This week on Kentucky Focus with Scott Fitzgerald, we’re exploring unexpected opportunities, untold challenges, and a few twists that may just change how you see the Bluegrass State. From second chances to shifting paths—and even a deadline that’s not what it seems—you’ll hear stories that hit close to home. Plus, a look at how the game is changing in Kentucky sports, on and off the field. Tune in for the conversations Kentuckians didn’t know they needed.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus, where the stories that matter most.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Kentuckians come to life.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I'm Scott Fitzgerald, and we're diving into second chances, shifting
career paths, and a few surprises that may just change
how you see the world around you. Could a program
inside Kentucky's prison system be the key to solving a
major workforce shortage? And is there a smarter way forward
than the traditional four year degree, especially for folks looking
to hit reset on their careers. We're also clearing up
(00:26):
some confusion about a deadline that really wasn't a deadline
and why it still matters.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
For every Kentucky traveler.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Then, in sports, we'll look at how women's sports are
making serious waves, from the national spotlight to.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
The high school dugouts and Jim Flores right here at home.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
All that and more coming up right here on Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the
show that looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and its citizens.
We cover state politics and history, human interest stories, sports,
and even entertainment Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
My mother was very familiar with her neighborhood, but one day,
she stopped at the stop sign and she wasn't even
really sure where she was at.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
When something feels different, it could be Alzheimer's. Now is
the time to talk. A message from the Alzheimer's Association
and the ad Council.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Today, we're spotlighting a second chance that's turning into a
first rate career opportunity. Across the country, trade unions are
stepping up not just to build bridges and buildings, but
to build lives, and here in Kentucky, the Iron Workers
Local Union seventy is doing just that through a powerful
prison internship program that's changing the game. Joining us now
it is Ryan Terry, a leader with the iron Workers
(01:38):
Local seventy, to talk about how this program works, why
it's succeeding, and what it says about the current state
and future of skilled trades.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Ryan, thanks for taking time to join us.
Speaker 6 (01:48):
Thank you, Good morning.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
Hey. Ryan.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Can you tell us a little bit, give us maybe
a quick overview of your prison internship program and how
it really came about.
Speaker 6 (01:56):
Well, it's a two year project we're doing with the
State of Kentucky and the Department of Correction. We're doing
a five week pre apprenticeship at each place. We're doing
two of them a year at each place, so a
total of four. There's going to be fifteen prisoners in
each cohort, total in sixty at each place, so we're
gonna be serving one hundred and twenty inmates. Half of
them are at Luther luck At Correctional Complex that's in Lagrange,
(02:17):
and half of them are North Point Training Center that's
in Bergen, Kentucky, near Harrisburg. We've had thirty people complete
the program. We went through two of the cohorts so far.
It's going well. We're adapting it and making a little
better as we go. We teach them basic construction skills,
some more ironworkers specific type skills like welding and structural
steel and reinforcing steel. Then on to some leadership and
(02:39):
some general job skills. They get leave with a CPR certification,
welding qualifications, and with an OSHA ten card. They learn
some firework for history, some safety, power tool usage, reinforcing steel,
structural steel, welding. Serves the community pretty good. It gives
these people a second chance that might have not had one,
you know otherwise.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Joining us now again Ryan Terrry, he is the leader
with the Iron Workers Local seventy. We're talking about their
prison internship program they've got going here in the Commonwealth,
and Ryan, you answered kind of my next question.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
What training they receive?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Now, how are individuals selected to participate?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
How does that happen?
Speaker 6 (03:14):
We give them some criteria that kind of fits in
with our employers and what they'll accept, and the prisons
actually pick the people, They have them volunteer for the program,
and then they select the ones they go through it.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Ryan Terry again with the Iron Workers Local seventy prison
internships here in Kentucky turning them into iron workers and
ran what kind of success have you seen both in
terms of job placement and personal transformation for those who
go through the program.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
Unfortunately, we've only been through ten weeks of the program now,
so we've went five weeks at each one of them.
We've only had a couple of them that have actually
been released from prison so far, and one of them
signed up with us. We've had good reviews by everybody
in there. The morale and the classes is pretty high.
We've a lot more people signed up for the second
rounds than we had for the first rounds, and I
guess that's at the prisons. They attributed that to what
(03:59):
we're doing there excited them might sworry about what they
went through.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Ryan Terry joining us again with the Ironworkers Local seventy,
talking prison internships and of course the future of skilled
trades and how they affect people in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Ryan, you and I both know it. For years.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Of course, always the default advice to young people was
go to college, but that's been changing. Why do you
think that skilled trades are becoming more realistic and well
a more attractive option for folks.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
I think probably the most obvious one would be the
student debt aspect of it, where we pay you to,
you know, kind of work for us, and when you
go to college, you pay them and you pay for
it for sometimes twenty thirty years. They're not easier jobs
to get, but once you do get them, the people
that do like them seem to enjoy them. Our turnover
rates have been going down, you know, as compared to
what they used to be, so I think that more
young people are getting excited about doing these more physical
(04:48):
labor type jobs.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Ryan Terry's with us, He's with the Iron Workers Local seventy,
talking prisoner internships and maybe a second chance for folks,
not just prisoners, but those that want to seek an
alternative to college, and maybe even if you're looking at
a career change. So let's talk numbers for just a second. Ryan,
What kind of starting wages and benefits can someone expect
after joining the union and completing their training.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Most of the trade unions are set up in a
similar way our setup, where you'll get about twenty one
dollars an hour on your check, and then you also
get a benefit package. Our benefit package is about twenty
five dollars an hour that you get in addition to
what your hourly pay is. Our pay goes up about
two dollars an hour every six months until we reach
journeyman's pay and it's around thirty seven dollars an hour
(05:31):
right now. That takes about four years of training to
get through. If you have some prior experience with welding,
and you can have some welding tests and some other
tests we have, then we might be able to bump
your pay up even a little bit at the start.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Wow, that's good money right there, Ryan, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Ryan Terry joining us a leader with the Ironworkers Local seventy.
Just a few more questions for you, Ryan, and we'll
get you on your way. What about those who've already
gone down one path? Maybe they work in retail, this
service industry, or even a desk job, and they're thinking
about sweet careers.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Is it too late for them now?
Speaker 6 (06:02):
It's never really too late. Our pension's pretty good. You
get vested in five years in it, and for every
year you work, you get about one hundred and twenty
dollars a month when you retire. So you only got
ten years to work with us. You know, you work
ten years with us, you'll get twelve hundred dollars a
month when you retire. You can retire when you're fifty
five if you've got thirty credits. So if you are
under twenty five and you wanted to work here, you
could around twenty five years old. You could work here
(06:23):
for thirty years and then start drawing your pension after that.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Yeah, what a great opportunity, especially with the PEG and
Ryan Terry, with the Iron Workers Local seventy joining us. Ryan,
If someone's listening right now and thinking, I've always been
curious about welding or iron work, but I don't even
know where to start.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
What are you tell them go to a trade school.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
I mean, there's plenty of colleges, there's plenty of trade schools.
There's a lot of smaller welding schools. You know, there's
a ton of places learn how to weld. Some of
them are easier to get into, some of them costs money.
Some of them are like ours, where you apply, we
select some to go through it.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
From your perspective, what's the biggest misconception about trade work
that you wish more people understood.
Speaker 6 (06:59):
I guess that it's kind of like that the trade
unions are like factory unions, where the union is involved
with the one company that pays you. Where in the
trade unions we're involved with several companies with the contractors
association that we're like take ge or foward for ups
for example. They're just dealing with one entity and everybody
works in the same building. Everybody has the same basic
(07:20):
task to do, where ours is a little more broad.
I guess it's a little more complicated than that. I
guess that's the biggest misconception is that it's the same
as a factory union, and it's a lot different than that.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Right on, and last question for you, Ryan, what's next
for the prison internship program, I mean, how.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Can the public or potential partners get involved.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
We hope to find a way to fund it after
our first initial two years, whether that be through some
legislature or some private donors, or maybe work something into
our contract with our contractor association. We're working at that
because we'd like to continue it. Everybody at the jails,
all the people involved in the administration, all the inmates,
everybody seems to really seems to be getting a lot
(07:57):
out of it, so we'd like to continue to keep
it going. Anybody was wanting to partner with, they could
contact the iron Workers and see if they were interested
in hiring any of the people that came out of
the program. I know the Operators Local one eighty one,
so they'll accept applications from them. Pipe Bitters five o two,
so they would accept applications. I'm the Laborers in Louisville,
and then the iron Workers in Cincinnati and Ashley, Kentucky
(08:18):
both said they would accept applications from the people that
complete the program.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Also Ryan Terry.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
With the Iron Workers Local seventy Ryan, great conversation, great program.
Thank you for your insight and all the work you
and everybody there do at the Iron Workers Local seventy
not just to build our communities, but also to rebuild lives.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
We appreciate you one hundred percent. Thank you, Ryan, appreciate.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
You buyen all right, buddy, you have a good day.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Whether you're just graduating high school and looking for a
career changer, simply want a job that offers a path,
not just to pay check.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Skilled traits like ironwork might just be the opportunity you
didn't know you were looking for. Thank you to Ryan
Terry with the Iron Workers Local seventy. Coming up with
the Kentucky State High School.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Softball Tournament underway, women's sports is without a doubt.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
On the ride, we'll.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Talk with the program that's no stranger to success and
see what they think about the newfound popularity. I'm Scott
Fitzgerald and you're listening to Kentucky Thorns.
Speaker 8 (09:13):
Hey, I'm your mountain bike. Been a minute since we
hit the trail. Why not roll me over to Goodwill?
Donating me helps Goodwill's mission to provide career training and
support services right here in the community, and that keeps
us all moving. Donate today on your left to find
your nearest Goodwill locations and to learn more about our mission,
(09:36):
please visit Goodwill dot org Goodwill where Your Things start
New lives.
Speaker 9 (09:46):
Nearly half of children in foster care drop out of school,
but you can rewrite that story. Children and youth with
KASA and GAL volunteers are more likely to succeed in school.
Change a child's story. Become a volunteer today. Learn more
(10:08):
at National KASSA GAL dot org.
Speaker 10 (10:11):
Do you have an injury, illness, COVID substance use, or
mental health concerns and need help. There are many reasons
Kentuckians leave their jobs. Retain Kentucky can help. If you
are thinking of leaving your job or left your job recently,
visit Kyretain dot org or call eight five, nine, five, six, two, three,
(10:34):
two five one to learn about services, resources and research
to help Kentucky workers stay at work or return to work.
Retain Kentucky is funded by the US Department of Labor
and the Social Security Administration under a grant award to
the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training. One hundred percent
of grant funding is from federal funds. Let's keep Kentucky working.
(10:58):
Call Retain Kentucky at eight five nine five six two
three two five one, or visit Kyretain dot org.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Well, if you're a fan of high school sports and
the Commonwealth, you know there's something special happening on the
dim in this time of year, as the Kentucky State
High School Softball Tournament dam One of the top stories,
of course, is Assumption High School. Joining me now is
head coach Suzanne Kates, assistant coach Braxton Downs, and of course,
standout player and Miss Kentucky Softball twenty twenty five candidate
(11:27):
Lauren Centraley, who is just weeks away from taking her
talents to Bowling Green and Western Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Good morning to all of you, Welcome.
Speaker 11 (11:35):
Good morning, Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
It's so great to have you. It's so great to
have you all here on such a wonderful time of
the year. I know for you guys, that's for sure.
And Lauren, you've had an incredible season and while your
time at Assumption has been nothing short of exceptional as
someone who's earned the Miss Kentucky Softball nomination, what does
that mean to you and how does it feel knowing
you're headed to Western this fall?
Speaker 12 (11:56):
Yeah, you know, it's obviously very exciting that I'm up
for that, and it's kind of makes me proud because
I've worked really hard to get to that moment and
this team means like the world to me. You know,
I grew up in my high school years on this team,
and I've made my lifelong friends on this team, and
you know, being able to have success with some of
(12:16):
my best friends and play the game that I love
is really fun and.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
In some quality moments.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Now with the Assumption volleyball team, Coach Braxton Downs, you've
been on the ground floor of this program's development, and
of course you're no stranger to softball yourself, having a
successful run at the University of Indianapolis. What would you
say is driving the current success not just of Assumption softball,
but girls high school sports in general here in Kentucky.
Speaker 13 (12:41):
I don't think the rise of softball in Kentucky is
rising by accident. I mean, we've just had continue players
kind of pushed that game forward and just being a
little bit more intentional at the developmental level. I think
at Assumption it's no shocker Coach Kate's Greenwood. She showed
up and success followed. About player development here at Assumption,
(13:01):
not just our skills and mechanics, but our softball IQ,
our character, our leadership. We have more and more girls
coming to our program that is focusing on year round
growth through elite travel ball teams and now becoming an
elite high school program. I mean, we have a college
like structure at our practices, and we're really producing athletes
(13:22):
that are built for state championships and post high school
softball as well.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Like Saturley here with us joining now the folks from
Assumption of Softball and head coach Suzanne Kate's assistant coach
Braxton Downs, who you heard there, and of course m
Miss Kentucky's Softball twenty twenty five candidate Lauren Satterley, who
is off to Western Kentucky next season. We're seeing momentum
not just at the high school level, but also in
college and pro sports. As we were talking with Braxton
(13:48):
from women's basketball arenas to growing support for women's fast
pitch leagues. What do you make about the surge and
visibility and respect for women's athletics.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
I mean, of course, I.
Speaker 14 (13:58):
Think that it's great for every game that that we
get exposed to, you know, out in the public eye.
You know somebody who grew up playing, you know, like
in the nineties and then you know, seeing this thing
through almost three decades, it's phenomenal to see, you know,
I mean, like just like the enthusiasm for it. One
of the things that I did this year was I
(14:19):
took my daughter Chloe and her friend Jordan Goodman to
watch Yukon and South Carolina play for it was one
of their Christmas presents, And I googled the average attendance
for a women's basketball game, you know, back in the nineties,
and I think it was like a thousand people, like
average up across the country. And we're sitting in that
arena that day and there was you know, over twenty
(14:40):
thousand people. I mean, like it had like a real
feel of like a men's game. And so those girls
have worked really hard to earn that, you know, like
they they've caught up with the sport. You know, they
they figured out how to market it, they figured out,
you know, how to showcase their talents, you know, and
just like Braxton said, like it's about development, and you know,
it's just not about like a one year or two
year gig. You know, like these girls are learning lifelong
(15:01):
skills that will carry them into the future and they see,
you know, they're able to showcase that on TV. So
I'm in kudos to those girls and the coaches and
especially the media for you know, showing that women can
do the same things that men can and it can
be just entertaining.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Lauren, and for you, you of course are coming up
in this new age of success in women's sports. What
do you and your teammates think when you see as
coach was talking about programs like UKN the w NBA,
other women's leagues coming up, what do you what do
you think about that?
Speaker 12 (15:32):
You know, I think it's very exciting being a current
female athlete. I think watching that and looking at that,
it's something that's like people are actually starting to recognize
like hard work that us as females are putting in
to have a lot of success in sports like this.
So I think it's something that's very exciting to watch
and see over the years.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
And Lauren, are you seeing support from your male counterparts
from the other schools here in town that maybe come
out to your games and cheer you as well.
Speaker 12 (16:00):
Yeah, I've actually seen a lot of it and it's
really cool to see.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
And final question for you, Lauren of course, someone who's
headed to the collegiate game off to Western Kentucky to
play on the hill.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Do you keep an eye on women's fast pitch softball?
Speaker 8 (16:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 12 (16:12):
I do.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
What do you think is next in that space? Could
we see more young women like yourself from Kentucky eventually
playing at that level?
Speaker 12 (16:19):
Obviously if you work hard enough and put your mind
to it. I think most definitely me. I feel like
if I get that opportunity, I will most definitely take it.
But as of right now, I don't see myself past college.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
And Coach Down's last question for you.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
You've come up in the old school, or maybe not necessarily,
women's sports got the attention they are.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Now, what do you think moving forward?
Speaker 7 (16:39):
Now?
Speaker 13 (16:39):
I think the more that we get these past players
returning or having this upper level commitment to the game,
like saying that these being in this error where women's
sports like, okay, we can play, we can compete, and
we have that development being prioritized and that shared commitment
to not only learning okay, learning the new things when
(17:00):
is kind of coming into play or the marketing or
being displayed on TV. Once we have that recommitment to learning,
we don't just compete. At that point, I think women's
sports will start to lead and it's just going to
create smarter players, and it's going to take intentional coaching,
and it's going to take players and people that coach
with discipline, heart and pride for sure. And I think
(17:20):
that's what we're going to start seeing moving forward. I
feel like women's sports has always been an important component.
I think people are just starting to take notice. I
even remember in high school for a little bit there
is a hashtag on Twitter Kentucky Softball girls can play
or Ky girls can play, and just to see, really
that development piece and our girls can play, and people
are starting to take note. Starts to make you feel
(17:41):
good about yourself and where this sport is headed well.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Coach Suzanne Kate's assistant coach Braxton Downs and Miss Kentucky
Softball twenty twenty five candidate Lauren Satderley, thank.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
You so much for joining us today.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Your passion and prehaps their at Assumption High School are
clear and no doubt inspiring. The next generation of young
female afths leads around the Commonwealth.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
The Alzheimer's Association and the AD Council present the story
of Tom and Levi Tom.
Speaker 15 (18:10):
Is the smartest man I know. He's been a professor
at two major university. He's been a teacher for over
forty years. One day he told me that he was
having problems in his classes. I think one of the
students had asked the question and he didn't remember the answer.
And I also noticed that he was letting his class
out earlier than they were supposed to let out, and
he was telling them that he was doing it as
(18:32):
a favor to them, but I think in reality, he
just wanted to get out of there. I was really
starting to worry because I saw something that was wrong.
Speaker 16 (18:40):
Levi and I talked about how it would change our lives,
but he was there beside me, and my love for
him was just immense.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
When something feels different, it could be Alzheimer's. Now is
the time to talk. Visit alz dot org slash our
stories to learn more. A message from the Alzheimer's Association
and the ad Council.
Speaker 16 (19:03):
The mission of Kentucky State Police is a safeguard and
enforce the laws across their commonwealth. One of our priorities
is making sure families across our New Kentucky home are safe.
Not only safe, but Also they feel safe when we
have someone that commits a crime, and we want to
ensure that those pay their debt to society, and they do.
(19:26):
But once they finish that, and that's when we want
to incorporate these re entry programs for those to be
able to go back in their communities. And what that
does and that they become contributed members is society. They
have an income they can provide for their family and
by that then they're not committing fur their offenses, which
makes Kentucky a safer place. And by Kentucky being a
(19:47):
safer place, that's also safer for law enforcement across their commonwealth.
We will collaborate with other public agencies and other law
enforcement entities to ensure that people can have I better
laugh for themselves and their family.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
It's a hard number to ignore.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Four point two million Americans turn sixty five this year.
More than ever, they're making it clear they want to
grow older at home, not in a facility, not across
the country, but in neighborhoods and communities they know and love.
It's a growing trend called aging in place. Here in Kentucky,
we understand the importance of home. It's where your memories
live where the front porch holds, decades of conversations, where
(20:26):
independence means everything. But while staying at home might feel
like the best option, it also comes with some real
challenges access to care, connection to others, home safety, and
as a new national report shows, Kentucky ranks near the
bottom fiftieth to be exact for how well we support
older adults who want to age in place. Now, that
doesn't mean all hope is lost. In fact, it's wake
up call and a chance for us to do better
(20:47):
for our seniors. According to data from Seniorly, the best
states for aging in place make it easier to stay connected,
stay healthy, and get the support folks need at home.
And while Kentucky may not lead the pack today, there
are things you and your family can do to help
better prepare for tomorrow. Here are five smart tips to
help make aging in place more sustainable. One make your
home safer, think grab bars, better lighting, and reducing fall risks.
(21:11):
Even small changes can mean big peace of mind moving forward.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Number two.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Stay connected family, friends, church groups, senior centers, relationships matter.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Isolation could be just as dangerous as illness.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
And Number three plan your finances budget for home care maintenance,
and medical needs. A good financial planner could probably help
you out with that.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Number four, stay proactive with your health.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Regular checkups, movement and managing conditions could help you stay
in the bendit longer.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
And number five, have a plan. Being aging in place
works best when you're flexible.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Sometimes the safest choice is to transition, and having.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
A plan in place means staying in control.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
The truth is where you grow older matters, and while
Kentucky may have some catching up to do, there's no
better time than now to start planning because aging in
place it isn't just a decision, it's a lifestyle. With
right support, it can be enjoyful. One coming up, it's
a document that most want but they're afraid they can't get.
That's just not the case.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
We'll tell you buddy. Coming up in Kentucky Focus. I'm
Scott Fitzgery. This is John Stossel.
Speaker 17 (22:17):
Anything that makes it harder for you to speak limits
your life. So if stuttering affects you or your child
or someone you know, you can call the Stuttering Foundation
for help. The number is eight hundred nine nine two
nine three nine two. That's toll free, eight hundred nine
nine two nine three nine two, or you can visit
their website Wwwstutteringhelp dot org. They can refer you to
(22:42):
expert help in your state.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
My name is Teresa Barber. I was in the United
States Navy and I served overseas in the Middle East
in Africa. Early on in my career, I had a
commander that taught our suicide prevention training and then the
very next day he took his own life. Ninety percent
of suicide attempts involving a gun are fatal. My way
of continuing my service is to help protect my community
(23:04):
by being a responsible gun owner and by storing firearms safely.
Store all your guns securely, help stop suicide.
Speaker 9 (23:11):
Brought to you by End Family Fire and the ad Counsel.
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And many men and women too, are now restored, accepted,
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but with God's help, we can transform it by restoring
hope to one person, one child at a time. Volunteers
from your can unity and around the globe, or joining
(24:02):
Mercy Ships to bring life changing, healing and.
Speaker 18 (24:04):
Hope to the forgotten poor.
Speaker 19 (24:06):
To learn how you too can help change the world,
one child at a time, go to mercyships dot org today.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Now that the May seventh Real Ida Enforcement Data's passed,
Team Kentucky is reminding Kentuckians that May seventh wasn't a deadline.
It simply marked the day when the standard driver's licenses
were no longer accepted for boarding US commercial flights are
entering certain federal facilities, like say, military bases.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
You can still get your real ID.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
At any time next week, next month, or even next year,
depending on your traveler access needs. If you're not flying
soon or visiting secure federal buildings, your standard license remains
valid for everyday activities. Those include driving, voting, age restricted purchases,
and even accessing Social Security offices or via hospitals. Real
ID is just one option. The TSA or Transportation Security
(24:53):
Administration accepts multiple forms of ID for domestic flights and
secure facility access. You may already have one, be the
US passport, a Global entry card, a military ID, a
veteran health identification card. You can check the full list
at TSA dot gov. If you're not immediately traveling, you
don't need to race out and get the real ID.
(25:13):
But if you do need a real ID soon or
you just want to get it done, here's some tips
to make your visit to the licensing office easier. Bring
the right documents. You can find a full checklist at
drive dot ky dot gov.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Check in early.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
You can use a QR code or a KIOSK for
faster service. Skip the physical line you'll get a text
when it is your turn, or want to skip the
office altogether. Team Kentucky's new skip the Line initiative offers
multiple convenient options for license renewal online or by mail.
Once you complete the vision screening, there's the in office passcode.
Do your vision screening at the office, get a code,
(25:48):
and finish online at DLR Renewal dot ky dot gov Quick.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Renewal on site.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You can fill out the form on location and get
a temporary license by email.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
You can use your I doctor upload a.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Completed vision from your specialist to renew online, and there
of course is the mail in option. Download the renewal
form and send it with your vision screening. Bottom line,
real idea is available when you needed. Kentuckians don't now
have more ways than ever to take care of their
license without the wait, and you can always learn more
at drive ky dot com. And that's going to do
(26:21):
it for this edition of Kentucky Focus. My sincere thanks
to all of our guests this week. Ryan Terry with
the Ironworkers Local seventy for sharing how powerful their program
is in helping rebuild lives and careers. And to Assumption
High School softball head coach Suzanne Kate's assistant coach Braxton
Downs and Is Kentucky's softball candidate and future Hilltopper Lauren
Sedley for giving us an inside look at a program
(26:43):
that continues to inspire young women around the Commonwealth, both
on and.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Off the field. And to you are listeners across the Commonwealth.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Thank you, whether you're tuning in from Pinevild to Paducah, Ashland,
to Louisville Bowling Green all points in between. We're grateful
you make Kentucky Focus part of you. I'm Scott Fitzgerald
speaking for all of us at Kentucky Focus and the
Kentucky News Network. Second, until next time, take care of
yourself and each other.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network the show that
looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and it's citizens. We
cover state politics, in history, human interest stories, sports, and
even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 18 (27:28):
We are Kentucky Broadcasters, your hometown radio and television stations.
We bring you breaking news. We keep you safe. We
serve your community in good times and in bad. Your
local broadcasters are always there. We are deeply rooted in
your small towns and your big cities. We champion a
strong sense of civic pride. No matter how we connect
(27:51):
over the air, online and on your device, we are
Kentucky Broadcasters there when it matters.
Speaker 10 (27:58):
Hi, I'm Gary Sonise.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Our veterans put everything on the line to protect our freedom.
Speaker 17 (28:03):
We may never be able to repay them for their sacrifice,
but we can show them just how much we appreciate.
Speaker 12 (28:08):
All they've done.
Speaker 10 (28:09):
You can help by simply sharing your time, lending a
warm smile, a supportive hand, or a sympathetic ear to
someone who needs it. Everyone can do something to make
veterans know just how much we appreciate their service. Please
visit www, dot volunteer, dot.
Speaker 14 (28:24):
VA, dot gum.
Speaker 10 (28:25):
What will you do?
Speaker 14 (28:27):
And that's twenty five years since my injury.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
I have not seen a gnecologist.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
There's not one accessible obgin in my community.
Speaker 11 (28:35):
I found lumps in my breast. I went to a
doctor's office I was told was accessible, but when I
got there, I couldn't get through the front door.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Every day, women like me go to the doctor for
annual checkups for conditions like breast cancer. Early detection saved
my life, but women with disabilities, like my friends Tammy
and Anne, face a cruel reality lack of accessible medical
facilities and equipment.
Speaker 11 (29:03):
We are women first, daughters and veterans second, but women
with disabilities last.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
I'm Hannah Storm, television sports anchor, and I support PVA.
Speaker 18 (29:14):
I don't know where I'd.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Be today without access to testing. Our women veterans deserve better.
Help PVA fight for access at PVA dot org
Welcome to Kentucky Focus, where the stories that matter most.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Kentuckians come to life.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I'm Scott Fitzgerald, and we're diving into second chances, shifting
career paths, and a few surprises that may just change
how you see the world around you. Could a program
inside Kentucky's prison system be the key to solving a
major workforce shortage? And is there a smarter way forward
than the traditional four year degree, especially for folks looking
to hit reset on their careers. We're also clearing up
(00:26):
some confusion about a deadline that really wasn't a deadline
and why it still matters.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
For every Kentucky traveler.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Then, in sports, we'll look at how women's sports are
making serious waves, from the national spotlight to.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
The high school dugouts and Jim Flores right here at home.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
All that and more coming up right here on Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the
show that looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and its citizens.
We cover state politics and history, human interest stories, sports,
and even entertainment Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
My mother was very familiar with her neighborhood, but one day,
she stopped at the stop sign and she wasn't even
really sure where she was at.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
When something feels different, it could be Alzheimer's. Now is
the time to talk. A message from the Alzheimer's Association
and the ad Council.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Today, we're spotlighting a second chance that's turning into a
first rate career opportunity. Across the country, trade unions are
stepping up not just to build bridges and buildings, but
to build lives, and here in Kentucky, the Iron Workers
Local Union seventy is doing just that through a powerful
prison internship program that's changing the game. Joining us now
it is Ryan Terry, a leader with the iron Workers
(01:38):
Local seventy, to talk about how this program works, why
it's succeeding, and what it says about the current state
and future of skilled trades.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Ryan, thanks for taking time to join us.
Speaker 6 (01:48):
Thank you, Good morning.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
Hey. Ryan.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Can you tell us a little bit, give us maybe
a quick overview of your prison internship program and how
it really came about.
Speaker 6 (01:56):
Well, it's a two year project we're doing with the
State of Kentucky and the Department of Correction. We're doing
a five week pre apprenticeship at each place. We're doing
two of them a year at each place, so a
total of four. There's going to be fifteen prisoners in
each cohort, total in sixty at each place, so we're
gonna be serving one hundred and twenty inmates. Half of
them are at Luther luck At Correctional Complex that's in Lagrange,
(02:17):
and half of them are North Point Training Center that's
in Bergen, Kentucky, near Harrisburg. We've had thirty people complete
the program. We went through two of the cohorts so far.
It's going well. We're adapting it and making a little
better as we go. We teach them basic construction skills,
some more ironworkers specific type skills like welding and structural
steel and reinforcing steel. Then on to some leadership and
(02:39):
some general job skills. They get leave with a CPR certification,
welding qualifications, and with an OSHA ten card. They learn
some firework for history, some safety, power tool usage, reinforcing steel,
structural steel, welding. Serves the community pretty good. It gives
these people a second chance that might have not had one,
you know otherwise.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Joining us now again Ryan Terrry, he is the leader
with the Iron Workers Local seventy. We're talking about their
prison internship program they've got going here in the Commonwealth,
and Ryan, you answered kind of my next question.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
What training they receive?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Now, how are individuals selected to participate?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
How does that happen?
Speaker 6 (03:14):
We give them some criteria that kind of fits in
with our employers and what they'll accept, and the prisons
actually pick the people, They have them volunteer for the program,
and then they select the ones they go through it.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Ryan Terry again with the Iron Workers Local seventy prison
internships here in Kentucky turning them into iron workers and
ran what kind of success have you seen both in
terms of job placement and personal transformation for those who
go through the program.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
Unfortunately, we've only been through ten weeks of the program now,
so we've went five weeks at each one of them.
We've only had a couple of them that have actually
been released from prison so far, and one of them
signed up with us. We've had good reviews by everybody
in there. The morale and the classes is pretty high.
We've a lot more people signed up for the second
rounds than we had for the first rounds, and I
guess that's at the prisons. They attributed that to what
(03:59):
we're doing there excited them might sworry about what they
went through.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Ryan Terry joining us again with the Ironworkers Local seventy,
talking prison internships and of course the future of skilled
trades and how they affect people in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Ryan, you and I both know it. For years.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Of course, always the default advice to young people was
go to college, but that's been changing. Why do you
think that skilled trades are becoming more realistic and well
a more attractive option for folks.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
I think probably the most obvious one would be the
student debt aspect of it, where we pay you to,
you know, kind of work for us, and when you
go to college, you pay them and you pay for
it for sometimes twenty thirty years. They're not easier jobs
to get, but once you do get them, the people
that do like them seem to enjoy them. Our turnover
rates have been going down, you know, as compared to
what they used to be, so I think that more
young people are getting excited about doing these more physical
(04:48):
labor type jobs.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Ryan Terry's with us, He's with the Iron Workers Local seventy,
talking prisoner internships and maybe a second chance for folks,
not just prisoners, but those that want to seek an
alternative to college, and maybe even if you're looking at
a career change. So let's talk numbers for just a second. Ryan,
What kind of starting wages and benefits can someone expect
after joining the union and completing their training.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Most of the trade unions are set up in a
similar way our setup, where you'll get about twenty one
dollars an hour on your check, and then you also
get a benefit package. Our benefit package is about twenty
five dollars an hour that you get in addition to
what your hourly pay is. Our pay goes up about
two dollars an hour every six months until we reach
journeyman's pay and it's around thirty seven dollars an hour
(05:31):
right now. That takes about four years of training to
get through. If you have some prior experience with welding,
and you can have some welding tests and some other
tests we have, then we might be able to bump
your pay up even a little bit at the start.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Wow, that's good money right there, Ryan, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Ryan Terry joining us a leader with the Ironworkers Local seventy.
Just a few more questions for you, Ryan, and we'll
get you on your way. What about those who've already
gone down one path? Maybe they work in retail, this
service industry, or even a desk job, and they're thinking
about sweet careers.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Is it too late for them now?
Speaker 6 (06:02):
It's never really too late. Our pension's pretty good. You
get vested in five years in it, and for every
year you work, you get about one hundred and twenty
dollars a month when you retire. So you only got
ten years to work with us. You know, you work
ten years with us, you'll get twelve hundred dollars a
month when you retire. You can retire when you're fifty
five if you've got thirty credits. So if you are
under twenty five and you wanted to work here, you
could around twenty five years old. You could work here
(06:23):
for thirty years and then start drawing your pension after that.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Yeah, what a great opportunity, especially with the PEG and
Ryan Terry, with the Iron Workers Local seventy joining us. Ryan,
If someone's listening right now and thinking, I've always been
curious about welding or iron work, but I don't even
know where to start.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
What are you tell them go to a trade school.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
I mean, there's plenty of colleges, there's plenty of trade schools.
There's a lot of smaller welding schools. You know, there's
a ton of places learn how to weld. Some of
them are easier to get into, some of them costs money.
Some of them are like ours, where you apply, we
select some to go through it.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
From your perspective, what's the biggest misconception about trade work
that you wish more people understood.
Speaker 6 (06:59):
I guess that it's kind of like that the trade
unions are like factory unions, where the union is involved
with the one company that pays you. Where in the
trade unions we're involved with several companies with the contractors
association that we're like take ge or foward for ups
for example. They're just dealing with one entity and everybody
works in the same building. Everybody has the same basic
(07:20):
task to do, where ours is a little more broad.
I guess it's a little more complicated than that. I
guess that's the biggest misconception is that it's the same
as a factory union, and it's a lot different than that.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Right on, and last question for you, Ryan, what's next
for the prison internship program, I mean, how.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Can the public or potential partners get involved.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
We hope to find a way to fund it after
our first initial two years, whether that be through some
legislature or some private donors, or maybe work something into
our contract with our contractor association. We're working at that
because we'd like to continue it. Everybody at the jails,
all the people involved in the administration, all the inmates,
everybody seems to really seems to be getting a lot
(07:57):
out of it, so we'd like to continue to keep
it going. Anybody was wanting to partner with, they could
contact the iron Workers and see if they were interested
in hiring any of the people that came out of
the program. I know the Operators Local one eighty one,
so they'll accept applications from them. Pipe Bitters five o two,
so they would accept applications. I'm the Laborers in Louisville,
and then the iron Workers in Cincinnati and Ashley, Kentucky
(08:18):
both said they would accept applications from the people that
complete the program.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Also Ryan Terry.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
With the Iron Workers Local seventy Ryan, great conversation, great program.
Thank you for your insight and all the work you
and everybody there do at the Iron Workers Local seventy
not just to build our communities, but also to rebuild lives.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
We appreciate you one hundred percent. Thank you, Ryan, appreciate.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
You buyen all right, buddy, you have a good day.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Whether you're just graduating high school and looking for a
career changer, simply want a job that offers a path,
not just to pay check.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Skilled traits like ironwork might just be the opportunity you
didn't know you were looking for. Thank you to Ryan
Terry with the Iron Workers Local seventy. Coming up with
the Kentucky State High School.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Softball Tournament underway, women's sports is without a doubt.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
On the ride, we'll.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Talk with the program that's no stranger to success and
see what they think about the newfound popularity. I'm Scott
Fitzgerald and you're listening to Kentucky Thorns.
Speaker 8 (09:13):
Hey, I'm your mountain bike. Been a minute since we
hit the trail. Why not roll me over to Goodwill?
Donating me helps Goodwill's mission to provide career training and
support services right here in the community, and that keeps
us all moving. Donate today on your left to find
your nearest Goodwill locations and to learn more about our mission,
(09:36):
please visit Goodwill dot org Goodwill where Your Things start
New lives.
Speaker 9 (09:46):
Nearly half of children in foster care drop out of school,
but you can rewrite that story. Children and youth with
KASA and GAL volunteers are more likely to succeed in school.
Change a child's story. Become a volunteer today. Learn more
(10:08):
at National KASSA GAL dot org.
Speaker 10 (10:11):
Do you have an injury, illness, COVID substance use, or
mental health concerns and need help. There are many reasons
Kentuckians leave their jobs. Retain Kentucky can help. If you
are thinking of leaving your job or left your job recently,
visit Kyretain dot org or call eight five, nine, five, six, two, three,
(10:34):
two five one to learn about services, resources and research
to help Kentucky workers stay at work or return to work.
Retain Kentucky is funded by the US Department of Labor
and the Social Security Administration under a grant award to
the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training. One hundred percent
of grant funding is from federal funds. Let's keep Kentucky working.
(10:58):
Call Retain Kentucky at eight five nine five six two
three two five one, or visit Kyretain dot org.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Well, if you're a fan of high school sports and
the Commonwealth, you know there's something special happening on the
dim in this time of year, as the Kentucky State
High School Softball Tournament dam One of the top stories,
of course, is Assumption High School. Joining me now is
head coach Suzanne Kates, assistant coach Braxton Downs, and of course,
standout player and Miss Kentucky Softball twenty twenty five candidate
(11:27):
Lauren Centraley, who is just weeks away from taking her
talents to Bowling Green and Western Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Good morning to all of you, Welcome.
Speaker 11 (11:35):
Good morning, Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
It's so great to have you. It's so great to
have you all here on such a wonderful time of
the year. I know for you guys, that's for sure.
And Lauren, you've had an incredible season and while your
time at Assumption has been nothing short of exceptional as
someone who's earned the Miss Kentucky Softball nomination, what does
that mean to you and how does it feel knowing
you're headed to Western this fall?
Speaker 12 (11:56):
Yeah, you know, it's obviously very exciting that I'm up
for that, and it's kind of makes me proud because
I've worked really hard to get to that moment and
this team means like the world to me. You know,
I grew up in my high school years on this team,
and I've made my lifelong friends on this team, and
you know, being able to have success with some of
(12:16):
my best friends and play the game that I love
is really fun and.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
In some quality moments.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Now with the Assumption volleyball team, Coach Braxton Downs, you've
been on the ground floor of this program's development, and
of course you're no stranger to softball yourself, having a
successful run at the University of Indianapolis. What would you
say is driving the current success not just of Assumption softball,
but girls high school sports in general here in Kentucky.
Speaker 13 (12:41):
I don't think the rise of softball in Kentucky is
rising by accident. I mean, we've just had continue players
kind of pushed that game forward and just being a
little bit more intentional at the developmental level. I think
at Assumption it's no shocker Coach Kate's Greenwood. She showed
up and success followed. About player development here at Assumption,
(13:01):
not just our skills and mechanics, but our softball IQ,
our character, our leadership. We have more and more girls
coming to our program that is focusing on year round
growth through elite travel ball teams and now becoming an
elite high school program. I mean, we have a college
like structure at our practices, and we're really producing athletes
(13:22):
that are built for state championships and post high school
softball as well.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Like Saturley here with us joining now the folks from
Assumption of Softball and head coach Suzanne Kate's assistant coach
Braxton Downs, who you heard there, and of course m
Miss Kentucky's Softball twenty twenty five candidate Lauren Satterley, who
is off to Western Kentucky next season. We're seeing momentum
not just at the high school level, but also in
college and pro sports. As we were talking with Braxton
(13:48):
from women's basketball arenas to growing support for women's fast
pitch leagues. What do you make about the surge and
visibility and respect for women's athletics.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
I mean, of course, I.
Speaker 14 (13:58):
Think that it's great for every game that that we
get exposed to, you know, out in the public eye.
You know somebody who grew up playing, you know, like
in the nineties and then you know, seeing this thing
through almost three decades, it's phenomenal to see, you know,
I mean, like just like the enthusiasm for it. One
of the things that I did this year was I
(14:19):
took my daughter Chloe and her friend Jordan Goodman to
watch Yukon and South Carolina play for it was one
of their Christmas presents, And I googled the average attendance
for a women's basketball game, you know, back in the nineties,
and I think it was like a thousand people, like
average up across the country. And we're sitting in that
arena that day and there was you know, over twenty
(14:40):
thousand people. I mean, like it had like a real
feel of like a men's game. And so those girls
have worked really hard to earn that, you know, like
they they've caught up with the sport. You know, they
they figured out how to market it, they figured out,
you know, how to showcase their talents, you know, and
just like Braxton said, like it's about development, and you know,
it's just not about like a one year or two
year gig. You know, like these girls are learning lifelong
(15:01):
skills that will carry them into the future and they see,
you know, they're able to showcase that on TV. So
I'm in kudos to those girls and the coaches and
especially the media for you know, showing that women can
do the same things that men can and it can
be just entertaining.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Lauren, and for you, you of course are coming up
in this new age of success in women's sports. What
do you and your teammates think when you see as
coach was talking about programs like UKN the w NBA,
other women's leagues coming up, what do you what do
you think about that?
Speaker 12 (15:32):
You know, I think it's very exciting being a current
female athlete. I think watching that and looking at that,
it's something that's like people are actually starting to recognize
like hard work that us as females are putting in
to have a lot of success in sports like this.
So I think it's something that's very exciting to watch
and see over the years.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
And Lauren, are you seeing support from your male counterparts
from the other schools here in town that maybe come
out to your games and cheer you as well.
Speaker 12 (16:00):
Yeah, I've actually seen a lot of it and it's
really cool to see.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
And final question for you, Lauren of course, someone who's
headed to the collegiate game off to Western Kentucky to
play on the hill.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Do you keep an eye on women's fast pitch softball?
Speaker 8 (16:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 12 (16:12):
I do.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
What do you think is next in that space? Could
we see more young women like yourself from Kentucky eventually
playing at that level?
Speaker 12 (16:19):
Obviously if you work hard enough and put your mind
to it. I think most definitely me. I feel like
if I get that opportunity, I will most definitely take it.
But as of right now, I don't see myself past college.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
And Coach Down's last question for you.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
You've come up in the old school, or maybe not necessarily,
women's sports got the attention they are.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Now, what do you think moving forward?
Speaker 7 (16:39):
Now?
Speaker 13 (16:39):
I think the more that we get these past players
returning or having this upper level commitment to the game,
like saying that these being in this error where women's
sports like, okay, we can play, we can compete, and
we have that development being prioritized and that shared commitment
to not only learning okay, learning the new things when
(17:00):
is kind of coming into play or the marketing or
being displayed on TV. Once we have that recommitment to learning,
we don't just compete. At that point, I think women's
sports will start to lead and it's just going to
create smarter players, and it's going to take intentional coaching,
and it's going to take players and people that coach
with discipline, heart and pride for sure. And I think
(17:20):
that's what we're going to start seeing moving forward. I
feel like women's sports has always been an important component.
I think people are just starting to take notice. I
even remember in high school for a little bit there
is a hashtag on Twitter Kentucky Softball girls can play
or Ky girls can play, and just to see, really
that development piece and our girls can play, and people
are starting to take note. Starts to make you feel
(17:41):
good about yourself and where this sport is headed well.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Coach Suzanne Kate's assistant coach Braxton Downs and Miss Kentucky
Softball twenty twenty five candidate Lauren Satderley, thank.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
You so much for joining us today.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Your passion and prehaps their at Assumption High School are
clear and no doubt inspiring. The next generation of young
female afths leads around the Commonwealth.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
The Alzheimer's Association and the AD Council present the story
of Tom and Levi Tom.
Speaker 15 (18:10):
Is the smartest man I know. He's been a professor
at two major university. He's been a teacher for over
forty years. One day he told me that he was
having problems in his classes. I think one of the
students had asked the question and he didn't remember the answer.
And I also noticed that he was letting his class
out earlier than they were supposed to let out, and
he was telling them that he was doing it as
(18:32):
a favor to them, but I think in reality, he
just wanted to get out of there. I was really
starting to worry because I saw something that was wrong.
Speaker 16 (18:40):
Levi and I talked about how it would change our lives,
but he was there beside me, and my love for
him was just immense.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
When something feels different, it could be Alzheimer's. Now is
the time to talk. Visit alz dot org slash our
stories to learn more. A message from the Alzheimer's Association
and the ad Council.
Speaker 16 (19:03):
The mission of Kentucky State Police is a safeguard and
enforce the laws across their commonwealth. One of our priorities
is making sure families across our New Kentucky home are safe.
Not only safe, but Also they feel safe when we
have someone that commits a crime, and we want to
ensure that those pay their debt to society, and they do.
(19:26):
But once they finish that, and that's when we want
to incorporate these re entry programs for those to be
able to go back in their communities. And what that
does and that they become contributed members is society. They
have an income they can provide for their family and
by that then they're not committing fur their offenses, which
makes Kentucky a safer place. And by Kentucky being a
(19:47):
safer place, that's also safer for law enforcement across their commonwealth.
We will collaborate with other public agencies and other law
enforcement entities to ensure that people can have I better
laugh for themselves and their family.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
It's a hard number to ignore.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Four point two million Americans turn sixty five this year.
More than ever, they're making it clear they want to
grow older at home, not in a facility, not across
the country, but in neighborhoods and communities they know and love.
It's a growing trend called aging in place. Here in Kentucky,
we understand the importance of home. It's where your memories
live where the front porch holds, decades of conversations, where
(20:26):
independence means everything. But while staying at home might feel
like the best option, it also comes with some real
challenges access to care, connection to others, home safety, and
as a new national report shows, Kentucky ranks near the
bottom fiftieth to be exact for how well we support
older adults who want to age in place. Now, that
doesn't mean all hope is lost. In fact, it's wake
up call and a chance for us to do better
(20:47):
for our seniors. According to data from Seniorly, the best
states for aging in place make it easier to stay connected,
stay healthy, and get the support folks need at home.
And while Kentucky may not lead the pack today, there
are things you and your family can do to help
better prepare for tomorrow. Here are five smart tips to
help make aging in place more sustainable. One make your
home safer, think grab bars, better lighting, and reducing fall risks.
(21:11):
Even small changes can mean big peace of mind moving forward.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Number two.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Stay connected family, friends, church groups, senior centers, relationships matter.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Isolation could be just as dangerous as illness.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
And Number three plan your finances budget for home care maintenance,
and medical needs. A good financial planner could probably help
you out with that.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Number four, stay proactive with your health.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Regular checkups, movement and managing conditions could help you stay
in the bendit longer.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
And number five, have a plan. Being aging in place
works best when you're flexible.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Sometimes the safest choice is to transition, and having.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
A plan in place means staying in control.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
The truth is where you grow older matters, and while
Kentucky may have some catching up to do, there's no
better time than now to start planning because aging in
place it isn't just a decision, it's a lifestyle. With
right support, it can be enjoyful. One coming up, it's
a document that most want but they're afraid they can't get.
That's just not the case.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
We'll tell you buddy. Coming up in Kentucky Focus. I'm
Scott Fitzgery. This is John Stossel.
Speaker 17 (22:17):
Anything that makes it harder for you to speak limits
your life. So if stuttering affects you or your child
or someone you know, you can call the Stuttering Foundation
for help. The number is eight hundred nine nine two
nine three nine two. That's toll free, eight hundred nine
nine two nine three nine two, or you can visit
their website Wwwstutteringhelp dot org. They can refer you to
(22:42):
expert help in your state.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
My name is Teresa Barber. I was in the United
States Navy and I served overseas in the Middle East
in Africa. Early on in my career, I had a
commander that taught our suicide prevention training and then the
very next day he took his own life. Ninety percent
of suicide attempts involving a gun are fatal. My way
of continuing my service is to help protect my community
(23:04):
by being a responsible gun owner and by storing firearms safely.
Store all your guns securely, help stop suicide.
Speaker 9 (23:11):
Brought to you by End Family Fire and the ad Counsel.
Speaker 18 (23:14):
Childhood should be.
Speaker 19 (23:15):
The happiest time of life, but for many children living
in poverty, with blindness, facial deformities, and other crippling conditions,
it's riddled with pain, rejection, shame, and isolation. At Mercy Ships,
we're answering the cries of some of the world's most
forgotten children and adults through free, life changing surgeries, surgeries
(23:36):
that turn despair into hope.
Speaker 18 (23:38):
These once heartbroken boys and girls.
Speaker 19 (23:40):
And many men and women too, are now restored, accepted,
and on their way to new lives full of opportunity
and joy. No one can change the world on their own,
but with God's help, we can transform it by restoring
hope to one person, one child at a time. Volunteers
from your can unity and around the globe, or joining
(24:02):
Mercy Ships to bring life changing, healing and.
Speaker 18 (24:04):
Hope to the forgotten poor.
Speaker 19 (24:06):
To learn how you too can help change the world,
one child at a time, go to mercyships dot org today.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Now that the May seventh Real Ida Enforcement Data's passed,
Team Kentucky is reminding Kentuckians that May seventh wasn't a deadline.
It simply marked the day when the standard driver's licenses
were no longer accepted for boarding US commercial flights are
entering certain federal facilities, like say, military bases.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
You can still get your real ID.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
At any time next week, next month, or even next year,
depending on your traveler access needs. If you're not flying
soon or visiting secure federal buildings, your standard license remains
valid for everyday activities. Those include driving, voting, age restricted purchases,
and even accessing Social Security offices or via hospitals. Real
ID is just one option. The TSA or Transportation Security
(24:53):
Administration accepts multiple forms of ID for domestic flights and
secure facility access. You may already have one, be the
US passport, a Global entry card, a military ID, a
veteran health identification card. You can check the full list
at TSA dot gov. If you're not immediately traveling, you
don't need to race out and get the real ID.
(25:13):
But if you do need a real ID soon or
you just want to get it done, here's some tips
to make your visit to the licensing office easier. Bring
the right documents. You can find a full checklist at
drive dot ky dot gov.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Check in early.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
You can use a QR code or a KIOSK for
faster service. Skip the physical line you'll get a text
when it is your turn, or want to skip the
office altogether. Team Kentucky's new skip the Line initiative offers
multiple convenient options for license renewal online or by mail.
Once you complete the vision screening, there's the in office passcode.
Do your vision screening at the office, get a code,
(25:48):
and finish online at DLR Renewal dot ky dot gov Quick.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Renewal on site.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You can fill out the form on location and get
a temporary license by email.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
You can use your I doctor upload a.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Completed vision from your specialist to renew online, and there
of course is the mail in option. Download the renewal
form and send it with your vision screening. Bottom line,
real idea is available when you needed. Kentuckians don't now
have more ways than ever to take care of their
license without the wait, and you can always learn more
at drive ky dot com. And that's going to do
(26:21):
it for this edition of Kentucky Focus. My sincere thanks
to all of our guests this week. Ryan Terry with
the Ironworkers Local seventy for sharing how powerful their program
is in helping rebuild lives and careers. And to Assumption
High School softball head coach Suzanne Kate's assistant coach Braxton
Downs and Is Kentucky's softball candidate and future Hilltopper Lauren
Sedley for giving us an inside look at a program
(26:43):
that continues to inspire young women around the Commonwealth, both
on and.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Off the field. And to you are listeners across the Commonwealth.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Thank you, whether you're tuning in from Pinevild to Paducah, Ashland,
to Louisville Bowling Green all points in between. We're grateful
you make Kentucky Focus part of you. I'm Scott Fitzgerald
speaking for all of us at Kentucky Focus and the
Kentucky News Network. Second, until next time, take care of
yourself and each other.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network the show that
looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and it's citizens. We
cover state politics, in history, human interest stories, sports, and
even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 18 (27:28):
We are Kentucky Broadcasters, your hometown radio and television stations.
We bring you breaking news. We keep you safe. We
serve your community in good times and in bad. Your
local broadcasters are always there. We are deeply rooted in
your small towns and your big cities. We champion a
strong sense of civic pride. No matter how we connect
(27:51):
over the air, online and on your device, we are
Kentucky Broadcasters there when it matters.
Speaker 10 (27:58):
Hi, I'm Gary Sonise.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Our veterans put everything on the line to protect our freedom.
Speaker 17 (28:03):
We may never be able to repay them for their sacrifice,
but we can show them just how much we appreciate.
Speaker 12 (28:08):
All they've done.
Speaker 10 (28:09):
You can help by simply sharing your time, lending a
warm smile, a supportive hand, or a sympathetic ear to
someone who needs it. Everyone can do something to make
veterans know just how much we appreciate their service. Please
visit www, dot volunteer, dot.
Speaker 14 (28:24):
VA, dot gum.
Speaker 10 (28:25):
What will you do?
Speaker 14 (28:27):
And that's twenty five years since my injury.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
I have not seen a gnecologist.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
There's not one accessible obgin in my community.
Speaker 11 (28:35):
I found lumps in my breast. I went to a
doctor's office I was told was accessible, but when I
got there, I couldn't get through the front door.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Every day, women like me go to the doctor for
annual checkups for conditions like breast cancer. Early detection saved
my life, but women with disabilities, like my friends Tammy
and Anne, face a cruel reality lack of accessible medical
facilities and equipment.
Speaker 11 (29:03):
We are women first, daughters and veterans second, but women
with disabilities last.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
I'm Hannah Storm, television sports anchor, and I support PVA.
Speaker 18 (29:14):
I don't know where I'd.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Be today without access to testing. Our women veterans deserve better.
Help PVA fight for access at PVA dot org
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