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Friday January 23, 2026
Local Connection
Former Louisville Mayor Resigns as Lt. Gov. to Fill Federal Position – Luallen to Fill Second-in-Command Role
Jerry Abramson is stepping down from his position as Kentucky’s Lieutenant Governor after Barack Obama tapped the democrat for the role of White House Liason to Staet and Local Government. Abramson earned the nickname of Louisville’s “mayor for life” after occupying the office for 21 years – the longest tenure in the position’s history.
One of Abramson’s duties in his new role will be to help coordinate with states on Obamacare’s upcoming second open enrollment period which begins on November 15 and lasts for three months. Abramson was tapped, in part, due to his experience as chairman of Kentucky’s health care initiative, one of the more successful state exchanges under Obamacare with more than 400,000 people enrolled. This announcement comes at an interesting time, as John Boehner and Mitch McConnell renew efforts to repeal the Obamacare law following the “shellacking” suffered by democrats in the midterm elections.
Additional duties for Abramson include work on education and economic issues, including work toward raising the minimum wage in states and cities as Congress rejects Obama’s call for a national increase.
The appointment, not subject to Senate confirmation, sees Abramson replace departing David Agnew. The position reports to Obama consigliere, Valerie Jarrett. Former state auditor Crit Luallen will step up to fill the state’s vacated second-in-command role. Luallen has also served in various positions in the Commonwealth, including state budget director, secretary of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and secretary of the Tourism Cabinet.
Abramson’s resignation will be effective November 13 and he will begin his new position the following day, one day before the open enrollment period begins.
U.S. SENATE, KY
| Mitch McConnell | 806,015 | 56% |
| Alison Lundergan Grimes | 584,444 | 41% |
| David Patterson | 44,253 | 3$ |
U.S. HOUSE, KY 2nd DISTRICT
| Brett Guthrie | 156,992 | 69% |
| Ron Leach | 69,877 | 31% |
U.S. HOUSE, KY 3rd DISTRICT
| John Yarmuth | 157,045 | 63% |
| Michael Macfarlane | 87,972 | 36% |
| Gregory Puccetti | 2,317 | 1% |
U.S. HOUSE, KY 4th DISTRICT
| Thomas Massie | 150,463 | 68% |
| Peter Newberry | 71,693 | 32% |
LOUISVILLE METRO MAYOR
| Greg Fischer | 172,766 | 69% |
| Bob DeVore | 78,851 | 31% |
Cedar Lake, the region’s largest non-profit care provider for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will host its 26th Annual Gala, presented by Commonwealth Bank & Trust, at Marriott Louisville East on Saturday, November 15th from 6:00pm-10:00pm. The black-tie optional affair is themed “Live, Laugh, Love” and will include a dual-entree dinner, silent and live auctions, and entertainment by Jeff Allen, star of Comedy Central specials. Tickets are $175 per person and can be purchased at www.cedarlake.org or by calling 502.495.4942.
The evening will be emceed and auctioneered by Sherry Truhlar, who will start off the evening by leading the attendees in a “Heads or Tail” ice breaker game, where the last person standing will win $300.00 in gift cards to local eateries and shopping establishments.
A new feature of this year’s Gala is “the bourbon pull,” a $50.00 chance to win a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s 15-year bourbon.
The Gala’s silent auction is comprised of 100 items and includes such premium items as a Galt House overnight package, a signed bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s 10-year bourbon and several get-away vacations. Online bidding for the 100 items will be available on Cedar Lake’s website beginning November 7th, 2014. To view the items or place a bid, visit cedarlake.org/26th-annual-gala.
All proceeds from the Gala will support the organization’s Indigent Care Endowment, which ensures that all Cedar Lake residents have a life of abundant possibilities despite the lack of government funding or who have no family to support those needs.
Cedar Lake operates in Jefferson, Oldham and Henry counties, has 38 properties, and supports 260 people with a staff of 430. Supports range from 24/7 support for the most medically fragile, to intermittent support for those who live independently. For more information about Cedar Lake, call (502) 495-4946 or go to www.cedarlake.org.
Residents Ordered to Shelter in Place as Thick Black Smoke Fills Area
Liberty Tire Recycling, in the 14000 block of Bohannon Dr in southwest Jefferson County, is the site of a large fire that is engulfing the area in thick, black smoke.
At around 11:20AM, area residents who have signed up for CodeRed Alert notifications received a call from PRP Fire Department advising them to shelter in place due to the large fire and billowing smoke. The message further advised to turn off HVAC systems and avoid going outside, especially for those with respiratory problems.
Louisville Dispatch was able to get some photos of the area before being turned back by LMPD personnel who are controlling access to the affected area, which is approximately two miles south of Gene Snyder at Dixie Highway. At last word, only one fire truck is on scene pumping water onto the large pile of burning shredded tires.
Citizens are urged to call 311 if they need information or to report issues regarding the fire and to only dial 911 in the case of actual, immediate emergencies. Air monitoring is in place in the area and residents are being told not to travel or evacuate unless told to do so. Officials say that the fire may burn for two days as extinguishing efforts are complicated by the fire burning from the bottom up.
More information will be posted on LouisvilleDispatch.com, as well as our Facebook and Twitter feeds, as it becomes available.
Temperatures are expected to drop well below freezing this weekend. For most of us, that means turning up the heat, bringing in our pets, and pulling out sweaters–but for the people who sleep on the streets of Louisville on winter nights, it can mean life or death. Natalie Harris, Executive Director of The Coalition for the Homeless, explains, “Every single night, there are more people in need than there are available beds, so hundreds of individuals and families are forced to find other options each year. Many times, this means sleeping on the streets.”
This is the second winter for The Coalition for the Homeless’s Bed One-Stop program, which just won the Center for Nonprofit Excellence’s Award for the Art of Social Innovation. Bed One-Stop offers homeless Louisvillians a centralized, uniform way to reserve a bed at any local emergency shelter. Even so, The Coalition has had to turn away over 1,350 people in the last two months due to not having enough available beds and there are currently 53 families on the program’s waiting list.
Fortunately, during inclement weather, Operation White Flag offers a better option. When temperatures drop to 35 degrees or lower in the winter (with or without wind chill), The Coalition for the Homeless activates Operation White Flag, and three local shelters generously open their doors to make space for everyone.
“Even without a bed for each person, through Operation White Flag, all people can get a warm, safe place to stay indoors to avoid frostbite or hypothermia. We encourage all homeless people to take advantage of this opportunity,” says Harris. To make a bed reservation, call (502) 637-BEDS (502-637-2337).
Operation White Flag is possible thanks to funding from Metro Government and the hospitality of three local shelters–Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul (for men only), and Wayside Christian Mission. Unfortunately, though, the program costs more than can be covered by this funding. But, a donation of just $35 will provide a warm place for one homeless person to stay for one week during the coldest weather. Donate online at The Coalition for the Homeless’s website, www.louhomeless.org, by sending a check to The Coalition for the Homeless at 1300 S. 4th Street, Suite 250, Louisville, KY 40208, or by calling (502) 636-9550.
Local Restaurant Hosts Debut of “New Old Forester”
Varanese Restaurant, 2106 Frankfort Avenue, will host the “Brown-Forman Bourbon Dinner” on Tuesday, November 11. A reception will begin at 6:30pm and the dinner at 7:00pm. The evening will feature the debut of Old Forester 1870 Original Batch, special guest speaker and Master Taster for Brown-Forman Marianne Barnes, and a four-course dinner paired with a bourbon flight and Brown-Forman bourbon cocktails.
Founded in 1870, Brown-Forman is one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies, and among the top 10 global spirits companies, selling its brands in more than 135 countries. Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon will be a new permanent line extension of the Old Forester Bourbon. This bourbon will be bottled 90 proof and will emulate George Garvin Brown’s original recipe selection of the Old Forester Bourbon as it was produced in 1870.
The cost for the dinner is $55 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (502) 899-9904 or emailing letsdine@varanese.com.
The menu will consist of: Continue reading
Photo: Clark County Jail
Disturbing Details in Court Documents Include Possible Cannibalism
Graphic court documents filed at yesterday’s arraignment hearing detail the charges and probable cause against 33 year old Joseph Oberhansley. Oberhansley’s criminal history includes conviction for manslaughter and attempted murder in Utah stemming from the killing of his then-girlfriend and shooting of his mother. Those crimes put Oberhansley in prison for over 12 years before being paroled in 2012. More recently, he has been charged with multiple driving infractions such as speeding and driving on a suspended license, arrested for choking a patron of a bar and resisting arrest while naked in 2013 and then leading police on a low-speed chase months ago.
Oberhansley was free under a bond reduced from $25,000 to only $5,000, resulting in his release by posting a 10 percent payment of only $500, when he allegedly committed his latest series of criminal acts. The latest charges (warning – graphic descriptions) include three counts: the stabbing murder of ex-girlfriend, 46 year old Tammy Jo Blanton, abuse of a corpse by removing some of Blanton’s organs, and breaking and entering into Blanton’s residence.
Court proceedings and documents also indicate that Oberhansley may have eaten some of Blanton’s removed organs.
