Thursday November 13, 2025
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SubscribeWith a heat index forecast to be between 100 and 105 Thursday and Friday, Louisville Metro Government officials are urging residents to stay cool, stay hydrated and stay informed.
Extremely high or unusually hot temperatures can affect your health. Most vulnerable are the elderly, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, the homeless or poor, and those with chronic medical conditions.
In these conditions, the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness advises residents to:
Stay cool
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings, including shopping malls, the Louisville Free Public libraries, and Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation’s 13 community centers, where children and teens can also get a meal through Dare to Care.
- Metro Parks announced today that because of the extreme heat, it is reducing pool admission costs by $1 through the end of the season, making admission $1 for children and $2 for adults. Parks also is reviewing the possibility of keeping one pool open past the end of the season, if the extreme heat persists.
- The Coalition for the Homeless coordinates Operation White Flag when the temperature or heat index is 95 or higher. Five shelters – St. Vincent de Paul (1034 S. Jackson St.; Salvation Army Center of Hope (911 S. Brook St.); Jefferson Street Baptist Center (733 E. Jefferson St.); St. John Center (700 E. Muhammad Ali); and Wayside Christian Mission (432 E. Jefferson St.) – allow homeless people to remain inside during White Flag events. Anyone who needs a bed or place to sleep for tonight can also call the bed reservation line at (502) 637-2337, between the hours of 10 a.m. -2 p.m. The beds fill up quickly, so call early.
- Connect with Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 information and referral service to locate an air-conditioned option in your area. Call 2-1-1, visit metrounitedway.org or text your ZIP code to 898211 (TXT211).
- Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.
- Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when it is the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Take cool showers or baths to lower your body temperature.
- Check on at-risk friends, family and neighbors at least twice a day.
Stay hydrated
- Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
- Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
- Make sure your family, friends and neighbors are drinking enough water.
- Stay informed
- Check your local news for extreme heat warnings and safety tips.
- Keep your friends, family and neighbors aware of weather and heat safety information.
- Remember that even short periods of high temperature can cause serious health problems. Doing too much on a hot day, spending too much time in the sun, or staying too long in an overheated place can cause heat related illnesses. Louisville health officials encourage residents to know the symptoms of heat disorders and overexposure to the sun, and be ready to give first aid treatment.
- Watch for warning signs, symptoms for heat-related disorders
Heat Stroke
- Heat Stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106 degrees within 10minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided. The warning signs of heat stroke may include:
- Extreme body temperature of 103 or higher
- Red, hot, and dry skin with no sweating
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:
- Sometimes a victim’s muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in his mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his side.
- Seek medical assistance as soon as possible
- Do not give the victim fluids to drink
- If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room and ask further instructions
- Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops below 102
- Cool the victim rapidly using whatever method you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of water or place him in a cool shower or spray him with a garden hose.
- Get the victim to a shady area
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to this are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
Recognizing Heat Exhaustion
Warning signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, headache, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, fainting, tiredness or weakness. The skin may be cool and moist. The victim’s pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms are severe or if the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure. Otherwise, help the victim cool off and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.
Louisville’s Urban Heat Island contributes to the extreme warm temperatures. Go here to learn more, and share how you are helping to reduce Louisville’s Urban Heat at #cool502.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Mayor Greg Fischer and 15th District Councilwoman Marianne Butler joined city officials and area youths yesterday to dedicate the city’s 31st outdoor water element at Huston Quin Park in the Wilder Park neighborhood near Churchill Downs.
“The improvements at Huston Quin will give neighborhood families a nice new spot to cool off during the summer months,” Fischer said. “The new sprayground, in particular, makes this a great destination for residents in south Louisville.”
“This long-awaited for sprayground is a wonderful enhancement for the neighborhood,” Butler said. “Seeing children coming together to play harmoniously is heartwarming and should be the model for all.”
The $510,000 renovation at the two-acre park, which is named after former Louisville Mayor Huston Quin, was mainly funded by a Community Development Block Grant of $500,000 and included $10,000 from general funds to help install a new water fountain.
“We’re very excited to see this work at Huston Quin and for the project support from Mayor Fischer, Councilwoman Butler and the office of Housing and Community Development,” said Metro Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose. “The end result is an enhanced experience for park users.”
Additional improvements at the park include a new restroom facility and improvements to the site that will result in ADA access to the restroom and sprayground. David Construction was the general contractor on the project and Tetra Tech and Environs served as design consultants.
President David Yates is encouraging residents to come out to the next “Talk with David” on Monday, July 24th, at the Southwest Regional Library beginning at 6:00pm.
President Yates has invited representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), District 5 to come and give an update on the Dixie Highway Paving Project. KYTC has not yet confirmed that they will be attending but President Yates wants to provide an opportunity for the state to listen to his constituent’s safety concerns and learn about the impact this construction has had on local businesses.
“My Southwest Council colleagues and I are very well aware of the continuing delays and frustration this state paving project has been experiencing,” says Yates. “It is important that people not confuse this project with the federal $16.9 million TIGER Grant for the Dixie Do Over. It is also important that state officials provide some answers and hear from our community.”
The project began in late 2015 and was to focus on repaving between Bethany Lane to Greenwood Road. It has been inundated with delays.
Representatives from LMPD, MSD, Code Enforcement and United States Congressman John Yarmuth’s office will be on hand to help answer any questions and concerns.
“Please come out and join us. This is also a chance to talk with me about any concerns you might have about any issue.” says Yates.
For more information about the next “Talk with David”, contact President Yates’ office at 574-1125.
Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Free Public Library officials welcomed the public today to the new $14.5 million South Central Regional Library located at 7300 Jefferson Boulevard near Jefferson Mall in Okolona.
The 40,000-square-foot facility, which replaces the much-smaller Okolona branch, enhances service for more than 160,000 people in south central Jefferson County, with new books and cutting-edge technology that encourages learning at all stages of life.
The library the second of three regional libraries included in the Louisville Free Public Library’s Updated Master Facilities Plan; the Southwest Regional Library opened in 2014, and construction on the third regional library in Northeast Jefferson County will begin this year.
“Lifelong learning is one of our core city values,” Mayor Greg Fischer said during today’s ribbon cutting. “And the gorgeous new South Central Regional Library is another example of how we’re bringing that value to life for the people of Louisville.”
The new eco-friendly library features more than 120,000 books and other materials – including more bestsellers, DVDs, large type, materials in multiple languages, books for youth, and graphic novels – as well as two large community meeting rooms; several smaller rooms for studying, reading, and collaborating; and dedicated spaces for teens and children. New technologies at South Central include plenty of computers and free internet access, plus, for the first time, a laptop kiosk for patrons to checkout laptops for use within the library.
“Our new South Central Regional Library provides the community with a world-class resource that will energize and expand opportunities for learning, growth, and engagement,” said Library Director Jim Blanton. “I challenge everyone in Louisville to take advantage of these new opportunities and seize them with excitement. I know I will.”
Overall, the South Central Regional Library project utilizes green building construction methods and materials and has been designed to save energy, improve quality of life, and reduce operating costs through such elements as geothermal heating and daylight harvesting interior lighting.
Walls of glass and clerestory windows fill the space with abundant natural light and offer incredible views of more than an acre of preserved woodland. The Library was committed to keeping as many trees as possible in order to preserve the beauty of the site and to minimize environmental impact, and while some of the hardwood trees had to be removed, many were milled and reused on the interior of the new library. The design team for the South Central Regional included JRA Architects of Louisville, Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle Ltd. of Minneapolis, and library staff, in consultation with neighborhood residents and leaders.
“District 24 is honored to have been chosen to host the Regional Library for this area of Metro Louisville,” said Councilwoman Madonna Flood. “For years we have dreamed of what the building would look like, what kind of technology would fill the space, and what kind of programs would be presented here. We can now see it, work in it and learn in it; our dreams have become reality. We are very excited for the Grand Opening of this grand Regional Library in Okolona.”
The South Central Regional also offers another LFPL first: the COLLIDER artist-in-residence program. The COLLIDER will host an array of artists and craftspeople from across the community – rotating monthly – including those working in visual arts, traditional crafts, music, dance, and digital art. Generous funding from Councilwoman Flood enabled the creation of the necessary space, artist equipment and materials, as well as a stipend for participating artists. The special studio space within the Library allows the artists to create on-site, while encouraging patrons to drop in, interact, and learn about a given artistic process. The program also features scheduled workshops for the public during each artist’s month in residence. To learn more about the COLLIDER’s artists-in-residence, visit LFPL.org/Collider.
Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch, whose District 13 is near the library said she was thrilled about its opening. “This location is about a mile from the border of District 13, so I anticipate great usage from my constituents in the Okolona, Hillview, and Yorktown areas,” she said. “The unique features such as lap top check out and artist in residence provided by Councilwoman Flood are expected to be a huge asset for our people!”
James Peden of District 23 agreed the new library is a tremendous asset to the community. “It will serve as the perfect place for checking out a book, holding meetings, and gaining knowledge,” he said. “We encourage everyone to stop by and check it out as soon as they can.”
Construction of the South Central Regional Library began in September 2015. The total cost for construction, books, computers, and furnishings was estimated at $14.5 million, with $6 million coming from the state, $6 million in capital funds allocated by Mayor Fischer and approved by the Metro Council, and an additional $2.5 million raised from private donors through the Library Foundation.
Mayor Fischer, Blanton, and Metro Council members were joined at today’s event by Congressman John Yarmuth, Library Foundation Vice Chair Bill Dunbar, and Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives representative Paige Davidson.
The opening weekend celebration continues on Saturday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with artist-in-residence demonstrations, a family scavenger hunt, storytimes, and refreshments. For more information on the new South Central Regional Library, please visit LFPL.org/SouthCentral, or call (502) 964-3515.
If you visit the South Central Regional Library
The hours of operation are: Sunday: 1–5 p.m., Monday–Thursday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The library hosts a variety of free programs, classes, and events every month for adults and youth including weekly storytimes, computer classes, and multi-cultural programs. Search the library’s online calendar at LFPL.org for upcoming program dates and times.
In addition, the South Central Regional’s meeting rooms are available for use by community groups and organizations; it’s free but reservations are required. For more information call (502) 964-3515 or visit LFPL.org/meeting-rooms.htm.
Photo: Keenan Charitable Trust
William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust announced more than $5 million in new funding over the next three years to improve the life outcomes of young Black men and boys aged 16-25.
The grant will support creation of two civic leadership fellowships for young men in Lexington and Louisville, KY, in partnership with local city leaders and advocates, along with national partners coordinated by Cities United. The fellowships will be directed toward young men impacted by community violence.
“We must work more collaboratively if we are going to make sure all of us can live in communities that are safe, healthy and hopeful,” said Anthony Smith, Executive Director of Cities United. “Investing directly in our youth, their families and the communities they call home is part of our new vision for real public safety—one that lights a path to real hope and opportunity for all. The data and our experience show that real public safety requires investments in prevention and community building, not simply increased law enforcement or incarceration.”
These fellowships will encourage young Black men and boys aged 16-25 to invest in their futures, and offer opportunities for education, jobs and careers combined with leadership development and mentoring support. Young people in the two cities will be selected based on their potential and need.
The fellowships are rooted in the belief that young Black men are assets to our communities and cities. They are creative, resourceful and whole, and if given the right support system and opportunities, they will thrive.
Cities United recently received a planning grant for the fellowship from the James Graham Brown Foundation. The fellowships will be a collaborative initiative, with the cities of Louisville and Lexington partnering with their local workforce, education, criminal justice housing and social service partners to prepare up to 120 young Black men to be the next generation of civic leaders. The fellowships will invest directly in young people to shape their leadership and skill building, while learning directly from their lived experience with broken systems that produce community violence, and applying those learnings across city policies and programs.
“When we invest in young people, we invest in a brighter future for our city. In Lexington we are making significant investments to identify and stamp out root causes of violence. This program, working at the individual level, will expand and support our efforts. Thanks to everyone involved for this unique opportunity,” said Lexington Mayor Jim Gray.
“We believe in our young people and are excited about this opportunity to build on our existing youth and community building efforts through Zones of Hope and the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “We look forward to working with Mayor Gray of Lexington to cultivate community-led efforts to reduce violence and ensure that all citizens, no matter race or ZIP code, have the opportunity to reach their full human potential. We will not succeed unless we all work together, including local and national funders who can direct much-needed resources to our communities.”
Lexington and Louisville were chosen because of the commitment from their mayors and their partnerships with Cities United, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement and other local and national organizations focused on creating better outcomes for young Black men and boys, their families and the neighborhoods they call home.
The partners will capture lessons from Lexington and Louisville, to use the fellowships as a model for investing in young leaders in other parts of the nation, where mayors and city leaders are also directing efforts to advance 21st century public safety, provide pathways to opportunity and reduce violence against young Black men and boys.
“We have been locking away and warehousing our most talented young people for far too long,” said Dr. Dorian Burton, William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust Assistant Executive Director. “Young Black men are assets to our communities, and when provided with the right support and resources, they will thrive. Leaders in Lexington and Louisville have created a real opportunity to show how cities can build equitable pathways for success for Black males, and drive systems-level reform in their communities. I am hopeful that other national investors, the private sector and the state will embrace these initiatives and invest additional dollars to scale their work to other cities and states.”
Both Louisville and Lexington will be identifying and resourcing a group of grassroots, “on-the-ground” service providers who have specialized skills and relationships needed to effectively engage these young men of promise.
Other local partners include Louisville Urban League, Metro United Way, New Legacy Reentry, KentuckianaWorks, Legal Aid Society, Simmons College, Bluegrass Community & Technical College, Jefferson Community & Technical College, Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board, Fayette County Public Schools, Fayette Circuit and District Court, Urban League of Lexington – Fayette County and Lexington Leadership Foundation. National partners include #Cut50, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, Cities United, JustLeadership USA, Essie Justice Group and BMe Community.
Olmsted Parks Conservancy is recruiting volunteers to help enhance Elliott a 109-year-old park located between 28th and 29th street, a block north of Broadway in Louisville’s west end. Its four acres of land sandwiched between residential properties and commercial serves as a gathering to play basketball and horseshoes and play on the playground.
The Conservancy seeks help with weeding, mulching trees and playground, painting and other general cleanup around the whole park. With the goal of enhancing the park for the neighborhood to further enjoy. People interested in helping are asked to register online at the Events page at http://www.olmstedparks.org/ or call contact Sarah Wolff at (502) 456-8125.
Volunteers can help in Elliott Park on these dates:
July 22, 2017 from 10:00am- 12:00pm
July 25, 2017 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
On July 29, Dreamsetters United, an organization empowering youth, have committed time at Elliott Park with 40-50 teens and young adult volunteers. “We are extremely excited about renovating Elliott Park in hopes that the community can come together in a nice place which in theory will help minimize the amount of crime in the area. We just want to help bring the community back together,” stated Hassan Latifalia, Founder, Dreamsetters United.
As early as 1863 the land now known as Elliott Park, was used as a recreation area. In the late 1870 it was home to the Eclipse Baseball Club, pro and semi-pro teams. The park was destroyed by fire in 1892 and the park stayed vacant until 1906 when parks commission took over the deed from the city. Then in 1908 the Olmsted firm was hired to create a design for the park. The park was named Elliott Park after Theodore Elliott donated the land.
Elliott Park is a popular area for the Russell neighborhood. Olmsted Parks Conservancy is committed to keeping the park as a welcoming greenspace until funds are donated to create a plan for future renovation.
NEEDTOBREATHE is a GRAMMY-nominated band from South Carolina. Their most recent release, HARDLOVE (2016), debuted at #1 on Billboard‘s Top Albums chart.
NEEDTOBREATHE delivers an impressive live show proven by back-to-back sold-out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Greek Theatre (Los Angeles), Ascend Amphitheatre (Nashville), Aragon Ballroom (Chicago), and Verizon Theatre (DFW).
Tickets start at $34.50, reserved seating, fees apply. 8 ticket limit per order.
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, July 21, at 10 a.m., online, by phone (584.7777), and at The Kentucky Center box office and drive-thru.