Saturday November 8, 2025
Local Connection
Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
Subscribe
A Message from Kim Baker, President and CEO of The Kentucky Center:
On Wednesday, June 13, The Kentucky Center sustained considerable damage when a fire started within its arched ceiling above the lobby. All staff and employees were immediately evacuated and there were no reported injuries.
The Kentucky Center building – including the physical Box Office – and Kentucky Center garage remain closed at this time in an effort to expedite the repair process.
Tickets for scheduled programming are available online and by phone at (502) 584-7777.
- NEWSIES update! The Floyd Central Theatre Arts’ performances of Disney’s Newsies scheduled June 22-23 at The Kentucky Center have been moved to the Floyd Central Auditorium on Thursday, June 21 at 8pm, Friday, June 22 at 8pm and Saturday, June 23 at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at www.floydcentraltheatre.org or over the phone at (812) 542-2284. The Floyd Central Box Office will be open from 9am-9pm daily.
- ALADDIN update! Aladdin on sale Monday, 6.18.18-Due to the building closure, tickets for PNC Broadway in Louisville’s production of Aladdin can be purchased in person at the PNC Broadway in Louisville office, 620 West Main Street, as well as by phone at 502-584-7777 and online at www.kentuckycenter.org
Regarding the fire, the majority of damage appears to be from water and is primarily contained to the Main Lobby. Whitney Hall and the Bomhard Theater also sustained minor damage. We are still in the process of assessing the damage.
We are working diligently with crews to clear the damage, eliminate water from the building, and to reopen as soon as possible.
There were a handful of shows scheduled to take place in the venue in the coming days. We are thankful to a generous community outpouring of support and assistance from nearby facilities and venues (some of which have no connection to The Center) who have offered access to their spaces – and we are working closely with these groups to find alternative venues for them.
Many have asked about the condition of the Center’s permanent art collection, displayed throughout the building. Owned by The Kentucky Center Foundation, the value of the artwork in the affected area – the lobby – is estimated at $18 million. We are working with representatives from the Speed Art Museum to assess any potential damage and will report those findings when available.
This has obviously been a challenging time for our Kentucky Center family, friends, fellow arts groups and the entire community that loves this building.
I wish to thank the many men and women of the Louisville Metro Fire Department, emergency workers, and the Louisville Metro Police Department for ensuring the safety of everyone. I also want thank downtown workers and commuters for their patience as well.
We are doing everything in our power to get The Kentucky Center up and running again – and will issue an announcement soon when we expect that date to take place.
The PNC Broadway in Louisville production of WAITRESS is scheduled for June 26 through July 1. We are optimistic that – as they say – “the show will go on” – but will confirm 100% regarding that decision early next week.
Thank you for your support during this difficult time.
An employee of the White Castle restaurant at 2350 Greene Way has been diagnosed with acute hepatitis A.
Customers who ate at this White Castle from May 29, 2018 to June 8, 2018 may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus. While the risk of contracting hepatitis A from eating at this restaurant is low, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is issuing this advisory out of an abundance of caution. The hepatitis A outbreak remains centered among who use illegal drugs and the homeless.
When a food service worker is diagnosed with hepatitis A, he or she is immediately excluded from work and not allowed to return without release from his or her medical provider. Additionally, all employees at the establishment are vaccinated and disinfection and sanitation practices are followed. This White Castle scored 95-A and 100-A and on its last two health inspections.
Symptoms of hepatitis A are fatigue, decreased appetite, stomach pain, nausea, darkened urine, pale stools and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). People can become ill 15 to 50 days after being exposed to the virus. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by putting something in your mouth such as an object, food or drink, which has been in contact with the feces of an infected person. In November, the Kentucky Department for Public Health declared a statewide hepatitis A outbreak and has recommended that all residents be vaccinated. Since the outbreak began there have been 457 cases diagnosed in Louisville and more than 75,000 vaccinated.
“Food-borne transmission has not been a factor in this outbreak,” said Dr. Lori Caloia, medical director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. “The virus continues to be transmitted person-to-person, primarily among those who use illegal drugs and the homeless. We have had a small number of food workers diagnosed with hepatitis A and the restaurant industry throughout Louisville continues to get their workers immunized. More than 5,800 local food service employees have been vaccinated against hepatitis A.”
Reduced-cost vaccinations continue to be available to restaurant workers. Restaurant workers wishing to be vaccinated should contact their managers for details.
The best ways to prevent hepatitis A infection are to get vaccinated and to practice good handwashing. “Washing your hands thoroughly and often with warm water and soap, especially before preparing meals or eating, after using the bathroom or changing a diaper is a proven way to prevent the spread of diseases,” Dr. Caloia added. “Hand sanitizer is not as effective as hand washing against hepatitis A.”
For more information about hepatitis A visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness/hepatitis or call 211.
Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Councilmembers and officials from Louisville Parks and Recreation helped dedicate a new five-a-side soccer field at Beechmont Community Center in south Louisville today.
Funding for the new soccer field is the result of a partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation, a non-profit that supports Louisville Parks and Recreation, and Louisville City FC. The outdoor artificial turf field is the first of five planned for local parks in south Louisville.
“Soccer is a growing sport in our community. So when the opportunity presented itself to add this new amenity to parks, with the help of our friends at LouCity, we seized it!,” said Louisville Parks Foundation, CEO, Brooke Pardue. “We hope other individuals and organizations will see the value and help us complete our goal of building four more fields.”
“I’m grateful to Louisville City FC, which is creating a huge buzz around soccer right now in our city, for joining the Parks Foundation to help to create soccer fields in South Louisville where all residents, bound by a love for this sport, can come together,” Mayor Greg Fischer said.
“As our community and team continue to grow, LouCity makes this donation with the future in mind. The community’s youth will be an integral part of both our city and our support one day and we are excited to see this project come to fruition,” said Brad Estes, Executive Vice President of Louisville City FC.
Five-a-side soccer is a variation of soccer, where each team fields five players. Other differences include a smaller pitch, smaller goals and a reduced game duration. Matches are played on artificial grass pitches that may be enclosed within a barrier or “cage” to prevent the ball from leaving the playing area and keep the game flowing.
The $75,000 project was funded by the Louisville Parks Foundation and includes a turf donation from Louisville City FC valued at $45,000. The Louisville Parks Foundation is seeking to raise an additional $383,000 to complete the other four fields.
Anyone interested in donating to future fields should contact Brooke Pardue or visit lpfky.org.
Laughter is the best medicine, or so the saying goes! We’re thrilled to offer so many top-notch comics on stage at the historic Brown Theatre on Broadway. Tickets are on sale now. Follow the links below or call The Kentucky Center Ticket Service at (502) 584-7777.
- NICK SWARDSON: Too Many Smells Tour Friday, June 15 *Mature Content
- Eddie Griffin – Undeniable Tour Saturday, July 21 *Mature Content
- Miranda Sings Live…No Offense Starring Colleen Ballinger Saturday, July 28 *Rated PG-13 due to mild profanity
- David Cross: Oh Come On Thursday, August 9 *Mature Content
- The wellRED Comedy Tour: From Dixie with Love Saturday, September 8 *Mature Content
- Brian Regan Saturday, September 29 *All Ages
Locust Grove is pleased to welcome Kentucky Opera, the State Opera of Kentucky, to the Summer Thursday Concert Series at the historic site. This three-concert series brings the voices of Kentucky Opera to explore the history of Kentucky from its beginnings to the present date through song. Concerts will be held on Thursdays June 14, July 19, and August 30 at 6:30 pm. Each program will focus on a different theme, from traditional regional music, drinking songs, and opera favorites.
Music in the American Wild – Thursday, June 14, 6:30 pm
From the early farm beginnings in the 1790s, to the present day historic site, Kentucky Opera artists will explore the history of Locust Grove through the music of the region, featuring the evolution of spirituals, hymns, American art songs and opera. Featuring Kentucky Opera artists Christina Booker, David George, and Sankara Mitchell Harouna.
Cheers! Prost! À Votre Santé! – Thursday, July 19, 6:30 pm
Enjoy a toast…or several, with appropriate libations and your favorite opera drinking songs performed by Kentucky Opera artists. Come early to explore the distilling activities of early small-farm Kentucky with The Farm Distillery Project.
Locust Grove and Opera—A Musical Timeline – Thursday, August 30, 6:30 pm
Enjoy your opera favorites as explored through the history of Locust Grove. Settler William Croghan was calling Louisville home by 1784. That same year, Mozart became a Freemason in Austria, personally adapting ideals that not only influenced the American Founding Fathers, but would later embed themselves in his acclaimed opera, The Magic Flute. When The Magic Flute premiered a few years later in 1792, Italian opera legend Gioacchino Rossini was born in Italy, and back in Kentucky, William and Lucy Clark Croghan were building their home, Locust Grove. The Croghan family sold the land to riverboat captain James Paul in 1878, when productions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S Pinafore premiered in the states, inspiring great interest in light opera throughout the country. When the site was purchased by Jefferson County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky and subsequently restored and opened to the public in 1964, Kentucky Opera was producing Bizet’s Carmen, Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Verdi’s Rigoletto.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs for all concerts. Doors open at 6:00 pm; performance begins at 6:30 pm. Concessions will be available for sale. Tickets: $16/$14 for members.
The Military Vehicle Preservation Association International Convention brings together historic military vehicle enthusiasts from around the world. Many of the best vehicles of all types and eras including hundreds of restored and original vehicles, parts vendors, seminars and more.
The Convention is in the South Wing at the Kentucky Exposition Center. It starts this Thursday, June 14th, and continues through Saturday. The show opens at 8 AM each day and closes at 5 PM.
Tickets are $35 for all three days, or $10 for Saturday only. Children under the age of 12 and active duty military are free. Parking at the Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle or $20 per bus.
More information can be found online at: www.mvpa.org/convention
An employee of the Speedway located at 5400 Antle Dr. has been diagnosed with acute hepatitis A.
Only customers who ate prepared food products such as pizza, hot dogs, breakfast sandwiches at this Speedway from May 15, 2018 to May 31, 2018 may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus. Customers who purchased fuel or packaged goods are not at risk.
While the risk of contracting hepatitis A from eating at Speedway is low, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is issuing this advisory out of an abundance of caution. The hepatitis A outbreak remains centered among the homeless and those who use illegal drugs.
When a food service worker is diagnosed with hepatitis A, he or she is immediately excluded from work and not allowed to return without release from his or her medical provider. Additionally, all employees at the establishment are vaccinated and disinfection and sanitation practices are followed. This Speedway’s last two food service inspection scores were 98-A and 100-A.
Symptoms of hepatitis A are fatigue, decreased appetite, stomach pain, nausea, darkened urine, pale stools and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). People can become ill 15 to 50 days after being exposed to the virus. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by putting something in your mouth such as an object, food or drink, which has been in contact with the feces of an infected person. In November, the Kentucky Department for Public Health declared a statewide hepatitis A outbreak and has recommended that all residents be vaccinated. Since the outbreak began there have been 446 cases diagnosed in Louisville and almost 73,000 vaccinated. Of those, more than 5,700 are food workers.
“Food-borne transmission has not been a factor in this outbreak,” said Dr. Lori Caloia, medical director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. “The virus continues to be transmitted person-to-person, primarily among those who use illegal drugs and the homeless. We have had a very small number of food workers diagnosed with hepatitis A. We continue to encourage the restaurant industry to get their workers immunized.”
Reduced-cost vaccinations continue to be available to restaurant workers. Restaurant workers wishing to be vaccinated should contact their managers for details.
The best ways to prevent hepatitis A infection are to get vaccinated and to practice good handwashing. “Washing your hands thoroughly and often with warm water and soap, especially before preparing meals or eating, after using the bathroom or changing a diaper is a proven way to prevent the spread of diseases,” Dr. Caloia added. “Hand sanitizer is not as effective as hand washing against hepatitis A.”
For more information about hepatitis A visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness/hepatitis or call 211.
