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Guests can create a customized Kentucky State Fair experience next month by downloading a new software program for mobile devices. The app is designed to connect users to all the unique events and attractions that make the Kentucky State Fair unforgettable.
The 2018 Kentucky State Fair mobile app is now available free on both Google Play and the App Store.
Highlighted features include:
- Attractions: check out which entertainers are on stage and what animals are in the stalls
- Trending: see what’s popular at the Fair
- Schedule: create daily schedules of must-see music and entertainment
- News & FAQ: get weather, parking and breaking news updates
- Maps: find locations of exhibitors, attractions and food
Advance tickets and parking for the Kentucky State Fair are available and can be purchased online via the app through 10 p.m. Aug. 15, as well as at participating Kroger locations.
Ticket prices are:
- General (Ages 6+); Children under 5 are free with adult
- In advance: $7
- Online During Fair: $8
- At The Gate: $10
- Parking
- In advance: $5
- Online During Fair: $8
- At The Gate: $10
The 2018 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 16-26 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or its blog.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $3.4 million to prevent and end homelessness among young people in Louisville, Kentucky. HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), supports a wide range of housing interventions including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and host homes.
HUD’s is awarding $3.45 million to the Coalition for the Homeless, Inc which successfully and innovatively addressed homelessness through specific initiatives targeting homeless subpopulations especially youth leveraging city and community support in housing, education, employment and other supportive services.
“Young people who are victims of abuse, family conflict, or aging out of foster care are especially vulnerable to homelessness,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “We’re working with our local partners to support innovative new approaches to help young people find stable housing, break the cycle of homelessness and lead them on a path to self-sufficiency.”
“One of the things we learned last year in our city’s very successful 100-Day Challenge to house homeless youth is that to really meet these young citizens’ needs, we have to understand each of them as individuals, where they’ve come from, what they’ve been through and what challenges they’re facing,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “We also saw that with greater resources, we could, with partners like the Coalition for the Homeless, do even more. And that’s what makes today’s announcement so exciting – it will allow us to house more young people, and get them on the path to a healthy, stable and productive life.”
“The youth and young adults of our community are our future, but they are also our present. As a community, we must help them succeed through housing, education, employment and other supports,” said Natalie Harris, the Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless.” By working together, Louisville was able to meet the challenge of reducing the number of homeless youth and young adults by half. This award will help us reach the final goal of housing any homeless youth in our community and providing them with the resources to succeed.”
“This is an important new investment in our common cause…to confront and ultimately eliminate youth homelessness here in Louisville, Kentucky,” said HUD SE Deputy Regional Adminstrator
Christopher Taylor. “More importantly, we come together today to make a common statement about this vexing problem of youth homelessness. We cannot…we must not…accept young people living on our streets and in our shelters.
To ensure the Youth Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Program meets the needs of young people, HUD relied upon the recommendations of young people who experienced homelessness themselves. Many of these same young people participated in reviewing the applications of communities seeking YHDP funds. Their input helped ensure that the communities selected for funding understand the needs and preferences of the young people they will serve. HUD also worked closely with its federal partners at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Education (DOE), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) to help develop the program and review applications.
HUD selected 11 communities nationwide which will collaborate with a broad array of partners including a youth action board and the local or state public child welfare agency. These communities now have four months to develop and submit to HUD a coordinated community plan to prevent and end youth homelessness. They will also participate in a program evaluation to inform the federal effort to prevent and end youth homelessness going forward and will serve as leaders in the nation on the work to end homelessness among young people.
YHDP recipients will use funding for rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing, and to fund innovative programs, such as host homes. Recipients can begin requesting funding for specific projects as soon as they are ready. YHDP will also support youth-focused performance measurement and coordinated entry systems. Over the next several months, selected communities will work with their youth advisory boards, child welfare agencies, and other community partners to create a comprehensive community plan to end youth homelessness.
The two leaders who most recently guided the Kentucky State Fair Board agree its future is in good hands with new President and CEO David Beck.
Beck officially began his new role at Kentucky Venues on July 1.
Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Don Parkinson, and Chairman of the Kentucky State Fair Board, Dr. Mark Lynn, who recently served separate terms as interim CEO at Kentucky Venues, predict David Beck will be the most consequential leader in the organization’s history.
“David successfully led a large organization, involved in major state and national legislative regulatory issues, affecting agriculture and rural Kentucky,” said Secretary Parkinson. “He brings a wealth of business expertise to the sixth largest convention operation in the nation.”
Kentucky Venues operates the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC), the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) and produces the Kentucky State Fair, National Farm Machinery Show and North American International Livestock Exposition.
“The blend of leadership capability, knowledge of Kentucky and ability to unite diverse industries set David apart in his role as CEO,” said Dr. Lynn.
Beck sees tremendous opportunities at Kentucky Venues. Beck will preside over grand reopening of KICC on August 6. The downtown Louisville convention center has been closed for 24 months to allow $207 million worth of building renovations to be completed.
Beck says the 540 acre complex at the Kentucky Exposition Center is an ideal location for additional private development such as hotels and entertainment venues.
“KEC sits at the corner of Interstates 65 and 264. That is some of the most valuable property in Kentucky. We are asking private companies to give us ideas on how we can collaborate with them to enhance that area for our citizens and guests to our state. I’m excited about developing something special there.”
Beck said other priorities in his new job include bringing together the urban and rural communities and forming strategic partnerships across the state.
“I want Kentucky Venues to serve as an example of how government entities can operate effectively and efficiently,” said Beck.
Additionally, Beck is reimagining facility use at both properties. Beck plans to increase revenue through new business events and agriculture shows.
“I not only want to preserve the rich tradition of our properties but also enhance it for future Kentuckians and guests,” said Beck.
After 41 years with Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB), Beck brings to Kentucky Venues experience in agribusiness, government affairs, and executive management. Prior to his retirement at KFB, he served as the company’s Executive Vice President. A five-member search committee was appointed in January by Kentucky State Fair Board Chairman Dr. Mark Lynn to review applications for the president/CEO position that had been vacant since September 2017.
Visit www.kyvenues.com for more information about spaces and events at Kentucky Venues.
Due to the recent fire at The Kentucky Center, Dan & Phil World Tour 2018: Interactive Introverts, previously scheduled for Whitney Hall, has been moved to Iroquois Amphitheater. The event will still be held on August 2nd at 8 pm.
Ticket holders were carefully reassigned into comparable reserved seating at Iroquois Amphitheater. The Kentucky Center box office is sending new tickets to those patrons per their original delivery method. Anyone who purchased tickets in-person will receive their new tickets by mail.
The Kentucky Center remains the OFFICIAL ticket service for this event and open seats for the event at Iroquois Amphitheater are now on sale. Tickets are available online and by phone (584-7777).
A fundraiser for Breslin Park, hosted by the Louisville Parks Foundation and Home Skateshop, will take place at Headliners Music Hall on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go towards improvements to the park, including a new skateboarding element and shade structure.
The all-ages show will feature Miracle Drug, The Hot Wires, Adventure, Comforter and Legs Akimbo with DJ’s Sam Sneed and Matt Anthony and Sean Cannon as emcee. Custom artwork, tee shirts and stickers designed by local pop artist, Matthew McDole, will be available for purchase. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at headlinerslouisville.com, Headliners Box Office, Home Skateshop, Guest Room Records, or at the door the night of the show. All tickets bought in person, will come with a free Matthew McDole Breslin sticker.
Funding for the project is the result of a partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation, a non-profit that supports Louisville Parks and Recreation, Home Skateshop, Councilman Bill Hollander and individual donors.
Anyone interested in donating to the Breslin skate spot should visit lpfky.org.
The Louisville Metro Animal Services Animal Care Facility is operating near maximum capacity so LMAS has waived adoption fees for all adoptable pets the month of July, to make sure there is room for incoming stray animals.
“We put an end to euthanizing animals because there wasn’t enough space for them in 2017.” said Ozzy Gibson, LMAS Shelter Director. “But that’s a real possibility the longer the shelter operates near, or at max capacity.”
The city’s only open intake shelter took in more than 7,500 homeless pets last year, and for the first time ever no animals were euthanized to make room for incoming stray animals.
“We’re asking the public to help us remain a shelter that doesn’t euthanize simply because it’s out of room by adopting one of our homeless cats or dogs,” said Gibson.
The waived adoption fees will be paid for by the non-profit, Friends of Metro Animal Services (FOMAS) and the Pay It Forward Program, a donation based initiative launched in 2017.
Adoption fees are waived, but not the adoption process. Potential adopters must complete an application and be approved.
All adoptable shelter pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped and up-to-date on vaccinations. Each adoption also includes a 1-year, renewable pet license, which is required by law for Jefferson County pet owners.
Animal House Adoption Center (3516 Newburg rd.) is open Tuesday-Sunday 12-6pm and Fridays until 7pm.
The shelter (3705 Manslick rd.) is open Monday-Friday 12-6pm and Saturdays 11-2pm.
FOMAS is accepting donation to keep the Pay It Forward Program going. Those who cannot adopt can make a donation at Animal House, the shelter or online.
To make a donation to FOMAS, click here.
The 2018 Kentucky Legislature passed a three-foot bicycle passing law sponsored by Rep. Jerry Miller that will take effect July 14, 2018.
The law requires vehicles passing a bicycle to use the adjacent lane if available. If an adjacent lane is not available, then the passing vehicle should pass to the left at a distance not less than three feet between the vehicle and the bicycle. If the bicycle is in a bicycle lane, the passing vehicle should still be at least three feet from the bicycle.
Distance is measured from the outmost portion of the vehicle to the outmost portion of the bicycle. A pickup truck with wide view mirrors would require a space of three feet from the mirrors to the end of the bicycle handlebar.
If the roadway, the distance from the edge of the pavement to the other side of the pavement, is too narrow to give three feet clearance, then the passing vehicle should use reasonable caution. Typically this will occur on one-lane roads less than 10 to 12 feet wide.
The new law also allows passing vehicles to legally cross a double yellow line to pass a bicycle – if there is enough sight distance to safely pass, considering the slower speed of the bicycle and greater visibility around the bicycle.
Thirty-four states have similar safe passing laws to use the adjacent lane or give three feet or more.
Like all states, Kentucky law also requires cyclists to follow the basic rules of the road. Like any operator of a vehicle, a bicyclist must ride with traffic, obey traffic laws and stop at stop signs and red lights.
When following the rules of the road, a cyclist has the same right-of-way as any car, truck or bus driver.
However, state law requires a bicycle to operate as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. While the word “practicable” is undefined, there are many exceptions cited when it would be unreasonable or unsafe to ride on the right side of the lane – for example, to avoid parked cars, surface hazards, or moving vehicles.
Cyclists are also permitted to ride two abreast, meaning side-by-side, in the same lane.
Cyclists must also use a white light on the front of the bike and a red reflector or red light in the rear between sunset and sunrise or whenever the weather makes lights necessary.
Laws related to bicycles are in Kentucky Administrative Regulations, KAR 14:020. The three foot law is at KRS 189.300 amended.
For more information on Kentucky bicycle laws, visit http://bikewalk.ky.gov/ , contact Troy Hearn, Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, (502) 782-5060, troy.hearn@ky.gov, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, Phone: (502) 564-1438, highwaysafety@ky.gov or Dixie Moore, dixiemoore1501@gmail.com