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Monday January 26, 2026
Local Connection
Colder weather means a lot of things: Super Bowl, Christmas-time, sledding, and influenza. Feeling under the weather is obviously unpleasant, but a better understanding of what could make you sick may help protect you.
This year’s flu season could be especially severe due to a mutation in one of the strains of virus that is in the vaccine. It is estimated that every flu season anywhere from 5% to 20% of the US population contracts an influenza virus. Each year approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized for influenza and influenza-related complications. High risk populations include seniors, children under the age of 2, and people with compromised immune systems.
Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Symptoms can develop in a little as 24 hours after exposure, but can take up to 4 days to show up, according to the Centers of Disease Control. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny and/or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, and in children, gastrointestinal upsets. If you start to feel sick, you are already contagious. People are contagious starting the day before symptoms develop and can be contagious for up to a week after becoming ill. The virus is spread from person-to-person via droplets from coughs and sneezes that are either directly inhaled by someone else or picked up indirectly from surfaces, such as door knobs. It is estimated that a contagious person can spread particles up to six feet away.
There are a variety of ways that you can protect yourself and others during the flu season. Wash your hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, stay at home if you feel sick, and get the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for every person 6 months of age or older: children up to 8 years may need two doses to be fully protected. You should get the vaccine every year since there is a new vaccine every year and protection is not long-term.
The flu vaccine typically contains three strains of virus, although some doses contain four strains. The H3N2 strain of virus that part of this year’s vaccine was based on has mutated. It is believed that people who have received the vaccine may still be protected from severe illness if exposed to the mutated virus. People will still have an immunity to the other strains in the vaccine.
If you do contract the flu, you can expect to feel ill for up two weeks after symptoms develop. There are antivirals available through your doctor that can help shorten the duration. Generic names for these are oseltamivir and zanamivir. They are usually prescribed for five days and should lessen the symptoms and shorten your sick time by 1-2 days. Most people will clear the virus on their own over time, but if you develop complications such as: a cough that disrupts your sleep, a fever that won’t come down, shortness in breath, a sinus infection with pain in the face, or symptoms that get worse after a short period of feeling better, you should seek medical attention. Antibiotics, such as penicillin and its derivatives, will not be prescribed for influenza alone. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not viral infections such as the flu.
There are some conditions that would prevent you from receiving the vaccine as a shot, but the intra-nasal spray vaccine may be acceptable. If you have more questions about the seasonal influenza vaccine and if it is right for you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Since dogs and cats already have beautiful fur coats, it is easy to forget that they can suffer hypothermia, frost-bite, and other weather related injuries that people do. With the temperature dropping and lots of cold rain and/or snow already, it important to help your pet stay comfortable and safe throughout the winter season.
Here are some general tips to help you prepare for the coming cold weather:
- Puppies, kittens, and senior pets should not be left outside for any reason. Puppies and kittens are not fully developed and don’t have the ability to stand up to the colder temperatures yet. Senior pets are losing some of the natural defenses that they have and are more susceptible to the temperature as well.
- If you have outdoor cats, be cautious in starting your car. Many cats will climb under the hood of a car to stay warm. Knocking on your vehicle’s hood before you start it can let your pets know that it is time to vacate their hideout.
- Avoid shaving or cutting your pet’s hair short during the winter. If you don’t have a choice, consider purchasing a sweater for your pet. If you have a pet with short-hair and it appears to be sensitive to the cold, you may want to consider this as well.
- Anti-Freeze should be stored in a tightly closed container and kept away from pets. It is deadly.
- Wipe their feet off when they come inside. The salt or other de-icers used on your driveway or sidewalk can cause irritation to their paw pads.
- Keep your dog on a leash with a collar and ID tag at all times. The cold weather can mask a dog’s scent trail making it hard for them to find their way home if they get out.
- If you have an outside only pet – be sure their shelter is adequate. It is very important for the shelter to stay dry and draft free. Having a wet bed or wet fur will prevent your pet from regulating its body temperature. You should also make sure your pet has access to unfrozen water and you should increase their food intake.
- Keep your pet from chewing on your Christmas tree – both real and artificial. You should also think about what decorations are within reach of your pet. If you have a live tree, use a tree skirt to prevent your pet from drinking the water: some of the chemicals in the tree food are toxic. If you have a cat that likes to climb, be sure to anchor the tree so that it cannot topple over.
- Holly, poinsettias, mistletoe and many other common household plants are toxic to your pet. A list of some of the common toxic and non-toxic plants can be found on the ASPCA website.
These are just a few guidelines to help you ensure your pet’s safety during the winter months. More information can be found at the ASPCA, Pet WebMD, and PetSmart websites.
This year’s General Election in Kentucky not only has a very important US Senate Seat race happening, there are also many elections that directly effect Louisville. There are multiple US House of Representative seats being contested, as well as many Kentucky State Congress seats and a lot of judicial seats. More information on the US Senate race and voter registration is available on Louisville Dispatch website.
For people living in Louisville, the following is a list of the legislative elections and some of the judicial elections that will be happening within the county (there are so many judicial positions this year that the list below will only show the positions that have an actual contest). You will need to check your voter registration card to determine the district in which you are located. You will be able to view a sample ballot for your location on the Jefferson County election center website. Each district may have additional items on their ballot, such as School Board, Sheriff and Coroner.
2014 is going to be an important election no matter which way you lean politically. One of the most discussed races for Kentuckians this year is the senate seat that is currently held by veteran Mitch McConnell (R). McConnell is seeking his fifth term in office for the seat he has held in Kentucky since 1984. McConnell was a strong winner in the primary with around 60% of the votes.
His biggest contender is the democrat candidate, Alison Lundergan Grimes. Grimes is currently the Kentucky Secretary of State, which she has held since 2012. She was the strong favorite in the May primary election, and if elected, this would be her first term in a federal position. The next contender for McConnell’s seat is libertarian candidate, David Patterson. Patterson is currently a peace officer in the city of Harrodsburg. If elected, this would be his first term in any office.
There are also three write-in candidates vying for your votes this year. Shawna Sterling (R) ran in the May primary election on the republican ticket, where she came in third with over 7,000 votes. Robert Randsell is also running and he currently lives in Florence, KY. He has recently received a lot of national press over his campaign slogan “With Jews, We Lose”. Mike Maggard is third write-in candidate running for office against McConnell (R) this year and he currently lives in Richmond, KY. There appears to be very little information about Mr. Maggard available, but his campaign slogan is “Balanced Budget, Low Taxes, and Liberty”.
With a diverse group of candidates running this year, it should be interesting to see how the candidates campaign. Unless you avoid television, you have probably already seen the steady stream of McConnell and Grimes commercials. There is a debate scheduled for October 13th, but it is likely that we only see McConnell and Grimes participate. Patterson is currently suing the Kentucky Educational TV station to participate in the debate. With a restriction on pre-election poll support (a minimum of 5% support is needed), it is unclear at this time if any of the write-in candidates will meet that criterion.
The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 4th. Voting locations will be open from 6 AM until 6 PM. To determine if you are registered to vote and where you should vote, visit the Voter Information Center. To learn more about your rights as voter, visit the informational page on the Secretary of State’s website.
It’s that time of year again: election time. This year, the general election in Kentucky will be held November 4th. There is a US Senate position, multiple US House of Representative positions, and various state positions being contested this year.
It might sound cliché, but it is a citizen’s right and duty to vote in elections. If you want to vote in the general election next month, the deadline to register is this upcoming Monday, October 6th. If you are not registered to vote, there are a few eligibility requirements that need to be met. To be eligible to vote, you need to:
- be a US Citizen and a KY resident for at least 28 days prior to the election
- be at least 18 years old by the general election in October
- not be a convicted felon
- not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law
- not have claimed the right vote elsewhere in the US
If these requirements are met, there are a few different places that voters can complete registration, such as the County Clerk’s office, the DMV, and through a mail card.
What else should you know about voting in Kentucky?
- You must register with a party. Kentucky has closed primaries; this means voters can only vote in the primary election of the party with which they are registered. It also means that if you select “Other,” you can only vote in nonpartisan city and judicial primaries.
- If you are unable to vote on election day, you have a few options. You may qualify for a mailed absentee ballot. If you don’t qualify for a paper ballot, you may still be eligible to vote early at the County Clerk’s office in the 2 weeks leading up to the election. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, see the State Board of Elections webpage.
- Voters must provide identification at the polling location. Acceptable forms of identification are: Driver’s License, Social Security Card, a credit card or another ID containing a photo and a signature. If you do not have identification, you have the right to vote on a provisional ballot. Provisional voting is for Federal elections only and will not include any state or city election information.
- If a voter’s name does not appear in the register at their polling location, they have the right to have an immediate hearing at the county board of elections and to vote on a provisional ballot.
- If voters need assistance at the voting location, the poll workers are there to help. Voters may notify one of the election officers at their location that they need help, and the voter should expect to be helped by two officers: one Democrat and one Republican, to ensure unbiased assistance.
As a reminder, it against the law for a voter to impersonate another person to vote, to vote under a false name, and to vote more than once in an election. It is also unlawful for any person or group to influence a voter’s decision through force, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, or reward. If a voter feels that their right to vote has been violated, they should contact the County or State Board of Elections, the Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline, or notify any of the elections officers are their polling location.
Summer is a time for warm weather, lots of flowers, sun tans, and being outside. People take may precautions to protect themselves in the summer: wearing sunblock, staying hydrated, and trying to stay cool. Many people, however, forget that household pets also need to be protected from the summer heat. Here’s a short guide to help you keep your pet healthy and comfortable this summer.
- Never leave your pet in the car. Even if you roll the window down, the inside of your care can easily reach temperatures in excess of 120 degrees. If you need to run errands that would involve leaving your dog in the car, leave your dog at home instead.
- Keep your pet on a leash. Dogs and cats like being outside and, with all of the distractions (people, insects, flowers, the dog down the street, etc), the leash will prevent your pet from wandering off. It will also help keep you aware of your pet’s surroundings, which will prevent accidental ingestion of harmful items that your pet may try to eat or drink.
- Fresh water should always be available. Just as humans need to stay hydrated, pets do as well. If you leave you pet outside with a bowl of water, remember that the bowl and water will increase in temperature as it sets outside. Do you want to drink a glass of water that has been sitting outside in the sun for hours? Your pet doesn’t either.
- Sunscreen. Pets have skin underneath the fur. While the fur does provide some protection from the sun’s rays, it is not complete. Dogs and cats can Continue reading
With gas prices hovering around $4.00 per gallon, many people are opting for cheaper transportation methods, including walking. Getting around downtown Louisville on foot is relatively easy: there are automatic pedestrian signals, marked cross walks at every corner, and sidewalks. However, once you get outside of the downtown area, the number of sidewalks decrease, the distance between intersections increases, and marked cross walks all but disappear. For example, pedestrians along Dixie Highway are known for crossing the street in such a way that it resembles a game of Frogger.
The Centers of Disease Control reports that in 2010 traffic accidents were the cause of over 4,000 pedestrian fatalities and approximately 70,000 pedestrian injuries in the United States. 61 of those fatalities occurred in Kentucky, with the majority occurring right here in Louisville. Most of these accidents occur in urban areas, at places where there is not an intersection, and at night. Alcohol is a factor in about 47% of the reported accidents and, of the 4,000+ pedestrian fatalities, 33% of the pedestrians were legally drunk.
What can drivers and pedestrians do to help prevent accidents? First and foremost, pedestrians need to make Continue reading
