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Friday January 23, 2026
Local Connection
There are now 79 new cases of HIV confirmed in southern Indiana since January and many potential cases that are pending further testing. The bulk of these cases seem to be centered around Scott County. Frightening numbers from a county that sees only about five new cases a year.
The Indiana State Health Commissioner, Dr. Jerome Adams says that majority of the cases have been linked to needle sharing and the intravenous use of drugs, including Heroin as well as prescription painkillers such as Opana. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were also in the area to help with the investigation and their findings have led to the outbreak being called an epidemic. As a result, the Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence, signed an executive order Thursday, March 26th, declaring a public health emergency in Scott County, calling it an “all hands on deck” situation.
Despite the HIV outbreak centering around Scott County, Pence said “this is not a Scott County problem; this is an Indiana problem.”
As a part of the efforts to combat the epidemic, Pence has authorized a temporary needle exchange program – generally barred by Indiana law. The program allows individuals to turn in used needles to get clean ones. Pence has also ordered the state health department to establish a mobile unit to help enroll people in a state-run health program and set up an HIV and substance abuse treatment command center.
Pence said of the situation, “This is a public health emergency and I’m listening to my health department, I’m listening to the Centers for Disease Control and I’ll make my decision based on the best science and the best way we can stop this virus and stop this outbreak in its tracks.”
HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, is a type of retrovirus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) – an infection which leads to progressive failure of the immune system and allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. HIV can take several months to appear in a person’s system after they are infected. As such, health officials recommend that individuals who have participated in risky behavior, including needle sharing, to be tested for HIV immediately as well as testing again in three months.
The members-only wholesaler Costco will be adding a second Louisville location, according to plans submitted to the Metro Government. The 153,000 square foot members-only retail warehouse will be built on the 17 ¾ acre lot at 3408 Bardstown Road – the vacant site of the former Showcase Cinemas.
The project, which will supplement their existing location at 5020 Norton Healthcare Blvd will also will include a tire center and a freestanding gas station.
The expansion provides additional competition for Walmart sister company Sam’s Club, which currently operates two members-only warehouse shopping centers in Louisville, another in Clarksville, Indiana, and a fourth in Elizabethtown.
Few details are currently available, pending an 11:30 news conference with company representatives, but a media alert says that Wilson Sporting Goods’s parent company, Amer Sports, has reached a deal to acquire “global brand, sales, and innovation rights to the Louisville Slugger brand” from Hillerich & Bradsby.
The conference, which is expected to provide additional details, will be held today at 11:30 a.m. at the H&B headquarters at 800 W. Main St in Louisville.
Current information indicates that the acquisition price is $70 million in the all-cash deal that is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015.
Under the agreement, H&B will become Wilson’s exclusive manufacturing partner for wood bats. Bats will continue to be made in the downtown Louisville factory, including all MLB, Minor League Baseball, amateur and souvenir wood bats. Additionally, H&B will continue ownership and operation of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and Gift Shop. The company’s Bionic Gloves and Powerbilt brands are not affected by the deal
President of Wilson Sporting Goods Mike Dowse said this, “We are excited to welcome Louisville Slugger into the Wilson family. Growing our baseball and softball business globally is a key business strategy, and H&B has created one of the most recognizable baseball brands in the world.“
Federal sentence results from “Project Recoil”
A career criminal from Georgia was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, by Senior District Judge Thomas B. Russell, for multiple robberies, including brandishing a firearm announced Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. There is no parole in the federal system.
The federal charges stemmed from “Project Recoil,” the on-going partnership of multiple Jefferson County, Kentucky law enforcement agencies, to maximize penalties for the most violent offenders and to reduce violent crime in our community.
Xavier Demetrius Porter, 40, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on December 5, 2014, to nine counts of obstructing interstate commerce through robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In 1996, Porter was convicted of three counts of armed robbery, in case number 96-R-398 in Dougherty County (Georgia) Superior Court. During those robberies, he used a sawed-off shotgun.
“Through the cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement, a violent and dangerous repeat offender will spend the next 30 years behind bars. Project Recoil’s commitment to a team approach is our most effective weapon against crime. Together, we are getting results and making our community a safer place, “ stated Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.
“Today’s sentence sends a very strong message that federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are working together to make Louisville a safer community. Anyone contemplating a gun-related crime should realize the possible consequences,” stated Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad.
“Today, an armed and violent criminal was removed from the Louisville community for a long time. Strong partnerships among federal, state and local law enforcement and with the public we serve are making a positive difference. Gun violence will not be tolerated in Louisville,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Stuart Lowrey.
Porter admitted to robbing Spinelli’s Pizza located at 2905 Goose Creek Road on March 5, 2013, the Subway located at 3503 South Hurstbourne Parkway on March 7, 2013, the Subway located at 8056 New LaGrange Road on March 17, 2013, Circle K located at 4600 Wattbourne Lane on April 15, 2013, the White Castle located at 3705 Bardstown Road on April 16, 2013, the Thornton’s located at 3909 Taylorsville Road on April 17, 2013, the Subway located on Bishop Lane on April 17, 2013, Cigarette Outlet located on Six Mile Lane on April 18, 2013, and the Adam and Eve store on South Hurstbourne Parkway on April 18, 2013. The federal robbery charges are brought pursuant to the Hobb’s Act, which criminalizes robberies that affect interstate commerce. During eight of the robberies, Porter brandished a firearm. During the first two robberies, he used a small black handgun. During the last five robberies, he used a pistol-grip 12 gauge shotgun. At the time of his arrest, Porter was clutching the money he stole from Adam & Eve in his hand.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The Louisville Metro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.
Richard “Chad” Downs has not been seen since leaving his workplace – Assured Auto Care – in Jeffersontown in early February.
His wife, Michelle Downs, has been frantically searching for her husband for nearly a month and a half but her efforts, as well as those of the community and law enforcement, have come up empty thus far.
A Facebook page has been created to aid in the search for Chad and his green 1997 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a tan stripe on the side, Kentucky license plate 737TAR.
Mr. Downs, 38, is 5’8″ tall, 260 lbs with blue eyes and blond hair. He has multiple tattoos of skulls on his arms/shoulders and “Michelle” on his right calf, with a burn mark on his left forearm.
Anyone with information should call Louisville Metro Police Department at (502) 574-LMPD to reference case# 80-15-009860 or National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) MP# 27823 or private investigator Dan Washington at (502) 722-8181.
A water main break on Terry Road near Greenwood Road is causing traffic problems in southwest Louisville. MSD crews are on scene and are expected to be there for most of the day as repairs are made. LMPD is currently blocking the roadway in the area.
The 10-inch main break was reported early Friday morning as part of Terry Road collapsed exposing water pipes and guardrail foundations. The water service interruption is currently affecting nearly 30 customers including nearby businesses like McDonald’s and the Kroger grocery store.
Residents and employees working in the area are urged to choose a different route until the break is repaired and the road is reopened. For the latest traffic updates, visit the Louisville Dispatch traffic page.
The Louisville Regional Science & Engineering fair will be held at the Kentucky Science Center (727 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202) tomorrow, Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 9 am to 5 pm. This year marks the 50th iteration of the LRSEF.
The annual event features more than 230 students from over 20 regional schools as they present their independent research projects in categories that include various engineering fields, computer science, biology, environmental science, chemistry, and more. Projects are judged by area volunteers who are each qualified professionals in the field they are judging. Project creators and their schools can receive prizes, trophies, and cash awards, but incentives do not stop there. Winning projects will move forward to state and international events, affiliated with the Society for Science & the Public.
Check in & move in for all LRSEF projects will be from 7:30 – 9 am Saturday with a snow date of set for Sunday (don’t forget that we spring forward that night for Daylight Saving Time). Judging will take place from 9 am to 12 pm for the morning session and from 1 to 3 pm for the afternoon session. Award Ceremonies will begin at 3:45 pm and end at 5:15 pm.
Louisville Slugger/ H&B will provide free parking at their employee lot for parents, volunteers, and judges involved with LRSEF on March 7. Entrance to the lot is at 10th & Main Street. Immediate family of registered LRSEF students will be welcomed to the Science Center’s exhibits on Saturday.
