Thursday January 29, 2026
Local Connection
Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
Subscribe
Metro Councilmembers Bill Hollander (D-9) and Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) applauded the bipartisan 20 to 3 vote approving a Louisville Metro Public Tree Ordinance. When the ordinance is signed by the Mayor, Louisville Metro will finally join other jurisdictions that have had a tree protection ordinance for years.
Adoption of such an ordinance was the very first of 41 recommendations in the 2015 Louisville Urban Tree Canopy Assessment. It was also recommended by the Louisville Metro Tree Advisory Commission, after a lengthy review of ordinances in dozens of other cities, including several in Kentucky.
Councilmembers Hollander and Hamilton introduced the ordinance last December and had multiple meetings with citizens and other interested parties about it. The final version approved tonight reflected changes which Hollander and Hamilton said improved the proposal.
“Adoption of a Public Tree Ordinance has been recommended in Louisville for decades, most recently as part of the tree canopy and urban heat island studies,” Councilman Hollander said. “Since it was filed in December, we have met with many citizens and interested parties and had numerous public meetings. Many concerns and questions have been addressed. The ordinance will help focus attention on the loss of tree canopy in Louisville, protect the trees we have, and reduce the possibility of more losses. It recognizes that trees are important to quality of life and to our health”.
“Our community needs more trees, desperately. Studies have shown that it makes a difference and it will reduce the temperature in the City,” said Councilwoman Hamilton. “We need to do a better job of getting people to connect the dots between our environment and our health and this ordinance will help. The no-net-loss provision for trees in the right-of-way is a really important provision of the ordinance.”
The proposed ordinance covers “public trees”, which includes trees located on Metro Government owned or controlled land or in public rights-of-way controlled by Louisville Metro, except for parks and parkways under the jurisdiction of Louisville Metro Parks.
It consolidates Louisville’s tree efforts into the Metro Division of Community Forestry, to provide oversight and comprehensive coordination for tree and forestation issues. A new, broadly-representative Louisville Metro Tree Advisory Committee — appointed by the Mayor and approved by Metro Council — would make recommendations about those efforts.
The ordinance also establishes policies and standards for public trees, clarifying and replacing the provisions of several existing ordinances. For example, routine pruning of public trees is allowed without a permit, while the current ordinance requires a permit for any trimming.
Currently required tree removal permits for trees in the rights-of-way would be conditioned on replacement of the public tree, unless a waiver is granted. Trees removed by Louisville Metro are also required to be replaced. Those provisions effectively create a no-net-loss policy for public trees.
The ordinance also creates a Community Forestry Escrow Fund, to help defray the cost of mandated tree removal and planting of rights-of-way trees by abutting property owners with demonstrated financial need. The fund would receive appropriations from Metro Government and private contributions. Trees Louisville, a non-profit working on improving the tree canopy in Louisville, has agreed to contribute to the fund.
Hollander and Hamilton noted that the ordinance is just part of the effort to increase Louisville Metro’s tree canopy. Metro Council has also made changes in the Land Development Code which protect trees in proposed Conservation Subdivisions. Other changes in the Land Development Code are also under consideration and will be pursued through the Planning Commission, as state law requires.
Thoughts of snow and ice may be far from the minds of Kentuckians with warm temperatures hovering over the state, but the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is sounding the battle cry “Winter is Coming” to alert motorists to prepare for the impending wintery conditions. The KYTC stands ready to tackle the elements with sharpened plow blades, stocked salt supplies and trained maintenance crews.
“Snow and ice season is upon us,” said KYTC Secretary Greg Thomas. “Transportation crews are prepared to serve the public over the next few months by responding to winter weather events that may affect travel. We encourage Kentucky motorists to be equally prepared.”
With a strategy reminiscent of combat, nearly 2,000 professional “snowfighters” and support staff have been briefed and trained on best practices for snow and ice removal in an effort to keep motorists moving on Kentucky roadways. A statewide brigade of trucks and plows stands ready, and a strike force of eight plows is positioned for district deployment from the state capital during major winter weather events.
“Our mission for snow and ice removal is to keep traffic moving safely with an emphasis on maintaining mobility along critical corridors and priority routes,” said Patty Dunaway, state highway engineer. “Our teams will strive to provide a uniform response statewide to achieve safe driving conditions on roadways while considering environmental and economic factors to steward taxpayer money responsibly.”
During routine snow and ice occurrences, KYTC will operate using snow and ice priority route maps. In 2016, the Cabinet updated snow and ice removal policies for operational efficiency and cost effectiveness. While many aspects of the policy remain the same, treatment turnaround time adjustments were made to allow crews to focus on removing snow and ice from interstates and other priority routes. These adjustments improve statewide mobility, help alleviate potential safety challenges and curb increased costs caused by weather conditions that lead to inoperable equipment or ineffective treatment.
Launched last winter, the Cabinet’s snow and ice information website, snowky.ky.gov, provides details about priority routes, helpful winter weather tips, fact sheets and videos on salt application and snow removal.
For severe winter storm events, the Cabinet has established a snow emergency plan similar to state emergency plans for other major weather events (e.g., floods, hurricanes and earthquakes). The snow emergency plan will allow available resources within each county to be diverted as needed to ensure optimal mobility for the highest priority routes that lead to critical locations, such as medical facilities. Emergency priority route maps for severe snow and ice events are accessible at goky.ky.gov.
Featured this season
Goky.ky.gov communicates additional information to Kentucky travelers, detailing KYTC’s snow and ice removal response, including treatment and plowing of roadways. Visitors to GoKY can access the latest information about what’s happening in their local counties.
Thousands of men and women serve on the frontlines and behind the scenes of the Cabinet’s snow and ice removal efforts. Throughout the season, the KYTC will be highlighting select district snowfighters on Facebook and Twitter and sharing their sage advice on how to stay safe on the roads.
A new strike force of retrofit snow plows housed in Frankfort was available last year for statewide deployment as needed during winter weather emergencies. Reserved for high priority routes to ensure interstates remain open, the strike force is again in place this winter.
Inventory of materials and equipment
Winter-ready, the Cabinet is stocked to capacity with a supply of 481,000 tons of salt, 1 million gallons of salt brine for anti-icing and 1 million gallons of calcium chloride, an additive to salt for deicing.
The Cabinet is equipped with approximately 980 deployable trucks and plows among the 125 snow and ice maintenance locations. Another 431 contracted trucks are available to assist in snow and ice operations.
Maintenance crews have prepared rosters and schedules, calibrated salting equipment, prepped plows, reviewed plowing strategies and completed safety training.
The Cabinet will continue to manage equipment, salt supplies and other snow-fighting materials efficiently. Using reverse auction procurement on new salt contracts for this winter, KYTC has reduced the cost of salt purchases by as much as $20 per ton in districts throughout the state. Districts will continue to look for opportunities to shift resources for sharing with other districts as needed, focusing on the statewide team goal of serving all Kentucky citizens.
Public preparation
KYTC encourages motorists to prepare for winter and remain safe by following these tips:
- Pay attention to weather advisories. Weather will impact your commute on some level.
- Travel only as necessary during major snow events. It’s better to be stuck at home than to be stuck on the road.
- Maintain a safe distance from snowplows and other heavy highway equipment.
- Do not pass snowplows on the shoulder.
- Allow time for a slower commute.
- Winterize vehicles.
- Stock vehicles with blankets, flash light and an emergency supply kit.
- Know before you go. Visit goky.ky.gov and download the free Waze app to check traffic conditions before you travel.
- Eliminate distractions (e.g. using phone and eating) while driving.
- Cooperate with the expectations of the Quick Clearance law, which requires drivers to move vehicles to the shoulder in the event of a non-injury crash.
Photo: Kentucky Cabinet For Economic Development
Appriss Inc., which provides data and analytics services to help clients address safety, fraud, risk and compliance issues, will expand its Kentucky presence by 200 jobs, investing $11.3 million as it relocates its headquarters within Jefferson County, Gov. Matt Bevin announced recently.
“Appriss is a leading employer in Kentucky whose innovative technology serves the law enforcement, justice, security and healthcare communities,” Gov. Bevin said. “Its expansion and relocation will provide greater growth opportunities in the years ahead. We look forward to watching the new Appriss building go from conception to completion. We are grateful to have Appriss thriving in Kentucky and thank its leaders for their continued commitment to Jefferson County and for their latest creation of excellent new jobs.”
Appriss will consolidate services from two Louisville-area locations and relocate by mid-2018 to a Jeffersontown office building at 9901 Linn Station Road, which ResCare Inc. announced earlier this year it would vacate. Going forward, the facility will be known as the Appriss Building. The company’s developer plans a new fitness area, conference center and outdoor lounge, as well as new entrances and signage.
“We believe our employees are some of the most talented in the area,” said Michael Davis, CEO of Appriss. “They are focused on our work that keeps victims safe, helps law enforcement catch the bad guys and supports our health providers as they fight the opioid crisis.”
“We are excited to design and build out 105,000 square feet of space that will be transformational in how more than 400 of our local team members work,” said Jeff Byal, chief financial officer for Appriss. “We are making a significant investment in technology, facility buildout and office furniture, as well as meeting and collaboration areas to align to how our teams work locally and with our other offices.”
Appriss has maintained its headquartered in Louisville since it was established in 1994 as the VINE company. Appriss uses data and analytics to address safety and compliance concerns for clients across an array of government and commercial enterprises in 25 countries, with a focus on retail, healthcare and public safety. The company currently employs 670 people in Louisville, Southern California, the UK and Poland. The new Louisville jobs are projected to pay an average hourly wage of nearly $40.
Sen. Julie Raque Adams, of Louisville, noted the company’s strong track record and the impact this announcement will have on the local workforce.
“I am pleased to hear of Appriss Inc.’s newest investment right here in Louisville, which will create new jobs and opportunities for our ever-growing Kentucky workforce,” Sen. Adams said. “As a company that has been established in the commonwealth for over 20 years, I know Appriss Inc. will continue to have great success in Kentucky and beyond.”
Rep. Phil Moffett, of Louisville, noted the state’s recent emphasis on economic growth.
“Since Republicans took control of the House nearly a year ago, economic development has been the number one priority of the House Republican Majority,” Rep. Moffett said. “I am elated about the $11.3 million investment and 200 additional good-paying jobs that Appriss plans to establish in Louisville. We want entrepreneurs and business owners around America to know that Kentucky is open for business.”
Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf said officials took extra steps to ensure Appriss remained in the community.
“The announcement of the Appriss retention/expansion project in Jeffersontown could not come at a more perfect and thankful time of year. Through our local Jeffersontown Occupation Business Saving (JOBS) Program inducement, we were able to add an extra incentive toward the corporate consolidation for jobs currently in the commonwealth, but not yet in Jeffersontown, in addition to the organic growth the company expects,” Mayor Dieruf said. “We appreciate all involved in this initiative, including the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Louisville Metro that were able to also partner with Appriss and enable the City of Jeffersontown to add our JOBS Program to the incentive mix. City council and I welcome all the new Appriss corporate employees to what will be the ‘Appriss Building’ at 9901 Linn Station Road, and thank those that have been with us since the company began.”
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer welcomed the project.
“It’s an exciting day when a local business announces it is growing its high-wage jobs and expanding its services here in Louisville,” Mayor Fischer said. “Appriss’ expansion allows us to apply innovative healthcare and public safety-focused solutions at a local level. I applaud its founders and its employees, and I look forward to seeing its continued growth.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in October preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $3 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
Appriss also can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal year 2017, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for more than 120,000 Kentuckians and 5,700 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
Retired Brig. Gen. Nolen Bivens will present the plenary session at the Kentucky Arts Council’s fourth annual Kentucky Creative Industry Summit, Dec. 5 in Morehead.
Bivens presentation, titled “Building an Arts and Military Community, Health & Wellness Ecosystem,” will focus on national efforts to promote opportunities for artists, arts organizations and communities interested in supporting the well-being of military service members, veterans and their families.
Bivens, a 32-year United States Army veteran and former chief of staff for the U.S. Southern Command, is the founder and president of Leader Six, a company that provides management and operational support for business, government and nonprofit organizations. In the past decade, Leader Six has been a key proponent in promoting arts in health and military healing for ill, injured and wounded military service members and their families. In addition to his role at Leader Six, Bivens is the Senior Policy Fellow for Arts and Military for Americans for the Arts.
“The arts promote communication between military service members, veterans, their families and caregivers, allowing each one of them to accept and share the unique story of their military service with each other and with the community at large through the visual and literary arts, performance, dance and music,” Bivens said. “The arts also build resiliency across the military continuum, teaching skills to process grief and loss, to work through moral conflict, and to reduce stress.”
An ardent advocate for strong arts and military community engagements from grassroots to the national level, Bivens has testified before Congress and led congressional briefings on arts and military health on behalf of the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military, a collaborative effort led by Americans for the Arts. Bivens regularly consults with the arts community, utilizing his unique understanding of operational perspectives of commanders, enlisted noncommissioned officers and family members, along with the cultural sensitivities of the veteran population, to promote connections and help develop new arts programming for military and veteran communities.
Among the successful examples of collaboration between arts communities and the military are the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Oklahoma Arts and Military Initiative, a partnership involving Oklahoma’s Department of Veterans Affairs and the Firehouse Art Center in Norman, Okla. This collaboration piloted a series of eight- to 12-week hands-on learning courses, including photography, creative writing and visual arts.
Another successful collaboration Bivens points to is the Tennessee Shakespeare Company’s initiative bringing together service veterans with theater professionals using William Shakespeare’s plays to address combat-related traumatic and reintegration issues.
Bivens is just one of several arts leaders on the Summit agenda. Morehead State University art instructor and gallery director Jennifer Reis will give presentations on branding and marketing and using social media. The Summit will also include panel discussions on the arts council’s “Homegrown Handmade” initiative that has integrated artists into farmers markets in two Kentucky counties, as well as a conversation with educators, artists and workforce development specialists on preparing youth to be a part of the creative industry workforce using arts and technology.
The Kentucky Creative Industry Summit is 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at the Morehead Conference Center, 111 E. First St. in Morehead. For more information or to register, visit the arts council website.
The Judicial Nominating Commission, led by Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr., announced nominees to fill an upcoming vacancy in Jefferson Family Court.
The three nominees for the Family Court judgeship are attorneys Brendan Russell Daugherty of Louisville, Bryan Daniel Gatewood of Fisherville and Lauren Adams Ogden of Louisville.
Daugherty has his own law practice in which he handles civil and criminal cases. He has also handled family law cases involving dependency, neglect and abuse in Jefferson Family Court. He previously served as an associate attorney at Boehl Stopher & Graves and as a staff attorney in the Louisville Metro Public Defender’s Office. He received his juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law.
Gatewood is a solo practitioner who handles civil cases, including family law cases. He has served as a guardian ad litem in Jefferson Family Court for approximately 17 years. He received his juris doctor from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.
Ogden is a partner in the law firm of Ogden & Ogden, where she primarily handles family law cases. She is a licensed family law mediator and has served as a guardian ad litem. She received her juris doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School.
The Family Court judicial seat will become vacant when Judge Dolly W. Berry retires Jan. 2, 2018. Jefferson County is the 30th Judicial Circuit and the vacancy will be in the circuit’s 4th Division.
WWE’s Smackdown Live is back in the Commonwealth for another round on Tuesday night. For the first time in nearly six years, a live televised WWE event will be held at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
“It’s great to have WWE back in Kentucky for another live televised show,” said Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Commission (KBWC) Chairman Chad Miller. “More shows translate to more dollars for local economies, and the Commission is thrilled that our efforts are paying off for our wrestling fans, athletes, local businesses, and the combat sports industry in Kentucky.”
Since 2016, the Commission has repealed nearly 40 percent of the state’s combat sports regulations as part of Gov. Bevin’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative. The “cut rule,” repealed as part of the initiative, required an athlete to leave a match if he or she bled. The regulation prevented live televised matches from being held in Kentucky. Since the repeal, WWE has hosted several shows in Kentucky, including a Smackdown Live show earlier this year at the KFC Yum! Center.
“There is no doubt that the growth we are seeing in combat sports is directly tied to a transparent and fair regulatory environment,” added Miller. “The Commission continues to look for ways to promote efficiency while also ensuring athlete safety. Athletes can now apply for licenses online, and the Commission has streamlined and repealed approximately 55 percent of the forms an athlete could be required to complete for licensure. We believe that all of these measures will further a strong combat sports industry in Kentucky.”
As of Oct. 26, Governor Bevin’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative is responsible for repealing 188 regulations and targeting an additional 341 regulations for repeal. Over 2,208 of Kentucky’s 4,700 regulations have been reviewed as part of the initiative. Visit http://redtapereduction.com/ to learn more.
The KBWC oversees all professional boxing, wrestling, and full contact competitive bouts and exhibitions in Kentucky. Learn more about the commission at http://kbwa.ky.gov.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Acting Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced the hiring of a director of school choice and diversity hiring specialist.
“JCPS will continue aggressively pursuing the goals outlined in Vision 2020, and these positions will allow us to strategically prepare and plan for the future,” Dr. Pollio said.
Cassiopia Blausey will join the district as the director of school choice. She will be responsible for supporting the Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) in its role as a charter school authorizer. Her role will also include providing administrative leadership, management, and implementation of district processes and procedures as they relate to charter school authorization.
Blausey is currently a policy advisor for the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Office of Continuous Improvement and Support. She is a former teacher in Nevada, assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Jefferson County, and research analyst for the state’s Office of Education and Accountability. Blausey is a graduate of Centre College and earned her master’s in education from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and legal degree from the University of Louisville.
Ashley Duncan will join the district as the diversity hiring specialist, providing support and guidance for minority recruitment and retention in the hiring of JCPS employees. She will collaborate with human resources, recruitment, principals, and hiring supervisors to ensure a fair, inclusive, and equitable hiring process. Duncan will implement practices designed to widen and diversify the pool of candidates considered for employment openings, including vacancies in upper-level management.
She joins JCPS from Transit Authority of River City (TARC). During her career at TARC, Duncan served as a director of diversity and inclusion, civil rights program manager, an equal employment opportunity manager, and ombudsman. She also serves the community through volunteerism, contributing to several local boards. Duncan is a JCPS graduate and earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Spalding University.
“We are proud to welcome our new team members, who appreciate the opportunity to build something special here at JCPS,” Dr. Pollio said. “Every day, we are focusing on improving culture and climate, increasing student learning, and providing organizational coherence. These two additions to our staff help move us even closer to our goals.”
Blausey and Duncan will begin their positions on January 2.