[♪♪] >> WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR SISTER?

WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR DAUGHTER?

>> THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES ARE BACK IN THE NEWS... WITH TWO KENTUCKY CONGRESSMEN LEADING THE DEBATE.

>> IT'S JUST A SHIFTING LANDSCAPE, AND WE REACH MORE PEOPLE NOW THAN EVER.

>> WE GET THE SCOOP ON A KENTUCKY NEWSPAPER'S MOVE TO CUT BACK ON PRINT.

>> THEY TEND TO BE SELFLESS INDIVIDUALS.

SO I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER BARRIER WE HAVE TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT.

>> AND IT'S HARD PHYSICAL WORK BUT IT'S TOUGH ON THE MIND.

HOW A SPECIAL PROGRAM HELPS FARMERS WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTHCARE.

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

[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TURNING TO WASHINGTON, D.C.... CONGRESS IS BACK IN SESSION, AND THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES ARE BACK IN THE NEWS.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER OF KENTUCKY'S FIRST DISTRICT IS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

YESTERDAY, HIS COMMITTEE RELEASED ABOUT 33,000 DOCUMENTS RELATED TO EPSTEIN'S SEX CRIMES AND WHO KNEW ABOUT THEM.

HE SAYS THE DOCUMENT RELEASE IS PROOF OF THE REPUBLICAN DESIRE FOR TRANSPARENCY ABOUT EPSTEIN.

>> WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTS THE INITIAL BATCH THAT HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE.

AS YOU KNOW WE ALSO SUBPOENAED PAM BONDI FOR THE DOCUMENTS.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS WORKING WITH US.

I WANT TO THANK THE WHITE HOUSE FOR TURNING OVER SO MANY DOCUMENTS THUS FAR.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPLOADING THE DOCUMENTS SO EVERYONE IN AMERICA CAN SEE THOSE DOCUMENTS.

AS QUICK AS WE CAN GET THEM UPLOADED, 34,000 PAGES WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THOSE UPLOADED.

WE WANT THEM TO BE PUBLIC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BRING IN MORE PEOPLE.

WE LEARNED OF ADDITIONAL NAMES TODAY.

WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GIVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THE TRANSPARENCY THEY SEEK AS WELL AS PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS WHO HAVE ALREADY PASSED AWAY AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE ROOM AND OTHERS WHO HAVEN'T COME FORWARD.

WE ARE SINCERE ABOUT THIS.

TIES WAS A TWO-AND-A-HALF HOUR DISCUSSION IT WAS A BIPARTISAN AS ANYTHING I'VE SEEN IN THE NINE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.

APPRECIATE THE SPEAKER FOR GIVING US THE AUTHORITY TO SEEK OUT EVERYTHING THAT I THINK YOU ALL WANT AND THE PEOPLE I TALK TO AS I TRAVEL AMERICA WANT.

WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THE ANSWERS AND DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE OF KENTUCKY'S FOURTH DISTRICT SAYS THE DOCUMENT RELEASE DOESN'T COME CLOSE TO PROVIDING THE TRANSPARENCY AMERICANS WANT TO SEE.

"I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS...

ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN."

MASSIE CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR CONGRESS TO BYPASS COMMITTEES AND TAKE A DIRECT VOTE TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES.

THEY ARE ALLOWING THE DOJ IS CURATE THE INFORMATION.

IF YOU HAVE LOOKED AT THE PAGES THEY ARE HEAVILY REDACTED, SOME PAGES ARE ENTIRELY REDACTED AND 97% IS ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

ALSO YESTERDAY, THE U.S. HOUSE PASSED THE STOP CHINESE FENTANYL ACT, SPONSORED BY CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

BARR'S BILL WOULD IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON CHINA FOR ITS ACTIONS FUELING AMERICA'S FENTANYL CRISIS.

BEFORE YESTERDAY'S VOTE, CONGRESSMAN BARR SPOKE FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR ABOUT WHAT HIS BILL WOULD DO AND WHY IT'S NEEDED.

>> MY BILL AMENDS THE ACT TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF FOREIGN OPIOID TRAFFICKER TO INCLUDE CHINESE ENTITIES AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THAT TAKE STEPS THAT PREVENT OPIOID TRAFFICKING.

THE BILL REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE HEADS OF THE NATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL COMMISSION, THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CUSTOMS AND THE NATIONAL MEDICAL PRODUCTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRC ARE FOREIGN OPIOID TRAFFICKERS.

WE MUST ATTACK THE PRODUCTION OF FENTANYL BY TARGETING THE SOURCES IN CHINA.

CHINESE PLOW DOUCERS OF SYNTHETIC OPIOIDERS AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT AND CHINESE POLITICAL OFFICIALS CUP ANDABILITY DOES NOT END WHEN THE PRODUCTS LAND IN MEXICO OR ILLEGALLY CROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

WE MUST LOOK AT EVERY STEP OF FENTANYL'S SUPPLY CHAIN AND HOLD OUR ADVERSARIES ACCOUNTABLE.

YESTERDAY'S HOUSE VOTE WAS 407 TO 4, IN FAVOR OF THE BILL.

THE BILL STILL NEEDS U.S. SENATE APPROVAL AND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SIGNATURE.

THERE'S A FOURTH DEMOCRAT WHO WANTS CONGRESSMAN BARR'S CURRENT JOB.

SHE'S ERIN PETREY, A BUSINESSWOMAN AND BOURBON BLOGGER.

ACCORDING TO THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, PETREY GREW UP IN LAWRENCEBURG, ATTENDED SCHOOL IN FAYETTE COUNTY, AND WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

BUT HER CAREER HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE NEWSPAPER SAYS SHE'S MOVED BACK TO LEXINGTON AHEAD OF HER RUN FOR CONGRESS.

SHE SAYS SHE'S DIVIDED HER TIME BETWEEN D.C. AND KENTUCKY, AND THAT HER FAMILY IS HERE.

PETREY RELEASED AN ONLINE AD AS SHE ANNOUNCED HER CANDIDACY.

IN IT, SHE CRITICIZED POLITICIANS FOR OFTEN TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT.

>> THEY ARE CUTTING CORNERS JUST LIKE THEY ARE CUTTING HEALTHCARE, JOBS AND ENERGY IN KENTUCKY.

AND KENTUCKY DESERVES REPRESENTATIVES WHO PUT IN THE WORK FOR EVERYONE.

THREE DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY IN THE RACE: CHERLYNN STEVENSON, THE FORMER KENTUCKY STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

DAVID KLOIBER, A FORMER LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER WHO RAN FOR MAYOR IN 2022.

AND ZACH DEMBO, A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.

A STATE OFFICIAL CONFIRMS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO KENTUCKY'S JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS.

THAT'S DESPITE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ENDING ANOTHER PROMINENT CIVIL RIGHTS CASE IN THE STATE.

OUR JUNE LEFFLER HAS MORE.

AS WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

"IN MAY OF 2024, JOE BIDEN'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO CONDITIONS AT KENTUCKY'S JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS.

THEY'RE LOOKING INTO CERTAIN ISSUES, BASICALLY WHETHER THE YOUTH CONFINED IN THE EIGHT DETENTION CENTERS AND ADAIR YDC RECEIVE REASONABLE PROTECTION FROM EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE, ISOLATION, PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE, AND WHETHER WE ARE PROVIDING ADEQUATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

>> NOW, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION IS IN CHARGE OF THE CASE.

AT THIS POINT, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

WE JUST COMPLIED LAST WEEK WITH THE NINTH REQUEST FROM DOJ FOR INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS.

>> THE CONTINUATION OF THIS CASE IS IN SPITE OF A SHAKEUP AT DOJ.

TRUMP'S DOJ DROPPED ANOTHER CIVIL RIGHTS CASE IN KENTUCKY.

THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE MEANT TO HOLD LOUISVILLE'S POLICE FORCE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

STATE OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THIS AT A LEGISLATIVE MEETING LAST FRIDAY.

MOVING TO STATE POLITICS, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SAYS IT WILL ASK STATE LAWMAKERS TO FIND NEW FACILITIES FOR GIRLS AND KIDS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS BASED IN KENTUCKY AND THE ADAIR YDC SOME MORE THAN ONCE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WILL BE COMING BACK FOR SITE VISITS BUT THEY COULD.

THEY HAVE NOT TOLD US THAT.

>> STATE OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THIS AT A MEETING FRIDAY MOVING TO STATE POLITICS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SAYS IT WILL ASK STATE LAWMAKERS TO FUND NEW FACILITIES FOR GIRLS AND KIDS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTHLESS.

>> BASED ON THE CONSULTANT REVIEW GOVERNOR BESHEAR REQUESTED FOR FUNDING FOR TWO FEMALE FACILITIES AND A HIGH ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

THESE WERE NOT FUNDED TO DATE.

THEY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AGAIN IN DJJ'S 2632 CAPITAL PLAN SUBMISSIONS.

>> A WESTERN KENTUCKY LAWMAKER PROPOSED THIS IN RECENT YEARS.

>> YOU KNOW THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AND IT'S GETTING WORSE WITHIN THE FACILITIES AND THAT IS REALLY TO ME THE ONE THAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY.

WE'RE MAKING IT WITH THE FEMALES.

IT IS NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION BUT THE COMMISSIONER IS MAKING THAT WORK.

BUT CONSIDERATION OF OUR COUNTIES AND OUR FAMILIES, THOSE WOMEN NEED TO BE CLOSER TO WHERE THEY LIVE AND THAT, AGAIN, THAT GIVES THEM THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN THAT THEY WOULD HAVE FAMILY CLOSE AND THEN WE CAN GROW AS WE NEED TO.

>> THE FACILITIES COULD COST TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

LAWMAKERS WILL ENTER INTO THEIR BUDGET SESSION NEXT YEAR.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

SOME UPDATED JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS ARE IN THE WORKS.

THAT INCLUDES TWO FACILITIES FOR BOYS FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY.

NEITHER HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL SINCE RENOVATIONS BEGAN.

THEY SHOULD COME BACK ONLINE IN FALL OF 2026 AND SPRING OF 2027."

TWO MORE KENTUCKY TORNADO VICTIMS NOW HAVE HOMES.

YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND THE HOPE INITIATIVE DEDICATED HOMES IN PRINCETON AND MAYFIELD.

THE HOPE INITIATIVE HAS HELPED TO BUILD 55 HOMES IN THE REGION, WITH MONEY FROM THE TEAM WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADO RELIEF FUND.

THE FUND HAS COMMITTED $23 MILLION TO HELP BUILD 250 HOMES FOR SURVIVORS OF THE 2021 TORNADOES.

MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES DONATED TO THE FUND, ADDING UP TO MORE THAN $55 MILLION.

[♪♪] I'M LAURA ROGERS WITH JOE, THE PUBLISHER OF THE BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS WITH SEVERAL OTHER REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS AS WELL.

AND JOE, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT RECENT DECISION TO CHANGE UP YOUR PRINT SCHEDULE.

TELL US HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING THERE AT THE DAILY NEWS?

>> CERTAINLY, LAURA.

THE DAILY NEWS 175-YEAR-OLD NEWSPAPER.

WE WERE SIX DAYS A WEEK.

MOST RECENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, 100 YEARS AGO IT WAS DIFFERENT.

AS TIME HAS GONE ON WE INCREASED TO SIX.

AND I MADE THE DECISION TO REDUCE OUR PRINT FREQUENCY TO THREE DAYS A WEEK.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS WHY IMPLICATIONS OF THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THE WEEKEND RIGHT NOW.

>> BUT YOU ARE STILL THE DAILY NEWS.

I WANT TO ELABORATE YOU ARE OUT THERE EVERYDAY COVERING LOCAL NEWS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR READERS AND SUBSCRIBERS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE WORKLOAD HASN'T CHANGED FOR YOU AND YOUR REPORTERS, RIGHT?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

IT'S INCREASED.

SO REALLY, IT IS A PLATFORM CHOICE.

FREQUENCY WAS DECIDED BY PEOPLE THAT SUBSCRIBE.

THE CELLPHONE HERE, THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF COMMUNICATION, IMPACTED MEDIA, IT'S JUST A SHIFTING LANDSCAPE.

AND SO WE REACH MORE PEOPLE NOW THAN EVER.

BUT WE REACH THEM ON A DIFFERENT PLATFORM.

WE HAVE 275,000 UNIQUE VISITORS A MONTH WHO VIEW ALMOST A MILLION PAGES.

AND THOSE FOLKS THAT READ IN PRINT, THAT'S A DWINDLING POPULATION.

I ALWAYS JOKE THAT I WANTED TO RENAME MY OBITUARY SECTION FORMER SUBSCRIBERS BECAUSE EVERYDAY I SEE AN OWE BIT RATHER, I LOST ONE TODAY, I LOST TWO TODAY.

IT'S REALLY YOUNGER FOLKS ARE NOT PICKING UP PRINT.

IT IS NOT ONE DAY I HOPE PRINT WILL COME BACK LIKE VINYL HAS WHERE IT'S A NICHE THING.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE CHOOSE TO READ ON THEIR CELLPHONE ON THEIR COMPUTER.

86% OF OUR WEB TRAFFIC COMES FROM THE CELLPHONE.

>> AND YOU TALK ABOUT THAT BEING A CHANGING LANDSCAPE WE'RE SEEING THAT ACROSS ALL MEDIA AND IT AFFECTS BROADCAST AS WELL.

IT IS A DIGITAL WORLD AND YOU ARE FOLLOWING SUIT WITH THAT.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WE SEE LOCAL JOURNALISM AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.

WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE TUNED INTO WHAT IS GOING ON NATIONALLY.

THAT'S GREAT.

BE INFORMED.

BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TUNING INTO YOUR LOCAL JOURNALISTS KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR HOW THE NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECT PEOPLE HERE AT HOME.

DO YOU MIND TO SPEAK TO THAT, SUPPORTING WHAT OUR LOCAL REPORTERS ARE OUT THERE DOING EVERYDAY?

>> SURE.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT OUR WORKLOAD YOU ASKED ABOUT THE WORKLOAD AND IT WILL INCREASE BECAUSE THE PRODUCTION SIDE WE FREED UP THREE EXTRA DAYS THAT WE ARE NOT PRODUCING A PRINTED PRODUCT.

BUT WE'RE STILL COVERING STORIES.

SO THE DAILY NEWS HAS THE LARGEST STAFF OF ANY MEDIA OUTLET IN WARREN COUNTY.

AND MOST SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

WE HAVE, OH, FOUR REPORTERS, TWO SPORTS REPORTERS, A COUPLE EDITORS A PHOTOGRAPHER, AND SO WE CONTINUALLY COVER ALL THINGS LOCAL.

ONLY DO WE DIP INTO THE NATIONAL SCENE WHEN IT REACHES DOWN INTO WARREN COUNTY AND BOWLING GREEN.

THE DAILY NEWS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COVERS FISCAL COURT, CITY COMMISSION, THE SCHOOL BOARD, IF YOUR TAXES ARE GOING UP, WE'RE THE ONES THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT.

IN THIS DAY AND AGE WE DON'T GO FOR THE LOW HANGING FRUIT.

THE ACCIDENT IF IT BLEEDS IT LEADS.

YOU DESENSITIZE READERS WHEN YOU PUT A ACCIDENT PHOTO AND IT'S NOT TIMELY.

YOU CANNOT BE TIMELY WITH A PRINT PLATFORM BECAUSE WE ARE PRINTED IN KNOXVILLE.

I CLOSED OUR PRESS DOWN FIVE YEARS AGO.

BECAUSE IT WAS 65 YEARS OLD AND THE ONE GUY THAT COULD WORK ON IT WAS AGED.

AND IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

NOW NEWSPAPERS ARE GOING TO LARGE PRINT CENTERS WHERE IT'S MORE ECONOMICAL.

BUT WE ARE DELIVERED BY THE MAIL.

THE USPS RAISED MY RATES FIVE TIMES SINCE I SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THEM.

AND THEY, I CAN'T SUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO, BUT THEY CAN'T DELIVER SAME DAY AS THE CONTRACT SAYS.

THEY HAVE A LABOR ISSUE JUST LIKE I DID WITH MY CARRIERS.

BUT WE ARE FOCUSED HYPER FOCUSED WE COVER 15 HIGH SCHOOLS, ANYTHING THAT IS GOING ON, WE TRY AND BE THERE AND OUR STAFF IS A GOOD STAFF.

AND THIS PRINT FREQUENCY CHANGE WILL ALLOW THEM TO COVER MORE THINGS.

AND WE REVERSE PUBLISH WE PUT EVERYTHING ON THE WEB AS SOON AS WE CAN AND THE PRINT WILL BE THE BEST OF THE STORIES OF THAT DAY THAT COUPLE DAYS.

>> AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S SAFE TO SAY THIS IS A SHIFT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS ALL PRINT MEDIA.

AND MAGAZINES, TOO, NOT JUST NEWSPAPERS MAGAZINES THAT ARE DIGITAL ONLY FORMAT AND THIS IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE?

>> IT IS.

YOU KNOW, THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER PRINTED IN KNOXVILLE, ALSO THEY WENT TO THREE DAYS A WEEK.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL AND THE HERALD-LEADER ARE THE TWO LARGER PAPERS IN THE STATE.

BUT THE DAILY NEWS IS PROBABLY THE FOURTH LARGER DAILY MAYBE FOURTH OR FIFTH LARGER DAILY IN THE STATE AND JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY SAVE FOR MAYBE TWO DAILY PAPERS HAVE REDUCED THEIR PRINT EFFECTSY.

BUT, THAT MONIKER THE DAILY NEWS WE STILL REPORT EVERYDAY BUT IT IS JUST THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE OF HOW PEOPLE CONSUME AND THEY CONSUME DIGITALLY.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WANT PRINT AND WE PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.

BUT IT IS JUST WASN'T ECONOMICAL OR TIMELY TO CONTINUE SIX DAYS A WEEK.

>> WELL, EXCELLENT INSIGHT FROM YOU, JOE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THE BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS AND A TIGHTEN LOCAL JOURNALISM 175 YEAR HISTORY?

>> YEAH.

THE GAINS FAMILY OWN TO DO FOR 148.

AND THERE WERE OWNERSHIP BEFORE THAT BUT THEY OWNED IT FOR THE LAST 148 AND SOLD IT TO CARPENTER MEDIA GROUP AND THEY OWN 267 TITLES IN THE LEGACY SOUTH AND CANADA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, AND HAWAII WE OWN THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER.

ASIDE FROM BOWLING GREEN, I RUN PAPERS IN NICHOLASVILLE, WINCHESTER, STANFORD, FRANKFORT, OHIO, TENNESSEE, STANFORD, AND SO DANVILLE IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT.

AND WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING.

OUR COMPANY IS INVESTED IN SMALL LOCAL PAPERS.

AND LOCAL JOURNALISM IS WHERE IT'S AT.

PEOPLE WANT NATIONAL NEWS AND NATIONAL NEWS OVERSHADOWS EVERYTHING.

AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL GET BACK TO KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND THERE'S PEOPLE LIKE OUR STAFF AT THE DAILY NEWS, LIKE YOU, AND OTHERS THAT ARE CARRYING THE TORCH LOCALLY AND WHEN IT'S GONE PEOPLE WON'T REALIZE WHAT THEY'VE MISSED UNTIL IT IS GONE.

BUT WE WILL BE HERE ANOTHER DOZENS OF YEARS.

>> I BELIEVE IT.

PUBLISHER FOR THE BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

[♪♪] THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS WORKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, WHICH THEY SAY DIRECTLY AFFECT STUDENT SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THE SCHOOL HEALTH BRANCH DEVELOPS AND SHARES BEST PRACTICES IN AREAS OF NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THROUGH DATA COLLECTION AND PARTNERSHIPS.

THE SCHOOL HEALTH BRANCH WORKS WITH OTHER DIVISIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT TO FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION, PROGRAMS, AND POLICIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE >> I THINK IT'S NO SECRET THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL HEALTHIER.

UNFORTUNATELY MANY HAVE NOT ONLY CHRONIC BUT SOME HAVE ACUTE CONDITIONS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN BE IN SCHOOL AND CAN LEARN.

BUT WITH THAT COMES ADDED RESPONSIBILITY AND ADDED OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO ALWAYS KEEP ON THE RADAR SCREEN.

SCHOOL HEALTH BRANCH WAS CREATED IN JUNE OF 2023.

SO WE SERVE ALL 171 DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND REALLY LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE STUDENT HEALTH.

WE ARE ON A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH CDC TO REALLY IMPACT STUDENT HEALTH.

FOR EXAMPLE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

SO WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME THAT STUDENTS HAVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THEIR SCHOOL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT FIZZ CAT ACTIVITY AND MOVEMENT IS ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY FOR OUR STUDENTS BUT US AS ADULTS.

SITTING PO FOR SIX HOURS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PHYSICALLY MOVE AROUND IS NOT ONLY DETRIMENTAL TO LEARNING AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MOVEMENT IS VERY BENEFICIAL IN OTHER WAYS OF RETAINING INFORMATION, AND BEING ABLE TO PERFORM ACADEMICALLY.

SO THAT PIECE PROVIDING QUALITY NUTRITION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.

NOT ONLY WITHIN THE SCHOOL BUILDING BUT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES SO THEY CAN SEEK THAT OUT.

HELPING STUDENTS MANAGE CHRONIC CONDITIONS.

SO THE STUDENTS WITH ASTHMA, THE STUDENTS ARE WHO ARE DIABETESSICS OR EBE HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS TO MANAGE IT SO WHEN THEY LEAVE A SCHOOL SETTING THEY CAN HANDLE THEIR GIVEN SITUATION AND BE ABLE TO NOT MOVE IN THE NEGATIVE DIRECTION OF THE COMPLICATIONS OF THOSE DISEASES.

ULTIMATELY, WHAT I SEE IS A SUCCESS IS THAT DISTRICTS ARE TRULY LOOKING OUT FOR NOT ONLY THE HEALTH OF THE KIDS, AND NOT ONLY THE EDUCATION AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE KIDS, BUT NOT SEPARATING THOSE TWO.

SO REALLY HELPING DISTRICTS UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND AS A RESULT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND ADDRESS THE WHOLE CHILD.

>> THE C THE SCHOOL HEALTH BRANCH WORKS WITH OTHER DIVISIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT TO FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION, PROGRAMS, AND POLICIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE STUDENTS.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION POLICY BRIEF, FARMERS ARE 3.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY HAS FORMED THE BUILDING BRIDGES TO FARMER MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT.

THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES OF KENTUCKY'S FARMERS AND BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS TO TREATMENT.

TONIGHT IN ROOTED THAT FOCUSES ON AGRICULTURE AND SMALL FAMILY FARMS.

>> WE ACALL OUR INITIATIVE THE BUILDING BRIDGES TO FARMER MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT.

AND IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING THE WELL-BEING OF FARMERS AND FARM FAMILIES HERE IN KENTUCKY.

AND WE TRY TO DO THAT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, THE SUICIDE RATE IN THE U.S. HAS RISEN OVER 30% IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.

WHICH IS CERTAINLY ALARMING ACROSS THE BOARD.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND FARMERS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED AND AMONG ONE OF THE GROUPS WITH THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATES.

AND HERE IN KENTUCKY, AND IN A LOT OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THE RATES ARE EVEN HIGHER.

FARMERS TEND TO DEAL WITH A MIX OF STRESSORS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T FACE.

THEY HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THEIR FARM AND THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR FAMILY ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO THEY ARE FACING THINGS LIKE UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER WHICH WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN OUR FAIR SHARE OF HERE IN KENTUCKY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

CHANGES IN MARKETS AND POLICIES.

AND THAT'S ALL ON TOP OF WORKING LONG HOURS, THE FINANCIAL STRAIN OF RUNNING A FARM, REGARDLESS OF YOUR SIZE.

AND SO I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KEY RISK FACTORS WHEN YOU ARE THINKING OF THE FARM BUSINESS.

AND THE OTHER THING IS FARMING CAN BE ISOLATING.

THERE'S STILL A STIGMA JUST AS STILL FEELING LIKE ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS, THAT YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU KIND OF POWER THROUGH IT.

AND YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET TO THE NEXT DAY.

AS WE GOT INTO THIS PROJECT WE QUICKLY LEARNED THAT EVERY FARMER AND FARM FAMILY HAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STRESSORS.

SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NEEDS AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE BEING RESPONSIVE TO THAT IN OUR COMMUNICATION AND OUR MESSAGING.

WE HAVE BEEN INCLUSIVE OF REACHING OUT TO FARMERS, RANCHERS, AGRICULTURE WORKERS ACROSS KENTUCKY.

BIG FARMS, SMALL FARMS, FAMILY FARMS, URBAN FARMS.

BECAUSE THE IMPETUS FOR CHANGE IS AN ENGAGING COMMUNITY NETWORK SO WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE USE FOR OUR STRATEGIES.

WE ARE TRAINING WHAT WE CALL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES.

REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON RURAL COMMUNITIES HERE IN KENTUCKY.

BUT WE ARE ALSO OPEN TO OTHERS PARTICIPATING PAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE FARM SECTOR COMES ACROSS MANY OF THE DIFFERENT REGIONS.

AND WE TRY TO SUPPORT THEM IN SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING, COMMUNICATION TRAINING, AND JUST GENERAL CONNECTION TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAS REALLY BEEN UNEARTHED WAS OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH FARMERS WAS THE TIME AND MONEY PRESSURE SO THAT YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT PUTTING YOUR OWN HEALTH FIRST.

YOU'RE PUTTING EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST.

INCLUDING THE HEALTH OF YOUR FARM, INCLUDING THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY, THE HEALTH OF THE OTHERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW THEY TEND TO BE SELFLESS INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO I, I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER BARRIER THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT.

THE PROJECT CURRENTLY HAS 12 TRAINED COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATES SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE, WITH THE MAJORITY COMING FROM A FARMING BACKGROUND.

[♪♪] A 95-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IS HOPING TO LEAVE HER MARK THROUGH HER LOVE FOR ART.

>> I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO GIVE TO THEM BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO CAN OVERCOME SOMETHING LIKE THAT IT IS AMAZING.

WE'LL LEARN ABOUT HOW BOOKMARK BEV IS HOPING TO ENCOURAGE LITERACY IN CHILDREN... THAT'S TOMORROW ON KENTUCKY EDITION.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR KENTUCKY EDITION WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT, AND INSPIRE.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR KENTUCKY EDITION EMAIL NEWSLETTERS AND WATCH FULL EPISODES AND CLIPS AT KET.ORG.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND KENTUCKY EDITION ON THE PBS VIDEO APP ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AND SMART TV.

SEND US A STORY IDEA AT PUBLICAFFAIRS@KET.ORG.

AND FOLLOW KET ON FACEBOOK, X (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER), AND INSTAGRAM TO STAY IN THE LOOP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TAKE GOOD CARE.

I'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN TOMORROW.

TAKE GOOD CARE.