October 28, 2025 • 26 mins
Changes to public assistance programs are impacting thousands of Kentuckians, Auditor Ball is again calling on the governor to fund SB 151, a Kentuckian is confirmed as a federal judge, Congressman Massie has a beef with President Trump's comment about beef, and meet a group working to save lives across Louisville.
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(00:10):
>> There is no one common face
of hunger. One unfortunate
circumstance. Loss of a loved
one, loss of a job, unexpected
health crisis.
>> And how hungry Kentuckians
face another problem. The
federal government shutdown.
(00:32):
New. The president's call for
more foreign beef has one
Kentucky congressman saying
bull.
>> This is not hard work. This
is hard work.
>> And why 12 community
violence interrupters decided
to share their stories in a new
book.
(00:52):
>> Production of Kentucky
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium Fund.
>> Good evening and welcome to
Kentucky Edition for this
Thursday, October 23rd, I'm
(01:14):
Renee Shaw, and we thank you
for joining us this evening.
Federal changes to public
assistance programs are
impacting thousands of
Kentuckians. That's because of
President Donald Trump's big,
beautiful bill. And more
changes are to come. In
tonight's legislative update,
our Mackenzie Spink tells us
who is no longer exempt from
(01:35):
reporting work requirements and
who may need to start paying
more out of pocket for
groceries.
>> Able bodied adults without
dependents are SNAP
participants who are subject to
more stringent work
requirements and time limits on
receiving support. Congress,
through the so-called Big
Beautiful Bill, expanded the
(01:56):
eligibility for that type of
public assistance. Here are the
changes. Previously, if you
were over 54 years old, you did
not fit into the category of
able bodied adults without
dependents and were exempt. But
the age limit has been extended
to 64. If you had a child under
18, they were considered a
dependent and you were also
(02:18):
exempt. Now, a child is only
considered a dependent if they
are under 14. Exemptions for
veterans, homeless individuals
and former foster youth have
also been removed. Another
change expected to affect over
10,000 Kentuckians involves
households receiving energy
assistance before congressional
changes through House
(02:39):
resolution one or the Big
Beautiful Bill. If a family
received energy assistance
through the program LIHEAP that
automatically contributed to
their Snap eligibility.
>> It used to be that anybody
who signed up for energy
assistance could get the
standard utility allowance. HR
one changes it so that it's
only going to apply to
households that have an elderly
(03:00):
member or a disabled member in
their household. We're looking
at a about 13,000 households
that will receive a small
decrease in their in their SNAP,
and I shouldn't say small,
because some of them will
receive about 24%, will
actually receive 110 to $120
less SNAP per month. Because of
(03:21):
this change in HR one.
>> It used to be that entire
counties could be exempt from
work requirements if the
unemployment rate was too high,
or if an area didn't have
enough job openings. 117
counties out of 120 were
previously exempt, but that
criteria has now changed.
>> So currently today, we do
(03:43):
not have any counties that will
meet that exemption requirement.
Starting November 1st, no
county will be exempt. The USDA
notified us that that exemption
would terminate. And and all of
our all of our counties will
have to do work requirements.
So we we went from 3 to 120 of
of doing the work reporting
requirements.
>> Kentuckians who use the
(04:03):
Kentucky Works program or who
receive cash assistance from
the Kentucky Transitional
Assistance Program or Ctap, are
also seeing reductions in
support. But these changes
aren't a result of federal cuts.
The state's Department for
Community Based Services has
had to rebudget because of
unexpected growth in 2023, CBS
(04:25):
expanded its eligibility for
Kentuckians to access programs
funded by the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families
federal Fund. These dollars
funds Ctap Kentucky Works
Program, and child welfare
programs like Foster Care.
>> When we made these changes,
we projected growth in the
program of about 10 to 15%,
(04:46):
which was within the TANF
budget. The templates could
support because prior to that,
we had decreasing caseloads
year over year. And we had we
had TANF carry forward funds.
>> However, the actual growth
ended up being over 50% and
those carry forward funds will
(05:07):
be gone by fiscal year 2026.
Dcbs attributes the unexpected
growth to the rising cost of
foster care, especially for
high acuity children who need
special accommodations.
>> In 2023. We were just
beginning to see youth with
complex needs or high acuity
youth, in which we could not
(05:27):
find placement or treatment for.
This was a new issue for Dcbs.
We had never been unable to
find a placement or treatment
for a kid in foster care.
>> As a result, families who
receive Ctap cash assistance
can expect to receive 35% less
in support and the
transportation supports in the
(05:48):
Kentucky Works program are
being reduced by 50%. Lawmakers
are concerned about the effect
this will have on Kentucky
families.
>> In East Kentucky. We don't
have public transportation. We
don't have access to
transportation is the number
one issue for families, whether
it's from domestic violence to
health care to getting to
school. So, I mean, I think
(06:09):
long and hard before you
prejudice areas with service
deserts.
>> We do have problems when
food is not in the in the cab,
you know, in the cupboards and
the lights are getting cut off
in the water. And I've had kids
in my home who've come from
those types of homes. My
concern is, is are we are you
all anticipating potentially
even more growth in kids coming
(06:30):
into care because of these cuts?
>> Dcbs says it's working with
families to find them
alternative supports.
>> Whenever possible. We want
to make sure that we are, you
know, getting services,
supports, funding and benefits
to those who need that, who
need them. And when we when we
have the availability to do so,
(06:50):
we do. But we also have
budgetary responsibilities as
well.
>> Dcbs says. To make the
programs whole again, it would
need $32 million from the state
for Kentucky edition. I'm
Makenzie Spink.
>> Thank you. McKenzie SNAP
reporting. Exemptions weren't
downsized wholesale. New
(07:11):
exceptions were actually added
for Native Americans, Alaska
Natives and other indigenous
people. If the congressional
deadlock on the federal
government shutdown continues.
1 in 8 Kentuckians who rely on
government food assistance may
not be able to keep food on the
table, and that could put more
strain on food banks. God's
(07:33):
pantry CEO Michael Halligan
stopped by our studios earlier
today to talk about the impacts
the shutdown is already having.
Well, welcome, Michael Halligan,
it's good to have you.
>> Thank you so much for having
me today, I appreciate it.
>> I know that you've been
talking a lot about this issue,
and I've seen it said or you
quoted that says food
insecurity in central and
(07:54):
eastern Kentucky is already at
historic heights, and a
government shutdown is making
it worse. How bad is it?
>> Well, so let me give you one
illustrative example. Federal
workers and contractors in
central and eastern Kentucky
number about 17,000. Food
insecurity across central and
eastern Kentucky is 280,000. So
(08:14):
that could be another 7.5%
increase to what we're already
seeing, simply based on folks
who all of a sudden are not
receiving pay for the work they
do or for the layoff that
they're facing.
>> Yeah, we are at the time
that we talked, and this will
be on this evening, 23 days
into this federal government
shutdown. I mean, what are you
(08:35):
hearing from folks? And are
they coming not volitionally,
but are they coming reluctantly
or do they feel embarrassed or
what? What are you hearing from
people? Reach out to you,
perhaps for the first time.
>> You know, the range of
emotions that we see is is very
broad. There are some who maybe
have experienced hunger in the
(08:55):
past who understand what to do,
who, who understand that
there's no shame in asking for
help. There's no shame in
getting support to be resilient.
We've got others who are
experiencing this for the first
time in their lives, and they
don't know where to turn. They
don't know how to proceed. And
(09:16):
our role is to help provide
comfort, to help people
understand. The process is here
for you. And this is a hand up.
And it's so important for
people to recognize that a
circumstance like this does not,
does not define a person. Right?
The circumstance is what we're
(09:36):
trying to address so that
people can have a healthy,
active lifestyle for a short
period of time while the
government is shut down.
>> Right. Is this where it
works for they get a week
supply of food, or how? What is
the duration of the help that
you're providing?
>> So it depends on the
(09:58):
circumstances. The data that we
have for food insecurity
suggests, right, that an
individual who needs access
from God's Pantry food bank
through one of our 500 food
pantries and meal programs,
it's about a week's supply. But
part of that is based on the
fact that Snap benefits, right,
are part of the solution.
>> Which we often refer to as
(10:20):
food stamps.
>> As food stamps. Right. And
we know that if the government
remains shut down for the next
week and a half, there is a
significant risk that Snap
benefits will not be funded in
November. So now, individuals
who may already rely on Snap
now, they don't have that
benefit, and they need to rely
on a food pantry or meal
(10:40):
program. It's a compounding
effect. Our job is to make sure
that people get the food they
need to thrive, right.
>> And this is always been an
issue. But do you think there
is more attention to food
insecurity now because of the
federal government inaction and
the shutdown?
>> Well, you know, so I think
there's a couple of things. The
inflationary pressures that
(11:01):
we've seen over the last couple
of years have definitely raised
awareness, right. The
circumstances on people that
are on fixed incomes or who are
in part time jobs are more
dramatic than they used to be
because their budgets are
stretched thinner. So we've
already seen an increase in
awareness. And when a
circumstance like the shutdown
(11:22):
or other economic situations
emerge, that always increases
the awareness a little bit more.
>> And for those, perhaps, who
are relying on your assistance,
you also have to have a supply
to meet the demand. Tell us
about that.
>> So we've been doing a lot of
analysis. Typically, you know,
(11:44):
we carry between 3 and 4 weeks
of food supplies at the food
bank, right. If we see an
increase in demand and our food
supplies remain flat, that
availability of inventory
starts to go down. And so we're
reaching out right now to food
donors and to a lot of
different organizations, and
(12:04):
quite frankly, the general
public, to help us secure
additional resources so that we
can maintain the services that
people need to get the food on
their table so they can be well
nourished.
>> Guidelines for what should
and can be donated and accepted.
>> So from a food perspective,
we can handle all, all types of
(12:26):
food, basically anything that's
sold in a grocery store we can
secure, we can properly store,
we can properly distribute
canned goods, peanut butter,
meat, proteins, fresh produce,
the entire spectrum. From a
financial standpoint, the
research that we've done over
the last couple of days says
(12:48):
that for every month the
government is shut down, we
need an incremental $250,000 of
financial support to be able to
continue to provide the
services that folks need to get
food on their table throughout
whatever the shutdown may be.
(13:08):
>> There are nearly 17,000
federal workers who live in the
50 counties served by God's
Pantry Food Bank. In a related
item earlier this week,
Governor Andy Beshear announced
that his administration has
reallocated $9.1 million for
the Senior Mills program,
following news that area
development districts have
(13:28):
exhausted all previously
budgeted funding for the
program. Kentucky auditor
Allison Ball is once again
calling on Governor Beshear to
fund a new state law. According
to the Kentucky Lantern. The
push came a day after the
governor said he was
reallocating that money to the
state's general fund to pay for
the Kentucky Senior Meal
Program, which ran out of money
(13:48):
last month. Now, Auditor Ball
says the governor should use
the remaining $16 million in
the general fund to pay for
Senate Bill 151, the so-called
kinship care bill that became
law in July and is meant to
help people who care for a
relative's child by allowing
them access to financial aid.
Governor Beshear signed the
(14:08):
bill into law, but argued the
Kentucky General Assembly
failed to appropriate money for
the new law. The US Senate
today has confirmed Kentucky
and Chad Meredith as a federal
judge for the Eastern District
of Kentucky. President Trump
nominated Meredith on June 18th.
Meredith served as solicitor
general in the administration
(14:31):
of Republican Governor Matt
Bevin. He was also a guest on
Ket's Kentucky Tonight. Just
last year, the U.S. military
struck another suspected drug
boat yesterday, killing both
people on board. This one was
in the Pacific Ocean. This is
believed to be the eighth
strike in recent weeks, with
(14:52):
most near Venezuela. U.S.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky
has criticized the Trump
administration's policy on this.
Rand Paul says the policy
doesn't make sense.
>> Number one, there is no
fentanyl made in Venezuela. Not
just a little bit. There's none
being made in Venezuela. These
are outboard boats that, in
order for them to get to Miami,
(15:12):
would have to stop and refuel
20 times. There an all likely
going to Trinidad and Tobago,
which is an island right off of
the coast of Venezuela. So
there's a lot of reasons to be
worried about this. But number
one is the broader principle of
when can you kill people
indiscriminately when you are
at war? That's why when we
declare war, it's supposed to
be done by Congress. It's
(15:34):
supposed to be thoughtful. It's
supposed to be debated. We're
not supposed to do it willy
nilly. And then when you have
war, you just kill people in
the war zone. And even then
there are rules of engagement.
But interdicting drugs has
always been a criminal activity
and a criminal anti-crime sort
of activity where we don't just
summarily execute people, we
(15:54):
actually present evidence and
convict them.
>> Senator Paul is part of a
bipartisan group in the Senate,
planning to force a vote on
legislation that would stop the
U.S. from engaging in
hostilities inside Venezuela
without approval by Congress.
Congressman Thomas Massie of
Kentucky's fourth district is
also criticizing President
Donald Trump this over the
(16:15):
statement that America should
import more beef from Argentina.
Massie says we shouldn't be
buying more foreign beef when
American farmers are struggling.
Here's what President Trump
said on Air Force One.
>> To get beef prices down. The
only price we have that's high
is beef, and we'll get that
down. And one of the things
we're thinking about doing is
(16:36):
beef from Argentina.
>> But my question is, what do
you have to say to us farmers
who feel that the deal is
benefiting Argentina more than
it is them, as they are?
>> Argentina is fighting for
its life. Young lady, you don't
know anything about it. They're
fighting for their life.
Nothing's benefiting Argentina.
They're fighting for their life.
Do you understand what that
means? They have no money. They
(16:57):
have no anything. They're
fighting so hard to survive. If
I can help them survive in a
free world, I happen to like
the president of Argentina. I
think he's trying to do the
best he can. But don't make it
sound like they're doing great.
They are dying, all right?
They're dying.
>> Here's how Congressman
Massie responded to this on the
social media channel X quote,
(17:19):
this is not America First. We
don't need the U.S. flooded
with beef from Argentina after
our cattle ranchers have taken
a beating over the last several
years, bring back country of
origin labels, end quote.
Construction work will bring a
temporary halt to a Frankfort
tradition, Governor Andy
Beshear announced during his
(17:40):
news conference today. No trick
or treating at the governor's
mansion. And that's because of
the construction work that's
underway around the state
capitol and concerns about
safety. The governor hopes
something can be worked out for
next Halloween. London's mayor
(18:08):
is still on the job after the
latest twist in his impeachment
saga. Our Toby Gibbs explains
that and more in this look at
headlines across Kentucky.
>> The London City Council
impeached Mayor Randall Weddle
September 5th. A circuit judge
(18:29):
reinstated him and the council
appealed that decision, saying
Waddell's presence in office is
causing irreparable harm. But
according to the Sentinel Echo,
the Kentucky Court of Appeals
says the council failed to show
any irreparable harm, so it
sided with Weddle, who remains
as mayor. If the federal
government shutdown lasts into
(18:50):
November, it could mean
furloughs and temporary layoffs
at the Department of Energy
Paducah site. The Paducah Sun
says funding shortages will
start November 1st, potentially
affecting thousands of workers
and their families. McCracken
County Judge Executive Craig
Clymer blasted politicians in
Washington, D.C. for putting
party politics above workers.
(19:15):
Fort Knox is concerned about
plans to rezone 26 acres in the
Radcliffe Vine Grove area,
according to the News
Enterprise. The plan calls for
the area to be rezoned from
commercial to residential,
allowing the building of single
and duplex housing developments.
Fort Knox is worried that the
developments will be too close
(19:36):
to a cadet training area.
Earlier this month, Toyota
unveiled a 30 acre solar field
on Lexus Way in Georgetown. The
news graphic says it will
produce about 15,000,000
kilowatt hours of energy each
year. Toyota says it will
provide about 4% of the Toyota
(19:57):
plant's energy consumption. The
Murray Fire Department has a
new firefighting tool. The
Murray Ledger says the
department now has a truck with
a 100 foot tower ladder. Murray
leaders say it will enhance
public safety and bring peace
of mind to people in Murray, as
well as students at Murray
State University. It cost about
(20:20):
$2 million and can pump up to
2000 gallons of water per
minute. With headlines around
Kentucky, I'm Toby Gibbs.
(20:45):
>> You're about to hear the
story of 12 peacekeepers, a
group working to improve
communities and save lives all
across Louisville. It's from
the Louisville Story Program, a
group focused on highlighting
untold stories, and Cities
United, a national group
dedicated to public safety and
violence prevention among
African American men and boys.
(21:05):
>> What we think is that it is
too frequently the case that
our neighbors and our
communities in Louisville have
their stories told for them, or
about them or at them. We
believe that those those
experiences, when we're able to
inhabit or spend time with our
neighbors in a really robust
way, the the sort of empathetic
(21:27):
understanding is greatly
increased and that people are
the experts of their own
experience, really, and can can
tell their stories better than
anyone.
>> I think. I think one of the
biggest drawbacks to the whole
CBI or Community Violence
intervention initiative and
ecosystem is that folks don't
(21:48):
understand the work. They don't
understand the magnitude of the
work or what goes into it.
Community awareness is what I'm
hopeful will come out of the
book, and folks paying
attention to the fact that
there are some people whose
whose whole life is involved in
doing the work and keeping
(22:09):
people alive. My chapter is
basically about work,
programing or working with kids
in all different areas of the
city. I've worked Metro Parks
and Recreation, the Boys and
Girls Clubs, private industry,
churches. So I was more or less
(22:29):
interviewed about how I get
kids to respond and work in a
peaceful way, and how did I get
to bring kids together from all
areas of the city.
>> We put our life on the line
doing this work. I mean, you
know, my life has been
threatened and it's been all
kind of craziness, but you
can't be fearful and be
effective at the same time.
(22:49):
Everybody who does this work
has their own story of pain and
purpose. And so this work is
for people like me who have had
a painful journey, who wanted
to turn around and turn it into
purpose. And so my purpose is I
wanted to be for other young
kids what people were for my
kids in the 90s.
>> If I had to pick a couple of
themes or concerns that come up
in the book across all of the
(23:10):
12 chapters that I think are
most resonant, most important,
it's really that relationships
are the site of the answer to
these problems that people who
come from the communities most
impacted by community violence
have the solutions in ways that
are largely underreported, that
(23:32):
community violence is that the
solutions to community violence
are really a new understanding
of what public health looks
like, and one that's not
dictated by or dominated by,
you know, emergency services or
policing, one that understands
that community health is really
(23:53):
needs to be community led.
>> My takeaway for this book is
that people really know how
dangerous this work really,
really is, and then they know
how invested we really, really
are. And we're not invested
from a financial standpoint.
We're invested from a heart
standpoint. So I tell people
this is not hard work. This is
hard work. And I believe
everybody in that book, their
(24:14):
heart is in this work.
>> Folks are always concerned
with, with the number of
homicides and up and down on
those numbers. And all of those
numbers are people, people we
dealt with over the years. And
the numbers don't even come
close to the people who aren't
part of the numbers. So that's
the story we wanted to try to
(24:34):
help to tell.
>> That's why this book is so
important, is because it's
really difficult to tell the
story of a murder that didn't
happen. And that's what these
folks are out here doing every,
every day. And I really mean
that they're keeping people
from being killed.
>> You know, that's the hugest
(24:55):
part, is to save a life. You
know, everybody knows somebody
that they wish somebody would
intervene with. And we just
happen to be those folks. When
people read this and see this
and there's hope, even the ones
that think that they're dumb
fell so far back, that ain't.
But somebody out there cares
(25:16):
about you. There's somebody
willing to work with you, and
somebody's going to be in your
corner no matter what.
>> The book you Got to be of
the people was released today.
Kentucky edition will be there
tomorrow for the official
Proclamation of Pork Month in
Kentucky. It's an event that
promises to involve more than
(25:36):
just politicians at a podium.
That story and more. We won't
be picking around on Kentucky
Edition. And that comes at you,
of course, at 630 eastern, 530
central, where we inform,
connect, inspire and maybe make
you laugh. We hope that you'll
subscribe to Kentucky Edition
email newsletters and watch
full episodes and clips at
ket.org. You can also find us
(25:58):
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Affairs at ket.org and follow
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to stay in the loop of all the
great programing on Kentucky
Edition, Public Affairs and
across the board here at KET.
(26:19):
Thanks so very much for
watching. I'm Renee Shaw, have
a great night and I will see
you right back here again
tomorrow. So long.
>> There is no one common face
of hunger. One unfortunate
circumstance. Loss of a loved
one, loss of a job, unexpected
health crisis.
>> And how hungry Kentuckians
face another problem. The
federal government shutdown.
(00:32):
New. The president's call for
more foreign beef has one
Kentucky congressman saying
bull.
>> This is not hard work. This
is hard work.
>> And why 12 community
violence interrupters decided
to share their stories in a new
book.
(00:52):
>> Production of Kentucky
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium Fund.
>> Good evening and welcome to
Kentucky Edition for this
Thursday, October 23rd, I'm
(01:14):
Renee Shaw, and we thank you
for joining us this evening.
Federal changes to public
assistance programs are
impacting thousands of
Kentuckians. That's because of
President Donald Trump's big,
beautiful bill. And more
changes are to come. In
tonight's legislative update,
our Mackenzie Spink tells us
who is no longer exempt from
(01:35):
reporting work requirements and
who may need to start paying
more out of pocket for
groceries.
>> Able bodied adults without
dependents are SNAP
participants who are subject to
more stringent work
requirements and time limits on
receiving support. Congress,
through the so-called Big
Beautiful Bill, expanded the
(01:56):
eligibility for that type of
public assistance. Here are the
changes. Previously, if you
were over 54 years old, you did
not fit into the category of
able bodied adults without
dependents and were exempt. But
the age limit has been extended
to 64. If you had a child under
18, they were considered a
dependent and you were also
(02:18):
exempt. Now, a child is only
considered a dependent if they
are under 14. Exemptions for
veterans, homeless individuals
and former foster youth have
also been removed. Another
change expected to affect over
10,000 Kentuckians involves
households receiving energy
assistance before congressional
changes through House
(02:39):
resolution one or the Big
Beautiful Bill. If a family
received energy assistance
through the program LIHEAP that
automatically contributed to
their Snap eligibility.
>> It used to be that anybody
who signed up for energy
assistance could get the
standard utility allowance. HR
one changes it so that it's
only going to apply to
households that have an elderly
(03:00):
member or a disabled member in
their household. We're looking
at a about 13,000 households
that will receive a small
decrease in their in their SNAP,
and I shouldn't say small,
because some of them will
receive about 24%, will
actually receive 110 to $120
less SNAP per month. Because of
(03:21):
this change in HR one.
>> It used to be that entire
counties could be exempt from
work requirements if the
unemployment rate was too high,
or if an area didn't have
enough job openings. 117
counties out of 120 were
previously exempt, but that
criteria has now changed.
>> So currently today, we do
(03:43):
not have any counties that will
meet that exemption requirement.
Starting November 1st, no
county will be exempt. The USDA
notified us that that exemption
would terminate. And and all of
our all of our counties will
have to do work requirements.
So we we went from 3 to 120 of
of doing the work reporting
requirements.
>> Kentuckians who use the
(04:03):
Kentucky Works program or who
receive cash assistance from
the Kentucky Transitional
Assistance Program or Ctap, are
also seeing reductions in
support. But these changes
aren't a result of federal cuts.
The state's Department for
Community Based Services has
had to rebudget because of
unexpected growth in 2023, CBS
(04:25):
expanded its eligibility for
Kentuckians to access programs
funded by the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families
federal Fund. These dollars
funds Ctap Kentucky Works
Program, and child welfare
programs like Foster Care.
>> When we made these changes,
we projected growth in the
program of about 10 to 15%,
(04:46):
which was within the TANF
budget. The templates could
support because prior to that,
we had decreasing caseloads
year over year. And we had we
had TANF carry forward funds.
>> However, the actual growth
ended up being over 50% and
those carry forward funds will
(05:07):
be gone by fiscal year 2026.
Dcbs attributes the unexpected
growth to the rising cost of
foster care, especially for
high acuity children who need
special accommodations.
>> In 2023. We were just
beginning to see youth with
complex needs or high acuity
youth, in which we could not
(05:27):
find placement or treatment for.
This was a new issue for Dcbs.
We had never been unable to
find a placement or treatment
for a kid in foster care.
>> As a result, families who
receive Ctap cash assistance
can expect to receive 35% less
in support and the
transportation supports in the
(05:48):
Kentucky Works program are
being reduced by 50%. Lawmakers
are concerned about the effect
this will have on Kentucky
families.
>> In East Kentucky. We don't
have public transportation. We
don't have access to
transportation is the number
one issue for families, whether
it's from domestic violence to
health care to getting to
school. So, I mean, I think
(06:09):
long and hard before you
prejudice areas with service
deserts.
>> We do have problems when
food is not in the in the cab,
you know, in the cupboards and
the lights are getting cut off
in the water. And I've had kids
in my home who've come from
those types of homes. My
concern is, is are we are you
all anticipating potentially
even more growth in kids coming
(06:30):
into care because of these cuts?
>> Dcbs says it's working with
families to find them
alternative supports.
>> Whenever possible. We want
to make sure that we are, you
know, getting services,
supports, funding and benefits
to those who need that, who
need them. And when we when we
have the availability to do so,
(06:50):
we do. But we also have
budgetary responsibilities as
well.
>> Dcbs says. To make the
programs whole again, it would
need $32 million from the state
for Kentucky edition. I'm
Makenzie Spink.
>> Thank you. McKenzie SNAP
reporting. Exemptions weren't
downsized wholesale. New
(07:11):
exceptions were actually added
for Native Americans, Alaska
Natives and other indigenous
people. If the congressional
deadlock on the federal
government shutdown continues.
1 in 8 Kentuckians who rely on
government food assistance may
not be able to keep food on the
table, and that could put more
strain on food banks. God's
(07:33):
pantry CEO Michael Halligan
stopped by our studios earlier
today to talk about the impacts
the shutdown is already having.
Well, welcome, Michael Halligan,
it's good to have you.
>> Thank you so much for having
me today, I appreciate it.
>> I know that you've been
talking a lot about this issue,
and I've seen it said or you
quoted that says food
insecurity in central and
(07:54):
eastern Kentucky is already at
historic heights, and a
government shutdown is making
it worse. How bad is it?
>> Well, so let me give you one
illustrative example. Federal
workers and contractors in
central and eastern Kentucky
number about 17,000. Food
insecurity across central and
eastern Kentucky is 280,000. So
(08:14):
that could be another 7.5%
increase to what we're already
seeing, simply based on folks
who all of a sudden are not
receiving pay for the work they
do or for the layoff that
they're facing.
>> Yeah, we are at the time
that we talked, and this will
be on this evening, 23 days
into this federal government
shutdown. I mean, what are you
(08:35):
hearing from folks? And are
they coming not volitionally,
but are they coming reluctantly
or do they feel embarrassed or
what? What are you hearing from
people? Reach out to you,
perhaps for the first time.
>> You know, the range of
emotions that we see is is very
broad. There are some who maybe
have experienced hunger in the
(08:55):
past who understand what to do,
who, who understand that
there's no shame in asking for
help. There's no shame in
getting support to be resilient.
We've got others who are
experiencing this for the first
time in their lives, and they
don't know where to turn. They
don't know how to proceed. And
(09:16):
our role is to help provide
comfort, to help people
understand. The process is here
for you. And this is a hand up.
And it's so important for
people to recognize that a
circumstance like this does not,
does not define a person. Right?
The circumstance is what we're
(09:36):
trying to address so that
people can have a healthy,
active lifestyle for a short
period of time while the
government is shut down.
>> Right. Is this where it
works for they get a week
supply of food, or how? What is
the duration of the help that
you're providing?
>> So it depends on the
(09:58):
circumstances. The data that we
have for food insecurity
suggests, right, that an
individual who needs access
from God's Pantry food bank
through one of our 500 food
pantries and meal programs,
it's about a week's supply. But
part of that is based on the
fact that Snap benefits, right,
are part of the solution.
>> Which we often refer to as
(10:20):
food stamps.
>> As food stamps. Right. And
we know that if the government
remains shut down for the next
week and a half, there is a
significant risk that Snap
benefits will not be funded in
November. So now, individuals
who may already rely on Snap
now, they don't have that
benefit, and they need to rely
on a food pantry or meal
(10:40):
program. It's a compounding
effect. Our job is to make sure
that people get the food they
need to thrive, right.
>> And this is always been an
issue. But do you think there
is more attention to food
insecurity now because of the
federal government inaction and
the shutdown?
>> Well, you know, so I think
there's a couple of things. The
inflationary pressures that
(11:01):
we've seen over the last couple
of years have definitely raised
awareness, right. The
circumstances on people that
are on fixed incomes or who are
in part time jobs are more
dramatic than they used to be
because their budgets are
stretched thinner. So we've
already seen an increase in
awareness. And when a
circumstance like the shutdown
(11:22):
or other economic situations
emerge, that always increases
the awareness a little bit more.
>> And for those, perhaps, who
are relying on your assistance,
you also have to have a supply
to meet the demand. Tell us
about that.
>> So we've been doing a lot of
analysis. Typically, you know,
(11:44):
we carry between 3 and 4 weeks
of food supplies at the food
bank, right. If we see an
increase in demand and our food
supplies remain flat, that
availability of inventory
starts to go down. And so we're
reaching out right now to food
donors and to a lot of
different organizations, and
(12:04):
quite frankly, the general
public, to help us secure
additional resources so that we
can maintain the services that
people need to get the food on
their table so they can be well
nourished.
>> Guidelines for what should
and can be donated and accepted.
>> So from a food perspective,
we can handle all, all types of
(12:26):
food, basically anything that's
sold in a grocery store we can
secure, we can properly store,
we can properly distribute
canned goods, peanut butter,
meat, proteins, fresh produce,
the entire spectrum. From a
financial standpoint, the
research that we've done over
the last couple of days says
(12:48):
that for every month the
government is shut down, we
need an incremental $250,000 of
financial support to be able to
continue to provide the
services that folks need to get
food on their table throughout
whatever the shutdown may be.
(13:08):
>> There are nearly 17,000
federal workers who live in the
50 counties served by God's
Pantry Food Bank. In a related
item earlier this week,
Governor Andy Beshear announced
that his administration has
reallocated $9.1 million for
the Senior Mills program,
following news that area
development districts have
(13:28):
exhausted all previously
budgeted funding for the
program. Kentucky auditor
Allison Ball is once again
calling on Governor Beshear to
fund a new state law. According
to the Kentucky Lantern. The
push came a day after the
governor said he was
reallocating that money to the
state's general fund to pay for
the Kentucky Senior Meal
Program, which ran out of money
(13:48):
last month. Now, Auditor Ball
says the governor should use
the remaining $16 million in
the general fund to pay for
Senate Bill 151, the so-called
kinship care bill that became
law in July and is meant to
help people who care for a
relative's child by allowing
them access to financial aid.
Governor Beshear signed the
(14:08):
bill into law, but argued the
Kentucky General Assembly
failed to appropriate money for
the new law. The US Senate
today has confirmed Kentucky
and Chad Meredith as a federal
judge for the Eastern District
of Kentucky. President Trump
nominated Meredith on June 18th.
Meredith served as solicitor
general in the administration
(14:31):
of Republican Governor Matt
Bevin. He was also a guest on
Ket's Kentucky Tonight. Just
last year, the U.S. military
struck another suspected drug
boat yesterday, killing both
people on board. This one was
in the Pacific Ocean. This is
believed to be the eighth
strike in recent weeks, with
(14:52):
most near Venezuela. U.S.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky
has criticized the Trump
administration's policy on this.
Rand Paul says the policy
doesn't make sense.
>> Number one, there is no
fentanyl made in Venezuela. Not
just a little bit. There's none
being made in Venezuela. These
are outboard boats that, in
order for them to get to Miami,
(15:12):
would have to stop and refuel
20 times. There an all likely
going to Trinidad and Tobago,
which is an island right off of
the coast of Venezuela. So
there's a lot of reasons to be
worried about this. But number
one is the broader principle of
when can you kill people
indiscriminately when you are
at war? That's why when we
declare war, it's supposed to
be done by Congress. It's
(15:34):
supposed to be thoughtful. It's
supposed to be debated. We're
not supposed to do it willy
nilly. And then when you have
war, you just kill people in
the war zone. And even then
there are rules of engagement.
But interdicting drugs has
always been a criminal activity
and a criminal anti-crime sort
of activity where we don't just
summarily execute people, we
(15:54):
actually present evidence and
convict them.
>> Senator Paul is part of a
bipartisan group in the Senate,
planning to force a vote on
legislation that would stop the
U.S. from engaging in
hostilities inside Venezuela
without approval by Congress.
Congressman Thomas Massie of
Kentucky's fourth district is
also criticizing President
Donald Trump this over the
(16:15):
statement that America should
import more beef from Argentina.
Massie says we shouldn't be
buying more foreign beef when
American farmers are struggling.
Here's what President Trump
said on Air Force One.
>> To get beef prices down. The
only price we have that's high
is beef, and we'll get that
down. And one of the things
we're thinking about doing is
(16:36):
beef from Argentina.
>> But my question is, what do
you have to say to us farmers
who feel that the deal is
benefiting Argentina more than
it is them, as they are?
>> Argentina is fighting for
its life. Young lady, you don't
know anything about it. They're
fighting for their life.
Nothing's benefiting Argentina.
They're fighting for their life.
Do you understand what that
means? They have no money. They
(16:57):
have no anything. They're
fighting so hard to survive. If
I can help them survive in a
free world, I happen to like
the president of Argentina. I
think he's trying to do the
best he can. But don't make it
sound like they're doing great.
They are dying, all right?
They're dying.
>> Here's how Congressman
Massie responded to this on the
social media channel X quote,
(17:19):
this is not America First. We
don't need the U.S. flooded
with beef from Argentina after
our cattle ranchers have taken
a beating over the last several
years, bring back country of
origin labels, end quote.
Construction work will bring a
temporary halt to a Frankfort
tradition, Governor Andy
Beshear announced during his
(17:40):
news conference today. No trick
or treating at the governor's
mansion. And that's because of
the construction work that's
underway around the state
capitol and concerns about
safety. The governor hopes
something can be worked out for
next Halloween. London's mayor
(18:08):
is still on the job after the
latest twist in his impeachment
saga. Our Toby Gibbs explains
that and more in this look at
headlines across Kentucky.
>> The London City Council
impeached Mayor Randall Weddle
September 5th. A circuit judge
(18:29):
reinstated him and the council
appealed that decision, saying
Waddell's presence in office is
causing irreparable harm. But
according to the Sentinel Echo,
the Kentucky Court of Appeals
says the council failed to show
any irreparable harm, so it
sided with Weddle, who remains
as mayor. If the federal
government shutdown lasts into
(18:50):
November, it could mean
furloughs and temporary layoffs
at the Department of Energy
Paducah site. The Paducah Sun
says funding shortages will
start November 1st, potentially
affecting thousands of workers
and their families. McCracken
County Judge Executive Craig
Clymer blasted politicians in
Washington, D.C. for putting
party politics above workers.
(19:15):
Fort Knox is concerned about
plans to rezone 26 acres in the
Radcliffe Vine Grove area,
according to the News
Enterprise. The plan calls for
the area to be rezoned from
commercial to residential,
allowing the building of single
and duplex housing developments.
Fort Knox is worried that the
developments will be too close
(19:36):
to a cadet training area.
Earlier this month, Toyota
unveiled a 30 acre solar field
on Lexus Way in Georgetown. The
news graphic says it will
produce about 15,000,000
kilowatt hours of energy each
year. Toyota says it will
provide about 4% of the Toyota
(19:57):
plant's energy consumption. The
Murray Fire Department has a
new firefighting tool. The
Murray Ledger says the
department now has a truck with
a 100 foot tower ladder. Murray
leaders say it will enhance
public safety and bring peace
of mind to people in Murray, as
well as students at Murray
State University. It cost about
(20:20):
$2 million and can pump up to
2000 gallons of water per
minute. With headlines around
Kentucky, I'm Toby Gibbs.
(20:45):
>> You're about to hear the
story of 12 peacekeepers, a
group working to improve
communities and save lives all
across Louisville. It's from
the Louisville Story Program, a
group focused on highlighting
untold stories, and Cities
United, a national group
dedicated to public safety and
violence prevention among
African American men and boys.
(21:05):
>> What we think is that it is
too frequently the case that
our neighbors and our
communities in Louisville have
their stories told for them, or
about them or at them. We
believe that those those
experiences, when we're able to
inhabit or spend time with our
neighbors in a really robust
way, the the sort of empathetic
(21:27):
understanding is greatly
increased and that people are
the experts of their own
experience, really, and can can
tell their stories better than
anyone.
>> I think. I think one of the
biggest drawbacks to the whole
CBI or Community Violence
intervention initiative and
ecosystem is that folks don't
(21:48):
understand the work. They don't
understand the magnitude of the
work or what goes into it.
Community awareness is what I'm
hopeful will come out of the
book, and folks paying
attention to the fact that
there are some people whose
whose whole life is involved in
doing the work and keeping
(22:09):
people alive. My chapter is
basically about work,
programing or working with kids
in all different areas of the
city. I've worked Metro Parks
and Recreation, the Boys and
Girls Clubs, private industry,
churches. So I was more or less
(22:29):
interviewed about how I get
kids to respond and work in a
peaceful way, and how did I get
to bring kids together from all
areas of the city.
>> We put our life on the line
doing this work. I mean, you
know, my life has been
threatened and it's been all
kind of craziness, but you
can't be fearful and be
effective at the same time.
(22:49):
Everybody who does this work
has their own story of pain and
purpose. And so this work is
for people like me who have had
a painful journey, who wanted
to turn around and turn it into
purpose. And so my purpose is I
wanted to be for other young
kids what people were for my
kids in the 90s.
>> If I had to pick a couple of
themes or concerns that come up
in the book across all of the
(23:10):
12 chapters that I think are
most resonant, most important,
it's really that relationships
are the site of the answer to
these problems that people who
come from the communities most
impacted by community violence
have the solutions in ways that
are largely underreported, that
(23:32):
community violence is that the
solutions to community violence
are really a new understanding
of what public health looks
like, and one that's not
dictated by or dominated by,
you know, emergency services or
policing, one that understands
that community health is really
(23:53):
needs to be community led.
>> My takeaway for this book is
that people really know how
dangerous this work really,
really is, and then they know
how invested we really, really
are. And we're not invested
from a financial standpoint.
We're invested from a heart
standpoint. So I tell people
this is not hard work. This is
hard work. And I believe
everybody in that book, their
(24:14):
heart is in this work.
>> Folks are always concerned
with, with the number of
homicides and up and down on
those numbers. And all of those
numbers are people, people we
dealt with over the years. And
the numbers don't even come
close to the people who aren't
part of the numbers. So that's
the story we wanted to try to
(24:34):
help to tell.
>> That's why this book is so
important, is because it's
really difficult to tell the
story of a murder that didn't
happen. And that's what these
folks are out here doing every,
every day. And I really mean
that they're keeping people
from being killed.
>> You know, that's the hugest
(24:55):
part, is to save a life. You
know, everybody knows somebody
that they wish somebody would
intervene with. And we just
happen to be those folks. When
people read this and see this
and there's hope, even the ones
that think that they're dumb
fell so far back, that ain't.
But somebody out there cares
(25:16):
about you. There's somebody
willing to work with you, and
somebody's going to be in your
corner no matter what.
>> The book you Got to be of
the people was released today.
Kentucky edition will be there
tomorrow for the official
Proclamation of Pork Month in
Kentucky. It's an event that
promises to involve more than
(25:36):
just politicians at a podium.
That story and more. We won't
be picking around on Kentucky
Edition. And that comes at you,
of course, at 630 eastern, 530
central, where we inform,
connect, inspire and maybe make
you laugh. We hope that you'll
subscribe to Kentucky Edition
email newsletters and watch
full episodes and clips at
ket.org. You can also find us
(25:58):
on the PBS video app and the
KET app that you can download
on your mobile device and smart
TV. We encourage you to send us
a story idea by email to Public
Affairs at ket.org and follow
us on Facebook, Instagram and X
to stay in the loop of all the
great programing on Kentucky
Edition, Public Affairs and
across the board here at KET.
(26:19):
Thanks so very much for
watching. I'm Renee Shaw, have
a great night and I will see
you right back here again
tomorrow. So long.
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