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Artwork submitted by a student at Asbury Theological Seminary has been selected to represent the Kentucky Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force, Attorney General Andy Beshear announced today.
Nicholas T. Porritt, a second-year marriage and family therapy masters student at Asbury, won a competition hosted by Beshear to raise awareness of human trafficking by creating a logo for the task force.
Monday in Frankfort, Beshear presented Porritt with a grant-funded $1,000 scholarship and congratulated him for being selected to help Kentuckians better identify the work the task force is doing to combat human trafficking.
Beshear said Porritt’s undergraduate roommate, who runs a safe house in Malawi and helps victims of sex trafficking, served as inspiration for the design.
“I applaud Nicholas for his outstanding design that focuses on the positive reality of a life filled with hope, peace and freedom – a message that resonates with victims of human trafficking,” Beshear said. “Providing victims a way out is what drives us each day in the AG’s office. We are working with our law enforcement and community partners to arrest traffickers and help victims find hope.”
Porritt said he wants his art to help people find hope, much like how art has helped him find hope.
“I believe that all of the qualities of this logo will help those who are in this situation to see a symbol of what can be,” Porritt said. “It’s not a reflection of the struggle and pain they are in, but hope for where they will be and what they can expect of this trafficking task force.”
Porritt’s design uses a dove to symbolize freedom, peace and hope. The bird is made to look like green leaves to symbolize growth, endurance and nourishment. The olive branch symbolizes freedom as well as a place to find stability. The yellow background is symbolic of the sun and evokes growth and life.
In September, Beshear launched the logo initiative with state and local partners to help support the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force, which Beshear’s office and Catholic Charities of Louisville co-chair.
Primary task force partners include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, Kentucky State Police and Lexington Police Department. Overall membership of the task force includes nearly 50 agencies.
All high school juniors and seniors, and all college students were invited to enter the competition. A random panel of members of the Kentucky Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force chose the winning logo. The panel included law enforcement, victim advocates and survivor leaders.
Beshear said human trafficking is the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world and the Office of the Attorney General is focused on raising awareness of the crime, helping victims and prosecuting traffickers.
Beshear’s Office of Child Abuse and Human Trafficking Prevention and Prosecution operates to assist victims, prosecutors and law enforcement across the state in identifying and responding to these cases and leads the efforts of the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force.
The Office of Victims Advocacy provides direct advocacy services to victims of trafficking as they work to navigate the legal system and find healing and recovery from the trauma.
Beshear’s office and Catholic Charities of Louisville received a federal grant that has allowed the hiring of the state’s first full-time human trafficking investigator and training of more than 5,000 law enforcement officers, health care employees, first responders, inspectors and community members across the state.
Beshear’s office currently has 15 open human trafficking cases, and over the course of 2018, the office has been involved in 31 arrests or citations involving the crime. In February, the office secured a 20-year sentence against former Campbell County District Judge Timothy Nolan on numerous felony charges, including human trafficking of adults and minors.
Last month, Beshear joined Rep. Dennis Keene, of Wilder, to announce legislation that would grant the Office of the Attorney General the ability to investigate crimes, like human trafficking, throughout multiple jurisdictions in the state.
If a human trafficking victim is in immediate danger dial 911 and report suspected human trafficking of a child to 877-KYSAFE1. Victims of human trafficking may call or text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
The Muhammad Ali Center will host a screening of the new documentary “Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes” on Thursday, November 1st at 5:30 p.m. in the Center’s auditorium. Light refreshments will be available at 5:30 p.m. and the film begins at 6:00 p.m. This is the first screening of the film in Louisville, following its premiere at South by Southwest Film Festival this past spring.
The documentary follows the life and times of Muhammad Ali shown through the lens of his numerous appearances on The Dick Cavett Show. The film features new interviews with Dick Cavett, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Larry Merchant, as well as archival material from the Cavett Show. Following the film, there will be a discussion with producer/director Robert Bader and a special appearance by Dick Cavett.
Formerly a stand-up comedian and Tonight Show writer, Dick Cavett was given his own daily talk show in the spring of 1968. The first show he taped featured the former Heavyweight Champion of the World. Muhammad Ali would appear on Cavett’s shows a total of fourteen times in the coming years. Ali and Cavett’s friendship spanned more than fifty years.
Among other individuals, the film features interviews with Cavett, Thomas Hauser, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Juan Williams, as well as archival material from the Cavett Show. This is more than a sports documentary; the film delves into political and social matters that remain relevant today.
“Muhammad and Mr. Cavett’s 48-year friendship played out publicly on late night television in the late 1960s, but it grew privately off screen,” said Lonnie Ali, co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center. “Both men admired and respected one another for their mutual intellect, humor, and curiosity about people.”
“Anyone who watched The Dick Cavett Show will remember the magic of Muhammad’s appearances on the program,” said Donald Lassere, President and CEO of the Ali Center, “especially the frank discussions they had about politics and society. We are honored to show this film and to have Dick sitting in the audience, here at the Muhammad Ali Center.”
Doors open at 5:30pm. Limited seating available. $15 admission to the event. Tickets must be purchased online at https://alicenter.org/?event=ali-cavett-the-tale-of-the-tapes
For additional info about the film and to view the trailer: https://ew.com/movies/2018/03/08/muhammad-ali-dick-cavett-ali-cavett-the-tale-of-the-tapes/
A proposed Ordinance dealing with Itinerant Vendors, Peddlers, and Solicitors is now before the Louisville Metro Council’s Public Works, Facilities, Transportation and Accessibility Committee.
The sponsors of the Ordinance are asking for public comment as the legislation moves forward.
“This is a starting point as we begin a review of how to deal with itinerant vendors, peddlers and solicitors in this growing area of our economy,” says Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4). “It is important that we hear from everyone on this issue. We are in no rush to get this legislation passed. We want to make sure all interested parties and the public know where and how they can advise us on this issue.”
Sexton Smith is one of four sponsors of the Ordinance. Council member Brandon Coan (D-8), Pat Mulvihill (D-10) and Scott Reed (R-16) are also sponsors. Councilman Mulvihill chairs the Public Works Committee.
“Current regulations regarding vending are complex and outdated” says Coan. “That is why we are treating this legislation with a public process to eliminate confusion and crowdsource policy ideas.”
Appearing before the Public Works Committee, the sponsors announced the public will be able to comment online by accessing a new webpage on the Metro Council Clerk’s Homepage that shows the current ordinance, the proposed changes and offers a comment section.
“When this ordinance was recently legally challenged and changed, this prompted Metro Council to look at the ordinance governing vendors, peddlers, and solicitors and attempt to update this audience since it has not been examined since 2011. The proposed ordinance is just a proposal at this point and is seeking public input from all interested parties on what, if any, changes need to be made going forward,” says Mulvihill, who chairs the Committee.
The Committee has announced two public hearings regarding the proposed Ordinance. On October 30th, all businesses that are currently regulated as vendors will be able to testify on the Ordinance. Each person will be given three minutes to make a statement and be available for questions by any committee members. On November 13th, anyone else who would like to comment on the new proposal will be invited to speak.
Following those hearings, the Committee will begin its discussion on the Ordinance. Online comments will be taken up to Friday, November 16th.
All meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. All meetings of the Metro Council are streamed live. Go to the Metro Council Home page at www.Louisvilleky.gov/metrocouncil and click on the Metro Council Agendas link.
To access the new page that explains the proposed changes in the Itinerate Vendors, Peddlers and Solicitors Ordinance, go to: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/proposed-changes-itine…
A 65-year-old Texas man was arrested Oct. 19 at the Lexington Blue Grass Airport after he traveled 900 miles to engage in what he thought was sex with two children under the age of 12, Attorney General Andy Beshear announced today.
Beshear’s cyber investigators, Kentucky State Police and airport police intercepted and arrested Gregory Lee Hruby Friday night and charged him with four counts of unlawful use of electronic means originating or received within the Commonwealth of Kentucky to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities, all Class D felonies.
Hruby, of Brazoria, Texas, which is near Houston, was taken to the Fayette County Detention Center. His bail was set at $100,000, and if he posts bail, he is required to wear an ankle monitor, Beshear said.
“The Attorney General is the chief advocate and protector for our Kentucky families, and it’s our job to ensure our communities are safe by taking off the streets anyone who would actively seek to sexually abuse any child, especially a child from Kentucky,” Beshear said. “I appreciate the hard work of our cyber investigators, KSP and officials at the Blue Grass Airport for teaming up and stopping this individual.”
Hruby’s arrest and charges were part of a lengthy undercover investigation by Beshear’s Department of Criminal Investigations, Cyber Crimes Unit, whose work to protect Kentucky families from cyber predators has reached historic levels with more arrests than ever before.
The Cyber Crimes Unit is part of the Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that works to reduce the number of child predators going after Kentucky’s most vulnerable children.
With the ever-changing cyber landscape, the unit is dedicated to educating its detectives on the most current techniques and technologies to keep pace with those seeking to harm children.
The Office of the Attorney General also makes it a priority to educate law enforcement, prosecutors, parents, children and caregivers on dangers of the internet.
To help keep children safe online, the office has collaborated with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky to offer statewide trainings.
Beshear said the trainings offer a free Internet Safety Toolkit, which he said every Kentuckian could access online to obtain information that can protect children from cyber bullying to online predators.
Report any instance of child abuse to local law enforcement or to Kentucky’s Child Abuse hotline at 877-597-2331 or 877-KYSAFE1.
Louisville Metro residents not mulching autumn leaves into their lawns or using curbside collection will have the option to dispose of them at one of three drop-off sites beginning November 6.
Metro Public Works is offering a free leaf drop-off service November 6 through December 1. Drop-off will not be available on November 22 and 23 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Only loose leaves will be accepted. Containers used to bring leaves to the drop-off sites must be disposed of off-site by residents.
Leaf drop off sites:
- Public Works Yard – 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)
- Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Public Works East District Operations Center – 595 Hubbards Lane
- Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Public Works Waste Reduction Center – 636 Meriwether Avenue
- Tuesday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Bill Hollander invites the community to attend the next D9 Community Conversation. A representative of Louisville Metro Planning & Design will join Councilman Hollander to discuss current ordinances regarding short-term rentals and proposed changes, and to answer questions and hear comments from the public. Short-term residential rentals are available through Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and similar companies.
The meeting is Tuesday, October 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Louisville Water Tower Park, 3005 River Road.
As with all D9 Community Conversations, discussion of any other subject is welcome and Councilman Hollander will be available to talk with constituents about any questions, comments or concerns.
For more information about the meeting, contact Councilman Hollander’s office at 574-1109.
The 2018 Breeders’ Cup will be held at Churchill Downs November 2nd and 3rd when the world’s greatest Thoroughbreds will race under the historic Twin Spires! Whether visitors are coming to town for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships or just want to experience the excitement in the days leading up to the big weekend, the Kentucky Derby Museum is offering several ways for guests to be a part of it all.
From October 29th through November 1st, our 30-minute historic walking tour, included with the Museum’s general admission experience, will take on a Breeders’ Cup twist. Guests will not only take in the beauty of Churchill Downs and learn about past Derby winners, but they’ll also learn all about the Breeders’ Cup and the legendary horses that have competed in the world championship races.
Historic Walking Tours of Churchill Downs will operate October 29 through November 1, from 8:00a.m. until 5:00p.m. daily (half past every hour).
Breeders’ Cup Workout Golf Cart & Walking Tour
Join us to see Breeders’ Cup contenders during their morning workout! The Breeders’ Cup Workout Golf Cart & Walking Tour kicks off at 6:30 a.m. and takes you through the history, pageantry and legacy of the Churchill Downs Racetrack, the Kentucky Derby and of course, the 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Guests will travel to the backside of Churchill Downs to enjoy an up close and personal view of the Breeders’ Cup contenders during their early morning workout, over a cup of coffee from the Trackside Kitchen. See jockeys, trainers and others at work as well as the famous barns that once were home to Thoroughbred legends like Secretariat, Barbaro and American Pharoah. Guests will also visit other exclusive areas inside historic Churchill Downs not generally open to the public. After this tour, the tour returns to the Kentucky Derby Museum, where guests will enjoy two floors of interactive exhibits that bring the extraordinary experience that is the Kentucky Derby right to you! This tour lasts two hours and includes Museum admission. It is limited to six guests and is for guests ages 10 years and up. This limited-time tour is $75 per person and runs from Monday, October 29th through Wednesday, October 31st only. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit DerbyMuseum.org.
Breeders’ Cup Week Barn and Backside Tour
Experience the hustle and bustle of the backside firsthand in this exclusive van and walking tour. Visitors will take a ride to the backside of the track and will head right into the action of the barn area. This exclusive tour is offered only to guests of the Museum. Tour guides, when possible, will point out and visit the barns where the Breeders’ Cup contenders are housed in preparation for world championship races. Seats are limited as guests ride in the Museum’s tour van. This tour is available the Monday, October 29th through Saturday, November 3rd of Breeders’ Cup week. Tours depart at 7AM, 8:30AM, 10AM, 11:30AM, 1PM, 2:30PM, 3:30PM For more information and to purchase advance tickets, visit DerbyMuseum.org.
Breeders’ Cup Exclusive VIP Tour (Oct. 29 & 30, Oct. 31)
Guests of this 45-minute VIP tour will learn about the history of the Breeders’ Cup and its impact on the racing industry. Led by a knowledgeable Museum curator, guests will also see artifacts and hear the stories of some the most famous Breeders’ Cup horses, including Winning Colors, Lady’s Secret and Cat Thief.
Tours will be conducted at the Kentucky Derby Museum Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 at 10:00a.m. and 12:00p.m., and on Wednesday, October 31 at 10:00a.m. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, visit DerbyMueseum.org.
Special Event:
The Kentucky Derby Museum is pleased to invite you for a cocktail reception with industry icon D. Wayne Lukas as the Museum unveils its brand-new wing and pays tribute to the Hall of Fame trainer for his legendary impact on the sport of Thoroughbred racing!
Mr. Lukas will be honored by the Museum and the Breeders’ Cup at this memorable event by being presented with the Breeders’ Cup Sports & Racing Excellence Award. He’ll join a distinguished list of others who have been presented with this award, including storied professional golfer Gary Player and famed sports commentator Dick Enberg.
This will also be the first time for guests to see the Kentucky Derby Museum’s $6.5 million dollar expansion, including the D. Wayne Lukas exhibit, featuring many exquisite racing and personal artifacts from his racing career and the exhibit featuring items from Hall of Fame Jockey Bill Shoemaker.
This memorable event is planned for the evening of Wednesday, October 31, from 5:00p.m. until 8:00p.m., at the Kentucky Derby Museum. A limited number of tickets are available to the public for this event. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit DerbyMuseum.org.
