[♪♪] >> I LIKE TO ASK FOR PRAYER FOR CHARLIE KIRK.

IT'S BEING REPORTED HE HAS BEEN SHOT.

>> Renee: WE'RE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS.

THE SHOOTING DEATH OF CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK KENTUCKY REACTION AHEAD.

>> ANDY BARR GROOMED BY MITCH McCONNELL IS AN INTERN.

>> MY MENTOR, LEADER MITCH McCONNELL.

>> AND A TRUMP POLITICIAN.

>> Renee: AND NEW ADS PRAISE AND CRITICIZE U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE ANDY BARR.

>> AND LOOK WHO'S IN LATE NIGHT LIMELIGHT?

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" FOR THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 10TH I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE KILLING OF CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK SHOT THIS AFTERNOON IN UTAH.

KIRK WAS SHOT WHILE SPEAKING OUTDOORS AT UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED KIRK'S DEATH ON TRUTH SOCIAL AROUND 4:4 5:00 P.M. M EASTERN TIME.

A PERSON TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IS NOT THE SHOOTER.

AS OF OUR "KENTUCKY EDITION" DEADLINE THE SEARCH FOR THE GUNMAN CONTINUED.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER OF KENTUCKY'S FIRST DISTRICT WAS TOLD ABOUT THE SHOOTING DURING A HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY AND ASKED FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CENTRE FOR PRAYER FOR CHARLIE KIRK IT'S BEING REPORTED HE HAS BEEN SHOT AT AN EVENT.

>> OH, MY, WOW.

WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> Renee: OTHER KENTUCKY POLITICIANS ARE ALSO COMMENTING ON THE SHOOTING.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA POST CAME BEFORE KIRK'S DEATH.

CONGRESSMAN BRETT GUTHRIE OF KENTUCKY'S SECOND DISTRICT POSTED THIS HE SAYS HE AND HIS WIFE BETH ARE PRAYING FOR KIRK AND HIS FAMILY.

SENATOR RAND PAUL SAYS HE IS HEARTBROKEN AND HE ALSO ASKS PEOPLE TO PRAY.

>>> THIS IS SAFE SCHOOLS WEEK IN KENTUCKY WHICH IS WHY TODAY I SPOKE WITH JOHN ACRES AND PATRICIA GREER BOTH WITH THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY I WAS SPEAKING TO THEM IN LIGHT OF RECENT MASS SHOOTING AT CAMPUSES WHEN NEWS FROM UTAH BROKE.

AS WE WERE TAPING THIS DISCUSSION A FEW MINUTE BEFORE WE LEARNED THERE WAS ANOTHER SHOOTING AT UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY.

INVOLVING A HIGH PROFILE CONSERVATIVE PODCASTER CHARLIE KIRK.

AND SO WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT CASE AT THE TIME WE WERE TALKING.

JOHN TO YOU FIRST AND ASK YOU IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND OF COURSE SHE IS INCIDENTS HAPPEN WITH REGULARITY IT SEEMS, DOES THAT KIND OF CHANGE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY AT ALL LEVELS HERE IN KENTUCKY?

>> WELL IT CERTAINLY DOES AND THIS WAS A SHOCK TO ME TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING WHAT IS GOING ON IN UTAH.

POST-SECONDARY KIDS ARE MORE VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF THE FREEDOM THEY HAVE AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING HERE I SAW ALL THE KIDS WALKING AROUND THE CAMPUS AT U.K.

THERE IS A VULNERABILITY THERE.

I WOULD SAY PARTICULARLY IN THE EVENING, TOO WHEN KIDS ARE JUST WALKING AROUND HAVING A GOOD TIME.

SO THERE IS A ENVIRONMENT BILL THERE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT K-12 YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC AND 8:00 TO 3:00 FIVE DAYS A WEEK BUT IT GOES ON FURTHER.

>> Renee: ABSOLUTELY.

PATRICIA YOUR THOUGHTS YOU ARE CENTERED ON A CAMPUS AT MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY WHAT IS THE CONVERSATION LIKE GIVEN THE SPAT OF SHOOTINGS SEEM TO HAPPEN AND THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE HAS IT CHANGED THE SAFETY MEASURES THAT MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY HAS IMPLEMENTED.

>> I AM ON OUR CAMPUS POLICE ACROSS THE STATE, MURKY STATE HAS A POLICE OFFICE THAT SENDS OUT INFORMATION ABOUT ACTIVE AGGRESSOR TRAINING AND ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING.

UNIVERSITIES AND POLICE STATIONS ARE REALLY WORKING TO PROVIDE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS.

BUT IT GOES BACK TO AS JOHN MENTIONS, IT'S JUST SUCH A DIFFERENT SETTING.

LIKE IT'S VERY HARD TO HAVE A SECURE ACCESS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY BUILDINGS AND STUDENTS ARE WALKING FROM THEIR DORM ROOM TO THEIR CLASSROOMS AND BACK AND TORT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID OUR UNIVERSITIES OUR COLLEGES THEY ARE WORKING AS POLICE STATIONS TO TRY TO PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE SEEING CHANGES IN AND IT ALSO IS A DIFFERENT ENTITY.

>> Renee: PATRICIA STAYING WITH YOU FOR A MOMENT THIS ISSUE OF SCHOOL SHOOT ASSOCIATION PERSONAL FOR ALL OF US I WOULD SAY BUT MOST OF US READ ABOUT IT IN THE PAPER OR HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE NEWS BUT YOU LIVED THROUGH THIS YOU WERE AT MARSHALL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING BACK IN 2018.

SO TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THAT COMMUNITY IS STILL EVEN GRAPPLING WITH THOSE EVENTS AND WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD LIKE VIEWERS TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITIES NEED DURING THOSE TIMES AND EVEN AFTER THE HEADLINE WRITERS ARE GONE AND THE MEDIA COVERAGE SUBSIDED?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT I WOULD TELL PEOPLE IS, YOU CANNOT JUDGE THE IMPACT OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES.

EVERY FATALITY IS TERRIBLE.

IT IS A TRAGEDY.

BUT, THE IMPACT GOES FAR BEYOND JUST THAT.

THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE INJURED HAVE LASTING SOMETIMES LASTING INJURIES THAT HAVE LASTING EMOTIONAL TOLL.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE EMOTIONAL TOLL IT TAKES ON THE OTHER STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING.

YOU HAVE THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF THAT WERE IN THE BUILDING YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE IN THAT TRAUMA DURING THAT DAY, TRAUMA HAS A LASTING EFFECT.

IT DOES NOT JUST GO AWAY WITH TIME.

PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN TO ADAPT TO THE TRAUMA THEY FEEL.

AND EASTERN IF THEY WERE NOT INJURED, IT WAS THAT AMOUNT OF TIME WHERE THEY KNEW THEIR LIFE WAS IN DANGER AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PARENTS WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN.

YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE THAT IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND THE TRAUMA IS THERE FOR EVERYONE.

YOU CAN'T JUST JUDGE IT BASED ON FATALITIES.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE AWARE THAT THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW.

AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AS THEY GO.

SO THERE'S CHANGES THAT HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES.

AND DIFFERENT CHANGES CAN AFFECT THEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE OF THIS TRAUMA.

WHEN A COMMUNITY IS AFFECTED THIS WAY, THEY NEED THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE AROUND THEM.

THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY IN KENTUCKY WAS PHENOMENAL TO MARSHALL COUNTY AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT THE SUPPORTS WE RECEIVED FROM, AGAIN, I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW THANKFUL I AM ENOUGH FOR THAT.

WHEN THE COMMUNITY GOES THROUGH THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT.

THEY DON'T NEED ANYONE TRYING TO TEAR THEM APART, SEPARATE THEM.

THEY NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S IN A SCHOOL BUILDING.

THEY HAVE TO BUILD THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BACK AGAIN.

THAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WAS DESTROYED BY THAT ACT AND THOSE ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS AND STAFF AND BUS DRIVERS, THEY HAVE TO WORK TO BUILD THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BACK.

>> Renee: WE'LL HAVE MORE FROM PATRICIA AND JOHN LATER THIS WEEK ON THEIR EFFORTS TO KEEP KENTUCKY STUDENTS SAFE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS, IF PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE DOING GOVERNMENT BUSINESS ON PERSONAL CELLPHONES ARE THEIR MESSAGES SUBJECT TO THE STATE'S OPEN RECORDS LAWS?

THAT WAS THE QUESTION BEFORE THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT THIS MORNING.

THE CASE INVOLVES THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION AND A NONPROFIT CALLED KENTUCKY OPEN GOVERNMENT COALITION.

A FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE RULED THAT WORK-RELATED E-MAILS SENT TO PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESSES ARE SUBJECT TO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS BUT THAT TEXT MESSAGES ARE NOT.

A COURT OF APPEALS LATER RULED ALL MESSAGES ON PERM DEVICES PERTAINING TO GOVERNMENT BUSINESS ARE PUBLIC RECORDS AND THEREFORE SUBJECT TO KENTUCKY'S OPEN RECORDS LAWS.

TODAY, JUSTICES ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO WEIGH PRIVACY RIGHTS HOW TEXT MESSAGES COULD BE COMPELLED AND MORE.

>> WHAT WOULD KEEP PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO KEEP THINGS OUT OF OPEN RECORDS JUST DOING BUSINESS ON THEIR PERSONAL PHONES?

SAY, YOU KNOW, SEND E-MAILS ABOUT WORK ON PERSONAL PHONES NOT GOVERNMENT E-MAILS OR GOVERNMENT PHONES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK THAT IS THE PRIMARY ISSUE.

THERE'S NOTHING CONCRETE TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE AGENCIES TO SO THEIR COMMISSION MEMBERS THEIR BOARD MEMBERS NOT TO DO THIS AND DO NOT DO THAT IN PUBLIC BUSINESS.

>> WE CANNOT CREATE A VEHICLE THAT LIVES OUTSIDE OF THE EXISTING LAWS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR OPEN RECORDS AND RETENTION AND ARCHIVES.

WE WOULD BE CREATING A LOOPHOLE WHERE THE PUBLIC WOULD LOSE THE RIGHT TO GET CRUCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE PUBLIC IS DOING.

>> Renee: THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ON ITS OWN LAST YEAR REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN HOD SON INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 509 THAT WOULD HAVE SHIELDED PUBLIC RECORDS ON PRIVATE DEVICES FROM BEING DISCLOSED IN OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.

THAT BILL DIED IN THE STATE SENATE.

>>> DANIEL CAMERON STILL LEADS THE REPUBLICAN FIELD IN THE RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN IN 2026.

BUT ANDY BARR IS CLAIMING MOMENTUM.

THIS IS THE RACE TO FILL U.S.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL'S SEAT HE IS NOT SEEKING REELECTION.

A NEW POLL SHOWS CAMERON AHEAD OF BARR 37-29% IN A POLL FROM A PRO BARR ACTION COMMITTEE.

CAMERON IS KENTUCKY'S FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL.

BARR IS THE CONGRESSMAN FOR KENTUCKY'S SIXTH DISTRICT.

BARR'S CAMP SAYS CAMERON SLIPPED FROM A POLL THAT SHOWED HIM WITH 39%.

NATE MORRIS A BUSINESSMAN WHO IS RUNNING TV COMMERCIALS IS IN THIRD PLACE WITH 8% OF THE VOTE.

BARR IS LAUNCHING HIS FIRST TV AD FOCUSED ON HIS SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

>> A LOT OF POLITICIANS TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I'M ACTUALLY DOING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> Renee: THE AD INCLUDES TRUMP TALKING ABOUT BARR A CONSERVATIVE GROUP, THE CLUB FOR GROWTH IS OUT WITH A COMMERCIAL CRITICIZING BARR.

HERE IS PART OF THAT AD WHICH LINKS BARR TO U.S.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL.

>> ANDY BARR GROOMED BY MITCH McCONNELL AS AN INTERN.

>> MY MENTOR LEADER MITCH McCONNELL.

>> THEN A NEVER TRUMP POLITICIAN.

>> Renee: THE AD CLAIMS BARR BLAMED PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE JANUARY 6TH 2021 ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL.

>>> TWO UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS COULD LOSE MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS DUE TO FEDERAL MEDICAID CUTS.

YESTERDAY, LEADERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HEALTH EXPLAINED THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE MEDICAID OVERSIGHT BOARD.

OUR EMILY SISK WAS THERE AND HAS THE LATEST AS WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

>> AT U.K. HEALTHCARE AND U OF L HEALTH THERE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THE FACILITIES TO RECEIVE MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO COVER THE COST OF CARE.

CALLED THE UNIVERSITY DIRECTED PAYMENT PROGRAM.

THE UNIVERSITY'S PUT DOWN FUNDS AND RECEIVE MEDICAID PAYMENTS.

>> THEY ENSURE OUR HOSPITALS REMAIN FINANCIALLY VIABLE TO SERVE LOW INCOME PATIENTS AND PROVIDE HIGH CARE IN TRANSPLANT, HIGH-RISK OBSTETRICS, ONCOLOGY AND TRAUMA SERVICES TO NAME A FEW.

>> BUT THE FEDERAL BUDGET BILL WHICH WAS SIGNED ON JULY 4 WILL MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM.

THE BILL PROPOSING A 10% ANNUAL REDUCTION IN MEDICAID PAYMENTS FOR 10 YEARS.

THAT WOULD BEGIN IN 2028.

>> AT THE END OF THE 10-YEAR PERIOD, THE CUMULATIVE CUTS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $600 MILLION NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR U OF L HEALTH ALONE.

>> U.K.'S LOSSES WOULD BE WORTH $1 BILLION.

A DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER SHARED HER CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE INSTITUTIONS.

>> THERE IS NO WAY THAT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS CAN SUSTAIN THIS AMOUNT OF DEPLETION OF FUNDS IN THE FUTURE.

IT JUST IS NOT -- IT WILL NOT SURVIVE.

>> ONE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE SAID SHE WOULD LIKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DATA TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COST OF SERVICES.

>> I MEAN THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY FLYING AROUND, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PEEL BACK THE ONION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE TRULY NEED.

>> U.K.'S LEADER IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE PROPOSED CUTS MIGHT DECREASE BEFORE THEY ARE ENACTED.

>> I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE RECONCILIATION BILLS IN MY TENURE.

MANY OF THESE START OUT AS A DIRECTION OF WHERE THINGS NEED TO GO.

BUT VERY OFTEN, THEY NEVER TURNOUT TO BE THE DESTINATION.

>> REGARDLESS, BOTH UNIVERSITIES SAID THEY ARE PLANNING FOR THE YEARS AHEAD.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M EMILY SISK.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

OVER THE LAST DECADE, KENTUCKY'S HEALTH RANKS HAS INCREASED FROM 47TH IN THE NATION TO 37TH.

U.K.'S LEADERS SAY THAT IS THANKS TO PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID DIRECTED PAYMENTS.

>>> WILDFIRE SEASON STARTS UP AGAIN IN KENTUCKY NEXT MONTH.

THAT MEANS DOZENS MORE EMERGENCY WILDLIFE FIGHTERS WILL BE ON DUTY.

AS OUR JUNE LEFFLER REPORTS, ONE KENTUCKY WILDFIRE FIREFIGHTER TESTIFIED TO STATE LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE LACK OF BENEFITS FOR SUCH A DANGEROUS JOB.

>> OUR JOBS REQUIRE US TO BE PART METEOROLOGIST, PART TOPOGRAPHER, CONSTANTLY READING THE LAND, THE WEATHER AND FUEL.

WE MAKE REALTIME RISK ASSESSMENTS IN LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS TO GUIDE STRATEGY AND TO KEEP OUR CREWS SAFE.

THESE ARE NOT SKILLS YOU CAN PICK UP OVERNIGHT.

>> THIS WILD FIREFIGHTER SAYS THE WORK CAN BE EXHAUSTING AN DANGEROUS BUT THE BENEFITS DON'T COMPENSATE FOR THOSE BURDENS.

>> WE RECEIVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE.

NO PAID SICK LEAVE.

NO VACATION TIME.

NO RETIREMENT.

AND FOR OUR WORK WE MAKE $12.60 AN HOUR.

>> FROM COAST TO COAST, WILD FIREFIGHTERS ARE SPEAKING UP ABOUT THEIR LACKLUSTER COMPENSATION AND PROTECTIONS THE SMOKE CAN CAUSE CANCER AND RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

HEARING THIS ALARM, THIS YEAR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCREASED BENEFITS FOR FEDERAL WILD FIREFIGHTERS.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, IS GIVING THEM MASKS.

>> NOW, ENTRY LEVEL FIREFIGHTERS WILL EARN $20.93 AN HOUR WORKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN BASE PAY.

A SIGNIFICANT STEP UP FROM WHAT MANY OF US IN KENTUCKY MAKE.

>> KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS HEARD THIS TESTIMONY TODAY DURING A NATURAL DISASTER TASK FORCE.

>> I THINK IT'S WORTHY TO NOTE THAT DISASTERS INCLUDE FIRES.

AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE PREVENTION MITIGATION, RESILL YENGS AND THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.

HISTORICALLY FORESTRY IS GROSSLY UNDERFUNDED.

AND SOMETIMES THE FIRST THING TO BE CUT IN BUDGET CYCLES IN MY EXPERIENCE HERE.

>> OTHERS PRESENTED TO LAWMAKERS TODAY, THE DISASTER READINESS CENTER OF WEST KENTUCKY AND THE COMPANY BLUE SKY ARE OPERATING A DIGITAL PLATFORM TO STREAMLINE SERVICES FOR DISASTER SURVIVORS.

>> BECAUSE AFTER A DISASTER, SURVIVORS LOSE EVERYTHING.

AND THE ONE THING THAT WE WANT THEM TO FEEL THE POWER OF IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SORT OF SAY AND SOME SORT OF CONTROL OVER SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM THAT COULD BE THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THEM IN THEIR LIFE.

>> THEY HOPE TO EXPAND THE SERVICE STATE-WIDE.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, JUNE.

THE APPALACHIAN CITIZENS LAW CENTER WAS THERE AS WELL.

THE GROUP WANTS MORE SUPREME GAUGES AND FLOOD MONITORING TOOLS.

ALSO UPDATED STATE GUIDANCE ON LOGGING WHICH HAS BEEN LINKED TO INCREASED RISK OF LANDSLIDES.

>>> JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK BOBBIE HOLSCLAW HAS DIED.

HER OFFICE SAYS SHE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING SURROUNDED BY FAMILY.

BOBBIE HOLSCLAW SERVED AS COUNTY CLERK OF KENTUCKY'S LARGEST COUNTY SINCE 1999 MAKING HER ONE OF THE LARGEST SERVING CLERKS IN THE STATE.

A RELEASE FROM HER OFFICE SAYS QUOTE WITH A UNIQUE BLEND OF INTEGRITY AND DEDICATION, BOBBIE HOLSCLAW REDEFINED THE CLERK'S OFFICE VISION AND SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED ITS PERFORMANCE.

HER GOAL WAS TO REVOLUTIONIZE CITIZEN GOVERNMENT INTERACTION WHILE DELIVERING VIP SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS.

ENT QUOTE.

BOBBIE HOLSCLAW WAS 81 YEARS OLD.

>>> GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR HAS ENTERED THE LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW CIRCUIT.

THE GOVERNOR WAS A GUEST ON NBC'S LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS HE TALKED ABOUT LEARNING GEN Z SLANG FROM HIS KIDS ABOUT BEING A TWO-TERM GOVERNOR IN A RED STATE AND HIS PODCAST PICKED UP BY CIRRUS XM.

>> YOU DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT POLITICS HAVE YOU ENJOYED BEING A PODCASTER.

>> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IT'S NOT ABOUT CONFLICT IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST POLITICS IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO PROCESS THIS CRAZY WORLD WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW.

THE IDEA WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE TOUGH ISSUES BUT IN A CONVERSATION AMONG FRIENDS WHEREBY THE TIME WE'RE DONE WE ARE READY TO FACE THE WEEK AHEAD.

BECAUSE THE NEWS HITS YOU OVER AND OVER RIGHT NOW.

AND THE GOAL IS TO PROCESS THAT ANXIETY.

BUT THEN BE READY NOT TO MOVE LEFT OR RIGHT BUT FORWARD.

AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT WE HAVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON AND WE AGREE ON ABOUT 80% OF EVERYTHING WE TALK ABOUT.

>> Renee: BESHEAR'S NAME HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

THE TERM LIMITED GOVERNOR HASN'T SAID HE WANTS TO RUN FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICE BUT HE HAS SAID HE DOESN'T PLAN ON RUNNING TO REPLACE MITCH McCONNELL IN THE U.S. SENATE.

[♪♪] CHANGES ARE UNDERWAY IN THE LOUISVILLE MEDIA MARKET TWO PROMINENT TELEVISION STATIONS ARE HEADED TOWARD NEW OWNERSHIP AND IT'S LEADING TO SPECIFICLATION OVER POSSIBLE MERGERS AND STAFF REDUCTIONS.

OUR LAURA ROGERS SPEAKS WITH LONG TIME KENTUCKY RADIO PERSONALITY TERRY MEINERS OF NEWS RADIO 840WHAS ABOUT THE RESTRUCTURING.

>> TERRY, YOU DESCRIBED THIS AS THE SHIFTING SANDS IN LOUISVILLE MEDIA WHICH IS A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.

WE'RE SEEING CHANGES LIKE THIS IN TV MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TELL US ABOUT THINGS WE'RE SEEING NOW IN LOUISVILLE AS FAR AS THE OWNER OF WAIVE TV SEEKING TO PURCHASE WDRB.

>> THAT IS GRAY TELEVISION THEY OWN STATIONS AROUND AMERICA.

AFTER THEY BOUGHT THE -- IT IS IN PROGRESS, TO BUY BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS WHICH IS THE PARENT OF WDRB, GRAY BOUGHT A SET OF STATIONS FROM BYRON ALLEN.

THEY ARE MAKING THEMSELVES BIGGER AND BIGGER.

NEXSTAR IS I BUYING PROTECTNA.

THERE IS A LOT OF SHIFTING STANDS FOR SURE.

THE TECTONIC PLATES OF MEDIA ARE SHIFTING WITH TV STATIONS FINDING NEW OWNERSHIP.

THE INTERESTING PART IS THAT THE DUOPOLY AND THAT MEANS HAVING TWO PROMINENT SIGNALS IN THE SAME MARKETPLACE.

THE LAW CHANGED RECENTLY THAT ALLOWS THE NBC STATION THAT HAPPENS TO BE WAVE IN LOUISVILLE, TO OWN ANOTHER ONE OF THE MAJOR SIGNALS WHAT IS WDRB WHICH IS FOX IN LOUISVILLE.

>> NOT SURE WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR THE NEWSROOMS OR THE STAFFING SITUATIONS THERE.

IF WE'LL SEE DOWNSIZING WE KNOW THAT LONG TIME ANCHOR AND JOURNALIST SCOTT REYNOLDS MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT HE WAS NO LONGER ON THE AIR AT WDRB THAT IS COMING AS A SHOCK TO A LOT OF VIEWERS.

>> IT IS.

SCOTT IS BELOVED AND I'M ONLY GUESSING IT'S PART OF THIS THING BECAUSE THE POTENTIAL SALE OF WDRB TO WE'VE PARENT COMPANY HAS TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS YET.

AND IT COULD BE NINE MONTHS WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT TAKES.

SAME THING FOR WHAS.

BUT SCOTT REYNOLDS, WAS IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN SUDDENLY THE WIND SHIFTED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY SAID YOU'RE OUT.

AND THAT IS WHAT HE TOLD US PUBLICLY.

THAT IS ALL WE KNOW ABOUT THAT.

AND SO COMPANIES IN GENERAL IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, THE COURIER-JOURNAL PUSHED OUT MORE PEOPLE THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK AND WE'VE SEEN THE DOWNSIZING IN GENERAL OF COMPANIES.

I WORK FOR I HEART RADIO AND WE WENT THROUGH CHANGES OVER THE YEARS.

SO WHEN COMPANIES MERGE OR ONE BUYS THE OTHER, OF COURSE, THEY LOOK AT NUMBERS AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES LEADS TO FIGURING OUT WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHETHER THAT MEANINGS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUY A SATELLITE TRUCK OR A BIT OF EQUIPMENT OR RECORDING DEVICE.

OR IT COULD GET INTO THE HUMAN RESOURCES, THE ACTUAL EMPLOYEES.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW YET.

>> AND THE COURIER-JOURNAL I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE LEAVING THEIR LONG TIME LOCATION ON BROADWAY AND MOVING TO NEW OFFICES I PRESUME A SMALLER SPACE SINCE THEY HAVE A SMALLER STAFF.

BUT STAYING DOWNTOWN.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS AN ICONIC BUILDING THAT LOOK WAS SO BIG A LONGTIME AGO.

THE BUILDING WAS ACTUALLY SOLD THE COURIER SOLD IT IN 2022 FOR ABOUT $11.2 MILLION.

AND NOW, THAT COMPANY THAT BOUGHT IT, OR THAT GROUP THAT BOUGHT IT IS TRYING TO FIND A NEW BUYER AND I CANNOT IMAGINE IT'S WORTH THAT MUCH BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH VACANCY IN DOWNTOWNS ACROSS AMERICA ESPECIALLY IN LOUISVILLE.

THERE IS THE VACANCY RATE IS HUGE.

THAT BIG COURIER-JOURNAL BUILDING IS UP FOR SALE AGAIN.

THEY'VE SPENT 80 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS ON NEW PRINTING PRESSES PROBABLY 15 YEARS AGO.

LAST YEAR I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT OF THE COURIER-JOURNAL AND IT WAS IN A TRASH HEAP OUTSIDE.

THEY TOOK THE 80 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT FROM WITHIN THE LAST 20 YEARS AND THREW IT OUT IN THE TRASH INSTEAD OF PRINTING TO MAKE MONEY WITH THE PRINTING PRESSES THAT THEY PURCHASED.

IT'S ALL CHANGING.

AND THE COURIER-JOURNAL IS PRINTED IN ANOTHER CITY.

THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER IS PRINTED IN ANOTHER CITY IT'S INTERESTING HOW THAT WORKS NOW.

AGAIN, THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT TAKEOVER AND DECIDE WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE COSTS.

WHETHER IT'S PAPER AND INK OR COMPUTERS OR OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT WE USE IN MEDIA.

BUT MEDIA'S DEFINITELY GOING THROUGH A MASSIVE CHANGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND YOU'VE SEEN CHANGES IN YOUR 50 YEARS OF THE BROADCASTING A HUGE ANNIVERSARY AND YOU'VE WEATHERED ALL THE CHANGES AND AS RELEVANT AS EVER.

WHAT IS THE SECRET FOR THE REST OF US?

>> I LOVE WHAT I DO.

THIS COMPANY HAS BEEN GREAT TO ME I HEART.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH RESHAPINGS AND REDUCTION IN FORCE.

I OFFER MY SERVICE AS LONG AS I HEART AND MY CONTRACT RUNS THROUGH THE END OF 2029.

>> TERRY MEINERS WONDERFUL CATCHING UP WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIVMENT LAURA, APPRECIATE YOU AND RENEE FOR ALL OF US IN WHATEVER CAPACITY, WHETHER IT'S KET OR I HEART RADIO LET'S STAY STRONG AND STAY TOGETHER.

[♪♪] >> Renee: THANK YOU TERRY MEINERS AND LAURA.

VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS ARE NOT JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

>> POST-SECONDARY READINESS WE WANT POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS.

>> Renee: WE'LL LEARN HOW SOME KENTUCKY STUDENTS ARE USING VIRTUAL REALITY IN CLASSROOMS THAT IS TOMORROW ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" WITH SO MUCH MORE THAT WE HOPE YOU WILL TUNE IN FOR AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

CONNECT THE WAYS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, FACEBOOK, X AND INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN FIND US ON THE PBS VIDEO APP AND THE KET APP THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ON YOUR DEVICE.

AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND US A STORY IDEA BY E-MAIL TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT KET.ORG.

I'M RENEE SHAW THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

AND I'LL SEE YOU RIGHT BACK HERE AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.