♪ ♪ >> your vote really counts.

So get involved.

That makes a difference.

Welcoming New Americans to Kentucky with a crash course and democracy.

>> This program is to it prevents applicants.

We're missing too much school, too much work.

>> How pop-up driving test locations around the state are giving young Kentuckyian easier access to get their license.

>> And he makes so many memories of that.

And there's different stories all over right now.

Happening.

On this track.

>> Hundreds of by box of every age and background proved the Derby city is about more than just horse racing.

>> Training out riding and training for I riser for our five-hour long eyes on now.

>> And it's been quite a ride for this Paralympic athlete from Ukraine to Kentucky to Paris.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday, September.

The 4th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Wednesday with us.

Judge is pushing the Beshear administration an auditor, Allison Vols office to work out a disagreement among themselves.

The comments are the latest in an ongoing dispute over access to a state database for abused and neglected Kentuckians.

The Kentucky Lantern reports Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said both parties should step back and look for a practical solution.

He also told them to find a mediator by tomorrow.

And if they can agree on one, he would appoint one auditor ball or Republicans sued the Democratic governor last month saying the administration was withholding information in the eye twist database from the Kentucky Ombudsman's office.

That office was moved from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the auditor's office in July as a result of legislation passed last year and past comments, Beshear has said he supports restoring full access to the database, but that the new law as written prevents the cabinet from doing so.

Kentucky based company is ending its diversity equity and inclusion policies also known as Dei.

It's Brown-Forman the spirits maker based in Louisville, conservative groups have been critical of companies with dei policies, calling them woke and saying those policies give unfair advantages to some employees.

Louisville public media Brown-Forman email that says the company wants to tie incentives and goals to business performance.

Brown-Forman also says it will still try to foster an inclusive work environment where everyone is welcomed and respected.

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

It's a new record for the Kentucky community and Technical College system has 85,000 students are expected to attend classes this fall.

That's an 8.4% increase from last year and kctcs expects growth among all age groups.

The number of students ages.

25 and older is up more than 10%.

And there are gains among all races and ethnic groups.

Overall kctcs and its 16 colleges account for more than 45% of Kentucky's higher education enrollment.

Why?

And corals Kentucky's former AG commissioner is the president of Kctcs.

In a statement he said, quote, We're excited to see more Kentuckians from all backgrounds of choosing our colleges to invest in their futures.

The future of their families and ultimately and future generations of Kentucky's workforce.

Quote.

The presidential election is neck and neck, according to recent polls, the first debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris could change that.

The debate is set for next Tuesday, September.

The 12th were tapped rather today U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican offered this advice to Trump before you takes the debate stage next Tuesday in Philadelphia.

>> If our the Republican candidate for president.

What number ones strict to this group.

And the script.

Think.

All to be basically 2 point which I think are the weak spots of the current administration.

They deserve the blame for both of a second inflation.

And the border.

And that's not political.

Hyperbole.

It's a thought.

Inescapable out.

No, I think what the Democratic nominee is going to be targeted.

Choose the future.

And the Republican nominee is the past.

The problem with that argument, it seems to me is the Democratic nominee is stuck with the record of this administration.

>> Leader McConnell spoke to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce today.

Senator says some of the people in today's crowd include had encouraged him urged him for years to help with the safe disposal of chemical weapons that had been stored in Madison County.

>> We've been through a number of different phases over the years.

Some of the old-timers may remember that.

Initially the Army wanted to end center right on site.

Not only did I think it was a bad idea to all of you did as well.

And so we got into a big argument with them about alternative methods of disposal.

For some to make a study.

And it turned out there was it another way to do it?

that's the way ultimately the project was finally finished.

Last summer.

>> The nerve agent weapons stockpile was stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond.

♪ ♪ Time now to do our midweek.

Check-in of some major political news so far this week with our friend Roy Lynn Barton, who was a senior editor with in PR states team.

Good to see you.

Good to see Renee.

Some chalk full of goodness on the news front, political wise.

I think this time around we learned from Austin Hardin, Lexington Herald-Leader that Charles Booker who now has a different job.

But folks remember.

>> Ran for U.S. Senate back in 2022.

And was defeated by 24 points by Rand Paul is still and debt by about 6 figures.

His campaign is talk to us about how rare it is to still hold about 6 figures worth of campaign debt.

2 years after a failed race.

>> Again, it's not the rarest thing in the world.

This happens from time to time and usually and the specially right after of a campaign ends.

Typically the campaign could still be in debt.

But you see they solve it by this point in time.

So this is a little almost 2 years since that election and the campaigns about $130,000 in debt to vendors as of July.

1st you know that the candidate, the the former campaign, still says that they're committed to the media's obligations, son and paying back all those vendors.

It was, you know, that was a big loss for for Democratic candidate Charles Booker spot almost 25 percentage Also Rand Paul that particular year.

and if they went back, really pay some of those, that's they just didn't have enough money for that.

But if that does explain a little bit of, you know, if you have been getting e-mails from a campaign that they're still been sending out some fundraising, all that still, it's something.

But there you are seeking to fill and will and will continue to try to as as they say, yeah.

>> And folks may know that Charles Booker is now employed in the Kentucky Office of Faith-Based Initiative and Community involvement.

So that's and Governor Bush years administration.

So now let's move to some other news and we reported on this yesterday.

But there has since been another development, state representative Kulkarni a Louisville Democrat.

She represents House district number 40.

There is yet another lawsuit.

This conundrum just continues to deepen for her as there is another challenge.

Whether or not she's a bona fide nominee because of some missteps and filing her paperwork.

>> Yeah, this is going back and forth and back and forth in this all stems back you know, really somebody who signed off on her, somebody on our campaign signing off on her candidacy, papers will be filed way back early this year.

They were actually in the right political party were registered Democrat at that point.

I think the big switch, their registration a little little bit after the deadline.

And so that's great.

His whole host of problems for coal cars campaign, even though when she was on the ballot, this may should wind about 80% of the Democratic vote.

But now and so there's going to be can see created here.

As we mentioned yesterday, there will be Democrats nominated for Republicans are still trying to figure out who their candidate is going to be to fill this vacancy.

But now the the person in the dark and lost that primary election is suing saying that there's a state law that says anybody who's been dissed previously disqualified is not allowed to run for that seat during that election.

So there's a the filed this lawsuit in Franklin Circuit which hears a lot of the lawsuits over state government and elections issues.

And, you know, there should be a lawsuit The rest of that ruling to that sometime in the next month or so because we are getting pretty close to one of those ballots are going to start heading out early voters and eventually, you know, just need to have the ballots reading.

So we'll see where that heads next.

>> Yeah, and the special election is actually set on Election Day November.

So we'll see where this keeps going.

Kentucky's new medical marijuana program goes into effect January one 2025.

But as a colleague of yours with can Louisville public media has reported Osaka a couple of different things.

More than 100 cities and counties have opted for a ballot referendum in November to dis side.

This issue.

But then there have been like 1000 plus businesses that have also filed to be a part of this whole medical marijuana dispensary or whatever part of the business they want to be.

And this is pretty spectacular.

>> Yeah, about 700.

The beginning of things is beginning of last week that this is and this is after a long find which they're just haven't really been anybody applying.

There was a lot of clarity in the roles and whether you can actually happening.

But the legislature did a lot.

The ministration that a lot of this year to start putting the frame work together for this actually go live starting January.

First of 2025, and a lot of a lot of businesses are now applying to have to be dispensary.

Cultivator processor of all these of these various medical cannabis facilities.

Now it's important to KET in mind the Kentucky's Kentucky's steam for this is actually very restricted.

The medical marijuana will be prescribed to.

It's going to be able to be prescribed to people with a very limited set of severe conditions.

But I you know, this is just a little bit of my guests here.

I think that some of these businesses applying to trying to make sure that puts in the door for it on down the road.

There's a further extension.

That's because states around Kentucky continue to expand access to medical to to marijuana.

And I think that there there will be some point in time in which, you know, even a state like Kentucky, which doesn't have a a ballot initiative process where the legislature might, you know, actually expand access to some point.

>> Yeah, of being wouldn't it also be contingent on whether or not a city or county allowed for that type of operation?

They're county.

So even though they applied in may get approved if the vote comes out on November, something different, they may be out a lock right?

>> That's right.

At least for the time being.

But, you know, there's nothing saying they can't undo that another referendum on to assert.

That is an interesting part of Kentucky's law that allowed those local communities to opt out.

If they want to.

Yeah.

>> Final note, we learned yesterday that Brown-Forman, which is the Louisville Bay Spirits Company, big bourbon maker.

They are rolling back.

They're dei, diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

This is follows a long line of companies who are following this.

They're really paying attention to these national trends.

Tell us more about this.

>> private company that's done done this.

And and this actually comes there was this news broke after it was started by right-wing personality.

Robby Starbuck on Twitter just for being an internal memo saying that the company was, you know, going to take this new strategic framework to undo some of those dei programs and also comes as the some institutions in the state are doing this on their own.

So we've seen a lot of states have been pushing for an doing so legislatures that have been done safety.

I higher education.

But we saw just last week, Northern Kentucky University followed University of Kentucky in just on their own and doing their dei offices and yeah, this is a big movement in a among some conservatives to undo some of these programs and and this is the latest step of it.

And, you know, I think that I think a lot will be you.

We just have to see whether or not this actually plays out in.

Will the company be less diverse in some way?

I think that the companies are getting that won't be, but it's not going to have those.

You know, those institutional practices baked into that system that that and that they've had for the last few years.

>> Yeah, to be interesting to see if either Kentucky based companies also follow suit, right, or even maybe how they redefine the same goal.

Just a different title or language.

So a lot to KET our eyes on.

We always appreciate you for doing so.

Thank you.

Rylan.

State Representative Nima Kulkarni, as you just heard is facing legal challenges in her effort to be on the ballot in November.

But she's also an immigration attorney and the head of the New Americans initiative.

>> That partnered with the League of Women Voters of Louisville to Register immigrants and refugees to vote on Friday.

She was there when dozens of immigrants became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony in Louisville.

It was part of the annual world Fast, which is an international festival celebrating and showcasing various cultures and communities in the Derby city.

After the ceremony to groups teamed up to make sure America's newest citizens KET about their right to vote.

>> Me.

>> We helped welcome 77, New Americans, which is very exciting to us because we hope that they will register with us to vote and the fall election.

So if having 77 people from 33 countries, that's really a lot of opportunity for them to have access to the process.

So the New Americans is a.

>> A group that welcomes immigrants and refugees like they did today.

And we both are very interested and and registering people to vote so they can have be at the table to make decisions about housing, education, health care and schools.

So the idea of New Americans initiative is to help mobilize as individuals, educate them, informed them KET them engaged every election cycle.

So if you have an opinion that that you want to be is a president, we want to represent you in City Hall.

>> And vote out.

And then like the speaker said today, get involved in your community organizations, a run for office, get on board.

He's so if you are concerned about your street, that's part of the year voting process about housing access.

Housing is so expensive and so that their vote will make a difference.

That case for housing, more affordable trust throughout the state.

So get involved.

That makes a difference.

I think there's a contusion of that.

Do I register one time?

I do have to register every time and it's a one-time situation and what does it mean for me to vote?

And and so what we're trying to tell them is that your vote really counts in the last election.

There was a Jefferson County, only 15% or more people voting to 15%.

So we're trying to get them to realize that their vote matters to make.

>> Of the 77 people who became U.S. citizens on Friday in Louisville, 20 to register to vote there at the event.

Several other scanned a QR code to register online.

♪ Kentucky is getting 25 million dollars to help with education and health programs.

Most of that money, almost 14 million is from AmeriCorps, federal grants.

The rest is from private and public matching funds.

The money will help with K through 12 tutoring and mentoring and college readiness.

Some money will go to health department's senior citizens, senior centers and hospice facilities.

The secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Erik Friedlander says the funding is a part of the work Kentucky does to help every Kentuckyian reach their full human potential.

Kentucky teens eager to get their driver's license now have more options.

Starting this week, Kentucky State police are administering driver test in various counties around the state.

It's part of a pilot project outlined in Senate Bill 107, which was signed into law earlier this year.

Troopers tell us the goal is to help Kentuckians who live in counties without a permanent full-time driver license regional Office.

>> You've just recently taken the written Tess 6 months later.

You want to take your skills test.

The purpose of this pilot program is to provide intermediate skills tests for applicants across the Commonwealth.

To be an immediate eligible applicants you need to be between the ages of 16 18 years old to be an applicant that would be eligible for this location.

You need to live in this county.

So if your main county resident, you are eligible for this location, we are covering 5 different counties in the commonwealth.

The counties include Ban Oldham Grant Perry and Marion.

This program is to prevent applicants for missing too much school.

Too much work.

If they have to travel long distances to another location, which might be a regional office.

So we're hoping that we can mitigate some of that burden by opening up some of these pilot locations that may be closer to home for them.

So far.

We've had a couple of tests.

I think a lot of applicants are happy to have us back in some of the counties that are close to home.

We're compiling data in each one of our locations and that data is to see how efficiently that we can.

Draw some of our numbers away from a really busy offices to some of the closer locations.

If we can remove some of that burden off of the regional offices by opening up a new location such as pollen location.

That would be a success for us.

>> Ksp will submit a report to the Legislative Research Commission next year detailing the impact of the pilot program.

If you or someone, you know, would like to sign up for an appointment.

Go to Kentucky State Police DOT K Y dot Gov.

And click on drivers testing.

♪ ♪ so proud.

>> When you hear the words Louisville and race and you probably think about horses, but that's not all.

Louisville CP, Tom Sawyer, State Park just hosted the USA BMX Derby city Nationals, which has been in Louisville since the 1980's BMX stands for bicycle, motocross and competitors in this year's event included Olympic Athletes professional BMX racers from all over the world.

And the U.S. is past U.S..

Amateur riders take a spin around the track with Oz in a twist on our Arts and culture segment, we call Tapestry.

>> Derry City BMX is a curve.

A volunteer that have put together >> to hold events like this and bring them to Louisville.

And it brings BMX.

It keeps BMX alive in Louisville.

Last year we brought in 41 states.

We brought in 6 countries.

We average over 18,000 people a weekend here at it up, telling Sawyer and we were kids USA, BMX and the Louisville Sports Commission's.

It helps KET all that together.

So we are a completely.

A nonprofit Rand organization.

So we do all this for its were all volunteers.

We just like bike and bikes and art and trying to teach him some of these guys and girls how to arrive here.

>> I like the official has come here.

Lots of lots of people from all around the hour on the country from here.

Just like pushing and pushing yourself to do bigger things as as you get older, kind of get more competitive us, much of a dry land.

You feel they can't get scared.

Can't like I backed off.

You have to cut.

You have to commit.

He is.

>> 11 right to individual rat race.

You know, and you might be on a team.

But at the end the day you either peddled in that wreck in that lab where you didn't have a so it's instant accountability.

It's did you checkup where you should have checked up?

You know, it's all on you.

People come across the racetrack and they throw bike.

They throw held it.

It's not our fault itself.

The bikes fall.

Most a 95% of the time.

It's what you did on the track.

And so it in and that's what we'll look at what we're doing out here, trying to teach.

We've got riders from Warren to 78 and we're all still trying to learn how to lose.

hopefully win the right ones to learn how to lose a lot of them >> One can just go do it.

Like I started last July of last summer.

And I've been a fracking here in a few months and come a long way site just getting to do it.

It's just like anyone can get try it.

>> You know, to have a facility like this in Kentucky is unbelievable.

I live 3 miles from here.

You know, it is.

And this is in my backyard.

I've got to 8 year-old the 13 year-old ex and they're both experts in a race and for them to come out here and ride.

Is it just you make so many memories and there's different stories all over right now.

Happening on this, trying to do.

>> There's so many people like it's like a community is in family.

Everyone just gets along.

Everyone super nice to each other and very supportive.

And I just love getting out there and getting to go ride and you know, my very best and just rocket, you know.

>> We've been around for over 40 years right now.

We want that to continue for 40 more and with the volunteers and the love that we have for BMX around this city.

>> KET on rocking and rolling with that.

Hundreds of people took part in an S and it's estimated that at least 270 of the bike riders were women and girls.

>> It's been weeks without a good rainfall and some parts of Kentuckyian that's causing concern for farmers.

>> White summer rain is your number one priority for your noble crop.

Soybeans.

We are dry, especially for this time of year.

We're lacking in some precipitation.

>> We're along for the ride as a southern Kentucky farmer harvests.

His corn crop explains the effect dry conditions could have on soybeans and winter week.

That's tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which we hope you'll join us for again at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central will be informed, connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen there, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop on what's happening here at KET and send us a story idea at the address on your screen.

Thanks so very much for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw into ICU again.

Take really good care.

♪