October 14, 2025 • 26 mins
Lifelong Kentucky farmer expresses his concern amid the United States’ trade dispute with China, Kentuckians working on the front lines of drug treatment, harm reduction, and prevention convene in Louisville, and some Kentucky high school students are getting a course on how to cover the cost of college.
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(00:09):
>> We are all in the same boat
throughout the whole country.
Everybody is feeling the
effects of this.
>> A lifelong farmer in western
Kentucky on his concerns amid
the trade dispute with China.
>> You're here for all
different reasons, all of them
for good, all of them to try to
save lives.
(00:29):
>> Kentuckians working on the
front lines of drug treatment,
harm reduction and prevention
convene in Louisville.
>> It can be intimidating, and
asking for help is intimidating,
and we need to take every
obstacle away.
>> And we take you to a
Kentucky classroom where high
school students are getting a
course on how to cover the cost
(00:50):
of college.
>> Production of Kentucky
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium Fund.
>> Good evening and welcome to
(01:10):
Kentucky Edition for this
Monday, October the 13th. A
brand new week. I'm Renee Shaw,
and we thank you for being with
us this evening. President
Donald Trump is urging world
leaders to put old feuds to
rest, calling the Gaza
ceasefire deal the first steps
to peace. The president is in
Egypt for a global summit on
Gaza's future, marking a
(01:31):
fragile moment of hope for
Middle East peace. This follows
President Trump's visit to
Israel, where he celebrated a
U.S. ceasefire with Hamas. 20
Israeli hostages and nearly
2000 Palestinian prisoners were
released today as part of the
deal. On social media, U.S.
Senator Mitch McConnell of
(01:51):
Kentucky said, quote, today
millions of Americans join in
celebrating the homecoming of
surviving hostages and holding
the victims of Hamas's savagery
and grieving families in our
prayers. Israel's resolve with
the president of the United
States support have delivered
from tragedy a great measure of
(02:11):
justice, unquote. U.S. stocks
are recovering after sell offs
on Friday, following President
Trump's new threat of 100%
tariffs on all Chinese imports.
That's concerning for Kentucky
farmers, who are hoping for a
new trade deal with the world's
second largest economy. China
is boycotting American soybeans
(02:33):
in retaliation for tariffs. Our
Laura Rogers takes us to
western Kentucky for a farm
focused segment we call rooted.
>> My number one concern with
the tariffs right now is we
have lost our biggest importer
of our soybeans, which is China.
(02:53):
>> David Winkle is a corn and
soybean farmer and Hancock
County's Hallsville community.
>> China buys more than the
rest of the countries in the
world combined.
>> But they're not buying any
soybeans right now from the
United States. And that's one
reason for falling prices.
>> In the past three years, our
market has probably been cut $3
a bushel anyway. It's very
(03:14):
risky right now.
>> Winkle says the soybean is
such a valuable commodity
because it has so many uses for
cooking, animal feed and
manufacturing, to name a few.
>> We need help. And the
biggest help that you could
give us would be to try to get
our foreign market back.
>> As a member of the U.S.
(03:35):
Soybean Export Council, he's
traveled as far as Egypt to
advocate for U.S. grown soy.
And he says something needs to
be done to offset rising
production costs.
>> The American farmer can't
continue the way it is now,
with the lower commodity prices
and the extreme high input
prices.
>> No matter how big of a yield
we grow on soybeans, I'm not
(03:57):
sure that there's any way we
can be profitable in the
soybean market or corn market
today.
>> Jesse Hubler is an Indiana
farmer and division agronomist
for Superior AG Resources.
>> We try to help them make
better decisions and then how
to grow the biggest possible
crop on the inputs that we're
putting out there today.
>> He says the biggest concern
he's hearing from farmers right
(04:18):
now is cash flow and the
increasing cost of leasing
farmland.
>> Cash rents are still high.
That's been a real issue for a
lot of them. You know, the
value of land is high.
>> He says. Tariffs have also
made fertilizer more expensive,
adding to higher input costs.
>> I'm seeing a lot of friends,
neighbors that are struggling
(04:38):
financially that may not make
it through the next couple of
years. If we don't have some
sort of a turnaround in this
market.
>> You would like the U.S. to
explore more domestic uses for
soybeans and corn through
biodiesel and ethanol.
>> That would help use more of
the product that we grow in
this country.
>> Who's going to do this down
the road? 20 years.
>> That's a big concern for
(04:59):
Winchell in his late 50s. He's
the average age of a Kentucky
farmer.
>> There is nothing out here
that incentivizes young people
to come back to the farm,
because, you know, with what's
going on here, with the tariffs,
the low commodity prices.
>> And he's hoping both parties
in Washington will work
(05:19):
together to help find solutions
for Kentucky Edition. I'm Laura
Rogers.
>> Thank you so much, Laura. As
for any possible aid package
from the federal government,
David Winchell says it would
offer relief but only be a band
aid and not a long term
solution. As tariffs continue
to impact Kentucky and the
(05:41):
federal government is on the
verge of entering its third
week. We'll look at national
and international events and
their impact on the Kentucky
economy. Join us for that
discussion on Kentucky Tonight.
This evening at eight eastern,
seven central right here on KET.
A data center could be coming
to Meade County. The Courier
Journal says a landowner is in
(06:02):
the process of selling more
than 130 acres of farmland. The
owner told the paper the buyers
plans involve artificial
intelligence. There are also
rezoning documents that suggest
a new IT infrastructure
facility would operate 24 hours
a day and employ up to 100
people. The news comes after
(06:22):
neighboring Oldham County voted
to scrap a data center plan
because of community pushback.
Some seniors across the state
are missing meals because of a
lack in funding. Now, state
lawmakers are calling on
Governor Andy Beshear to fix
the problem. Federal dollars to
expand the senior meals program
expired earlier this year. Some
(06:44):
area development district
leaders who administer the
program say the state didn't
advocate for adequate funding
from the General Assembly. Some
lawmakers agree. Speaking
during committee during a
committee hearing in Frankfort
last week, State Senator Greg
Elkins said he was frustrated
that the Beshear administration
has allowed this issue to drag
(07:04):
on for more than a month.
>> I'm going to implore the
governor and you and Doctor
Stike to find a solution to
this immediately. I'm talking
today. This this is a 24 hour a
day problem, and it's going to
require 24 hour a day work
(07:24):
until there's an answer. Either
find a solution or call us into
special session I. This is not
a Partizan issue. I don't care
if we're Democrat, Republicans
or independents. I think we
would all forgo our
compensation to come here and
fix this. It has to be fixed.
>> Chopping block across the
Commonwealth.
>> Asked about the need for
(07:45):
additional money for the Senior
Mills program last month,
here's how Governor Beshear
responded.
>> At least until the General
Assembly comes into session,
we're all going to have to
tighten our belts. We need to
take a really hard look at cost
per meals, at costs of delivery,
on whether we can do more of a
carryout model. Are the meals
(08:06):
just going to the senior
citizens? Do we also offer them
to to certain families at a
time when we've got a budget
deficit of $300 million, we're
going to have to address in
this budget, we're going to
have significantly less usable
dollars for a number of reasons.
In the next budget, we're going
to have to be really cost
conscious, and that's going to
(08:27):
hit a lot of great programs.
>> The 2026 Kentucky General
Assembly convenes in Frankfort
January the 6th. We now have a
date for a special election in
the Kentucky General Assembly.
Secretary of State Michael
Adams says his office has
received notice from Governor
Andy Beshear. The election for
Senate District 37 will be held
(08:48):
on December the 16th.
Louisville Democrat David Yates
resigned from the seat last
week after being named interim
Jefferson County clerk. He
takes over as clerk following
the death of Bobbie Holsclaw.
Meanwhile, another state
lawmaker is retiring. State
Representative Ken Upchurch
says he won't seek reelection.
(09:09):
His current term runs through
the end of 2026. The Republican
from Monticello represents the
52nd district of Kentucky,
which covers McCreary and Wayne
counties and part of Pulaski
County. Representative Upchurch
served in the House from 1999
through 2010 and returned in
2013. In a statement, he said,
quote, leaving is never easy,
(09:31):
but part of public service is
recognizing when the time has
come to step aside and allow
new voices to lead. End quote.
Kentucky's annual opioid
symposium kicked off today. It
brings together community
organizers, medical
professionals and law
enforcement from across the
state. It's sponsored by the
State Opioid Abatement Advisory
(09:52):
Commission, which awards
settlement money from cases
against prescription drug
makers and pharmacies. Kentucky
Attorney General Russell
Coleman spoke at today's
opening event.
>> You can't say it's
Louisville's problem or it's
Lexington's problem. It's a
city problem. You can't say
that's happening in the
mountains or way down in the
purchase. You can't even say
(10:13):
it's that family, right? If
they had done something
different, if that family, or
maybe it's that part of town
because it's not because it's
us. And so I stand here
grateful that this room is
filled with people who deeply
care about trying to mitigate
this harm. I mean, some of you
(10:33):
are here to show off some of
the creative ways that you're
mitigating in your communities.
Some of y'all are here to to
garner ideas what will work
well in your county that might
be working well in the other
end of the state? Some of you
are here just to to interact
and meet some of those leaders
in this space. You're here for
all different reasons, all of
(10:54):
them for good. All of them to
try to save lives.
>> Earlier this year, Coleman's
office announced a social media
campaign called Better Without
It. The program has enlisted
college athletes to tell their
stories of determination and
the benefits of a life free
from addiction. Leaders of the
Florida based program also
(11:15):
conducted youth focus groups in
Kentucky, with help from the
Kentucky Youth Advocates.
>> Our number one goal is to
engage Kentucky youth directly
and digitally on the platforms
that are most familiar to them.
We want to demonstrate positive
choices via influencer
storytelling, and we want to
build relationships with
(11:35):
programs that reinforce these
positive prevention principles.
>> We we conducted a survey for
mind, body, relationships,
future, and the fifth survey
was about substances. What we
found through that is our key
takeaway. Number one was
stresses the universal
challenge and trust is the
universal barrier.
(11:55):
>> Yeah. The top stressors for
Kentucky youth according to
both the surveys and focus
groups, which very much
overlapped family relationships,
mostly parents financial
situations at home of which
they are very, very conscious.
School academics, of course,
and decisions about the future.
>> This year, the Opioid
Abatement Commission awarded
(12:17):
nearly $20 million to 75
organizations. Since the
commission was created in 2021.
It has doled out $85 million to
local programs. Today is
Columbus Day, but in a number
of states and cities around the
country, the second Monday in
October is also recognized as
Indigenous Peoples Day. It's a
(12:38):
celebration recognizing the
resilience and contributions of
Native Americans. The Kentucky
General Assembly passed
resolutions in 2021,
recognizing today Kentucky was
the fourth state to do so.
Angela Arnett Garner is one of
the people most responsible for
pushing the General Assembly to
take action. This morning we
(12:58):
talked to her about the
significance of today.
>> For the state of Kentucky.
We have a lot to be proud of.
We've signed, adopted 36 city,
county and state wide
proclamations, which is more
than any other state since the
movement began in the United
States in 1992. Regrettably,
(13:21):
it's a persistent myth that
Kentucky was a mere hunting
ground, and that's just not the
case. There's a lot of evidence
presented by scientists,
archeologists, someone that
proves that Native Americans
lived here for at least 12,000
(13:41):
years, that we know of, and
they lived and thrived. They
had trade. They provided trade
routes near and far. They. They
achieved amazing architectural
and engineering feats. They
(14:03):
raised families. They had
impressive agricultural
practices. They raised a lot of
crops that were unknown to
Europeans at the time before
contact, such as corn and beans
and squash and and even
tomatoes were a North American
(14:24):
crop. And Cherokee, Shawnees,
Chickasaw. Choctaw, sage, and
many, many other tribes lived
here over the years. I think it
will eventually become a
federal holiday because it's a
growing American tradition.
Every year it appeals to a
broad spectrum of people from
(14:45):
all walks of life. You know,
people, you know, historians,
genealogists, cultural
enthusiasts who attend powwows
and festivals who want to
educate their families about
Native American history and
culture.
(15:09):
>> When it comes to paying for
college, parents are usually
shouldering the burden of doing
the research and learning the
process. But students can be
involved in the process, too.
At the Jay Brown School in
Jefferson County, a class
called Senior Seminar is
helping high schoolers learn
how to take the wheel when it
comes to navigating their path
after high school. Our Christie
(15:30):
Dutton paid them a visit to
learn more.
>> If you have applied and have
a transcript.
>> Transcripts, scholarships,
SATs and GPAs for many high
school seniors, the road to
college can be a complicated
one. But at Jay Graham Brown
School, there's a class that
turns the chaos into clarity.
>> But then that last link you
(15:51):
have to link 500 to to your
Fafsa.
>> A senior seminar class
taught by Nora Wakefield that
guides students through the
college application process and
helps them find scholarships.
>> Also lock in your tuition
rate at a lower level.
>> To bring down the cost of
higher learning.
>> They will pick their school
(16:12):
and hopefully have it paid for.
>> The process starts in their
junior year, optimizing Act and
SAT scores and exploring
colleges in junior seminar.
>> We'll do quite a few college
visits and we bring in college
reps, because I really think
that if you start looking
senior year, it's too late.
>> And once senior year begins,
Nora Wakefield's class
(16:32):
concentrates on applying to
colleges.
>> She's always on college
applications. Always. It's our
main focus. As soon as we come
in and sit down.
>> Honestly, the process to
application, I thought it was a
lot easier than it was, but
like, it's a lot more. And but
it's like, I think the class,
if I wasn't in that class, I
think I'd be struggling very
hard.
>> And the demands of applying
(16:54):
for college can be stressful.
>> There's a lot more than just
applying. It's being personable
in your essay. It's ensuring
that you get the proper amount
of scholarships and just
ensuring that you keep your
life balanced while you're
going through the college
process.
>> The Senior Seminar class
serves as a guide to make this
process as smooth as possible.
>> Of all 502. You go to their
link and you fill out the
(17:16):
application. It's very quick.
Then we help them apply, but we
help them meet those deadlines
for things like Fafsa, early
applications versus early
decision.
>> If you are eligible and you
complete these three steps, you
will get the scholarship. It's
a guarantee.
>> It can be intimidating, and
asking for help is intimidating,
and we need to take every
(17:37):
obstacle away.
>> But there's one more big
obstacle left paying for
college. Senior seminar helps
students with that too, with
lots and lots of.
>> Scholarships.
>> Scholarship programs, grants.
>> A ton of scholarships.
>> We help kids with their
questbridge applications. We
help them with their Jack Kent
Cooke applications, coach
scholars, doctor Pepper.
(17:58):
Nowhere else are students going
to have somebody that's hand
feeding them. These lists of
scholarships to apply for.
>> Nora is always on it.
>> She always has a scholarship
for us to apply to.
>> Every little bit of
scholarship money you get helps.
>> And a little bit can add up
to a lot.
>> We have a whole row of
million dollar scholars.
(18:18):
Students apply for scholarships
and they apply to different
institutions. And that total
amount is $1 million. But
that's not $1 million to one
institution.
>> More than scholarships or
even college. Nora Wakefield
wants her students to author
their own destinies and live
lives that are authentically
and joyfully their own.
>> My success is my students
(18:41):
success, and I cannot express
to you how much I love them.
And having known some of them,
you know, for 13 years, almost
all their life, it is so
important to me that they are
number one happy with when they
leave. I want them to be happy
individuals and successful
individuals, however they
define that.
(19:01):
>> For KET I'm Christy Dutton.
>> Thank you Christy. You can
learn more about all the
resources available to help pay
for college and our panel
discussion. Paying for College
2026 Education Matters. That
airs tonight at nine eight
central right here on KET. An
(19:23):
alert for older Americans open
enrollment season for Medicare,
the health insurance program
for people age 65 and older,
starts Wednesday. Eligible
seniors have until December 7th
to shop around and make changes
to their Medicare, health and
part D prescription drug plans.
It's also the time of year when
crooks get creative, posing as
Medicare insurance providers,
(19:44):
trying to trap folks with fake
promises of free gifts and
limited time offers. And if you
fall for it, it could suck more
than money from your wallet. It
could compromise your identity.
Recently, I spoke with a
spokesperson from the Better
Business Bureau to learn what
to look out for. Let's talk
about Medicare enrollment and
some of the scams associated
(20:04):
with that. Tell us about this.
And it's a complicated process
anyway, so it's probably easy
to get confused over what's
legitimate and what's not.
>> It is. And for many years
the B-b-b has heard from
seniors reporting any number of
scams involving Medicare. Back
to we're issuing new Medicare
cards. So we need you to give
us your Medicare number so that
we can send that to you or to
(20:26):
you, or going to get a free
insert piece of equipment here,
a knee brace, a back brace, a
wireless blood sugar reader,
those types of things. And all
we need is your Medicare number.
And they're going to try and
bill Medicare for that. And of
course you can't. You're not
going to get that information.
You're not going to get that
kind of thing paid for unless
(20:47):
your doctor has prescribed it.
Right. And anyone calling on
the phone saying, I'm with
Medicare and we want to update
your information and you have
not reached out to them. That's
the red flag, right?
>> They don't initiate a call.
You have to initiate.
>> Exactly. And they warn about
that all over their website at
medicare.gov. I mean, they are
there for people to reach out
to. We have heard people
(21:07):
complain of receiving numerous
calls claiming, I'm with
Medicare, I'm with Medicare.
And then you've got the
supplemental plans. Open
enrollment is going on, and
there are numerous ones out
there, and there are rules and
laws. Some of these companies
are not allowed to reach out to
you unsolicited to try and sell
you their product. It is up to
you to choose and it can be
(21:28):
daunting. But if you call, if
you go to the Medicare.gov
website, that can be an
excellent way to start.
>> Yeah. What do those
typically look like? I mean, is
it about prescriptions or what
is it? They're really pushing.
>> Any number of things. A lot
of times they're just trying to
get your Medicare number so
that if they're with a company
that's trying to sell durable
equipment, for instance, and
then they end up getting paid,
they may not end up getting
(21:49):
paid, but they also just may
want to end up with your
personal information, which can
lead to ID theft, which is
another quickly growing crime.
Every year it goes on, and that
can be tied in with any number
of scams. A long time ago, your
Medicare number used to be your
Social Security number.
>> Wow. So that would be really
dangerous.
>> Hated that because they
(22:10):
would carry that card around
with them in their wallet. Well,
and that's the key to stealing
your identity. That your date
of birth. So they've changed
that, which is an excellent
step forward. But if something
just doesn't sound quite right,
I don't care what they're
saying to you, whether they're
plying you with, we're going to
send you all this wonderful
stuff for free to frightening
you into someone has stolen
(22:31):
your Medicare account. You
better give us your information.
None of it's true. And if
you're not sure, do contact
Medicare yourself.
>> Yeah, or the B-b-b.
>> Yes, we would love people to
report any of these scams to
the B-b-b. Scam tracker site.
You can find that on our site
at b-b-b. Dot. There's a place
to click. It asks for your
information, your age group and
(22:51):
so forth. Because we do
categorize that for our B-b-b
Scam Tracker report annually.
And the type of scam, whether
you fell for it or not, we're
not going to publish your
personal information, but it
can help warn others to not
fall for these scams. So we
invite people to go to that
website.
>> So as you compare your
Medicare coverage options,
remember, don't give personal
(23:12):
information to someone who
contacts you unexpectedly and
claims to be from Medicare.
Don't be fooled by your caller
ID. Callers can spoof or fake a
government number that looks
official, and also avoid
clicking on suspicious links.
And also, don't let scammers
talk you into choosing a
specific plan. Medicare
legitimately does not endorse a
(23:35):
specific plan. Get more out of
your visits to Kentucky's 44
state parks with a new mobile
app. The app from the Kentucky
Department of Parks gives you
access to accurate digital maps.
It will guide you to more than
1000 outdoor points of interest.
It also provides up to date
(23:56):
information on recreational
activities. And the best part?
It's all free. Tonight, we look
back at the death of a Kentucky
governor to musical milestones
with Kentucky connections and
the debut of professional
basketball in Kentucky. Our
Toby Gibbs has more. And this
week in Kentucky history.
(24:19):
>> Governor George Madison,
Kentucky's sixth governor, died
in office October 14th 1816, 40
days after becoming governor.
He was the first Kentucky
governor to die in office.
Gabriel Slaughter succeeded him
as governor the same day.
Richard Johnson was born
October 17th, 1780, near
(24:40):
Louisville. He would serve in
the Kentucky General Assembly
and Congress, and eventually
become Vice President of the
United States under President
Martin Van Buren. And happy
birthday to Mary Barr Clay,
born in Lexington, October 13th,
1839, the daughter of famed
abolitionist Cassius Clay.
(25:00):
She's believed to be the first
Kentucky woman to publicly
advocate for women's suffrage.
Legend has it Jesse James was
eating dinner at a roadhouse in
Bardstown on October 18th, 1881,
when a newspaper reported he
just robbed a bank in Kansas.
James carved his name and the
(25:21):
date into a windowpane to prove
he was in Kentucky, not Kansas,
when the robbery took place.
Lawrence Welk and his orchestra
became the first performers at
the new Rupp Arena on October
17th, 1976, with former UK
basketball coach Adolph Rupp
looking on. The crowd was so
big, Rupp Arena ran out of
(25:42):
popcorn. Kentucky native
Loretta Lynn made her first
appearance on the Grand Ole
Opry on October 15th, 1960. The
Kentucky Colonels of the
American Basketball Association
played their first game on
October 14th, 1967, losing to
(26:02):
the Indiana Pacers. And that's
what was going on this week in
Kentucky history. I'm Toby
Gibbs.
>> Thank you, Toby Gibbs, and
that'll do it for us tonight.
We hope to see you at 8:00 for
Kentucky tonight. When we talk
about tariffs and the federal
government shut down and come
back again and join us tomorrow
night at 630 eastern, 530
central for Kentucky Edition,
(26:22):
where we inform, connect and
inspire. Thanks for joining us.
I'm Renee Shaw, and I'll see
you in a bit. Take good care.
>> We are all in the same boat
throughout the whole country.
Everybody is feeling the
effects of this.
>> A lifelong farmer in western
Kentucky on his concerns amid
the trade dispute with China.
>> You're here for all
different reasons, all of them
for good, all of them to try to
save lives.
(00:29):
>> Kentuckians working on the
front lines of drug treatment,
harm reduction and prevention
convene in Louisville.
>> It can be intimidating, and
asking for help is intimidating,
and we need to take every
obstacle away.
>> And we take you to a
Kentucky classroom where high
school students are getting a
course on how to cover the cost
(00:50):
of college.
>> Production of Kentucky
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium Fund.
>> Good evening and welcome to
(01:10):
Kentucky Edition for this
Monday, October the 13th. A
brand new week. I'm Renee Shaw,
and we thank you for being with
us this evening. President
Donald Trump is urging world
leaders to put old feuds to
rest, calling the Gaza
ceasefire deal the first steps
to peace. The president is in
Egypt for a global summit on
Gaza's future, marking a
(01:31):
fragile moment of hope for
Middle East peace. This follows
President Trump's visit to
Israel, where he celebrated a
U.S. ceasefire with Hamas. 20
Israeli hostages and nearly
2000 Palestinian prisoners were
released today as part of the
deal. On social media, U.S.
Senator Mitch McConnell of
(01:51):
Kentucky said, quote, today
millions of Americans join in
celebrating the homecoming of
surviving hostages and holding
the victims of Hamas's savagery
and grieving families in our
prayers. Israel's resolve with
the president of the United
States support have delivered
from tragedy a great measure of
(02:11):
justice, unquote. U.S. stocks
are recovering after sell offs
on Friday, following President
Trump's new threat of 100%
tariffs on all Chinese imports.
That's concerning for Kentucky
farmers, who are hoping for a
new trade deal with the world's
second largest economy. China
is boycotting American soybeans
(02:33):
in retaliation for tariffs. Our
Laura Rogers takes us to
western Kentucky for a farm
focused segment we call rooted.
>> My number one concern with
the tariffs right now is we
have lost our biggest importer
of our soybeans, which is China.
(02:53):
>> David Winkle is a corn and
soybean farmer and Hancock
County's Hallsville community.
>> China buys more than the
rest of the countries in the
world combined.
>> But they're not buying any
soybeans right now from the
United States. And that's one
reason for falling prices.
>> In the past three years, our
market has probably been cut $3
a bushel anyway. It's very
(03:14):
risky right now.
>> Winkle says the soybean is
such a valuable commodity
because it has so many uses for
cooking, animal feed and
manufacturing, to name a few.
>> We need help. And the
biggest help that you could
give us would be to try to get
our foreign market back.
>> As a member of the U.S.
(03:35):
Soybean Export Council, he's
traveled as far as Egypt to
advocate for U.S. grown soy.
And he says something needs to
be done to offset rising
production costs.
>> The American farmer can't
continue the way it is now,
with the lower commodity prices
and the extreme high input
prices.
>> No matter how big of a yield
we grow on soybeans, I'm not
(03:57):
sure that there's any way we
can be profitable in the
soybean market or corn market
today.
>> Jesse Hubler is an Indiana
farmer and division agronomist
for Superior AG Resources.
>> We try to help them make
better decisions and then how
to grow the biggest possible
crop on the inputs that we're
putting out there today.
>> He says the biggest concern
he's hearing from farmers right
(04:18):
now is cash flow and the
increasing cost of leasing
farmland.
>> Cash rents are still high.
That's been a real issue for a
lot of them. You know, the
value of land is high.
>> He says. Tariffs have also
made fertilizer more expensive,
adding to higher input costs.
>> I'm seeing a lot of friends,
neighbors that are struggling
(04:38):
financially that may not make
it through the next couple of
years. If we don't have some
sort of a turnaround in this
market.
>> You would like the U.S. to
explore more domestic uses for
soybeans and corn through
biodiesel and ethanol.
>> That would help use more of
the product that we grow in
this country.
>> Who's going to do this down
the road? 20 years.
>> That's a big concern for
(04:59):
Winchell in his late 50s. He's
the average age of a Kentucky
farmer.
>> There is nothing out here
that incentivizes young people
to come back to the farm,
because, you know, with what's
going on here, with the tariffs,
the low commodity prices.
>> And he's hoping both parties
in Washington will work
(05:19):
together to help find solutions
for Kentucky Edition. I'm Laura
Rogers.
>> Thank you so much, Laura. As
for any possible aid package
from the federal government,
David Winchell says it would
offer relief but only be a band
aid and not a long term
solution. As tariffs continue
to impact Kentucky and the
(05:41):
federal government is on the
verge of entering its third
week. We'll look at national
and international events and
their impact on the Kentucky
economy. Join us for that
discussion on Kentucky Tonight.
This evening at eight eastern,
seven central right here on KET.
A data center could be coming
to Meade County. The Courier
Journal says a landowner is in
(06:02):
the process of selling more
than 130 acres of farmland. The
owner told the paper the buyers
plans involve artificial
intelligence. There are also
rezoning documents that suggest
a new IT infrastructure
facility would operate 24 hours
a day and employ up to 100
people. The news comes after
(06:22):
neighboring Oldham County voted
to scrap a data center plan
because of community pushback.
Some seniors across the state
are missing meals because of a
lack in funding. Now, state
lawmakers are calling on
Governor Andy Beshear to fix
the problem. Federal dollars to
expand the senior meals program
expired earlier this year. Some
(06:44):
area development district
leaders who administer the
program say the state didn't
advocate for adequate funding
from the General Assembly. Some
lawmakers agree. Speaking
during committee during a
committee hearing in Frankfort
last week, State Senator Greg
Elkins said he was frustrated
that the Beshear administration
has allowed this issue to drag
(07:04):
on for more than a month.
>> I'm going to implore the
governor and you and Doctor
Stike to find a solution to
this immediately. I'm talking
today. This this is a 24 hour a
day problem, and it's going to
require 24 hour a day work
(07:24):
until there's an answer. Either
find a solution or call us into
special session I. This is not
a Partizan issue. I don't care
if we're Democrat, Republicans
or independents. I think we
would all forgo our
compensation to come here and
fix this. It has to be fixed.
>> Chopping block across the
Commonwealth.
>> Asked about the need for
(07:45):
additional money for the Senior
Mills program last month,
here's how Governor Beshear
responded.
>> At least until the General
Assembly comes into session,
we're all going to have to
tighten our belts. We need to
take a really hard look at cost
per meals, at costs of delivery,
on whether we can do more of a
carryout model. Are the meals
(08:06):
just going to the senior
citizens? Do we also offer them
to to certain families at a
time when we've got a budget
deficit of $300 million, we're
going to have to address in
this budget, we're going to
have significantly less usable
dollars for a number of reasons.
In the next budget, we're going
to have to be really cost
conscious, and that's going to
(08:27):
hit a lot of great programs.
>> The 2026 Kentucky General
Assembly convenes in Frankfort
January the 6th. We now have a
date for a special election in
the Kentucky General Assembly.
Secretary of State Michael
Adams says his office has
received notice from Governor
Andy Beshear. The election for
Senate District 37 will be held
(08:48):
on December the 16th.
Louisville Democrat David Yates
resigned from the seat last
week after being named interim
Jefferson County clerk. He
takes over as clerk following
the death of Bobbie Holsclaw.
Meanwhile, another state
lawmaker is retiring. State
Representative Ken Upchurch
says he won't seek reelection.
(09:09):
His current term runs through
the end of 2026. The Republican
from Monticello represents the
52nd district of Kentucky,
which covers McCreary and Wayne
counties and part of Pulaski
County. Representative Upchurch
served in the House from 1999
through 2010 and returned in
2013. In a statement, he said,
quote, leaving is never easy,
(09:31):
but part of public service is
recognizing when the time has
come to step aside and allow
new voices to lead. End quote.
Kentucky's annual opioid
symposium kicked off today. It
brings together community
organizers, medical
professionals and law
enforcement from across the
state. It's sponsored by the
State Opioid Abatement Advisory
(09:52):
Commission, which awards
settlement money from cases
against prescription drug
makers and pharmacies. Kentucky
Attorney General Russell
Coleman spoke at today's
opening event.
>> You can't say it's
Louisville's problem or it's
Lexington's problem. It's a
city problem. You can't say
that's happening in the
mountains or way down in the
purchase. You can't even say
(10:13):
it's that family, right? If
they had done something
different, if that family, or
maybe it's that part of town
because it's not because it's
us. And so I stand here
grateful that this room is
filled with people who deeply
care about trying to mitigate
this harm. I mean, some of you
(10:33):
are here to show off some of
the creative ways that you're
mitigating in your communities.
Some of y'all are here to to
garner ideas what will work
well in your county that might
be working well in the other
end of the state? Some of you
are here just to to interact
and meet some of those leaders
in this space. You're here for
all different reasons, all of
(10:54):
them for good. All of them to
try to save lives.
>> Earlier this year, Coleman's
office announced a social media
campaign called Better Without
It. The program has enlisted
college athletes to tell their
stories of determination and
the benefits of a life free
from addiction. Leaders of the
Florida based program also
(11:15):
conducted youth focus groups in
Kentucky, with help from the
Kentucky Youth Advocates.
>> Our number one goal is to
engage Kentucky youth directly
and digitally on the platforms
that are most familiar to them.
We want to demonstrate positive
choices via influencer
storytelling, and we want to
build relationships with
(11:35):
programs that reinforce these
positive prevention principles.
>> We we conducted a survey for
mind, body, relationships,
future, and the fifth survey
was about substances. What we
found through that is our key
takeaway. Number one was
stresses the universal
challenge and trust is the
universal barrier.
(11:55):
>> Yeah. The top stressors for
Kentucky youth according to
both the surveys and focus
groups, which very much
overlapped family relationships,
mostly parents financial
situations at home of which
they are very, very conscious.
School academics, of course,
and decisions about the future.
>> This year, the Opioid
Abatement Commission awarded
(12:17):
nearly $20 million to 75
organizations. Since the
commission was created in 2021.
It has doled out $85 million to
local programs. Today is
Columbus Day, but in a number
of states and cities around the
country, the second Monday in
October is also recognized as
Indigenous Peoples Day. It's a
(12:38):
celebration recognizing the
resilience and contributions of
Native Americans. The Kentucky
General Assembly passed
resolutions in 2021,
recognizing today Kentucky was
the fourth state to do so.
Angela Arnett Garner is one of
the people most responsible for
pushing the General Assembly to
take action. This morning we
(12:58):
talked to her about the
significance of today.
>> For the state of Kentucky.
We have a lot to be proud of.
We've signed, adopted 36 city,
county and state wide
proclamations, which is more
than any other state since the
movement began in the United
States in 1992. Regrettably,
(13:21):
it's a persistent myth that
Kentucky was a mere hunting
ground, and that's just not the
case. There's a lot of evidence
presented by scientists,
archeologists, someone that
proves that Native Americans
lived here for at least 12,000
(13:41):
years, that we know of, and
they lived and thrived. They
had trade. They provided trade
routes near and far. They. They
achieved amazing architectural
and engineering feats. They
(14:03):
raised families. They had
impressive agricultural
practices. They raised a lot of
crops that were unknown to
Europeans at the time before
contact, such as corn and beans
and squash and and even
tomatoes were a North American
(14:24):
crop. And Cherokee, Shawnees,
Chickasaw. Choctaw, sage, and
many, many other tribes lived
here over the years. I think it
will eventually become a
federal holiday because it's a
growing American tradition.
Every year it appeals to a
broad spectrum of people from
(14:45):
all walks of life. You know,
people, you know, historians,
genealogists, cultural
enthusiasts who attend powwows
and festivals who want to
educate their families about
Native American history and
culture.
(15:09):
>> When it comes to paying for
college, parents are usually
shouldering the burden of doing
the research and learning the
process. But students can be
involved in the process, too.
At the Jay Brown School in
Jefferson County, a class
called Senior Seminar is
helping high schoolers learn
how to take the wheel when it
comes to navigating their path
after high school. Our Christie
(15:30):
Dutton paid them a visit to
learn more.
>> If you have applied and have
a transcript.
>> Transcripts, scholarships,
SATs and GPAs for many high
school seniors, the road to
college can be a complicated
one. But at Jay Graham Brown
School, there's a class that
turns the chaos into clarity.
>> But then that last link you
(15:51):
have to link 500 to to your
Fafsa.
>> A senior seminar class
taught by Nora Wakefield that
guides students through the
college application process and
helps them find scholarships.
>> Also lock in your tuition
rate at a lower level.
>> To bring down the cost of
higher learning.
>> They will pick their school
(16:12):
and hopefully have it paid for.
>> The process starts in their
junior year, optimizing Act and
SAT scores and exploring
colleges in junior seminar.
>> We'll do quite a few college
visits and we bring in college
reps, because I really think
that if you start looking
senior year, it's too late.
>> And once senior year begins,
Nora Wakefield's class
(16:32):
concentrates on applying to
colleges.
>> She's always on college
applications. Always. It's our
main focus. As soon as we come
in and sit down.
>> Honestly, the process to
application, I thought it was a
lot easier than it was, but
like, it's a lot more. And but
it's like, I think the class,
if I wasn't in that class, I
think I'd be struggling very
hard.
>> And the demands of applying
(16:54):
for college can be stressful.
>> There's a lot more than just
applying. It's being personable
in your essay. It's ensuring
that you get the proper amount
of scholarships and just
ensuring that you keep your
life balanced while you're
going through the college
process.
>> The Senior Seminar class
serves as a guide to make this
process as smooth as possible.
>> Of all 502. You go to their
link and you fill out the
(17:16):
application. It's very quick.
Then we help them apply, but we
help them meet those deadlines
for things like Fafsa, early
applications versus early
decision.
>> If you are eligible and you
complete these three steps, you
will get the scholarship. It's
a guarantee.
>> It can be intimidating, and
asking for help is intimidating,
and we need to take every
(17:37):
obstacle away.
>> But there's one more big
obstacle left paying for
college. Senior seminar helps
students with that too, with
lots and lots of.
>> Scholarships.
>> Scholarship programs, grants.
>> A ton of scholarships.
>> We help kids with their
questbridge applications. We
help them with their Jack Kent
Cooke applications, coach
scholars, doctor Pepper.
(17:58):
Nowhere else are students going
to have somebody that's hand
feeding them. These lists of
scholarships to apply for.
>> Nora is always on it.
>> She always has a scholarship
for us to apply to.
>> Every little bit of
scholarship money you get helps.
>> And a little bit can add up
to a lot.
>> We have a whole row of
million dollar scholars.
(18:18):
Students apply for scholarships
and they apply to different
institutions. And that total
amount is $1 million. But
that's not $1 million to one
institution.
>> More than scholarships or
even college. Nora Wakefield
wants her students to author
their own destinies and live
lives that are authentically
and joyfully their own.
>> My success is my students
(18:41):
success, and I cannot express
to you how much I love them.
And having known some of them,
you know, for 13 years, almost
all their life, it is so
important to me that they are
number one happy with when they
leave. I want them to be happy
individuals and successful
individuals, however they
define that.
(19:01):
>> For KET I'm Christy Dutton.
>> Thank you Christy. You can
learn more about all the
resources available to help pay
for college and our panel
discussion. Paying for College
2026 Education Matters. That
airs tonight at nine eight
central right here on KET. An
(19:23):
alert for older Americans open
enrollment season for Medicare,
the health insurance program
for people age 65 and older,
starts Wednesday. Eligible
seniors have until December 7th
to shop around and make changes
to their Medicare, health and
part D prescription drug plans.
It's also the time of year when
crooks get creative, posing as
Medicare insurance providers,
(19:44):
trying to trap folks with fake
promises of free gifts and
limited time offers. And if you
fall for it, it could suck more
than money from your wallet. It
could compromise your identity.
Recently, I spoke with a
spokesperson from the Better
Business Bureau to learn what
to look out for. Let's talk
about Medicare enrollment and
some of the scams associated
(20:04):
with that. Tell us about this.
And it's a complicated process
anyway, so it's probably easy
to get confused over what's
legitimate and what's not.
>> It is. And for many years
the B-b-b has heard from
seniors reporting any number of
scams involving Medicare. Back
to we're issuing new Medicare
cards. So we need you to give
us your Medicare number so that
we can send that to you or to
(20:26):
you, or going to get a free
insert piece of equipment here,
a knee brace, a back brace, a
wireless blood sugar reader,
those types of things. And all
we need is your Medicare number.
And they're going to try and
bill Medicare for that. And of
course you can't. You're not
going to get that information.
You're not going to get that
kind of thing paid for unless
(20:47):
your doctor has prescribed it.
Right. And anyone calling on
the phone saying, I'm with
Medicare and we want to update
your information and you have
not reached out to them. That's
the red flag, right?
>> They don't initiate a call.
You have to initiate.
>> Exactly. And they warn about
that all over their website at
medicare.gov. I mean, they are
there for people to reach out
to. We have heard people
(21:07):
complain of receiving numerous
calls claiming, I'm with
Medicare, I'm with Medicare.
And then you've got the
supplemental plans. Open
enrollment is going on, and
there are numerous ones out
there, and there are rules and
laws. Some of these companies
are not allowed to reach out to
you unsolicited to try and sell
you their product. It is up to
you to choose and it can be
(21:28):
daunting. But if you call, if
you go to the Medicare.gov
website, that can be an
excellent way to start.
>> Yeah. What do those
typically look like? I mean, is
it about prescriptions or what
is it? They're really pushing.
>> Any number of things. A lot
of times they're just trying to
get your Medicare number so
that if they're with a company
that's trying to sell durable
equipment, for instance, and
then they end up getting paid,
they may not end up getting
(21:49):
paid, but they also just may
want to end up with your
personal information, which can
lead to ID theft, which is
another quickly growing crime.
Every year it goes on, and that
can be tied in with any number
of scams. A long time ago, your
Medicare number used to be your
Social Security number.
>> Wow. So that would be really
dangerous.
>> Hated that because they
(22:10):
would carry that card around
with them in their wallet. Well,
and that's the key to stealing
your identity. That your date
of birth. So they've changed
that, which is an excellent
step forward. But if something
just doesn't sound quite right,
I don't care what they're
saying to you, whether they're
plying you with, we're going to
send you all this wonderful
stuff for free to frightening
you into someone has stolen
(22:31):
your Medicare account. You
better give us your information.
None of it's true. And if
you're not sure, do contact
Medicare yourself.
>> Yeah, or the B-b-b.
>> Yes, we would love people to
report any of these scams to
the B-b-b. Scam tracker site.
You can find that on our site
at b-b-b. Dot. There's a place
to click. It asks for your
information, your age group and
(22:51):
so forth. Because we do
categorize that for our B-b-b
Scam Tracker report annually.
And the type of scam, whether
you fell for it or not, we're
not going to publish your
personal information, but it
can help warn others to not
fall for these scams. So we
invite people to go to that
website.
>> So as you compare your
Medicare coverage options,
remember, don't give personal
(23:12):
information to someone who
contacts you unexpectedly and
claims to be from Medicare.
Don't be fooled by your caller
ID. Callers can spoof or fake a
government number that looks
official, and also avoid
clicking on suspicious links.
And also, don't let scammers
talk you into choosing a
specific plan. Medicare
legitimately does not endorse a
(23:35):
specific plan. Get more out of
your visits to Kentucky's 44
state parks with a new mobile
app. The app from the Kentucky
Department of Parks gives you
access to accurate digital maps.
It will guide you to more than
1000 outdoor points of interest.
It also provides up to date
(23:56):
information on recreational
activities. And the best part?
It's all free. Tonight, we look
back at the death of a Kentucky
governor to musical milestones
with Kentucky connections and
the debut of professional
basketball in Kentucky. Our
Toby Gibbs has more. And this
week in Kentucky history.
(24:19):
>> Governor George Madison,
Kentucky's sixth governor, died
in office October 14th 1816, 40
days after becoming governor.
He was the first Kentucky
governor to die in office.
Gabriel Slaughter succeeded him
as governor the same day.
Richard Johnson was born
October 17th, 1780, near
(24:40):
Louisville. He would serve in
the Kentucky General Assembly
and Congress, and eventually
become Vice President of the
United States under President
Martin Van Buren. And happy
birthday to Mary Barr Clay,
born in Lexington, October 13th,
1839, the daughter of famed
abolitionist Cassius Clay.
(25:00):
She's believed to be the first
Kentucky woman to publicly
advocate for women's suffrage.
Legend has it Jesse James was
eating dinner at a roadhouse in
Bardstown on October 18th, 1881,
when a newspaper reported he
just robbed a bank in Kansas.
James carved his name and the
(25:21):
date into a windowpane to prove
he was in Kentucky, not Kansas,
when the robbery took place.
Lawrence Welk and his orchestra
became the first performers at
the new Rupp Arena on October
17th, 1976, with former UK
basketball coach Adolph Rupp
looking on. The crowd was so
big, Rupp Arena ran out of
(25:42):
popcorn. Kentucky native
Loretta Lynn made her first
appearance on the Grand Ole
Opry on October 15th, 1960. The
Kentucky Colonels of the
American Basketball Association
played their first game on
October 14th, 1967, losing to
(26:02):
the Indiana Pacers. And that's
what was going on this week in
Kentucky history. I'm Toby
Gibbs.
>> Thank you, Toby Gibbs, and
that'll do it for us tonight.
We hope to see you at 8:00 for
Kentucky tonight. When we talk
about tariffs and the federal
government shut down and come
back again and join us tomorrow
night at 630 eastern, 530
central for Kentucky Edition,
(26:22):
where we inform, connect and
inspire. Thanks for joining us.
I'm Renee Shaw, and I'll see
you in a bit. Take good care.
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