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Saturday January 24, 2026
Local Connection
Today is the last day for the annual National Farm Machinery Show. Visitors will have one final chance to see the newest and most advance equipment for all their agricultural needs before they are gone from the Kentucky Exposition Center. Whether you are large commercial farmer or a home gardener, there will be something of interest for everyone. With over 800 exhibitors, a crafts and gift market, and the Championship Tractor Pull, the event is expecting up to 300,000 attendees throughout the course of the show.
The final day of Championship Tractor Pull will feature two events including the 1:00 PM matinée and the 7:30 PM championship finals. Each event is expected to last approximately three hours. Drivers in the afternoon competition will test their machines in the classes for 7,500lb. 4×4 Super Stock Diesel Trucks, 6,400lb. Lightweight Super Stock Alcohol Tractors, and 10,200lb. Pro Stock Tractors. The evening heats include Modified Tractors, Super Farm Tractors, 2WD Super Modified Trucks, Super Stock and Alcohol Tractors, and the massive 10,200lb. Pro Stock Tractor class.
Last night, visitors were treated to a down-to-the-wire performance as three Pro Stock tractors made a full pull of the weight sled to result in a head to head pull-off to determine the winner. The competition is exciting and the event is loud so be sure to bring your ear protection. This is a separate event from the admission-free Farm Machinery Show and tickets must be purchased ahead of time. Pricing starts at $20 for the afternoon event and $25 for the evening event. As with most events at the KY Exposition Center, parking is $8 per car. Do not miss out on one of larger shows that comes Louisville.
Britax B-Agile and BOB Motion Strollers with Click & Go receivers have been recalled. The receiver mount may be damaged which can cause the car seat to disengage from the stroller and fall unexpectedly. There has been at least 33 reports of the defect, resulting in 26 injuries.
It is estimated that approximately 676,000 units were sold in the United States. The list of model numbers (model number can be found on the stroller’s frame near the right rear wheel for single strollers and for double strollers, in the front underside of the frame) can be found on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.
People with these strollers are being told to stop using the stroller immediately (the car seat by itself is safe to use) and to contact Britax online or call toll-free 844-227-0300.
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
It is no secret that last year Louisville saw a record number of homicides. It seemed as though a new shooting or a new homicide was being reported every day, sometimes multiple times in one day. According to LMPD, Louisville, saw an increase of just under 50% to 117 homicides (123 for the entire county) during 2016, the highest since 1976 (104 total homicides). The majority of victims were black, accounting for a little more than 60% of the total. The majority of the victims were also male, approximately 79%, and more than half of the victims were between the ages of 18 and 34. LMPD was able to make 58 arrests in the homicide cases and the average suspect is the same as the average victim: a black male between the ages of 18 and 34.
Louisville also saw an increase in the number of shooting incidents, 504 compared to 353 last year. 504 shooting incidents is also the highest that has been recorded in the past five years. Of those 504 shootings, 102 were fatal.
Since gun control has been a hot topic the past year due to the election and a small group of Kentucky Mayors asking for the State Legislature to change state law regarding gun control, many of the other violent crime categories seemed to have been ignored by the local news. Here are some of the crime statistics and how they compare to last year:
- Robbery – 1,873, roughly the same as last year;
- Aggravated Assault – 2,921, up from 2,558;
- Rape – 149, down from 163;
- Property Crime – 29,890, up slightly from 28,055;
- Burglary – 5,884, down slightly from 6,229;
- Larceny – 19,808, up slightly from 18,751;
- Motor Vehicle Theft – 4,198, up from 3,075
According to Mayor Fischer, violent crime is “tragically acute in a few specific neighborhoods.” Looking at the maps by LMPD division, all eight divisions have been affected by homicide and shooting incidents. However, it appears that the majority of the homicides, shooting, and aggravated assaults occurred in the 1st (mainly north of Broadway and between I-264 on the east and west) and 2nd divisions (mainly west end). Taken in total, Louisville saw an overall increase by 9% in all violent crimes and a 46% increase in homicides. This appears to be outpacing the national average. Nationwide data is still pending, but as of June 2016, the country saw an overall increase in violent crime by 5% in general, and a 5% increase in the number of homicides when compared to the first six months of 2015. If the data is limited to only cities that are comparable in size to Louisville, there was a 5% increase in all violent crimes and only a 2% increase in homicides.
After averaging about ten homicides per month last year, Louisville has registered 15 homicides as of February 15, which is about the same as last year. While we are not seeing decrease in number of homicides as of now, hopefully, we will not see another record-breaking year.
Louisville Metro Community Services announced this week that the popular Fifth Third Bank Financial Empowerment Mobile, the eBus, will be visiting Louisville Feb. 13 through Feb. 17 and will be open to the public.
The eBus is a 40-foot retrofitted city bus equipped with onboard computer workstations and internet connectivity. It is staffed by professionals who provide free one-on-one personalized counseling, credit scores, financial coaching, budgeting, job search and other services.
The scheduled stops for the eBus are as follows:
- Mon., Feb. 13, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 4018 W. Market St., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Tues., Feb. 14, Nia Center, 2900 W. Broadway, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
- Wed., Feb. 15, Baxter Community Center, 1125 Cedar St., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Thurs., Feb. 16, Charmoli Center Neighborhood Place, 200 Juneau Dr., Suite 200, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Fri., Feb. 17, Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
“We are excited to be partnering with Fifth Third Bank to provide residents with this easy and accessible way to gather the tools and information they need to make informed financial decisions”, stated Tina Lentz who leads several financial empowerment initiatives for Louisville Metro Community Services. “We encourage all Louisvillians to take a few moments to experience the eBus and see first-hand all that it has to offer.”
Once onboard the eBus, visitors will be able to:
- Request a credit report and review it with a professional
- Receive personalized evaluation of finances
- Gain information about fraud awareness and prevention
- Receive internet banking and bill payment demonstrations
- Participate in home ownership seminars and foreclosure prevention sessions
- Conduct online job searches and learn how to create an effective resume
“We are committed to empowering our community through financial education, says Mike Ash, Kentucky Regional President, Fifth Third Bank. “The eBus allows us to serve people where they live and work, and provide the knowledge and tools to help take control of their financial futures.”
For more information about the eBus schedule and features, contact Adam Hall, Community Development Relationship Manager with Fifth Third Bank, at 502-562-5584 or adam.hall@53.com.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 Kentucky Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced today. The award recognizes teachers, school administrators, legislators and community leaders who have made significant contributions toward promoting civic learning to teach students the importance of being engaged citizens.
“The young Kentuckians I meet every day give me hope that our Commonwealth will have a bright future,” said Grimes. “In my life, I was privileged to have mentors who inspired me to serve and be engaged – just like these young people. The Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award is a way to recognize those people who dedicate their time, energy, and are committed to the success of Kentucky’s youth, our future leaders.”
The award winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize to be used to further his or her civic learning initiatives. One finalist will be selected from each Kentucky High School Athletic Association region and each will receive a $250 award. The award winner and the finalists will be recognized during the KHSAA Boy’s Sweet 16 Basketball Tournament in Lexington.
Corey Yates, an educator at Elizabethtown High School, received the 2016 Kentucky Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award. Yates leads his students in civic learning initiatives such as presenting community improvement proposals to the city council, mock trial, and a learning experience on the penal code at a local detention center. He received a $1,000 award to be used for resources and equipment to continue his efforts.
The Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award is part of Grimes’ continued efforts to improve civic engagement in Kentucky. She recently released the findings of the 2016 Kentucky Civic Health Index, the second installment of the report during her tenure. Now, Grimes is traveling across Kentucky stressing the need for increased engagement, bridging participation gaps, and restoring trust in public institutions such as government and media, which the Index shows as areas for improvement.
Application/Nomination forms and additional information about the award are available online. The Office of the Secretary of State sponsors this award with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Kentucky Department of Education.
The deadline for nominations and submissions is March 3.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Attorney General Andy Beshear is warning Kentuckians of the “sweetheart” scam, which reports suggest caused Kentuckians to lose more than $80,000 last year.
A sweetheart scammer typically uses a fake photo and identity to approach a victim through social media or online dating sites and acts as if they are interested in getting to know him or her.
Over time, the scammer works to develop a long-distance, sham relationship with the victim. Once the scammer gains the victim’s trust, they pretend to need emergency funds and asks the victim to wire money, send prepaid gift cards or other hard-to-trace payment methods.
Beshear said the beginning of the year and Valentine’s Day brings about scammers who are looking to exploit those seeking new friendships and relationships.
“We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers – and this is especially true when it comes to helping our friends and family avoid falling victim to a scam,” said Beshear. “I encourage everyone to call or visit with those they care for this month, especially younger or older relatives who may live alone or be lonely, and discuss scams and help them to know the common warning signs.”
Beshear said identifying these red flags could help stop a sweetheart scam, watch for someone who:
- Claims very quickly that they are in love.
- Refuses to meet in person.
- Asks to leave the protections of a legitimate dating or social media site and communicate via email, text or instant messenger.
- Demands the relationship be a secret.
- Provides information that cannot be verified through an independent online search or through trustworthy sources.
- Demands money or gift cards sent overseas.
- Solicits sensitive personal or financial information.
Kentuckians who suspect a scam should contact the Office of the Attorney General at 502-696-5300 and fill out an online complaint form.
One of the critical missions of the Office of the Attorney General is to help Kentucky families and seniors recognize and avoid scams.
Beshear recently issued a scam alert warning Kentuckians of IRS and tax-related identity theft scams.
Kentuckians are urged to stay up to date on new and trending scams by signing up for Scam Alerts. To enroll text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311), or enroll online at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Magnet Steering Committee will hold a Community Conversation on two dates, to give the public opportunities to discuss options for student admission to magnet schools. The discussion is prompted by the Jefferson County Board of Education’s charge to the Steering Committee to review recommendations from Magnet Schools of America that were given to the district. The full report is available here. In addition to the meetings, a survey on magnet student admission will open by Friday, January 27, 2017. A link will be available on the JCPS website when it opens.
The two meeting dates are:
- Tuesday, January 31, 2017 starting at 6:00 PM
- Thursday, February 9, 2017 starting at 6:00 PM
Each meeting will last approximately 90 minutes. Both meetings will be held at Gheens Academy, located at 4425 Preston Highway, in Flex Room A.
