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Friday January 23, 2026
Local Connection
Special meeting begins at 2:30pm on Wednesday, August 5th
The Public Safety Committee of the Louisville Metro Council will continue its discussion and review of a proposed ordinance dealing with short term rentals on Wednesday, August 5th.
At 2:30pm, the Committee will hold a special meeting and hear from Mr. Bill Herbert, the Zoning Administrator of the City of Nashville. He will discuss Nashville’s experience implementing their short term rentals legislation.
Then at 3:30pm, the Committee will hold a special public hearing to listen to citizens and interested parties who have a concern or support the proposed ordinance.
“As we move forward, I want to make sure the committee can learn from neighboring cities, like Nashville’s experiences, with short term rentals,” says Councilman David Yates (D-25) who chairs the Committee. “We also want to hear from our citizens, whether they be a host, guest, investor, or neighbor of these types of rentals. We want to hear how they believe they will be affected and actively listen to their concerns.”
The following guidelines will be followed for the public hearing:
- The public will be permitted two minutes to speak to the short term rentals ordinance.
- Each speaker will need to sign in with the Clerk’s office on the Third Floor of City Hall beginning at 2:30p.m.
- Speakers will be called in the same order in which they were signed in.
- The Committee requests that any member of the public unable to speak during this allotted time provide written materials detailing their concerns and opinions to the Clerk’s office to be distributed to all Metro Council members and be documented for the record.
The Short Term Rental ordinance is sponsored by Council members James Peden (R-23), Tom Owen (D-8), Bill Hollander (D-9) and David James (D-6).
The Public Safety Committee will meet at 2:30pm in Council Chambers, 601 West Jefferson Street.
All Council meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Time Warner Cable Channel 25. You can also watch the meetings online by going to the Metro Council home page at http://louisvilleky.gov/
The largest comic-con in the region, Fandomfest, kicks off this Friday, August 7, in Louisville.
The three day event features celebrities including sci-fi movie stars, sports legends, artists, authors, and more. In addition to the opportunity for fans to get autographs and photos with their favorite heroes, there is a full roster of events including movie screenings, panel discussions and Q&A sessions, gaming sessions, parades, and live performances.
Attendees will have the opportunity to get on the action as well by participating in the Fantasmagorical Fandomfest Parade, cosplay events, after parties, and more.
The event takes place in and around the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville Friday August 7 – Sunday August 9. Vendors and exhibit halls are open from 4-10PM on Friday, 10AM-7PM on Saturday, and 11AM-4PM on Sunday. Discussion panels, movie screenings and after hours events take place during exhibit hall hours and last until 2AM on Friday and Saturday nights and until 5PM on Sunday. For additional details, visit fandomfest.com.
Tickets area available online and start at $30 for all-day Friday or Sunday passes and $40 for all-day Saturday passes. Weekend passes, VIP Experience packages, and more are also available.
Be sure to keep an eye on traffic and weather around the event to make the most of your weekend.
Special Agent in Charge Howard S. Marshall of the FBI’s Louisville Division, joined by John E. Kuhn, Jr. United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, and Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, announced today a new initiative designed to solicit the public’s help in identifying public corruption within our community. The initiative includes the launch of a new, toll-free tip line (844) KYNOPC1 (596-6721), a billboard campaign, and a dedicated e-mail address Kentucky_PC_Complaints@ic.fbi.gov.
Public corruption is the FBI’s top criminal priority because it undermines the public’s trust in our government. A 2014 study by Harvard University’s Center for Ethics identified Kentucky as one of the most corrupt states in the country. In fact, in Kentucky between 2003 and 2012, approximately 300 individuals were convicted of federal crimes related to public corruption. It is a violation of federal law for any federal, state, or local government official to receive anything of value in exchange for or because of an official act. While the vast majority of public officials in Kentucky are dedicated and honest, SAC Marshall stressed “there is simply no acceptable level of corruption.”
“Public corruption victimizes everyone—taxpayers, voters, communities,” stated U.S. Attorney John Kuhn. “Public officials, whether elected or appointed, are more than mere employees. They are servants of the public interest, and we must insist on absolute honesty, integrity and trustworthiness from every one. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure crimes involving public corruption are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
U.S. Attorney Kerry Harvey agreed stating, “Public corruption is a terribly destructive force throughout Kentucky and has been a particularly pernicious problem in certain areas of the Eastern District of Kentucky. While the overwhelming majority of public officials serve honorably, those who corrupt the operations of government rob their communities-their friends and neighbors-of the fundamental right to honest government. We are pleased to continue our longstanding partnership with the FBI as we work together to combat this statewide problem.”
In a few short months, Kentucky will go to the polls for significant state-wide elections with a national election looming in 2016. SAC Marshall noted, “There is simply no greater right than to elect our political leaders. Anyone attempting to corrupt this process will be investigated as a top priority for our office.”
This year also presents a new opportunity for our state government to partner with the FBI to address a potential, long term problem. For the first time ever, audits for Special Purpose Government Entities will be due in September. The FBI will work with the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts to identify individuals who have violated the public’s trust and misused SPGE funds.
The FBI relies on our federal, state, and local partners to address corruption matters, but concerned citizens are our biggest asset when it comes to exposing officials who use their positions for personal gain. As a result, the Louisville Division has set up the following hotline and e-mail address seeking the public’s assistance in combating public corruption:
- toll-free: (844) KYNOPC1 (596-6721)
- e-mail: Kentucky_PC_Complaints@ic.fbi.gov
You will also see billboards around the state bearing this number and e-mail address. SAC Marshall noted, “The End Corruption Now campaign seeks to unite the commonwealth in the fight against corruption at every level, from the proverbial dog catcher, to the police officer, to the highest state and federal officials in the commonwealth.”
America’s Night Out Against Crime
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-police awareness-raising event held on the first Tuesday of August since 1984. The event, organized in part by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), is meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts.
Aimed at community-building, promoting police-community partnerships, and developing neighborhood camaraderie, there are a number of events being held around Louisville this Tuesday, August 4th.
1st Division
6-8pm
Waterfront Park, Louisville, KY 40202
2nd Division
6-8pm
First Choice Market, 3044 Wilson Avenue, Louisville, KY 40211
3rd Division
6-8pm
Home Depot, 6840 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40258
4th Division
5-8pm
Wyandotte Park, 1104 Beecher Street, Louisville, KY 40215
5th Division
6-9pm
Peterson-Dumesnil House, 301 S. Peterson Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206
6th & 7th Divisions
6-8pm
Target Okolona, 7311 Jefferson Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40219
8th Division
6-8pm
Target Middleton, 12975 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40243
Our very own Louisville Loop has been nominated by USA Today as one of the country’s top Urban Trails and you have opportunity to net it the number one spot.
The Louisville Loop consists of approximately 100 miles of walking, running, and biking trails snaking through and around all of Jefferson County. The trails connect neighborhoods, parks, and attractions throughout the area in addition to providing ample opportunity get out and enjoy our beautiful city while staying healthy and fit.
A panel of travel and outdoor recreation experts have narrowed down the nationwide selection to only 20 top picks. Other nominees include urban trails in Seattle, Boston, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and, just up I-65, Indianapolis.
The top trails will be picked by voters like you. Vote for your favorite once per day until voting ends on Monday, July 20 at noon ET.
As of this writing, our Louisville Loop is at the mid-point of 10th out of 20.
Louisville Dispatch wishes you a safe and happy Independence Day!
If we missed any area celebrations or festivities, be sure to let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
July 3
Springfield’s Independence Day Celebration
6 p.m.
Behind the Judicial Center. Features live music, car show, food and fireworks at dark.
Louisville Bats Baseball Fireworks Show
Bats vs. Columbus at 6:45 pm at Slugger Field, fireworks extravaganza following the game
Harrison County (Indiana) Kiwanis Annual Fireworks Display
Old Capital Golf Club – Fireworks at dark.
July 4
Louisville Orchestra Waterfront 4th
July 4 – 5 pm to 10:15 pm. Featuring live music, beer garden, activities, and Fireworks on the Great Lawn
Bullitt Blast and Shepherdsville City Fair
All day events at Shepherdsville City Park include 5k run, beauty pageant, car show, live music, WWII reenactments, watermelon eating contest, and fireworks at approximately 9:30 pm.
Carrollton’s Annual July Fourth Family Celebration
Point Park where the Kentucky and Ohio Rivers meet. Fireworks begin at dusk. FREE music and fun for the entire family.
Elizabethtown Founders’ Day
5 pm until dark at Freeman Lake Park. Air shows, skydiving demonstration, pie eating contest and fireworks at dark.
Shelby County Shake the Lake
Clear Creek Park Amphitheater, 5:30-10 pm. $3 per person.
Simpsonville’s Red, White and Boom
Noon – 10 pm at Simpsonville Park. Live music, food, DJ, vendor booths, bouncies & fireworks.
Crescent Hill Old Fashioned Fourth of July Art and Music Festival
10 am – 10 pm, Peterson Dumesnil House. Music, food, activities.
Fort Knox Celebrates Freedom
5 – 10:30 pm at Brooks Field on Fort Knox. Food, music, fun. Fireworks at 10:15 pm.
Madison Regatta
Fireworks Spectacular, Co-Sponsored by American Legion Post No. 9, The City of Madison Indiana, &
Jefferson County Board of Tourism. approx. 10pm / Riverfront
The Dixie Area Business Association’s (DABA) Discover Dixie Expo will be held Tuesday, September 15.
The annual B2B event, held in the gymnasium of the Ormsby Heights Baptist Church at 2120 Lower Hunters Trace, will showcase area businesses and allow other business owners, employees, entrepreneurs to see what the Dixie Highway corridor has to offer.
Over 60 exhibitors are expected from various fields including education, financial services, healthcare and fitness, home improvement, computers and technology, advertising & marketing, and others. The event also features business seminars, a silent auction, prizes, networking and more.
Admission is free with a business card. For the full schedule and more information, visit the Discover Dixie Expo Facebook page or official website.
