September 24, 2025 • 26 mins
New calls for a change in leadership at FCPS, could a fund used to help Kentuckians rent and own homes being doing more, learning way to reduce falling risks, a unique music festival moves to Kentucky, and a Kentuckian is on her way to becoming a NASA astronaut.
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(00:00):
♪
(00:06):
>> It had the audacity to blame
this to sit on stools, staffing
and kids with that lunch money.
>> New calls tonight for a
change of leadership in Fayette
County Public Schools.
>> We just moved an elderly
gentleman whose work dollars
life and never owned a home.
Scott, $1500 a month in
retirement. He's a homeowner.
(00:27):
>> A Kentucky find has helped
thousands rent and own homes.
Could it be doing more?
>> And so my first words on
that phone call where no way.
I mean, I mean, yes, of course.
I'm with the job.
>> Kentucky improves. She's got
the right staff becoming one of
NASA's newest astronaut
(00:47):
candidates.
>> Production of Kentucky
edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium
Fund.
♪
♪
Good Evening and welcome to
(01:09):
Kentucky EDITION for this
Tuesday, September. The 23rd,
I'm Renee Shaw and we thank
you for joining us this Tuesday
evening.
>> More state lawmakers are
expressing concern with Fayette
County public schools. Tonight,
5 Democratic state
representatives serving the
Lexington area say they've lost
confidence in the district's
leadership, including that of
Superintendent Dimitris
(01:31):
Liggins. They're calling for an
independent forensic audit
which they say has been met
with hesitancy from the
administration. The move comes
a day after the school board
approved a new budget of more
than 800 million dollars after
months of uncertainty,
including a 60 million dollar
budget shortfall, attempts to
raise taxes and dipping into
(01:51):
the contents of safe and to
help balance the budget.
Tonight, state lawmakers are
also demanding transparency
and a statement they say,
quote, a controversial new tax
proposal. Conflicting financial
reports questionable spending
and use of eminent domain to
take property from homeowners.
All of these actions undermine
(02:13):
the public trust Fayette County
families and taxpayers deserve
better. They added last night's
school board meeting made it
clear that the community has
also lost trust in the
administration here. Some of
the public comments from that
meeting.
>> There is either incompetence
or mismanagement and neither
is acceptable when it comes
to education.
>> Superintendent Wiggins and
(02:34):
the board have lost trust
within the public in order for
me to truly trust the results
of such an audit would require
that the entire audit be
conducted outside of the entity
of Fcps. You've had the
audacity to blame this divisive
on stools staffing and kids
with that added with lunch
money instead of my Ministry of
Travel, Catering and other lab
(02:55):
are spending such as
monogrammed robes. Some this
level of gross mismanagement
would not be acceptable in the
best of times. But in an era
where the funding of our entire
education is under attack on an
unprecedented level, this
failure demands accountability.
We the people of Lexington
whose taxes fund this
institution demanded full.
>> Forensic external on it from
(03:16):
our community.
>> Later in the meeting,
Superintendent Leganes told the
board some of the comments were
inaccurate.
>> The 60 million dollars was
an anticipated budget
shortfall. There's no missing
money of 60 million dollars.
That was something that said if
we do everything that the board
is that they want to do and KET
(03:38):
moving forward. We will be
60 million dollar short.
So there's never 60 million
dollars missing money that was
said several times earlier.
That was completely inaccurate.
There's no missing 60 million
dollars. That was a projection
based off of what was
anticipated to be spent.
>> Yesterday, 3 Republican
state lawmakers called for the
(03:59):
immediate resignation of
Superintendent Leganes and
Fayette County Board Chair
Tyler Murphy. They accuse the
administration of mismanaging
the district's finances,
creating a hostile
administrative culture and
lacking transparency. This
afternoon, Democratic State
Representative George Brown
of Lexington's in a statement
rejecting calls for Liggins
(04:19):
to resign. He notes the current
administration's academic
achievements and says while
it's clear the district is
facing financial challenges, he
says, quote, the superintendent
has acknowledged where
improvements are needed and
rather than avoiding
accountability. He has welcomed
independent audits and
investigations, end quote last
night on KET Kentucky tonight
(04:40):
during a conversation about
the state's K through 12
education system. I asked
another superintendent Rob
Clayton know Warren County
about the situation in Fayette
County.
>> Superintendent, Clayton,
what kind of message does it
send when state lawmakers call
for the resignation of a
district level superintendent
(05:02):
and the board chair.
>> Well, I think first of all,
it speaks to the times that
we're in for a long time.
Education was non-partisan.
Has come and gone. And so it
doesn't surprise me that
lawmakers would weigh in.
Really. What's most important
is the lens that you're looking
(05:24):
at when you discuss the budget,
you discuss how funding has not
kept up.
>> There is more from our
conversation last night about K
through 12 education. You can
stream that online on demand
at KET DOT org. Slash K why
tonight?
In other news, Kentucky faces
(05:44):
an ongoing housing shortage
and it's expected to get worse.
Housing advocates testified
this week to state lawmakers
that the state's affordable
housing Trust fund needs more
money to make that shortage.
Our June Leffler has more as we
get tonight's Legislative
update.
>> Kentucky's a portable
(06:04):
Housing Trust fund helps
low-income Kentucky INS achieve
home ownership. Not just have a
roof over their heads.
>> We just moved an elderly
gentleman who's worked all his
life and never owned a home.
Scott, $1500 a month.
Retirement. He's a homeowner.
We have another homeowner just
moved in with a single father
with 3 kids moved out of public
housing, wanted to have a yard
(06:27):
for his kids to play in.
>> Kentucky created the Trust
fund in the 1990's. Since then,
the fund has helped build or
repair more than 12,000
affordable homes. It is
supporting the statewide
production of housing for
Kentuckians who are living.
Below 60% of the area. Median
income. Just for reference.
(06:48):
That is for one person. It's
about $35,000 a year they are
earning family of 4. It's
around 50,000 and some change
but nonprofit home builders say
they can't meet the demand.
>> What that gap looks like in
real people terms as I have, we
have 180 families who are
seeking home repair. That's
(07:09):
about 3 years work at our
current rate of production.
So if you call me today and
say your roof is leaking,
you're looking at least 36
months until we can get there
to help you on the home
ownership side. We're working
with 380 families. That would
like to purchase a home.
That's about 6 and a half year.
If you call today.
(07:30):
>> Housing advocates and a
lawmaker from Elizabeth Town
told Kentucky's Housing task
force that to ramp up the work
of these nonprofit developers,
the Affordable Housing Trust
Fund needs more money. This is
a visual analysis of kind of
where the trust fund has been
since it has been operational.
And you can see that its
purchasing power.
>> Has declined over time.
(07:51):
The General Assembly doesn't
allocate money to the housing
trust fund. It sustained on
mortgage, indeed, recording
fees advocates are calling on
lawmakers to increase those
fees to bolster the fund.
We believe that this will yield
an additional 6,000
single-family and rental homes
being built over the next 10
years. Lawmakers question the
(08:13):
feed changes. It's a lot of
times we don't change fees
around here because everybody
here's feet tax. All that stuff
may just have a panic attack.
>> And so it may not do it
often enough. So when we do, we
do do it because a big jump.
>> Fees are concerning to
everybody that votes on them
and also the folks, the
Kentucky Realtors Association
that it suggests that if you
haven't talked to them or
(08:34):
negotiated with them to see how
you can get them to neutral and
not opposed to this would help
the legislation. Obviously to
pass.
>> The fee changes were
proposed and House Bill 5 AB 8
this year. The legislation did
not make it to a committee
hearing for Kentucky edition.
I'm Jen Leffler.
(08:55):
>> Many thanks, June. This is
the second year. Kentucky's
housing task Force has convene
this week. State Senator Robby
Mills said ultimately lawmakers
will have to decide whether to
put money towards housing
solutions such as tax credits,
loans or grant money for
developers. News tonight about
data centers. One county's new
(09:16):
restaurant tax and efforts to
stop the illegal harvesting
of catfish. Our Toby Gibbs has
more. And this look at
headlines around Kentucky.
♪
>> Game Wardens are cracking
down on Kentuckyian suspected
of illegally harvesting and
(09:38):
selling catfish. The Messenger
reports game wardens executed
10 search warrants September 12
from Paducah to Ashland.
Names will be released later.
Colonel Jeremy Macquarie,
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
director of law enforcement
says Kentucky will not allow
the illegal exploitation of
resources to go unanswered.
(10:01):
The Mason County Fiscal court
is thinking about the need for
new regulations. If a data
center opens in the county,
a resolution passed September
9th acknowledges the
possibility of a company
opening a data center. The
company wasn't name the ledger.
Independent reports. The
resolution asks for new
industrial development
(10:21):
regulations and environmental
protections to the added to
the county's comprehensive plan
because of the impact that data
center could have.
♪
The Davis County clerk has
issued more than 6,000 hail
damage titles for vehicles
damaged in a Hail storm.
(10:41):
March. 15th and hail damage
title indicates the vehicle
has damage estimated at more
than 75% of the vehicle's value
that can affect the vehicle.
Owners insurance and the
vehicles. Resale value. Chief
deputy Clerk Mary Jacobs says
it's the biggest number of hail
damage titles she seen in 18
years on the job.
♪
(11:07):
Faruq County Herald News says
Hodgenville made more than
$39,000 in the first month of
its new restaurant taxed a 3%
tax on all ready to eat food
took effect July 1st. The money
goes to the hodgenville Tourism
and Convention Commission which
will use it on projects to
promote recreational convention
and tourism activities.
(11:28):
With headlines around Kentucky,
I'm told he get.
♪
>> The National Council on
Aging is working to reduce the
risk of falls for older adults
here in Kentucky. This is fall
prevention awareness week and
experts are sharing ways to
(11:49):
help adults 65 and older stay
active, independent and safe.
It's part of Katie's the next
chapter initiative focused on
the rewards and challenges of
growing older.
>> So falls are the number one
reason why folks, especially
elderly folks come into
hospitals with trauma. And has
(12:12):
a significant impact on that
population of people. And that
is becoming one of the largest
populations of people we have
in the country that it impacts
their life greatly. It actually
causes death and a lot of them
every year. And so anything we
can do to prevent that is what
we're all about.
>> So UK trauma had reached
(12:34):
out to me because back in 2023
there have been over 53,000
files and that were
unintentional here in the state
of Kentucky. And they had
359 deaths and 2023 related
to these false and most of
those more senior related.
So we wanted to get the word
out and what better place to do
(12:56):
that than the Lexington Senior
Center.
>> General, things that people
can do in their own home about
fall prevention are looking at
the floor. If you have carpets
that are sort of free floating
carpets that can move when you
step on them. That's typically
not not a good thing lighting.
It's really important to have
excellent writing as you get
older, your eyesight gets
(13:18):
worse. We're hearing gets were
some of those cues you're used
to having. You don't have.
And it happens to all of us.
So there's no way to stop it.
So any place where you can put
more like any place where you
can avoid obstacles on the
floor that someone's going to
trip over any time. If you have
gait problems walking problems,
if you need an assist device,
(13:40):
use it and then medications,
talk to your primary care
doctor about all your
medications on a regular basis
to make sure you're not taking
things that could impact.
You are mobility. And then
there are programs out there to
get involved in that can even
be done in your own home
through YouTube and stuff like
that to help strengthen you
(14:00):
were a growing population of
older Almost there. And so we
really need to try to work
together as a community to help
support folks in preventing it.
And if it happens and how we
take care of that, and then if
people are having recurrent
falls, how do we make sure we
support them to not have it
continue to happen? Then it's a
(14:21):
community. It's a it's really a
social thing that we have to
work on because it's not only
is it detrimental to the
person, but it's billions of
dollars a year in health care
costs. Anybody who's fallen and
it's significant. We want them
to come the scene. One of the
most common things is just a
laceration skin tear of some
sort. And those even can turn
(14:43):
into something else. And so we
always are willing to to see
folks, we don't want something
that happened 2 days later that
could have been addressed at an
earlier time and not been so
serious.
♪
>> Tens of thousands of people
(15:04):
made their way to Ashlynn
Kentucky this past weekend for
healing. Appalachia. It's an
annual music festival that
raises money for drug recovery.
And this year was the first
time it was held in the
Bluegrass State. Our Emily
Sisca spoke with the executive
director to learn more about
the cause.
(15:24):
>> We are joined now with Logan
Terry, the executive director
for healing, Appalachia Logan,
thank you so much for joining
us.
>> Yeah, I think so much for
having me.
>> Absolutely. So we know that
you all just wrapped up the
music festival this past
weekend in Ashland. But for
many folks who aren't familiar,
can you tell us what is healing
Appalachia?
(15:45):
>> healing Appalachia. It's
that's the world's largest
music festival is not the only
guy in large music festival
that's focused on recovery.
The music festivals really kind
of established a celebrate
recovery and to bring
connection to providers and to
the community.
>> It looked like the photos
that also was a huge You know,
approximately how many people
(16:07):
showed up this weekend?
>> Yeah, it It was amazing.
And this year we saw
unprecedented and unexpected
growth. You know, we KET that
moving the festival to Kentucky
with potentially make it a
larger festival that we've had
in the past. We fortune have to
sell out completely at 20,000
tickets and then, you know, we
(16:29):
have around 900 volunteers that
help out each year that, you
know, for their time, they also
get free tickets. So we had
anywhere from, you know, 20,000
to probably know 22,000 people
that this year.
>> Well, that is a large
amounts. And you brought up a
good point that in the past
this has been happening in West
Virginia. That's right. And
this was actually rolls first
year coming to Kentucky.
We tell me more about that.
(16:52):
>> Yeah, I think, you know,
originally the organization and
kind of, you know, planned or
thought about, you know, the
potential of moving it in
between West Virginia and
Kentuckyian, you know, this
year, whenever the opportunity
presented itself it's the Boyd
County Fairgrounds. You know,
we're really excited to kind of
take that take that step and,
you know, we're super grateful
(17:12):
that we did. And we heard from
a lot of folks that they were.
>> Very happy to have it in
Kentucky. Obviously 2 of the
biggest headliners were Chris
Stapleton and Teller shoulders
that in the South, drew a lot
of people. And of course, those
are household names for outside
of Kentucky, but they are both
from Kentucky. You know, to me
(17:32):
how significant was it to get
those 2 headliners course.
There are dozens others music,
musicians. How significant was
that to happen? That have been
both be from Kentucky.
>> Yeah, I you know, I think
that it was a massive deal for
so many different reasons.
I mean, it was a massive deal
for for us. So we're super
grateful feeling Apalache is a
music festival. You know, that
(17:54):
is produced from people from
Appalachia, in for Pam, from
Appalachia, you know, and the
president of the organization
and a lavender loves to use
this this term that is actually
perfect to the artist are
typically like second
responders. You know, you think
about first
responders as you know, EMS and
and that the government
stepping in and then a lot of
times directly after that, it's
(18:17):
the artist and the people from
the community that are kind of
stepping in to help heal the
community. And that's kind of
like a perfect picture of what
this was going to go back to.
>> Asking about kind of the
mission we touched on at the
beginning. But can you tell me
more about kind of who or what
organizations would benefit
from what happened this
weekend.
>> What a lot of people don't
(18:38):
know is kind of the impact that
the festival in the
organization is had. I mean,
it's where it's given over a
million
dollars and in grant funding
since it started, you know, and
he's given money to over 100
organizations. The primary
mission is to raise money from
the festival to intern be able
to to grant out money to
recovery programs in the
Appalachian region and across
(19:01):
the United States.
>> That is excellent. And we
have to ask for next year 2026,
any plans you can tell us about
my view. Return to Kentucky.
>> Yeah, definitely. I mean, I
will say that it's definitely
too soon to tell you exactly
what the future holds. But but
I do know is that we absolutely
loved our experience here in
(19:23):
Kentuckyian the collaboration
that we have from the
governor's office, the attorney
general's office and, you know,
Boyd County Department of
Tourism, Leno was completely,
you know, unprecedented.
The amazing part team put a
heck of a lot of work into
making the site what it was.
And so, you know, wouldn't be
surprised where they're going
next year.
>> Overnight, we will KET our
(19:43):
eyes out to sea. Were you all
land for 2026. But Logan teary
with healing. Appalachia, thank
you so much for your time and
tell us everything about it.
>> Yeah, thank you so much from
Italy.
>> Thank you, Emily. Let's hope
they come back next year.
The first healing Appalachian
Music Festival was held in
2018. Tyler Childers who
(20:03):
headlined this year's show is
also a co-founder of the
organization. The group is
still determining exactly how
much money was raised over the
weekend.
♪
♪
(20:24):
>> NASA has announced its
newest class of astronaut
candidates and it includes a
Kentucky man. 34 year-old Aaron
over cash, a U.S. Navy
lieutenant commander from
Oldham County was one of 10
candidates elected according to
NASA, more than 8,000 people
applied, we got the opportunity
to speak with over cash the day
of the announcement she shared
(20:45):
how she reacted when she found
out who made the cut and how
growing up in Kentucky helped
put her on the path to becoming
an astronaut.
>> I was the kid who was glued
to the airplane window when I
was like 6 or 8 years old and
just found it fascinating to
watch the world go by. So
through all of my years,
(21:06):
growing up, I remember being
obsessed with aviation and
Rocketship season. The
shuttle's remember like.
>> VHS tapes that they will the
TV into the Classroom. Watch
the BS. HS tapes and shuttle
launches and landings.
>> That was always inspiring.
And I think, you know, aviation
space flight always represented
the supply and to do something
that human beings that was
(21:28):
impossible in like we figured
it out. We did it. We did it
successfully. We did it.
Well, you know, there are
generations of humans who been
inspired by that included take
7 born and raised in Goshen,
Kentucky, set on county just
right outside of local metro
area kind and suburbs 20
minutes in one direction was
Garfield Horse Farms and 20
minutes. The other direction
(21:48):
was down 10 local. So it's
always very grateful to be.
>> Exposed to a lot of
different ways of life and
different people in those
areas. I enjoy math and
science. I had a lot of great
teachers in the Oldham County
School System who challenge me,
you know, get enough was never
good enough. You know, you can
always do better. Always
achieve the best you can.
And with that. Kind of guide
(22:10):
you in life.
I want to be honest along the
way, like being a national is
just so uncommon. It's such a
hard job to get that. I didn't
necessarily let that drive my
career decisions, but kind of
every step of the way following
the theme of like hard work.
Kids see opportunities, aren't
(22:30):
you opportunities? You the next
door would open and that would
be interesting and I would
pursue it. So we know that was
true. Fly a few teams and that
was true of. Applying to test
pilot school and then applying
to next. And you know, you're
like, well, well, I applied
almost a year and a half ago
along with everybody else.
I'm now in the test community
and scientists and, you know,
every EPA, so many people have
(22:51):
this dream of being an
astronaut. So they were over
1000 applicants and early 2024.
And I got the call in mid-July.
And I was about a week away
from joining my next squad are
on deployment. So I literally
had my see bags packed in my
bedroom. I'm like pre packing
way. They phrase there.
Statement to me was effectively
(23:11):
like day. You know, we want you
to come join us. Do you still
want the job? And so my first
words on that phone call where?
>> Now way?
>> I mean, I mean, yes, of
course, I'm of the job. But
like,
>> no way.
>> So it's a pretty special
moment.
>> From Goshen, Kentucky,
Aaron, over cash.
♪
(23:34):
>> We're the 24th group of
people to be selected to be
astronauts. So last week we
all show up here are brand new
to the job and we met each
other for the first time in.
I just cannot emphasize enough
how incredible my peers are.
We are starting rational
candidate training program.
So we've got 2 years coming
out of skills related to human
spaceflight. So we're going to
(23:56):
go do land survival in
environments that mimic where
we might find ourselves either
in orbit or on the lunar or
Martian surface. We're going to
go do scuba dive training and
then put on a spacesuit and a
scuba diving in the space.
It in the giant pool here at
Johnson Space Center where they
have the whole space station
mockup under water and you get
to learn skills of had
(24:17):
amendment at the lake tools
had to move your body. How to
navigate around the space
station. Do all kinds of
maintenance and life support.
And experimentation in that
environment. Simulating 0 G.
We're gonna do some geology
field camp. Which is something
totally new to me. Those of
us who are pilots will get to
learn how to pilot the T 38,
(24:38):
which is sad to see supersonic
jet that NASA has here for
training. And then some point
our peers who are not pilots,
they also get qualified in the
back seat. So we end up flying
together in supersonic
aircraft. I am excited for the
challenge. You know, the hard
things in life are often the
best things in life firmly
(24:58):
believe that. And I'm I'm I
know that we will have
challenging times the class
and that's national office in
the future. But I'm also.
I'm just extremely confident
that we are going to be those
challenges really well as a
team.
>> Well, we are team era and
congrats to her. After
graduating over cash and the
other candidates could be
(25:19):
eligible to go on missions,
including trips to the moon
and possibly Mars. Here's
hoping you go, girl. Well,
that'll do it for us tonight.
We're so glad that you're
joining us and we hope that to
be right back with us again
tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern
5.30, central on Kentucky
EDITION. We're we inform
connect and inspire will help
you connect with us. All the
(25:40):
ways you see on your screen.
Facebook X, formerly known as
Twitter and Instagram to stay
in the loop and see some great
contact. You can also find us
on KET online. You can see
stories and clips there as
well. And look for us on the
PBS and KET app for more great
content.
>> Thank you so very much for
joining us and send us a story
idea because we love hearing
(26:02):
from you by email at public
Affairs Ktv Dot Org. I'm Renee
Shaw. Thanks for watching.
And I will see you right back
here again tomorrow night to
cut hair.
♪
♪
♪
(26:23):
♪
♪
♪
(00:06):
>> It had the audacity to blame
this to sit on stools, staffing
and kids with that lunch money.
>> New calls tonight for a
change of leadership in Fayette
County Public Schools.
>> We just moved an elderly
gentleman whose work dollars
life and never owned a home.
Scott, $1500 a month in
retirement. He's a homeowner.
(00:27):
>> A Kentucky find has helped
thousands rent and own homes.
Could it be doing more?
>> And so my first words on
that phone call where no way.
I mean, I mean, yes, of course.
I'm with the job.
>> Kentucky improves. She's got
the right staff becoming one of
NASA's newest astronaut
(00:47):
candidates.
>> Production of Kentucky
edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium
Fund.
♪
♪
Good Evening and welcome to
(01:09):
Kentucky EDITION for this
Tuesday, September. The 23rd,
I'm Renee Shaw and we thank
you for joining us this Tuesday
evening.
>> More state lawmakers are
expressing concern with Fayette
County public schools. Tonight,
5 Democratic state
representatives serving the
Lexington area say they've lost
confidence in the district's
leadership, including that of
Superintendent Dimitris
(01:31):
Liggins. They're calling for an
independent forensic audit
which they say has been met
with hesitancy from the
administration. The move comes
a day after the school board
approved a new budget of more
than 800 million dollars after
months of uncertainty,
including a 60 million dollar
budget shortfall, attempts to
raise taxes and dipping into
(01:51):
the contents of safe and to
help balance the budget.
Tonight, state lawmakers are
also demanding transparency
and a statement they say,
quote, a controversial new tax
proposal. Conflicting financial
reports questionable spending
and use of eminent domain to
take property from homeowners.
All of these actions undermine
(02:13):
the public trust Fayette County
families and taxpayers deserve
better. They added last night's
school board meeting made it
clear that the community has
also lost trust in the
administration here. Some of
the public comments from that
meeting.
>> There is either incompetence
or mismanagement and neither
is acceptable when it comes
to education.
>> Superintendent Wiggins and
(02:34):
the board have lost trust
within the public in order for
me to truly trust the results
of such an audit would require
that the entire audit be
conducted outside of the entity
of Fcps. You've had the
audacity to blame this divisive
on stools staffing and kids
with that added with lunch
money instead of my Ministry of
Travel, Catering and other lab
(02:55):
are spending such as
monogrammed robes. Some this
level of gross mismanagement
would not be acceptable in the
best of times. But in an era
where the funding of our entire
education is under attack on an
unprecedented level, this
failure demands accountability.
We the people of Lexington
whose taxes fund this
institution demanded full.
>> Forensic external on it from
(03:16):
our community.
>> Later in the meeting,
Superintendent Leganes told the
board some of the comments were
inaccurate.
>> The 60 million dollars was
an anticipated budget
shortfall. There's no missing
money of 60 million dollars.
That was something that said if
we do everything that the board
is that they want to do and KET
(03:38):
moving forward. We will be
60 million dollar short.
So there's never 60 million
dollars missing money that was
said several times earlier.
That was completely inaccurate.
There's no missing 60 million
dollars. That was a projection
based off of what was
anticipated to be spent.
>> Yesterday, 3 Republican
state lawmakers called for the
(03:59):
immediate resignation of
Superintendent Leganes and
Fayette County Board Chair
Tyler Murphy. They accuse the
administration of mismanaging
the district's finances,
creating a hostile
administrative culture and
lacking transparency. This
afternoon, Democratic State
Representative George Brown
of Lexington's in a statement
rejecting calls for Liggins
(04:19):
to resign. He notes the current
administration's academic
achievements and says while
it's clear the district is
facing financial challenges, he
says, quote, the superintendent
has acknowledged where
improvements are needed and
rather than avoiding
accountability. He has welcomed
independent audits and
investigations, end quote last
night on KET Kentucky tonight
(04:40):
during a conversation about
the state's K through 12
education system. I asked
another superintendent Rob
Clayton know Warren County
about the situation in Fayette
County.
>> Superintendent, Clayton,
what kind of message does it
send when state lawmakers call
for the resignation of a
district level superintendent
(05:02):
and the board chair.
>> Well, I think first of all,
it speaks to the times that
we're in for a long time.
Education was non-partisan.
Has come and gone. And so it
doesn't surprise me that
lawmakers would weigh in.
Really. What's most important
is the lens that you're looking
(05:24):
at when you discuss the budget,
you discuss how funding has not
kept up.
>> There is more from our
conversation last night about K
through 12 education. You can
stream that online on demand
at KET DOT org. Slash K why
tonight?
In other news, Kentucky faces
(05:44):
an ongoing housing shortage
and it's expected to get worse.
Housing advocates testified
this week to state lawmakers
that the state's affordable
housing Trust fund needs more
money to make that shortage.
Our June Leffler has more as we
get tonight's Legislative
update.
>> Kentucky's a portable
(06:04):
Housing Trust fund helps
low-income Kentucky INS achieve
home ownership. Not just have a
roof over their heads.
>> We just moved an elderly
gentleman who's worked all his
life and never owned a home.
Scott, $1500 a month.
Retirement. He's a homeowner.
We have another homeowner just
moved in with a single father
with 3 kids moved out of public
housing, wanted to have a yard
(06:27):
for his kids to play in.
>> Kentucky created the Trust
fund in the 1990's. Since then,
the fund has helped build or
repair more than 12,000
affordable homes. It is
supporting the statewide
production of housing for
Kentuckians who are living.
Below 60% of the area. Median
income. Just for reference.
(06:48):
That is for one person. It's
about $35,000 a year they are
earning family of 4. It's
around 50,000 and some change
but nonprofit home builders say
they can't meet the demand.
>> What that gap looks like in
real people terms as I have, we
have 180 families who are
seeking home repair. That's
(07:09):
about 3 years work at our
current rate of production.
So if you call me today and
say your roof is leaking,
you're looking at least 36
months until we can get there
to help you on the home
ownership side. We're working
with 380 families. That would
like to purchase a home.
That's about 6 and a half year.
If you call today.
(07:30):
>> Housing advocates and a
lawmaker from Elizabeth Town
told Kentucky's Housing task
force that to ramp up the work
of these nonprofit developers,
the Affordable Housing Trust
Fund needs more money. This is
a visual analysis of kind of
where the trust fund has been
since it has been operational.
And you can see that its
purchasing power.
>> Has declined over time.
(07:51):
The General Assembly doesn't
allocate money to the housing
trust fund. It sustained on
mortgage, indeed, recording
fees advocates are calling on
lawmakers to increase those
fees to bolster the fund.
We believe that this will yield
an additional 6,000
single-family and rental homes
being built over the next 10
years. Lawmakers question the
(08:13):
feed changes. It's a lot of
times we don't change fees
around here because everybody
here's feet tax. All that stuff
may just have a panic attack.
>> And so it may not do it
often enough. So when we do, we
do do it because a big jump.
>> Fees are concerning to
everybody that votes on them
and also the folks, the
Kentucky Realtors Association
that it suggests that if you
haven't talked to them or
(08:34):
negotiated with them to see how
you can get them to neutral and
not opposed to this would help
the legislation. Obviously to
pass.
>> The fee changes were
proposed and House Bill 5 AB 8
this year. The legislation did
not make it to a committee
hearing for Kentucky edition.
I'm Jen Leffler.
(08:55):
>> Many thanks, June. This is
the second year. Kentucky's
housing task Force has convene
this week. State Senator Robby
Mills said ultimately lawmakers
will have to decide whether to
put money towards housing
solutions such as tax credits,
loans or grant money for
developers. News tonight about
data centers. One county's new
(09:16):
restaurant tax and efforts to
stop the illegal harvesting
of catfish. Our Toby Gibbs has
more. And this look at
headlines around Kentucky.
♪
>> Game Wardens are cracking
down on Kentuckyian suspected
of illegally harvesting and
(09:38):
selling catfish. The Messenger
reports game wardens executed
10 search warrants September 12
from Paducah to Ashland.
Names will be released later.
Colonel Jeremy Macquarie,
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
director of law enforcement
says Kentucky will not allow
the illegal exploitation of
resources to go unanswered.
(10:01):
The Mason County Fiscal court
is thinking about the need for
new regulations. If a data
center opens in the county,
a resolution passed September
9th acknowledges the
possibility of a company
opening a data center. The
company wasn't name the ledger.
Independent reports. The
resolution asks for new
industrial development
(10:21):
regulations and environmental
protections to the added to
the county's comprehensive plan
because of the impact that data
center could have.
♪
The Davis County clerk has
issued more than 6,000 hail
damage titles for vehicles
damaged in a Hail storm.
(10:41):
March. 15th and hail damage
title indicates the vehicle
has damage estimated at more
than 75% of the vehicle's value
that can affect the vehicle.
Owners insurance and the
vehicles. Resale value. Chief
deputy Clerk Mary Jacobs says
it's the biggest number of hail
damage titles she seen in 18
years on the job.
♪
(11:07):
Faruq County Herald News says
Hodgenville made more than
$39,000 in the first month of
its new restaurant taxed a 3%
tax on all ready to eat food
took effect July 1st. The money
goes to the hodgenville Tourism
and Convention Commission which
will use it on projects to
promote recreational convention
and tourism activities.
(11:28):
With headlines around Kentucky,
I'm told he get.
♪
>> The National Council on
Aging is working to reduce the
risk of falls for older adults
here in Kentucky. This is fall
prevention awareness week and
experts are sharing ways to
(11:49):
help adults 65 and older stay
active, independent and safe.
It's part of Katie's the next
chapter initiative focused on
the rewards and challenges of
growing older.
>> So falls are the number one
reason why folks, especially
elderly folks come into
hospitals with trauma. And has
(12:12):
a significant impact on that
population of people. And that
is becoming one of the largest
populations of people we have
in the country that it impacts
their life greatly. It actually
causes death and a lot of them
every year. And so anything we
can do to prevent that is what
we're all about.
>> So UK trauma had reached
(12:34):
out to me because back in 2023
there have been over 53,000
files and that were
unintentional here in the state
of Kentucky. And they had
359 deaths and 2023 related
to these false and most of
those more senior related.
So we wanted to get the word
out and what better place to do
(12:56):
that than the Lexington Senior
Center.
>> General, things that people
can do in their own home about
fall prevention are looking at
the floor. If you have carpets
that are sort of free floating
carpets that can move when you
step on them. That's typically
not not a good thing lighting.
It's really important to have
excellent writing as you get
older, your eyesight gets
(13:18):
worse. We're hearing gets were
some of those cues you're used
to having. You don't have.
And it happens to all of us.
So there's no way to stop it.
So any place where you can put
more like any place where you
can avoid obstacles on the
floor that someone's going to
trip over any time. If you have
gait problems walking problems,
if you need an assist device,
(13:40):
use it and then medications,
talk to your primary care
doctor about all your
medications on a regular basis
to make sure you're not taking
things that could impact.
You are mobility. And then
there are programs out there to
get involved in that can even
be done in your own home
through YouTube and stuff like
that to help strengthen you
(14:00):
were a growing population of
older Almost there. And so we
really need to try to work
together as a community to help
support folks in preventing it.
And if it happens and how we
take care of that, and then if
people are having recurrent
falls, how do we make sure we
support them to not have it
continue to happen? Then it's a
(14:21):
community. It's a it's really a
social thing that we have to
work on because it's not only
is it detrimental to the
person, but it's billions of
dollars a year in health care
costs. Anybody who's fallen and
it's significant. We want them
to come the scene. One of the
most common things is just a
laceration skin tear of some
sort. And those even can turn
(14:43):
into something else. And so we
always are willing to to see
folks, we don't want something
that happened 2 days later that
could have been addressed at an
earlier time and not been so
serious.
♪
>> Tens of thousands of people
(15:04):
made their way to Ashlynn
Kentucky this past weekend for
healing. Appalachia. It's an
annual music festival that
raises money for drug recovery.
And this year was the first
time it was held in the
Bluegrass State. Our Emily
Sisca spoke with the executive
director to learn more about
the cause.
(15:24):
>> We are joined now with Logan
Terry, the executive director
for healing, Appalachia Logan,
thank you so much for joining
us.
>> Yeah, I think so much for
having me.
>> Absolutely. So we know that
you all just wrapped up the
music festival this past
weekend in Ashland. But for
many folks who aren't familiar,
can you tell us what is healing
Appalachia?
(15:45):
>> healing Appalachia. It's
that's the world's largest
music festival is not the only
guy in large music festival
that's focused on recovery.
The music festivals really kind
of established a celebrate
recovery and to bring
connection to providers and to
the community.
>> It looked like the photos
that also was a huge You know,
approximately how many people
(16:07):
showed up this weekend?
>> Yeah, it It was amazing.
And this year we saw
unprecedented and unexpected
growth. You know, we KET that
moving the festival to Kentucky
with potentially make it a
larger festival that we've had
in the past. We fortune have to
sell out completely at 20,000
tickets and then, you know, we
(16:29):
have around 900 volunteers that
help out each year that, you
know, for their time, they also
get free tickets. So we had
anywhere from, you know, 20,000
to probably know 22,000 people
that this year.
>> Well, that is a large
amounts. And you brought up a
good point that in the past
this has been happening in West
Virginia. That's right. And
this was actually rolls first
year coming to Kentucky.
We tell me more about that.
(16:52):
>> Yeah, I think, you know,
originally the organization and
kind of, you know, planned or
thought about, you know, the
potential of moving it in
between West Virginia and
Kentuckyian, you know, this
year, whenever the opportunity
presented itself it's the Boyd
County Fairgrounds. You know,
we're really excited to kind of
take that take that step and,
you know, we're super grateful
(17:12):
that we did. And we heard from
a lot of folks that they were.
>> Very happy to have it in
Kentucky. Obviously 2 of the
biggest headliners were Chris
Stapleton and Teller shoulders
that in the South, drew a lot
of people. And of course, those
are household names for outside
of Kentucky, but they are both
from Kentucky. You know, to me
(17:32):
how significant was it to get
those 2 headliners course.
There are dozens others music,
musicians. How significant was
that to happen? That have been
both be from Kentucky.
>> Yeah, I you know, I think
that it was a massive deal for
so many different reasons.
I mean, it was a massive deal
for for us. So we're super
grateful feeling Apalache is a
music festival. You know, that
(17:54):
is produced from people from
Appalachia, in for Pam, from
Appalachia, you know, and the
president of the organization
and a lavender loves to use
this this term that is actually
perfect to the artist are
typically like second
responders. You know, you think
about first
responders as you know, EMS and
and that the government
stepping in and then a lot of
times directly after that, it's
(18:17):
the artist and the people from
the community that are kind of
stepping in to help heal the
community. And that's kind of
like a perfect picture of what
this was going to go back to.
>> Asking about kind of the
mission we touched on at the
beginning. But can you tell me
more about kind of who or what
organizations would benefit
from what happened this
weekend.
>> What a lot of people don't
(18:38):
know is kind of the impact that
the festival in the
organization is had. I mean,
it's where it's given over a
million
dollars and in grant funding
since it started, you know, and
he's given money to over 100
organizations. The primary
mission is to raise money from
the festival to intern be able
to to grant out money to
recovery programs in the
Appalachian region and across
(19:01):
the United States.
>> That is excellent. And we
have to ask for next year 2026,
any plans you can tell us about
my view. Return to Kentucky.
>> Yeah, definitely. I mean, I
will say that it's definitely
too soon to tell you exactly
what the future holds. But but
I do know is that we absolutely
loved our experience here in
(19:23):
Kentuckyian the collaboration
that we have from the
governor's office, the attorney
general's office and, you know,
Boyd County Department of
Tourism, Leno was completely,
you know, unprecedented.
The amazing part team put a
heck of a lot of work into
making the site what it was.
And so, you know, wouldn't be
surprised where they're going
next year.
>> Overnight, we will KET our
(19:43):
eyes out to sea. Were you all
land for 2026. But Logan teary
with healing. Appalachia, thank
you so much for your time and
tell us everything about it.
>> Yeah, thank you so much from
Italy.
>> Thank you, Emily. Let's hope
they come back next year.
The first healing Appalachian
Music Festival was held in
2018. Tyler Childers who
(20:03):
headlined this year's show is
also a co-founder of the
organization. The group is
still determining exactly how
much money was raised over the
weekend.
♪
♪
(20:24):
>> NASA has announced its
newest class of astronaut
candidates and it includes a
Kentucky man. 34 year-old Aaron
over cash, a U.S. Navy
lieutenant commander from
Oldham County was one of 10
candidates elected according to
NASA, more than 8,000 people
applied, we got the opportunity
to speak with over cash the day
of the announcement she shared
(20:45):
how she reacted when she found
out who made the cut and how
growing up in Kentucky helped
put her on the path to becoming
an astronaut.
>> I was the kid who was glued
to the airplane window when I
was like 6 or 8 years old and
just found it fascinating to
watch the world go by. So
through all of my years,
(21:06):
growing up, I remember being
obsessed with aviation and
Rocketship season. The
shuttle's remember like.
>> VHS tapes that they will the
TV into the Classroom. Watch
the BS. HS tapes and shuttle
launches and landings.
>> That was always inspiring.
And I think, you know, aviation
space flight always represented
the supply and to do something
that human beings that was
(21:28):
impossible in like we figured
it out. We did it. We did it
successfully. We did it.
Well, you know, there are
generations of humans who been
inspired by that included take
7 born and raised in Goshen,
Kentucky, set on county just
right outside of local metro
area kind and suburbs 20
minutes in one direction was
Garfield Horse Farms and 20
minutes. The other direction
(21:48):
was down 10 local. So it's
always very grateful to be.
>> Exposed to a lot of
different ways of life and
different people in those
areas. I enjoy math and
science. I had a lot of great
teachers in the Oldham County
School System who challenge me,
you know, get enough was never
good enough. You know, you can
always do better. Always
achieve the best you can.
And with that. Kind of guide
(22:10):
you in life.
I want to be honest along the
way, like being a national is
just so uncommon. It's such a
hard job to get that. I didn't
necessarily let that drive my
career decisions, but kind of
every step of the way following
the theme of like hard work.
Kids see opportunities, aren't
(22:30):
you opportunities? You the next
door would open and that would
be interesting and I would
pursue it. So we know that was
true. Fly a few teams and that
was true of. Applying to test
pilot school and then applying
to next. And you know, you're
like, well, well, I applied
almost a year and a half ago
along with everybody else.
I'm now in the test community
and scientists and, you know,
every EPA, so many people have
(22:51):
this dream of being an
astronaut. So they were over
1000 applicants and early 2024.
And I got the call in mid-July.
And I was about a week away
from joining my next squad are
on deployment. So I literally
had my see bags packed in my
bedroom. I'm like pre packing
way. They phrase there.
Statement to me was effectively
(23:11):
like day. You know, we want you
to come join us. Do you still
want the job? And so my first
words on that phone call where?
>> Now way?
>> I mean, I mean, yes, of
course, I'm of the job. But
like,
>> no way.
>> So it's a pretty special
moment.
>> From Goshen, Kentucky,
Aaron, over cash.
♪
(23:34):
>> We're the 24th group of
people to be selected to be
astronauts. So last week we
all show up here are brand new
to the job and we met each
other for the first time in.
I just cannot emphasize enough
how incredible my peers are.
We are starting rational
candidate training program.
So we've got 2 years coming
out of skills related to human
spaceflight. So we're going to
(23:56):
go do land survival in
environments that mimic where
we might find ourselves either
in orbit or on the lunar or
Martian surface. We're going to
go do scuba dive training and
then put on a spacesuit and a
scuba diving in the space.
It in the giant pool here at
Johnson Space Center where they
have the whole space station
mockup under water and you get
to learn skills of had
(24:17):
amendment at the lake tools
had to move your body. How to
navigate around the space
station. Do all kinds of
maintenance and life support.
And experimentation in that
environment. Simulating 0 G.
We're gonna do some geology
field camp. Which is something
totally new to me. Those of
us who are pilots will get to
learn how to pilot the T 38,
(24:38):
which is sad to see supersonic
jet that NASA has here for
training. And then some point
our peers who are not pilots,
they also get qualified in the
back seat. So we end up flying
together in supersonic
aircraft. I am excited for the
challenge. You know, the hard
things in life are often the
best things in life firmly
(24:58):
believe that. And I'm I'm I
know that we will have
challenging times the class
and that's national office in
the future. But I'm also.
I'm just extremely confident
that we are going to be those
challenges really well as a
team.
>> Well, we are team era and
congrats to her. After
graduating over cash and the
other candidates could be
(25:19):
eligible to go on missions,
including trips to the moon
and possibly Mars. Here's
hoping you go, girl. Well,
that'll do it for us tonight.
We're so glad that you're
joining us and we hope that to
be right back with us again
tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern
5.30, central on Kentucky
EDITION. We're we inform
connect and inspire will help
you connect with us. All the
(25:40):
ways you see on your screen.
Facebook X, formerly known as
Twitter and Instagram to stay
in the loop and see some great
contact. You can also find us
on KET online. You can see
stories and clips there as
well. And look for us on the
PBS and KET app for more great
content.
>> Thank you so very much for
joining us and send us a story
idea because we love hearing
(26:02):
from you by email at public
Affairs Ktv Dot Org. I'm Renee
Shaw. Thanks for watching.
And I will see you right back
here again tomorrow night to
cut hair.
♪
♪
♪
(26:23):
♪
♪
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