October 28, 2025 • 26 mins
A primary challenger to Congressman Thomas Massie enters the race. Lawmakers hear an update on the state’s medical cannabis program. Could affordable housing projects in Lexington and northern Kentucky provide lessons for other communities? A less common form of breast cancer is on the rise. The first phase of Louisville’s Community Care Campus opens to homeless families.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:09):
The president wanted this man
to run for one of Kentucky's
congressional seats, and now
he's in the race.
>> Our median home prices have
increased over 100% over the
last ten years. Whereas the
wages that people are making in
the community have only
increased 30%.
(00:29):
>> And why does Kentucky have a
housing shortage? We'll crunch
the numbers.
>> This is an opportunity for
people to live and work in the
same space together and be able
to to receive services in a
very unique way.
>> Plus, what's different about
a new community care center in
Louisville?
>> Production of Kentucky
(00:50):
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium Fund.
>> Good evening and welcome to
Kentucky Edition for this
Wednesday, October the 22nd,
I'm Renee Shaw, and we thank
(01:11):
you for winding down your
Wednesday with us. President
Donald Trump gets his man in
Kentucky's fourth congressional
district. Last Friday, the
president endorsed former Navy
Seal Ed Galvin to run in the
2026 Republican primary against
incumbent Thomas Massie. But at
the time, Galvin wasn't a
(01:31):
candidate. Now he is. Yesterday,
he announced he will run as an
ally of President Trump. Galvin
ran for the Kentucky State
Senate unsuccessfully last year.
President Trump wanted someone
to challenge Massie, a
Republican who backs President
Trump on many issues but
opposes him on the budget and
on the Jeffrey Epstein files.
(01:54):
As he announced his candidacy,
Galvin put out this statement,
quote, the district, this
district is Trump country. The
president doesn't need
obstacles in Congress. He needs
backup. I'll defeat Thomas
Massie, stand shoulder to
shoulder with President Trump
and deliver the America First
results Kentuckians voted for.
(02:14):
End quote. Massie put out a
statement of his own, says,
quote, fourth district voters
appreciate having an
independent conservative voice
who works for them, end quote.
And he described Galvin as,
quote, someone willing to be a
rubber stamp for globalist
billionaires, endless debt,
foreign aid, and forever wars.
End quote. State officials say
(02:35):
Kentucky's medical marijuana
program is slowly but surely
coming online. Seeds are in the
ground and dispensaries have
secured locations. The Office
of Medical Cannabis testified
to state lawmakers today. An
hour June Leffler has more. As
we kick off our legislative
update.
>> One medical marijuana
dispensary has gained final
(02:57):
state approval. That's the post
in Beaverdam, Kentucky. The
dispensary is not open yet, but
its website says it should be
open this fall.
>> Currently, we have three
cultivators in the state who
are actually growing medical
cannabis. We'll have one
processor by the end of next
week that will be coming online.
Two safety compliance
facilities, which are tasked
(03:17):
with testing the actual medical
cannabis. And then we have one
dispensary, which I know is the
focus of this discussion today
that is approved to operate.
The expectation is within the
next month, we'll have more
than one dispensary that will
be ready to operate. 46 of our
48 dispensaries are in their
forever homes. They found their
(03:38):
permanent locations. We have
two more that are still needing
to be settled, but we're
working on that and should have
those done before the end of
the year. Here is our
dispensary location spread on a
map, but we have a good spread
throughout the state that's
going to make travel to these
dispensaries within an hour.
(03:59):
Definitely with under under two
hours for anyone who is a
cardholder.
>> This Democrat from Lexington
commends how the state has ran
the program so far.
>> The thing that really sticks
out to me is the feedback I've
gotten from those distributors,
growers and dispensary owners
is that the program we put
together, they tell me, is one
(04:19):
of the best that they've seen
across the country. The
thoughtfulness of the
regulations, the way that this
has been structured, makes them
feel confident that they are
able to do business in a way
that is safe, it's well
regulated, and they feel
confident that they're going to
be able to help Kentucky
patients without exposing
children. And I think that's
(04:40):
important to everyone in this
room.
>> A Western Kentucky
Republican worries kids will be
more susceptible to finding
marijuana in their homes and
ingesting it.
>> And we're headed down the
path of legalizing marijuana in
this state. And I think we're
going to get to epidemic
proportions once that happens.
So we are going to hear about
(05:01):
that in committee. That's
that's how much it's growing
and something we need to be
concerned about.
>> And the 2023 state fiscal
year, 18 children ingested and
overdosed on THC.
>> These gummies you see,
they're identical to buying
like a thing of Skittles. They
look identical. It can't it has
to look like medicine because
(05:23):
we're treating it as medicine.
And if it looks like candy and
it tastes like candy, children
are going to eat it.
>> State law approved by the
General Assembly says medical
cannabis cannot resemble major
brand food products or
otherwise appealed to minors.
The law does not say edibles
(05:45):
cannot come in the form of
gummies. For Kentucky edition.
I'm June Leffler.
>> Thank you. June. In April,
State Auditor Alison Ball
announced an investigation into
the medical marijuana program,
specifically the application
and lottery process. The
auditor's office told KET today
that, quote, the Office of
Medical Cannabis finally
(06:06):
provided us on October 17th
with additional documentation
we need for our examination.
This brings the total amount of
documents our office has
obtained at 1.7 million. We are
actively analyzing all the data
we have and hope to start
putting the pieces of the
puzzle together soon. End quote.
Another member of the Kentucky
General Assembly will step down
(06:27):
at the end of his next term.
Representative David Hale is a
Republican from Wellington who
has served the 74th district
since 2014. He says he will not
seek reelection in 2026. Hale
chairs the House state
government committee. Yesterday,
the housing task Force in
Frankfort heard an update on
(06:49):
the affordable housing project
being built in Lexington. Today,
our Mackenzie Spink tells us
more about how this unique
project came about and if it
could be replicated statewide.
>> In Fayette County alone,
over 22,000 housing units need
to be built in order to close
the housing gap.
>> What we found is that the
(07:09):
lack of available land, the
high purchase to buy land in
Lexington and then for
affordable housing developers
having the capital to access
that land was a key challenge.
And then, of course, just the
affordability challenge for
Fayette County overall. And
something that we've talked
about is just the fact that our
(07:31):
median home prices have
increased over 100% over the
last ten years, whereas the
wages that people are making in
the community have only
increased 30%.
>> The affordable housing being
built on Transylvania
University's former baseball
field is the result of a unique
partnership between five local
banks and local affordable
(07:52):
housing developers. The banks
bought the land from the
university and held on to it
for the developers with a no
interest loan, allowing time
for the 242 unit project to be
developed. The president of
central Bank says he's hopeful
this kind of partnership can be
replicated around the state.
>> It's going to be
(08:12):
unbelievable and it's going to
work, and I hope and pray that
we can take this throughout the
state. Truthfully, I'm meeting
with other people in our region
to see how to explain how we've
done it here, and how do we
take this to other parts of the
region and and the state being
where I'm from, up in Breathitt
(08:33):
County, it's hard to find a
house in the rural areas.
>> One of the policy
recommendations from the
affordable housing developers
was a housing fund that could
kickstart similar projects.
>> So we're fully in support of
a statewide housing fund of $20
million, kind of proposed by
the Kentucky Bankers
Association and championed by
(08:53):
this group to provide similar
type of financing across the
state to do transformational
projects like this, involving a
revolving loan fund,
potentially state housing tax
credits, which all of our
neighbors have, that we do not
have.
>> More policy recommendations
came from the Kentucky chapter
of Americans for prosperity, a
national grassroots advocacy
organization. One of their
(09:15):
recommendations is for the
state to establish permitting
shot clocks, which would
require local governments to
speed up the permitting process
for housing developments.
>> Right now, developers and
builders often face long,
unpredictable delays that drive
up costs and discourage
investment. Some studies have
shown that for each month of
(09:36):
delay for permitting, the price
of a home can increase as much
as $4,400. By requiring local
governments to act within a
specific time frame, say 60 or
90 days, we can bring greater
certainty and efficiency to the
process. This doesn't mean
cutting corners. It means
setting clear expectations and
holding agencies accountable.
(09:57):
>> This was the last meeting
for the 2025 Housing Task Force
to receive input and hear from
other agencies. The next
meeting in November will be a
discussion of its findings for
Kentucky edition. I'm Mackenzie
Spink.
>> Thank you. Mackenzie.
Northern Kentucky leaders also
paid a visit to Frankfort
yesterday to present their
(10:18):
housing blueprint to the
Kentucky Housing Task Force.
Our Emily Sisk has more on
their ideas to bolster the
region's housing supply and the
workforce.
>> When we invest in housing
and workforce initiatives in
Northern Kentucky, the results
ripple far beyond our three
largest counties.
>> As part of the Northern
Kentucky Housing Blueprint, a
(10:39):
Chamber of Commerce
representative presented four
main ideas. One of those was to
get investments from employers,
which could help workers live
closer to their job.
>> A one time $5 million
investment from a large
employer or a cluster of
employers could help provide
homes for roughly 125 families.
>> And to support those
(11:01):
families. The region also wants
to build back what they called
middle housing properties that
are smaller and more affordable.
>> Add variety to neighborhoods,
and provide more attainable
options for young families,
seniors and essential workers
like our teachers and public
safety officers.
>> For Northern Kentucky and
most of the state, the elephant
in the room is the lack of
(11:23):
workers.
>> None of this happens without
people to build it.
>> Without enough trained
workers, we simply cannot build
housing at the pace required to
meet demand.
>> A building and construction
institute in Northern Kentucky
is currently training around
100 high schoolers and 350
adults through afternoon and
night classes. But the
institute wants more support
(11:44):
and dual credit opportunities
from the Department of
Education.
>> State legislators can play a
pivotal role in expanding the
construction talent pipeline
through funding, education
policy reform and regulatory
improvements.
>> The Building Institute's
goal is to produce 2200 new
construction workers every year.
A lawmaker questioned how
Kentucky can retain those
(12:06):
workers once their training is
complete.
>> Sometimes the draw is more
towards Cincinnati or toward
Evansville than it is. You know,
you get an education and they
got more work there.
>> If we're able to create a
healthy housing environment
that is more that is less
regulated and more affordable,
we're going to naturally see
more job growth. And those jobs
(12:27):
will have a tendency to stay
here.
>> Another legislator said
increasing the workforce is a
constant challenge. So they'll
take the Northern Kentucky
suggestions into consideration
for Kentucky Edition. I'm Emily
Sisk.
>> Thank you. Emily, the final
idea in the Northern Kentucky
housing Blueprint is to create
a regional housing fund. The
(12:47):
leaders want to pull $25
million over five years to help
build 1000 new homes and
provide down payment assistance
to first time home buyers. Pike
County is making a comeback
after devastating floods in
February, governor Andy Beshear
says Weddington Plaza Partners
will invest about $6 million to
(13:07):
restore and renovate its
shopping center, saving 300
jobs. The money will be used to
replace flooring, roofing and
electronics, to rebuild a flood
wall and to pay for security.
The group hopes to have the
work half complete in a year,
with all renovations done in
three years. Pike County was
one of the hardest hit areas
during a deadly flood event
(13:29):
back in February. LG and Ku
customers. You could end up
paying more for electricity and
gas, but Kentucky Attorney
General Russell Coleman says
the increase is smaller than it
could have been. Coleman says
he's negotiated a deal to keep
the increase less than $10 a
month per family. The Kentucky
Public Service Commission still
has to sign off on the
(13:51):
agreement. Kentucky is the 20th
safest state in the union,
according to WalletHub. The
company looked at 52 key
indicators, including crime
rates, road safety,
occupational safety, economic
security and more. Vermont was
the safest state in Louisiana
was the least safe. A less
(14:20):
common form of breast cancer is
on the rise, according to a
special report from the
American Cancer Society,
lobular breast cancer rates are
increasing three times faster
than all other breast cancers
combined. Our Kristy Dutton
continues the conversation
about breast cancer awareness
and finds out what makes
lobular breast cancer different
(14:41):
and what might be causing this
increase that in tonight's
medical news.
>> Here to talk with us about
the rise in lobular breast
cancer diagnoses. We have
Doctor Alyssa Dahl from Norton
Health Care. So Doctor Dahl,
explain to us exactly what is
lobular breast cancer and how
(15:02):
does that compare with other
types of breast cancer.
>> Yes. So there's two types of
breast cancer lobular breast
cancer and ductal breast cancer.
And they originate from the two
different structures of tissue
within the breast. So there's
lobular breast tissue and
ductal breast tissue. The
purpose of the lobules is to
make milk for breastfeeding.
And the purpose of the ducts is
for transport of that milk from
(15:23):
where it's made to the nipple.
So we can see cancers form in
either one of those tissue
types.
>> So in recent news we've seen
that lobular breast cancer
diagnoses are on the rise. Why
might that be.
>> Yeah I think that that's a
good question. In reality I
don't know that we know the
answer. I think we know that
the incidence of lobular cancer
is increasing compared to, say,
(15:44):
in 2015 or earlier. We know
that there are a higher
proportion of breast cancers
that are being diagnosed that
are lobular. The question that
I have is whether or not it's
truly that they're more common,
or just whether we're better at
picking up on them. So lobular
cancers can be more difficult
to see on conventional types of
breast imaging like mammogram
(16:04):
and ultrasound. But as our
imaging has gotten better, that
is potentially one reason why
we're seeing more of them.
>> Okay, why are they more
difficult to see what's
different about them?
>> So ductal cancers tend to
form a mass, and we can see
that pretty easily on mammogram
and ultrasound. When lobular
cancers form, they don't
necessarily form a mass. And
(16:24):
sometimes they can travel in
little linear lines along the
tissue. It just makes them a
little bit more difficult to
see on those modalities. So we
have other ways to image the
breast if necessary.
>> Okay. So lobular I think
lobular. And I do think of a
glob. But it's it's more like a
line or it's harder to detect.
So can it be detected in like a
(16:45):
self-breast exam.
>> Some sometimes it can. But
most commonly we see lobular
cancers on screenings.
>> On mammograms. Or is it
detected some other way?
>> Usually mammograms.
>> Okay. So you find it on a
mammogram and then you can do
an ultrasound or some other.
What are some of the other
diagnostic tools that you then
can use to your advantage.
(17:06):
>> So we always start with
mammogram usually with
screening mammogram. And that
serves as our gateway into all
of the other options. And so if
there's ever anything abnormal
on mammogram then we would
usually get a different type of
mammogram. Something that takes
a little bit more pictures
maybe an ultrasound. There's
also a breast MRI that is
useful in some patients, not
(17:26):
all patients, but some. And
then physical exam by a medical
professional who specializes in
breast cancer. Those are the
places that we start.
>> Okay. So we've talked about
ductal breast cancer. That's
the most common in lobular that
we're talking about. Now. Do
men get both types.
>> Yes. Men can actually get
(17:46):
breast cancer and they can get
both types of breast cancer.
Just like in women. Ductal
cancers are more common in men
as well. So men actually have a
little bit of breast tissue. It
doesn't mature in the same way
that a woman's breast does,
because of the estrogen that a
woman has in her body during
her life. But men do have small
amounts of estrogen, and they
(18:06):
do have a small amount of
breast tissue. So men can
actually get breast cancer as
well.
>> Okay. How does lobular
cancer differ from ductal
cancer? Breast cancer in in a
prognosis. Is it just as good.
Is it different.
>> It's just as good. So when
we compare stage of ductal to
the same stage of lobular
cancer, there's very similar
(18:28):
long term outcomes. We look at
survival disease free survival.
Those things are very
comparable between the two
subtypes okay.
>> And just for prevention what
are some of the risks and how
can we lower our risk of not
just lobular breast cancer but
ductal breast cancer.
>> In terms of reducing risk? I
think one of the most important
things for reducing risk of
(18:48):
breast cancer falls in line
with just improving your
overall health, which is
regular exercise. Eating a
healthy, balanced diet, low in
inflammatory foods, and
maintaining a healthy weight.
That's the best way to prevent
breast cancer from happening.
Other ways to detect it early
is are really screenings. And
so when we think really those
(19:09):
two go hand in hand, one is
prevention and the other is
early detection. But those are
the ways to ensure that you're
optimizing just your overall
health as well as your breast
cancer risk.
>> Okay. Wonderful. Well this
is great advice. Thank you so
much for your expertise and for
taking the time to share this
with us. Thank you.
>> Thank you for having me.
>> And thank you. Christie
Dutton. Lobular breast cancer
(19:31):
now accounts for about 10% of
all new breast cancer diagnoses.
13 Louisville families are now
living in the first phase of
Louisville's Community Care
(19:52):
campus. When it's complete,
it's expected to be a one stop
shop where the homeless can
access shelter, medical
services, and other resources.
The full campus is scheduled to
open in 2027. It's a
partnership between Louisville
Metro and Volunteers of America
Mid-states, with support from
the Kentucky General Assembly.
Our Kelsey starts brings us up
(20:13):
to date on this project.
>> Tamara Rife is the senior
director of Housing Services
for VOA. Mid-states. Thanks so
much for being.
>> Thanks for having us.
>> So tell us about VOA and
your involvement in this type
of transformative project for
Louisville's homeless community.
>> Yeah, sure. It's really an
exciting time for us. I think
at Volunteers of America, we
(20:34):
have been in business for over
125 years. We do lots of things,
but this community care campus
is really focused on our
homeless and housing work that
we do. We have been operating a
family emergency shelter for
over 40 years now, serving 200
families or so a year in our
family emergency shelter. And
the community care campus is
going to allow us to expand
(20:54):
those services, as well as a
lot of other ones.
>> Yeah, a lot of people have
said this, this, this is going
to fill a gap. And we have been
in need for a long time of a 24
hour shelter and other things.
What type of resources are
going to be a part of this
campus that's going to fill
some of those gaps that have
been so long in the Louisville
(21:15):
community?
>> Yeah. So we recognize when
they first put out that there
was a need for somebody to
manage the campus and to offer
ideas for what might happen on
the campus. We knew right away
that the biggest area that we
could serve is for families who
are experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness and housing crisis.
We do that really well. So we
(21:36):
said we absolutely need more.
There are always families on
the waiting list waiting for a
shelter spot to become
available to them. So we said,
let's do another, another unity
House. So we've got unity House
two coming online. We'll be
able to serve 29 additional
families. So not only the 24 we
serve now, but another 29. And
the goal really is that at some
point there is not a waiting
(21:57):
list. And when a family is
experiencing a crisis, they
call and they're told, yes, VOA
has a bed for you tonight we're
going to have a medical respite,
which is its own very unique
space for people who are in the
hospital. And instead of having
to leave the hospital and go
back to a place that is not
clean, maybe not meant for
(22:18):
habitation, really, or a
homeless camp, they can go to
respite where they can heal and
have professionals take care of
them. We get to partner with
Family Health Centers, UofL,
Norton to do that work, and
then also we're going to have
transitional housing for youth
experiencing homelessness.
Those 18 to 24, we get to
partner with YMCA Safe Place,
who is already doing amazing
(22:39):
work, and they get to come on
and have a have a building
where they get to serve their
their individuals in the way
that they do really well. So
we're excited to do that too.
>> So this is designed to sort
of be a one stop shop, right
where everything is included in
this one campus.
>> Yes, because the other
building will be a partner
(22:59):
space as well as VOA
headquarters. In that partner
space, there are lots of folks
who will provide services,
whether that's monthly or
weekly, or they'll have a
permanent space. This is an
opportunity for people to live
and work in the same space
together and be able to to
receive services in a very
unique way.
>> Another part of this is
(23:21):
permanent affordable housing.
Right? And so how does that
play into this campus?
>> So we also have plans to
build 80 units of affordable
housing with an emphasis on
permanent supportive housing.
We are short in this city of
about 1200 permanent supportive
housing units. They are for the
most vulnerable and the hardest
to house. So we there's almost
(23:42):
300 coming online in the next
couple of years that will help
with that gap. But we want to
be a part of creating even more
space. We know that folks need
housing, but also the support
that goes along with it to help
keep them housed. And so that's
always our goal, is to get them
housed and keep them housed.
>> Yeah. Overall, this is a $58
(24:02):
million project supported by
metro government and funds
bipartisan support from the
Kentucky General Assembly as
well. Explain why this is
important not only to
Louisville but the rest of the
state as well. How does it
affect everybody?
>> Well, I think that one of
the things it can do is really
show what's possible. Right? So,
(24:24):
you know, this is a very unique
opportunity for us to do this
campus the way that it is. And
maybe there's opportunities
across the state for smaller
versions. People are very eager
to provide housing, homeless
work in their communities. And
we know that Volunteers of
America does it well. But we
also know that folks on our
campus do their parts really
well. So it would be amazing if
(24:45):
we could replicate this service
in other areas, maybe not on
the same scale, but certainly
with the with the intention of
wraparound services and what a
community campus can really be.
>> Yeah, it could be a model
for the state and maybe the
country too, because there are
so many areas experiencing this
rising number of homeless right
now. Thank you so much for your
(25:06):
time and all you all are doing
for the community. Phase one of
the Community Care campus is on
track, as we mentioned, open
next spring, and that includes
the unity House. That's an
emergency shelter for families
who will have access to case
management and housing
placement as well. Back to you.
>> Thank you so much, Kelsey.
According to the coalition for
the homeless, nearly 2000
(25:26):
people are currently homeless
in Louisville. Well, that will
do it for us tonight. But
coming up tomorrow, lawmakers
will talk about Kentucky's food
stamps or Snap program, and
we'll hear from Kentucky
Governor Andy Beshear during
his weekly news conference. So
we hope to see you again
tomorrow night at 630 eastern,
530 Central on Kentucky Edition,
where we inform, connect and
(25:47):
inspire. And we hope that
you'll connect with us all the
way as you see on your screen.
Facebook, Instagram and X to
stay in the loop on all the
social media channels, send us
a story idea by email to Public
Affairs at ket.org and look for
us on the PBS and the KET app.
Or you can download some great
content at your convenience, on
demand, and watch our programs
(26:09):
in their full length or either
special extras online at
ket.org. I'm Renee Shaw, thank
you so much for joining us
tonight, and we look forward to
seeing you right back here
again tomorrow night. Take
really good care. So long.
The president wanted this man
to run for one of Kentucky's
congressional seats, and now
he's in the race.
>> Our median home prices have
increased over 100% over the
last ten years. Whereas the
wages that people are making in
the community have only
increased 30%.
(00:29):
>> And why does Kentucky have a
housing shortage? We'll crunch
the numbers.
>> This is an opportunity for
people to live and work in the
same space together and be able
to to receive services in a
very unique way.
>> Plus, what's different about
a new community care center in
Louisville?
>> Production of Kentucky
(00:50):
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium Fund.
>> Good evening and welcome to
Kentucky Edition for this
Wednesday, October the 22nd,
I'm Renee Shaw, and we thank
(01:11):
you for winding down your
Wednesday with us. President
Donald Trump gets his man in
Kentucky's fourth congressional
district. Last Friday, the
president endorsed former Navy
Seal Ed Galvin to run in the
2026 Republican primary against
incumbent Thomas Massie. But at
the time, Galvin wasn't a
(01:31):
candidate. Now he is. Yesterday,
he announced he will run as an
ally of President Trump. Galvin
ran for the Kentucky State
Senate unsuccessfully last year.
President Trump wanted someone
to challenge Massie, a
Republican who backs President
Trump on many issues but
opposes him on the budget and
on the Jeffrey Epstein files.
(01:54):
As he announced his candidacy,
Galvin put out this statement,
quote, the district, this
district is Trump country. The
president doesn't need
obstacles in Congress. He needs
backup. I'll defeat Thomas
Massie, stand shoulder to
shoulder with President Trump
and deliver the America First
results Kentuckians voted for.
(02:14):
End quote. Massie put out a
statement of his own, says,
quote, fourth district voters
appreciate having an
independent conservative voice
who works for them, end quote.
And he described Galvin as,
quote, someone willing to be a
rubber stamp for globalist
billionaires, endless debt,
foreign aid, and forever wars.
End quote. State officials say
(02:35):
Kentucky's medical marijuana
program is slowly but surely
coming online. Seeds are in the
ground and dispensaries have
secured locations. The Office
of Medical Cannabis testified
to state lawmakers today. An
hour June Leffler has more. As
we kick off our legislative
update.
>> One medical marijuana
dispensary has gained final
(02:57):
state approval. That's the post
in Beaverdam, Kentucky. The
dispensary is not open yet, but
its website says it should be
open this fall.
>> Currently, we have three
cultivators in the state who
are actually growing medical
cannabis. We'll have one
processor by the end of next
week that will be coming online.
Two safety compliance
facilities, which are tasked
(03:17):
with testing the actual medical
cannabis. And then we have one
dispensary, which I know is the
focus of this discussion today
that is approved to operate.
The expectation is within the
next month, we'll have more
than one dispensary that will
be ready to operate. 46 of our
48 dispensaries are in their
forever homes. They found their
(03:38):
permanent locations. We have
two more that are still needing
to be settled, but we're
working on that and should have
those done before the end of
the year. Here is our
dispensary location spread on a
map, but we have a good spread
throughout the state that's
going to make travel to these
dispensaries within an hour.
(03:59):
Definitely with under under two
hours for anyone who is a
cardholder.
>> This Democrat from Lexington
commends how the state has ran
the program so far.
>> The thing that really sticks
out to me is the feedback I've
gotten from those distributors,
growers and dispensary owners
is that the program we put
together, they tell me, is one
(04:19):
of the best that they've seen
across the country. The
thoughtfulness of the
regulations, the way that this
has been structured, makes them
feel confident that they are
able to do business in a way
that is safe, it's well
regulated, and they feel
confident that they're going to
be able to help Kentucky
patients without exposing
children. And I think that's
(04:40):
important to everyone in this
room.
>> A Western Kentucky
Republican worries kids will be
more susceptible to finding
marijuana in their homes and
ingesting it.
>> And we're headed down the
path of legalizing marijuana in
this state. And I think we're
going to get to epidemic
proportions once that happens.
So we are going to hear about
(05:01):
that in committee. That's
that's how much it's growing
and something we need to be
concerned about.
>> And the 2023 state fiscal
year, 18 children ingested and
overdosed on THC.
>> These gummies you see,
they're identical to buying
like a thing of Skittles. They
look identical. It can't it has
to look like medicine because
(05:23):
we're treating it as medicine.
And if it looks like candy and
it tastes like candy, children
are going to eat it.
>> State law approved by the
General Assembly says medical
cannabis cannot resemble major
brand food products or
otherwise appealed to minors.
The law does not say edibles
(05:45):
cannot come in the form of
gummies. For Kentucky edition.
I'm June Leffler.
>> Thank you. June. In April,
State Auditor Alison Ball
announced an investigation into
the medical marijuana program,
specifically the application
and lottery process. The
auditor's office told KET today
that, quote, the Office of
Medical Cannabis finally
(06:06):
provided us on October 17th
with additional documentation
we need for our examination.
This brings the total amount of
documents our office has
obtained at 1.7 million. We are
actively analyzing all the data
we have and hope to start
putting the pieces of the
puzzle together soon. End quote.
Another member of the Kentucky
General Assembly will step down
(06:27):
at the end of his next term.
Representative David Hale is a
Republican from Wellington who
has served the 74th district
since 2014. He says he will not
seek reelection in 2026. Hale
chairs the House state
government committee. Yesterday,
the housing task Force in
Frankfort heard an update on
(06:49):
the affordable housing project
being built in Lexington. Today,
our Mackenzie Spink tells us
more about how this unique
project came about and if it
could be replicated statewide.
>> In Fayette County alone,
over 22,000 housing units need
to be built in order to close
the housing gap.
>> What we found is that the
(07:09):
lack of available land, the
high purchase to buy land in
Lexington and then for
affordable housing developers
having the capital to access
that land was a key challenge.
And then, of course, just the
affordability challenge for
Fayette County overall. And
something that we've talked
about is just the fact that our
(07:31):
median home prices have
increased over 100% over the
last ten years, whereas the
wages that people are making in
the community have only
increased 30%.
>> The affordable housing being
built on Transylvania
University's former baseball
field is the result of a unique
partnership between five local
banks and local affordable
(07:52):
housing developers. The banks
bought the land from the
university and held on to it
for the developers with a no
interest loan, allowing time
for the 242 unit project to be
developed. The president of
central Bank says he's hopeful
this kind of partnership can be
replicated around the state.
>> It's going to be
(08:12):
unbelievable and it's going to
work, and I hope and pray that
we can take this throughout the
state. Truthfully, I'm meeting
with other people in our region
to see how to explain how we've
done it here, and how do we
take this to other parts of the
region and and the state being
where I'm from, up in Breathitt
(08:33):
County, it's hard to find a
house in the rural areas.
>> One of the policy
recommendations from the
affordable housing developers
was a housing fund that could
kickstart similar projects.
>> So we're fully in support of
a statewide housing fund of $20
million, kind of proposed by
the Kentucky Bankers
Association and championed by
(08:53):
this group to provide similar
type of financing across the
state to do transformational
projects like this, involving a
revolving loan fund,
potentially state housing tax
credits, which all of our
neighbors have, that we do not
have.
>> More policy recommendations
came from the Kentucky chapter
of Americans for prosperity, a
national grassroots advocacy
organization. One of their
(09:15):
recommendations is for the
state to establish permitting
shot clocks, which would
require local governments to
speed up the permitting process
for housing developments.
>> Right now, developers and
builders often face long,
unpredictable delays that drive
up costs and discourage
investment. Some studies have
shown that for each month of
(09:36):
delay for permitting, the price
of a home can increase as much
as $4,400. By requiring local
governments to act within a
specific time frame, say 60 or
90 days, we can bring greater
certainty and efficiency to the
process. This doesn't mean
cutting corners. It means
setting clear expectations and
holding agencies accountable.
(09:57):
>> This was the last meeting
for the 2025 Housing Task Force
to receive input and hear from
other agencies. The next
meeting in November will be a
discussion of its findings for
Kentucky edition. I'm Mackenzie
Spink.
>> Thank you. Mackenzie.
Northern Kentucky leaders also
paid a visit to Frankfort
yesterday to present their
(10:18):
housing blueprint to the
Kentucky Housing Task Force.
Our Emily Sisk has more on
their ideas to bolster the
region's housing supply and the
workforce.
>> When we invest in housing
and workforce initiatives in
Northern Kentucky, the results
ripple far beyond our three
largest counties.
>> As part of the Northern
Kentucky Housing Blueprint, a
(10:39):
Chamber of Commerce
representative presented four
main ideas. One of those was to
get investments from employers,
which could help workers live
closer to their job.
>> A one time $5 million
investment from a large
employer or a cluster of
employers could help provide
homes for roughly 125 families.
>> And to support those
(11:01):
families. The region also wants
to build back what they called
middle housing properties that
are smaller and more affordable.
>> Add variety to neighborhoods,
and provide more attainable
options for young families,
seniors and essential workers
like our teachers and public
safety officers.
>> For Northern Kentucky and
most of the state, the elephant
in the room is the lack of
(11:23):
workers.
>> None of this happens without
people to build it.
>> Without enough trained
workers, we simply cannot build
housing at the pace required to
meet demand.
>> A building and construction
institute in Northern Kentucky
is currently training around
100 high schoolers and 350
adults through afternoon and
night classes. But the
institute wants more support
(11:44):
and dual credit opportunities
from the Department of
Education.
>> State legislators can play a
pivotal role in expanding the
construction talent pipeline
through funding, education
policy reform and regulatory
improvements.
>> The Building Institute's
goal is to produce 2200 new
construction workers every year.
A lawmaker questioned how
Kentucky can retain those
(12:06):
workers once their training is
complete.
>> Sometimes the draw is more
towards Cincinnati or toward
Evansville than it is. You know,
you get an education and they
got more work there.
>> If we're able to create a
healthy housing environment
that is more that is less
regulated and more affordable,
we're going to naturally see
more job growth. And those jobs
(12:27):
will have a tendency to stay
here.
>> Another legislator said
increasing the workforce is a
constant challenge. So they'll
take the Northern Kentucky
suggestions into consideration
for Kentucky Edition. I'm Emily
Sisk.
>> Thank you. Emily, the final
idea in the Northern Kentucky
housing Blueprint is to create
a regional housing fund. The
(12:47):
leaders want to pull $25
million over five years to help
build 1000 new homes and
provide down payment assistance
to first time home buyers. Pike
County is making a comeback
after devastating floods in
February, governor Andy Beshear
says Weddington Plaza Partners
will invest about $6 million to
(13:07):
restore and renovate its
shopping center, saving 300
jobs. The money will be used to
replace flooring, roofing and
electronics, to rebuild a flood
wall and to pay for security.
The group hopes to have the
work half complete in a year,
with all renovations done in
three years. Pike County was
one of the hardest hit areas
during a deadly flood event
(13:29):
back in February. LG and Ku
customers. You could end up
paying more for electricity and
gas, but Kentucky Attorney
General Russell Coleman says
the increase is smaller than it
could have been. Coleman says
he's negotiated a deal to keep
the increase less than $10 a
month per family. The Kentucky
Public Service Commission still
has to sign off on the
(13:51):
agreement. Kentucky is the 20th
safest state in the union,
according to WalletHub. The
company looked at 52 key
indicators, including crime
rates, road safety,
occupational safety, economic
security and more. Vermont was
the safest state in Louisiana
was the least safe. A less
(14:20):
common form of breast cancer is
on the rise, according to a
special report from the
American Cancer Society,
lobular breast cancer rates are
increasing three times faster
than all other breast cancers
combined. Our Kristy Dutton
continues the conversation
about breast cancer awareness
and finds out what makes
lobular breast cancer different
(14:41):
and what might be causing this
increase that in tonight's
medical news.
>> Here to talk with us about
the rise in lobular breast
cancer diagnoses. We have
Doctor Alyssa Dahl from Norton
Health Care. So Doctor Dahl,
explain to us exactly what is
lobular breast cancer and how
(15:02):
does that compare with other
types of breast cancer.
>> Yes. So there's two types of
breast cancer lobular breast
cancer and ductal breast cancer.
And they originate from the two
different structures of tissue
within the breast. So there's
lobular breast tissue and
ductal breast tissue. The
purpose of the lobules is to
make milk for breastfeeding.
And the purpose of the ducts is
for transport of that milk from
(15:23):
where it's made to the nipple.
So we can see cancers form in
either one of those tissue
types.
>> So in recent news we've seen
that lobular breast cancer
diagnoses are on the rise. Why
might that be.
>> Yeah I think that that's a
good question. In reality I
don't know that we know the
answer. I think we know that
the incidence of lobular cancer
is increasing compared to, say,
(15:44):
in 2015 or earlier. We know
that there are a higher
proportion of breast cancers
that are being diagnosed that
are lobular. The question that
I have is whether or not it's
truly that they're more common,
or just whether we're better at
picking up on them. So lobular
cancers can be more difficult
to see on conventional types of
breast imaging like mammogram
(16:04):
and ultrasound. But as our
imaging has gotten better, that
is potentially one reason why
we're seeing more of them.
>> Okay, why are they more
difficult to see what's
different about them?
>> So ductal cancers tend to
form a mass, and we can see
that pretty easily on mammogram
and ultrasound. When lobular
cancers form, they don't
necessarily form a mass. And
(16:24):
sometimes they can travel in
little linear lines along the
tissue. It just makes them a
little bit more difficult to
see on those modalities. So we
have other ways to image the
breast if necessary.
>> Okay. So lobular I think
lobular. And I do think of a
glob. But it's it's more like a
line or it's harder to detect.
So can it be detected in like a
(16:45):
self-breast exam.
>> Some sometimes it can. But
most commonly we see lobular
cancers on screenings.
>> On mammograms. Or is it
detected some other way?
>> Usually mammograms.
>> Okay. So you find it on a
mammogram and then you can do
an ultrasound or some other.
What are some of the other
diagnostic tools that you then
can use to your advantage.
(17:06):
>> So we always start with
mammogram usually with
screening mammogram. And that
serves as our gateway into all
of the other options. And so if
there's ever anything abnormal
on mammogram then we would
usually get a different type of
mammogram. Something that takes
a little bit more pictures
maybe an ultrasound. There's
also a breast MRI that is
useful in some patients, not
(17:26):
all patients, but some. And
then physical exam by a medical
professional who specializes in
breast cancer. Those are the
places that we start.
>> Okay. So we've talked about
ductal breast cancer. That's
the most common in lobular that
we're talking about. Now. Do
men get both types.
>> Yes. Men can actually get
(17:46):
breast cancer and they can get
both types of breast cancer.
Just like in women. Ductal
cancers are more common in men
as well. So men actually have a
little bit of breast tissue. It
doesn't mature in the same way
that a woman's breast does,
because of the estrogen that a
woman has in her body during
her life. But men do have small
amounts of estrogen, and they
(18:06):
do have a small amount of
breast tissue. So men can
actually get breast cancer as
well.
>> Okay. How does lobular
cancer differ from ductal
cancer? Breast cancer in in a
prognosis. Is it just as good.
Is it different.
>> It's just as good. So when
we compare stage of ductal to
the same stage of lobular
cancer, there's very similar
(18:28):
long term outcomes. We look at
survival disease free survival.
Those things are very
comparable between the two
subtypes okay.
>> And just for prevention what
are some of the risks and how
can we lower our risk of not
just lobular breast cancer but
ductal breast cancer.
>> In terms of reducing risk? I
think one of the most important
things for reducing risk of
(18:48):
breast cancer falls in line
with just improving your
overall health, which is
regular exercise. Eating a
healthy, balanced diet, low in
inflammatory foods, and
maintaining a healthy weight.
That's the best way to prevent
breast cancer from happening.
Other ways to detect it early
is are really screenings. And
so when we think really those
(19:09):
two go hand in hand, one is
prevention and the other is
early detection. But those are
the ways to ensure that you're
optimizing just your overall
health as well as your breast
cancer risk.
>> Okay. Wonderful. Well this
is great advice. Thank you so
much for your expertise and for
taking the time to share this
with us. Thank you.
>> Thank you for having me.
>> And thank you. Christie
Dutton. Lobular breast cancer
(19:31):
now accounts for about 10% of
all new breast cancer diagnoses.
13 Louisville families are now
living in the first phase of
Louisville's Community Care
(19:52):
campus. When it's complete,
it's expected to be a one stop
shop where the homeless can
access shelter, medical
services, and other resources.
The full campus is scheduled to
open in 2027. It's a
partnership between Louisville
Metro and Volunteers of America
Mid-states, with support from
the Kentucky General Assembly.
Our Kelsey starts brings us up
(20:13):
to date on this project.
>> Tamara Rife is the senior
director of Housing Services
for VOA. Mid-states. Thanks so
much for being.
>> Thanks for having us.
>> So tell us about VOA and
your involvement in this type
of transformative project for
Louisville's homeless community.
>> Yeah, sure. It's really an
exciting time for us. I think
at Volunteers of America, we
(20:34):
have been in business for over
125 years. We do lots of things,
but this community care campus
is really focused on our
homeless and housing work that
we do. We have been operating a
family emergency shelter for
over 40 years now, serving 200
families or so a year in our
family emergency shelter. And
the community care campus is
going to allow us to expand
(20:54):
those services, as well as a
lot of other ones.
>> Yeah, a lot of people have
said this, this, this is going
to fill a gap. And we have been
in need for a long time of a 24
hour shelter and other things.
What type of resources are
going to be a part of this
campus that's going to fill
some of those gaps that have
been so long in the Louisville
(21:15):
community?
>> Yeah. So we recognize when
they first put out that there
was a need for somebody to
manage the campus and to offer
ideas for what might happen on
the campus. We knew right away
that the biggest area that we
could serve is for families who
are experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness and housing crisis.
We do that really well. So we
(21:36):
said we absolutely need more.
There are always families on
the waiting list waiting for a
shelter spot to become
available to them. So we said,
let's do another, another unity
House. So we've got unity House
two coming online. We'll be
able to serve 29 additional
families. So not only the 24 we
serve now, but another 29. And
the goal really is that at some
point there is not a waiting
(21:57):
list. And when a family is
experiencing a crisis, they
call and they're told, yes, VOA
has a bed for you tonight we're
going to have a medical respite,
which is its own very unique
space for people who are in the
hospital. And instead of having
to leave the hospital and go
back to a place that is not
clean, maybe not meant for
(22:18):
habitation, really, or a
homeless camp, they can go to
respite where they can heal and
have professionals take care of
them. We get to partner with
Family Health Centers, UofL,
Norton to do that work, and
then also we're going to have
transitional housing for youth
experiencing homelessness.
Those 18 to 24, we get to
partner with YMCA Safe Place,
who is already doing amazing
(22:39):
work, and they get to come on
and have a have a building
where they get to serve their
their individuals in the way
that they do really well. So
we're excited to do that too.
>> So this is designed to sort
of be a one stop shop, right
where everything is included in
this one campus.
>> Yes, because the other
building will be a partner
(22:59):
space as well as VOA
headquarters. In that partner
space, there are lots of folks
who will provide services,
whether that's monthly or
weekly, or they'll have a
permanent space. This is an
opportunity for people to live
and work in the same space
together and be able to to
receive services in a very
unique way.
>> Another part of this is
(23:21):
permanent affordable housing.
Right? And so how does that
play into this campus?
>> So we also have plans to
build 80 units of affordable
housing with an emphasis on
permanent supportive housing.
We are short in this city of
about 1200 permanent supportive
housing units. They are for the
most vulnerable and the hardest
to house. So we there's almost
(23:42):
300 coming online in the next
couple of years that will help
with that gap. But we want to
be a part of creating even more
space. We know that folks need
housing, but also the support
that goes along with it to help
keep them housed. And so that's
always our goal, is to get them
housed and keep them housed.
>> Yeah. Overall, this is a $58
(24:02):
million project supported by
metro government and funds
bipartisan support from the
Kentucky General Assembly as
well. Explain why this is
important not only to
Louisville but the rest of the
state as well. How does it
affect everybody?
>> Well, I think that one of
the things it can do is really
show what's possible. Right? So,
(24:24):
you know, this is a very unique
opportunity for us to do this
campus the way that it is. And
maybe there's opportunities
across the state for smaller
versions. People are very eager
to provide housing, homeless
work in their communities. And
we know that Volunteers of
America does it well. But we
also know that folks on our
campus do their parts really
well. So it would be amazing if
(24:45):
we could replicate this service
in other areas, maybe not on
the same scale, but certainly
with the with the intention of
wraparound services and what a
community campus can really be.
>> Yeah, it could be a model
for the state and maybe the
country too, because there are
so many areas experiencing this
rising number of homeless right
now. Thank you so much for your
(25:06):
time and all you all are doing
for the community. Phase one of
the Community Care campus is on
track, as we mentioned, open
next spring, and that includes
the unity House. That's an
emergency shelter for families
who will have access to case
management and housing
placement as well. Back to you.
>> Thank you so much, Kelsey.
According to the coalition for
the homeless, nearly 2000
(25:26):
people are currently homeless
in Louisville. Well, that will
do it for us tonight. But
coming up tomorrow, lawmakers
will talk about Kentucky's food
stamps or Snap program, and
we'll hear from Kentucky
Governor Andy Beshear during
his weekly news conference. So
we hope to see you again
tomorrow night at 630 eastern,
530 Central on Kentucky Edition,
where we inform, connect and
(25:47):
inspire. And we hope that
you'll connect with us all the
way as you see on your screen.
Facebook, Instagram and X to
stay in the loop on all the
social media channels, send us
a story idea by email to Public
Affairs at ket.org and look for
us on the PBS and the KET app.
Or you can download some great
content at your convenience, on
demand, and watch our programs
(26:09):
in their full length or either
special extras online at
ket.org. I'm Renee Shaw, thank
you so much for joining us
tonight, and we look forward to
seeing you right back here
again tomorrow night. Take
really good care. So long.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!