♪ It isn't November 8 yet.

But in Kentucky, people are already voting.

>> Building on this growing on teachers.

So teachers are reaching out and saying this is what's awesome about the teacher.

>> Head teachers of today are recruiting the teachers of tomorrow.

You could tell that he had that you know, like like a like a teenager would do when he opens up the first period or done something, you know.

How a Lexington man's passion for art and sneakers led to a personalized pair of shoes for the Pope.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on Wednesday, October 26th, I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

Today is the start of in-person absentee voting in Kentucky voters who will be out of their home county during early voting and Election Day can cast a vote many at their local county clerk's office.

KET, he spoke with a woman, voted absentee today in Lexington and she says others should take advantage of the early voting options to cast their ballot.

>> So I encourage you to come out and vote.

Think about changing the election.

>> Time to have your voice heard.

It's that time that we can truly make a difference is really the only time we get a chance to do it.

>> Kentuckians can cast an in-person absentee vote at their county clerk's office through Friday of this week and Monday through Wednesday of next week.

Then early voting starts Wednesday, November 3rd and last through the 5th check with your local county clerk to see where early voting is happening in your county.

And don't forget, Election Day is less than 2 weeks away on November.

8th.

Research regarding medical marijuana is well underway in Kentucky.

A bill passed by the Legislature earlier this year created the Research Cannabis Center at the University of Kentucky today, the director of the new Center said it's going to be world class.

House Bill 604, passed earlier this year, set aside 2 million dollars over the next 2 years to fund the research.

Cannabis Center at UK.

One of the areas of focus will be whether or not marijuana can help patients diagnosed with cancer.

>> We're also planning a cancer trial with the marquee Cancer Center to look at edible cannabis doses for patients with cancer.

And I would just like to highlight that this is going to be one of the first studies of its kind.

You would think that cancer and cannabis have been really well researched.

Unfortunately, that's not the case.

And so this would represent one of the first placebo controlled randomized trials for patients with cancer looking at plant based cannabis in an edible >> Doctor Shannon Babb alone.

Us is the director of UK's Research Center speaking to the interim Joint Committee on Health, Welfare and Family Services today, she said the university is one of only a few places in the world that's equipped for this kind of study.

>> What I would like to highlight is that.

Kentucky it UK is one of the only places in the world that can do an inpatient trial.

Placebo controlled cannabis trial on an inpatient meaning that we we admit people to the hospital and have them live there and can control their drug intake.

there's probably 3 other centers in the world that can do that.

And so this is really world class and passing House Bill 604, many state lawmakers cited a lack of research as a reason for not supporting the legalization of medicinal cannabis in Kentucky.

>> Today Senator Ralph Alvarado said he was encouraged by the work now being done at UK.

>> This has been always been my argument.

I think that there's a lack of research on a lot of this topic in the fact that youth stated that we have a lack of that.

I think it's important.

I want to let the members of the press are here who always seemed report.

There's all these studies and all this proof.

I know that we have that proof.

encouraged to get the proof you to show it.

Yes or no.

>> While a lot of work has already been accomplished by the research center, doctor battle on us said results from the cancer trial are still many months away.

>> And so we anticipate having data finalize not until June 2024. just because that's just how long the study's take.

And this is best case scenario.

this is actually lightning speed for clinical trial of.

It's possible medical marijuana could be made legal in Kentucky.

>> Before results from the study are finalized.

Governor Andy Beshear has said he's considering taking executive action regarding medical cannabis.

He says his medical cannabis advisory team which traveled around the state earlier this year found 90% of Kentucky adults are in favor of making medicinal marijuana legal.

The research cannabis enter a UK recently completed a study that simulated a driving test involving marijuana results from that study should be published in the coming months.

If you've noticed smoke in Trigg County, Fort Campbell says the fire started during routine training last week.

It's now burned several 100 acres.

The army is setting backfires to KET the fire under control and KET it away from the land between the lakes.

This comes at a time when many parts of Kentucky including Trick County are under moderate drought conditions.

10 Kentucky school districts are getting new buses under a program by the federal government.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced today the recipients of its clean bus program.

The EPA is awarding 5 billion dollars over the next 5 years to replace existing school buses with low and 0 emission.

School buses.

The program gives priority to districts that serve tribal, rural and low-income areas.

Kentucky recipients were awarded between 395,000 and 9 million dollars.

Carter County School District received the largest amount.

The district superintendent said they were surprised to find they were getting enough to replace 23 aging buses with electric buses.

>> Because of just the sheer number of buses were going to begin.

Now, it kind of changes of scope.

You know, we've got one or 2 buses.

You know, it would be something that we would if we had a problem, we could outsourced what everybody you know, this is a a 3rd of our fleet.

We allege are buses.

we will have to, you know, work on our capacities internally.

Do I handle those in and figure out, you know, having services?

That's isn't?

I think so.

It's a good problem to have and like I say, we're we're excited.

And, you know, we think ultimately this is going to be a tremendous benefit.

It's going to be huge savings for district.

And that's the thing for us is, you know, we're we're looking with the just the 23 minibus along with all the savings we will get through the fuel cost.

And this is this is millions of dollars worth of impact our district that we now can we allocate those funds?

You know, back in the education for kids.

So I mean, any time we get that type of opportunity, you know, we're super excited about it.

so there's lots of it.

We get those benefits as well as you know, having, you know, cleaner, safer us.

Green tells us the district is working with vendors to purchase the electric buses and charging stations.

>> He said it's possible some of the electric buses could be added to the district's fleet by the next school year.

A Warren County teacher is one of 24 in Kentucky to one of Al Flynn teacher Achievement Award.

She was chosen out of more than 1900 nominations.

That experience led her to be selected as ago.

Teach K why ambassador hoping to recruit the next generation of Kentucky.

Educators.

>> In the process of becoming a about the and the words that recipient I receive emails and stated that we're looking for teachers to help recruit teachers because as we all know right now, we're kind of struggling to find teachers to fill positions.

>> It takes 3 of the thought is to make it some as they can with it.

>> Now I'm able to to reach out to teachers in Kentuckyian have a voice 3 to go teach.

And the representative at at job fairs in classrooms to be a mentor in a tether When I became a naturalized, it's not actually just memorization.

Understand it's problem solving.

And so we can take our kids and we can teach said here's the problem.

I can tell you what operation you're just going to solve the problem, which leads them into becoming such a great problem solvers and in the world and build it.

What about the problem solvers?

How can we get our students to become science and math leaders and engineers and things like that that we're going to need in our I my dad didn't graduate middle or high school.

He was told at a very young age that he was to see the tone.

He was sent and 4th grade because he couldn't read.

We need to press in the 60's and found out that he was legally blind.

Is it to Apple to Apple, treat some of your on the students that have?

Things that nobody else, maybe the items like a discovery?

You know, I kind of figure out what it is that makes him tick what it is that what their strengths are.

I really enjoyed having her as a teacher.

I learned a lot of mask because and biomass and she helped me.

It seems like a have the pieces together to to make that child sign because every child that every child, you're not going to get everything.

But you are really good at something.

And there's 3 perfect.

>> I want to be a teacher just thinking if we can, because she inspired.

>> Yahoo.

that most of the time that a teacher works at a school is within 20 miles of where they grew up.

And so they're in our community.

It's just up to us to find them.

And so I feel like that's kind of my drive is to look at our high schools in our college and really say, hey, is this is this is what we have to offer, especially Warren County.

You know, we have so much to give.

Let's let's find you.

>> Buchanan is one of 18 teachers in the 2023 class of go Teach K why ambassadors.

The program is led by the Kentucky Department of Education.

You probably saw the news this week about the death of actor and comedian Leslie Jordan in a car crash in California.

Jordan had Kentucky Times Wk why Lexington's Public Radio station reports that Jordan attended the University of Kentucky for year in 1979. and briefly worked on a farm owned by future governor prior to Jones.

Jordan was 67.

♪ >> It's time for midweek.

Check in on some of the biggest political news across the Commonwealth with Rylan Barton, the managing editor for Kentucky Public Radio and the Ohio Valley Resource Rylan will get right to it.

A Republican State House candidate was disqualified this week.

Why were they disqualified and that Louisville based race?

>> Yes, this is House district.

31, it extends like Bowman Field in Louisville out Jeffersontown for those familiar Susan Tyler witness, the Republican filed earlier this year and a judge ruled that she actually didn't technically live in the district at the time that she was gathering her signatures and ultimately filing for office, which was the day before the Legislature's redistricting plan ultimately went into effect in January.

So the judge said you know, basically by this technicality, she didn't she's not qualified to run for the district because she wasn't in what the district would after we after redistricting when she filed.

This is a district that was redrawn by a Democratic Representative, Josie Raymond currently holds it up, but it was redistricted into an open seat.

The Democrat in this is the one who sued actually alleging this and a candidate with ease filing process.

And so yeah, the judge qualified her.

She's appealed and we're kind of awaiting a final decision on that.

>> How competitive is this race and could this way the way that district ago?

>> Well, I mean, it ultimately if this is upheld, I mean, it will be a win for the Democrats because the Democrats will be running unopposed.

But, you know, I think this is seats that Republicans were trying to make more competitive in Louisville during the redistricting process.

They talked a lot about how, you know, Louisville have been gerrymandered by Democrats and they were trying to make these these districts little bear to Republicans in Jefferson County.

So while I think that this district is still leaning it was it was the least going to be a little bit more competitive.

But if this was alternately upheld its, you know, its uncontested win for the Democrats.

Rylan.

There's plenty of election news this week.

>> A federal judge has weighed in on the Kentucky Supreme Court race.

The judge rejected candidate Joe Fisher is attempt to stop the Judicial Conduct Commission from taking effect.

Roland, what were some of the complaints against Representative Joseph Fischer's campaign?

>> or yes, this is Republican Joe Fisher.

He's a current state legislator.

He's been in the House for a really long time this year.

He's filing a he's filed to run for the northern Kentucky area.

Supreme Court seat, which includes several counties in northern Kentucky, judicial elections in Kentucky are nonpartisan and the judge judge additional conduct Commission more or less a watchdog organization Oversight Commission in you know, could kind of Brett and isn't the right at said that they were good looking into his campaign over our saying that people have filed complaints over his campaign.

That's it of because of partisan imagery that he was using his campaign signs and also his campaign language.

His sciences show him as the conservative Republican running for the district.

Whereas again, these are supposed to be nonpartisan elections.

He's saying that this that he should be allowed to make of the speech of somebody else's.

Joined all along on this complaint as well from a running for northern Kentucky area appeals court challenges.

the committed a federal judge has said that there's not enough to show that the commission was going to enforce anything with this.

So there's really nothing that they can do to try and stop anything from happening.

Nonetheless, Fisher is appealing that decision up to the federal appeals court.

And so we'll see if they have anything to say before the election.

I think otherwise, any sort of enforcement or any development to this would likely happen after the election.

In-person absentee voting started today.

Reiland.

There are new ways for people to vote.

>> They've changed since before the pandemic.

Of course, we had some early voting during the pandemic to help combat that.

But what are some of the options for people as they try to vote before General Election Day?

>> Yes.

So yesterday was the deadline for people to file to request an absentee ballot, a male and absentee ballot.

If you did that and that will be coming in the now begins the period where people can actually go into off in the county clerk's office.

if you have an excuse like you're going to be out of the county on Election Day or a few of you can't vote in person on Election Day due to age disability or illness, then you can actually go early and cast about you should check with your county clerk's website as to where you actually do that early absentee excused beyond that, there's one new option that legislators that created over the last couple years, which is no excuse for early voting.

So on the Thursday Friday and Saturday before Election Day across Kentucky, Kentucky INS can go a vote in person with no excuse.

You can just get it.

Get your vote on early ahead of time.

You should check with your county clerk are on the secretary of state's website for where those voting locations It might not be obvious that it might not be your usual precinct, but the place to do that on the secretary of state's website is Bo Y dot com.

Rylan.

Thanks for taking a couple minutes.

Be with us and if you can go vote early and this is Rylan Barton, managing editor for Kentucky Public Radio and the Ohio Valley Resource.

Thanks, Ryan.

>> Thanks, Casey.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> When you think of basketball season in the Bluegrass, you might immediately think of UK 4 U of L but don't count out.

and basketball.

>> Kentucky Edition contributor Kelsey Starks sat down with head coach Scott Davenport to talk about what's happening on and off the court.

>> in basketball is heading into year 3 now of Division.

One play and head coach Scott Davenport is a true Louisville treasure for many reasons, including basketball, coaching.

Tell us about the season ahead.

>> Kelsey, what you need to know about this season in the history of college basketball, only 4 schools will North Carolina Notre Dame in Saint Johns in history have played at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Duke.

Pauley Pavilion use L a at the University of Kentucky Rupp Arena.

Only 4, the closest 8 ever.

It is which 333 days from a December to a November.

So that's on the course of 2 seasons.

2 We will do that.

Not Sunday first.

And just for side.

No government has hired a full-time psychologist on our staff.

And that does that.

Is that a coincidence or is that the reason?

I don't know.

>> A lot to be excited including a game coming up this Thursday.

That is an education day special.

I told you my 5th grader said, hey, I'm going on a field trip to Freedom Hall.

She's so excited.

Are you doing this to expire to appreciate.

A 5th grader.

First great normal year.

Your second great.

COVID hits and March on school out.

>> All of 3rd grade.

4th grade hit or miss that 5th grader last year was the first great and a greater that would have been the 5th grade.

Let's inspire.

Let's Let's move them forward together through our players.

Our university hard Communications Department, our school of Education, everybody.

>> And this is a game.

You guys are playing center and opening it up schools, teachers and you're looking for volunteers.

>> Anybody wants to help.

I've sent out over 4,000 e-mails, retired principal system principles, counselors, teachers, teaching assistants, everyone.

I want this to be smooth what that the young people to be inspired.

>> Let's talk about that new banner that just on your alma mater, Iroquois High School revealed this huge banner in your honor.

What do you feel?

And I got back in it and see something like that.

>> I can't I can't do it.

That day.

They got me.

I was asked about to go to speak to the air, quite faculty, a professional development day Iran early that morning.

Up stressed I prepared prepared on Saturday at double that tweak some things on Sunday.

I walked in there.

And there's my family.

There's people that I grew up with from.

My birth on.

There's former players people I played with in high school.

>> And they they got me not.

I cried a grocery store causing our crowd 5 times that day.

>> That school shaped my life.

I lost my dad on Halloween day when I was 9 years old, 15 feet from a of a massive heart attack.

I had a mom who was a superstar.

The anniversary of her death is today.

14 years old and there was a void that teachers and coaches.

>> And any chance would have won one young person.

>> And they up say, well, why he didn't have a dad.

He just didn't have this.

And that.

And they understand and use the people, the educators, the coaches, the teachers.

>> And it helps them get all people.

>> Wow, you are a true true inspiration to so many and that.

>> With you real quick, what what are you looking forward to most coming up this the season?

>> That when everybody wants the same thing, every player, every student manager coach strength coach trainer.

When everybody wants the same thing and they're willing to do what ever it takes to achieve that.

That's half.

And that we can all learn that.

And I wanted to spread throughout this community.

Both sides of the river, the south and the West and the east in downtown everyone.

A season ticket dollar every single day.

It's $65.

That is mid court.

>> Right above the lower level.

>> And that includes free parking into the Kentucky Exposition Center.

I think I happy meals like 5.28 cents with a year with the Yaks.

Yeah.

>> We're talking $5 a game for an entire season.

And these players, I want to through the game of basketball.

Unite, help unite this community.

>> Well, you are well on your way.

You've already done that in so many ways.

We appreciate you coach.

>> Thank you for being here.

And that U of L versus Kellerman is that coming up on November 9th?

So we hope to see it there.

>> and play Center College of Freedom Hall at 11:00AM tomorrow and that Inspiration Day game for teachers and students.

They are still looking for retired teachers or administrators to volunteer or Shep.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

♪ ♪ ♪ You might recognize the pope by his regalia.

What about a fresh pair of custom kicks Billy Hobbs, owner of the Lexington Base company, true-blue Customs recently designed a pair of shoes for Pope Francis.

But this isn't his first time working with big name clientele.

>> Growing up, I was always in our you know, just over the years I was always in the sneakers like I had to be the first want to have their Jordan one.

But 2 like and all that came out to Mike, he dunks.

>> Fast forward, a probably early 2, thousands that was doing a couple of like a little small custom work stuff like use incredible fabric and glue it on the shoes.

You know, buddy of mine.

He asked me to restore a pair of air Jordan Threes was like, sure, you know, I'll do that.

And he was amazed by the job I did on.

And he was like, you know, you don't Instagram page, get your little side hustle going on.

So, you know, I started that up.

And then the rest is history.

We typically start with, you know, my client will come to me and say, hey, this is my idea.

This is the theme.

This is the base she we want to use.

What kind of narrow that down.

So once you get up wrapped in it's all about details and, you know, when you're looking at a shoe on a piece of paper, it's different than when you actually have in your hand.

You know how if you wanted to, you know, our work to flow onto different panels and whatnot.

My first against big step into that celebrity kind of world with the 2015 Kentucky basketball team.

Willie Alex Poythress the twins, Tyler Ulis Biden.

She's for Justin Timberlake.

Thomas Snoop Tyler Childers.

When those guys came in and then custom basketball's.

So it's like you to touch a lot of different places.

And it's been kind of surreal, actually.

A little bit less than a month ago, a mutual friend of ours Jeff Ruby's reached out and say politics goes in here.

He's wondering about the shoes.

Want to know what the process isn't.

My man, I'd be happy to do so.

You know, we kind of got together.

We relate some messages back and forth with what he had an idea what he wanted to do, what shoes we wanted to use.

And he pretty much just tell me he's like, hey, this is the the gold and white for the papal flag the coat of arms to kind of went in with an idea in my head.

You know, I wanted to I want the coat of arms to be kind of, you know, big.

I want you will see it and know exactly what it is when you saw it.

And I was like, you know, sides rain with that and we don't want anything real crazy.

Want to kind of KET it kind of simple in class C so we use the Mikey blazer and use that as a base.

And then an added touch with the Bucs added the logo and all that info.

Jim Love it.

When I delivered on the night before he left to go to Rome and his reaction was priceless as well.

So and you could tell that he had that like, you know, like like a like a teenager would do when he opens up a fresh pair, Jordan or something, you know, but it was cool when the father, Jim showing the back of the shoes and said Pope Francis on it, you can see a smile on his face.

And that was that was pretty cool.

I think I like the process better than other the final product just because its you're constantly evolving and trying to figure out what works here.

What was there?

I want to create something that I'm proud of.

Not only me but the climb as well.

>> Although would be difficult to top the Pope.

Billy says his current during client as Michael Jordan.

Plenty on tap for Kentucky edition on Thursday.

The Kentucky College starting a program to help deal with Kentucky shortage of drug counselors.

We'll take you there.

And then some people hear the word Freemasons.

They imagine a powerful yet secretive organization.

The documentary filmmaker is working to dispel the myths about Freemasons.

We'll catch you up with him and show you some of his work.

That's tomorrow night on Kentucky edition.

A reminder about next Monday's Kentucky tonight.

Our topics are inflation and the economy.

Voters, top concerns heading into the midterm elections.

According to recent polls.

See that next Monday at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips and KET Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app.

>> On your mobile device and smart TV and follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thank you for joining us tonight for Kentucky Edition, Renee Shaw overturned tanker tomorrow night's edition of Kentucky EDITION.

I'm Casey Parker Bell have a great time.

♪ ♪ ♪