Video summary
The episode opens with a critical examination of automated license plate readers, commonly known as Flock cameras, which have recently appeared near Lowe's in Pikeville and sparked significant public debate regarding privacy rights. The host discusses the conflicting viewpoints between the ACLU Kentucky Executive Director Amber Duke and representatives from Flock Safety; while the technology company defends its use by claiming data is not sold without authorization, does not scan faces, and is deleted after thirty days to help identify missing persons or prevent autotheft, civil liberties advocates argue that such pervasive surveillance infringes on innocent citizens going about their daily lives. The ACLU emphasizes concerns over how long sensitive information is retained, who has access to it, and cites documented instances in Kentucky where this technology has been abused, suggesting that investigations can be conducted without invasive data collection if proper policy practices are implemented by local departments.
In a separate but equally serious legal update, the broadcast reports on former Floyd County school bus driver Andrew Lewis, who will remain in federal custody while awaiting his trial for child exploitation charges scheduled to begin on September 29th. A forty-year-old resident of Prestonburg, Lewis is accused of attempting to online entice a middle school student into sexual activity and has pleaded not guilty; however, US Magistrate Judge Hanley Ingram ruled that he must stay jailed because no conditions of release would adequately protect the community. The judge's decision was based on evidence suggesting Lewis wiped his cell phone before turning it over to investigators, attempted to use recorded jail calls to ask for favors from officials, had access to multiple internet-connected devices if released, and appeared to snicker during FBI testimony at his detention hearing.
The program also shifts focus back to the community as Pike County students return to school following a summer break, with reporter Robin Tilman visiting Mullins Elementary School to capture the excitement surrounding the start of the new academic year. Teachers and staff express their enthusiasm for welcoming families back into a building filled with laughter, love, and energy after months of hard work during the summer preparation; administrators highlight plans for future events such as a distinguished hall of fame for students excelling on state assessments, along with continued science and math nights designed to foster community engagement. The school administration stresses that their primary goal is to maintain Mullins Elementary as a safe, welcoming atmosphere where every voice is heard, reinforcing the idea that the entire institution functions like an extended family dedicated to helping each child succeed.
The broadcast concludes with brief segments covering local sports updates for Marshall University women's soccer and football schedules, followed by promotional messages from Appalachian Wireless supporting various community groups including marching bands and robotics teams without relying on major carriers. These final sections serve as a reminder of the importance of keeping money within local communities to ensure they remain connected and supported during challenging times before signing off with host Nick Colum inviting viewers to tune in for future editions of Mountaintop Daily every weekday at 6 p.m.
Read the full video transcript
We'll hear the pros and cons about flock
cameras and a former bus driver will
remain in jail while he awaits trial on
a child exploitation charge. I'm Nick
Colum and this is the Mountaintop Daily.
Earlier this week, we covered the public
concern over the use of automated
license plate readers, also known as
Flock cameras, after the devices were
spotted near Lowe's in Pikeville. Today,
I spoke with the ACLU about that group's
concerns with the cameras and heard back
from Flock Safety, which defended their
use. The ongoing discussion regarding
ALPR aka flock type cameras installed in
the Pikeville area has many concerned
about their right to privacy. Now that
Pikeville city officials have denied any
involvement, the question is whether
people should be concerned about their
sensitive personal data being stored and
accessed without their consent.
Mountaintop News spoke with ACLU
Kentucky Executive Director Amber Duke
to better understand the situation. Part
of our concern about all of these
technologies is that you have folks just
going about their day-to-day lives.
They're not suspected of anything. Um
they've not they're they're not
committing any crimes and at the end of
the day, you're really under this
blanket of surveillance. Um the other
thing that we um have concerns about and
ring the alarm about in the report is
some of the misuse of this very
sensitive information that uh flot
cameras can collect. We have concerns
about this technology because it is
extremely pervasive. Um it's collecting
information about folks when they may
not be aware of it. There are really
varying levels of protections around how
long this information is kept and who
has access to it. And we have had
documented instances here in Kentucky of
where this technology has been abused.
>> While concerns about privacy are growing
larger by the day, Flock has published a
myth versus facts page on their website.
This page along with statements from a
Flock representative claim that no
customer data is sold without proper
authorization. They do not scan
biometrics such as people's faces.
Customers are the only ones who own
collected data, which is deleted after a
30-day period, and their cameras help
identify missing persons and discourage
autotheft. The ACLU counters these
claims by saying there are ways to
identify people and stolen vehicles
without potentially collecting private
data. We think that there is a way and
there has been a way um that folks can
do investigations that folks you know
are able to get information without you
know sort of this invasive technology.
We've said look you know for departments
and places who have been direct and said
we are going to move forward with it. We
said, "Okay, will you allow us to
suggest to you some of the ongoing best
policy practices to make sure um that
the most and maximum protections are in
place for individuals private data, that
it's being held um and stored for the
least amount of time possible."
>> A former Floyd County school bus driver
will remain in federal custody while
awaiting trial on a child exploitation
charge.
40-year-old Andrew Lewis of Prestonburg
is charged with attempted online
enticement of a minor. Prosecutors
allege he used electronic messages to
try to persuade a middle school student
to engage in sexual activity. Lewis has
pleaded not guilty. US Magistrate Judge
Hanley Ingram ruled Thursday that Lewis
should remain jailed pending trial,
finding no conditions of release would
adequately protect the community.
The judge cited evidence that Lewis
allegedly wiped his cell phone before
turning it over to investigators, asked
his wife in recorded jail calls to
contact officials to call in some
favors, and had access to multiple
internet connected devices if released.
The judge also noted Lewis appeared to
snicker during FBI testimony at his
detention hearing. Lewis is scheduled to
stand trial September 29th. Coming up
after the break, Pike County students
went back to school today. We'll check
in on how the new year is starting when
the Mountaintop Daily continues. But
first, sports and weather. Had to drive
to Columbus today. Wow.
How's it going sports fans? Cody the
Professor Davis here with your
Mountaintop sports recap. And let's just
jump into it. Marshall women's soccer is
in its second week of full practice as
the team prepares for the regular season
opener [music] Thursday, August 13th at
home against Morehead State before the
official kickoff of the third season for
the herd under head coach Rafa Samos. MU
will host Delaware in an exhibition
[music] Sunday evening at 700 p.m. at
Hoops Family Field. Admission to
Sunday's exhibition is free, but fans
[music] will have to claim a free
ticket. So, be sure to check online for
that. Don't forget, we continue [music]
to post area football schedules on our
Facebook page. So, be sure to be on the
lookout for those. And [music] make sure
to keep a lookout for these, our pigkin
previews. Those are coming shortly.
You're going to [music] love them. Well,
that's all the time we've got for today,
sports fans. I'm Cody the Professor
Davis, and as always, [music] thanks for
watching.
Ned Pillarsdorf fights for the underdog
in courtrooms where [music] he advocates
for the most vulnerable and in
classrooms where at risk kids get a
second chance.
Ned doesn't just talk about things. Ned
shows up and people notice.
He's the best pro bono [music] attorney
in the nation.
Now he's bringing his fight to
Washington.
>> I'm Ned Pillarsdorf and I approve this
message.
>> We understand where you are and we know
where you need connection. Friday Night
Lights, Tuesday night basketball, the
marching band, the robotics team. And
here's the funny thing. You'll probably
see Appalachin Wireless supports all of
them. And you know who you probably
won't see? That's [music] right, those
big carriers. Because supporting our
communities isn't something we do when
it's convenient. It's who we are. So if
you're [music] thinking about switching,
remember where you spend your money, it
matters. So keep it local and keep it
connected because we [music] are
Appalachin Wireless.
>> It's back to school time around the
mountains and Pike County students
headed back to the classroom today.
Robin stopped in at Mullins Elementary
to find out how the new school year is
starting out. Pike County Schools
started today. We checked in with
Mullins Elementary to see what they have
in store for this year.
>> I'm so excited to get the year started.
Today is day one with our students. Uh
the building is full with laughter,
love, and energy. I've been waiting all
summer to start today uh just to get our
kids back in the building. We did open
house uh yesterday and the day before. A
lot of community support coming out and
seeing uh the building. our custodial
staff and front office staff and our
teachers, all the faculty and staff have
worked really hard this summer uh to get
the building ready for our kids because
uh it's showtime.
>> Zacker is excited for the events they
have planned.
>> We do have some events scheduled
throughout the year. We're in the
pre-planning stages, try to incorporate
some uh community nights throughout each
month. Uh last year we done a
distinguish uh wall of fame uh for
students that scored distinguish on the
Kentucky state assessment. Uh we're
going to be continuing that in the years
uh coming uh to do our distinguished
hall of fame. Uh but we do have several
events uh like last year we done science
night and math night. Uh we will start
we will continue those and also revamp
and add some more as well. His overall
goal is to make Mullins's a safe and
welcoming atmosphere.
>> The word that I want to describe our
school is family. When you walk in the
building, you should feel welcome. You
will feel welcome. You you know a good
school when you first walk in the
building. And we want to make sure we
continue that uh customer service. And
we want to make sure that every voice is
heard. and we just want to be a I guess
we we just want to be there for our
community and help each child.
>> Reporting for Mountaintop News, I'm
Robin Tilman.
>> That will do it for this edition of the
Mountaintop Daily. Be sure to check us
out at 6 p.m. every weekday on
Mountaintop TV, the Mountaintop TV app,
and the Mountaintop News Facebook page.
With your Mountaintop Daily, I'm Nick
Colum for Mountaintop News.