Tuesday November 4, 2025
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Mayor Greg Fischer today announced that Jim Blanton is leaving his post as Director of Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) in early November for a similar post in Asheville, N.C., to be closer to family.
“Vibrant, modern libraries are critical for a thriving city like Louisville,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Jim’s leadership has been instrumental in the phenomenal, future-leaning growth of our library system over the last three years. Under his watch, we opened the state-of-the-art South Central Regional Library in Okolona and started work on the Northeast Regional Library in Lyndon, and started online registration for Summer Reading.”
Assistant Director Lee Burchfield will serve as Interim Director. Burchfield has held multiple posts with LFPL since 1997, including as an Assistant Branch Manager, Electronic Resources Supervisor, Manager of Computer Services, and Director of Strategic Planning & Technology. He has been Assistant Director since 2016. Katie Dailinger, Deputy Chief of Staff, will be helping guide the library through the transition. “My thanks go to Lee, for stepping up during this transition time,” Mayor Fischer said.
Next month, Blanton will become Director of the Buncombe County Library in Asheville, N.C., which is closer to family. His last day with LFPL is November 8.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve at LFPL these past three years,” Blanton said. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished, including launching a variety of innovative programs, developing exciting community partnerships, and opening new libraries that truly represent the cutting edge of 21st century library services.”
“The hard work and dedication of the LFPL staff in making new programs, services and spaces come alive has been deeply inspiring. Their passion for providing library service to the community is the heart and soul of the system, and with more exciting milestones on the way, the future couldn’t be brighter for LFPL.”
The Mayor’s Office will consult with the Library Foundation and the Library Advisory Commission on the search for a new library director.
“I am grateful for Jim’s innovative leadership and tireless energy, and wish him the best in his new position,” Mayor Fischer said. “Our Library system has tremendous momentum, and we won’t slow down, continuing to work hard to deliver the services our community needs and deserves.”
Kevin Moore was named as the new General Manager of the Kentucky Exposition Center today. The Kentucky Exposition Center and the Kentucky International Convention Center are managed by Kentucky Venues, which is the organizational brand of the Kentucky State Fair Board.
Moore most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of Kentucky Venues and has been with the organization since 2013. Prior to working at Kentucky Venues, Moore worked in various financial roles with Louisville Metro Government for 13 years. His experience includes executive management, project oversight, strategic planning, and facility operations. Moore lives in Simpsonville with his wife and two daughters.
“Moore’s management experience, integrity, and vision for the property are exactly what the Expo Center needs as we look toward the future,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues. “Under his leadership, we have tremendous opportunities to position the facility for new growth.”
As General Manager, Moore will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the Expo Center.
In 2017, the Kentucky Exposition Center generated approximately $227 million in economic impact, hosted 225 events, and welcomed over 2 million visitors.
Visit www.kyvenues.com for more information about spaces and events at Kentucky Venues.
In what has become the must-see event of the Halloween season, the Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular is returning for the sixth consecutive year to south Louisville’s Iroquois Park, where 5,000 artistically carved pumpkins will greet visitors from October 9 through November 4.
The pumpkins will illuminate a 1/3-mile trail adjacent to the Iroquois Amphitheater, and event officials estimate up to 85,000 people will visit.
The trail is open from dusk until 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets range from $10 to $17, with discounts for seniors and children 12 and under. Proceeds from the event benefit the Louisville Parks Foundation.
The wooded trail begins just outside of Iroquois Amphitheater (1080 Amphitheater Road, Louisville, KY 40214) and weaves its way through the trees with themed vignettes set to music. The carved, lit pumpkins rotate on a weekly basis, creating a different experience each weekend. This year’s show, “A Night at the Library”, is a celebration of the Smithsonian’s 50th anniversary with skits highlighting imagery from literature, pop culture, history, arts and cinema.
Concessions will be available nightly, including the sale of Parkside Coffee, a specialty blend created and roasted locally by Fante’s Coffee, with proceeds benefiting the Louisville Parks Foundation. Merchandise such as t-shirts and hats will also be available for sale, marking the first-time commemorative items are being offered.
The event is held rain or shine. Coach drop-off and on-site parking is available.
Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular is produced by the Louisville Parks Foundation and The Iroquois Amphitheater in conjunction with Passion for Pumpkins, a multimedia production company with more than 30 years’ experience in redefining fall by transforming any landscape into an illuminated organic gallery.
This year’s sponsors include Louisville Tourism, Papa John’s, Republic Bank, LG&E and KU, Louisville Metro Council, Speed Art Museum, Porta Kleen, Waste Management, Metro Fence, Wendy’s, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, Louisville Eye Center, WeatherCheck, Frazier History Museum, Wendy’s, Yellowstone Select Bourbon, Old 502 Winery, and Bristol Catering.
TICKET INFORMATION
Sunday – Thursday
Adults $13
Seniors (62+) $11
Children (3-12) $10
Friday – Saturday
Adults $17
Seniors (62+) $14
Children (3-12) $13
Individual tickets may be purchased in advance for specific nights at the Iroquois Amphitheater Box Office or online at www.jackolanternlouisville.com. Visitors are also encouraged to use the hashtag #502Pumpkins on social media to share images or experiences they enjoy while touring the show.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more can be purchased in advance by calling 502/368-5063, or in person at the Iroquois Amphitheater Box Office at 6 p.m. beginning October 9.
Group tickets are discounted at $10 Sunday through Thursday.
The event is held rain or shine. No refunds will be given, but advanced purchased tickets may be exchanged for another day.
Louisville Metro Public Works has established a policy for regulating dockless vehicles in the city that focuses on safety and equitable access.
A dockless vehicle is defined as a bicycle, electric bicycle, or electric motor-assisted scooter, defined by Chapter 74 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances, which can be located and checked out without human assistance. The electric-motor assisted bikes and scooters can travel at no more than 15 miles per hour.
As part of the policy, a total of four dockless vehicle operators are permitted to operate in Louisville. Each operator will begin with a six-month probationary period, which can lead to a full-operating permit, renewed annually. During the probationary period, operators may begin with 150 vehicles and, if ridership exceeds four rides per vehicle per day, increase their fleet by 100 vehicles per month, up to 650. Ultimately, operators will be permitted 1,050 vehicles if they successfully complete the probationary period and meet performance standards, such as responsiveness to complaints and ridership.
Dockless vehicles are permitted to operate in an operational zone, defined as within the Watterson Expressway, with extensions in the south to Palatka Road (to include Iroquois Park) and west to Shawnee Park. Dockless vehicles may not be operated at Waterfront Park, which currently offers its own bike rental service. Within the operational zone, the city has established nine distribution zones to ensure an equitable distribution of the service.
Other elements of the policy:
- Each operator will provide the city with a map and list of all parking locations for their vehicles.
- Dockless vehicles shall be relocated or removed by an operator within two hours’ notice that the vehicle is parked in an incorrect manner. Monthly data reports are required to ensure all rules are being observed.
- Dockless vehicles are to be operated on streets and, where available, in bike lanes and bike paths. Vehicles should only be operated on sidewalks when leaving or accessing a parking location.
In addition to a license application fee, annual fee, bond and fee for a designation group parking area, operators will pay $1/day per vehicle. These funds will go directly to fund improvements to our city’s shared mobility infrastructure. Other fines and administrative penalties are included to ensure compliance.
To view the entire Public Works policy on dockless vehicles, which includes a map of the operational zone, please click here.
For the fourth year in a row, Louisville has earned a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) scorecard.
The ranking — called the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) — reflects the city’s support of the LGBTQ community, and the commitment of all Louisville Metro Government agencies to ensure the city is welcoming and inclusive.
“In Louisville, we believe that everyone has the right to be treated with respect, and that being a compassionate community means working to ensure everyone has the ability to reach their full human potential,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “This ranking underscores our hard work and commitment to those beliefs.”
The Human Rights Campaign began in 1980 and is now the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. It represents more than 1.5 million members and supporters.
In a press release, HRC says its index, “the only nationwide rating system of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law and policy, shows that cities across the country, including in Kentucky, continue to take the lead in supporting LGBTQ people and workers — even in the face of renewed attacks this year on the LGBTQ community by federal and state officials.”
Mayor Fischer said Louisville’s HRC ranking is a boost to the city’s economic development efforts, given that inclusive cities are increasingly winning in the competition for residents, businesses and employees.
That message was emphasized in the HRC report, in which Richard Florida, Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, noted: “Cities that do not guarantee equal rights to LGBTQ people send a strong unwelcoming message to potential visitors, residents, and investors, stymying their potential for economic advancement. In short, many businesses and top talent consider LGBTQ discrimination a deal-breaker. Fully-inclusive laws draw in diverse residents, visitors, and enterprises, the ingredients of sustained economic growth. It pays to prioritize inclusion.”
HRC president Chad Griffin said this year’s MEI “again proves that there are no barriers to municipal LGBTQ equality for a city with dedicated, pro-equality city officials. … As we approach one of the most critical elections of our lifetimes, it is incumbent on all of us to make sure that we help elect more leaders across the nation who share this uncompromising commitment to equality for all.”
Mayor Fischer applauded all city workers and staff for their work in human rights, including Louisville Metro Police and the Metro Louisville Human Relations Commission, whose mission is to promote unity, understanding and equal opportunity among all people of Louisville Metro, and to eliminate all forms of bigotry, bias, and hatred from the community.
Chris Hartman, Fairness Campaign Executive Director, said the HRC ranking highlights Louisville’s exemplary leadership on LGBTQ inclusion, which “should serve as a model for other cities in our Commonwealth and across the nation.
“As we near the 20th anniversary of Louisville’s original Fairness Ordinance in January, we’re reminded that time and time again, our city has helped pave the way for LGBTQ rights–and we’re not stopping here,” Hartman said. “We’re grateful for the dedicated work of Mayor Greg Fischer and his staff, the Louisville Metro Council and Louisville Tourism to embrace, promote and protect our diverse LGBTQ community.”
Read the full MEI report at www.hrc.org/mei.
In honor of Digital Inclusion Week, a nationwide event to share efforts in local communities to promote digital inclusion and equity, Louisville Metro Government is highlighting efforts to expand access to the internet, technology devices and digital literacy training.
Digital Inclusion Week is celebrated nationwide to share efforts in local communities that promote digital inclusion and equity. Metro agencies will join with community partners in hosting events throughout the city, including two low-cost internet signup opportunities, the Verizon Innovative Initiative launch, free computer trainings, a digital inclusion workshop, a door-to-door outreach, and a computer donation drive.
“Internet access and literacy are essential for citizens to reach their full potential — to apply for jobs, to do their work and school assignments, complete entire college degree programs and more,” Mayor Greg Fischer said.
“The commitment of our city to expand digital inclusion shows in the efforts of our Office for Civic Innovation, our work to bring Google Fiber and to launch it in Portland and Newburg, and our collaborations with civic hackers to use technology to help citizens.”
Grace Simrall, the city’s Chief of Civic Innovation and Technology, added: “Our goal during Digital Inclusion Week is to highlight our city’s Digital Inclusion Strategy and the resources, knowledge and expertise that address the challenges we face.”
About 29 percent of Louisville households do not have a wired internet connection at home, and about 19 percent do not have a laptop or desktop at home, according to a 2016 American Community Survey data.
Learn more about Louisville Metro’s Digital Inclusion Plan
Louisville Digital Inclusion Week events
- Monday, Oct 8 – Launch of Digital Inclusion Week on social media. Join the conversation on social media by using #DIW2018 or “#Digital4AllLou” to call attention to the importance of digital inclusion.
- Tuesday, Oct. 9 – Verizon Innovative Learning Initiative launch. Mayor Fischer joins with JCPS to announce Verizon’s $5.1 million investment in technology, which will provide free tablets and data plans to students and teachers at five JCPS middle schools. Located at Newburg Middle School, 4901 Exeter Ave., 10:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 10 –
- Free Internet Basics training at Jeffersontown and Iroquois libraries, Microsoft Word 2 at the Main Library, andExcel (2016) Formulas & Functions 2 at the South Central Regional Library. All Louisville Free Public Library locations provide free computer and internet access, along with computer training classes, open to the public throughout the year. See full schedule.
- Low-cost internet outreach and sign-up event at the Main Library, 301 York St., 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Learn about and receive help signing up for low-cost internet plans in our community for qualifying households. Read more for eligibility.
- Thursday, Oct. 11 –
- Digital Inclusion Workshop at Neighborhood Place Annual Day, a day of training and team-building for more than 300 social services staff attendees. Held at the Crowne Plaza, 830 Phillips Lane, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
- Grow with Google train the trainer event for existing partners to build capacity to offer digital trainings to clients they serve.
- Friday, Oct. 12 – Door-to-door outreach in the Russell neighborhood as part of the city’s Building Our Blocks to inform residents about low-cost broadband options.
- Saturday, Oct. 13 –
- Laptop Donation Drive at Bon Air Library, 2816 Del Rio Place, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. to collect donations of used laptops (with power cords) which can be refurbished and distributed to residents in need.
- Low cost internet outreach and sign-up event for qualifying households at the Bon Air Library, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Read morefor eligibility.
To learn more about Digital Inclusion Week and Louisville Metro’s Digital Inclusion Strategy, visit http://digitalinclusion.louisvilleky.gov/
Due to high water on the Ohio River, the annual Mary M. Miller cruises from Riverview Park have been cancelled for Sunday October 7th. The vessel’s crew has advised that they will not be able to safely access the boarding site at the park given the expected water levels this weekend.
The cruises, sponsored by District 12 and District 14, have been rescheduled for Sunday, April 14th, 2019.
Those who made advanced reservations through the Southwest Community Ministries will be contacted about the cancellation. All advanced reservations will be honored for the rescheduled date. New reservations can be made by visiting Southwest Community Ministries during their regular business hours of 9 am to 3 pm on weekdays. Seats will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the cruise.
