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SubscribeJefferson Circuit Court Judge Olu Stevens has been ordered by Kentucky’s Chief Justice to appear before the state’s Judicial Conduct Commission.
The order came after Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr received a request to have Stevens removed from all criminal cases. The request was denied, but Stevens was found to have violated an agreement with Attorney Tom Wine.
In November of 2014, Stevens dismissed a jury that was all-white in a trial of a black defendant. He agreed with the defense attorney that this would not be a fair trial. Prosecuting attorney, Tom Wine, asked the Kentucky Supreme Court for a legal opinion on a judge’s power to dismiss a jury based on race. Stevens took to social media to voice his disapproval of the move.
In December 2014, Stevens and Wine met in mediation and agreed not to discuss the issue on social media. Stevens failed to comply with the mediation agreement by again taking to social media with comments indirectly aimed at Wine and the pending case.
Ordinance Will Take Effect June 1, 2016 After Signed By Mayor
By a vote of 20 to 6, The Louisville Metro Council has approved a new set of regulations to permit the growing online industry of short-term rentals within Metro Louisville. Hosting platforms such as Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and FlipKey are used by a growing number of homeowners seeking to rent out anything from an extra room to an entire house.
The short-term rental ordinance passed after the work of the Council’s Public Safety Committee. Members began to review the need for regulation after Metro Codes and Regulations cited residents for renting their homes. At the time, there were no regulations to enforce.
The new ordinance will regulate this growing internet industry and offer a level playing field and fairness to other businesses that are established rental facilities and hotels in the city.
“As Chair of the Public Safety Committee I am proud we took our time and due diligence to ensure transparency and consideration of both the public’s and businesses’ views on this issue. We have a good piece of legislation that seeks to balance both interests while promoting safety and ensuring accountability,” says Councilman David Yates (D-25).
Council Members Bill Hollander (D-9), Tom Owen (D-8), and David James (D-6) sponsored the Ordinance
“The ordinance allows this growing industry to operate in Louisville, levels the playing field with hotels and motels on transient occupancy taxes and protects neighborhoods by limiting the number of occupants and other provisions,” said Hollander,
The new ordinance will not take effect until June 1, 2016 to allow those who participate in short-term rentals to register with the city and educate themselves on the responsibilities of both hosts and transient users. Another ordinance currently being drafted by the Planning Commission will address which zoning districts Short Term Rentals will be permitted to operate.
Both ordinances are required to permit Short Term Rental operation. The Planning Commission will forward their drafted ordinance to the Metro Council’s Ad Hoc Land Development Code Committee to be further discussed. The Metro Council is seeking action on the companion ordinance before theJune 1, 2016 enactment date.
“This ordinance represents a good first step in the right direction. Short term rentals are an industry that will only continue to grow and we need to embrace it as a mechanism to show off some of our fantastic neighborhoods,” says Councilman James Peden (R-23), Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee..
“We’ve passed a reasonable regulation of a brand new industry which until now was not recognized as a full participant in the hospitality industry,” said Owen.
“It is important that we understand the trends in this new internet economy and at the same time we have to maintain protection of those industries that have been a productive part of our local economy. I believe this ordinance is a step in the right direction,” said James
Here are highlights of the ordinance:
- $25 Annual Registration Fee.
- Online Registration will be made available by June 1, 2016.
- Enforcement of Ordinance will occur 90 days following June 1, 2016.
- Registered host or host’s “manager” must be located within 25 miles of the Short Term Rental.
- Clearly marked evacuation plan on all premises.
- No more than one contract on a short-term rental at the same time.
- No more transient users than 2x the amount of bedrooms plus 4 can reside in the short-term rental at one time.
- Penalties:
- 1st Offense = Warning
- 2nd Offense = $100-$500
- 3rd Offense = $500-$1,000
- Further action can be taken for subsequent offenses including a civil complaint or injunctive relief in Jefferson County, Kentucky Circuit Court.
Councilman Yates thanked fellow Public Safety Committee members and stated, “I am very proud of the many important topics we discussed this year on the Public Safety Committee, including: the Public Nuisance Ordinance, LMPD body cameras, Pop-Up Party Ordinance, the Short Term Rental Ordinance and the creation of the Syringe Exchange. I am looking forward to another successful year in 2016.”
The ordinance is on its way to Mayor Greg Fischer for his signature.
Louisville – The Metro Council’s Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will receive an update on the syringe exchange program operated by the Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness on Thursday December 3rd.
Members will hear from the Interim Director of the department, Dr. Sarah Moyer. She will discuss how the program has operated since it began in June.
“As part of the approval for the syringe exchange, the Metro Council promised the community we would closely follow the effectiveness of the program. As Chair of both Public Safety and Intergovernmental Affairs, I wish to ensure any legislation enacted by the Council is helping to build a stronger and safer community. It is important we get accurate facts about how the program has been operating and further discuss with Dr. Moyer how to strengthen the exchange in the future,” says Councilman David Yates (D-25).
Louisville was the first city in Kentucky to move forward with a syringe exchange program after approval by the 2015 Kentucky General Assembly.
The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will meet at 3:00pm in Council Chambers, 601 West Jefferson Street.
All Council meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Time Warner Cable Channel 25. For UVERSE Subscribers, the meeting airs on Channel 99. You can also watch the meetings online by going to the Metro Council home page at http://louisvilleky.gov/
Louisville has received $1.5 million in federal funding for a project to improve conditions in downtown Louisville for pedestrians and people with disabilities, among others, Mayor Greg Fischer and Gov. Steve Beshear announced today.
When the work is completed, sidewalks in the project area – South Fourth Street between West Chestnut and Broadway – will be repaired or rebuilt to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and to encourage pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Current conditions, including deteriorated pavers, have significantly limited ADA mobility.
“South Fourth Street is a valued asset to our downtown economic development,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “Our goal is to attract people living, working, shopping and dining in downtown Louisville and this investment from the state helps to make that continual mission possible.”
The funding announced today will build upon the $1.5 million in Metro funds already spent on enhancements along South Fourth Street between Muhammad Ali Blvd and Chestnut St., as well as Gutherie St. and complement the $100 million in private sector investment currently being made in the area.
“Projects such as these enhance a community’s transportation choices and therefore enhance the quality of life for citizens of the community,” Gov. Beshear said. “This award furthers the City of Louisville’s larger plan for making it easier for pedestrians to get around downtown.”
The project area is near a number of non-profit agencies – the Salvation Army, Volunteers of America, KentuckianaWorks and the Housing Partnership – that work with the disabled, veterans, the elderly, the poor and minorities.
Other work is to include enlarged tree wells, restriping of pavement on Fourth Street, and there will be parking on both sides of the street.
The funding is through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), a reimbursement program administered by the Office of Local Programs in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Rural and Municipal Aid.
TAP assists communities in funding transportation improvements such as safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities, scenic routes, beautification, and other investments. Projects may be a mix of elements and accessible to the general public or targeted to a broad segment of the general public.
Early payoff means employers will see a reduction of $105 per employee
FRANKFORT, Ky. – For the first time since January 2009, Kentucky’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund has a positive balance and is on the path to solvency.
Gov. Steve Beshear today joined lawmakers and business leaders to announce the Commonwealth has paid off the $972 million federal loan needed to meet unemployment insurance benefit obligations during the Great Recession at least two years ahead of schedule.
Maintaining a positive balance ensures Kentucky employers will save approximately $165 million in federal UI taxes.
“Throughout my time in office, I have partnered with lawmakers and business leaders to grow Kentucky’s economy and to manage us through the worst recession of our lifetime,” Gov. Beshear said. “I appreciate and thank their continued commitment to work with us on the unemployment insurance issue these last six years so we could honor our commitments to working families. This partnership allowed us to reach this point today of early payoff of the federal loan and to ensure the solvency of our UI Trust Fund for the future.”
Gov. Beshear said today’s announcement is another tangible example of the state’s ongoing economic progress. Last month, the Governor placed an $82.5 million budget surplus into the “rainy day fund,” increasing the fund balance to $209.4 million.
At the height of the recession in June 2009, Kentucky’s unemployment rate hit a high of 10.9 percent. Since that time, Kentucky has seen a steady improvement in the economy – especially the job market.
The state has experienced a decline in the unemployment rate and an increase in the number of Kentuckians at work. Kentucky’s latest unemployment rate in June 2015 dipped to 5.1 percent, the lowest it has been since June 2001. Covered employment, which includes workers covered by state UI laws, has increased by 36,700.
A positive balance in the UI Trust Fund on Nov. 10, 2015, will ensure Kentucky employers will not be subject to the additional credit reduction rate of 1.5 percent when they file their federal unemployment taxes in January 2016.
The early payoff means employers will see a reduction of $105 per employee. Continue reading
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed by an LMPD officer over the weekend as 35 year old Deng Manyoun.
Manyoun, who apparently fit the description of a suspect who had just assaulted a woman, is shown on surveillance video walking unsteadily down the sidewalk when the LMPD unit pulls on scene and the officer exits his vehicle. In the video (below), the officer appears to remain calm although Manyoun seems to be aggressively and act agitated before walking out of frame and returning with a metal flag pole, which he begins swinging at the officer. As he was being attacked, the officer fired his service weapon at the pole-wielding suspect, injuring him. Manyoun later died at University Hospital as a result of his wounds.
Despite video evidence to the contrary, several so-called eye witnesses were reported as having claimed that Manyoun was unarmed and did not attack the officer or that the officer behaved aggressively and had his hand on his sidearm as soon as he exited the vehicle.
LMPD Chief Steve Conrad defended the officer’s actions, stating that it was an act of self defense. Conrad also said that he did not believe that Manyoun could not speak or understand English. Continue reading
Richard “Chad” Downs has not been seen since leaving his workplace – Assured Auto Care – in Jeffersontown in early February.
His wife, Michelle Downs, has been frantically searching for her husband for nearly a month and a half but her efforts, as well as those of the community and law enforcement, have come up empty thus far.
A Facebook page has been created to aid in the search for Chad and his green 1997 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a tan stripe on the side, Kentucky license plate 737TAR.
Mr. Downs, 38, is 5’8″ tall, 260 lbs with blue eyes and blond hair. He has multiple tattoos of skulls on his arms/shoulders and “Michelle” on his right calf, with a burn mark on his left forearm.
Anyone with information should call Louisville Metro Police Department at (502) 574-LMPD to reference case# 80-15-009860 or National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) MP# 27823 or private investigator Dan Washington at (502) 722-8181.
