>> And work.

Crews move in to the UK's Memorial Coliseum for sports programs will have to move out.

>> Improve the racing product and that's bring more >> And they're all and or post racing Park gets a modern makeover.

Walking to watch getting the essence of this post and >> to be able to, you know, try to spot that energy that it actually had been to be able to see it in the biggest scales.

>> Kentucky sculptor says a controversial racehorse deserves to be immortalized in >> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET and down the Kentucky productions.

Leonard Preston Down for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition.

It's the first of September Thursday.

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

And eastern Kentucky.

People continue cleaning up as they work toward getting their lives back to normal after the July floods.

>> A state senator representing some of the hardest hit areas says a big part of the rebuilding process has not been properly addressed or funded.

KET.

He's Brandon Roberts tells us more.

>> Destruction and devastation still loom large in many eastern Kentucky communities affected by the flooding that occurred a little more than a month ago.

Perhaps nowhere is the havoc caused by those floods.

More evident that along troublesome creek in Perry County, where some residents have resorted the living in tents on their property to not only stay close to where they need to be during the rebuilding process, but also KET a watchful eye on what little belongings they have left.

>> Just a basic need in some they wanted to be self reliant.

They they can be back there and they have gardens and stuff still.

They have other things that they could be fixing or they can start to clean up a little bit of time.

And safety.

As far as you hate to say it.

You see a lot of heroes that will step up in a case like this and you'll see other people that will come in still, Rob, you blind, as we say in.

So I think there's an aspect of people that have lost almost everything they have and that little bit.

They've hung on to that 10% of what they've got left.

They don't lose that either matter of fact, it takes on a greater value.

>> Help is available for those wanting to rebuild.

>> There are needs that we could start meeting today if we had the and we could start making plans.

And that's really the key thing.

You know, there's there's a elderly woman in Breathitt County whose house was damaged and we don't know if we can afford to build or a new house or we're going to have to try to repair that house.

And if we hadn't gotten allocation or if we KET what we were going to get from the state, then we can really start making plans.

And we would how much my other money we would need to raise.

What would what it would take to get her out of The house that's fallen off its foundation and into a safe, decent place to live and now we're kind of in a holding pattern and there's, you know, there's a real human calls to delaying starting the recovery of housing.

>> Smith was unsuccessful in his attempt to get housing money added to the flood relief bill.

>> I just couldn't believe.

Devastation with his.

A lot of loss of life lost excuse me.

And this happened to be children.

And I think this speed to want to get in there and get it fixed and sometimes maybe not knowing the questions to could have led to.

I don't think there's any intent on anybody's part to tend to not address these issues.

a possible.

>> Could now take much longer.

>> Unfortunately, the reality is when that since housing wasn't included in this bill.

It's got to take several months longer to get people back into a safeties in place.

>> For KET, I'm Brandon Roberts.

>> Senator Smith said the Housing alliance is a tool available to people wanting to rebuild.

He urges anyone affected by the floods to call email or go online.

Logarithm onto the website for more information and resources for the Housing Alliance.

Governor Andy Beshear says FEMA has sent some Kentucky flood survivors checks for last than $200.

He says don't assume that's all you're going to get.

>> Okay again because I've heard a few news reports of people getting a female ward of $179.

$295.

Some FEMA is not communicating this well enough, but most likely that is not your final award.

You're receiving that money to pay a contractor to inspect and provide the estimate of the cost to repair disaster related damage to HVAC septic system.

Well, retaining wall, single-family road or bridge after you receive the contractor estimate.

Take it back to the disaster Recovery Center.

They're saying file an appeal.

I wish the process wasn't like that.

I don't like the process.

But if you get.

Just 100 something dollars, make sure you communicating with FEMA because most likely that is to pay somebody to come out the contractor and inspect an estimate your damage.

>> And other flood news has approved 92 million dollars in federal grants, loans and flood insurance payments.

That includes 53 million to 6500 households.

The state says less than 60 customers are now without power.

That number was more than 27,000 on July.

29th State Parks now hold 350 people displaced by the floods, churches and schools continue to provide shelters.

And as we told you yesterday, Louisiana is donating 300 travel trailers to Kentucky and 65 of them already on the way.

Kentuckians in 12 counties are proof or the disaster.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or what's called the snap.

The state says those people now have until September 2nd, which is tomorrow to apply for the benefits.

Now an update on school starting dates in eastern Kentucky.

The floods force many school systems to delay the beginning of the school year.

Leslie County schools are expected to open September 6th the day after Labor Day.

Jenkins independent is hoping for September.

The 13th, not County Superintendent Brent Hoover says he's aiming for September 19th Letcher County Superintendent Des Macy on says she's still not sure on a date but hopes to be in late September or early October.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass joined other state and federal education leaders to visit several systems affected by the flooding in eastern Kentucky.

Class of the damage is staggering and that the pictures and village really don't capture how bad it is.

But he says he's astounded about the progress that's being made in the last few weeks.

The Kentucky General Assembly has okayed 213 million dollars for disaster relief.

With 40 million of that going to the Kentucky Department of Education for school cleanup and repairs now making roads accessible.

So students in eastern Kentucky can get to and from school as one of the goals of road crews with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews from several districts made their way to the area after the catastrophic flooding.

They tell us it's unlike anything they've ever seen before.

>> Whenever I first got eastern Kentucky to help the flood it was just unbelievable.

I mean.

>> Left like I never seen before at all.

It was for it.

There was stuff land Edwards to forced out Cuyler home businesses well flooded.

Several friends with Mary those affected by it.

And that's been a real devastation to a lot of it.

As record.

The biggest challenge is.

Getting equipment downer and getting it set up, getting it organized because we've had so much equipment we had like 14 to 15 folks to take down in several places.

Appointment we get blown tires, trucks get going down.

And once we got down our we've got regulated with the mechanics of stuff and they helped us get everything changed.

And so the court the first few days, what we held off to try to get the stock, how they'll to for jobs that we are going have today and then.

Started an excavator down there.

>> Dixon slips addiction and >> moving debris out of the way.

The trees and stumps.

And I mean, just everything cars, something peoples houses, parts of them.

This mess and they head loaders while scraping the roads trying to get to where.

The road that was like, if you can get 3, some of the roads were completely gone.

They had to build roads to get to people.

Our main goal is to try to get the ditches and the drainage boys opened as much as we can for winter.

So the water's not run in the roadway causing more problems so nice this winter.

And so the 3rd crews will be able to do their job more efficiently.

>> I mean, it's been a different group effort for statewide to make this happen.

A lot of the road development coming back So many roads are destroyed.

Kober forced out.

It's so time-consuming, get all these things done.

Even having contractors coming in to that Rhys to state laws.

The roadsides, you have something to build off of and it's been quite time consuming.

It's going take a long time, too.

Get back late news to be.

>> Another state official is helping out with the flood recovery effort.

As we told you yesterday, day yesterday, rather, there's 800 million dollars in unclaimed property in Kentuckyian Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball says flood impacted eastern Kentucky hands.

Well, they're do a sizable portion of that.

>> One thing that we have done is we have expedited all claims that have come from the the affected counties.

We've got a list of all those counties and those people who live there, they know who they and we're putting them to the top of the list.

And we've been able to already return a lot of money to those folks.

And it's great because a lot of them need cash now, you know, they need something right now.

So they may not have a lot of money or they may have a lot of money whatever it is, it's going help them out.

I think we returned about $14,500 in the last few weeks.

Just those eastern Kentucky counties.

There's quite a bit more left their 16 million a little more than that.

That is unclaimed.

So I'm trying to get the word out just in that region just in that region.

Just those affected counties.

So I'm trying get the word out.

And we actually did this in western Kentucky when they had the tornadoes and we know we were able to help people that need it right then.

So did the same thing in Eastern Kentucky.

And it's probably going to be a while.

They're going to expect those claims because we're going to have needs for a while.

Yeah.

>> So tell me about this famous tweet that you tweeted.

Yes, so, you know, I'm from Floyd County, I'm 9th generation from Floyd County.

My family has been there since the 17 90's.

So.

>> All right.

After the floods, Floyd County was one of the ones impacted.

Not not all the more and so my my team with me out to Whalen, which is around the edge of a not county line while are out there.

We were.

We were distributing supplies and things like that.

We have a lot of people coming in asking for dog food and cat food which we did not have.

So we had a very poor Internet signal were able to get on our phones and tweeted out from the official, hey, we're here on the ground in Wayland, W***** dog food and cat food.

We tagged Purina and a bunch of animal catch dog food providers.

And we actually got a response back from Pierre, a and they said we will send a dog food to you.

We got you covered if they made about a $15,000 donation to Floyd County to make sure they have what they needed.

But we're pretty proud of that because we saw a need right then.

And one of the nice things about being elected officials that you do have a platform.

You do have a way to get the word out.

And this was a way on the ground in Wayland, Jim, to be able get the word out, get some help and and really that movement impact.

Yeah.

Good day at the office.

That does a good day.

The office.

Yeah.

>> In political news, more Kentuckians are saying no to the Democrats and the Republicans, the secretary of state's office says in July twice as many new voters signed duck as independents or members of other parties that has Republicans and Democrats, Republicans make up 45.2% of the electorate.

Democrats account for an even 45%.

9.7% of voters are either independents or members of another party.

That's 347,481 voters.

Secretary of state Michael Adams says county clerks and poll workers are the targets of abuse because of voters angry over imaginary vote fraud.

He says WPSD covered Secretary Adams's appearance yesterday at the Paducah Rotary Club.

Adams told the group 5 county clerks have resigned in the last month because of the abuse they're getting on the job.

He said he just received another death threat, which she reported to the FBI.

Adams also said, quote, I'm really concerned about these conspiracy theorists making it harder for us to get poll workers.

I don't want poll workers to feel like they're having to sit there.

It's a long day as it is and then have angry people come up and accused them of fraud.

It's ridiculous.

He says, quote.

Renovations to the University of Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum will force for sports teams to find new homes during the 2023 24 school year.

That's according to Athletics.

Director Mitch Barnhart an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The plan is to improve seats, build some event space and at air conditioning to the 72 year-old building.

Because of that, the woman's basketball team, the volleyball team, UK gymnastics and the stopped team won't be able to use the building.

Start refers to the athletic competition among cheer teams.

Barnhart did not say where those things will go.

Kentucky is a step closer to income tax reduction next January.

First during the Kentucky General Assembly session earlier this year, lawmakers passed House Bill 8 which gradually lowers the income tax with a goal of eliminating it altogether.

But in order for that to happen, the state has to reach certain economic triggers or goals, the amount of money in the budget Reserve trust fund has to be equal to or greater than 10% of the general fund.

The state has done that.

If Kentucky can meet the other trigger keeping revenue and spending in line in the income tax will decline from 5 percent to 4.5% next January first.

And that's in 2023.

The government's PPP loans program saved about 25,000 jobs in Davis County, according to a new government study, PPP stands for Payroll Protection program.

The federal government loaned almost 800 billion dollars to qualifying businesses at the height of the pandemic.

Most of the loans were forgiven according to the Owensboro Messenger, Enquirer, businesses in Owensboro received 182 million dollars in the U.S. Pandemic Response Accountability Committee says the program save more than 25,000 jobs in Davis County with about 24,000 of them.

In Owensboro.

Better stairways, new benches and in him proved overlooks.

They're all on the way as part of Mammoth caves remake over the park is getting about 6 and a half million dollars from the Great American Outdoors Act.

It will use that money for improvements on a one-mile stretch of an underground trail from the new entrance to the Frozen Niagara Insurance.

The park superintendent says these will be the first improvements along this trail since the 1930's work will begin in November.

And last until next summer, some trails will be closed, of course, doing the work.

A dying tree is becoming a lasting tribute to a well-known thoroughbred.

A sculpture of Medina Spirit is being crafted from 100 year-old sycamore tree.

At old friends farm a thoroughbred retirement center in Georgetown where his remains are buried.

Medina spirit faced controversy during his racing career in February of this year.

He was stripped of his 2021.

Kentucky Derby win for failing a post-race drug test.

That decision came down 2 months after he died of an apparent heart attack following a workout.

But those who are part of this project say despite the controversy, Medina Spirit still deserves to be honored.

More on that in Tonights Arts and culture segment tapestry.

>> That's something.

>> You know, really fascinating about the not of me of the horse.

you know, for me, I'm always excited about trying to capture.

The foam.

The anatomy of it in.

It's really a very beautiful.

on Medina spirit, represent Haitian of well, very great holes.

>> Medina Spirit was a zing racehorse.

He had heart of a champion.

He was like a black.

>> Pisa light.

When the rant.

But he died too young.

>> Walking to a getting the essence of this post.

>> And to be able to, you know, trust God, that energy that it actually had.

And >> to be able to see it in the biggest scales.

>> We chose kept cool because he's geniuses this.

I mean, to see him go out there using chainsaws, the way somebody else would use the scoping night.

>> It's just unbelievable.

And, you know, you probably couldn't find any bills the world that could do a better job.

>> I look at it looks like our version of Mount Rushmore out here and it's a tribute to treat a great treat.

All these wonderful, retired worse.

>> It all starts.

We do with the drawing with a sketch of a deer.

>> to having the drug way I translated >> Small.

>> Market, which is, you know, the walking water went for it.

>> There's a Medina Spirit's grave right here.

You know, there's all that kind of stories you get from it.

You know that that's that's pretty.

>> Amazing.

We buried Medina spirit down there that rainy, cloudy, miserable day throughout the 100.

People here that can do just just visit his grave on that day.

So.

>> I'm hoping you know, street are virtually rose from the ashes and and I'm hoping they'll come here and just celebrate with us.

>> And quite an adventure for me.

It's a it's a lot of fun.

you know, you also get to meet it.

A lot of people you meet.

>> My goal and its friends.

It said the mid to horses.

It's quite a nice journey for me to be able to just experience it as I work and create.

>> What I hope to capture, it's not up to the to capture it, but he will.

>> And has is the essence of some of these horses spirit and >> the idea of Medina spirit, his spirit being kept alive by this great work of art is spectacular.

>> And some political news, Charles Booker, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate says he's now been endorsed by Governor Andy Beshear.

Booker put out a statement about that today.

Booker says Governor Beshear joins past governors, Paul Patton and Martha Layne Collins as well as former lieutenant governor's Daniel Mond And Jerry Abramson supporting his run for Senate.

Booker is taking on 2 term incumbent Republican Sen. >> Rand Paul.

And 2019 now revisiting some equine news.

Churchill Downs bought her for a park in decided to give it a new look.

>> Today after nearly 3 years of renovations, Turfway park racing and gaming reopened with improved facilities and new historical horse racing machines.

Our Casey Parker Bell was there for the reopening.

>> Will resources to not only get to provide entertainment year round, but it also provided us a great racing experience.

>> Turfway Park reopened this morning after 3 years of her patients.

Her voice employees greeted the first people in the door this morning.

The improvements cost the park over 145 million dollars interface.

General manager says it represents a huge improvement from where the park was.

>> It's it's long Our facility for the last 63 years prior to today was past past its prime.

It really provided a poor rating experience, especially if you're one of the few Kentucky racetracks.

It was a poor way to experience racing in a given that it's our signature industries.

The newly renovated facility includes 800 historical horse racing machines.

>> With room to expand, his interest grows.

Patrons push buttons and watch the machines work and some were glad to have a place closer to home.

What?

>> I'd rather have the money go to the state.

Still how state?

So when I played in a while, it felt like Kentucky them benefit based on their Kentucky will help out.

Some will be seen as an Indiana been there for almost 25 years.

Finally, finally, we're keeping this money.

>> In Kentucky.

Using it to fund our schools.

And our pensions.

Republican State Representative Adam K Nick has sponsored numerous bills to expand gaming in Kentucky.

>> He says facilities like turf way to leave the state toward expanding gaming more.

This.

>> Exist.

The more people see the man for the product.

I think it will, you know, make it easier to move forward on things like sports betting table games.

>> Representative caning says facilities like the new turf way will bring more attention to the racing product and more dollars to northern Kentucky for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Thank you, Casey Turf Wars gaming facility open today.

But parts of the horse race track are still under construction.

The track is set to reopen on November.

The first Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer is a horse racing enthusiast and he's excited about the rebirth of Turfway Park.

He worked for more than 30 years ago when he first came to Kentucky.

He says that it's a modern five-star facility that will be an economic boon for northern Kentuckyian the state as a whole.

>> Or in part for me is what turf ways role is in Kentucky's year-round racing circuit.

That's my number one.

Concern when I advocated to make the hhr machines legal after the unfortunate Supreme Court decision a few years ago.

I said that creating this year-round circuit with the largest purses in North America would have positive economic impacts for the entire state.

You know, there are 60,000 jobs created by the horse industry.

A couple billion dollars in economic impact.

Lots of jobs created and money to the general Fund and Turf Way plays an important for winter time racing.

You know, Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky is what I would call a but chur racing and gaming market horse racing has taken place up there for 150 years.

There have casinos on the Indiana side of the river for about 25 years and casinos downtown and the suburbs of Cincinnati for about 15 years.

So it's a very mature market, but not overly saturated.

I really believe this new facility with the highest technology historical horse racing machines at Turfway.

It's going to be.

Matt with a lot of enthusiasm by the citizens of Cincinnati, southern Indiana and northern Kentucky.

I think it's going to be huge impact.

I think it will.

Probably the the top hhr location in the state within 18 months.

Once once they get past the introduction, a part of the business plan.

>> 400 jobs were created and filled at the new Turf Way Park facility.

There is plenty to see tomorrow night on Kentucky EDITION will look back at the political events and happenings of the weekend.

Our segment and side, Kentucky politics.

Find out what's happening on Labor Day weekend and beyond and are look was we call it around the commonwealth.

So there's so much more to tune in and see tomorrow night, which we hope we will at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central on Kentucky EDITION where we inform connect and inspire.

We hope that you'll subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition, e-mail news letter and watch full episodes at KET Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

>> And you can follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop and you're more than welcome to follow me on Twitter at Renee KET.

Thank you so very much for watching tonight.

Hope we'll see you again tomorrow night.

In the meantime, take really good care.

Good night.

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