>> Most people may not equate aging with the need for affordable housing, but it is imperative for individuals on a fixed income.

>> One Kentucky city has hundreds of affordable housing projects in the works already, most of which are aimed at seniors.

[MUSIC] >> We were given this huge gift, this gift of success that they worked very hard to obtain.

We're supposed to give it back.

>> And that family's gift is still giving back decades later.

>> Well, the success came so fast and furious I didn't really appreciate it.

At the end of the day, I was looking for higher highs.

>> Legendary jockey Pat day talks about wins and losses on and off the track.

>> Production of Kentucky edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

[MUSIC] >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky edition.

You made it to Friday.

It is Friday, April 17th.

I'm Christie Dutton in our KET studios in Louisville, filling in tonight for Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Well, days after the Kentucky Legislature failed to pass an omnibus bill aimed at lowering housing prices, leaders in Lexington announced record investment into affordable housing in next year's city budget.

Mayor Linda Gorton and other city leaders met at Wellington Park Apartments, a 45 unit development for seniors 55 and older.

It's still under construction, but when it's finished, it will be the only affordable housing project in Lexington in which every unit is Ada accessible.

Mayor Gorton says more affordable housing projects are underway.

>> Life access to housing has an impact on education, employment, health care so many other things that add to people's quality of life.

It's among the most important things we do as a community.

With increased funding, we are taking innovative steps to get more doors open for individuals who need safe, high quality, affordable places to live.

Lexington's affordable housing fund has leveraged nearly half $1 billion in private investment and other subsidy dollars since 2014, and this year we will surpass 4000 units either built or preserved in my proposed budget for next year, which is actually now the council's budget.

Our investment for affordable housing surpasses $5 million for the first time ever since 2014.

We have invested $53 million.

That's local dollars in affordable housing.

Right now, our city currently has 271 units under construction, most of which will provide housing that's desperately needed for seniors age 55 and older.

>> Most people may not equate aging with the need for affordable housing, but it is imperative for individuals on a fixed income.

If we can help relieve stress and free up additional resources for health care, nutrition and in-home care all while preventing homelessness, we are making a difference.

>> These are.

>> According to Mayor Gorton, the 55 and older demographic makes up 25% of Lexington's population.

Katie's conversations with the candidates begin Monday on Kentucky tonight, as we welcome several candidates running for the U.S.

Senate.

Renee Shaw will talk to them about the important national and international issues of the day.

And that's Monday at eight eastern, seven central right here on KET.

>> Renee Shaw here with you.

And we're going to go inside Kentucky politics with our two faves.

We've got Trey Grayson and Bob Babich who are with us.

We are counting down until the primary election May 19th.

And we'll also talk a little bit about the Kentucky General Assembly that just wound up this week.

But let's start with the U.S.

Senate.

Trey, I'll go with you first.

We got some big financial numbers that came out April 15th for the this quarter's financial reporting.

What did we learn?

>> So on the Republican side, kind of a continuation of the last couple reports, Andy Barr continues to to pace outpace his other two primary opponents, the two main primary opponents in money raised by individuals.

Daniel Cameron continues to struggle.

But to Cameron's credit, he hasn't spent a lot, so he's got some cash on hand at the end.

Morsi's number was really low, but we all know he can sort of write a check.

And then the other wild card, of course, is how much of the third party group's independent groups that are able to be out there.

And so I guess on the one hand, I think it's going to reinforce what we all think is going to be, you know, Barr is going to have a lot of money to get his message out, which has been the case kind of throughout the race.

But I'll be interested to see if Cameron has got enough money and maybe a little bit of outside money to remind Republican voters, hey, remember me?

You liked me.

You nominated me a couple times and puts himself on the air, and that personality gets to come through.

>> Just like polls.

Dollars don't vote.

So does this have any direct reflection on someone's electability by where they stand financially?

>> It always does.

But when we get to the end, they're going to have a terrific rush of cash onto the scene, especially with the congressional race.

Mercer Gallrein is going to spend a fortune in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky markets every way they can.

Social media, traditional media, every way, and the Senate money will come rushing in.

That's going to be a lot of millions of dollars in a hurry.

We're a month away from the primary, roughly a day away from Trey Grayson's birthday, I might add, since we're noting the.

>> Early birthday to Mr.

Grayson.

>> Absolutely.

It will be quite the quite the show.

Literally and figuratively.

>> Yeah.

So how do you size up where things are now?

The latest polling shows that Barr is pulling ahead.

Do you believe that?

>> I think that's a general sense, but it's close.

There's a lot of undecideds.

And again, that's why I mentioned this.

Does Cameron have enough money to to get a message to get himself back on the air and say, you know, here's just remind voters who voted for him quite a bit.

And but Barr continues to kind of double down.

I will say the one thing that the money shows, and I think the polling shows is that I think Nate Morris has struggled to get the kind of traction that he needs to.

You know, if you look, if you look at the polling, you look at the dollars raised and and, you know, he's been on the air a lot.

And I thought it was we've talked about this had some pretty effective messaging, but he's struggled to bust out of third place.

And he's kind of a distant third place.

That's not a place where you want to be.

>> Still at this point in.

>> The game.

>> No.

That's right.

Well, I remember at a recent Lexington forum, Bob, that I believe you did found that group many, many years ago.

Yes.

And one of the questions that came from a very astute Kentucky voter was, when are we going to go from scare to care in terms of what we're seeing in advertisements and.

ET cetera.

And the messaging, when does that happen or does that happen in this particular election cycle in the US Senate race.

>> Were you almost always want to wrap up with a positive?

That's probably a 40 year old adage, maybe longer, but we may not see that Morris still has to push to get up.

Cameron's gotten knocked down a little bit because of the the negative.

Getting the association with the ACLU on a case, which is not really a fair accusation, but it's still sounds bad.

And then Barr has moved up into the mid to high 20s.

Nobody's the winner yet, but as that moves around, a lot of those messages will turn out to be negative.

They've been unbelievably negative in some rotations lately.

It's been Morris 4 or 5 ads and a half an hour, a Morris ad following a Morris ad.

>> Yeah.

Are we going to get an April or May surprise?

Like we get an October surprise?

>> I hope not, I hope not, but let me go back to your question about I mean, I think one of the challenges is campaigns generally do what has worked in the last campaign.

And so for campaign after campaign after campaign going negative works, we've we've seen this in November where both parties seem to especially right now, you know, the national level, the parties define themselves as I'm not them.

And in a primary, the reality is on issues, these three have very little disagreement.

And so what you want to do is you try to find the thing, the potential weak points.

So the Barr, this independent group thinks that Cameron's may be weak on crime.

And we've seen in the fourth district race and also a little bit in the Senate race, this DEI stuff.

And Barr's got a voting record for being a Congress.

And so they actually the Afghanistan refugee issue, which was ironically, a Republican attack on Biden, is now being turned against Barr.

But but if you step back, like all three generally agree on issues.

And so you find these small things and try to leverage them.

But it's, you know, to that question that we're going to be on, what was it scare.

>> A scare.

>> A lot of scare.

>> And less care.

>> Yeah.

Less care.

But Bob's right at the end.

Usually you do see some some coming back to care.

Also wouldn't shock me if Cameron stayed more the care because given again his strengths, his past electoral success, that's probably the message.

He probably doesn't need to go against Barr against Morris so much as reminding voters why they supported him in the past.

>> Right.

And he can say, look, I've been different.

I haven't heaped on all this negative as the other two have.

I've been positive.

That's how you know me.

That's why you voted for me before.

Well, over half of the primary voters who are Republicans have voted for Cameron sometime for attorney general or governor.

Either of those two shots.

He may close with that.

And that might work.

Still about the care part.

You know, years ago you were building a resume, anything you could put in and document that I helped here, I helped.

There was budget chair of my church board or anything you added, we don't do that so much anymore.

It's almost like I may not be great, but they're horrible.

That's the contrast we're always seeing and seeking.

If you're a political campaign and it doesn't educate the voter very much, it doesn't respect the voter very much.

It certainly doesn't encourage the turnout that Trey and I would love to see.

>> Right, right.

And we still think that turnaround is going to hover around.

>> I don't know, 30 something.

30 something forever.

It's never I can't imagine it's any different than the past couple of, you know, federal midterms that have Senate.

I mean, it's just at some level, you just look at the turnout like it just is what it is.

And there's obviously big variations across the state.

Where I live in Northern Kentucky will be under 20.

The other thing I will say about primary turnout that's tricky is because of the fact that if you're an independent or other, you may not have to vote or you may not have anything to vote on, and so you can't turn out.

That's right.

So right now, 10%, 10.

>> To 11%.

>> Or others.

So right off the bat, the best case scenario, if everybody voted, we'd be like at 90% in most places because you don't have nonpartizan primaries, except there's probably a few judicial races, maybe some city primaries.

And then, you know, in some counties, they don't have primaries.

You know, it's one party rule, right?

The other party doesn't have much of a primary.

So that's one thing that skews primary turnout a little bit.

But yeah, it won't be great.

It'll be a which I hate saying that, but that's just the reality.

It also is a. If you get out and vote, it will matter.

That's right.

You'll have.

Your vote will be worth more in this primary than it was last November of 2024.

>> Yeah.

Okay.

30s give me one big success from Kentucky general Assembly session 2026.

Bob.

>> Start with Trey.

>> Start as an able bodied minded politician.

Does defers, right?

What was the biggest success other than the budget?

>> Oh, other than the budget, I'm going to say House Bill two, which was the Medicaid reform bill.

The state had to do something to implement Medicaid after the HR one.

And I really appreciated how legislators listened to folks about how to do that in a way that protects patients, but also protects the taxpayers also surfaced.

Here's some more reports.

We need more transparency, as opposed to diving in and doing a whole bunch of new reforms.

So HB two, if it works, should help us to learn more over the next couple of years.

So when we go to the budget in two more years, we'll have a better sense of what things can cost and what what policy changes we need.

And that's a policy success.

>> Right.

And there were some a lot of negotiation on those co-pays that were really rankled.

Some where they're really nominal.

>> Yeah.

They ended.

>> Up.

>> I started yeah.

>> Yeah, yeah.

>> Always higher education is a big factor.

The emotional presentation for Kentucky State University and redesigning it as a polytechnic university is, was quite a hearing and quite a success for Kentucky.

State Kentucky.

State deserves that kind of push and investment and bright future.

Additionally, aviation airports had some major support.

CVG, Covington or Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky.

Also, Lexington got a big dose of the same Aviation Museum of Kentucky.

All these investments are paying off.

Aviation avionics is bigger than bourbon and let's say bourbon and other other signature industries.

In in common parlance, we talk about the others because they have the panache.

But aviation is kind of the unknown giant that's passed.

>> And there was a last minute credit passed for sustainable aviation fuel, alternative aviation fuel, which the carriers need.

And it was this coalition of the business community, aviation industry and farmers.

So it came together and in one of the cleanup bills passed in the last day, there's a tax credit as well as a fuel tax credit.

So the hope is to start a new industry where we can grow it, make it and use it all in Kentucky.

>> Yeah, yeah.

Like you said, I mean, that's not one of the sexy and glossy kind of items, but it makes an enormous impact so.

>> Well and it's going to keep growing for Kentucky.

We've got a terrific advantage in aviation right now, and we can seize on that.

And the legislature certainly did that.

That's a winner.

>> Yeah.

Okay.

Good deal.

We'll talk say the loser.

Talk later.

Thank you guys.

>> Always interesting to hear from those guys.

Well resources are expanding in southern Kentucky for adults with special needs.

The hive in Bowling Green is now also providing services and support.

In Scottsville.

The seed was planted decades ago by a family's charitable giving.

Laura Rogers has.

More from Allen County.

>> For years this building was home to the workshop, a life skills program for adults with developmental disabilities.

>> The ladies who are in charge of the building heard about the hive and thought, well, that would be pretty cool thing to put in there.

>> It's now a second location for The Hive, a nonprofit that provides services and support for that same population.

>> I'd like to see the doors busted open.

>> Tracy Oliver is Allen County, PVA and knows the history behind the building purchased by the AAC advocacy organization.

50 years ago.

>> There was a deed in 76 where Dorothy Spencer and Grace Allen actually purchased the property on behalf of the AAC from the pet milk plant.

And then there was also a promissory note from farmers Bank for like six months, which was a short amount of time back in 76 for $30,000.

>> Dollar general founder Carl Turner is widely believed to have paid off that $30,000 note.

>> It was the Turner family that kind of started this whole legacy of caring about people with disabilities in the Scottsville community.

>> The first driver for Dollar General, Leo Allen, had a daughter with a disability named June.

>> That's a sentimental part of everything.

June can remember me as a little girl and tell stories on me that I can't remember.

Her mom was my bus driver.

>> After high school graduation, Jones family wanted a place for her to go to build skills and independence.

>> Back then there just.

There was nothing available.

>> To my grandparents.

The employees at Dollar General were family.

>> Hence that mysterious purchase of a building that would become a space where June and others like her could thrive.

>> She had a place to come and be active and work and make money.

>> Decades later, the Turners quiet investment is still serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

>> And it's amazing how the different steps have led to the hive being here at this particular time.

It is just amazing this happened and then that happened and then that happened.

>> Boom.

>> We just wouldn't have been possible without the Lago Turner Charitable Foundation.

>> Laura Turner was Cal Turner senior's wife who passed away in the late 1980s, her legacy continuing for generations.

Her granddaughter Catherine Sikora, now at the helm of the charitable foundation bearing Laura Turner's name 1990.

>> When the foundation first started gifting out, there weren't a lot of nonprofits in Scottsville.

In Allen County.

>> The number of nonprofits has grown.

Along with the foundation's giving, they funded grants for 89 organizations and ten scholarship funds to honor the Turners early philanthropy.

>> I had already been researching the hive.

I had met Laura, and what the hive is doing is different and unique.

>> Sikora says.

Grants are given based on community need, and she saw the hive as able to fill a gap in services.

>> This is fun.

>> If we change just one life, isn't it worth it?

It's worth it.

>> The foundation previously gave a grant for renovations to the building along with other community supporters.

>> It's very heartwarming to see a community come together like that and the good people that in this town that we live in.

>> June now lives in a senior living facility.

A June bug proudly painted on the kitchen mural in her honor.

The hive received a $62,400 grant from the foundation to help get its new services up and running.

>> Adaptive sports.

So we're going to do like wheelchair basketball.

>> The possibilities are endless.

The potential is all just sitting there from that original gift from the Turner family.

>> The hive says they're happy to serve a more rural population.

In addition to their work in Bowling Green, their plans include planting a community garden with a sensory friendly walking trail.

The Kentucky Derby Festival kicks off with Thunder Over Louisville tomorrow, followed by the 152nd run for the roses on May 2nd.

No jockey in history has won more races at Churchill Downs than Pat day.

The Hall of Famer retired in 2005, but he still calls Louisville home on the next.

Inside Louisville, Kelsey Starks sits down with the legendary jockey to talk about his career and his longshot Derby win back in 1992.

>> The Derby is what everybody involved in horse racing, at least in the United States, wants to be involved with.

And I think the world over.

I think, you know, it's a world renowned race.

And so everybody involved wants to win.

The Kentucky Derby, myself included, was very, very fortunate to have ridden in it at the end of my career 22 times only only one victory.

But that was the absolute highlight of my of my racing career for sure.

But I had ran second three years in a row and I thought I had an idea of what it would feel like having come close, but I was sorely mistaken.

I put literally T to the task and he responded, lengthened his stride, just went to picking him up and boy, we come off the turn.

I said, I might be going to win this thing, you know?

And then I went by casual lies just inside the eighth pole come the 16th pole.

And I said, I'm going to win this if I don't fall off, you know.

So we kept to the task, but there was a feeling that started way down in the pit of my stomach that just kept growing and growing and growing with every jump.

And as we crossed the finish line, it was it was just absolutely indescribable.

The, the feeling that came over me, the feeling of joy and the feeling of, of, of having accomplished that and experiencing that.

And it was, as I said, it was indescribable.

I just, I stood up and just went to screaming at the heavens, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me the privilege and the honor of experiencing winning that great race.

And it it was just the absolute highlight of my, of my racing career.

One other races that probably meant more to my career, but none that meant any more to me personally.

>> Looking back now.

Yeah, if you think you were, you were made to do this.

>> I believe that God divinely directed me out of the mountains of Colorado by way of the rodeo arena, ultimately into the great sport of horse racing, where it was obvious.

He blessed me with tremendous talent and ability and opportunities, and subsequently an incredibly, incredibly successful racing career.

>> Yeah.

And I want to I want to get the years right here because you were the leading jockey by number of wins in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991.

And so quite a span there.

But it was in the midst of that in 1984, that you had a life change.

Tell me about that.

>> Well, the success came so fast and furious.

I didn't really appreciate it.

At the end of the day, I was looking for higher highs.

I was taking it all for granted.

Actually, my attitude was that I deserved it.

Like I had put forth the time and effort to be where I was, which was a complete fallacy.

But, but.

If I'm climbing the ladder of success, as I said, at the end of the day, I was looking for higher highs and got involved with drugs and alcohol and assorted Life.

>> Hear the entire conversation with jockey Pat day, including more details of his battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol, and how he found his new purpose in life.

That's all on the next inside Louisville this Sunday at noon 11:00 central on KET.

We expect storms tomorrow and cooler weather Sunday, but don't let that stop you from enjoying a full menu of great activities around Kentucky.

Our Toby Gibbs tells us what's happening around the Commonwealth.

>> All the world's a stage and this weekend it's outdoors in Berea.

The city of Berea and Berea College are hosting a free performance of The Tempest Saturday at the Pinnacles Amphitheater.

The show is part of Kentucky Shakespeare's statewide Shakespeare in the Parks tour, bringing live theater to communities across Kentucky.

[MUSIC] An Earth Day celebration that shows how small steps can have a big impact.

Waterfront Botanical Garden in Louisville hosts a day of community conservation and celebration, with a panel discussion on how to reduce waste and save resources and children's activities focused on caring for the environment.

The event takes place next Wednesday.

[MUSIC] If you prefer to celebrate Earth Day by getting your hands dirty, then head to Big Bone Lick State Resort Park this Saturday for the Earth Day Park cleanup.

Volunteers can help tidy up park grounds by collecting litter along Big Bone Creek or hitting the trails for some trail maintenance.

[MUSIC] Join a close knit gathering focused on fiber from start to finish in Pleasureville Saturday.

The Pleasures of Fiber Fair brings together fiber farmers and fiber artisans to showcase fiber products and the animals that make those products possible.

The event is free.

[MUSIC] It's an event that's helping plant the seeds for better gardens.

The native and heirloom Plant Fest, taking place this weekend in Somerset, is an opportunity to learn from expert gardeners about pollinator friendly habitats, sustainable agriculture, organic farming and seed saving.

[MUSIC] An iconic voice is set to rise on stage in Danville as Melissa Etheridge brings her rise tour to the Norton Center for the Arts.

Etheridge, a defining voice in American rock for more than three decades, will share stories and perform music from her new album, The Rise.

The concert is next Wednesday.

[MUSIC] Shelbyville is branching out with a showcase rooted in creativity.

The Shelbyville Dogwood Artisan Showcase highlights the work of 100 artisans, crafters, and local authors.

The event also features a petting zoo, face painting, balloon artists, food, and more.

[MUSIC] Hold on to your hats because this ride is a bit on the wild side, families are invited to dress up in their Western gear and board the Outlaw Express for a Wild West train robbery ride.

The Outlaw Express leaves the station on Saturday, and that's a look at what's happening around the Commonwealth this week.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Join us again Monday night at 630 eastern, 530 central for Kentucky edition, where we inform, connect and inspire.

Follow KET on Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you so much for joining us this Friday