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♪ >> Imagine knowing that you have fun may not live.

♪ >> A mother fights back tears as she talks about her child's cancer and a system that she says made a bad situation worse >> I'm amazed that we are not want to offer health insurance to gig.

Workers are some.

I don't have it in today's economy.

>> But could that change for freelance workers and could it backfire?

>> We make absolutely just about everything you can imagine.

But we're most known for inventing the Bourbon Ball.

>> Yeah.

One Kentucky family Candy has been dandy for more than 100 years.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part, but the KET Teen Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday, February, the 14th Valentine's Day.

Happy Love Day to you.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending a little bit of your time with us.

Could a bill meant to protect kids end up hurting them?

Some Kentucky lawmakers have concerns about a bill that includes tougher penalties for people who sexually abuse children.

Despite the concerns a House committee said yes to the bill today, Kentucky additions June Leffler has more as we begin tonight's Legislative update.

>> Bill sponsor Representative Matt Lockett says he has no tolerance for sex offenders.

>> We absolutely mean business House Bill.

2.78 would increase penalties for cases of rape, child pornography and human trafficking.

>> It would also ban schools from ever employing someone convicted of a violent or sex crime.

And it removes the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, current law states that a person has 10 years to report that assault.

>> There for 28 years old would be the latest age that someone could report this abuse or assault.

We also.

Also know that the average age to report childhood sexual assault or abuse is close.

Tough, 40 years old.

Well, beyond what our current statute says.

>> Members of the House Judiciary Committee question how this law could be applied to teenagers with phones.

>> Often times you might have to minors.

That are.

You know, doing obvious things that this bill would apply to him.

It recorded.

And maybe put on some sort of social media.

predominant people that distribute this type of material are not 17 year-olds and to use their term sexting each other 15 year-old are being dumb.

They should be held accountable but a B felony.

And they can never work for the court for that school system in their life.

>> Committee members did sign off on the bill but say they expect some tweaks before it's heard on the House floor for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

♪ ♪ >> Switching now to money matters.

Some Kentucky superintendents of schools say the Republican House budget doesn't make the grade when it comes to education funding.

They talked about it today in Scott County.

They say that budget plan has 42 million dollars less.

And what could be used for teacher raises.

>> This is a great opportunity for superintendents in a central Kentucky to really come together and share are calm concerns that we have with the House budget as going into this session and trying to figure out how we're going to utilize those dollars to truly impact what's going on in the classrooms.

>> It really was disheartening for me to see when the budget came out and they need to compete the numbers and see what we could provide for teacher compensation and employee compensation.

But then to see that there was specific preferences in the budget.

2.

District mergers district closures.

If we were unable to.

Provide.

For adequate.

Heidi increases improvements in hiring the first year of the budget.

We would be able to provide a 2% raise for our staff and that if we did not consider all the inflationary issues that we know people are dealing with in their private homes were doing with this.

Well, you're too.

We could do no raise as the budget stands.

It really gives me a bit.

>> 3, 3, options.

One would be to offer one percent raise for all of our staff.

The other would be to cut programs so that we could potentially a ad additional raises or the 3rd is to raise a local tax dollars.

And the challenge that I have with raising local tax dollars, which I other superintendents would agree is if you look at the state budget and it isn't that we will have as much as a 5.2 billion dollar excess budget at the end of next year.

And, you know, those are taxpayer dollars.

And I feel like those dollars.

A lot of those dollars can be utilized to go back to those a local communities so that we truly can raises for teachers and other staff of the most important factor in student achievement is quality to teach in classroom in order to get get to quality folks in classroom.

You have to put together a a compensation package that >> that that it passes into the day.

And we've seen that erode over the past several locally.

We try to give as we've been as we've been able to.

But most of that has been on the backs of our local We want to make sure that we that we advocate for it funding for that at the local funding from the state level that will provide those the increases in general fund revenues that we need to make a increases in teacher compensation.

>> I do want to speak for my fellow superintendents, but I believe that we're stuck in a position where if we say nothing about what this does, especially for employee compensation, they were going to be in a situation where later there's going to be confusion about it.

This is what it did.

Why didn't you say something sooner?

>> The House Republican Budget Plan, House Bill 6 passed the full House earlier this month.

Just a couple of weeks ago.

It's now in possession of the Senate where it's waiting for consideration.

Lexington is considering a source of income discrimination ban.

Meaning landlords could not deny applicants solid because they use federal vouchers to pay the rent.

The final vote on the ban is tomorrow night and if passed would take effect on March.

First.

But a bill advancing in the Kentucky General Assembly in Frankfort would really shake things up.

Kentucky additions Clayton Dalton has more.

>> Kentucky's 2 largest cities, Louisville and Lexington have either passed or are considering passing a ban on source of income discrimination.

This means landlords would have to treat federal housing vouchers with the same merit as traditional income like earned wages.

But some Republicans say these local ordinances encroach on the rights of property owners.

>> This overreach of local government is forcing individual property owners to take Section 8 vouchers and in any other government program that may be available.

And so we as a body need to ensure that property owners have the right to.

It is a basic tenet of capitalism.

And I've always been a strong proponent of local control, but this is not a local control issue.

This is a property rights issue.

Andrew Bates with the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises.

>> Says that although source of income discrimination bands are present in eastern Kentucky, the bill could negatively impact vulnerable Kentucky ends in these voucher holders are disproportionately elderly, disabled and as Senator Chambers, Armstrong its particular concern that, you know, many of our veterans and Kentucky depend on housing choice vouchers through the Hood Bash program and has written, you know, this bill would prevent a community from acquiring property owners, too, except those vouchers for homeless veterans.

I also like to make clear so I non-discrimination laws do not require property owners to accept all voucher You know, as as earlier commenters stated, Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer supports the bill and noted that this House bill rather than a similar measure from state Senator Stephen West will move forward.

>> We don't live in California.

We don't live in New York.

We live in Kentucky.

And we're not going to force people to take below market value for their private property here in Kentucky.

So I would like to note for the record that there has been an agreement work forward too.

Passed the House version of the Bill.

>> House Bill 18 passed out of committee.

63 with Republican State Senator Chris McDaniel joining Democrats, Kasey Chambers, Armstrong and Denise Harper.

Angel in voting.

No.

Lawmakers also heard Senate Bill one.

26 sponsored by Sen McDaniel that would limit the governor's pardoning power.

The bill is in response to previous Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin's last-minute pardons for violent offenders, including people convicted of murder and child sexual abuse Senate bill.

One 26 puts on the ballot in front of the voters of the Commonwealth.

The idea that the governor would not be able to issue pardons 30 days prior to a group given a election until the time of the swearing in.

This in essence is a 2 month period out of every 4 years when the governor could not issue pardons.

I think that it is imperative to the foundational issues of justice in the commonwealth.

That one individual not be able to short circuit the entirety of a justice system from the front line police officer who makes an arrest to the Supreme Court of the land who in the sentence of the condemned to death is the final adjudicator that power should not rest.

And one person who will never again stand accountable in front of voters.

Senate Bill one 26 passed out of committee with one registered pass vote.

Both bills now head to the Senate floor for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

Governor Matt Bevin, the Republican commuted the death sentence of Gregory Wilson who was convicted for rape and murder in 1988. the state parole board recently denied his request for parole.

And today's economy self employed workers sometimes called gig.

Workers often have to work different jobs to make a living.

Georgetown Republican State Representative Phillip Pratt believes that employers should help fund benefit plans like health and disability insurance that workers can take with them.

House Bill 4.65.

Would make those portable benefit plans.

Part of a compensation package for the self employed.

Representative Pratt believes it could be a win-win for both businesses and good workers that aren't usually a 40 such benefits.

But Democrats say this could lead to fraud and abuse.

Kentucky additions June Leffler explains.

>> This is 100% voluntary.

If you have a subcontractor or you have a someone in a gig that you really want to KET you may offer these.

You don't have to.

But without this, you can't.

>> Bill opponents ask if a contractor is so valuable that they deserve benefits.

Why not just make them an employee?

>> Where a lot of our professional organizations from corporations are using independent contractors is sort of a way to hire someone in as a consultant or as an independent.

That person generally takes in a lot of times takes that job as a way to get their foot in the door, hoping that it will turn into a full-time proper employment.

But if these kinds of things are put into place and it even more incentive for the employer to never make them an employer employee.

Employers have to offer employees certain protections and covered their taxes.

>> Contractors don't get the same treatment.

>> It shifts costs.

So security Medicare over to to the to the contractor and make in eligible for workers comp it think it injured on the job again, they don't pay into unemployment insurance.

They're not subject to minimum wage laws to overtime laws to worker safety laws.

There's more opportunity for fraud and abuse when the compliance of spread from large employers down too many more independent contractors.

Yes, there are always bad actors, but the more actors there are the more right that is for such abuse.

>> One of the biggest unions in Kentucky, the A F L C I O also opposes the bill.

But with little comment, Republicans sided with the bill sponsor.

>> I'm amazed that we are not want to offer health insurance to gig.

Workers are some.

I don't have it in today's economy.

After blows my mind for Kentucky edition.

I'm Judy Leffler.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> I imagine having a 2 year-old battling cancer.

You're about to hear from a mother who doesn't have to imagine that she spoke today during childhood cancer day at the state Capitol.

Her message Kentucky can do better.

>> Imagine noticing changes that are not the norm.

In your youngest son was 2 at the time.

Vomiting than ever seems to only go away.

Upset stomach loss of appetite, infancy, but no one will listen.

But you continue advocating for your town because he can't fight for himself.

He's only 2.

He can't describe the pain that he's going for.

On March 7th 2023 I world was changed forever.

After someone finally listen.

Cancer were the no parent ever wants to hear.

Our son, Gregory, KET well in the 3rd who we call training was diagnosed with a typical turned to wade wrapped away tumor.

Try received 29 rounds of proton radiation that were not offered in the state of Kentucky.

Imagine having your family ripped apart.

Because one parent has to stay home work and provide for the teenage son that you're raising while the other one has to go through the scary part of treatment.

Imagine living almost 9 months in the hospital being told over and over to you don't qualify for many programs that can help your family during an unimaginable Christ because you don't meet income guidelines have be determined by tax returns and growth income that you no longer bring home.

Imagine had a medical bills come in when everything you own have a medicine that you check out, this really needs to survive, cost thousands of dollars while being denied for disability would completely dis able check out.

But who can afford the cost of cancer?

Imagine watching a child who was so full of life, all of a sudden fighting for his life, a child who was left, unable to eat, walk, talk, drink and suffers from hair loss.

A chat that continues to suffer more active treatment and as an evil unable to be a child.

The cause of how you know, compromise.

He is imagine knowing that, yes, I may not live.

To receive the help that he needs.

Realizing the government funded programs are not always easily accessible for all families who are facing a crisis right now.

Trade fight is not only are high, but it's everyone's fight.

Imagine if this were your family because it could easily be someone that you love.

My name is at any moment and this is my family.

So I don't have to imagine.

>> The proposed house budget includes a record 15 million dollars for childhood cancer research funding.

♪ Time now for a midweek review of some major political developments in Kentucky.

So far this week with dry Lynn Barton, who is senior editor with NPR National Public Radio.

Good to see you.

>> And C to an end.

>> So let's start talking about a bill that passed yesterday and the Senate.

This is a Senate Dei Bill diversity, equity inclusion, bill that targets Noncredit courses, trainings workshops and orientations at Kentucky's public colleges and universities.

It's now in the possession of the state house.

What are the arguments for and against that bill yesterday?

And even in committee?

>> To this is a pretty sweeping bill and a lot of the as it tries to prohibit or a pretty broad.

They're not there you they're not very specific and exactly what it blocks because some of this language would seem that, well, a whole lot of things.

including this builder would the idea that any individual is inherently criminal is racist, sexist or oppressive.

Any idea that suggest all Americans are not created equal and you believe that the scribes, character traits more?

I think it's an ethical codes to an individual because of their race.

These are topics that summer like Wilson, the sponsor of this bill Senate Bill, 6 art are trying to block from being discussed and state universities but also Inter see equity and inclusion programs from state university-san and ban any sort of diversity statements from being required.

Supporters of this bill say that this and attempts to try and stopped universities from what they say over regulating a speech and believes on campus where us of your supporters to programs like the same things are important way to not only can to diversify the university's, not only racially, but also within bought economic status because our cip projects includes a whole range of these things.

There's some polling that shows oaks in Kentucky are are not in favor of this sort of these sorts of regulations.

More than two-thirds of Kentucky voters, according to a niche for helping Kentucky.

Also take the lead.

Businesses and institutions should be allowed to make these decisions regarding their own diversity so but this is something about.

But one of the leading members of the state legislature and leaders of whether cities across the By my count, there's like 24 different states are So it's a priority for them.

>> And we should set the foundation for the Kentucky is more of a progressive leading health advocacy there.

There could be some of those polling methodology.

Is that come into question about that poll.

You CA UK President Eli Capilouto, though he's come out with a statement about that and also the 10 year Bill that is making its way to the General Assembly will talk about the 10 year Bill later when that advances more about what was his statement when it comes to DUI.

>> Yeah, he said that this.

He said that this is really undermine the state's ability to of you to recruit students and faculty and and really define what it means as an institution is >> the they said this he rejected this accusation that institutions like UK Bush narrow and rigid orthodoxy.

Some thought that's but some of Republican lawmakers are saying on Yeah, but this flies in the face of what a lot of, you know, liberal arts, education administrators are trying to do the environment, so of Bob and diverse and diversity.

So that, you know, they can be reflective of the world and in the state.

And so the folks in you get a more well-rounded understanding of the world works, but these institutions UK universities across the country really push back against this kind of regulation, say that it it.

It goes against what the put really these university set out >> So what to make a pivot and talk about the 2023 governor's race.

Still, it's more than 2 months since Democratic Governor Andy Beshear was inaugurated.

And yet we're still learning more about who and what bankrolled the 2023 governor's race and be sure the Democrat, the Republican challenger, Daniel Cameron.

What we learned.

>> So according to Kentucky, both great is just something to dug into that some of the numbers that went to the Democratic Governors Association of the Republican Governors Association is into the political groups that spend and spend money.

Kentucky's race for governor last they they're reporting deadlines are a lot layer later.

>> it's taken a funds.

And what your job is that there's a lot of, you know, some of the big game, Lee interest.

But that's a horse racing interest for brain machine companies like Visa matter, you know, they were big players and donating to to these particular funds but also dark money groups.

So those are big political group.

Second raise money and from and not have to disclose their donors are were I'm a big force that the funding of those groups and Kentucky's race for governor last year, which the most expensive in state history is 70 million dollars spent on that page and this year and a >> So finally will return back to what's happening in the legislature.

So there is legislation to create what's called the officiant and effective school District government's task force and it's targeted to school districts with enrollment greater than 75,000 students.

Of course, that would only qualify Jefferson County Public schools to have this type of microscopic look at what they're doing.

Is this the first of many moves to calm about splitting up that district?

What's the ultimate goal with a task force creations such as this?

>> Yeah, it's possibly the move to split them up.

But it's the team moved a long history of of can state attempts to to release Republican temps from the state to overseeing more.

What's going on in JCPS.

There's, of Republican Governor Matt Bevin's real attempts to begin a state takeover of the district.

And this is the latest version of this to try to think about.

And JCPS is one of the largest school districts in the country.

But I'm ready to take the 25th markets a study to break it up into smaller groups.

So a lot about this issue with in Jefferson County and also weakened within the the district itself to to not do this and it feels a little familiar based on all these attempts for more oversight of JCPS that come from that seat.

>> And state auditor, State Auditor Allison Ball told us that will be airing on Sunday that that's one of the audit she wants to perform.

>> Is Andre.

So that's something he said on the campaign trail, right from the to see where all of this goes between a possible task force and what she finds from an audit which which she says will take her several months, if not a year to complete and they'll probably have a 3rd party group do that because of the massive nature of it.

>> So a lot scrutiny and Jefferson County Public Schools.

Well, thank you, Ryan, for helping us learn about all we appreciate it.

Have a good day.

♪ >> On this annual day to celebrate, love Valentine's Day.

Chocolate, of course, is a favorite gift to show wants affection.

Now there was no arm twisting requires and assigning are crew to pay a visit to one of Kentucky's oldest chocolate making companies.

Rebecca Root Candies noted for their world famous bourbon balls.

So treat yourself to this week's Extra Sweet segment on arts and culture.

We called Tapestry.

>> Well, Rebecca Ruiz Candies is a family owned a chocolate shop that started in 1919.

So where are the oldest continuously operated family confectionery in the state and currently in our 100th year as a family business, I was born into the business.

My grandmother, a roof, started the business with her friend Rebecca in 1919, which is a year before women got the right to vote.

So they were definitely women.

Pioneers as a 3rd generation family member.

I started in about 5th grade sweeping and mopping the floors and then eventually was able to work my way up.

My daughter has joined the business and she's the 4th generation and she is currently the general manager.

So she gets more of the stress and I get the chill a little bit.

So today we saw know chocolate caramels being made.

So we took those on the copper kettle like you saw.

There are a butter caramel.

So you saw the butter floating in the in the cattle when poor that out and that raise.

And then we cut to end the pieces and run it down the and roping line the covered in chocolate.

And then in the decorating section, decorate that with sea salt backers, candies, we make over 100 different things.

Summer, seasonal summer all the time we make absolutely just about everything you can imagine.

But we're most known for inventing the Bourbon ball for anybody who doesn't know what a bourbon ball is.

It's a confection that was invented by my grandmother.

Ruth in 1938, it's a cream center.

Bourbon confections dipped in dark chocolate.

That's always nice to be in a business where everybody's happy.

All of our customers come in and they're happy.

And when they leave, there are even happier.

as a business model, it's really great to be surrounded by happy people.

>> Haha, no doubt Well, we talked with Rylan Barton earlier about a poll about how Kentuckians feel about government require diversity, equity and inclusion rules will more reaction on that tomorrow.

>> There's a freedom piece of this and you can look at it both ways.

I guess from an individual level and from the level of institutions.

>> What the group behind a poll asking Kentuckyian their thoughts on dei program say the results mean for the state.

That's tomorrow.

Thursday on Kentucky Edition, we hope you have a great rest of your Valentine's Day right here and we present you so very much.

And we will see again tomorrow

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