September 17, 2025

The director of the University of Kentucky’s Cannabis Center tells lawmakers the university could soon open an indoor cannabis-growing facility, Kentucky's Senate President says lawmakers are taking note of the impact tariffs are having on the state’s bourbon industry, and hundreds of groups come together in Lexington to collaborate and educate themselves on preventing child abuse.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
♪

(00:07):
>> There has been an enormous
sort of groundswell of
frustration with the way social
media has polluted our
political discourse.
>> That's after the Charlie
Kirk shooting. Can anything be
done to improve social media's
toxic atmosphere?
Another Democrat wants to make

(00:30):
the move to Washington.
>> I don't think that we would
cease to exist of insects were
to disappear. But I do think
that you're talking about a
radically different or
>> and what a decline in the
bottom population means for
you.
>> Production of Kentucky
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium
Fund.
♪

(00:54):
♪
Good Evening and welcome to
Kentucky EDITION for this
Wednesday, September, the 17th
made it to the midweek point.
>> I'm Renee Shaw and we thank
you so much for winding down
your Wednesday with us. The
University of Kentucky is home

(01:16):
to the state's center for
Cannabis Research. It was
established by legislation in
the state House in 2022.
>> During a legislative hearing
in Frankfort yesterday, the
director of the UK Canada
Centre gave lawmakers an update
on its work which might soon
include and indoor cannabis
growing facility. Our Emily
Sisk has the details in
Tonights legislative update.

(01:41):
>> The Kentucky Cannabis Center
is one of 5 facilities in the
country that conducts research
and clinical trials on the
effects of cannabis. Currently,
the center has clinical trials
for patients with cancer.
Opioid use be city and more
as the center director
reported, they're also looking

(02:02):
to grow their own cannabis.
>> We have an indoor growing
facility set up with full
security. It's fully
established.
And our application is in the
final stage at DEA headquarters
in Washington, D.C..
>> The DEA is the Drug
Enforcement Administration
which must approve the growing
applications since marijuana is

(02:22):
classified as a schedule.
One drug. The goal of this
project ultimately would be
to grow cannabis for clinical
trials. And we're particularly
interested in growing rare
types of cannabis that we can't
otherwise obtain. If we're able
to move.
>> From plant to person.
We would be literally one of

(02:43):
the first in the world with
bench to bedside capabilities.
The center is also reviewing
how the increase in cannabis
products like edibles.
>> Could adversely affect
children. THC is the compound
in cannabis which makes users
feel high. Dr out a loan us
said THC, FX, children very
differently compared to adults.

(03:05):
>> There is a big increase
nationwide, but also in
Kentucky of accidental. And
that ingestion of THC, edibles
like gummy bears and cookies
and cannabis does not work the
same way in adults and
children. Children pardon?
I have really pronounced
serious prolong toxicity from

(03:26):
Kansas.
>> Lawmakers said they were
interested to hear more about
potential impacts on Kentucky
children. One Senator Post a
problem with the packaging of
these
cannabis products.
>> Is that any effort going
on nationwide?
A huge this in in less
attractive flee for children.

(03:48):
Quite the opposite.
And is there a way to address
that? Because I mean, we're
actually putting things out
there that look like Candy.
It's just really the wild West
right now. Unfortunately in and
unfortunately, children are
being exposed to this. A
Republican lawmaker said she'd
be interested to look further
to see what the Legislature

(04:09):
could do about making the
packaging less attractive to
children.
>> We did pass a bill a couple
years ago about, you know,
maybe making this a legal for
anybody under 21 that is
supposed to be behind the
counter. They're supposed to be
certain product testing
with that. And, you know, I
think we could go farther to
look at the packaging to make
sure that it's not geared

(04:30):
towards children, Dr about the
loan. Us said she is not aware
of any pediatric deaths from
THC ingestion in the state.
>> For Kentucky edition, I'm
Emily Sisk communication with
them.
>> Thank you. Emily talked
about the said of the they
began the application for an
indoor cannabis growing
facility in September of last
year. They hope to hear back
soon. If the application has

(04:53):
been accepted.
Another Democrat is in the race
for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky
yesterday. It was a former
Secret Service agent, Logan
Forsythe. Well, today, its Joel
Willett and ex CIA agent and
his campaign announcement will
it says the Trump
administration revoked his
security clearance because he's
running for the U.S. Senate.

(05:17):
>> We live in a country where
the president and his director
of National intelligence think
they can use all their power
and all their tools online shut
people up.
>> We disagree with well, it
is from the Louisville area.
He's denouncing the Trump tax
cut bill saying it benefits the
wealthy while cutting Medicaid
for people who KET that hard to

(05:38):
provide for them. Bourbon is
one of Kentucky's signature
industries, but it's been a
rocky year for many bourbon
businesses.
>> Tariffs, declining sales and
other factors are posing a
number of challenges. Kentucky
Senate president says lawmakers
are taking note.
>> We continue to try to do
things to help. The industry is
at the state level. Tariffs are

(06:00):
fatally shoot. And you know,
you agree and disagree with
people. This is one of the
policies I disagree with.
But I understand there's bigger
picture negotiations, but
hopefully that will get
resolved because for 5 of our
really large bourbon,
distillers and manufactures
are being adversely impacted
by it. Anybody that has large
foreign sales, it will be

(06:24):
impacted by that. And so we're
hoping that that goes by the
wayside snow. But if not, we're
going to sit and listen as
legislators to see what we can
do to create the best
environment for our bourbon
industry to thrive.
>> President Robert Stivers
comments came yesterday at the
Heaven Hill Distillery in
Bardstown. He was there with
the mayors of Louisville and
Corbin to celebrate a special

(06:46):
barrel of Elijah Craig bourbon.
The 2 towns came together to
select a barrel for custom
bottles that will be served in
local restaurants.
>> The purpose of this is we
have the mayor of Louisville,
Craig Greenberg and the mayor
of Corman says you're asked MS
to the more
prominent restaurants and

(07:08):
hotels in Louisville, not in
Corbin that come together to
do a barrel pay for we will and
corydon share in that. This is
an ATM to show people in
Kentucky that.
Food and bourbon can bring us
together no matter where we
are in the state in Louisville.
Over time we serve a vital the
when our Martin received from

(07:29):
what I was for the review.
>> Story of eastern Kentucky
in Corbin encourage them to
go there and experience
straight sets in.
>> At the Wrigley, we tell a
story with every dish and the
story is about to be a
connection, which is exactly
the same thing that has made
bourbon country legend.

(07:50):
>> Louisville's Hotel the still
and Marriott downtown along
with Corbyn's the Wrigley will
serve a limited selection
bourbon. Each bottles labeled
displays the name of these
establishments and the story of
how urban and rural Kentucky
came together for this
election.
♪

(08:12):
According to a newly released
survey, roughly 2 out of 3
Americans believe that course
political rhetoric is stoking
violence in America. That's
according to a Reuters Ipsos
poll conducted in the days
following the killing of
conservative political activist
Charlie Kirk, Kirk, whose
political organization Turning

(08:32):
Point USA helped mobilize young
voters to support Trump in the
2024 presidential election was
speaking at a college campus in
Utah when he was gunned down
before an outdoor audience.
While Kirk is credited with
elevating civic dialogue,
especially among young people.
He was also criticized for his
controversial comments about

(08:52):
minority groups. Yesterday I
talked with to pod casters in
Kentucky, Sarah Stewart Hollen
and Beth Silvers who've written
about having, quote, Grace
filled political conversations
and the impact of social media.
>> Sarah, I want to come to
you first, if I may and just
ask you about how you would
rate the America's political

(09:15):
discourse right now,
particularly given the the
incidents of the last few days
with the shooting death of
Charlie Kirk. Where do you see
our conversations heading?
And so many people feel like
it's at a point of no return
when it comes to civility.
>> Well, I'm going to do
something. I don't think I
usually do, which is I'm going
to distinguish between online
discourse and in-person

(09:39):
discourse. So I've had really
good conversations in person
with some people in my life who
are both confused about the
very online discourse. That's
the death of Charlie Kirk and
some people who have stirred up
strong opinions about
>> the the fallout from that
horrific act. And while I have

(09:59):
had strained conversations.
In my real life, they got
somewhere. And so I would rate
the in life in real life
conversations solid. I don't
think there's 7 the online to
scores. You can go below 0.

(10:20):
I think it is. Pains. It is
incendiary. It is on. Bill.
Did and opaque.
And so many ways that I think
has really, really. Contributed
to the conflict. And not move
the conversation forward.

(10:43):
So I guess before I would write
anything and say which where
where's the discourse? Where's
the discourse? Where we're
talking about? Yeah, well, I
think you've hit on both of
those things right in real
life. IRL versus social media.
>> And Beth, Oh, I want to
pivot than ask you the same
question. Where do you see it
now? And are we at a point of
no return?
>> I don't think we're trying

(11:03):
to do discourse on social
media. So I try to remember
that that this isn't the same
thing as having a conversation.
Her son Sam was talking about
how in person you can get
somewhere on to show me a
doubt. And I think that's
because we aren't showing up to
really engage with other people
has told people we're sort of
responding out of stress.
Social media is a place to put

(11:25):
something that is rising up
inside you and maybe don't feel
like you have another place
to put it and it really
flattens a** out to each other.
So I hope that something that
can come from this very tense
and strained moment is a
reexamination of what we're
even trying to do when we pop
onto Facebook or elsewhere.

(11:46):
I have been trying over the
past couple days to post more
than I ever have, which is sort
of the opposite reaction when
I'm on. I would happens.
But I KET thinking, you know
what, this assassination has
shown me is that people are
here and my people are here in
my community, people from
Kentucky from where I live.
People I will see at school
events and at the grocery store

(12:08):
and a church are here on
Facebook and it is meaningful
to them to say things to
pronounce things on Facebook.
And so maybe the good that I
can do in this moment is to
just be there, too. And to try
to have some kind of online
presence that hopefully feels a
little bit more grounding and
connected. And that just tries

(12:30):
to remind people like maybe
you're denouncing all folks
like me. But here I am still
and I'm reading it. And and and
you can look at this beautiful
picture of my yard or something
and maybe we can just try to
remember each other a little
bit better. I don't think it's
too far gone, but I feel like
we are very sick right now.
So I'm just trying to look for
the medicine. Yeah, that's a

(12:51):
good way of putting it back to
look for the Madison, right.
As Mister Rogers was say, look
for the helpers.
>> And we've talked a little
bit about it, cowboy, a
keyboard Cowboys, right where
people can just most exercise
their own form of vigilante
justice through strokes of the
keys. Right. And and some of
the even said maybe we need a

(13:13):
social media timeout.
>> That people need to chill
out, calm down, not stroke.
The keyboards and just let
things simmer and be more
introspective and contemplative
about where we are before we
engage in the social media
platforms. Sarah, do you think
that's a good idea or nay?
>> I would love that for all
of us. I mean, here's the

(13:35):
thing. You know, ask I recently
I did not post on social media
at all the days including
Charlie Kirk's death in the
days after I would get on
there, I would start to type
something then be like now I
don't want to do this. You can.
The day I shared something
really about social media
asking exactly what that said.
What are we? What are we doing

(13:57):
here? And
I would love it that I think
there's a lot of people
interested in that question.
A conversation. But at the end
of the day, these platforms are
defined by an algorithm and
the algorithm is not showing my
moderate. Curious post to
anybody because that's not what
gets clinics. That's not what
gets comments. That's not what
gets the engagement. Instead,

(14:18):
the algorithm a showing to me,
people in my community who have
been fired for post, they said
or people in my community, her
clean out their friend group
and it's like, say, see
conflict, conflict conflict.
And so every time I go on
there, I'm like I just I don't
know. I want to put good things
in the river. I want to be a
person that contributes.
But the the structure of the
platforms themselves same too,

(14:43):
really reward and sort of
Gray's up only one type of
engagement, which is something
I really do want to participate
in. That's what I think is so.
Problematic and its. And if
you want to talk about this,
which I think so many people
do, I don't think it is a bad
instructions say like man that
the way take a timeout or take
a bait. What I know is someone
who's been almost a lifelong

(15:03):
journalist. I think about the
news, agnostics and atheists.
>> Who have been away from news
platforms because they felt
like they could and they could.
Neither see themselves are was
also its doom and gloom that
there were never any solutions
that they felt helpless and
dissent and disengage from
watching news because they felt
what's the point, right?
So are we there yet when it

(15:25):
comes to social media? I don't
think so. I mean, as much as I
would love to have that time
out and to say we are there
>> People have to have a place
to go with these feelings.
And I think until we build up
more robust places within our
communities to take those
feelings and person. We're

(15:46):
going to see this. You know,
people say that they are
agnostic or atheist about the
news. But then you see when
events like this happened, that
they are just repressing it.
They're just saving it all up.
Sarah talks about when she ran
for local office, she would
knock on someone's door and
they would be like relieved
to have someone in front of
them that they could share all
their opinions with. So I think

(16:09):
that.
The question in my mind is
like, what can our civic
structures? What can our
churches do? What can book
clubs do? Welcome libraries.
Do to give people a healthier
place to actually come work.
These things out. What can we
do in our families? We say we
don't like to talk politics.
And so we go to the maximal
conflict on the Internet.

(16:31):
You know, where can we do soft
to medium conflict in person to
try to get better at this.
Yeah, Sarah.
>> That being said, I think
the presidential candidate who
says my one of my policies are
going to be requiring social
media platforms to go back to
the timeline. That's just the
newest thing at the top.
Might we be liked or college?
I don't know. I think that

(16:52):
would be a really popular sort
of policy to say I'm just not
going to let them platform
conflict than to just post
whatever's new us. If you want
to dig down like we have, we
used to have to in the good old
days of Facebook. We go for it.
You know. So I think that there
I have noticed a shift not just
myself, but in the people
around me about how they feel
about social media. In

(17:12):
particular. You have state
after state after state banning
phones in schools. New Spencer
K*** is Cox introducing this
entered this legislation, too,
or passes legislation in Utah
to put age limits on social
media. So I think that there
is a big let's shift. I know I
can feel so helpless and like

(17:34):
nothing changes, but things
do change in the conversation.
People see start to see things
play out in their own life and
want changes in their life as
well. Not just, you know,
incendiary post on Facebook.
They want to see things
improve. They want to see
things get better. And I think
there has been an enormous sort

(17:55):
of groundswell of frustration
with the way social media has
polluted our political
discourse and turned us into
enemies. That I say just
continuing to grow and grow and
grow before audience who may
have missed our interview
together some years back.
The book that you all wrote
together. I think you're wrong

(18:17):
in parentheses, but I'm
listening.
>> And the subtext is a guide
to Grace field political
conversations. This is just
as relevant now is it was when
you all penned it and perhaps
this can all help us as the
holidays approach have some
very civil peace fall holiday

(18:37):
gatherings as we know that
these conversations well still
be simmering and some form.
Sarah and Beth, thank you so
very much for your time today.
And we really enjoyed talking
with you about this.
>> Thank you so much.
♪
♪

(18:59):
♪
♪
>> Kentucky has one of the
highest rates of child abuse
and neglect in the country.
This week, hundreds of groups
came together to share
resources, collaborate and
educate themselves on

(19:22):
preventing child abuse. Arma.
Kansas Bank has more on ways.
The state is improving and
where progress still needs to
be made.
>> For 29 years, the kids are
worth. That conference has
brought professionals from
across the state to boost
awareness and education on how
to KET Kentucky kids safe from
abuse and neglect. We've got.

(19:43):
>> A law enforcement about
social workers. We've got
school folks from the family
resource and youth service
centers. We've got some medical
representatives.
>> Jill, see Fred executive
director of Prevent Child
Abuse. Kentucky has been here
for all 29 conferences. She
says Kentucky has made progress
in preventing abuse before it

(20:03):
happens. One of the areas that
we are doing a better job they
love making sure that we pay
attention to being upstream.
Make sure that before they
enter like the foster care
system for the juvenile justice
system that we provide the
resources that they need in

(20:24):
order to, you know, stay within
the family in a safe and
nurturing way.
>> Governor Beshear was one
of the keynote speakers at the
event. He echoed the success
of Kentucky's prevention
initiatives celebrating the
opening of the Upstream
Academy, which was announced
earlier this year.
>> It is a program that trains
at least one person,

(20:51):
each count to recognize the
spot and then they turn
that are out there for
children.
>> Governor Beshear also
celebrated the work Kentucky
State Police has done in
protecting children online
since 2019 Ksp has arrested

(21:12):
more than 300 online predators
for crimes against children.
He also gave an update on K S
P's canine unit which can
detect hidden electronic
storage devices.
>> They received national
recognition of their ability to
together. Maybe you can help
the rest $129. How about that?

(21:35):
>> Despite the state's progress
and keeping children safe.
Seaford says there's still work
to do, especially in the
digital space
>> just the attorney general's
office alone, the referrals
that they have gotten have
surpassed what they've received
last year. Seaford says the
responsibility to KET children
safe.

(21:57):
>> Lies in the hands of all
Kentucky INS. Our focus is
making sure that everyone knows
that it's the power
of one, meaning that every one
of us, each one of us has the
opportunity to change the life
of a child. Kentucky state
police and prevent child Abuse.
Kentucky have partnered to
develop and distribute free

(22:18):
materials for parents on
subjects like cyberbullying and
online, sexual extortion for
Kentucky edition. I'm McKenzie
spent.
>> Thank you. McKenzie. This
year, the Kentucky General
Assembly passed Senate Bill 73
which explicitly defines
sextortion as a crime increases
penalties and mandate school
education and reporting
procedures.
♪

(22:45):
>> A new study out shows insect
populations are declining even
when people on around the bog
them.
>> Researchers studied and
insect population in a meadow
in a remote area and the
Colorado Mountains for a 20
year period over that time
period. The population declined
by more than 70% without direct
interference from human bangs.

(23:06):
We asked one of the state's
leading entomologists about the
study and why it has many in
this field buzzing.
>> I don't think that we would
cease to exist of insects were
to disappear. But I do think
that you're talking about a
radically different or at that
point. You're talking about a
place that that would be almost
unrecognizable. We need in sex
because in a lot of the food
webs, the ecosystems that are

(23:27):
around us, insects are part
of the foundation plans really
lay the whole foundation for
everything that kind of exist
within the food web. But if you
start to dig into it, one step
up from those plants is usually
a whole host of insects.
I would say broadly, when I've
talked to experts, I want to be
interviewed them for podcast.
Some things about insect

(23:49):
decline. They generally are
saying things like we've seen a
decline of 60 to 70% of the
insect biomass over the last
50 years or so for some
specific groups. There are
papers that seem to show
greater greater loss, ranging
from 70 up and the study they
were talking. And in terms of

(24:10):
the 70 percentile range and
some of these reductions, so
pretty steep. 3 fourths, almost
a full life that they were
being set was being studied
specifically in this paper is
being reduced at the small
location. The study was very
specifically about this kind
of low mountainous area in
Colorado, but it also supports
some of the evidence that is

(24:32):
seen in other areas. So this
paper was very impactful
because it has that 30 years
worth of data to make
comparisons with. But if we do
have that, it's harder to make
these kinds of statements.
One of the big it's a highlight
items of this particular study
is that this is a look at an
area that's otherwise kind of
undisturbed by human
interference. Some of the other

(24:52):
work that's been published on
this. It looks at Agro
ecosystem. So fields of corn
and soybeans and things like
that or places where
urbanization is expanding.
But this seems to be a pristine
habitat and SEC should be doing
fine and what we're what they
show in this paper, at least is
that that doesn't seem to be

(25:13):
the case. And that means that
there are some other effects
that are seeping into this
area. So what could those be?
It could be a whole host of
different things. But the one
the publication seems to arrive
at the strongest is that these
effects, that climate change
might be inducing on the planet
may be driving some of these
factors that are reducing these

(25:33):
insect populations, changing
the climate there to be less
suitable to them. This is a
very specific type of ecosystem
with very specific parameters,
things that live there would
have adopted to those specific
parameters and any sort of
change or per patient in that
it's going to make it harder
for them to be able to survive.

(25:54):
There.
>> The study can be found in
this month's issue of the
journal Ecology.
A single American flag is
traveling. 76 miles through
Kentucky today, Marines are
relying the flag by foot.
See how Kentucky Marines are
honoring Constitution Day.
That's tomorrow on Kentucky
edition. And we hope to see
you then. We thank you so much

(26:16):
for watching tonight. And you
can always KET in touch with us
on Facebook, X, formerly known
as Twitter and Instagram to
stay in the loop. I'm Renee
Shaw. We'll see you again
tomorrow night. Take good care.
♪