Tuesday January 27, 2026
Local Connection
Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
SubscribeA review of theft from automobiles, stolen vehicles and burglaries in the Highlands for the first quarter of 2018 shows that 34.4% of the crimes committed (55 of 160) were easy targets because the doors were left unlocked, keys were left inside or otherwise made available to thieves, according to Councilman Brandon Coan (D-8).
Councilman Coan strongly urges citizens to lock their vehicles and buildings and take their valuables out of their cars as part of a new campaign called #KeepLouisvilleLocked.
“The failure to lock your doors and take your valuables out of your car not only inflates the crime rate, it gives your neighborhood a reputation as an easy target which, in turn, attracts more crime,” Coan said. “Please do your part and park smart.”
Coan is partnering with the Louisville Metro Police Fifth Division, Louisville Parks and Recreation and others to reduce crime of opportunity in District 8. He tracks “unlocked” crimes in his bi-weekly newsletter and intends to report out the statistics to local media outlets and community stakeholders on a quarterly basis.
To receive District 8 eNews, go to: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-8/subscribe-s…
For more information about #KeepLouisvilleLocked, contact Councilman Coan’s office at 574-1108.
In 2016, Mayor Greg Fischer created the Building Our Blocks (BOB) initiative as a cross-functional approach to make our neighborhoods clean, green and safe. BOB will begin its second full year on April 13. Last year, the BOB team, which includes many city agencies and community partners, visited seven different neighborhoods. This year, the team will concentrate four events specifically in one neighborhood—Russell.
“Building Our Blocks is the city’s way to deliver on-the-spot services and make a direct impact on residents’ quality of life,” Fischer said. “After reviewing our impact from last year’s events, we determined that we can see even more results if we give continuous focus on one neighborhood throughout the year. With significant investment and momentum in Russell right now, it is a great neighborhood for the BOB team to give longer term commitment to in 2018.”
Events will take place on April 13, June 8, August 10 and October 12. If needed, rain dates are planned for April 27, June 21, August 16 and October 26. Each event will be held from 1-4 p.m. and cover about six blocks of the neighborhood. On April 13, the BOB team will meet at the Oak & Acorn Intergenerational Center (631 S. 28th Street).
During BOB events, residents can expect a group of city employees, including LMPD officers, and community partners, walking the blocks and knocking on doors asking what services they can offer residents, listening and responding to neighborhood issues, and addressing property maintenance.
BOB has many city agencies and community partners participating in this year’s initiative—Brightside, Codes & Regulations, LMPD, Louisville Fire, Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville Water Company, MSD, Public Works, Resilience & Community Services, Vacant & Public Property Administration, New Directions Housing Corporation and Saving Sunny Inc., Park DuValle Community Health Center and OPI².
For more information on Building Our Blocks, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/building-our-blocks. If you are a community organization that can provide on-the-spot services and wants to join the BOB team, please e-mail Robin.Hawkins@louisvilleky.gov
Louisville Metro Government (LMG) has been awarded a $450,000 grant by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to stabilize the former Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church at 912 W. Chestnut Street. LMG’s Office of Redevelopment Strategies has added $150,000 to the stabilization effort bringing the stabilization investment to $600,000.
In 2002, the property was sold to the YMCA, which has a Chestnut Street location just west of the Church, and it has remained vacant. In 2010 and 2011, the YMCA invested $400,000 for stabilization that included a new roof for the Church and support beams as well as brick repair. The current Quinn Chapel AME Church congregation resides at 1901 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard.
“In its many years, Quinn Chapel has played a vital role to the Russell neighborhood and in the fight for civil rights in our city. The fight for equity and improved quality of life for all Louisville residents is a fight that goes on today,” Jeana Dunlap, Director of the Office of Redevelopment Strategies said. “The city and YMCA value its importance and want to preserve its legacy for future generations to come.”
“With the new interest and investment in west Louisville, it is appropriate that Quinn Chapel stand and represent the rich heritage of the community and serve as a gateway into the area’s renewed future,” Steve Tarver, President & CEO of YMCA of Greater Louisville, said.
The Church was built in 1884 and originally housed the Chestnut Street Baptist Church until 1910 when it was purchased by the Quinn Chapel AME Church. Quinn Chapel takes its name from Bishop Paul Quinn, who was the fourth bishop of the AME Church and the first to visit Kentucky. The Church was a focal point for the civil rights movement in Louisville in the 1960s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the Church in April 1961. It was the starting point of nightly marches for open housing in 1967 and the reason for Dr. King’s second visit to Louisville.
Quinn Chapel has retained its integrity in design, materials and craftsmanship. The eastern steeple has been removed but original stained glass windows and decorative masonry features are still intact. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Essential repairs needed include installing a new roof for the rear portion of the building, stabilizing walls, repairing foundation, repointing mortar joints and repairing subflooring.
After stabilization, the city and YMCA will seek future redevelopment partners to bring back life to this historic structure. Quinn Chapel is a prominently featured structure on the southwest corner of 9th & Chestnut within eyeshot of the future mixed-use, mixed-income redevelopment of Beecher Terrace. Due to its proximity to 9th Street, the Church’s redevelopment will also benefit from the city’s Reimagine 9th Street plan, which will be complete in 2018.
The Louisville Tattoo Arts Convention draws world-class tattoo artists, enthusiasts and television personalities to the Kentucky Exposition Center for body art, seminars, contests and entertainment. More than 200 tattoo artists will attend the show to display their body art. Artists accept walk-up clients or schedule ahead by contacting the artists directly.
Show is located in the Kentucky Exposition Center’s East Hall. Show hours are:
- April 13 – 2:00 PM until 12:00 AM
- April 14 – 11:00 AM until 12:00 AM
- April 15 – 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM
Parking for the Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle or $20 for a bus. Show tickets can be purchased on site only:
- $20 for a single day pass
- $40 for all three days
- Children 12 and under are free
Visit villainarts.com/tattoo-conventions-villain-arts/louisville-tattoo-arts-convention for more information.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman David Yates is encouraging residents of District 25 to come out and roll up their sleeves to help in the Brightside Community Clean Up throughout the Southend this Saturday, April 14th.
“The people of Southwest Louisville have always had great pride in their community and that is why we could use some good volunteers on Saturday,” says Yates. “These kinds of cleanups bring many diverse people together for a common purpose and help foster strong neighborly bonds.”
Councilman Yates encourages those without a specific clean up to come to Doss High School beginning at 9:00am to start cleaning up St. Andrews Church Road. All cleanup teams will receive bags and gloves at no cost, and the first 5,000 volunteers to register will also receive a free t-shirt. The cleanup is set to last until 12:00pm.
While Councilman Yates is encouraging residents to join this cleanup, he encourages neighborhoods throughout the district to join in the Brightside effort.
“If you cannot join us on St. Andrews Church Road, then I encourage homeowners, families, friends and others to get out and make an impact on your street or neighborhoods,” says Yates. “Anytime we can make the district a nice clean place, then it benefits everyone.”
If you would like to learn more about cleanups in your area or if you would like to register a group for a cleanup then go to:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/brightside/brightside-passport-healt…
For more information, contact Councilman Yates’ office at 502-574-1125.
The Supreme Court of Kentucky will convene April 18-19 in Frankfort to hear oral arguments in cases that originated in Fayette, Jefferson and Oldham counties. Proceedings are open to the public and will take place in the Supreme Court Courtroom on the second floor of the state Capitol at 700 Capitol Ave. in Frankfort.
The public may also observe oral arguments via the Supreme Court live stream on the Kentucky Court of Justice website. Oral arguments are available online as they occur in real time and are not available as archives.
The Supreme Court is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the Supreme Court and all seven justices rule on appeals that come before the court. The justices are elected from seven appellate districts and serve eight-year terms. A chief justice, chosen for a four-year term by fellow justices, is the administrative head of the state’s court system and is responsible for its operation. The Supreme Court may order a ruling or opinion to be published, which means that the ruling becomes the case law governing all similar cases in the future in Kentucky.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018
11 AM
2017-SC-0235-DG
CINDY MUNCIE, ET AL. V. PATRICIA WEISEMAN
“Environmental Law. Stigma Damages to Property. The issue is whether and to what extent a property owner may be entitled to additional damages beyond costs of remediation for stigma attaching to property as a result of an environmental injury.”
Discretionary Review granted 9/20/2017
Oldham Circuit Court, Judge Karen A. Conrad
Attorney for Appellants: Joseph E. Conley, Jr.
Attorneys for Appellee: Kenneth Allen Bohnert and Bradley Robert Palmer
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
9 AM
2016-SC-0180-DGE
MELVIN HENSLEY, ET AL. V. HAYNES TRUCKING, LLC, ET AL.
“Class Actions. Public Works Contracts. Non-payment of Prevailing Wages. The primary issue in this case is whether the Movants were permitted to bring a class action alleging a failure to pay prevailing wages to workers on qualifying public works projects. Another issue is whether the requirements for a class action were satisfied in this case.”
Discretionary Review granted 10/25/2017
Fayette Circuit Court, Judge Ernesto Scorsone
Attorneys for Appellants: Brent L. Caldwell, William R. Garmer, Jerome Park Prather and Bryce Caldwell
Attorneys for Appellees Haynes Trucking, LLC and L-M Asphalt Partners, LTD D/B/A ATS Construction: Robert E. Maclin, III, Jon Allen Woodall, Brendan Reynolds Yates and Masten Childers, III
Attorneys for Hartford Fire Insurance Co.: Susan C. Sears, La Toi D. Mayo and J. Andrew Inman
10 AM
2017-SC-0155-DG
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY V. B. H.
“Juvenile Law. Competency. Jurisdiction. KRS 635.020(4). Issues involve district court jurisdiction to conduct a competency hearing regarding a 14-year old who allegedly committed murder and first-degree robbery.”
Discretionary Review granted 8/16/17
Jefferson Circuit Court, Judge Brian C. Edwards
Attorneys for Appellant: Michael J. O’Connell, David A. Sexton, and Christopher Brown
Attorneys for Appellee: Daniel T. Goyette, Bruce P. Hackett and Elizabeth Zilberberg
As many Kentuckians begin to plan their summer vacation, Attorney General Andy Beshear is warning of scam calls offering deep discounts on travel to Orlando, Florida, and the Bahamas.
Beshear said his office issued a Scam Alert after Kentuckians in Bourbon, Boyd, Calloway, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison and Woodford counties have reported receiving vacation scam calls.
In a recording obtained by the Office of the Attorney General, a caller claims qualified travelers can book a weeklong vacation to Orlando, Florida, right next to Disney, and a three-day stay on a beach in the Bahamas for 75 percent off the retail rate. The caller says vacationers receive a complementary cruise to the Bahamas, a bonus gift and food.
Beshear said these type of calls often end with a victim providing an upfront payment and their personal and financial information in exchange for the promise of a luxury vacation they never get to take.
“The right thing for Kentuckians to do is resist the temptation to quickly book a vacation they have supposedly qualified for or won,” said Beshear. “Always verify and research a travel agency before providing personal or financial information.”
Beshear said not all vacation deals are a scam and offers the following tips to help Kentuckians spot and avoid scams.
- Watch for high-pressure tactics where a caller wants you to act quickly and pay upfront booking fees.
- Obtain booking and reservation confirmation numbers directly from the cruise company rather than the travel agency or agent.
- Do not send money via wire transfer, gift cards or cash.
Beshear said his office works to stay ahead of scammers by alerting Kentuckians when new and trending scams are reported in Kentucky. Kentuckians can sign up to receive Scam Alerts by texting the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311), or enroll online at ag.ky.gov/scams.
To report a scam to the Office of the Attorney General dial 888-432-9257 or file a consumer complaint online.
