June 25, 2025

LG&E and KU asks Kentuckians to conserve energy amid heat wave, state lawmakers discuss a new anti-DEI law that goes into effect this week, a look at who has been invited to the annual Fancy Farm political picnic, and how some of Kentucky's regional universities are adjusting to a new way of compensating student athletes.

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
As the temperature goes up,
it's important to make sure
your energy use goes down.
We can argue how much they're
going to get paid. That may be
a better argument, but they're
going to get paid.
>> And Lenox programs around
the state are dishing out the
money.
Connection with your ancestors.

(00:27):
It's not only personal back
like the entire nation can see
as well and feel it with you.
New artwork by the I was here
project explores ancestry and
encourages community
conversation about the past.
Production of Kentucky Edition
is made possible in part by the
KET Millennium Fund.

(00:47):
♪
♪
>> Good Evening and welcome
to Kentucky EDITION for this
Wednesday, June 25th. I'm
Christine an in our KET
Louisville studio.
>> Filling in tonight for Renee
Shaw. Thank you so much for

(01:08):
joining us. Let's say he wave
continues. LG E and KU are
asking customers to conserve
energy to ease the strain on
the power grid. Here is some
of that advice. Turn off all
unnecessary lights and
appliances. Try to avoid using
your oven and consider a slow
cooker instead. Make sure vents
are clear. So air can circulate

(01:30):
through your home.
And makes the biggest
difference you can make is
adjusting your thermostat.
>> Every little thing
adds up. I mean, for example,
setting your thermostat to the
highest, comfortable setting
every degree can save you about
47% on the cooling portion of

(01:53):
your bill. So if you know, we
have unanimous that said about
70. If you feel like you could
go to 74. 75. Now you're
talking.
5 degrees, which each degree
give you 47%. Cheaper 100
cooling portion of your bill.
We want to make sure, for

(02:15):
example, that you you close
those lines. If you get lines
with son facing windows that
is letting a lot of sun in your
house or apartment close those,
you know, make sure your your
air-conditioner events are not
blocked, KET windows, you know,
keeping furniture and rapes and
other things off of those.
All that helps to number one.

(02:36):
You know, it helps our
customers. We know that the
high temperatures will have
an impact on their bills.
And so we want to help KET
those bills lower for folks.
And these tips will help.
And also it protects the
system. It protects the grid as
far as the high demand that
we've seen recently due to
these extreme high

(02:57):
temperatures.
>> All great tips to KET in
mind. This summer is just
getting started. Unfortunately,
the heat and humidity are not
can be letting up anytime soon.
Members of the state Senate
majority met with the press
today as more than 100 newly
passed laws will take effect
this week. One of those laws is

(03:19):
House Bill 4, which eliminates
diversity, equity and inclusion
or dei initiatives at public
universities. Senator Mike
Wilson of Bowling Green spoke
about the bill which abolishes
Diversity Offices, Mandatory
Dei training identity based
scholarships and more.
>> Importantly, the bill
preserves real student support

(03:40):
systems.
For veterans. First generation
students, Pell Grant recipients
and those with disabilities.
Well,
as practiced, do you guys
shifted from inclusion? 2 X
closure, House Bill 4 restores
balance by ensuring a student's

(04:02):
and faculty are evaluated
by ability.
>> And character, not identity
check boxes.
>> Universities around the
Commonwealth have until June
30th to adapt to the new law
majority floor leader Max Wise
said they're working with
university presidents to ensure
their compliance. And we'll
have much more from that press
conference tomorrow night on

(04:23):
Kentucky edition, along with a
look inside the temporary
chambers won the capital
undergoes construction. The
Fancy Farm political picnic
will be Saturday, August second
and as usual, some big names
have been
invited, but we'll be all
except that's a question.
Nic. Organizers say they've
invited Governor Andy Beshear,

(04:44):
both Senators Mitch McConnell
and Rand Paul. All 3 announced
candidates for the U.S. Senate
all statewide constitutional
office holders, Congressman
James Comer, who serves that
part of the state and the
district state representative
and state senator, you'll see
coverage and Fancy Farm right
here on KET.
President Donald Trump says the

(05:06):
U.S. and Iran will talk next
week as the cease-fire between
Iran and Israel appears to be
holding. This is after a report
yesterday that recent U.S.
strikes only set back Iran's
nuclear program by about a few
months. Also yesterday, Senator
Mitch McConnell was on the U.S.
Senate floor praising President
Trump's decision to order the
attack.

(05:30):
he ordered.
>> Built the blow to Iran's
nuclear program.
Bolstered American credibility.
Ensuring continuous and Israel
leverage.
And the Rams for shooting a
nuclear weapons and its support
for terrorism. We're good.

(05:53):
Thanks to the Israelis.
Historic average for more than
a year and a
Iran's ability to threaten
regional stability.
To massively degraded.
Not since before the Islamic
Revolution.
Has there been such an

(06:13):
opportunity? For America?
Israel?
Our partners, Theresa Regional
Dynamics on such favorable
terms.
Achieving it has required no
large-scale deployment of U.S.
ground forces.
It required all is supporting

(06:36):
our friends.
Israel is a and I'm sure to
treat pasta. Not a lot of
building. And you should choose
your return. On our investment
in assist in Israel. Is and
>> Senator McConnell says his

(06:58):
remarks about Medicaid are
being misunderstood. Punchbowl
News reported that Republican
lawmakers met and discussed the
proposed Trump administration
tax and budget bill, a bill
that Democrats say will cut
Medicaid by about 700 billion
dollars. Punchbowl news says
during that meeting, McConnell
said Medicaid recipients will

(07:20):
quote, get over it. Senator
McConnell's office is
responding. A spokesperson
says, quote, Senator McConnell
was speaking about the people
who are abusing Medicaid, the
able-bodied Americans who
should be working and the need
to withstand Democrats scare
tactics when it comes to
Medicaid. Senator McConnell was
urging his fellow members to
highlight that message to our

(07:40):
constituents and remind them
that we should all be against
waste, fraud and abuse while
working to protect our rule.
Hospitals and have safety nets
in place for the people who
need it and quote.
♪
♪

(08:01):
>> It's time now for our
midweek. Check in with NPR's
Rylan Martin Rylan. Let's start
with what's dominated the news
cycle and that the Trump
administration's decision to
launch an attack on 3 Iranian
nuclear facilities over the
weekend. Now, Kentucky's
federal delegation has been
split on this response on
Saturday's military operation.

(08:21):
We have Congressman Andy Barr
in that Senator Mitch McConnell
that support the move. But
while fellow Republicans,
Congressman Thomas Massie and
Senator Rand Paul have
criticized the decision, what
do you make of deaths lit as
support?
>> In a split along party lines
because Democratic Congressman
Morgan ago, we also oppose a
bill yet within the Republican

(08:44):
Party as well. Just something
we've seen quite a bit with in
Kentucky's federal delegations,
specially Thomas Massie and
Rand Paul kind of veering off
from the from often the the
Trump train, at least on some
particular policies. I think
that this, you know, this falls
in line. That's something that
messy and Paul have pushed for
a bit in recent years, which

(09:05):
is that Congress originally in
the Constitution is supposed
to be the government body
that's in charge of going to
war. This is something that's
really evolved over the years
says anybody can tell that's
really it has come the recent
decades. The president's
deciding when to go to war.
That is a little bit of a
complicated decision that a
lot of it is political,

(09:27):
especially when there's a
Republican Congress in power, a
Congress. That's the same party
as the as the president and not
wanting to step on the
president's toes when making a
quick decision like that.
So Messi and Senator poll come
out saying that in the least
Senator questioning whether or
not the president should do it.
But Massey saying that not only

(09:49):
does the oppose the United
States getting involved in in
foreign wars like this, but
that the president stepping out
of his powers here, as you
mentioned before, the rest of
Kentucky's Republican
delegation and falling in line
president praising the
president for his to you to
go after Iran and also saying
that this is important in order
to help to defend Israel is

(10:09):
that's really what set all this
off, which was once the UN said
that Iran's nuclear
program was the head of its
too far beyond the nuclear
nonproliferation agreement.
Israel then bombed Iran.
And there's a lot of questions
of whether or not the U.S. we
get involved and then surprise.

(10:30):
We saw last weekend when
President Trump decided to drop
those so-called bunker buster
bombs. And we're still waiting
to see if you know, if the U.S.
is going to get involved, the
more if this the cease-fire
that's gone into place lately
is going to hold and what the
US's involvement going to be in
here. But then also looking at
other a uniform wars around the

(10:51):
world like the war between
Russia and Ukraine. There's
been a lot of questions to what
extent the United States is
going to continue to be
involved with that or whether
or not they would ever get more
involved to try to deter Russia
from its invasion of Ukraine.
>> Congressman Massie may not
come out completely unscathed
in his criticism of the Trump

(11:13):
administration's decision.
And as we were just talking
about the press and didn't hold
back in his response to
Congressman Massa's criticism,
not only did he called for
someone to challenge Massey in
the next year's primary.
He also said he would be in
Kentucky to help campaign
against Massey's. That sounds
pretty serious. Now we
understand the president isn't

(11:34):
taking it is the you know, if
he's going to be taking this a
step farther.
>> Yes, it was launched.
This political Packard is his
allies have launched a
political pact to of to
challenge masse, to really to
attack mess in the upcoming
next year 2026, a congressional
campaign. This is something and

(11:55):
really it could be pretty
expensive. There's been some a
lot of numbers around could be
as high as 45 million dollars,
which is a lot for a year.
This would this. This pact
would be supporting or on
behalf of a candidate,
Republican candidate to
challenge Massey saying, you
know, they're really saying
that he's gone too far astray
of. But Republicans are
standing for at this point,

(12:15):
which is really what what
President Trump is standing for
at this point and so that they
want to defeat Republican to
get involved here. It's really
unclear who that candidate
would be. There's been some
names floating around for a
while. A state representative
Jim Mosier. That is that is
one. But she isn't hasn't
really been totally Trump
aligned but has made inroads

(12:36):
there. But, you know, we saw
last year the kind of Trump
aligned candidate Eric Peters,
nobody's really been able to
mount a challenge in recent
years on really since the
beginning to Massey in this
district. And and he seems
pretty confident at this point.
He says that he got
the Trump antibody back in 2020

(12:57):
when he challenged Trump over
his coronavirus relief package.
Back then people forget that
and actually forced everybody
to come back to Washington to
vote in person to do to pass
that over his objections.
But Messi survived a lot of
Trump's criticisms of the years
because he's challenge the
president several times
initially not supporting in the
spring. Ron DeSantis and the

(13:21):
2024 presidential and and then
also earlier this year to you
challenging the president's big
beautiful and also challenging
Republican Speaker Mike
Johnson's election. So there's
a lot of the Republican
leadership is having a little
bit of heartburn on whether or
not to defend Massey is usually
they really want to defend the
incumbents in their own party
just to maintain the political

(13:43):
unity. But I saw that Speaker
Johnson was asked whether or
not he would come out and
support mask. And he said that
was the hardest question.
He'd been asked that day.
>> Well, Congressman Massie
isn't the only incumbent in
Kentucky who could be up for
a fight next year. So this week
we learned a well-known lawyer
in eastern Kentucky is also
ready to jump into the
Democratic primary in

(14:03):
Kentucky's 5th congressional
district in hopes of taking
on the dean of the House.
Congressman, how Rodgers who?
And he's gonna be seeking his
24th term in office. What can
you tell us about that?
>> Yes, and that Pillar store,
he's a he's an Attorney Basin
and Prestonsburg in Floyd
County and he's done a lot of

(14:24):
work over the decades for
eastern Kentucky. You that the
most famously in recent years
representing of the folks who
lost or are worried about
losing disability benefits that
they've gotten through a
particular air con. There's
thousands of people who are
just caught in limbo after the
that after their conduct in
trouble over this and Mr.

(14:46):
Tillis turf came to the
defense. He said this release
out. Actually was interesting
praising how Rodgers for
defending
things like in the past, but
said that his that the
Congressman Roger support for
President Trump's so-called
big beautiful bill, which would
in many ways cut Medicaid and
force people to prove that
they're working in order to

(15:08):
receive benefits, said that
that's a huge step back for
the district.
>> But we will just have to
wait and see how the political
theater plays out. Right?
Lynn Barton, thank you so much
for your time and expertise.
>> Thanks, Christine.
♪
♪

(15:33):
>> The Louisville Metro Council
will vote tomorrow on a billion
dollar budget plan for fiscal
year 2026. Mayor Craig
Greenberg says Louisville is
already making progress,
improving safety for its
citizens. And he wants to
continue that.
>> We already know that
homicides and shootings are
down over 30% this year alone.
We have to KET that positive

(15:55):
momentum going to show even
more progress to make
Louisville even safer. And
that's what this budget does.
It supports our public safety
professionals by investing in a
larger team at LMPD at the fire
Department and EMS and they're
recruiting classes and invest
in new and updated equipment.
Mike license plate readers and

(16:17):
cameras to help deter criminals
and solve crimes. When they do
happen.
It invests in Louisville's
first new fire station in over
15 years. And it continues to
invest internationally
recognized some and wellness
center and a first-class
headquarters for LMPD right
here in downtown Louisville.
As recommended by the

(16:39):
Department of Justice. It also
in the amended budget proposed
a budget committee yesterday
Metro Council. It also provides
funding to acquire land have a
first responder training
facility in southwest
Louisville, a place where all
first responding agencies can
learn and can improve Villians
who made us all proud.
>> During his news conference

(17:01):
yesterday, Mayor Greenberg also
acknowledged to recent
Louisville Sports
championships. So the
Assumption High School rockets
won the state softball title
and the Trinity Shamrocks won
the state baseball title.
In northern Kentucky. Soon
there will be 2 major bridge is
under construction. The 4th

(17:21):
Street bridge connecting
Newport and Covington will
shutdown in January to be
demolished in the spring.
It's considered functionally
obsolete because the shoulders
are only a foot wide. The
future version will have 2
lanes in each direction and
12 foot pedestrian paths on
both sides. It's expected to
open in the fall of 2028.
And that work will start after

(17:43):
the beginning of the Brent
Spence Bridge construction this
summer. Looking now at sports
news earlier this month, a
settlement involving the NCAA
set new standards for college
athletics. The University of
Kentucky has since developed a
plan to share 20 million
dollars of revenue with its

(18:03):
student athletes. But how does
the changing landscape affects
smaller schools in the state?
Our Emily Sisk caught up with
2 university athletic directors
to learn how they're keeping
up.
>> Revenue sharing it's a
relatively new term in college
sports. But what does it mean
for institutions like UK?

(18:24):
It means they can share
millions of dollars of revenue
directly with student athletes.
But that's not the case at
universities like Eastern
Kentuckyian northern Kentucky.
I think if we often hear the
words revenue share, but I
think revenue sure really is
for those par 4 institutions
that have revenue to disperse

(18:44):
and to share.
>> That's not in our case since
not add them into
major level.
>> In KU and TJ, you
participate in division one
Athletics but are not in a
power for conference. Meaning
they don't have to sing
resources or media exposure as
schools like UK, 4 U of L.
>> It's a little bit different.
I think at our level in terms

(19:05):
of the revenue share, it just
allows us maybe to do some
things that we were able to
do for our student athletes.
But certainly not at the level
has the power force.
>> One of the things Eastern
Kentucky can do involves
scholarships. They now have the
ability to divvy up scholarship
amounts to different players

(19:25):
rather than all players
receiving the same amount of
scholarship money.
>> It just gives us a chance
to maybe get a picture, maybe
get a.
>> The softball pitcher in
baseball pitcher or position
player that can help us.
We can't get a whole team that
we may be able to get a player
or 2 that that separates us
from our competition will

(19:48):
continue to try to be
successful in football. And I
think basketball softballs and
baseball are kind of where
we're looking at to to improve.
And this will help us to
compete again. It will help
everybody else. But those are
the kind of the sports that
we're looking at to try to make
a an impact because I think
from market value, people like
those sports, 30 under arrest
in those sports and there's
value in those sports.
>> Northern Kentucky is the

(20:09):
only public university in the
state to not have a football
team. Rubel said that makes in
K use budget smaller and more
adaptable. And 2 new plans to
start paying student athletes
for the use of their name image
and likeness or nil. But
they're focused on one sports
currently in particular.

(20:31):
>> We know that we need to
remain competitive for us at
nku or basketball programs are
the ones with the most media
exposure.
Most visibility. And so that's
our our direction. Is it
starting with those programs in
particular? And I L is really
about their exposure. It's
really about. More than just
their sport. It's it's not

(20:51):
about their sport specifically.
It's that the exposure that
they have.
>> That their name image and
likeness carries for us.
And so this is a way for us
to compensate them to be able
to use that.
>> Because each university
comes with its own
opportunities for scholarships
aimed in aisle deals. Many
student athletes enter in and
out of the transfer portal.

(21:13):
The directors said this can be
a problem when it comes to
consistency and fan support to
the thing that I I struggle
with more than anything is.
>> Is just the inconsistency
of rosters.
>> Some fans may or may not
worry so much about him and
others feel like they've gotten
really attached to a current
player and then they transfer
to another institution. I think
for most.

(21:34):
>> From the from a fan
perspective. That's a little
bit difficult, right? That's
frustrating. You want to buy
it. A challenge for mid major
universities is determining if
they want to be successful in
a specific sports program or
KET all their teams afloat.
>> What's the level?
>> Of success that you want to
invest in. And I think that's
the question that everybody's

(21:55):
trying to face.
>> While the college sports
landscape is changing quickly,
the athletic directors said
it's no longer a question of
if they should pay student
athletes. But how much.
>> We're still trying to
acquire the best talent that we
can. That's no different.
It just involves a little bit
more money. We need to embrace
it. We can argue how much

(22:16):
they're going to get paid.
That may be a better argument,
but they're going to get paid
for Kentucky edition. I'm Emily
Sisk.
♪
♪
>> There's something new to see
and hear the financial center

(22:37):
garage in downtown Lexington.
The I was here project lets
girls right near to pieces
about their ancestry and then
sastry. That's often
misunderstood more in our arts
and culture
segment. We call tapestry.

(22:58):
>> Important just for the girls
to learn more about their
ancestry.
And just being an
African-American descendants of
African American.
What what we found out, he
said, well, many of the girls
didn't really understand or
know about the black used to
here locally in the city of
Lexington. As well as the

(23:19):
country. So this project
really. I wrote for the
education that the girls needed
to really understand. You know,
the importance of Pence's.
Where we come from. We know
we're we're doing in the
current environment and how
they can take that. And make a

(23:39):
better future.
>> Installation,
impromptu street and the names
of the girls figuring witness
to this process has been found.
It sounds game is designed to
bring community when
>> And I hope my ancestors, his
team does not begin on them

(24:01):
whereas insane people they were
in kyiv's KET clean in science.
I think I can take.
They educated. Some of the
world's greatest meetings.
African ancestry in body he
hopes can and intimidation that
when didn't last a niche and
inland. A slain chains, it was
an issue it on the team signed

(24:22):
auction block.
>> A lot of people don't
understand how it feels to have
a really dark pass with your
ancestors and have like almost
your entire country. Believe
it. One way. But then you're
taught another way. So I feel
like this connection with your
ancestors. It's not only
personal box like the entire
nation can see as well and feel

(24:43):
it with you.
>> It just means you know what
I'm doing those before he the
the responsibility to help you
find in March as an
inconvenience him and I don't
want to be seen. Engine gives
freeze. I don't want to move
down upon and in with the
miners. You from the bottom up.

(25:04):
I'm your magazine in June.
>> And you just saw all the
people can tell this story to
make it out alive. I'm here to
bring attention to how those
toys all laid on the bed by
blind eyes only still hates
it. Live in studio time selfish
times. The same people who want
everybody's going to be watched
lives.
>> I hope they see. I'm not
expecting in the necessarily
understand on the first try not

(25:24):
like that's the point for them
to think about it. But I feel
like I want them to see it and
think that there's a vision
there. And that's it's
something that shouldn't be
ignored. I hope they see.
>> I see a vision but also hope
they piece together what they
want to wait to the table here.
We don't. First of all, learn

(25:47):
about our history.
We don't understand what's
going on in the in the climate,
then he's going to be very
difficult for the next
generations and generations
after them to make this world.
Or should I say you like this
world in a way it we don't see
today. Instead of all of the
divisiveness.

(26:08):
>> We're building a nation
here. Not just black people are
not just white people, but
everybody is building a nation
here. And everyone deserves
those that paved the way.
For my my hand.
>> You can see and hear the
installation and the walkway
between the financial center
parking garage in downtown's

(26:29):
5th 3005th Bank.
>> Well, have you seen the
piano is popping up around
Louisville?
♪
♪
>> The downtown tunes program
is beautifying downtown and
not just through what you can
see, but also what you can

(26:50):
hear. We'll take on the ivories
tomorrow on Kentucky. Addition
for and we hope you will join
us again tomorrow night at
6.30, Eastern 5.30, central
for Kentucky edition where we
inform connect and inspire
subscribe to our Kentucky
Edition, e-mail newsletters
and watch full episodes and

(27:10):
clips at KET Dot Org. You can
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So this a story idea. Public
affairs at KET Dot Org. And of
course, you can always follow
us on social media. Thank you
so much for joining us. Have a
good evening.
♪