Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
Subscribe
Monday December 8, 2025
Local Connection
Join the Kentucky Derby Museum for the 3rd annual Horses, Haunts and Hooch, presented by Northwestern Mutual, on Thursday, October 25th from 6:30 to 10pm.
Get into the Halloween spirit with a beer garden on the Oaks Garden Terrace, tours of the Kentucky Derby Museum’s cemetery and “darker side” of historic Churchill Downs Racetrack to hear creepy stories of legends and lore.
Sip on craft beers from six regional breweries including Against the Grain, BBC, Great Flood Brewing, Holsopple Brewing, Rhinegeist and West Sixth in our Halloween-themed beer garden.
Enjoy multiple food stations including a slider bar, mac and cheese bites and more as well as delicious, specialty bites with fall flair from Red Top Hotdogs, NoBaked Cookie Dough, Hi-Five Doughnuts!
All food, beverages and tours are complimentary and are included in the event ticket price. Come dressed in your best Halloween ensemble and participate in our Costume Contest and join in some spirited games. Everyone will take home a mini beer stein, perfect for sampling!
Tickets are $35 per person in advance/$40 per person at the door. Kentucky Derby Museum members are $30. (Must be 21 or over to attend.)
To learn more and purchase tickets visit DerbyMuseum.org.
Louisville residents are invited to bring unneeded documents to be shredded and disposed of at a free event on November 3, 2018. Citizens can protect themselves from identify theft by bringing items to:
Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center located at 1030 Phillips Lane
Saturday, November 3, 2018
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Businesses may not participate in this event. All paper materials will be shredded on site and recycled. Shredding donated by the Louisville Branch of Shred-It Louisville.
Photo: Kevin Kelly/Kentucky Department Fish and Wildlife
Many deer hunters rejoiced this past weekend over a break in a weather pattern that had been alternating between stifling heat and soaking rains.
A cool down coincided with the two-day gun season for youth deer hunters. It also excited archery and crossbow hunters getting into the woods, blinds and tree stands.
“It wasn’t really fit to do much but go hunting,” said Gabe Jenkins, deer and elk program coordinator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We saw good participation over the weekend.”
On deck for deer hunters in Kentucky are the October muzzleloader (Oct. 20-21), modern gun (Nov. 10-25) and late muzzleloader seasons (Dec. 8-16) before the free youth weekend on Dec. 29-30, 2018.
Difficult hunting conditions defined the first six weeks since archery deer season arrived at the start of September, which also ushered in numerous changes to deer hunting regulations.
The changes are detailed in the updated version of the Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, on the department’s website at fw.ky.gov and in videos posted on the department’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
“What I’ve been telling people is, if you’re a deer hunter in this state, read the hunting guide because something that affects you has changed,” Jenkins said.
Major differences from last season:
- The statewide and youth deer permits allow for the harvest of up to four deer, either one antlered and three antlerless or four antlerless.
- The modern gun deer season is 16 days statewide.
- A total of 32 counties have been moved up into a different zone.
- Hunters can take as many deer as allowed for each zone. In order to take more than four deer statewide, an additional deer permit must be purchased.
- Hunters in Zones 2 and 3 can harvest no more than four deer. In Zone 3, only one antlerless deer can be taken with a firearm.
- The bag limit in Zone 4 is two deer but only one can be an antlerless deer. Antlerless deer can be harvested during the archery season, crossbow season, free youth weekend or the last three days of the December muzzleloader season. Again, the statewide bag limit of one antlered deer applies.
Hunters are still allowed only one antlered deer statewide regardless of zone, method or season. In Zone 1, hunters can still harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit and additional deer permit.
The changes encourage greater harvest of does and increased deer harvest in areas where a reduction in herd numbers is sought. At the same time, they are designed to foster a bounce back in areas of east Kentucky hit hardest by last year’s epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) outbreak.
“The new regulations are intended to help meet those objectives,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said this week there has been one confirmed case of EHD with test results pending on five others, most from north of Interstate 64 and east of Interstate 75.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see an uptick in harvest with people wanting to try to fill their four-deer limit,” Jenkins said. “But we also know that three-quarters of our total harvest comes during the modern gun season. That’s the key. If we get a bad weather weekend or two in there, that’s going to have an effect.”
Hunters harvested 136,026 deer during the 2017-18 season, the fifth highest total on record, and the state’s deer herd remains robust overall.
“Things are good,” Jenkins said. “We had a very wet winter and there’s plenty of forage for both adults and fawns, so we expect to see high survival. Traditionally, you have a stress period in July and August. That did not exist this year. They’ve had plenty of groceries on the landscape, so they should be in prime condition health-wise.”
While September’s harvest was down year-over-year, understandable considering the unkind heat and rain, it remained higher than the 10-year average.
Hunters reported taking 4,654 deer during this month’s youth-only gun season weekend, second only to the 2015 season.
That year, the statewide mast survey noted poor white oak acorn production with red oaks rated average. Early returns from mast surveys conducted this year point toward uneven acorn production. Deer will frequent areas around white oaks littering the ground with acorns first before turning attention to red oaks.
“They’re going be more active in weather like this than they are in 90-degree temperatures,” Jenkins said. “They’re going to do what they’re going to do breeding wise when the season is right. However, if conditions are more conducive to eat and be up and moving, they’re going to.
“Right now the key is acorns. Deer are just going to sit there and munch on acorns all day long.”
A chill in the air gets hunters thinking about deer in Kentucky. The best part is its arrival this year comes with plenty of season still left.
Photo: Kentucky Cabinet For Economic Development
Gov. Matt Bevin congratulated AgTech Scientific for breaking ground on a new facility to develop and manufacture hemp-based products in Paris. The facility is part of AgTech’s plan to work with Kentucky farmers to grow hemp and to partner with the University of Kentucky on research.
“The hemp industry is expanding rapidly, and Kentucky is on the leading edge of this growth in terms of its science and commercial viability,” Gov. Bevin said. “AgTech Scientific’s exciting new venture represents a unique collaboration with the state’s agricultural community, the University of Kentucky, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We are grateful for AgTech’s investment in Bourbon County, and we look forward to the innovation and job growth that will take root in the Bluegrass State as a result.”
Today’s ceremony took place in Paris, where AgTech is building a 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art structure on a 10-acre site in the Bourbon County Business Park, 333 Cleveland Drive. The company has an option to purchase an additional 10 acres there. AgTech’s initial $5 million investment is expected to grow substantially. AgTech will start with around 50 employees, projected to grow to 271 within three years.
“The Ag Tech team is excited to announce that our first beta test planting season has been a success. We initially planned on 2,000 plants. However, as word and interest in our project spread in the farming community, we ended up planting 200,000 plants in 2018,” said Dr. Brian King, the company’s chief strategy officer. “We are planning to plant over 4 million plants next season. Our new state of the art 50,000-square-foot facility in Bourbon County will allow us to scale operations and ensure top quality throughout the supply chain. We deeply thank everyone in the community who has made this possible. Some of the biggest help came from the Governor, Ag Commissioner Quarles, Congressman Andy Barr, Matt Koch, Bourbon County Executive and all the great farmers of Kentucky.”
More than 6,700 acres of hemp were planted in Kentucky in 2018 under the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program, placing the commonwealth behind only Colorado among all states in total industrial hemp acres planted. Approved Kentucky growers have skyrocketed from 20 at the program’s outset in 2014 to 210 in July 2018.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles noted the state’s success in the burgeoning industry.
“Kentucky continues to be a leader in industrial hemp production,” Commissioner Quarles said. “We congratulate AgTech Scientific on this important milestone. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture will continue working hard to position the commonwealth as the epicenter of industrial hemp research.”
AgTech holds both a Processor/Handler License and a Grower License from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture hemp program and intends to partner with Kentucky farmers for largescale hemp production. The company would then extract cannabidiol (CBD) from the locally grown hemp. CBD differs from THC, the intoxicant in marijuana. Initially, the facility would produce an energy drink incorporating CBD and would later expand its product lineup.
In partnership with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, AgTech is researching potential health benefits of hemp-based additives for animal food. AgTech plans to eventually begin manufacturing pet and equine foods, among other products, contingent on changes to regulations.
Sen. Stephen West, of Paris, said he is eager to see the fruit of the company’s labor.
“I’m pleased to hear that AgTech Scientific has chosen Paris as the home for its new facility as the hemp industry continues to grow in our state,” Sen. West said. “I look forward to seeing what this partnership with the University of Kentucky can produce and the opportunities it will bring to Bourbon County.”
Paris Mayor Mike Thornton said the company’s presence could have a far-reaching impact locally.
“We are excited to welcome AgTech Scientific to Paris and Bourbon County. I look forward to helping them grow and expand on the opportunities that this area can provide,” Mayor Thornton said. “Their willingness to locate in Paris creates much needed employment opportunities and offers an exciting new process for industrial hemp that will surely be a huge benefit to our local farmers. I anticipate seeing great things from AgTech Scientific in the future.”
Bourbon County Judge-Executive Michael R. Williams said he is proud to see the community at the forefront of a new industry with unlimited potential.
“Bourbon County is thrilled to have AgTech Scientific join our family of business partners. This is a great day for all of Bourbon County and central Kentucky,” Judge-Executive Williams said. “Their impact on our farmers has already been very positive and will continue to bolster our already leading-edge agricultural economy. They will truly be pioneers in an industry that is positioned to bring new prosperity and a bright future to our farms and businesses. Their plans for more than 200 jobs in the processing plant is a major impact to the economy and their confidence and support of Bourbon County will be the inspiration for other businesses who will consider our community in the future. It’s a great day for Bourbon County and a great day for Kentucky. Welcome AgTech Scientific to your new home and your new business family!
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in January preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $2.4 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
In addition, AgTech can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal year 2017, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for more than 120,000 Kentuckians and 5,700 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
For more information on AgTech, visit www.agtechscientific.com.
In Mozart Requiem, Teddy Abrams and the Louisville Orchestra look forward to pairing two very different masterpieces of the sacred choral repertoire. Juxtaposing traditional Gregorian chant with the richest, most up-to-date sonorities in a revolutionary synthesis of old and new. Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 was unprecedented in the grandeur of its scale and exhilarating opulence of its sound. Written more than 175 years later, W.A. Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor was left incomplete at his death, inspiring some of the speculation that fueled the movie Amadeus. Yet behind all the rumor and mythology lie some of the composer’s most dramatic, gripping, and poignant music. Together, these two monumental works provide a compellingly intensive introduction to the genre.
Performed on October 26th at 11 AM as part of the ‘Hilliard Lyons Coffee Series’ and October 27th at 8 PM as part of the ‘Brown Forman Classics Series’, the concerts will be held at the Kentucky Center. Coffee Series concerts offer lower prices and a shorter concert with no intermission (sections from the Vespers of 1610 will be abbreviated) in addition, audience members enjoy coffee service before the concert provided by Heine Brothers. Additional support for these concerts has been provided by an anonymous donor and in memory of Mary, Ed, and Patricia Macior by Jean M. and Kenneth S. Johnson.
LO Concert Talks preview each performance and are led by Classical 90.5 WUOL-FM program host Daniel Gilliam. At 10 AM on Friday and 6:45 PM on Saturday, LO Concertmaster Gabriel Lefkowitz will be the featured guest. The LO Concert Talks are free to ticket-holders and held in Whitney Hall at the KCA.
Tickets start at $20 and are available by calling 502-584-7777 or LouisvilleOrchestra.org.
Kent Hattenberg, chorusmaster, leads the Louisville Chamber Choir and the University of Louisville Collegiate Chorale in these performances. The elite Chamber Choir is comprised of 28 musicians drawn from the Louisville Metropolitan Area and is dedicated to the highest levels of ensemble performances. They will be featured in Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610.
The combined choirs are joined by soloists for Mozart’s Requiem: soprano Jessica Rivera; alto Kendall Gladen; tenor Jesse Donner; and bass Evan Boyer. Each, acclaimed for opera and orchestral work, are extraordinary singers in their own right.
A two-headed copperhead snake born in the wild less than one month ago is now in the care of the Salato Wildlife Education Center and will be available for limited public viewing at the facility in Frankfort.
A Leslie County couple donated the rare snake for educational purposes after discovering it in their yard this month.
“I may encounter a two-headed snake in the wild every two or three years but a two-headed copperhead is a first for me,” said Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources State Herpetologist John MacGregor, a leading expert on snakes in Kentucky. “It is a really interesting animal to have on display and a unique opportunity for the public.”
The copperhead is one of four species of venomous snakes found in Kentucky. The others are the cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake and pygmy rattlesnake. Of those, the copperhead and timber rattlesnake are the most common in Kentucky.
A two-headed copperhead snake is extremely rare and its life expectancy in the wild typically is short because of physical limitations caused by the mutation.
“One big question is if the throat connects to the rest of the intestinal tract,” MacGregor said. “That is sometimes a problem with two-headed animals; neither head is completely formed, and there is no way they can swallow anything. Sometimes one head works and the other head does not. With this snake, both tongues work, so there is a pretty good chance that both are functional.”
The snake’s well-being is a top priority for the Salato Center’s staff.
As long as it appears to be in good health, the snake will be available for public viewing 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. starting Friday, Oct. 19.
Public viewing times are subject to change and do not include the Salato Center’s annual Halloween Walk with the Animals event scheduled Saturday, Oct. 27. Viewing times on the day of that event have not been determined.
“Salato is thrilled to host this unique animal,” said Heather “Teach” Teachey, Salato Center director. “We hope the snake will thrive under our care and be an educational ambassador of a native Kentucky species.”
The Salato Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday, Monday and state holidays. Admission is charged for visitors ages 5 and older. Visitors can confirm if the snake is available for viewing on the day of their visit by calling 1-800-858-1549.
The Salato Center, operated by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, is off U.S. 60, approximately 1½ miles west of the U.S. 127 intersection. Look for the bronze deer statue at the entrance of the main Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus.
The Salato Center will be closed for the winter after Nov. 21.
Mayor Greg Fischer announced that Louisville has been awarded additional federal funding to increase efforts to help break the cycle of crime and violence among young adults ages 18-24, by connecting them to training, jobs and education.
The $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor will expand the city’s existing Reimage program, targeting an additional 200 young adults who have been involved in the court system. The new grant will fund training to get youth into jobs in key fields including technology, manufacturing, construction and youth development. Participants will also get help with continuing their education, navigating the court system and addressing drug and alcohol issues.
“Connecting with these young people and giving them a second chance is not only the right thing to do, it’s a key part of our strategy for preventing violence and creating safer neighborhoods,” Mayor Fischer said. “Providing rapid training and connecting them to jobs and careers increases their chance for success, while also reducing the odds that they will be further involved in crime and violence.”
Louisville is among five communities receiving grants and joining the national reentry project known as the Compass Rose Collaborative, which is led by FHI 360, an international nonprofit working to improve the health and well-being of people in the United States and around the world. The other communities are Boston, Baltimore, Albany, N.Y., and Southeast Arkansas.
“I’m thrilled to see this federal investment being made here in Louisville to provide at-risk youth and young people involved in the court system with a better shot at improving their lives,” said Congressman John Yarmuth. “The Reimage program’s targeted approach helps lead young people down a path for success through education, job training, and work experience, reducing incidents of crime and violence and promoting a safer Louisville.”
The new funding allows the hiring of four additional Reimage team members, including three Career Pathway Coaches, who will focus on connecting youth to training and jobs in the key business sectors, and providing follow-up and support.
A variety of training will be available to participants. For example, youth interested in manufacturing will be able to join existing classes at the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center. Those targeting the construction field can enroll in the Kentuckiana Builds program at the Louisville Urban League. In the technology field — the Google IT Support Professional Certificate will prepare young adults for entry level jobs in IT support in about eight months through a combination of online learning and mentoring from a dedicated IT coach.
The social services track will combine internships with participation in a series of professional youth development workshops.
All career pathways will connect with KentuckianaWorks’ existing employer partnerships in manufacturing, construction, technology and youth development.
More than 440 young people have enrolled in Reimage since it began in in September, 2015, and the program has achieved a recidivism rate of less than five percent. Staff with the program do street-level outreach in high-need neighborhoods, including Shawnee, Russell and Park Hill, although eligible youth from all areas of Louisville can participate.
“We appreciate the confidence that FHI 360 has with our record of providing skills and confidence to people of all ages,” said Michael Gritton, executive director of KentuckianaWorks. “I mentor a Reimage participant, and I’ve seen with my own eyes the difference this program can make in the life of a young adult.”
Reimage is a collaboration between KentuckianaWorks and the city’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN).
“Reimage has been a key part of our goal of helping every young person in every neighborhood have every chance to realize their full human potential,” said Rev. Vincent James, who oversees OSHN as the city’s Chief of Community Building. “This new emphasis on workforce training will provide even greater opportunities for success for these youth and their families.”
In addition to recruitment efforts in the targeted neighborhoods, young people are referred to the program by partner agencies including OSHN, Department of Juvenile Justice, Louisville Metro Youth Detention Services, the Louisville Public Defender, Kentucky Youth Career Center, Restorative Justice Louisville and JCPS. Individuals 18 and over who are interested in being a Reimage mentor or any youth interested in joining the program can call (502) 574- 4115 or go to wearekycc.org/reimage.
