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Pike Co. News - 1.12.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the Appalachian News
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Express for News and Pikeville in Pike County. As a reminder,
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Radio Eye is a reading service intended for people who
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are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult
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to read printed material. The Applauchenese Express is donated to
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Radio Eye by the publisher you read it to day
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is Darcy mac Ardolm. We will begin with the e
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edition dated January the ninth through the twelfth of twenty
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twenty six. Up first article from the front page is
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West Virginia woman arraigned on attempted murder charge in Pikeboam
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by Terry L. May News Editor. Arrangement proceedings are We're
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held January the seventh for a pregnant Mingo County woman
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who allegedly attempted to murder a Pike County resident. Angel
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Joy Hunt, twenty eighth of left Fork of Ben Creek Road,
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warren Cliff, West Virginia, entered a plea of not guilty
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as she appeared before the Pike Circuit Judge Eddie Coleman.
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Hunt was indicted December the seventeenth on charges of criminal
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attempt to commit murder, a class b felony, third degree arson,
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first degree assault, first degree strangulation, and two counts of
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tampering with physical evidence. Hunt was remained has remained in
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custody since herch Recember arrest. As part of the arrangement hearing,
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her quite appointed attorney requested a reduction in the amount
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of her bond. However, Assistant Pike Commissioner's attorney, Aaron Chamberlain,
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argued that the brutality of the crime on the ongoing
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serious medical condition of the victim are reasons why the
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bond should not be lowered. I think the original bond
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of one million should say in the fact, she said,
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noting that a month after the incident, Nancy still remained
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in the hospital. Coleman agreed with Chamberlain in order that
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the one William bond be kept in place, according to
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a warrant taken out of Kentucky's State Troops or Terry Mount.
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On December the sixth, KSP Post nine received a call
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reporting an unresponsible woman found near a burned residence on
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Chestnut Branch, Freeburn. The collar reported that the woman had
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been found lying on a bench, beaten half to death
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and was bleeding from the ears and nose with her
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eyes swollen shut. Girls was taken to the Pipeful Medical
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Center for treatment. When she became responsive three days later,
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the warrant said she told the troopers that Hunt had
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tied her hands behind her back with an extension cord,
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choked her with her hands, and put her toes inside
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an almish heater. The warrant continued, stating Garyls told investigators
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that Haunts had beaten her with her hands, stumped on
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the victim of her feet, and fusted glass on her back.
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Mounts also wrote that the victims told investigators that Hunts
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then set a fire inside the living room a girl's residence,
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and the mount wrote that a video from the nearby
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residence was obtained which showed Hunt walking away from the
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residence just after midnight that day. The warrant side Mounts
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had encountered Hunt on an unrelated column December the fifth,
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and that Hunt was wearing the same clothing she was
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wearing in the video. Mounts wrote that he also found
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a jacket Hunt had been wearing when he saw her
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on December the fifth, hanging on a tree near the
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residence where the victim was found. Hunt remains launched in
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the pie County Detention Center. She is scheduled to return
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to Pete County Court one June the third for a
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pre trial conference. Our next article from the front page
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is last federal hearing held in PIKEPOAM. The last hearing
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of the U. S District Courthouse in Pikepool was held
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recently as cases and operations from the Pikeville facility were
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moved to Ashland and London beginning December. The thirty first
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participants in the final hearing held in the courthouse were
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Chief Deputy Clerk Tara Adkins and US Probation Officer Brittany
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Paris and Bancro Assistant US Attorney Drew Trimble, security officer
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Zachary Stapleton, Leave, court security officer Brian Palfrey, US Magistrate
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Judge Edward Adkins, court security officer Kevin Henry, court security
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officer Josh Little, and Attorney Noah R. Friend. Our next
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article from the front page is Governor Basher calls for
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keeping American Dream alive as GK largely skips annuals page
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by McKenna Horsley. Kentucky Lantern Democratic Governor Andy Vasheer gave
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his annual State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening, but
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Republican lawmakers largely weren't there to hear it. In his
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seventh annual Address and final budget proposal, Forsher urged Kentuckians
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and Americans to keep faith in the American dream, even
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as he said for Republican President Donald Trump's policies make
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it seem unattainable today. Too many American families fill the
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stream is just a hallucination. The costs of groceries and
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healthcare are too high. The family vacation they took his
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kids just doesn't fit in the budget. Vashier said that
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first home for a young couple is simply unaffordable, may
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be unattainable. As leaders, we have a responsibility to reignite
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and refuel the American Dream. For the sake of future generations.
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It must burn bright in the minds of our people.
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The Governor's Address is typically given to a joint session
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of the General Assembly in the House chambers for the
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cow is closed amid a multi year renovation. Lawmakers began
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meeting in temporary chambers with limited public access this week
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as they began a sixty day session which will decide
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the next two year state budget. Forsher, seen by some
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as a possible candidate for president in twenty twenty eight,
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recalled words by LaRue County born President Abraham Lincoln in
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his first inaugural address. We are not enemies, but friends.
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Though passion may have strained, it must not break our
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bonds of affection. While the national media fixates on the rage,
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we focus on results. While social media lifts up the
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angry and judgmental. We must amplify kindness, acceptance, and empathy.
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Basher told the Crab this polarized moment in our history
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won't last forever, and like Lincoln all those years ago,
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Kentucky can lead the way out of the darkness and
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into the light. It's our job, it's our dear, and
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we cannot leave a broken country to our children. Secretary
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of State Michael Adams was the lone GOP constitutional officer
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in the crowd. Speaking to reporters, Adams noted that the
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governor and the other officers have been sparring over executive
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branch budget cuts the governor has requested to cover revenue
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shortfalls in the current fiscal year. He's an excellent speaker,
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Adams said of Basher. Obviously, the speech was more about
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twenty twenty eight than twenty twenty six, but I respect
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that the general assemblies. Top two Republicans House Speaker David
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Osborne and Senate President Stuivers told reporters Wednesday afternoon, before
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the five thirty pm speech that they planned to not attend.
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I'll be in my office watching it on TV, Osborne said,
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adding that the address wouldn't be given in the House chambers,
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but instead across town at the Kentucky Historical Society Thomas D. Clarkson.
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Osborne added that because of the access issues and the
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limited number of people that we can accommodate in the
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temporary space, Bashier elected to do it over there. He
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later added that the speech would be poised as a
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budget address, but we know its political theater. Scottie Ellis,
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spokesperson for Bashir, told The Lantern that the Basher administration
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had spoken to legislative leadership about where to hold the
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State of Commonwealth address and it was recommended we plan
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an alternate location, noting that the temporary chambers designed by
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the l RC do not have any form of seating
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for guests or medium The Thomas D. Clark Center for
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Kentucky History was selected based on its proximity to the
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capital and so that more people can attend, she said.
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Osborne called it a new version of normal in these
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temporary facilities. Certainly he would have done it here, but
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he chose not to and so will have the same impact.
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He continued. Hopefully we will finally get to at least
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see some of the numbers that we've been asking for
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for months that have not been given to us in
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recent years. House Republicans have issued their budget ahead of
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Basher's proposals. However, it's unlikely budget bills will be filed
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this week, Osborne said, as House members haven't gotten all
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the information that we needed despite multiple requests made to
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the Basher administration. While it's a tradition for Kentucky governors
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to deliver State of the Commonwealth addresses to joint sessions
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of the House and Senate, the Kentucky Constitution requires only
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that governors, from time to time give to the General
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Assembly information of the state of the Commonwealth and recommendations
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on expenditures American dream. In his address, Vasher reiterated budget
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proposals that he had discussed in an embargoed briefing with
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the reporters earlier Wednesday. Among them, he is asking the
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GOP controlled Jail General Assembly to approve five hundred million
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one time spending to ease families rise and cost pressures.
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Fasher was critical of Trump's policies, particularly the One Big
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Beautiful Bill Act, or, as the governor calls it, the
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Big Ugly Bill. Basher raised concerns about the legislation's cuts
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to medicate and how it will impact Kentuckians who rely
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on that assistance program. Basher said the law could close
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thirty five rural Kentucky hospitals and eliminate coverage for two
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hundred thousand Kentuckians. The governor's budget proposal calls for more
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money for health care access statewide, including one hundred million
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to lower the cost of coverage on ky Next, Kentucky's
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Affordable Act Health insurance exchange, and one hundred and twenty
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five million rural Hospital Fund. The combination of these federal
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failures threatens the American dream with lost jobs, higher costs,
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shorter lives, and longer drives just to see the same doctor.
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Basheer said, that's why my budget pushes back investing in
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our people in our health care. My budget fully funds
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Medicaid even with the increasing costs. Bashir defined the American Dream,
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a theme he revisited throughout the speech as if you
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work hard and pay play by the rules, you can
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get ahead. You can build a better life, You can
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leave your kids better off. Basheer said his family has
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lived the American dream, as his grandfather could not afford
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to go to college, but saved money and ultimately bought
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a local funeral home and supported his kids through college,
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including former Governor Steve Basheer, the current governor's father. The
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governor said several guests at the event embody the American Dream,
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including representatives from Ge Appliances, which announced a multi million
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dollar business investment in Kentucky last year, and General Matter,
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which leased federal land and Paduca for a new uranium
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enrichment facility. Throughout his speech, basherted economic development in the
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state during his time in office. Basher named other guests
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in the crowd like doctor Jason Smith, the CEO of
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U of L Health, and added he hoped Smith would
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see the governor's budget as a reflection that Kentucky believes
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in you, and we believe in health care for all
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our people. Toward the end of the speech, Bashir spoke
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about what he views as the most important choice for
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lawmakers this legislative session, funding for universal preschools statewide. Basher
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has led a coalition to Gardner's support for what he
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calls pre K for All leading up to the session.
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To members of the General Assembly, we were able to
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work together on medical marijuana, to make sports betting legal,
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to protect horse racing and gaming and our horse industry,
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Bashir said, surely we can come together for four year olds.
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Bashir also had a message for those who want to
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make universal pre K political. Let me remind you three
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year olds can't vote. They aren't registered, he said, So
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if you're against this because you think it gives me
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a win, what are you really doing is handing these
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kids the laws. Stuivers and Osborne have typically held a
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joint press conference before or after the governor's speech. This year,
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they opted to issue a statement after the speech, saying
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the remarks were received and they were hopeful they will
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include the data and information we have represented of his
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administration for the past several months. Kentucky is well positioned
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because of the sound, fiscally responsible policies enacted by Republican
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major supermajorities, often overwriting gubernatorial votes to do so. The
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GOP leaders said these policies have produced a record budget,
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reserved trust fund, and allowed us to responsibly lower the
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state income tax. Our legislative focus will remain unprotecting core investments,
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ensuring responsible stewardship of tax payer dollars, and avoiding commitments
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that commonwealth cannot sustain. We will continue to prioritize measured growth,
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accountability in long term stability. While most Republican lawmakers stayed
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away from the speech Wednesday, some were among the crowd.
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Senator Philip Wheeler, Republican Pikeville, told reporters after the speech
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that Trump's tariffs led to some of the economic developments
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with Sheer touted, like Apple's expansion of a glass manufacturing
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facility in Harritsburg. Wheeler added that lawmakers should make sure
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rural hospitals are stable and have the ability to support
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their communities, and that would likely come up as lawmakers
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continue their budget session. As for universal pre k, Wheeler
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did not think lawmakers would act on the governor's request.
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While I don't think it's a bad thing by any measure,
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Clearly the cost has to be weighed with the benefit,
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and I don't think that the benefit of that is
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probably something you won't see the General Assembly act on
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in this session, Wheeler said. Our final article from the
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front page is Spears tells Unite Pike of her transformation
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from addiction. By Gary Sloane's staff writer. It was the
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true sense of purpose that the January Unite Pike speaker
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detailed of her own struggles with addiction, prison and recovery
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has led to her serving others dealing with substance abuse
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and homelessness. Being here in twenty twenty six is something
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I don't take lightly, said Perry Clyne, Emergency's Shelter executive director.
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Karen Spears. I never thought that I would be here
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speaking to this group of people, much less did I
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ever think I would be speaking even from a place
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of stability, purpose or gratitude. Yet here I am. I've
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been in recovery for over six years, and I know
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addiction from the inside out. She continued. I know what
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it is to be trapped in cycles you desperately want
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to escape, and how overwhelming it can feel when it
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seems like everything is against you and when everything is
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a road block Spears said she did not come from
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a bad family. I was loved, I was supported, I
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had structure, and I had opportunities. But still addiction became
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part of my story. She said. I share that because
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addiction has no constraint and it doesn't discriminate. Addiction affects
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people from good homes, bad homes, rural homes, city homes,
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Spears continued, it affects professionals and parents, any one at
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any time. Spears said her journey with west Care began
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in twenty seventeen, but not in the way she would
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have hoped. I had just gotten my first drug charge,
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and I went to the homeless shelter to take classes
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in hopes I could show the prosecutor that I was
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really getting better. Spears said. After meeting Anna Wakeland there
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and hearing her story and seeing how she had gotten
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her degree in counseling, I thought, hey, I can do
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that too. Spears said her addiction had become her whole identity.
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I was making choices that I never thought I would make.
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I hurt people that I loved, and eventually my life
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intersected with the criminal justice system in a way that
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would change me forever. Spears said. One of the most
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defining times in my life was when Pikeo police officer
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Chad Brandham arrested me. He was the last police officer
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to put me in handcuffs. He was the first person
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who treated me like I mattered and that I might
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have a feature. Spears said. Brandham talked with her and
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told her that this was not like her, This was
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not what she was made for. She was made for
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more than this, and he showed her compassion. Chad didn't
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really know me, but at three o'clock in the morning,
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he messaged Juddg's right to get me a bond. The
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next day I was out on a five hundred dollars bond,
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even though I was facing federal charges. Spears said. Chad
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and Judge Robert Wright gave me an opportunity to see
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my kids and to get into a treatment center before
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my trial on the federal charges. Instead of detoxing in
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a jail cells, Spears had the opportunity to enter a
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treatment facility because of human beings doing their jobs with
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care and compassion. I went through nine months of long
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term treatment, a year in transitional living, and eventually two
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years in federal prison. Spears said, recovery also redefined my
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education and growth. I completed my bachelor's degree and in
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December of twenty twenty five, I completed my master's degree
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in public administration, and that was something I never thought
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would be possible. Spears not only credited those who helped her,
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but most importantly God and how without God she would
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not have accomplished what she has thus farm I don't
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know the future back then, but God did, and God
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directed me to where I am today, Spears said. The
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next regular meeting of the Unite Pike Coalition will be
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on or be at noon on February the fourth. US
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Senate candidate Bar announces coal plan. An Appalachian newspaper's staff report,
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Andy Barr, who is seeking to replace Mitch McConnell in
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the US Senate, recently announces plans for energy and to
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revive Kentucky coal jobs. Bar, according to the statement from
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the campaign, announced the plan during an event in Harlan
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on January fifth. I'm fighting alongside President Trump to make
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America energy dominant again, and that fight starts here in Kentucky,
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Bar said in the statement. This plan is about creating
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good pay in Kentucky jobs, lowering energy costs, and making
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sure our communities can grow again. According to the statement,
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Barr's plan focuses on restarting existing pre permitted coal plants,
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putting miners, plant workers, electricians, mechanics and operators back to work,
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and creating long term careers and energy construction, maintenance, and
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advanced manufacturing. Barr, the statement says, has already led and
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supported legend during his more than a decade in the
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US House to protect reliable power plants with from premature shutdowns,
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speed permitting for power plants, transmission lines and energy infrastructure,
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stop banks and regulators from denying financing to lawful energy projects,
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recover critical minerals from coal and coal ash, support AI
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data centers, and advanced manufacturing that depend on affordable, NonStop power.
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State Senator Philip Wheeler Republican PIKEL express support for Bar
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and the Energy plan In the statement, no one will
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fight harder for Kentucky coal than Andy Barr, Wheeler said
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goal miners are proud people who want to work, provide
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for their families, and lower energy costs for their neighbors.
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Andy Barr's plan delivers exactly that, and it puts Kentucky
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coal back to work. Bar's plan can be found at
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barfor Senate dot com slash Kentucky dash Coole dash Plan.
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Barr is one of several candidates for the US Senate
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seat being vacated by McConnell and the Other candidates include
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Republican Samuel Cameron, Michael James Ferris, Valerie, Doctor Vel Frederick,
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Jonathan m Holiday, Jimmy I, Leon, Nate Morris, George Washington, Others,
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Donald Wenzel, and Democrats Joshua Blayton, Senior, Logan Forsyth, Amy McGrath,
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Paula Stephenson, and Vincent Anthony Thompson. Our notes article is
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the SCTC Honors first Graduate of Prison Prison Education System
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Special to the News Express. Big Sandy Community and Technical
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College recently celebrated the first graduate of its Prison Education
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Program PEP as Southeast State Correctional Complex in Wheelwright. The
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student graduated December eleventh with an Associate of Arts degree
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through b SCTC. While enrolled in the PEP. He joined
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the program in the fall semester and completed the remaining
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fifteen credit hours to earn his degree. According to a
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statement from b SCTC, I'm really grateful for the program.
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The student said it has helped me develop goals and
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a routine I wouldn't have otherwise. The student expressed excitement
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about his future and the possibility of furthering his education
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after his release. The statement said he is one of
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thirty six students currently enrolled in the program. The PEP
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began in spring twenty twenty five with two cohorts of
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eighteen students each and is set to expand in an
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upcoming spring semester with an additional twenty five students. Today's
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ceremony reflects a profound belief that guides our college's mission.
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Higher education must meet people where they are. Learning cannot
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be limited to geography, circumstance, or past decisions. And Doctor
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Todd Branch, President of BSCTC, during commencement, the purpose of
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the program is to reduce recidivism by providing students with
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opportunities they may not have otherwise had. In September of
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twenty twenty fourth, changes to the fafsa's Simplification Act restored
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pell grant eligibility for confirmed or incarcerated individuals enrolled in
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an eligible prison education program. Access to education should never
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depend on circumstances, said Stephen Van, whose President Education Program Coordinator.
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Programs like PEP ensure that every learner, no matter where
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they are, has the opportunity to build a future field
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of possibility and purpose. The students spoke during the ceremony
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and encourage his peers and PEP to continue their education
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and not give up. He said his biggest accomplishment was
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hearing his parents say they were proud of him for
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continuing his education. I've not done the best things, but
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hearing my parents say they were are proud, those two
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words meant the world to me, he said. The PEP
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is an example of bsctc's unwavering commitment to providing access
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to all students in Eastern Kentucky. The statement said, across
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the Commonwealth, we are working to build pathways that allow
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justice system involves students to earn skills, credentials, and eventually
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careers that will support their families and help rebuild their communities.
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It is about giving every person a chance to step
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into a future defined by not defined by their past,
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but by their promise, Brand said. Our next article is
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Mountain Comps Healing Place Shelter receives a grant to assist
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with sexual assault victims back care by Devin Kidd America,
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a latch of newspapers. Mountain Comprehensive Care recently received twenty
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six three hundred and sixty dollars from Red Rovers Partial
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Purple Leash Project grant to assist with caring for the
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pets of those staying at the Healing Place Sexual Assault Center.
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Heather Green, MCC Healing Program directors, said the grant came
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about because they saw a need. We work with sexual
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assault victims and have a six bed facility or shelter
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in providing services throughout the Big Sandy region. We have
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discovered a need through a lot of community partnerships, he said. Also,
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the grant application came our way and we wrote it,
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applied for funding and told the mar days. Then we
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went from there. Since being awarded the grant, Green said,
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a lot of staff have been trained on how to
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operate what the grant has involved. We've tried to get
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to get it to a point where it can be
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sustainable after the funds are gone, because sometimes you'd just
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get a one time she said. The sustainability plan is
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the community partnership and the type of facilities we've built.
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We customize them so that if we are have the
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opportunity to move locations, we can take the kennel with us. Also,
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we're continuing to enhance the service and apply for more funding.
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Green said the grant essentially gives sexual assault victims who
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are staying at the shelter the opportunity to bring their
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pets and let them benefit from the shelter's pause program.
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Whether the only sexual assault shelter in the state. There
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are other pet shelters who help victims, but not one
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related to sexual assault services. We are the only one
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in the eastern Kentucky region. If victims are outlining I'm
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sorry utilizing our shelter and they have a pet, we
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can have a place for them. Green said that they
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have a cannel manager who handles the betting and policies
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and procedures. We had to develop policies and procedures and
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all kinds of things things to be able to perform.
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Are sorry to provide this service, she said. Additionally, we
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have some staff who assist on different shifts to make
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sure the kennel's services are maintained and working properly. Above all,
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Green said mcc is proud of this news service and
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what it's made possible. Will continue to work and think
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outside the box for creativity on how we can better
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serve victims and pets without throughout the region. With the
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Pause program, she said, this concludes today's reading of the
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Appalachian News Express. Your reader today has been Darcy macardol.
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Thank you for joining me, and please stay tuned for
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we're continued programming from RADIOI