September 24, 2025

Congressman Thomas Massie talked about his work to release the Epstein files, as he and U.S. Senator Rand Paul made stops in Kentucky for Massie’s re-election campaign, county officials head to Frankfort to ask lawmakers, once again, for help funding their local jails, and Warren County Public Schools speaks to legislative panel about ways the state could better accommodate multi-lingual students.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
♪

(00:08):
I have been.
>> Her dog in this I think
we're going to have a vote on.
I think I'm actually going to
succeed.
>> A Kentucky congressman says
he has the support he needs to
move toward releasing the
abstain Viles.
>> We had one judge at one
point that said I wish the
state would come and take all
of the state inmates because
the medical is so expensive.

(00:29):
It is about to break me.
>> More taxpayer money is going
to jail cost county officials
wish they could spend more of
that money elsewhere.
>> The policy is basically
preempted by federal law that
bars undocumented immigrants
from college benefits unless
the same benefits are offered
to every U.S. citizen.
>> What we're learning about

(00:51):
a lawsuit in Kentucky
concerning reduced college
tuition for non U.S. citizens.
>> We're we're very similar
in in our thoroughbred racing,
but also just a general
appreciation for the worst in
our culture and our pop culture
in our history.
>> And we go to an exhibit all
about horse kalter across the
Pacific.

(01:13):
>> Production of Kentucky
Edition is made possible in
part by the KET Millennium
Fund.
♪
♪
>> Good Evening and welcome
to Kentucky EDITION for this
Wednesday, September, the 24th,

(01:34):
I'm Renee Shaw and we thank
you for winding down your
Wednesday with us.
>> U.S. Senator Rand Paul and
4th district Congressman Thomas
Massie of Kentucky hit the road
today making several campaign
stops for Massey as he runs
for reelection in 2026. And
Kentucky's 4th district.
The duo is hosting community

(01:56):
forms at each location and
giving updates on what's
happening in Washington.
They stopped today the Maze
Bills, part Cafe Paul in Masse
heard from people about the
importance of the towing
industry in the river city.
They discuss the impact of
trade tariffs and more Massey.
All to also talked about his
work to release the so-called

(02:18):
Epstein files files about
Jeffrey Epstein and his
trafficking of young women and
girls. The congressman is
trying to get a discharge
petition that would allow
members of the House to vote
directly on whether to release
the files in their entirety.
The petition needs 218
signatures for a vote to take
place. A majority of the House

(02:38):
membership right now. The
petition has 217 names, but
Massey believes he secured the
last vote necessary to move
forward.
>> Last night there was an
election in Arizona to fill an
empty seat in Congress and both
the Republican and the Democrat
promised to sign the Epstein

(02:59):
discharge petition that I can
and so it didn't matter who
won. And now I have 218 votes
to force this vote on the floor
is something that I think we
can all agree on. The
billionaires and politically
connected. People should get
a pass when they commit some of
the worst crimes on the books.
And when we all know that the
DOJ has been turning a blind

(03:21):
eye to this in. So I have been
bird dog in this, and I but I
think we're going to have a
vote on. I think I'm actually
going to succeed. The vote
could happen as soon as mid
October. And at that point, the
speaker has a choice and
speaker of the House. And so
far he's been trying to KET a
windfall from supporting my
discharge petition. But now
that it's a vote, he has a
choice between releasing the

(03:43):
conference to vote their
conscience and the will of
their constituents, which would
be for transparency and
justice.
>> Or he can try to hold them
all captive. All the
Republicans in the House and
make them walk the plank, do
the wrong thing politically.
But also to do the wrong thing
for the victims lived by.
I hope now that the vote is

(04:03):
going to happen and that he'll
realize he'll see the light and
he will not try to KET people
from voting for the U.S..
>> Senator Paul and Congressman
Massie discussed many other
topics, including the
likelihood of a government
shutdown. And if Massey might
consider joining the race for
the United States Senate, we'll
have much more on their

(04:23):
community forum tomorrow night
on Kentucky edition.
The Jefferson County Sheriff
John Aubrey, has died after
27 years in office. Arbery was
86 years old, who yes in
Louisville says he was planning
to retire at the end of his
current term. He was also a
former Louisville chief of

(04:44):
police and a U.S. Army colonel.
He spent 55 years in public
service. Sheriff Arbery is seen
here with U.S. Senator Mitch
McConnell earlier this year,
Senator McConnell put out this
statement saying, quote, John
was a dedicated public servant
who made an indelible impact on
our community and for 27 years
as sheriff, he worked

(05:05):
tirelessly to KET our
neighborhoods safe. His
recognition as the 2025 Sheriff
of the year was a testament
to his unwavering commitment
to law enforcement and the
respect he earned from all who
KET him, unquote. Kentucky
Governor Andy Beshear said this
on social media, quote, Sheriff
John Arbery was a true public

(05:26):
servant dedicating his career
to protecting Kentuckians,
unquote.
County officials went to
Frankfort yesterday to ask once
again for help finding their
local jails. It's a perennial
problem that's growing more
costly and immediate due to
inflation as our June last
year. Reports and our

(05:46):
legislative update. Some state
lawmakers say it's time to make
a change.
>> And county jails are saddled
with the responsibility of
housing, alleged and convicted
offenders all while having
almost no say in the number
of inmates that come in or the
price to KET them alive and
well, 4 years ago.

(06:09):
>> We had a gentleman try to
burn his mother in inside her
house.
And he actually paid someone to
do it. But he was on a
dialysis. And so we were paying
$28,000 a week to Baptist
Hospital to take him to get
dialysis. And I don't take too
long to $28,000 a week before

(06:31):
we start. Getting in some
financial trouble.
>> Across the board medical
expenses are on the rise says
the Kentucky Association of
Counties or Keiko, this has
become one of the most
talked about expenses in the
jail. Ram. I know we had one
judge at one point that said
I wish the state would come and
take all of the state inmates
because the medical is so

(06:52):
expensive. It is about to break
me jail expenses as a whole
have gone up and that means
local governments are spending
more of their tax dollars to
KET the jail's reading. That
leads to tough choices. We have
to look at.
>> Cutting services battle
services to serve other
constituents that really

(07:13):
deserve this money and
to that or raise taxes and
which is very unpopular.
>> County governments are
responsible for misdemeanor
offenders and pre-trial felony
detainees on their dime.
The county jails, also house
state inmates, those with
certain felony convictions.
The state reimburses the jail.

(07:34):
35 $1 a day for each state
inmate. But this lawmaker says
the state can do more.
>> proposed a few years ago
would have done this. So if you
are a county and you have
inmates, you're responsible for
the U.S. when somebody is is
convicted of a felony by then

(07:55):
become the state's
responsibility. What my bill
would have done a few years
ago would have said that if you
are convicted of a felony in
the state will pick up the tab
for the prefilled any
conviction time which would
have been a major transfer of
funding to those county jails
for what is truly a state
responsibility, which is the
housing of those felony.

(08:17):
In months, the Kentucky General
Assembly increase the inmate
per diem 3 years ago by $4.
>> The report from the Kentucky
Association of counties says
the rate would need to be $12
higher to KET up with inflation
for Kentucky edition. I'm Jim
Leffler. Thank you, Jim.
>> Kentucky. Attorney General

(08:38):
Russel Coleman is leading.
25 other attorneys general
urging the repeal of several
pro environmental regulations.
Their letter to EPA
administrator lays elden calls
for an end to the EPA is
electric vehicle mandates.
The Clean power plan and
programs often referred to as
the Green New Deal. In a
statement, Coleman says the

(08:58):
Obama administration wrongly
decided in 20 0, 9, that carbon
dioxide contributed to climate
change and lead to policies
that high prices and kill jobs,
including jobs here in
Kentucky. The letter from the
26 attorneys general claims
the policies were based on
theories that were
scientifically unproven.

(09:18):
The Kentucky Lantern reports
the American Lung Association
and other health organizations
say People's health would
suffer if lifesaving pollution
controls are repealed.
Over the last 3 years, 74% of
school districts in Kentucky
have seen an increase and
English language learning

(09:39):
students, according to the
Kentucky Department of
Education this week, Warren
County Public Schools, which
has more than 5,000
multi-lingual students
presented to the commission
on race and Access and
Opportunity and Frankfort about
ways the state could better
accommodate those students.
Our McKenzie spank has more on
their proposals and the

(10:01):
commission's reaction.
>> Warren County Public Schools
is the 4th largest school
district in the state and 31%
of its students speak more than
one language.
>> Representatives from Wcpss
spoke to the commission on race
and Access to opportunity to
ask for changes in the
accountability system that
would better support their

(10:22):
English learning or E L
students. So when we get a
student, they get one year of
exemption.
>> For the state assessment
and then after that, they are
expected to perform at the same
level if students who then hear
multiple years speak English.
>> One of the request is to
lengthen the exemption from
state assessments. For else

(10:42):
students past one year in order
to give them a greater chance
at success, how much time can
be given before we have to tell
a student?
>> That you know, they're
novice when they have no shot,
right? Just imagine being
another cut. Country parachute
into Burma tomorrow and take
their standardized test and see

(11:03):
how well you perform.
>> A student who only attend
school for one day and then
drops out can negatively impact
a school's graduation rate?
Dr Johnson and Superintendent
Clayton say El students who
only attend school very briefly
are disproportionately
affecting certain schools.
Success rates. You may decide

(11:23):
that.
>> I'm 17 years old around 18
years old and the chance of me
getting enough credits to
graduate is overwhelming.
And so it's best to find work
and to support my family.
It's very difficult.
>> When you have one school
where they're going to it, the
majority of the students that
only come perhaps for day or 2.

(11:46):
And it questions there
graduation rate. What we would
like to see is that when we
have these situations, how
about that accountability moved
to the district.
>> The commission was receptive
to wcpss presentation.
Republican Senator Lindsey
teacher expressed sympathy for
real students since she had to
learn another language while
living overseas as an adult.

(12:07):
The challenge of.
>> But considering you have
one year, does that mean that
there's just no way a student
can come? And I think the
emphasis as opposed to focusing
on that graduation rate that
shouldn't matter and should be
do they know how to read the
English language? Hopefully we
can find some solutions to help

(12:28):
the students get to that
proficient level of English.
>> In the 2025 Session
Commission co-chair
Representative Kevin Jackson
proposed a bill that would
increase supports for students
and extend the deadline for
grade level proficiency to 3
years. The bill did not
advanced past committee for
Kentucky edition. I'm McKenzie

(12:49):
Spank.
>> Thank you. McKenzie. Since
2017, the amount of E all
students in the state has grown
89%. The Kentucky Department
of Education says they're the
largest growing student
population in the state.
It's official Kentucky students
will switch from CTE to the

(13:09):
SAT test. Details in tonight's
Education Matters. Report.
>> The Department of
Education's as it awarded a
contract to the College Board,
which means Kentucky High
School juniors will take the
SAT during the school day.
>> During a six-week window
that opens March. The second,
it's a four-year sat contract.

(13:30):
Kentucky's contract with a CT
ended June 30th. The state says
Kentucky will save $350,000
annually over what it paid for
the A C t.
♪
>> I'm Lauren Rogers with Lisa
on tree, a news anchor and

(13:51):
reporter for WKU Public Radio.
Lisa, want to ask you about a
few stories that you've covered
recently, including the U.S.
Department of Justice reaching
this tentative settlement with
the Kentucky Council on
post-secondary education.
Now, this concerns tuition
policy where they were offering
undocumented immigrants

(14:11):
in-state tuition. So tell us
more about what concerned the
federal government about this
policy and to what this could
mean for the cpe moving
forward.
>> Yes, sure. The DOJ filed
a lawsuit in June against
originally Governor Andy
Beshear was named Kentucky
Department of Education

(14:32):
Commissioner Robbie Fletcher
was named and of course, the
Kentucky Council on
post-secondary education.
Governor Beshear and
Commissioner Fletcher were
later dismissed from the
lawsuit. But basically the
lawsuit argues that the C P
e's regulation that provides
reduce costs in-state tuition
to students without permanent
legal status. That

(14:52):
discriminates against U.S.
citizens. The cpe policy counts
in Peabody who graduates from a
Kentucky high school. As an
in-state resident, including
undocumented immigrants.
And so the DOJ lawsuit said
it's an equal treatment of
Americans and it violates
federal law because those who
live outside of Kentucky don't
get the same tuition relief.

(15:15):
And so the policy is basically
preempted by federal law that
bars undocumented immigrants
from college benefits unless
the same benefits are offered
to every U.S. citizen. The DOJ
filed similar lawsuits in Texas
and Oklahoma as well as one
other state. The Texas lawsuit
has already been settled.
Texas agreed to terminate its

(15:36):
policy. There has been a
tentative settlement agreement
reached in Kentucky. The motion
to settle has been filed
according to court documents.
But the judge has yet to sign
off on that. I know that there
is a Latino civil rights group
that recently filed a motion
to intervene on behalf of
students. But that motion
hasn't been heard yet. And so I

(15:57):
think that's the hang-up right
now. But the motion to settle
the suit has been filed
and basically the motion says
the CBE agrees to terminate
the policy immediately and
develop new policy.
>> We did hear from State
Attorney General Russel comment
about this as well with his own
bowling a couple of months ago

(16:17):
when the lawsuit was originally
filed.
>> Encouraging the cpe to drop
the regulation and he seemed
like he was siding with the
federal government on this.
He was he he urged the Cpe in a
letter in July not to litigate
what he called would be a
losing fight.
>> He said he's now we know
this was clearly on the side of

(16:38):
the federal government.
>> And let's also live now to
Governor Andy Beshear, who has
project in reserve warning of
this potential budget
shortfall, revenue shortfall
for the next fiscal year for
Kentucky in he citing a couple
of different reasons for this.
Tell us more about what we're
hearing from the governor.

(16:58):
>> Yeah. So about a month ago
during his weekly team,
Kentucky update, the governor
said I fully expect there to
be a budget shortfall in the
current fiscal year and he
attribute that to a couple of
factors. The federal tariffs he
says that has basically
impacted spending and overall
economic activity everywhere
across the country. And then he
also blamed the reduction in

(17:19):
the state income tax, which
will take effect in January.
An issue we know a few years
ago, the Republican led General
Assembly cut the income tax
rate from 5 to 4 and a half
percent and set up this process
to where it's gradually reduced
to half a percentage point
until it's eliminated. And the
next cut is scheduled to take

(17:41):
effect in January. And so the
governor said that coupled with
less economic activity due to
federal tariffs that has
impacted Kentucky's budget.
A panel of economists known as
the consensus forecasting
group. They met September 16
last week and revise Kentucky's
budget outlook. They said the

(18:02):
fiscal year is expected to fall
short just over 300 million
dollars. But it's nothing that
should cause alarm because we
should not have major spending
cuts due to the state's rainy
day fund. It's very robust at
this point. It's expected to
have about 3 and a half billion
dollars in it by the end of
this fiscal year and that

(18:24):
Governor Beshear said, you
know, stay tuned in the coming
weeks. He'll talk about how
we're going to address the
deficit. But without
compromising services to
Kentuckyian he is warning the
next budget is going to be more
lean as the state as our state
in every state faces more
pressure by picking up costs
from the federal government,
including SNAP benefits.

(18:47):
Kentucky will have to come up
with an additional I think
66 million dollars in
additional costs to administer
snap the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program. That's
funding that the federal
government is no longer taking
care of. Yes, all of that
coming about in President
Trump's recent budget bill.
The one big beautiful Bill.

(19:07):
>> We thank you for your
reporting, Lisa. Audrey WKU,
Public Radio, appreciate you're
too.
>> She ate it. Thanks.
♪
>> A car and booster seats are
the best way to protect
children during a crash, which
is the leading cause of death
for kids under the age of 13.
But according to the National

(19:29):
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, almost half of
all car seats are not being
used properly during child
passenger safety week. Kentucky
State Police is holding free
events around the state to help
caregivers make sure children
are safe in their seats.
>> During collisions are
children are the most
susceptible to being injured.

(19:50):
So it's our job here today to
make sure that our kids are as
safe as possible in their car
seats and all times inside of
the vehicle.
>> So this week than national
child passenger safety wake,
you know, we're wanting to make
sure that these kids are
properly restrained and in the
vehicle because a lot of times
that is the difference between

(20:10):
life and death in the event of
a car crash.
>> So, you know, and it's very
important to make sure that
these kids are installed
correctly that other states are
installed correctly, that the
child is in the rocket booster
sate Iran car say.
>> So the Kentucky state law is

(20:31):
all kids. Once I am Kim out of
>> A child restraint and they
have to remain in a booster
seat up to 8 years of age or 57
inches tall to come out of that
booster say that just because I
am here at the age of 8 doesn't
necessarily mean I have to come
out of a booster say and a lot
of those, your sage and up to

(20:53):
10210 pounds. But we want to
make sure that this email is
fitting these kids properly.
And that's one of Mister Cink.
Does it faces him up so that
bill fits in the way that it's
supposed to? A lot of times,
we say that some children are
in the car seats. However,
they're not installed properly.
>> Everybody, thanks that if
a car seat is just put in a
vehicle that is safe, but there

(21:14):
are certain steps that patients
take to make sure that it is
following manufacturer
guidelines and that it's not
expired. These car seats have
expiration dates on them.
This make sure that your
children are always.
In some type child restraint
seat. I know sometimes it's
hard that we're just going to
the store is easy. It just put
him in the vehicle. But that
small second could be a life or

(21:37):
death for them. So please just
make sure that we use the right
measures to make sure that our
kids are safe at all times
within our vehicles.
>> The biggest thing is, you
know, just if you're unsure
that your child that, you know,
maybe your car say it is not
installed correctly and make
sure you find a location in
your You know, Kentucky State

(21:57):
Police, I have someone at all
of their post that certified a
lot of your health departments
in the state has certified.
So if you're just unsure, stop
by location, make sure that you
are reaching out to someone
that is certified as a car
seat. Take nation and have them
to check your say.
>> If you're unable to make it

(22:19):
to one of the checkup events,
the National Highway
Transportation Safety
Administration has some
information on its website to
help you find a technician in
your area. Go online to an HTA
dot Gov. The website has other
information and resources for
anyone who drives child
passengers.
♪

(22:43):
>> In Kentucky Horse Park is a
great place to engage with one
of Kentucky's signature
industries. But the Park's
International Museum of the
Horse gives visitors a chance
to see the world of horses
through the eyes of other
cultures. Our McKenzie speak
takes us to one of these
exhibits for this week's Arts
and Culture segment. We called

(23:04):
Tapestry.
>> Forces are an undeniable
part of Kentucky culture.
How do forces fit into cultures
and other countries?
>> The heart of the horse
exhibit gives visitors a peek
into the role of horses in
Japanese history and modern pop
culture. The exhibit is named
Monica Grow, which translates
to heart essence spirit of the

(23:25):
courts. My curator of exhibits
was very interested in
thoroughbred horse racing, but
especially in Japan.
>> And the last few years, the
Japanese forces have done very
well in all the major events
around the world. And so she
asked if we could just do a
little exhibit on the current
Japanese thoroughbreds.
>> From there, the exhibit grew
into an immersive experience

(23:45):
diving into the military,
spiritual and cultural Japanese
history of the horse. The
symbolic significance of the
horse in Japan goes back
further than the history of the
United States horses in Japan.
Kind of start out as a
religious connection. Their
first horse races start at
shrines as as religious but
races.

(24:06):
>> And horses show up as Hama
where they're integrated into
these burial mounds and 5, 6,
100 ad.
>> The exhibit isn't just
focused on the past. There's
also a focus on modern racing
and a popular anime featuring
characters based on well-known
Japanese thoroughbreds.
>> I do love the Inland with
pretty Derby section just
because I think that is
something that's unexpected.

(24:29):
But I think it is it's another
cultural thing that brings
people in who are maybe not
course fans. And now we have
people who are into it because
they like the video game.
They like the anime. They just
think the characters are cute.
>> Lauzon says fans have
started supporting the
real-life forces by attending
races and even donating
supplies to their retirement
Barnes, the care and respect

(24:50):
for horses is something she
says connects Kentuckyian
Japan's horse industries.
On top of the literal genetic
connections.
>> There's a thoroughbred
lines, the ones that are
currently doing so well around
the world come out of Kentucky
horses and their been horses
in the Kentucky Derby. There
have been Japanese forces in
that came and and so there is

(25:10):
that the connection and between
the 2 countries where we're
very similar in in our
thoroughbred racing, but also
just a general appreciation for
the horse in our culture and
our pop culture in our history.
>> Lauzon says the exhibit has
had a positive reception and
she hopes that visitors gain a
more global appreciation of
the horse and its history.
I would love visitors to just

(25:30):
take away a better
understanding of Japan of its
people of its culture in the
connection to horses. I would
love.
>> For people to, you know,
take away the appreciation that
all people around the world
have of the course and
understand that there's a very
deep rich history that happens
there.
>> The heart of the horse
exhibit will be open through
the end of 2025. for Kentucky
edition. I'm McKenzie Spank.

(25:55):
>> Thank you, McKenzie. That is
a must see tomorrow. Will a
familiar face tap into the
2026? U.S. Senate race here in
Kentucky. Well, we'll tell you
about it tomorrow at 6.30,
Eastern 5.30, central on
Kentucky Edition, we inform
connect and inspire. You can
connect with us all the ways
you see on your screen,
Facebook, X and Instagram to
stay in the loop and send us a

(26:15):
story idea by email to public
affairs at KET DOT Org. I'm
Renee Shaw. Thank you for
watching. Take really good care
and I'll see you right back
here again tomorrow night.
♪