the crowd was just there to soak in his speech in get as much face time with him as they could when he was speaking.

>> One glaring absence from the event, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

>> He didn't Governor Andy Beshear during his speech.

He said he was grateful for the governor for traveling across the country, acting as a surrogate for the campaign.

Donald Trump want to stay in 2016 2020.

I think as the election is approaching, you know, this was Governor Walz's second stop of the day and he was heading, I believe, to North Carolina afterwards.

So I think they're just trying to get as many opportunities to talk to voters as possible across the country to get their messages out there.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

For that.

Penske says Governor Andy Beshear was not in attendance because of a fall break trip.

U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell has been meeting with Kentucky's business community earlier this week in Bowling Green and yesterday in Louisville as our June Leffler reports, McConnell is distancing himself from the economic policies of both Biden and Trump.

>> At a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce event, business leaders, a pod McConnell.

>> I think most of you know, that our company is is family controlled and we've made little are home for 154 years.

And his leadership to improve the lives of every Kentuckian is tremendous and means a great deal to us as a company and to all of you.

I'm sure.

>> The Senate minority leader promotes free global trade.

>> And somehow trade has become a negative word in this country.

I think this state alone benefited from about 40 billion dollars in trade.

This table.

Employees, enormous numbers of people.

But because of Joe fairly prominent people who trade jobs on Kauai.

Trey drugs are important.

>> Former President Donald Trump has been campaigning on hefty tariffs on foreign goods as a way to KET or bring back manufacturing jobs to the U.S.. >> If they want to build in the country in the United States is no tariff.

You can go ahead and you can build in any one of the 50 states.

You can go ahead.

But if they don't want to do that, we're going to put a 200% tariff on John Deere.

And, you know, it's going to happen.

They're going to announce very shortly if they think I'm going to win or if I do when they're going after they're not going to build in Mexico.

>> McConnell has come out against sweeping tariffs.

So has Kentucky's other U.S.

Senator Rand Paul.

>> So, for example, I'm not just about tariffs.

Let's just show up here and had worked out too well as it.

The tariffs.

Problems we've had with your.

You go down that path.

Everything becomes more expensive.

Think of it is just raising your.

>> A little bit when it comes to foreign trade.

McConnell says Democrats won't do it better.

President Joe Biden has kept Trump tariffs in place and last month finalize tire tariffs on certain Chinese goods.

>> There's confusion about that and bold partition.

Biden claims she's done most pro union pro to it.

You get a kick out of after that.

The Indian in last year.

I had never met the U.S. trade representative shoes on floor one introduced us to do I said to her, do you have anything to do she has a nose on it.

They're not trying to do trade deal with anybody.

Why?

Because the FDA doesn't like to read to you.

>> Despite their differences on foreign trade and foreign aid, McConnell endorse Trump for president earlier this year for Kentucky edition.

I'm Jen Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June.

Vice President Kamala Harris as Trump's tariffs would amount to a national sales tax on middle class Americans.

A Republican state lawmaker wants to reintroduce the legislation that would remove the mandate that fluoride be added to drinking water.

>> State representative Mark Heart of Falmouth backed a similar bill during the 2024 legislative session.

But it failed to pass either chamber since then, a federal judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate floor lot fluoride in drinking water.

In his ruling, the San Francisco based judge and Obama appointee said research suggests high levels of the naturally occurring mineral could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children on Tuesday, Representative Hart told members of an interim joint committee and Frankfort that Kentucky can't afford to ignore the risks.

>> What our led to the legislation does not ban Flora, it just removes the unfunded mandate and then brings it to local choice with the new risk in a new data that's come out with the federal court ruling at some point, if the state continues to mandate the state's going to be responsible.

4 the outcome we have the number one fluoridation program in the country for the 40th in in relation to good oral health care.

So if this was working in more than a program, we should be the top of the list, not the bottom of the list.

>> A number of groups in support of the current use of fluoride, including the Kentucky Dental Association, the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition and the Kentucky Primary Care Association sent a letter to members of that committee.

They claim the program has reduced cavities by at least 25% and urged lawmakers to support them.

Kentucky is one of 13 states still requiring full or I'd be added to drinking water.

State auditor Allison Ball is launching an investigation to see if a bill passed by state lawmakers can in fact be implemented ball.

A Republican is specifically looking at Senate Bill 151, the so-called kinship care bill was meant to help remove barriers for people wanting to care for relatives, child and allow them to access financial aid.

Democratic Governor Andy Beshear signed the bill into law earlier this year, but later told lawmakers it was one of several bills that could not be executed without additional funding now, auditor Ball says she wants to take a closer look.

>> At this point, we're going to make all attempts to make this a collaborative effort with the governor and see a ship S but but rest assured we're going to do everything that we can to figure out the facts that you need to know.

In fact, Kentucky's and and and so this can be implemented.

>> Senate Bill, 151, became law back on July 15th, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services which is in charge of implementing the law says it needs 20 million dollars to do so.

This week.

Kentucky's secretary of state Michael Adams ceremoniously signed the omnibus bill after its passage this year by the Kentucky General Assembly, the extensive massive bill is designed to help new mothers and their babies and a state with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation.

>> You all understand the great need that we have here in Kentucky for life, changing life, saving policies.

And this is certainly one I think that will make a huge difference in the lives of moms and babies.

Kentucky is not known for our great health metrics and we're working on that.

We are making a lot of strides and this the goal of this legislation is to ensure that every mom gets the care that she needs and her baby has the greatest opportunity for a healthy start in life.

This legislation also builds on the extension of Medicaid coverage for up to 12 months post Partum.

And it picks up on the success of that program in allowing for >> the coordination of care, some continuity of care and keeping of bombs and their babies healthy when they need it.

The most of to address the lack of access to prenatal care.

We add in a special enrollment period to for women to be able to purchase health insurance coverage during their pregnancy.

We also added a lifeline for moms.

This is addressing the act, lack of access to mental health care.

It is a psychiatric access program and will get moms and their families, the help that they need quickly.

If if they have a mental health crisis or some other issue.

The effort around Sanibel, 74 to dig into the details.

>> To expect that reporting will be shared and it will be shared.

We even have a more comprehensive group that will won't just share the data, but really, for through it and help us determine what needs to be changed.

This is a wonderful partnership here with our legislators that that we're giving access to so many tools.

I would consider everything that was discussed today, a tool that you have given me.

Thank you to provide by patients.

You know, they earlier access to prenatal care now because they don't have to worry about their insurance.

They're going to have access to breastfeeding education and I am not going to be sitting there wondering how do I get this to happen?

Because I'm gonna call that tool and that hopefully have more doulas to help me with the prenatal care.

I'm having more mental health support with this amazing life.

And that is about to be started up or are pregnant.

And postpartum women.

>> According to a study conducted by the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

88% of the total deaths in the state from 2017 to 2020, we're considered preventable.

♪ ♪ Early in-person no excuse voting for the general election starts a week from today and voters and more than 100 cities and counties across Kentucky will be asked to vote yes or no on a questing dealing with medical marijuana.

Kentucky's new medical cannabis program will go into effect January.

First of next year.

Local jurisdictions can approve or reject business operations of licensed medical marijuana growers dispensaries and processors.

We learn more about that in part 2 of my interview with Sam Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis recorded earlier this week.

So you've talked to us about how some jurisdictions have chosen to do.

>> Different routes when it's on the ballot is the question ubiquitous is that universal that it will appear in the same man and Henderson County as it could and Pike Fuller Pike County.

>> Absolutely.

So the question is exactly the same across the board.

So care us to a team.

Be one 30.

It's the statutory provision where this is set out by the General Assembly in law here in Kentucky lays out that the question is the uniform question throughout the commonwealth.

So everybody will be saying yes or no on whether cannabis businesses can operate in those 103 jurisdictions.

It'll be voting on it.

>> So as the Office of Medical Cannabis, are you all charged?

This is interesting.

Are you all charged with keeping tally of who says yes.

And who says no wars of the state Board of elections.

>> So the state Board of Elections is is tasked like with any election with keeping tally on how that vote goes.

We're tracking in our offices for purposes of knowing whether a local businesses are medical.

Cannabis businesses can operate in certain jurisdictions.

So down the road, for example, we're going to be having a license lottery next Monday, October 28th at 02:00PM at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation.

We're 26 businesses will be approved to get a license here in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky cultivators and processors and some of them may be located in a jurisdiction that ultimately decides at the Balad to opt out.

Yeah, what happens?

So we've provided flexibility through some guidance that we have and regulatory flexibility that we have to allow those businesses that are affected or impacted by a vote like that to move to another jurisdiction that allows medical cannabis relations.

So the General Assembly has has provided this mechanism to protect local governments and allow them to make the best decisions for their communities and let their board the voters voices be heard.

And we want to provide some regulatory flexibility to allow those businesses to if they get a license to be able to move to another jurisdiction allows for this and the outcome just a beak.

>> Clear again does not impact where a card holder.

And possess and use medical marijuana.

That's correct.

So medical cannabis card holders here in the Commonwealth.

>> Though they'll be able to get a written certification starting December first of this year from their physician and then beginning January.

1st next year, they'll be able to get their digital registry identification card.

>> They'll then be able to purchase medical cannabis.

At some point from dispensaries, anywhere in the commonwealth.

If they choose and they'll be able to use that anywhere in the Commonwealth.

Of course, there are some restrictions on different types of products, for example, vaporization products can be used and public accommodations on public transportation, smoking of medical cannabis is completely prohibited, but you will be able to consume some medical cannabis products anywhere in the in the Kabul.

Okay.

>> What are the concerns that local governments have expressed and asked you about right as they try to get to wherever approach they decided to handle this.

Certainly.

I really appreciate you asked that question.

So it's a great question and something that that came up when I first came on board this project back in June of began reaching out to local government officials hear their concerns.

>> And what they expected and anticipated from this program.

And one of the main concerns was, you know, they didn't want to see these popping up these dispensers popping up.

A vape shops on on every corner.

Some of them would, you know, say that they've been to, you know, Colorado, where they've been to Michigan or they've been the Oklahoman, you know, they see see medical, cannabis or cannabis everywhere.

And we wanted to make sure that our program was limited in scope and that her in terms of 50's businesses would not be on every single quarter.

So we have limited the dispensaries.

48 across the state, they are spread out.

We have 11 licensing regions there based on the drive time analysis.

We wanted to have access everywhere in the state.

We already have medicine deserts.

We didn't want to have deserts for for the specific folks, but ultimately we want to make sure that it was secure and communities.

So again, we limited to no more than one per county except for Jefferson and Fayette County, which, of course, are largest population centers.

>> And they have to.

That's correct.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Everyone deserves a gift during the holidays, especially those serving our country with Christmas.

Just 2 months away, the nonprofit military missions is gearing up for its largest shipment.

>> Our mission is to send care packages to deployed military personnel overseas.

Typically 2 locations that there relatively honest year.

I don't have all the comforts of home sometimes very remote and including ships at sea.

We sent 4 times a year.

We colors operation sends Operation Easter, Send operations and freedom, which is based on getting the packages to.

To our folks by the 4th of July.

We do an operation center.

Thanks in in the fall and then we were all right.

And operation sent Christmas, which were in the middle of right now.

Typically our care packages have snack items.

I.

Individuals size snack items we tried to put in a packages of hard candy.

We don't ship chocolate because it melts ign items, individuals size body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, those type of items, dental floss.

We'll do this.

Packages are small cans of tuna fish beating.

We needs BNA sausage those types of things playing cards, puzzle books.

And then every one of our packages, cats, a packet of greeting cards specifically Christmas.

We're asking for Christmas cards.

We'll take depending on what we get in.

We'll take 8 to 12.

Signed handwritten Christmas cards include those in our package.

This Christmas.

We've got what we've what we're calling Project Pillow case.

When I put a pillow case in.

Every box or or bag that we send so that and we've actually got 1700 pillow cases right now made.

I'm going to wrap Christmas rap.

Those were put those into boxes.

So we're going to ask that other folks come in and help us Christmas rap.

And actually make the final assembly on these boxes and bags that we sent.

>> One other saying that we do at Christmas that we don't do the rest of the year.

As we said, what we call a buddy box.

So for every individual address, name and address that we have.

We send that person to box and we put a note in the second box.

It says.

You receive.

Our Christmas box.

Here's one.

For somebody that, you know, that has not received anything for Christmas, you can share with them.

>> For the Christmas holiday military missions is doing Operation Drop Box where people can drop off items at specific locations.

It's also stocking the stock, a bar for the USS George Washington, which has around 3800 sailors.

♪ ♪ For the last 2 years.

The people at Middle Springs Farm in Bourbon County have been carving unique designs into a fall corn maze this year.

The owners wanted to use the maze to spell out a special message.

One that would highlight the importance of community and remind us that we have more in common than we think.

>> There's these companies travel around the country and and design and cut in these corn mazes.

But it was out of our budget is a farm just starting up.

So I had to figure out a way to to do it myself and says no ad ended up doing it was basically the sketch it out my hand and then I brought it into Google Earth and scaled it to the size of the field.

And so then I would just use my phone's GPS.

To be the little blue dot on my design, you know, walking around with a can of spray paint.

And I came back and followed my markings with my their turn lawnmower and followed the spray paint and cut it out.

And then hope at the end that actually looks like something.

>> The first year of corn maze was our our leg or grand opening.

>> So Lego second year.

We did the state of Kentucky.

With some of the major roads and say you would go within the maze and you would look for 13 different Kentucky cities within the maze.

And so I think that was part of the inspiration for this year's design going from.

>> The shape of the state of Kentucky to the Shape of the United States.

And given the it's an election year, that was part of the inspiration for.

Having it say United.

We stand the lettering scrawled out over the design of the maze.

People are actually asked to think about and contribute their own stories of unity.

And so we have 5 prompts within the Maze.

How has neighbor, you know, helped helped you out in the past.

For example, it feels politically divided right now.

I think a lot of people would agree with that.

It can make a kind of hard to remember that all of the other ways that we are and can be united with one another.

So what I hear people get out of the experience of being on our farm and going through the maze, most importantly is just to have fun.

Ultimately, we just want people to enjoy themselves.

But it's a take some special meaning out of the maze or stay make some memories that they're gonna, you know, Holden cherish for forever.

You know, of course that's that's all the more rewarding.

>> How awesome.

And what a great message while you're having fun making says he's already planning next year's designed, but we'll all have to wait until next fall to find out what it is the last day of this year's Corn Maze is Sunday October.

The 27th.

Well, he's not exactly the big man on campus.

>> order for Central High School.

>> I mean, Ryan, the robot and some Louisville students putting their engineering skills to work.

That's tomorrow on Kentucky.

Addition along with some more election coverage where we hear from a political science professor at UK about how social media is used during our election cycles.

You don't want to miss that and more and we go around the commonwealth to see what all fun is happening on this pre Halloween weekend.

So you won't want to miss any of that good content.

Tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central on Kentucky EDITION.

We're we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen there, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop with Kentucky edition and all the great programming here.

K T. >> And send us a story idea and public affairs at KET Dot Org and look for us on PBS app that you can download on your smart tablet and phone.

We thank you so much for watching tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw and I'll see you right back here again tomorrow night to cut hair.

♪