♪ >> That not only help automated driving systems but also help the human driver.

>> The state is paving the way for driverless cars.

We know that Magnus, like is truly work and inspire students and really help set the path for them.

A new documentary follows a year in the life of a Louisville Schools.

Law Magnet program.

>> She was a painter.

She was a car or she's a quilter garden here.

>> And the efforts to preserve the legacy of an artist whose work told the Story of Life in rural Kentucky.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky edition on this midweek.

It's Wednesday, October, the 9th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Wednesday with us.

A Kentucky state lawmaker wants to make parents and guardians liable to civil suits if a minor in their care causes gun violence.

>> State Representative Kim Banta, a Republican from Fort Mitchell is expected to file the bill during the 2025 General Assembly that starts in January.

According to the Kentucky Lantern, the bill says if a minor hurts or threatened someone with a gun on the victims could sue the parents or guardians and collect damages than to tell the Lantern quote, I have constituents that tell me their kids are literally afraid to go to school.

We just need to start zeroing in on.

If you're under 18, your parents are responsible for your behavior, unquote.

State representative Tina Bowser now Ski, a Democrat from Louisville will co-sponsor the bill Banta says she's had a favorable discussion about the bill with House Speaker David Osborne.

We'll talk more about this with NPR's Rylan Barton and just a few minutes.

Lexington is a step closer to declaring gun violence, a public health threat, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, a gun violence taskforce just recommended that move to the Lexington, Fayette, Urban County Council's social services and public safety Committee.

If the full Urban County Council agrees it would let the city go full resources to deal with the gun violence problem and much the same way Lexington deals with the opioid crisis or domestic violence.

Kentucky is joining states like California and New York and following a lawsuit against TikTok speaking in northern Kentucky this morning, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said the popular short form video app was designed to be addictive to kids and that it harms their mental health more than a dozen states have filed similar lawsuits at the heart of each suit is tick tok's algorithm, which pushes content tailored to people's interests.

And a statement Attorney General Coleman said, quote, If we don't hold TikTok accountable, our children will suffer the very real consequences.

Nothing less than their mental physical and emotional health are on the line and of quote.

TikTok says many of the allegations in the lawsuits are wrong and misleading.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet updated lawmakers this week on how they're making room on the road for driverless vehicles along welcoming these rare automobiles went into effect in July.

Our June Leffler has more in this report.

>> The state is responsible for maintaining roads that serve all users from pedestrians and cyclists to now driverless cars.

>> And we're working on continued implementation of strategies, particularly within the connected and automated space that not only help automated driving systems, but also help the human driver.

You know, so examples of these that you may have seen at home in your districts are things like wider pavement, markings.

One of the things that helps both the automated vehicle as well as the human driver are making sure that those markings are in good shape and that there are a little wider so that they're easier to see not only for the for the naked eye for the for the human eye, but also for that automated driving system.

>> Highway markers data that can be seen on digital device.

>> Basically, this is a >> protocol where we can communicate about work zone information.

What types of lane closures we might have.

What those locations are and we communicate those not only out there to be consumed by our partners who will bring them to you and your vehicle.

Like if you're a user of like ways or Apple maps or Google Maps or any of those types of things, but also that can be brought in by connected or automated vehicle in order for the vehicle to know and understand what's happening in the work zone ahead.

>> State lawmakers approved autonomous vehicles on Kentucky roads just this year.

>> Thankfully here you're talking about safety safeties.

Been a big issue for me on this topic.

You know, maybe it's because it's new.

I don't know.

Maybe I'm afraid to change but I do know from my own experiences that I've seen too many mangled bodies.

I've had to hold people when they take their last breath from car accidents.

And that's what humans drive skiers and but a lot out of me when we start talking about computers, traffic, do you have an anticipate timeline when we may see?

This began in Kentucky?

As far as actually seeing these vehicles on the roadway.

I think that the jury is still out.

I think that there are a lot of these vehicle companies and a lot of these technology companies.

Are continuing to work on what that looks like, how to safely implement because the companies themselves are obviously interested in safety as well.

They don't want to be putting a product out there that harms folks.

But the what that looks like here in Kentucky, it's been being implemented.

There are folks that are implemented are that are in arrested?

>> And like pilot activities and looking at small-scale operations and trying to do things.

>> State law sets a one-million-dollar insurance liability for these vehicles.

Owners also have to let the DOT know how they will respond when police pull over the vehicle, whether they're inside the car or not for Kentucky edition.

I'm John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June Goldman Sachs projects that by the year 2030, 10% of new cars purchased.

We'll have a feature that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road.

♪ >> Time now for midweek, check-in of some major political developments here in Kentucky so far this week with Roy Lynn Barton, a code key based editor with NPR National Public Radio.

Good to see you, sir.

>> Good to see you tonight.

>> So let's talk about the first item.

There is a non-profit organization called Empathy and action.

They filed a lawsuit against companies that we called Gray machines.

And I want you to remind us what those are.

And they're invoking a law back from the late 17, 100's that >> prove successful a few years ago as the grounds for this caucus through this.

>> gray machines are basically it's those slot machines type machines that you see in gas stations or convenience stores around the state to see pop up over the last few years.

They operate in this legal gray area that because if gambling machines are legal in Kentucky, at least in places like that, we do have these historical horse racing machines that you'll see it.

A few of the casino tape, Gracie nose around the state.

But these so these are like that.

And some of the sheen areas like that, but they try to operate in this legal loophole to still be legal lawmakers have passed laws to try and tamp down the proliferation of them across the state.

You may have seen there are times are gas stations that used to have them with been shuttered and maybe pull over.

They beat all turned off.

But now they think they've found a new work around.

And so they've been starting to pop up again.

So this this group is suing the and this is according to reporting from a Kentucky Public Radio's Joe Sonka.

This group is suing to to recoup money that people have lost in these creations.

And actually there's a little bit of precedent to this similar possibly with back during the Steve Beshear administration.

The state actually sued and online poker company for losses on Kentuckyian to have that happen ultimately in 2021, the state won a 300 million dollar judgment.

So this group is trying to get a similar result here.

It's not the state, but it's a nonprofit group to try and recoup some of that money.

And again, it's it's just interesting because the long KET on playing this game of cat and mouse with the screen machines trying to trying to shut them down.

But the industry keeps on finding new ways to to make it happen.

>> Yeah.

So in 2023, they did pass a law to ban bomb.

But there were no guidelines are just outright So like you said, it made room for these things.

Still to political rate in some way.

So we'll see of lawmakers try to address this farther in 2025, maybe they will.

Maybe they won't.

In the meantime, we have an election, of just under 30 days away and still some state House races in Kentucky are fairly interesting.

And one is in eastern Kentucky.

It's Floyd and part of Pike counties.

It's currently held by Democrat actually Tackett Lafferty and she is facing a former Democrat now Republican Brandon Spencer and this race.

Tell us about that.

>> Yeah, this seat is the only seat outside of Metro Louisville.

Metro Lexington, a metro northern Kentucky that Democrats hold in the in the Legislature.

So this is the eastern Kentucky used to be this the real stronghold for Democratic seats and actually talk about 30 seat is is one of the last remaining.

If I remember, right, this actually used to be former Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo see Prestonsburg based and it's really just shows you.

I mean, again, this is this little Blue Island in the middle of the sea of red in eastern Kentuckyian just and all of rural Kentucky and Democrats have just done very poorly in these So anyway, vote can take public radio.

Sylvia Goodman did a great profile.

This race.

If taking a look a little bit back about 30's record, which shows that if she does end up still voting for some conservative bills along with Republicans, but does so say the House bill 5, that big anti-crime bill that passed out of the legislature this year.

But then give she's also voting in favor of voting against, say the so-called school choice measures.

He says that on some of the actions against future pensions or why she ultimately decided to run 3 terms ago.

So she's being challenged by Brandon Spencer Republican who held that seat briefly about 2 decades ago and brings that's actually been used to be a Democrat which again, showing you this change in Kentucky politics.

But he is now, Ali.

It calling himself a Trump Republican and yeah, we'll see, especially in this presidential election year when everybody's attention is at the top of the ticket.

Hard for Democrats, the Democrats really get their message out there or for really for anybody to pay attention to how people are campaigning farther down the ticket.

Republicans, are you hoping to finally take off that sea?

And Democrats are trying to defend, but really they're they're last world.

You could say that their last rural district in the state House.

>> Final issue, firearms misuse.

There is a northern Kentucky Republican cam Banta who is expected to file legislation during the next session in 2025.

Related to possibly holding parents liable for kids under 18 who misuse firearms holding them civilly accountable and she's teaming up with a Democrat in Louisville on this effort.

Tell us more about this.

>> Yeah, it's it's pretty rare for a Republican to file a bill dealing with gun safety are trying to expand any sort of gun safety provision.

What she's trying to do with this one is expand other parental negligence loss where say a pet parent would be held responsible for their children's actions.

And we've seen we've seen we've seen examples of this under current law around the country.

So earlier this year in Michigan, parents of it, school shooter ultimately convicted of negligently allowing their child to have a firearm.

Even though I'm here to examine that he might be a danger to himself or others.

And also in Georgia after the school shooting.

I'm a little bit earlier this year, the father and that of that alleged school shooter has been charged with a murder charges or for providing his gun to her getting is a gotten even after a law enforcement had come to check in on him after the after the kid inmates and disturbing comments.

So this is this is well, a little bit of a movement happening right now again under current law.

But, you know, under representative dances proposal would be an expansion of, you know, Billy, giving prosecutors a little bit more of the guidance and tools to go after parents like this.

Yeah.

>> A lot to KET our eyes on between now and November 5th and even beyond when they go back into legislative session and Kentucky.

Well, thank you Rylan for always breaking it down for us.

Good to see you.

The foundation for a healthy Kentucky hosted its annual Health Policy forum to introduce and explore opportunities to improve Kentuckians Health.

>> Richard Harwood with the Harwood Institute who spoke at Tuesday's event discussed his efforts to get Americans civically engaged and away from divisive politics that he says can ultimately hurt health outcomes.

>> The foundation is is the health organization.

It's nonprofit.

It is a nonpartisan and our goal was to try to improve the health of our people here in this Commonwealth.

And health takes on a lot of different forms.

It could be mental health.

It could be physical health.

The problem is for us that we great to have very poor Lee in health indicators in this state.

What kind of housing do you have?

What kind of education are you receiving?

Are you dealing and suffering from poverty?

You know, those kinds of things impact people's health.

We know that.

So we've got to fix more than just the health care system.

We have to fix in many respects the society and the communities that we live in.

And that's what this is about.

Its of that a crisis that we've got in our communities.

Our communities are suffering there and people are talking past each other.

They're yelling at each other and they're not combine it and coordinating their efforts to create a stronger and better community in which people will live healthier lot.

I think people are tired.

They're one out and we created this campaign because we kept hearing people say, look, we've had enough.

>> We've had enough division.

We've had enough acrimony.

We've had enough to spare.

We've had enough trauma.

We've had enough hatred and bigotry in this country and we want to move forward.

We also need to do something we need to build together to become partners in creators and innovators again, which is part of the American DNA.

So this campaign we created, we are running it expressly at the very same time that there's a presidential race going on in the country and contested congressional races because we wanted to demonstrate a different message.

We don't need more divisive politics.

We need a new civic path forward where we are in our society now requires them to engage.

>> We're we're at a really important point.

And in our particular society, we're seeing our communities.

>> To a large extent.

If not do well.

And we're seeing this disconnect amongst people we're seeing is again, not speak to each other in a unit positive way.

It's incumbent upon all of us.

If we want to live in a better place, if we want to have better lives to do it together to get along with people in many cases with people that we don't feel like we agree with.

But if we do engage those people, I think we'll find actually rather quickly that we agree with them on a lot of things.

And if we can focus on those things that we agree with them on, I think we've got a chance to make some significant progress.

I want people first, 2.

Recognize that we don't have to surrender to the loudest.

The most divisive says.

>> A lot of people to see that there's an alternative path forward that we don't just have to settle for politics.

And I want people to leave with a sense of possibility that we can do this together, but we only can do it together.

>> The Harwood Institute and the Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute have created a community report of the area in order to provide recommendations on how they can work together to build a better community.

Here's some good news about Kentuckians health.

Details in tonight's look at medical News.

The U.S. News and World Report magazine says Kentucky Children's Hospital is one of the 5 best hospitals in the country for pediatric cardiology or children's heart care programs.

The hospital says Kentucky kids have access to the latest technology and treatment options, meaning they don't have to travel far to get the best care.

The magazine also praised Kentucky children's hospitals, Behavioral Health program.

♪ A Pathway Forward is a new documentary documentary highlighting the growth and success of Central High School's Law Magnet program.

The program has been around since 1986. since then, more than 45 students have graduated and gone on to pursue careers in the legal field.

We went to Central High School in Louisville yesterday to hear how students, faculty and alumni are feeling about saying their story on the big screen.

>> I'm really excited for the documentary.

I think programs like this have been so amazing.

I know that Magnus like this truly work and inspire students and really help set the path for them.

So I'm excited for it to get out.

I'm excited for other schools to see the foundation that we've created and hopefully seeing more cities like Louisville taken on the same court so that they can invest in their young people as well.

>> It's a 38 year.

Houma nation to war that's been done.

A Jefferson County Public Schools, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law.

>> And the Legal Bar Association.

>> The goal, what is that other law schools other high schools around America might see what we're doing here in that Central High school.

>> And go, you know what?

This is a really good idea and look at the results that we might get.

>> One of the main points off of putting the spotlight on this program was so other schools not just in Kentucky, but throughout the nation can look at this program to see like okay, the success rate behind this is is outstanding.

>> If you would have asked me back when I was here, the student, if I would come back, that he probably would have said no.

But after working for about 6 years and I loved being a reproductive justice attorney and I still do some things on the side.

I really just wanted something a little bit more impactful.

It's something that really and just a new passion, again, that this gave me hope for the future.

I didn't know a lot of attorneys before I came here and through the program, I met my mentors still KET up with the today.

This program is something.

>> That needs to be that needs a spotlight.

Put on it because it is it's one of the tummy, of course, kind of bias.

But greatest programs in Louisville, this at a high school because it gives underrepresented students and opportunities strides and things they might see this more far face in a new ally to Israel.

Not you have Mike Trout have internships admit you've got me put together with these other firms and different things of that nature.

So you can get that real life.

The spirit knowledge is power.

So.

>> More knowledge to help you out to win every time.

I think it's really important.

Has shaped my life that I that to high school.

I think it just made me a better person I think it'll be good for the underrepresented minority.

This is especially in the downtown areas and certain biggest cities.

>> That implement this in give some students, if not all students hope.

>> Their goals are attainable with this law.

With this becoming a doctor, a dentist, a veterinary, anything of that business on it.

I think this pipeline can be used not just with the legal field with every professional feel good.

You >> High school students involved was a great experience because for the rest of their lives, they will be able to go and watch this documentary and see their contributions to us.

>> A Pathway forward premiere tonight at the Kentucky Center for the Arts during a private screening.

It'll be shown to the public this Saturday, October the 12th at 4.15, eastern at the Louisville International Film Festival in the Muhammad Ali Auditorium.

♪ ♪ She was a prolific artist from Western Kentucky, a native of Graves County.

She never had any formal training yet.

Her works often referred to as memory paintings received widespread acclaim, getting attention from the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Bryant Gumbel for this week's Tapestry segment.

Our Laura Rodgers takes us to the Paducah School of Art and Design where the Helen LaFrance collection is currently on display.

>> Is she would pay herself into some of the paintings in a red dress.

She's the Easter egg in this painting in the corner.

>> Rhonda Mccoury Smith reflecting on her favorite telling my friends painting this symbolizes so much of what African American churches dead evokes memories.

Memories like this one.

My next favorite are the 3 little girls in the Bay.

It because when we go to Arkansas to cause that they could be 10 of us in the bay had Corey Smith is president of the Paducah, Historical Preservation Group who one-day received an urgent phone call.

Don't you all save African American history?

And so we're trying to get started with the caller informed Mccoury Smith, the collection of Helena, France paintings were going up for auction.

We don't have that kind of money.

>> So I don't know what we can do, but we'll see what we can do.

What they did was getting community support and investment raising close to $100,000 to purchase 14 of Helen's pieces.

What I feel that Mister Allen's work when I look in it.

>> It just brings back memories of the community.

With that.

We lived in one to Stubblefield was a friend and relative of Helen's who says she was modest about her talent.

She never was one to boost to brag about pay what she KET.

She had such an incredible creative spirit.

Jay Mohr Waldrup had the opportunity to interview Helen and Cure Rate.

One of her art shows.

I just kept thinking about her story and the way she documented.

>> Rural western Kentucky life that life spanning decades from 1919, to her death in 2020, she paid such attention to the details of life during her very long life.

Earlier this year, Waldrup published a children's book on Helen's Life and Legacy.

The other was training or of her mother helped her start to draw helped her mother paints and pigments from natural items site BlackBerry plants and dandelion plan.

>> She KET the story of this self-taught artist from Western Kentucky would make an inspirational story for young children.

Sometimes, you know, early on what you are happy life might look like.

Helena recipient of the Kentucky Folk Art Heritage Award as an inspiration to many young artists.

The collection is currently housed at the Paducah School of Art and Design.

>> It's to teach.

And so hopefully they'll learn from this art and it would be shared for generations to come.

I think there's a lot of truthfulness.

>> Terror artwork.

Randy Simmons is the acting gallery director and like Helen was raised in Graves County, I relate to it.

I would think that most people in this area can relate to Helen's work, especially the rural aspect.

There's such an honesty approach.

Her I absolutely love.

>> She saw 100 years of history from a child to when she passed.

And so her collection, her paintings reflect 100 years of history in western Kentucky for Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura >> Thank you, Laura.

How an La Francis paintings will be on display in the library at the Paducah School of Art and Design for the next week.

>> The Paducah, Historical Preservation Group says the long-term goal is to establish a Black History Museum and western Kentucky.

Activist and Grammy Award-winning musician Janice and has donated the entirety of her personal archives to Berea College and the opening exhibit is this weekend.

>> Having everything housed in one place gives people who are interested in the history of the arts in America.

We're the history of women in the arts in America a 60 year glimpse.

>> Find out why she chose Berea College and what's going to be in the collection.

That's tomorrow night on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope you'll join us for at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

You can connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop on Kentucky edition and other programs here at KET.

>> You're welcome to send an e-mail to a 6 story idea and public affairs at KET Dot Org and look for us on the PBS app to download on your mobile device and smart TV.

Thanks again for watching tonight.

We have a great program lined up for you tomorrow.

So you don't want to miss it.

I'm Renee Shaw it until I see you again.

Take really good care.

It's a lot.

♪ ♪