[MUSIC] John Boy.

Megan.

Alian.

Trina.

Ella.

Angela.

Matthew.

[MUSIC] >> Victims are remembered and questions are still unanswered.

One year after Louisville's UPS crash.

[MUSIC] >> We do need accountability, but there's a difference between accountability and retribution.

[MUSIC] >> Governor Andy Beshear has some advice for Democrats as they get ready to take over Congress.

[MUSIC] >> We eliminated 170 tenured and non-tenured positions.

[MUSIC] >> How Kentucky's judicial branch is dealing with budget cuts.

[MUSIC] >> There are moments where, you know, a son would show up in the in the middle of a cabinet meeting and throw a pocket full of snakes on the desk.

And like all the men in the cabinet, would scatter and Roosevelt would laugh.

>> And an author talks about animals through history.

[MUSIC] As we go inside Louisville.

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

[MUSIC] >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for Thursday, November 5th.

I'm Marvin Bartlett.

Thanks for joining us.

It's now been one year since a UPS plane crashed in Louisville, leaving 15 people dead.

Yesterday, people gathered for a memorial service at the site of the crash, and at least one survivor says he still wants answers and accountability for what he calls a preventable tragedy.

Our June Leffler has more.

>> Louisvillians and public officials gathered this week to honor the 15 people killed from the crash, and those who responded to the distressing scene.

>> Our skies covered in an inky black shroud, apocalyptic ash falling as far away as on the high school sports fields in Saint Matthews.

People calling, standing outside, looking up, wondering what had happened.

>> During unimaginable challenges.

You always want to ask the why.

Why here?

Why Louisville?

Why do these things have to happen at all?

We're left with so many unknowns, so much pain, and so much loss.

>> Time itself does not restore a Business, a livelihood or a sense of normalcy.

Survivors are still hurting.

Businesses are still rebuilding.

Victims families and friends are still learning how to carry grief.

That may change with time, but will never fully go away.

>> The crash happened nearest to an auto parts and recycling company.

Workers and customers on site at that time were killed, along with three UPS pilots.

The company's owner read their names.

>> Lives taken needlessly far too soon.

John Boyd Megan Allen.

Trina Ella, Angela Matthew.

John.

Tony.

Carlos and his beautiful three year old granddaughter Kimberly, along with three pilots, Captain Richard Wattenberg, Captain Dana Diamond, first Officer Lee Truitt.

>> And he is still looking for answers.

>> This was avoidable without those responsible taking accountability.

It leaves an open wound that does not heal.

It tells us those responsible believe corporate greed is more important than human life.

Speaking directly to UPS, which is what flight 2976 had painted on it on behalf of those impacted and the entire community.

Simply speak as a staple in economic engine for this community.

Be a good corporate citizen and stop hiding behind a hollow canned statement and tell the community, the community, your position on this avoidable, tragic accident.

>> UPS says it cannot speak freely on this matter because it's still under investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, is the federal agency conducting the ongoing investigation.

The agency was on site shortly after the crash.

It released a preliminary report last year stating mechanical issues with the plane.

It also held a multi-day hearing this year, but has yet to release a final report on what went wrong or what safety measures need to happen to prevent similar catastrophes.

>> And my hope is that in the near future, that everyone feels that things have been made as right as they can, knowing that nothing can replace those who we lost the investigation right now is the federal authorities are doing the entire investigation.

My understanding is that they'll have a final report in the springtime, and my hope is that that provides more answers than we have today.

>> Victims families have filed lawsuits against UPS, Boeing and two other companies that build or fix parts for the type of cargo plane that crashed for Kentucky Edition.

I'm June Leffler.

>> UPS held its memorial yesterday as well, alongside firefighters who responded to the scene.

The company says it offered financial and mental health support in the wake of the crash, and that it is committed to continued recovery efforts in Louisville.

Today, a reporter asked Governor Andy Beshear if he was satisfied with how UPS has handled the aftermath of last year's crash.

Here's the governor's response.

>> I would like to see it all resolved as quickly as it can be.

I know that these types of situations result in the type of lawsuits that are ongoing right now.

UPS certainly has a right to defend itself in those lawsuits, but I would like to see us not have this not play out for years to make sure that we can come to resolution, that those families are appropriately compensated, and that they can move on with their lives.

So I don't want to be overly critical of of UPS because I don't know what those negotiations are.

And they are an absolute critical employer here in Kentucky.

>> During today's news conference, Governor Beshear also talked about the midterm election results and the Democrats victories across America and in Kentucky.

>> The blue wave definitely hit here in Kentucky.

But but but it had more work than it had to do in Kentucky than compared to a lot of states.

Donald Trump had won the state by 30 points.

He won the congressional district by 15 points.

Yet we flipped that sixth Congressional District and elected Zach Dembo.

We saw seven seats flipped in our state House, two in our state Senate.

And that's the first time there's been a net pickup for Democrats in over ten years.

So it was a big shift.

And what it tells us is that people aren't as partizan as as sometimes the media claims they are.

They care the most about their job and whether they can support their family.

Their next doctor's appointment, which they should be able to go to in their community.

The roads and bridges they drive, the school, they drop their kids off at, and whether they feel safe in their community.

And they sent a resounding message that the current federal administration isn't helping in those areas.

They're making life harder, not easier.

Tariffs are making us pay 4500 extra dollars this year for the same stuff we bought last year, $800 more for the same amount of gas this year that we paid for last year.

People are desperate for change.

They need help.

And the Trump administration was showing they weren't willing to do it.

So Democrats now have an opportunity.

But with that opportunity, they have to govern well.

They have to stay focused on people's everyday lives and not go chasing every shiny ball in Washington, D.C.

the way that that I suggested to congressional leadership that's coming in is passed three bills on affordability, on on affordable housing, on bringing down the cost of prescription drugs for every hearing that you hold on a Trump official, we do need accountability.

But there's a difference between accountability and retribution.

The American people support accountability, but they don't want to see the pendulum just swing back and forth.

We need a better America.

>> The governor says he has no regrets about not running for Kentucky's open U.S.

Senate seat.

He says he just didn't want the job.

He says he still doesn't have a timetable about when he'll announce whether he's running for president in 2028.

He says he believes the Democrats would be smart to nominate a governor with a proven track record who can also win in so-called red states.

Congressman Thomas Massie, of Kentucky's fourth district, says he still plans to reintroduce the resolution to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

He says the only thing that would stop him is Hegseth's resignation.

Massie says it would be better if that happened now instead of later.

Massie posted this on X quote, If Trump's going to replace appointees like Hegseth, he should do it.

While he can still get the replacements confirmed in the Senate.

Also, my Hegseth impeachment resolution is a much gentler version of what's coming when Dems control Congress, they'll have hearings and trials after the Republican's midterm losses.

Massie posted that the chickens had come home to roost.

He also posted this video of why Republicans were eager to get rid of him.

>> The other real reason they had to get rid of me is just my presence in Washington, D.C.

as a reminder that Republicans broke almost every promise they made to the electorate.

Because I'm introducing the bills and forcing votes on the bills that were our promises.

Like releasing the Epstein files.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] No new wars.

I.

[APPLAUSE] We're going to cut spending.

We're not going to mortgage our children's future.

>> Massie's term in Congress ends in January.

He will be replaced by Ed Gallrein Gallrein beat Massie in the May Republican primary and won his general election race on Tuesday, beating Democrat Melissa Strange and libertarian Jeremy Todd.

There are signs data centers may have been a factor in some local races throughout Kentucky.

The Kentucky says in Bergen, several incumbent council members and a candidate for mayor all lost four challengers.

All data center critics.

One.

The lantern also says a pro data center judge, executive lost in Mason County and among General Assembly races.

Democrat Jennifer Hardin beat House Majority Whip Jason Nemes after attacking his support for a bill giving data center companies a tax break for equipment.

During this year's legislative session, lawmakers passed the state's judicial branches budget for the next two fiscal years.

The Administrative Office of the courts argued the budget underfunded court operations by 14 million the first year and 18 million the second year.

Today, Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Deborah Henry Lambert told lawmakers about the changes that have been implemented under the new budget.

Here's more from Kentucky Edition's Clayton Dalton.

>> Earlier this year, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah Henry Lambert said budget cuts could force the judicial branch to eliminate programs like drug, mental Health and veterans Treatment Court.

Today in Frankfort, she shared about the court systems reorganization and layoffs to adjust to the new budget.

>> Most of the eliminated positions were management positions, and at the outset of the reorganization, we eliminated 170 tenured and non-tenured positions.

I also directed several new positions be established, many of which were frontline workers with retirements and other voluntary exits from Casey, Oghia.

Ultimately, only 11 employees were separated under the reorganization.

We're now operating within our appropriation, but doing so has required some difficult decisions.

Post reorganization, we now operate with 86 fewer positions across management.

>> Lambert said.

There is a silver lining to this challenging situation.

>> The judicial branch is general fund budget is now structurally balanced for the first time since 2010.

That means we expect to cover our budgeted expenses within the amount you appropriated us, without relying on savings from vacant positions.

One time funds or other temporary measures.

>> But even with a balanced budget, problems remain.

Lambert said.

Recruiting and retaining employees is particularly challenging.

>> The reality just is that we struggle to recruit and retain the people we need to do our vital work for the citizens.

Our study, from the fall of 2025, showed us that 99% of the studied non-elected positions are paid at under market benchmarks.

As an example, on average, judicial branch staff attorneys are paid 25% below the comparison market and many other critical positions are paid 15% or more below the market.

Securing funding to correct these salary disparities is critical to the retention of judicial branch talent in the 2028 session, we will again ask you to provide sufficient funding for salary improvements that will permit us to recruit and retain qualified employees.

National center for State Court data also shows that Kentucky's district and circuit judge salaries, ranked 49th in the nation and lagged bordering states by 10 to 15%.

Contrast that to 20 years ago, when Kentucky judge's salaries were ranked 20th in the nation from 2009 to 2017, Kentucky judge's salaries were kept unchanged, while in that same time frame, the rest of the nation increased judicial salaries by an average of 24%.

>> The General Assembly did allocate $1 million.

This budget session to conduct a compensation study of the judicial branch to include, quote, recommendations for potential adjustments to ensure equitable and competitive compensation practices, end quote.

Those recommendations must be submitted to the state legislature by July 1st, 2027.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> A long time Kentucky lawmaker and judge, has died.

Tom Jensen was a Republican who served in the state House from Laurel County in the 1980s, and 90s.

He later served in the state Senate, served as a circuit judge and chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky.

Tom Jensen was 77.

Next Wednesday, November 11th, is Veterans Day.

What challenges do veterans face when they have to transition back to civilian life?

And what services and programs are available to help them here in Kentucky?

We'll talk about all of that and more on the next Kentucky tonight.

Hear from a distinguished panel of guests Monday at 8:00 eastern, 7:00 central here on KET.

[MUSIC] We're learning more about the man accused of killing a Kentucky state trooper in September.

And people are being asked to conserve water in one Kentucky town.

Our Toby Gibbs tells us more in this.

Look at headlines around Kentucky.

>> The mayor of Camden is urging people to cut back on water use after reports of low water levels at the Wolf Lake Reservoir.

[MUSIC] Mayor Katherine May told W e KU radio.

Most of the summer was dry and there was very little rain as fall began.

A late summer flood didn't help because only a small amount of that water reached the lake.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports police found three bags of cocaine in Emmy branch's car.

Branch's the man accused of killing Kentucky State Trooper Hayden Phillips during a traffic stop in Warren County on September 28th.

Police say they also found two spent shell casings in the car.

Branch is accused of murder of a first responder.

He's pleaded not guilty.

[MUSIC] Pike county's public access TV station faces a funding crisis.

The News Express says Pike TV's revenue is $57,000, but its expenses add up to 91,000, and it now faces a money shortfall, with a couple of months left in its fiscal year.

The chair of Pike TV's board of directors is former Governor Paul Patton.

He says Pike TV will be okay until March or April, and he says the board is looking for new funding.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] Kentucky has one billionaire, according to numbers from Forbes magazine.

Lincoln County says that one billionaire is Tamara Gustavson of Lexington.

She's worth $9 billion and is in the self storage business.

[MUSIC] With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

[MUSIC] >> The professionals who help students pay for college recently met the network and learn from each other.

It's an opportunity to address challenges, changes and new opportunities in college affordability.

Laura Rogers has more from Bowling Green.

>> I was a first generation college student.

I had no idea how I was going to pay for college.

>> Destiny O'Rourke is passionate about helping students, no matter their circumstances, afford college.

>> I was fortunate to get some scholarships, but I really needed something to help fill in the gaps.

>> She has a lot of experience in the financial aid space, and says it's more than meets the eye.

>> On the surface, it looks like helping students complete forms and interpreting policies and dealing with regulations and things like that.

But really, it's providing access and opportunity.

>> More than 140 financial aid administrators from across the state recently gathered in Bowling Green for the fall.

Conference.

>> Casper is the Kentucky Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators.

The people who are working on the college level actually creating aid packages for the students, the people who are out talking to students about going to college and how to pay for it.

>> Many students turn to grants, scholarships, and loans to offset the rising cost of college, and these professionals help connect them to the resources they need.

>> We really have to help families navigate and let them know college is affordable.

It is attainable.

>> It is important for them to get together and to have a chance to learn from each other, to hear each other's stories, to learn how different things are being interpreted and implemented and moved into action at their campuses.

Things are always changing in the financial aid world.

>> Some of those changes came about with last year's passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, which limits how much in federal loans parents can borrow to cover their child's education.

>> In the past, there was no cap on how much a parent could borrow for a student, but now it's a cap of $20,000 per dependent, and it's the lifetime cap of 65,000.

>> There are also new borrowing limits based on their enrollment intensity, how many credits they're taking.

>> So if they're enrolled in six hours, they can only have six hours in loan eligibility, where at one point they could borrow their annual loan limit.

>> They can also help students navigate the cost without borrowing a penny.

>> It is attainable to get a degree, and you can get through higher education without borrowing loans.

Depending on what you want to study and where you attend.

>> The conference also brought attention to a growing problem with fraudsters using stolen identities to claim federal student aid.

>> There's a national crisis with identity theft, and so we're trying to prevent that to protect taxpayer dollars.

>> We have sessions on AI and how we can navigate that as a financial aid office and as an industry.

>> Casper is a volunteer professional organization with members representing 80 public and private colleges and universities, as well as the community college system.

>> It is not uncommon for us to call, text or email one another across the state for guidance or how do you do this policy or can you share this so I don't have to reinvent the wheel.

>> We all love what we do, and we all feel a passion for the students and families that we help.

And that's why we're here, and that's why we're doing what we do.

>> Casper will meet again in April for its spring conference.

For Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

>> This was the first time the conference had been held in Bowling Green since 2017.

They also raised money for the center for Courageous Kids, a nonprofit camp for children with disabilities or lifelong illnesses.

Located in Allen County.

[MUSIC] Louisville's Mick Sullivan day job may be as curator at the Frazier History Museum, but your kid likely knows him as a host of the Past and Curious podcast or author of some of their favorite books about history.

His podcast has 12 million listeners worldwide, and he just returned from a live show at Lincoln Center in New York.

Our Kelsey Starks catches up with him on the next Inside Louisville.

[MUSIC] >> So tell us about the newest book, All About Animals.

>> That's right.

We're in the middle of the Kickstarter, and it is.

There's there's a lot of animal stories that I've told through the years.

So I've collected and found more.

And the whole idea was to take these animals who were in the history books.

And, you know, in many cases have names and left something on the historic record, but give them the feature.

It's fun to look at history through different ways.

One of the stories in the book that I really love is about this horse named Sallie, who was the subject of 12 photographs, because there was a disagreement among many people about whether, when a horse ran, there was a point in time where all four of its feet were not in contact with the ground.

Right.

Because our eyes can't see that.

So this photographer, really peculiar fellow named Edward Muybridge, was hired by a very wealthy man to solve this problem.

And he devised this camera system to shoot this horse.

And sure enough, they found that it was true.

The horse doesn't make contact, but this horse kind of became famous because she was on postcards.

And, you know, people would have their these photographic series, like in their home on display.

But it was also kind of the impetus for Muybridge.

He's credited with inventing the Zoopraxiscope, which was an early form of animation.

So like, there's a direct connection to moving images.

And this horse, Sally Garner, who was the subject of these photos to basically solve a disagreement?

>> Yeah.

>> So there's all sorts of fun stories like that or, you know, the dogs that that saved Nome, Alaska, by carrying a serum as people had fallen ill.

And there was a very remote community.

And then there's, you know, all the, all the presidents who've had animals.

One of my I've got a bit in the book about the Roosevelt White House because it was a bit more of a zoo than a home.

I mean, there were dozens and dozens of animals living in the home because he had all these young kids and they loved animals.

And there were moments where, you know, a son would show up in the in the middle of a cabinet meeting and throw a pocket full of snakes on the desk.

And like all the men in the cabinet, would scatter and Roosevelt would laugh, you know.

There's there's, there's hundreds and hundreds of stories like that.

And I try to get as many of them as I can in there.

>> And.

>> Hear more about Mick's new book, his performance in New York, and other ways.

He's bringing some of the more curious parts of history to kids.

On the next Inside Louisville Sunday at noon, 11:00 on KET.

Frankfort will look a little different in January, as some veteran state lawmakers went down to defeat in Tuesday's midterm election.

>> When you look specifically at those Republicans who lost their seats, especially in the Louisville area, those were not votes cast against a Julie Raque Adams or a Jason Nemes because they did something wrong or they didn't agree with their policies.

That was because time and time again, those Louisville Republicans have delivered for Louisville.

And so they got caught up in kind of that blue wave that hit Louisville a little bit.

>> Sherman Brown and Amy Wickliffe.

Sit down with our Emily Prince, and they have a lot to talk about as we go inside Kentucky politics tomorrow on Kentucky edition.

We do hope you join us again tomorrow at 630 eastern, 530 central for the show, where we inform, connect and inspire.

Subscribe to our Kentucky Edition email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips@ket.org.

[MUSIC] You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app, on your mobile device, and smart TV.

You can send us a story idea at PublicAffairs, at Ket.org and follow KET on social media, such as Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm Marvin Bartlett.

Make the rest of your evening a good one.