Our number one goal is to raise the pay of every single school employee in every building.

Kentucky's lieutenant governor campaigns on an issue that for her hits close to home.

We now know what's next for Kentucky's outgoing commissioner of agriculture.

I think what's really exciting about it is just the rarity of it all.

Plus, capturing the eclipse made the developers behind a science experiment.

With support from NASA production of Kentucky, Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

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

Good evening to you and welcome to Kentucky Edition on this Friday, September the 29th.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off your weekend with us.

It's another setback for Kentucky's transgender youth.

Last night, the sixth U.S.

Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Kentucky can keep banning gender affirming care for young transgender people while legal challenges against the state law proceed.

Senate Bill 150 became law earlier this year after the General Assembly overrode Governor Andy Beshear his veto.

Part of the law bans hormone therapies and puberty blockers for youth under 18.

Lawyers from the ACLU and the National Center for Lesbian Rights sued to stop that section of the law from being enforced on social media.

The ACLU of Kentucky said the decision, quote, ignores evidence from medical experts and the trial court who agree that this care is necessary, effective, appropriate and banning it undermines parents rights to direct the upbringing of their children and, quote.

Kentucky's attorney general and Republican candidate for governor, Daniel Cameron, applauded the court's decision on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Cameron said, quote, A federal court sided with my office in protecting the state's ban on experimental sex change treatments for kids.

Andy Beshear had vetoed the law.

He won't stand up for our law or our kids.

I will always defend both.

End quote.

Speaking at a campaign event for Cameron and Georgetown today, state Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer accused Governor Beshear of lying about this issue.

We sat down with Andy Beshear.

He vetoed it.

We overrode the veto.

He was.

You're saying you really didn't mean what he said when he vetoed By that.

He said that those kind of surgeries are taking place in Kentucky.

He lied.

They're taking place in Lexington and all over.

And we put a stop to it because they sued it yesterday because of Attorney General Daniel Cameron's vigorous defense.

Senate Bill 150 is now the law of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 150 is being challenged on a different fraud.

This time, the families of five transgender children and Fayette County have filed a class action lawsuit.

They call the bill's restrictions on classroom discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation and restrictions on student preferred pronoun and bathroom use unconstitutional.

Just fine.

Kentucky, a nonprofit representing Kentucky's LGBTQ citizens, says, quote, Such censorship about LGBTQ lives not only harms you.

Young people struggling with these issues, but also deprives all children of essential knowledge about diverse gender and sexual identities impeding their ability to become informed and empathetic adults, end quote.

The Herald-Leader says this is the first lawsuit in the state to challenge the education components of Senate Bill 150.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron is also trying to clarify his stand on abortion and whether a ban should include victims of rape and incest.

Kentucky's near-total ban on abortions does not include those exceptions.

Last week, Cameron said he would sign a bill creating exceptions for rape and incest if the Kentucky General Assembly sent him a bill.

The Associated Press reports that as Cameron campaign in London this week, he said he would support those exceptions if the courts ruled the current law had to be changed.

Today, at that same campaign event in Georgetown, Cameron stuck to his support of the current law and his willingness to change it.

I'm 100% pro-life and I support the Human Life Protection Act.

And as I've said repeatedly, if the law was the need to be changed, I would sign those exceptions.

I've made that abundantly clear.

But what we need to focus on is a governor in Andy Beshear, who is on record essentially saying he wants no limits on abortion leave.

The Beshear campaign has been critical of Cameron's stance, saying he is against exceptions for rape and incest, something he says most Kentuckians favor.

In a few minutes, a pair of political operatives will discuss this further in our Inside Kentucky Politics segment.

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman was in Lexington Thursday to launch her Protect Our Public Schools tour.

The former teacher told a group of educators that she and Governor Andy Beshear have made public education a priority, unlike they say, their opponent, Daniel Cameron, who she says wants to take money away from public schools to fund private ones.

This is the most important fight that we can possibly fight, and I am so glad to be in it with teachers, with school employees, with bus drivers, with parents, with people all across Kentucky who know how important this election is.

We cannot afford four more years of Matt Bevin policies under Daniel Cameron and Rob Mills.

We cannot afford it.

So I heard I heard my opponent in the primary talk a whole lot about how he wanted to take funding from our public schools, put it in private schools.

I heard him perpetuating the crazy conspiracy theories about what was going on in the classroom and what our teachers were doing in our classrooms.

And the minute he gets out of that primary, he goes on an apology tour to all the school groups.

And let me tell you something, it's going to take a whole lot more than an apology tour to undo the damage that has been done by these folks in the last several years.

We are at a crossroads in Kentucky of greater opportunity than we've ever seen before.

20, $26 billion in private investments in Kentucky to create over 50,000 jobs all across this commonwealth.

We've got the largest rainy day fund in Kentucky's history, the largest but largest budget surplus in Kentucky's history.

And you know what that means.

We got more than enough money to give our hardworking teachers the long overdue raise they deserve.

To see this progress through, to bring these businesses here that are picking us, to move it forward, to grow it, to expand it, all of those things.

Our number one goal is to raise the pay of every single school employee in every building by 11% across the board rate for every school employee.

Because I don't care if you're a cook, a custodian, a counselor, or a chemistry teacher, you are part of the village that our families need.

Every single day.

In August, Republican Daniel Cameron unveiled what he calls the Cameron catch up plan.

He says, to help students bounce back after COVID school closings.

He would start an optional, state funded six week tutoring program for students behind in reading and math to take place after school and in the summer.

And he says he would push for a teacher starting salary floor of $41,500 a year.

Now, a programing note on Katie's election coverage.

They watch over your money and you'll hear from the candidates for state auditor and state treasurer Monday night on Kentucky tonight.

And we want you to send the candidates your questions and comments, so make sure you tune in Monday night at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Seven Central right here on Katie Ryan calls.

We'll go from helping farmers to helping students.

The Kentucky Community College and Technical the Kentucky Community and Technical College system's Board of Regents has picked quarrels to be the new KCTCS President Corales is wrapping up his second term as Kentucky commissioner of agriculture.

He ran for governor this year and finished second in the May Republican primary.

Corales will be the fourth president of KCTCS and a statement Board of Regents Chair Barry Martin said, quote, Dr. Corales has proven statewide leadership.

His relationships across Kentucky and in Washington, D.C., as well as his outstanding educational background in Higher education Administration, make him the clear choice to move our system forward and, quote, Corales is expected to begin his presidency of the state's community and technical college system by the first of next year.

National news Now Unless Congress takes action, the federal government will shut down in less than a day and a half.

Today, a spending plan failed and the Republican led U.S. House, U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate minority leader, has been a long time critic of government shutdowns, saying they're futile, they hurt people, and even his own party here, Senator McConnell on the Senate floor this week, midnight on Sunday night, appropriations will run out and the federal government will shut down over the years, I've been pretty clear in my view, that government shutdowns are bad news, whichever way you look at them, they don't work as political bargaining chips.

They create unnecessary hardships for millions of Americans.

For example, nearly 46,000 service members and 22,000 civilian workers in my home state of Kentucky who earn federal government paychecks.

And they hardly ever produce meaningful policy outcomes.

At the end of the day, a government shutdown would be an unnecessary disruption of the important work of the Senate agenda.

So I would urge my colleagues to work this week to avoid one.

Senator McConnell also commented today on the death of U.S.

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, a Democrat and the longest serving woman in U.S. Senate history.

She died at the age of 90.

Here is part of Senator McConnell statement.

Dianne was a trailblazer and her beloved home state of California and our entire nation, our better for her dogged advocacy and diligent service over the past three decades.

The senior senator from California was also the steady hand leading, sensitive and consequential work.

Her name became synonymous with advocacy for women and with issues from water infrastructure to counter-drug efforts.

End quote.

The United Auto Workers strike is expanding again, as expected, but it appears the four plants in Louisville are still open for business.

The UAW strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis began about two weeks ago over pay and benefits.

Only some workers walked off the job, but the number has been growing.

The UAW says talks with Ford have been more productive than talks with the other two automakers.

That's why fewer Ford workers have joined the strike until today.

Today, the UAW added 7000 more workers to the list.

They're from a Ford plant in Chicago and a General Motors assembly factory near Lansing, Michigan.

UAW President Sean Fain called this a fight for a better future and a war against corporate greed.

Today, our union is building a different arsenal, a democracy.

But this war isn't against some foreign country.

The front lines are right here at home.

It's the war of the working class versus corporate greed.

We are the new arsenal of democracy.

The workers are the liberators.

And our strike is the vehicle for liberation.

Ford has about 12,000 workers at two plants in Louisville who are not impacted by today's expansion.

The Chamber of Commerce says Ford is Louisville's fourth largest employer.

Time now for an end of week review of some major political news this week as we go inside Kentucky politics with Morgan Eves, who was a Democratic strategist and education consultant, and Trey Watson, who is the founder and leader of Capitol Rains PR.

Good to have you both here.

Great to be here.

So let's start with some news that happened today.

Probably most people suspected that Ryan Corales is the former candidate for governor, Republican also former state lawmaker got the appointment.

He will be the fourth president for the Kentucky community and Technical College System.

Troy.

You go.

Ryan's one of my best friends.

The world ran as that commission race in 15.

Very happy for him.

I know he's excited.

You know, people kind of look at it, say, huh, the commissioner.

But remember, he's he's got a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt and higher leadership, a master's from Harvard, higher ed leadership.

And he's a lawyer.

So checks a lot of boxes and a theme of the day.

That job is largely about going to the to the to the state and federal government and asking for money.

And he's got great relationships there and proved himself very successfully at the national level.

He helped lead the last several farm bills from the from the State Department of Agriculture.

ANGLE So I think he's he's a great fit to be able to get that that that organization kind of back on track and get the money that they need to make the changes.

They need to really be a great community college system.

Some people are concerned, Morgan, about politicizing these kind of offices, that it's higher education, not to be confused with politics or influenced by politics.

Do you think there's a fine line there?

There is a fine line, but as you pointed out, he is someone who has the education background that aligns with this job and equal to what Trey said.

It's it's a lot about visibility and fundraising and relationships and relationships.

And we know who controls the budget.

That's the state legislature.

And so if he has those relationships, which he does and he had a large number of state legislators come out to endorse him during the campaign, he'll be able to have those conversations a lot easier than than people who are a little bit more removed.

Some of those board members are gubernatorial appointed.

So if Andy Beshear wanted to make it political, he probably could have.

So I think it shows that they're appointing a Republican is something that the governor could have could have weighed in on the shows.

There's probably not as much to fear on the politics side.

Good point.

So speaking of politics, let's get down to abortion, is we keep that keeps being a resurfacing issue.

And Attorney General Daniel Cameron seems to be swapping his stories out here.

Trey Watson, about would he sign a bill that was sent to him or would he only act and include exceptions for rape and incest and the anti-abortion laws if a court made him do it?

What's really the truth here?

I think what he said on the radio was probably, you know, when you're speaking extemporaneously at some of his political events, especially when you get a question, sometimes the words don't come out exactly right.

And, you know, you've been around enough lawyers when sometimes they pass their words in awkward ways that you're like.

But I think what's on the radio is is is correct.

I think he was probably referring to because I think there's a line of demarcation between edits to this law or passing a different law on the radio.

He said that he would he would sign a law if the General Assembly passed it.

Right.

But he's also said he supports this law, which those two things aren't necessarily opposite of each other.

They, you know, they do work together.

So I think it's just it's just kind of parsing words.

And, you know, you do enough of these events Sometimes the the border of words come out of your mouth.

I don't think there's any concern to think that he's he's changing positions again.

Well, some voters might see it a little differently, though.

MORGAN Aides.

Kentuckians are right to be concerned about that stance.

You know, this is the first big statewide election since the constitutional amendment failed.

And I think he's struggling to capture not only the extreme part of his party, those no exception, no abortion at all believers.

And what the majority of Kentuckians showed that they believed, which is this should should be an issue that's left to individuals and not to the state.

So looking back at his changing over the past three weeks, he's had three different statements and three weeks.

He needs to get it right because this is an issue Kentuckians can care about.

And we'll see.

I'm sure there will be a fourth change to that opinion coming soon.

Well, how impactful, because I haven't got a chance to ask you this.

Do you think that ad is featuring the now young woman, 21 year old, who talks about being raped by her stepfather at age 12?

Right.

How can you look at that and not feel compelled to advocate for someone like her?

She is someone who, at the age of 12, was raped by her stepfather and fell pregnant and is advocating for access to services.

People that age and people of all ages need, you know, the the the fight for exceptions to this law is real.

She's showing that it's about real people.

It's not a statistic that you can throw out there.

There are real people with real stories behind that message.

That is the most impactful campaign commercial I think we will see possibly nationwide this year.

I think if you look at the what's interesting about the abortion ads that the Beshear campaigns have been not, though, is it never mentions the word abortion.

And that's because Andy Beshear wants to talk about Daniel Cameron, but he won't talk about himself because nearly 70% of Americans support a 15 week ban with exceptions.

Andy Beshear said publicly as attorney general he would not defend the state's 20 week ban.

So Andy Beshear is also outside of the mainstream on this issue.

So he kind of wants to point fingers at Daniel Cameron, but he doesn't want the finger pointing back himself.

So I think the wording of those ads are interesting that they never mention the word abortion, because Andy, the governor didn't want to talk about his position, his record on that either.

So taxes, they are trying to make their positions known on income taxes.

And we know that we didn't quite meet both of those triggers to have it reduced in 2025.

What's the messaging now?

I'll start with you from the Beshear camp.

When it showed the Bashir camp as he's touting his enactment, you know, as governor, he has the power to enact laws.

So there is a recent campaign commercial that touted his ability to an act and enact those tax cuts, which he did this past legislative session.

He had vetoed the first original bill that kind of set all that up.

Correct.

And his concern, which he voiced again after signing the most recent bill, was, you know, that it could impact future funding for necessary services within the state.

He also noted that in a time of extreme inflation, it's really important to put those dollars back in Kentuckians pockets.

You can have both opinions and he and he does.

It's laughable to say he supported it.

It would have become law without it without his signature, because the legislature would have overridden a veto as they did many, many times.

He didn't support the law that actually set up the ability for the taxes to drop.

He did say he doesn't support the drop, but kind of basically said it's an election year, so we'll let it slide.

You know, I mean, it's it's it's a humorous to me that he's attempting to take some sort of credit for it.

Now, when he he fought tooth and nail against it.

More talk about always.

But thank you, both of you.

Have a great weekend.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The United States will see a total solar eclipse next year.

At Western Kentucky University, a team is working on an app to help us learn more about the sun.

Nassar is now involved.

It's the ultimate science project.

And you're invited to take part.

Witnessing a total solar eclipse as an experience like no other.

There are two classes of people in the world, those who have seen one and all of it, and those who are going to see one and be in awe of it.

It was amazing.

Everything went dark and the birds went quiet.

The last time an eclipse was visible from the United States was in 2017.

It was, I mean, really a life changing experience.

And in April 2024, we'll see.

Once again, understanding the shape of the sun can actually tell us a lot about the natural world.

A group of WQ students and professors are using that opportunity to learn more about the shape of the sun to an accuracy and measure never known before, but will also tell us a lot about gravitational waves, the way that gravity works in general.

We might be able to refine certain theories of gravity, go beyond what Newton laid out a long time ago.

Students in the extended Reality Research lab are developing and designing the Sun Sketcher app.

They're coming together and wonderful team to put together an experience to rival that of the eclipse itself.

If you've ever seen a solar eclipse, you'll know this The complete human experience is not just science, is art.

It's history is culture.

And we're trying to replicate that at some sketcher.

They hope the volunteers will download the free app to record the Sun's movement from their unique vantage points along the Eclipse Center line.

A big part of my role in the team is managing how we are going to collect that data from users and get it back to a central location where it can be stored and process.

Sun Sketcher will track the eclipse over a 2000 mile path that takes an hour to traverse.

What makes our research useful is that we have so many users.

Using the app is that we're going to get hopefully millions of data points across the United States.

Have been doing this kind of wing in a prayer using money we phone or something to pay for things.

That was until the group wrote a grant proposal to Naza and months later learned their proposal had been approved out of the blue.

I got called up when I was at home and they were like, Can you come back into work?

We need to talk about something really important.

And so I come in and they say.

So we just got an asset funding.

But this opened up a whole new set of possibilities to really do this properly.

The group will head to Odessa, Texas, in October for an annular solar eclipse.

You don't get a lot of chances to test something like this because we have to have an eclipse to be able to test it.

That will help the suns get your team confirm the app is working properly before it's officially deployed in April.

No one person can do this.

They've tried chasing eclipses in airplanes, but even an airplane can't keep up with that fast.

The only way to make the data we need is to have an array of observers spread out all along the eclipse path.

Anyone with a smartphone can contribute, and they hope millions will show up to participate.

This eclipse is going to happen.

Whether we're ready or not.

We will be ready.

But unlike a lot of universities, don't project well.

Can I have a two week extension?

Not on this one.

We have to be ready and we'll be ready.

And the deadline is coming when the total solar eclipse crosses North America on April eight, 2024.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

We have our calendars marked.

You can learn more at Sun sketcher dot org.

The app goes live a few weeks before the April eclipse.

The total eclipse will be visible in Paducah and southwestern Kentucky.

Usher in October with a festival, a movie or tour of a working farm.

Our Toby Gibbs has a list of your options.

And this look at what's up around the Commonwealth.

Start the weekend right in Springfield with the Sorghum Festival.

Over 85 vendors will be in their vendor row opening night, and the fun doesn't stop there.

Saturday is packed with fun activities like the Kids Zone Parade and dog show.

The night ends with an outdoor performance from JD Shelburne.

You'll be sore to miss out on this year's Sorghum Festival.

If you're looking for a family friendly Halloween activity this season, Big Bone Lake State historic site has you covered.

Starting this Saturday and running through the end of October is haunted.

Mini Golf.

Prove your scary good golf skills amongst the spooky soundtrack and dreadful decor.

It's sure to be a wicked good time.

It's time for Pikeville Pride tomorrow at the Appalachian Wireless Arena Plaza.

Come enjoy live music, food, trucks and guest speakers from across the state.

October is LGBTQ History Month and this is a great event to kick it off this Sunday in Canton County, embark on a self-guided tour to some of the working farms in the area.

Get behind the scenes glimpses into how our food gets to our plates through interactive activities.

If you visit all five locations, head to the Kenton County Library Durham Branch for a fun prize.

Already underway at the historic Kentucky Theater in Lexington is the city's first ever competitive international film festival.

Don't miss your chance to see high quality films from around the world and right here in Kentucky at the 12 Lions Film Festival.

After the award ceremony Saturday evening, stick around for the after party with some local food trucks and great music.

Join some of America's most talented storytellers in the Daniel Boone Forest this weekend for the 23rd Cave run Storytelling festival.

Physically, you'll be among the gorgeous fall scenery of Cave Run Lake.

But these storytellers will whisk your imagination far away to new times and places.

Come out to cave.

Run for this unique festival.

And that's what's happening around the Commonwealth.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

Thank you, as always.

Toby Gibbs.

A lot of great stories coming your way Monday night, so we hope you'll tune in at 630 Eastern, 530 Central on Kentucky Edition, where we inform, Connect and Inspire.

Connect with us all the way.

As you see on your screen, Facebook, Instagram, and the other ways.

And we hope you have a great weekend to come this first weekend of October.

Make it a good one.

And I will see you right back here for Kentucky Edition on Monday.

Take good care.