7.20.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we turn to the reading of the Hazard Herald,
the news of Hazard and Perry County Omni towns. We
begin with the online edition dated July seventeenth, twenty twenty five,
as a remainder radioizer eating service intended for people who
are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult
to read printed the two. Bashier joins lawsuit over federal

(00:24):
education funding freeze. Local leaders weigh impacted by Justin Begley
from Randy Dasher announced Monday that Kentucky has joined twenty
three other states in the District of Columbia in a
lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to freeze six point
eight billion dollars in federal education funding. Theshear said the

(00:46):
move violates federal laws and puts ninety six million dollars
in jeopardy for Kentucky, including eighty seven million designated for
local school districts and nine million for adult literacy around
administered due to state's Education and Labor Cabinet. This is
not about Democrat or Republican this year, said these funds

(01:10):
were appropriated by Congress for the education of Kentucky's children,
and it's my job to ensure we get them, said
this year. Our kids in our future depend on a
strong education, and these funds are essential to making these
kids successful. The US Department of Education notified state agencies
on June thirtieth, fifth would not obligate funds for sixth

(01:34):
Formula Funding program begain in July one. The announcement arrived
just weeks before the start of the twenty twenty five
to twenty six school year. This leads state scrambling the
fill gaps for programs of promote classroom learning, support technology
and school conditions, and fund community learning centers, among others.

(01:57):
Tody Magger, financial officer for the Caree County the Board
of Vegetation, said, while most of the negotiations are handled
at the state level and uncertainty is already being felt locally,
there's a lot of back and forth between the states
and the federal government quite now, said Magrid. With the
reductions of some of the federal programs. We have attended

(02:19):
some commissioner meetings and they're still handling things at the
state level. We don't get involved in that locally, but
the Kentucky Department of Vegetation KDE and the state work
with the federal government trying to secure as much money
as possible, but we're moving on in one way or another. However,
we have to get that done. We do have confirmation

(02:41):
of some of our federal funds, like Title I, so
we're good on the indication of some federal funds, but
not on others currently. Magard added that the district will
remain in contact with state officials as the situation develops.
We will be staying in contact with Kadie. Regarding the
possible loss of federal funding for the twenty twenty five

(03:04):
twenty six school year, he said, every dollar we receive
for public education is vital, so any loss of revenue
is substantial. All school districts work from a limited budget,
and so the unknown surrounding the loss of funding at
the beginning of the school year challenged our district administrative
teams to find ways to be successful regardless of the

(03:28):
funding decisions made by funding sources. The coalition of states
joining Kentucky in the lawsuit includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada,

(03:48):
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the
District of Columbia. Prairie schools prepare for new year with
leadership updates policy changes. As the twenty twenty five twenty
six school year approaches, the Perry County Board of Education

(04:11):
met for their regular schedule meeting Tuesday, July fifteenth to
discuss upcoming changes, including leadership updates and new state mandated policies.
During the meeting, Superintendent Campbell was officially renewed for another
four year contract, continuing his tenure overseeing the district. In

(04:31):
his remarks, Campbell outlined several key updates for the year ahead.
They begin with changes in school leadership. Angie Byck has
been hired as the new principal for r w COM's elementary,
said Campbell. Angie has served as a teacher and instructional
coach in the district for many years and were excited
about the transition into her new role. In addition to

(04:55):
staffing updates, Campbell addressed new statewide policy changes that will
affect how teachers and students communicate during the school year.
Kentucky legislators passed as the one point eighty one into
law requiring districts to utilize a traceable digital communications system
for employees and students. He said, We are posted an

(05:17):
infographic on the district Facebook page that provides details and guidelines.
The district has purchased a traceable communication phone app that
will allow us to stay in compliance with the law.
The measure is intended to enhance transparency and safety in
school related communication, according to Campbell, who said the new

(05:38):
app will streamline how messages are sent in store. Campbell
also reminded families of the official start date for the
school year. August twenty fifth, will be the first day
back to school for students, he said. Members of the
Hazard Police Department, including Chief Zach Muller and Captain John Holbrook,

(05:58):
recently guided youth through a crime scene investigation at the
Boys and Girls Club of Appalachi and Hazard, teaching hands
on skills and fingerprinting, footprint analysis, photography, pharaoh, laser scanning,
and investigated detail. Each child received a gift back from
HPD as part of the experience. Northfork Music Festival returning

(06:23):
with diverse lineup and new vendors. The north Fork Music
Festival is returning to downtown Hazard on July twenty fifth
and twenty sixth, promising one of its most musically diverse
lineup yet, a fresh mix of vendors, and the continued
celebration of the community's growing arts and tourism scene. Logan Smith,

(06:44):
assistant to the Hazard City CFO and Community Planner, is
spearheading this year's festival. After a long time organizer, Bailey Richards,
recently stepped away from the road, everybody's stepped up this
year to make this event the vestige, said Smith. The
north Fork Music Festival will be on Friday and Saturday,

(07:07):
July twenty fifth and twenty six We have one of
our stronger lineups with a lot of diversity musically this year.
Friday's performances will begin with Berglan Riches from five thirty
pm to six thirty pm, followed by SGS from six
forty five to seven thirty pm. Brandon and Martin will

(07:28):
take the stage from seven forty five pm nine pm,
leading up to the Friday night headliner Silverada, who will
close the evening with a performance from nine thirty to
eleven thirty pm. Saturday's lineup will feature Academy of Rock
from five thirty pm to six fifteen, Chris Shaals Band
from six thirty pm to seven thirty pm, and Corduroy

(07:51):
Brown from seven forty five to nine pm. The festival
will wrap up with headliner Harper O'Neal performing from nine
thirty pm to eleven pm. Smith credited richards for laying
the current foundation the team's building. Ailey Richardson laid down
the groundwork for the festival over the past few years.

(08:13):
He said. Our team that we put together to handle
this festival will be using herb blueprint. A lot of
people in the working group for this have also had
hands in the past. We feel very confident will put
on a great show and a great event for the town.
The festival will feature a range of food vendors, both
new and familiar. We're going to have a mix of

(08:36):
local vendors food Line, said Smith. We will have some
new vendors who have never been here before, but also
have our local spots on main open as well, such
as goal Line, Shenanigans, Broken Spoke Lounge and the north
Fork Inn. Festival. Goalers are encouraged to check out the

(08:56):
north Fork Music Festival Facebook page the ticket updates. People
can follow the north Fork Music Festival Facebook page for
a ticket Lank, said Smith. They can save some money
if they purchase online ahead of time. We're also going
to be doing a giveaway on Facebook. The giveaway will
be for a weekend passes, food vouchers, swag bags, lawn chairs,

(09:21):
and the whole package. Will be on our Facebook page
to see how to get involved. This event continues to
be a joint effort between city and county leaders. Smith said,
this is a collective effort between the city and county
to put this on. As always, he said, us thanks
to Mayor Happy Mobilini and Judge Scott Alexander for everything

(09:42):
they do, along with all working entities from each department.
They do a great job. The mainstays will be located
at the end of Main Street, with vendors setting up
at the Grand Park, where attendees will find seating and tables.
Smith also praised the contributions of local youth involved in
planning and execution of the festival. We've had a ton

(10:05):
of help with the envisioned hazard interns, he said. They
really stepped up when I was kind of shorthanded and
done a wonderful job. Those kids really have been a blessing.
Organizers hope the festival will be in an inviting space
for all ages and backgrounds. We want everyone to feel
welcome at this event, said Smith. It's a family friendly

(10:26):
event for all ages. We want people to come and
see what our downtown is all about with one of
our bigger yearly events. Like with any other event, the
City of Hazard wants to put on a good, safe
and fun event for the community for locals and visitors
from the region and from outside the state. As the
festival enters another year, Smith said he's proud to see

(10:50):
it continue to grow in popularity and impact. They started
the festival a few years ago and it seems to
grow each year, he said. I think any time we
can put our town on display and share it with
people from all over, I think it's a great thing.
There's a huge music scene here in eastern Kentucky. Some
of the best musicians in the world come from this area.

(11:12):
To have a local event like this for our residents,
something close that's worth coming out to see is great
for the community and it's great for tourism. Everyone gets
a chance to shine and show what we're all about.
Great music, great event, and I hope everyone who wants
to come gets a chance to come down. Leadership Kentucky

(11:34):
is announced a statement that members of the Bright Kentucky
Class of twenty twenty five by Kentucky, which began in
twenty nineteen, empowers today's emerging leaders, ages twenty one to
forty in the Appalachian region to drive innovation, collaboration, and
community economic development while honoring the vision and values of

(11:56):
the foundational leaders who came before them in The program
builds on a strong legacy by equipping a new generation
with nonpartisan, ethical leadership training and expanded networks designed especially
for residents of the fifty four counties of the Appalachian
Regional Commission. The program is made possible by an Appalachian

(12:19):
Regional Commission grant and private funding from the Whitaker Foundation,
AEP Foundation, Kentucky Power, and other donors. Nonprofit leaders are
invited to a free in person workshop hosted by Kentucky
Nonprofit Network, the state Association of Charitable Nonprofits to learn

(12:40):
how to effectively engage elected officials and advocate for their missions.
This active session, taking place July twenty fourth, and hazard
while health participants overcome intimidation, embrace advocacy as a core
strategy and understand how amplifying their mission to policymakers can
increase impact, funding opportunities, and visibility. According to a statement

(13:04):
from the organization honoring the member of Brian Dean Carroll,
Ginger Carroll began her Purple Bible Ministry in February nineteen
ninety eight, following the death of her son, Brian Dean Carroll,
a nineteen ninety seven Buckhorn High School graduate, in a
January nineteen ninety eight car crash. Ginger Carroll now gives

(13:27):
Purple Bibles to the graduating classes of Buckhorn High School
and said she considers it bittersweet but an honor that
she's able to distribute the Bibles and speak about Brian Carroll.
Over the course of the ministry, more than three thousand
Bibles have been presented to seniors, churches and other recipients.

(13:48):
KSP arrested one hundred ninety seven and said by drug operation.
Governor Andy Tosher announced July eleventh, the Kentucky State Police
completed a successful Operation Summer Heat two point zero, targeting
suspected drug networks operating in the Commonwealth and leading to
one hundred and ninety seven arrests. Every Kentuckian should feel

(14:10):
safe and be safe, and no Kentucky family should feel
the pain of losing a loved one to addiction. Bashir
said the cause of the Kentucky State Police were accomplishing
both of these goals and were thankful for the agency's
dedication to every single one of our commonwealth's communities. All
sixteen posts participated in Operation Summer Heat two oh and

(14:34):
Preliminary results indicate one hundred ninety seven arrests and four
hundred ninety charges issued, along with the combined seizure of
three thousand and two grams of fentanyl, eleven hundred and
seventy six grams of cocaine, six forty six grams of
meth amphetamine, four hundred eight grams of heroin, six hundred

(14:56):
fentanyl pills, ninety seven hydrad cotone doses. Additionally, troopers confiscated
eighty two firearms, one hundred and eighty one thousand, three
hundred eighty one dollars in cash, and two hundred thousand
dollars worth of stolen property. The investigation remains active and
more arrests are expected in the coming weeks. This mission

(15:19):
was about more than making arrests, it was about disrupting
the criminal enterprises that threatened Kentucky's safety, said KSP Commissioner
Philip Burnette Jenior. I'm proud of our personnel who worked
tirelessly to take those dangerous drugs off the streets and
who will continue working to keep every community safe. The

(15:41):
Very County Fiscal Court announced the installation of new fish
habitat structures of Buckhorn Lake, made possible through a partnership
with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Large concrete and
brush structures are designed to support a variety of fish speces.
The Fiscal Court contributed funding to help transport the habitats

(16:04):
to the lake. Liquor store owner charge was selling to
a minor. The owner of a Perry County liquor store
is facing a criminal charge after allegedly selling alcohol to
a minor. According to the citation written by Kentucky Alcoholic
Beverage Control Officer BJ Caudle. On July ninth, married Crutcher,

(16:25):
ninety one of South Kentucky. Fifteen hazard owner of four
Seen Liquors, sold a six pack of bud life to
an eighteen year old minor without asking for identification. Cauble
issued crutcher of citation charging him with selling alcoholic beverages
to minors, a misdemeanor, an arraignment in the case except

(16:45):
for August twelfth from the opinion page, Winning by Ross
Cassaday for going to win so much, you might even
get tired of winning, and you'll say, please, please, it's
too much winnings. We can't take any more, mister President,
it's too much. In candidate and now President Donald Trump
said that during his twenty sixteen campaign for office, Well

(17:08):
it took nearly a decade, but here we are in
mid twenty twenty five, and I don't know about you,
but I'm getting tired of the winning. What are some
of the big wins lately. Well, there's the One Big
Beautiful Bill, which appears to have taken the populous promises
of the President's campaign and toss them aside in favor

(17:29):
of pleasing the elite and the swamp. It ultimately remains
to be seen what the bill will actually do, but
if the Medicaid provisions are actually as damaging as some
have estimated, then the One Big Beautiful bill could be
even more damaging to Eastern Kentucky and its economy than
the Obama administration's cold rules were. You'd assume that since

(17:53):
his vice president is from here, we might get some consideration,
But unfortunately we are. Oh, and all of this was
done while not only decreasing the deficit, but actually increasing it.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill adds three
point four trillion dollars to the deficit over the next

(18:14):
ten years, including interest. The amount actually will be closer
to four trillion dollars according to the estimate. But wait,
there's more. Just days before the passage of the bill,
the Trump administration and formed the States that nearly seven
billion dollars in education funding that was expected to be

(18:34):
distributed on July one would be with hell. The funds
are for particular programs and in speaking with local districts.
The impacts are not yet fully known, but I doubt
this will be the last hit against public education. We'll
see you in the coming days. This comes at the
same time the administration has done exactly the opposite of

(18:57):
keeping its word in several areas, including keeping the US
out of overseas conflicts. We've been entangled in Israel's conflicts
since day one of the administration, and Trump's promised that
he would end the conflict in Ukraine within twenty four hours.
Not only was that or not true, but we're apparently

(19:18):
sending even more munitions to Ukrainians to continue the conflict.
And as if that wasn't enough, the administration has come
out and said, not only did Epstein kill himself, but
he did so over nothing, as there's no client list,
no clients, definitely no human trafficking because Elaine Maxwell is

(19:39):
serving a prison sentence over nothing. Apparently, as a result,
the Department of Justice appears to be poised on the
edge of inclosure at the time of this writing. If
we the people continue to win like this, then the
Republicans can probably plan to face the same kind of
fortune in the mid term elections next year. Winning indeed

(20:02):
too gray to be illegal, Jeff Vanderback, did you know
that illegal gambling illegal in Kentucky? Go ahead and reread
that the illegal gambling machines that are ubiquitous in eastern
Kentucky are apparently legal. Recently, I was on a mission
to see myself where the poker machines are and if

(20:26):
in fact, there are some in service and this indeed,
there are many machines in the region that are in service,
generating tax free money, untraceable money. These machines are considered
gray machines because the state has not categorized them as
games of chance or pleasure, so they're not considered illegal,
but not totally legal either. When I called the state's

(20:50):
attorney general and spoke to one of their lawyers, they
told me that they would like to crack down on them,
but the way the law is written, there's essentially nothing
that can be done. I asked the lawyers if someone
is making money off the machines and not paying taxes
for the profit or recording the revenue, if that's legal.

(21:10):
They said no, but they can't confirm who's making money.
I told the lawyers to go to specific stores and
ask the owner who's making money from the machine, and
I was told it's not that simple. Then I asked
if they knew of a moonshine still in the mountains
where a person or a group of people were making
and selling tax free moonshine, would they the state authorities

(21:32):
be legally within their rights to shut down the operation.
They answered gifts because making moonshine and selling it without
the state getting its tax is illegal. The lawyer I
spoke to acted like that never happens. Stupid people are
in very high positions in our government. You see where
I'm going with this. I then asked, what's the difference

(21:55):
between a person making tax free money off a poker
machine and making tax free money from moonshine? They said,
it's not that simple. I'm not that bright, but damn
it the hell, that's the stupidest thing I heard of.
I felt like I was in Abbott and Costellos. Who's
on first? We have heard from many years about gambling

(22:15):
machines and who's making a bunch of tax free money
off the machines. The local law enforcement officers know whose profiting,
and so do the lawyers, judges, and prosecutors. In some
counties like Floyd, it begs to ask who's getting paid
off to look the other way. Until the laws change,
we'll continue to see gambling machines breaking in tax free

(22:38):
cash for the crooked owners, operators, and politicians. All the
state and local municipalities don't get a penny of tax dollars.
It's bad enough that some churches have hingo that's tax free.
We don't need more revenue being generated that's free and
clear of taxation. Death and taxes are the only guarantee

(23:00):
in life. And unless your convenience store is called the
seven eleven Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter day Saints,
these grave machines need to be shut down. Patronize the
illegal places if you want, that's true choice. But when
cooks are walking around spending cash to get themselves out
of jail for crimes very accused of, then you can't

(23:21):
pass the blame. There are many places in the state
where you can go and enjoy gambling legally, where everything
is above board, sanctioned and generates tax revenue for the
state and local government. If that's your hobby, they'll do
it legally, not in some desolate add on to a
shoddy convenience store. Here are of the obituaries. Don fa

(23:44):
Combe sixty five Tuesday July eighth, South Arnette Beating eighty
six died Wednesday July ninth. Billy Joe Morgan seventy one
died Thursday July tenth. David Francis seventy three, abu Un
died Monday July seventh, while it was corn At sixty

(24:05):
three of Opera died Monday July seventh in Clifton Smith
forty nine. Friday, July eleventh, homelessness jumps again and kentucky
A's Trump administration moves to cut house in funding As
homelessness arises in Kentucky, especially outside the two largest cities.

(24:27):
The Trump administration wants to cut hundreds of millions of
dollars in federal support for state housing programs. Recently released
data shows an increase in Kentuckian's experience in homelessness that
comes from the annual point in time count conducted each
January to capture a snapshot of homelessness across the country.

(24:47):
The Kentucky Housing Corporation, a quasi governmental agency that manages
federal funding for housing, publishes the numbers. In January twenty
twenty five, volunteers and agency outreach work fus County five thousand,
seven hundred and eighty nine individuals who lacked the fixed
regular adequate nighttime resident. This was ten point seven percent,

(25:11):
an increase from January of twenty twenty four. The most
significant percentage increases in homelessness were outside the state's two
largest cities, Louisville and Jefferson County, saw an increase of
six percent. Lexington and Baya County saw an increase of
twelve percent. The increase in the other one hundred eighteen

(25:34):
counties was thirteen point three percent. Kentucky could lose about
two hundred eighty six million dollars in federal housing funding
out of about six hundred and fifty one million in
current funding under a proposed forty four percent cut to
the US Department of Housing an urban development budget proposed

(25:54):
by the Trump administration. That's according to data from the
Urban Institute provided to the Landor by the Kentucky Housing
Corporation PMC METU Children's Hospital renews designation as a Certified
Autism Center. The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education

(26:15):
Standards is renewed the MENTU Children's Hospital at Pipeville Medical
Center's Certified Autism Centered designation. PMC has announced in a
statement to renew the credential of at least eighty percent
of the children's hospital and patient facing staff has completed
up to day training to help them best support, assist,

(26:36):
and care for every child, especially those with autism and
sensory sensitivities and their families. The statement said, Kentucky Total
Association announces new President Executive Director. The Kentucky Total Association
announced in a statement of July tenth that selected Sam
McCown as the new president and executive director. I'm excited

(26:59):
to build on and continue the vital mission of the
Kentucky Cut Association, said macal. The cornerstone industry of the Commonwealth,
covied not only powers Kentucky, but supports thousands of jobs
from one end of our state to the other. I
look forward to working with the KCA members, as well
as leaders in both Frankfort and Washington, to move the

(27:22):
industry forward. This concludes the reading of the Hazard Herald.
Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining
me and on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI. This
is Lee Townshend, wishing you a good day.