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SubscribeThe three basketball courts at Wyandotte Park in south Louisville have been completely rebuilt thanks to a partnership between the city of Louisville, Nike and RCA recording artist Bryson Tiller.
The new courts debuted on Wednesday, June 7 with an appearance from Tiller at Wyandotte along with Mayor Greg Fischer.
Tiller and Nike teamed up on the construction of the courts at Wyandotte Park, located just east of the Watterson Expressway off Taylor Boulevard, less than a mile from Churchill Downs.
Tiller will perform at the Mercury Ballroom tonight at 7 p.m. and then return for an engagement at the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday, September 16.
“We couldn’t be more pleased that Nike and Louisville’s own Bryson Tiller have given us this spectacular new complex of courts at Wyandotte Park kids and families can enjoy,” Fischer said. “These are some of the best outdoor courts in the country. It’s going to be great to see them in use this summer.”
“It is exciting to know that Louisville is never far from Bryson Tiller’s mind,” said Councilwoman Marianne Butler, who represents Metro Council District 15, where Wyandotte Park is located. “We are so grateful to Nike and Mr. Tiller for the offer and the beautiful courts that we produce future Cardinals – and maybe some Cats – to go on and make a difference in the world. We hope they all learn from Mr. Tiller’s action – never forget where you came from and give back. Thank you!”
“I am so proud that we have a young man like Bryson from our community,” said Councilwoman Jessica Green, District 1, and a friend of Tiller’s. “He has taken the music industry by storm, and most importantly, he has not forgotten his Louisville roots. As the icing on the cake, he is just a wonderful and humble young man. I am so honored to know him. We are so appreciative to him and to Nike for these timely park improvements.”
The project at Wyandotte includes new expanded asphalt to increase the size of the original three-court configuration. After the asphalt was cured for three weeks, a modern rubberized surface was added, along with freshly-painted lines to re-establish court boundaries. New goal posts and fiberglass backboards were then added.
In the future, work at Wyandotte will include new lighting, tennis and pickleball courts.
Attorney General Andy Beshear announced he joined with attorneys general from Massachusetts and New York to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on the national onslaught of robocall messages and oppose ringless robocalls.
In the joint comment letter sent last week, Beshear, AG Healey and AG Schneiderman oppose a petition requesting ringless robocalls, which deliver voicemails to consumers without causing their phones to ring, be exempt from consumer protections under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
In the petition filed by All About the Message, ringless robocalls would be exempt from the protections arguing that they should not be considered “calls.”
The attorneys general contend that this exemption further opens the floodgates to more harassing calls and messages.
“Protecting Kentuckians from the constant barrage of unwanted scam and robocalls is an ongoing priority of my office,” said Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear. “We must strengthen the protections to our citizens, not clear the way for costly, unwanted calls.”
“Massachusetts residents already face a constant barrage of harassing, intrusive and unwanted robocalls,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. “Granting companies a free pass to push ringless voice messages to consumers’ phones just adds more robocalls and causes significant financial harm to those who are charged for checking their messages.
“New Yorkers are already the victims of countless unwanted phone solicitations,” said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “The federal government has a basic responsibility to protect American consumers. That certainly doesn’t mean making it even easier for companies to spam them costly, unsolicited, ringless robocalls.”
The purpose of the TCPA is to protect consumers from unwanted and intrusive calls. The FCC’s Robocall Strike Force reports that robocalls are the number one source of complaints it receives, with consumers receiving an estimated 2.4 billion robocalls per month in 2016.
The letter points out that these ringless robocalls prevent consumers from blocking unwanted messages with many of the latest call blocking apps for mobile phones. In addition, whether they ring or not, robocalls can impose significant costs on consumers, especially those with prepaid cell phones or limited minutes who are charged for checking their messages. Consumers with limited size voicemail boxes may miss important messages when their voicemail is clogged with unwanted messages.
More than 1,600 educators from across Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) will convene at the Kentucky Exposition Center over the next three days for the inaugural JCPS Deeper Learning Symposium—a powerful new summer conference led by educators and focused on innovative ideas in JCPS.
The JCPS Deeper Learning Symposium, held June 7-9, will feature nationally prominent keynote speakers as well as a number of JCPS teachers and educators as presenters. JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens will welcome attendees at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the South Hall. Dr. Marty Pollio will also help kick off the symposium as a featured presenter with a session on deeper learning in action in JCPS at 10 a.m. The sessions are open to members of the media.
The symposium will focus on the district’s vision to create personalized, deeper learning for every student and professional—a key goal of the Vision 2020 strategic plan. Deeper learning is grounded in helping students develop the social, emotional and intellectual knowledge, skills, capacities and dispositions to thrive in school and beyond by cultivating:
- Caring, constructive learning relationships;
- Meaningful, personalized, real-world learning experiences;
- And supportive, equity-focused learning environments.
Gov. Matt Bevin has made the following appointments to the School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council:
- Casey Michelle Gesenhues, Fort Thomas, represents teachers. Gesenhues is a teacher at Fort Thomas Independent Schools. She shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- Dale Allen McDowell, Maysville, represents principals. He is a principal for Lewis County Schools. McDowell shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- Steven Randall Evans, Danville, represents school district assessment coordinators. He is a school assessment coordinator for the Madison County Schools. Evans shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- Nathan Scott Bruins, Georgetown, represents exceptional education teachers or administrators. He is a teacher for Scott County Schools. Bruins shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- William Owens, Beattyville, represents local school board members. He is the chairman of the Lee County Board of Education. Owens shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Justin Kyle Mitchell, Bowling Green, represents gifted and talented teachers or administrators. He is a teacher for Simpson County Schools. Mitchell shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Terry Lee Sullivan, Boaz, represents career and technical programs. He is the principal of the Fulton County Area Technology Center. Sullivan shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Kelly D. Bradley, Lexington, represents higher education members with expertise in assessment. She is a professor in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. Bradley shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Valerie O’Rear, Fisherville, represents private sector representatives with workforce experience. She is an entrepreneur and health care professional. O’Rear shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019;
- Thomas Salyer, Paintsville, represents superintendents. He is the superintendent for Johnson County Schools. Salyer shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019;
- Tracey Lynn Cusick, Union, represents parents. She is engaged in community and education organizations. Cusick shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019;
- Jennifer Putnam, Lancaster, represents science, math, and technology teachers. She is a teacher in the Garrard County School System. Putnam shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019;
- Shad Michael Sletto, Ft. Mitchell, represents the Education Professional Standards Board. He is a representative of workforce as a director at EGC Construction Corporation. Sletto shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
Attorney General Andy Beshear is requesting that the U.S. Department of Education stop delaying student loan forgiveness for thousands of Kentucky students victimized by the predatory practices of Corinthian Colleges Inc.
Beshear said nearly 2,000 Kentucky students, and 24,000 students nationwide, have already been approved for loan forgiveness but are experiencing delays.
“As attorney general, my mission is to protect Kentucky families from consumer fraud, especially the deception by for-profit colleges like Corinthian,” Beshear said. “Thousands of Kentucky students have been promised debt relief from fraudulent Corinthian loans, and we must do everything in our power to help them escape from this financial burden.”
In a June 5 letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Beshear, joined by 17 states’ and the District of Columbia’s attorneys general, to urge the Department of Education to review the mounting loan forgiveness applications and work quickly to finalize the applications.
The for-profit Corinthian Colleges abruptly ceased operations in 2015, after the federal government and state attorneys general found that Corinthian Colleges engaged in widespread consumer fraud by falsifying its job placement rate between 2010 and 2014.
In Kentucky, Corinthian Colleges targeted Kentuckians under the name Everest College and Everest University, offering online classes. Corinthian also marketed its WyoTech program in Kentucky attempting to recruit Kentuckians to its WyoTech campuses in Pennsylvania and Florida.
In April 2017, Beshear’s office sent a letter to eligible Kentucky students, who fell within the U.S. Department of Education’s findings of fraud concerning Corinthian, explaining that they were eligible for streamlined federal student loan cancellation.
Beshear said because of the delays some students are nearing the end of 12-month forbearances on their loans, and face restarting monthly payments on debts that should be canceled.
Beshear’s office is committed to holding for-profit colleges accountable in Kentucky and is working to help defrauded students.
On April 24, 2017, Beshear joined with other state attorneys general to send a letter to federal officials expressing concern over the withdrawal of critical student loan servicing reforms.
In December 2016, Beshear announced nearly 3,500 former students of Daymar College’s Kentucky campuses and online programs will receive restitution checks totaling $1.2 million. The payments are pursuant to a settlement agreement the Office of the Attorney General entered into with Daymar in 2015 resolving a consumer protection lawsuit.
In August 2016, Beshear announced that the Kentucky Court of Appeals had affirmed a previous order by Franklin Circuit Court requiring National College of Kentucky Inc. and its attorneys to pay the state a combined $157,000 in civil monetary sanctions. The Kentucky Supreme Court declined to take up National College’s request to overturn the appeals’ court decision. National College has asked the Supreme Court to review the decision.
In March 2016, Beshear joined seven other state attorneys general in asking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to restore educational and vocational benefits to thousands of veterans victimized by Corinthian Colleges Inc. for predatory practices. Kentucky veterans are among the 2,000 students receiving letters from Beshear regarding their federal loans.
Additionally, Beshear warns Kentucky college students to not fall for companies promising loan debt relief services for a large fee and the student’s personal information.
Beshear said his office of Consumer Protection is currently investigating several of these companies, and is asking students who have been a victim to contact his office by phone, 502-696-5300, or by completing a complaint form online.
Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge (D-3)is sponsoring the Bringing Unity in the Community Festival along with Community Outreach Service to unify the community through tragic times by hosting a two‐day family oriented outdoor festival right in the heart of the West End; the Algonquin Community.
“If there ever was a time for unity in our community, it’s now. Together, we need people to show support for each other, join hands and let everyone know we want a safe place for our children and our families,” says Woolridge. “This is a good first step.”
Algonquin Park will serve as the location to bring people together on June 9th and 10th to participate in this special festival. Headlining, “Bringing Unity in the Community” is Louisville’s own national recording artists Linkin’ Bridge!
Algonquin Park will become a center point of entertainment, entrepreneurs, health fair booths, and will include major efforts in job opportunities, and expungement exposure throughout the two‐day festival
Partnering with the Councilwoman is Community Outreach Service, a non‐profit organization designed to serve the people.
The festival will feature local vendors as a way of boosting the local economy with services ranging from food to crafts and boutiques to highlight small businesses.
The festival begins at 12:00pm on Friday June 9th, with live entertainment from hand‐selected artists that have been chosen based on their unique sound and character. Booths and entertainment will be open on Friday from 12:00pm until 7:00pm and on Saturday from 10:00am to 7:00pm.
Local dance teams, comedians, musicians, bands and more will take center stage to provide entertainment, with over 20 acts over the two‐day span. Job and career seekers will be able to apply for positions on the spot at the job fair during the festival. The “Bringing Unity in the Community” Festival will be a fun‐filled, empowering festival to unify culture and diversity in the West End!
“I want to invite everyone in West Louisville to come to Algonquin Park, meet your neighbors and see what we all have in common as a community,” says Woolridge. “We need each other and we can help each other.”
Councilwoman Mary Woolridge has invited the mayor and we are looking forward to having Mayor Greg Fisher join us.
Please join us in Bringing Unity in the Community!
For more information, contact Councilwoman Woolridge’s Office at 574-1103.
The Kentucky Center Free Summer Concert Series: A concert series of diverse musical acts taking place on the front steps of The Kentucky Center (501 West Main Street) each Tuesday evening during the month of June.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 @ 5-7 p.m. – Appalatin
- Appalatin’s foot-stomping, hip-swinging sound organically unite Appalachian folk and high-energy Latin music. The name, Appalatin, reflects the unexpected meeting in Louisville of Kentucky-raised musicians and masterful Latin émigrés from Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Their all-acoustic performances of traditional strings of guitar, mandolin, upright bass and charango, indigenous Andean flutes, hand percussion, harmonica and vocal harmonies have brought joy and happiness to listeners of all ages. https://www.appalatin.com/
Tuesday, June 13, 2017 @ 5-7 p.m. – Small Time Napoleon
- Small Time Napoleon is the combination of new ideas and old sounds. Their interest in the jazz standards of the swing-era shine through in their voices, writing and playing, while their ear for new sounds and ideas constantly drives them forward. The product of this pairing is what Kyle Ware of Insider Louisville has called “A mad science blend of western swing, hot jazz and folk,” which is “already starting to gel into something wholly singular.” http://www.smalltimenapoleon.com/
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 @ 5-7 p.m. – Hot Brown Smackdown
- Hot Brown Smackdown is a bluegrass fueled, funk steered, rock influenced, semi-acoustic party sextet. Energetic and soulful, they skillfully bridge the gap between jamgrass and genres beyond, deploying textured bluegrass polyphony and infectious rhythms to keep you moving all night. http://hotbrownsmackdown.com/
Tuesday, June 27, 2017 @ 5-7 p.m. – The Misty Mountain String Band
- Drawing influence from old-time music, Americana, bluegrass and songs of labor and protest, Misty Mountain String Band doesn’t stray far from their upbringings in Kentucky and West Virginia. Formed as a pickup group for an old-time camp revival, MMSB has evolved into a professional band that’s as at home playing with the Louisville Orchestra as at bluegrass festivals with Americana favorites. The group connects with fans of folk music around the world, sharing unique string band music written for today, but informed by tradition. http://www.themistymountainstringband.com/
Be sure to visit The Kentucky Center and enjoy live music, beverages and dinner from the area’s best food trucks. The Kentucky Center Free Summer Concert Series is part of the Cultural Pass, in addition to several other events taking place at The Kentucky Center, including the Family Film Night on the Belvedere and the Young Person’s Guide to Local Music. To learn more about the 2017 Cultural Pass visit here.
Note: In the event of rain, event is cancelled. Please monitor The Kentucky Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and kentuckycenter.org for updates.
