♪ >> Unfortunately, too many kids in this commonwealth suffer from abuse and neglect.
Governor Andy Beshear signs major bills about child welfare and advocates urge Kentuckians to do their part in preventing child abuse and neglect.
>> It's a fungal nobody ever wants to get it.
And we hope this never happens to anybody else.
Again.
>> The mother of a UK student talks about her push for new law named after a person who died while pledging a fraternity.
>> That vantage is that you're creating a learning environment that it really supportive and responsive to the needs of their child.
>> More black families are turning to home school and see how one Kentucky collective is supporting.
>> I had to smile spread across my face because I was like I'm going to DC.
>> Some Kentucky students will represent the bluegrass in America's longest running educational competition.
>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.
The owner Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.
♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky.
Addition for Monday March 27th I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in tonight for Renee Shaw.
April is child Abuse Prevention month today Governor Andy Beshear signed 3 bills into law.
>> Aimed at helping protect children from abuse.
That begins tonight's legislative update.
Senate Bill 2.29 strengthens reporting requirements when a child is suspected of being abused, neglected or is a victim of human trafficking.
Kentucky is already a mandate hair mandatory reporting state.
This bill sponsored by state Senator Julie Rocky Adams of Louisville removes Red tape and the reporting process.
Insurers reports are shared with other involved agencies.
Senate Bill 18 prohibits registered sex offenders from being within 1000 feet of a school playground or daycare.
And House Bill 78 helps police and judges identify incest by clarifying the legal definition.
Here's some of what was said at today's rally at the Capitol Rotunda today.
>> Their community.
I Andy Beshear choose to be a community support are available for you to lean on mate.
I ask each of you to take that same pledge, be the person that kids can lean on acting on that pledge today because today and this rotonda I'm going to sign 5 bills into law.
They will help protect our kids or get them back on a path towards prosperity.
Too many kids in this commonwealth suffer from abuse and neglect.
But we can all be a part of the solution helping to support education and prevention.
We need to invest in our kids, of course.
And that means we also have to invest in our parents weekend.
All advocate for children.
In a few minutes, we will plan for 1000 pinwheels to raise awareness about child abuse and make sure that Kentucky kids never have to go through it.
>> Each pinwheel represents 40 children under the age of 4 in Kentucky.
You all there is so much good going on and we want to draw attention.
We've got 40,000 kids under the age of 4 with extreme potential in our state.
That will grow up to be politicians and scientists and re reporters.
And it depends on each of us to make sure that they achieve their potential.
>> Here to support.
>> All of Kentucky.
We're here to support all of Kentucky's children.
>> And that's why we make the pledge.
We work every day to make sure that those children who are abused or neglected have a place and have support so that they can improve their lives and live up to their full human potential because that's what we want for ourselves.
That's what we want for our children, our families, our communities.
No exceptions.
>> For all, not only is it the big things like state agency spending and policies to help KET kids safe.
It's also the little things.
Each of us do every day like.
Making sure that your neighbors know how to reach you in case they need help.
Making sure that dad in your community know that they are one of the most important factors, ensuring positive outcomes for their children making sure.
But you get the listening year or a helping hand to someone in need all these little things that we can do every day, add up to supporting families and assuring individuals at all levels of the community are involved in the important work of preventing child abuse.
>> As a dad of 2 kids myself, there's nothing more important than protecting our children, not just our own children, but as responsible adults.
We have an obligation to every child in this commonwealth.
This country and my faith teaches me across the world.
>> For several years, Kentucky had the highest rate of child maltreatment in the U.S.. Well, there have been modest improvements, much work remains.
Join us tonight for a special report that will examine the difficult topic of child abuse and neglect in Kentucky.
The program present stories from those whose lives have been upended by mistreatment examines the challenges and possible solutions to protect in Kentucky's children like an all brink recounts.
Her heartbreaking experience of sexual abuse from a close relative.
Liz Runner describes how her son Colton survived the deadliest type of physical child abuse, shaken Baby Syndrome.
Andy Colwell shares the story of redemption after breaking the cycle of addiction and regaining custody of her 3 children contributing to the conversation is Erik Friedlander, secretary of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
The panel of experts will discuss ways we can all get involved.
>> Sometimes it can seem like a really daunting task when you think, well, there's a child I know that's in need.
I don't know the weather.
I should get involved.
I'm afraid to get involved.
What if I'm wrong?
All of the questions people ask themselves when you're doubtful of a situation or fearful to get involved.
What would you say when you have those concerns?
>> You know, I think it's hard for us to figure out what that fine line is.
So I like to use the story of Sam.
So a young man who young boy about 8 years old sitting on his front steps and he might look a little scruffy just sitting there alone and the neighbor looks out and she sees him and she thinks when he's alone, I don't see the parents car getting a little concerned.
So 10 minutes passes and he still there 20 minutes and our passes and she the authorities to check on him.
Well, mom was at work, couldn't get off in the babysitter was sick.
So now we have launched an investigation into this child's life when ideally what we want to have happen is we want that neighbor looking out the window to step outside and say, hey, Sam, what's going on and how can I support you in whatever is going on in your life right now?
And we can see if we we take that step to ask questions and see how we can support others, even if it is just a listening ear.
But we don't have to have those answers that we can see that change.
>> Join us tonight as we raise awareness about this issue in Kentucky.
Child abuse and neglect Akt special report airs tonight in place of Kentucky tonight at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.
The governor signed more bills into law today.
2 bills come from the loss of a child Senate Bill 9 is named in honor of Lofton Hazelwood.
He was a pledge at the University of Kentucky fraternity when he died of alcohol poisoning.
Lofton's law makes it a Class D felony for hazing.
The results in serious injury or death.
Speaking in Frankfort, Lofton's mother explained why she fought so hard for this bill.
>> It's a bongo nobody ever wants to get.
And we hope this never happens to anybody else.
Again.
This is not going bring my baby bag.
This is going to save other lives.
That's all we just want.
The safety of the students.
>> Lofton's law makes Kentucky the 14th State to elevate hazing to criminal status.
The governor also signed House Bill 2.62 into law today.
It strengthens Kentucky's DUI laws by making vehicular homicide, a Class B felony in state law to ensure that anyone arrested for driving under the influence he's detained for 6 hours instead of 4 House Bill 2.62 is named Lily saw after Lily Fairfield.
The high school student was killed by an impaired driver and Oldham County and the crash seriously injured.
Her sister Zoe.
Well as family was in Frankfort for today's Bill signing.
>> The day that my sister passed away, I lost my husband.
Then a person that.
Was a part of and >> being here today, I feel like I can really honor her in the mix.
We do a lot better about losing a part of pretty.
>> The latest traffic collision report by Kentucky State police says 806 people were killed in crashes in the Commonwealth.
The 2021 more than half are due to drivers under the influence of drugs.
A juvenile detention center in Jefferson County will be renovated and reopened.
Now that the governor has signed House Bill 3, the new law will make appropriate over 13 million dollars to reopen the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center which closed in 2019 House Bill 3 also strengthen standards for mental health treatment and accessibility in juvenile detention facilities.
The governor said this about the bill today.
>> The state of that juvenile justice system.
It's the result of decades of underfunding underfunding.
Our people and underfunding our facilities.
It contains the dollars to provide the raise is to ensure that we can have sufficient staff levels at each and every one of these facilities.
Under staffing, which has been occurring sense.
Tensions were eliminated.
Has been our biggest obstacle and those facilities.
>> The governor signed another bill impacting the juvenile justice system today.
Senate Bill one 62 set standards for emergency response.
A juvenile facilities allows the state to enter contracts with 3rd party organizations to provide mental health services.
The governor didn't just use his pen to sign bills today.
He also issued a new veto Senate Bill 7 will be sent back to the General Assembly for potential legislative override the bill prevents government employees from using automatic payroll deductions to collect union dues.
This would prevent unions like the Kentucky Education Association from automatically collecting union dues.
When teachers are paid.
But labor organizations representing police and fire departments would be exempt from the regulations in his veto message.
Governor Andy Beshear said Senate Bill 7 is an attack on unions and teacher associations that support and protect hard-working Kentucky families.
A bill that supporters say would protect Kentucky's electrical grid and help the coal industry.
He's been allowed to become law without the governor's signature Senate Bill 4 prohibits the Public service commission from allowing utility companies to retire coal-fired power plants.
Less.
Several conditions are met.
Here are those conditions first utility must replace the retired unit with new electric generating capacity.
Second rate pairs wouldn't have to pay for the new unit.
And finally, retiring unit can't be the result of financial incentives from the federal government.
Some opponents said the bill could have unintended consequences, including negatively impacting Kentucky's ability to explore other energy sources.
The governor did signed Senate Joint resolution.
79 it calls for establishing the nuclear Energy Development working Group.
The group's goal is to determine the barriers to nuclear power generation.
Kentucky, to submit a report to the governor and the lrc by the end of the year and help create a permanent nuclear Energy Commission.
The fight over Senate Bill one 50 continues.
The bill was vetoed by Governor Andy Beshear on Friday.
SB One.
51 been medical care for transitioning youth and restricts come come first conversations about gender identity in Kentucky.
Schools today.
The fairness campaign really statewide radio ads featuring to former Republican elected officials in 2 separate commercials.
Former secretary of state Trey Grayson and former state Representative Bob Bell ringer.
Call for people to oppose SB One 50.
I'm a conservative who can't believe state lawmakers are working in the final days to take rights away from Kentucky parents with Senate Bill one 50.
>> They want to overrule parents and doctors when it comes to care for transgender kids.
Did we wait almost a century to get the majority just to wage an all-out war against defenseless transgender children?
Wow.
What a bad look for the party of Abraham Lincoln.
>> The Fairness campaign says the ad will run through tomorrow.
The General Assembly returns for the last 2 days of the legislative session on Wednesday.
Legislators could override any of the governor's vetoes during that time.
♪ ♪ >> The University of Kentucky is preparing its campus for an overdose emergency.
The university has placed 60 naloxone boxes around campus, though, cleared rescue kit gives anyone quick access to Narcan, which can be used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
UK is joined a number of college campuses making the overdose reversal drug available.
One of the reasons for bringing it to college campuses.
An increase in the number of students taking drugs they believed to be at or or Xanax but are actually laced with fentanyl.
>> The problem this has caused isn't there's individuals who are being exposed to fentanyl knowingly.
So they're not actively using an opioid that because the the drug that they are using is contaminated or contains.
But now then we have opioid what we call opioid naive people.
Who who are not taking opioid that then get exposed to the opioid in that puts him it the extremely high risk for overdose.
>> Tomorrow on Kentucky Edition hear why one group that's fighting to stop opioid addiction and overdoses in the state said giving people this kind of access to Narcan.
He's a game changer.
U.S.
Senator Mitch McConnell says he has been released from a rehabilitation facility where he underwent physical therapy for concussion caused by a fall earlier this month on Saturday, the 81 year-old Republican leader said he will be working from home for the next few days.
McConnell was at dinner on March 8 after hotel reception when he tripped and fell.
In addition to the concussion, he also suffered a rib fracture.
McConnell was released from the hospital on March 13th the move to an inpatient rehabilitation facility for physical therapy.
Kentucky secretary of state Michael Adams has been named chair of the Republican secretaries of State Committee.
The point that makes Adams the highest ranking member of the organization.
In a statement, Adam said his selection represents recognition of Kentucky's election reforms.
Kentucky has made great strides in expanding voter access, improving ballot integrity.
And I'm glad my GOP colleagues across America recognize and embrace it.
♪ Schools may have reopened but 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic began.
>> Many children are still learning at home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of children who are home-schooled increased by 63%, the 2020 2021 school year.
That number dropped by only 17% of the 2021.
22 school year.
The most significant increase in the number of black families who are homeschooling.
The Census Bureau data shows the number of black families homeschooling their children increase from a pre-pandemic level of 3% to more than 16% during the 2021.
22 school year.
Play Cousins.
An African-American collective in Louisville is creating a space and providing resources for black families who are choosing to homeschool.
More on tonight's segment on Education Matters.
>> school caught as a part of one of our gathering circles.
There are many families that were saying that they wanted an alternative to sending their children to public school.
But that they were concerned about their ability to do that.
You know, they have the resources that they have the knowledge where they have the time.
And so that's what our homeschool co-op really looks like.
It is us coming together and sharing knowledge and also hosting classes and allowing our children to to develop those social and emotional skills with one another.
I feel like.
>> Homeschooling falls under the umbrella of parenting as parents, we teach our kids everything.
I feel like I always home school them because we've always in some form of learning even just the before PK ages.
The reasons why people home school because they're looking they're trying to carve out safe spaces for their children to become fully realized, you know, for them to fully understand who they are as people for them to develop their interests.
That advantage is that you're creating a learning environment that it really supportive and responsive to the needs of your child that they're not.
I'm going to be measured by somebody.
What someone else thinks of them.
I didn't come from a home school and family.
I didn't see homeschoolers around me.
This was a whole new venture.
There wasn't a lot of black and brown people in these programs.
And when I would research it, I would see a lot of white homeschool families, a lot of white homeschool programming.
A lot of white homeschool curriculum.
So until play Cousins, I was pretty isolated.
My homeschool journey, not any of the programs that we really found.
Are geared toward the African-American families or help them learn about their culture and who they are and where they come from.
So this cough was perfect for Empowers him as individuals as because it's creating a community and they are members of this community where they are learning who to go to for way back up.
My children at it is little suspense as I can.
I feel like it gives us our power back.
I think that a lot of families have reservations around the curriculum that is present with Ben the public school system when it comes to race and history.
I can't imagine.
As a world where.
And not allowed to teach my child about who he is and what our people went through.
When you learn about black history, it's often focused on slavery.
You know, it's this month of learning about the atrocities that happened to your people some top of many times.
That's how it is for our children.
And so when they think about who they are.
They don't want to be black at the end of the day because of all of the things that they've been taught about, what it means to be black.
And so I did not want that for my Many families don't want that for their children and being given the opportunity to teach something different.
I think it's just an eye-opening.
They I think the community here has probably been the best part for us among the learning to.
But the community has been huge for us.
This is somewhere they can go and actually live.
It and be around people that are like them it's huge for for me and my kids because I'm learning as much as they are.
It's a movement that is building because it setting this framework in this.
Ideas that may be other parents couldn't even have imagined.
But to see this working its like, oh, this is a thing that could work and just to have an idea that this exists.
And if you don't participate with our co-op, it's definitely something that you can create and sell them the way that we create these black and white systems.
When we have this multi dimensional world.
That just doesn't fit and homeschooling is opportunity for us to mess it up a little bit and allow for us to be in the same space in.
To have a deeper experience.
>> Some Kentucky students were hoping for a V ICT or why this weekend they vie for a chance to go to the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the regional qualifier in Hopkinsville were Rodgers takes us to the high stakes educational them.
>> Emotions running high Sunday at the historic Alhambra theater in Hopkinsville.
Really stressful 7 spellers who won their school, spelling bee taking their place on stage, hoping for a chance to go to the Scripps National Spelling Bee and Washington, D.C., Hopkinsville is so excited to host the regionals Scripps Spelling Bee qualifying event for us to be able to have 3 representatives from Kentucky that we're sending on to compete is incredible.
>> The city received the opportunity through arpa funds from the Kentucky Department of Tourism.
I'm really excited.
>> I don't even know what to think about it right now.
>> She h the words are chosen from the official Merriam-Webster dictionary.
>> I've never heard of it defend before.
>> But after a few questions, Gibson sailed through the spelling, the 7th grader from Bowling Green.
We go on to take first place.
>> It's very satisfying.
>> Isabella Carver, a 5th grader from Hansen.
We'll get down to the wire on the word formalize.
>> I didn't know if it was spelled with an S or Z.
And I KET that if I got out, then that probably would be going to Washington, D.C.. >> S e. I thought that.
>> One of those would be wrong but turns out they're both right.
She says learning new words is one of her favorite parts of the process.
When.
And the real world and like my parents use.
>> A word.
I'm like what is at me and Allan, what it means.
And that just helps my vocabulary grow.
>> They were very good.
And I think very much prepared that preparation included studying word lists using spelling, asks and getting some help from adults.
>> My parents showed up words in me and then I shot back how to spell been traditionally good.
Readers are good spellers.
I read a lot.
>> The Literacy Council, that's our goal is to promote reading, writing, goes along with reading and spelling.
Absolutely.
it's just >> Dahmer was the pronouncer at the spelling joined by judges from Hopkinsville Community College.
He we're just excited to have all the sellers here in Hopkinsville.
This is such an incredible honor for our community.
The Penny Royal Arts Council visit Hopkinsville and Christian County Literacy Council hosting the event with participation from Hopkins Union and Warren County.
You know, the top 3 finishers now preparing to represent Kentucky at the national level.
>> It's going to be exciting.
I can't wait to see that.
All the children, all the youth participating get to see a lot of cool things.
And it's just going to be awesome for Kentucky edition.
I'm Laura Rogers.
>> The top 3 winners received a $500 stipend toward travel expenses to the Scripps National Spelling Bee which begins May 30th in Washington, D.C.. Dance blue at the University of Kentucky.
Raise 1.6 million dollars this year.
The student run philanthropy is a yearlong fundraising effort that culminated in a 24 hour dance marathon over the weekend.
This was the 18th year for the event dance blue raises money for cancer research and the Gold Matrix Kentucky's Children's Hospital.
The goal the fund is to provide care and support for pediatric cancer patients by giving them and their parents comfort.
Today.
Dance blue has raised more than 20 million dollars.
Doctor King visits Kentuckyian aviator drops by and celebrating the co-creator of a well-known tune.
Toby Gibbs has a look at some of the events that happened this week in Kentucky.
History.
♪ >> It's appropriate to wish a happy birthday to Patty Smith, Hill of Anchorage, Kentucky, Born March 27th 18 68 Hill and her sister Mildred Colorado song called Good Morning to all which eventually morphed into the better known tune.
Happy Birthday to you.
Louisville's WHA Stv signed on March 27th 1950.
It was Kentucky second TV station.
>> After Wave TV which went on the air in 1948.
Aviator Charles Lindbergh dropped in on Lexington on March.
28 1928.
About a year after his famous flight across the Atlantic, he was in Kentucky to visit a friend.
And when word got out 3,000 people showed up to watch him take off the next day.
The great racehorse Man O War was born 3/29/1917, at Major August Belmont juniors nursery studded near Lexington.
Doctor Martin Luther King Junior spoke at the University of Louisville on March, 30th 1967.
Then spoke to the West Chestnut Street Baptist Church.
He went on to lead a March on Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.
Kylie died on March 31st.
2008, the legendary University of Kentucky basketball manager was 81.
He's been in charge of the Wildcats equipment, Rome since 1962.
And that's a look back at this week in Kentucky history.
>> I'm told the Good News.
Always fun to take a look back.
We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky that inform connect and inspire.
I'm Casey Parker Bell have a
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