Friday January 30, 2026
Local Connection
Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
Subscribe
Photo: CHFS
As part of the 52 Weeks of Public Health campaign, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH), within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), along with local health departments across the state, is reminding the public about the potential for rabies exposure from contact with infected wildlife.
Wildlife rabies cases, primarily in bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, have been identified in the U.S., and these result in human and animal exposures requiring thousands of human rabies post-exposure treatments and animal euthanasia or quarantines.
“Rabies is relatively rare in the U.S., but a dangerous, and often life-threatening condition, if contracted,” said Kelly Giesbrecht, state veterinarian with DPH. “We want to highlight the importance of rabies prevention and control efforts in our communities, while also reminding Kentuckians of the existing dangers of coming into contact with rabid wildlife. They should not be handled or treated as pets to avoid possible rabies exposure.”
Rabies, a viral disease of humans, pets and wild animals, is transmitted from animals to humans by the saliva of a rabid animal, usually from a bite. State law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets maintain a current rabies vaccination. In Kentucky, there have been no human rabies cases from exposure to a rabid dog since dog vaccination became required by law in 1954. For more information about rabies, visit the DPH website at http://www.chfs.ky.gov/dph/epi/rabies.htm.
“We want the public to understand that rabies is still a serious public health concern, and we need to do everything we can to prevent it,” said Dr. Giesbrecht. “It is extremely important that we vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets in order to maintain this invisible barrier between rabid wildlife and humans.”
Contact bites from bats are the most common source of rabies exposure to humans in the United States. To minimize the risk for contracting rabies, it is best never to handle any bat. To prevent bats from entering your home, carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats to enter the residence. Any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch could allow for bat entry. These openings should be blocked either with stainless steel wool or caulking in the fall or winter so you do not unintentionally trap bats within your home. Common ways for bats to enter homes include down the chimney, through openings around the chimney, through vents, through openings behind shutters, under doors, under siding, under eaves and under shingles.
There is no known medical cure for rabies once clinical symptoms are present. Symptoms include strange sensations at the site of the bite from a rabid animal, hallucinations and fear of water, all of which are quickly followed by death.
It is estimated that more than 59,000 people around the world die from rabies each year. Worldwide, more people die from rabies than from polio, diphtheria and yellow fever combined.
Photo: Kentucky Labor Department
Last month, the Labor Cabinet conducted 33 free on-site visits, or “consultative surveys,” for employers across Kentucky. As a result of these surveys, employers corrected 227 serious violations that could have resulted in enforcement penalties of up to $1,589,000.
The Labor Cabinet’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health Education & Training leads the Cabinet’s proactive efforts to create safe and healthful workplace conditions, including overseeing a new web-based training service called eTrain (www.KYSAFE.KY.GOV). This new online training module will offer a variety of safety and health training topics, certificates, and live and recorded webinars all at no cost.
In addition to eTrain, the Cabinet provides free consultative services to employers across Kentucky on ways to increase workplace safety – including how to improve Injury and Illness Rates. Services include free on-site consultations to all employers, as well as other compliance assistance, educational materials, and class-style training for all employers.
Last year, the Division conducted 350 free consultative surveys for employers across Kentucky. This resulted in employers correcting 3,813 serious conditions that could have affected up to 108,307 employees resulting in enforcement penalties of up to $26,691,000.
Additional information is available at http://labor.kentucky.gov.
Follow the Kentucky Labor Cabinet on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates.
Gov. Matt Bevin is urging all Kentuckians to help beat back the opioid epidemic with a new public awareness campaign that highlights the dangers of opioid abuse and offers information on drug treatment and naloxone.
The campaign, launching this week, combines web content with statewide advertising to drive home a simple message: “Don’t Let Them Die.” The theme encourages Kentuckians to recognize the inherent value of human life – even in the grip of addiction – and take proactive steps to help their friends, family and communities overcome this crisis.
One way all Kentuckians can help: Learn about the risk of opioid abuse and spread the word.
“We don’t have the luxury of pretending there isn’t a problem,” said Gov. Bevin. “Every life is worth saving. There is not a person we would not want to see redeemed and removed from this addiction, and it is up to all of us to work together and find solutions.”
Lethal overdoses claimed more than 1,400 lives in Kentucky last year, a 7.4 percent increase from 2015. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin, was a factor in 623 deaths, while heroin contributed to 456 deaths.
The highest number of fatalities occurred among people ages 35 to 44, followed by ages 45 to 54. Kentucky currently has the third highest overdose rate in the country, and a recent study showed that 80 percent of heroin users start with prescription opioids.
“Behind each number is a suffering soul and a wounded family that has often struggled with substance abuse for decades,” said Kentucky Justice Secretary John Tilley. “However, we also hear stories almost every day of hope and recovery. That’s why it’s essential that every Kentuckian joins this battle to preserve life. With the right support and resources, we know recovery is possible.”
As part of the campaign, radio and television ads that feature audio from a harrowing 911 call will begin airing statewide over the next week. The anguished voice on the phone belongs to Nikki Strunck, a mother from Richmond, Ky. who discovered her son, Brendan, dying from an overdose in January 2016.
While the initial ad seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of opioids and the human toll of addiction, future ads are expected to focus on resources and treatment. The 30-second spots were purchased through the Public Education Partnership Program, which is administered by the Kentucky Broadcasters Association.
Along with advertising, the governor’s office has established www.DontLetThemDie.com, a website with information about opioids, treatment and the overdose antidote, naloxone. Officials plan to continue updating the website as new initiatives are announced.
Over 10,000 street rods, customs, muscle cars and street machines will be on hand at the Kentucky Expo Center this summer as the National Street Rod Association® presents its 48th Annual Street Rod Nationals. The dates for the city’s largest vintage car show will be August 3, 4, 5, 6, 2017. This will be the 24th time the NSRA Street Rod Nationals has been held in Louisville and an all time high number of participants and spectators are expected this year. Almost all of the Kentucky Expo Center will be utilized for the event as well as many of the buildings, which will house over 350 manufacturer and dealer displays and other attractions.
The host organization, NSRA, defines a street rod as a modernized vintage vehicle that is of pre 1949 manufacture. These vehicles are equipped with the latest options available on the newest model vehicles, including but not limited to disc brakes, air conditioning, cruise control, and tilt steering wheel. Most of those attending have updated the engine and drive train to enable the owner to cruise down the highway in comfort and safely maintain the speeds traveled by more modern vehicles.
Included in this event are muscle cars, those factory produced high horsepower machines from the 60’s and 70’s along with the classics cars of the 50’s. This is truly unique mix of old and new together for the first time at Kentucky Expo Center and a national gathering of fine vintage automobiles of every description. The NSRA Street Rod Nationals is the area’s largest automotive participation event and spectators from around the area will attend the event.
The NSRA Street Rod Nationals is an excellent event for spectators to attend and those who take time to attend will be treated to the sights and sounds of some of the most beautiful, best constructed vintage vehicles ever assembled in one place. One of the special attractions for the spectators is that they can walk right up to the vehicles and check each one out close up as they are not roped-off or otherwise confined. All are in the open and can be examined top to bottom, front to back, inside and out. While the exquisite paint and other features of the car should not be touched, spectators are free to look to their heart’s content.
The big automotive show will be at the beautiful Kentucky Expo Center and is open to the public August 3, 4, 5, 6, 2017. Make your plans now to attend the 48th Annual Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. It promises to be one of the biggest vintage car shows in the city’s recent history and you can enjoy every exciting part of it. Those of us at NSRA know you won’t soon forget it.
Visit us online @ http://www.nsra-usa.com
FandomFest is the largest Comic Con in this region that has been visiting Louisville since 2005. This year, Fandomfest will be July 28th-30th at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
This year’s Fandomfest schedule has not yet been finalized, but many celebrities are slated to make an appearance for a photo op, autograph, and maybe a Q&A. Some celebrities that attendees will have the chance to see this year include: Weird Al Yankovic, WWE Hall of Famer Sting, Steve Sanders, Tori Spelling, the cast of Disney’s animated Beauty and The Beast, Paul Michael Glaser, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, and Ross Marquand.
The show will also feature a market place where new authors and artists will display their works, collector items, costumes, and anything else that you can imagine will be available as well. Though the schedule is still pending, the show usually features a variety of panel discussions, which will focus on different aspects of the comic con world, some demonstrations (such as improve comedy or condensed Shakespeare plays), and Q&A’s with the celebrities.
Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes to the show, but it is not required. Tickets can be purchased in advance online . Prices range from $30 to $325 depending on the package that is desired. Photo Ops (price range $40 – $160 per photo) and Autographs (price range $25 – $60 each) cost extra and can also be purchased online. It is recommended that you purchase your passes in advance since the show is cash only. No credit cards will be taken at the gate, but ATMs will be available. Attendees will also need to pay for parking at the Exposition Center, which is $8 per vehicle.
Attorney General Andy Beshear said Kentuckians are the winners in a recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue to restrict ringless robocalls.
Beshear opposed a recent petition by All About the Message LCC to exempt these direct-to-voicemail calls from federal consumer protections.
Beshear joined attorneys general from Massachusetts and New York in early June to urge the FCC to crack down on the national onslaught of robocall messages and oppose ringless robocalls. The attorneys general contend that this exemption would have further opened the floodgates to more harassing calls and messages.
The FCC denied the petition in late June.
“It’s a win for everyone who hates robocalls, which is all of us,” Beshear said. “My ongoing priority is to fight against costly, annoying and unwanted calls.”
Beshear said the federal government’s Telephone Consumer Protection Act protects consumers from unwanted and intrusive calls, including ringless robocalls.
The FCC’s Robocall Strike Force reports that robocalls are the number one source of complaints it receives, with consumers receiving an estimated 2.4 billion robocalls per month in 2016.
The letter sent by the attorneys general highlights that ringless robocalls prevent consumers from blocking unwanted messages with many of the latest call blocking apps for mobile phones.
In addition, whether they ring or not, “robocalls can impose significant costs on consumers, especially those with prepaid cellphones or limited minutes who are charged for checking their messages,” Beshear said, adding that consumers with limited size voicemail boxes may miss important messages when their voicemail is clogged with unwanted messages.
The FCC provides a National Do Not Call Registry.
Photo: Kentucky Labor Cabinet
Last month, the Labor Cabinet recouped $43,785.07 in unpaid wages for Kentucky workers.
Unpaid overtime, withheld final paychecks, illegal deductions of pay and lower pay than the legal minimum wage requirement are among the types of wage and hour violations that the Cabinet prosecutes. Other examples include unpaid breaks, time-clock shaving, mandatory tip-pooling and prevailing wage violations.
The Labor Cabinet’s Division of Wages, Hours, & Mediation is responsible for enforcing Kentucky’s wage and hour and child labor laws. It also enforces prevailing wage requirements that were in effect before the enactment of H.B. 3. Enforcement typically begins upon the receipt of a complaint. Investigators are then assigned to the case to determine compliance with the state’s wage and hour laws, monitor the correction of any violations, and collect back wages improperly withheld from employees. To find out more about the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws, please check Division of Wages, Hours, & Mediation website by clicking HERE. An Employment Complaint Form can be found HERE.
Follow the Kentucky Labor Cabinet on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates.
