Rising costs without new revenue have already led to reduced Metro services, including fewer police officers, firefighters, library services and many more.  Pension costs will continue to rise in the coming years and a bipartisan group of Louisville’s leaders – and local governments across the state - have been asking Frankfort for help. 

We need Louisville citizens to get involved in this effort! Please contact your state legislators and ask them to support efforts for additional local government revenue options. 

Find your state senator and representative CLICK HERE and contact them by phone or email to ask them to work with local officials to find a solution that will pay the bills without crippling cuts in Metro services.

Report:

• where it happened
• describe the vehicle(s) involved
• include license plate number(s) if available
• upload pictures if available

For more information about illegal dumping, including a link to the reporting form visit our illegal dumping webpage.

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is offering free radon test kits while supplies last.  You can request a kit by calling 574-6650.

     Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste or see. It forms naturally when uranium, radium and thorium break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes in through cracks and gaps in homes and other buildings. Radon can cause lung cancer through prolonged exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

     The entire state of Kentucky is at high risk for radon exposure with about 40 percent of homes estimated to have unsafe levels. The only way to know if radon exists at dangerous levels in your home is to test for it.

     "Radon can exist at dangerous levels in homes in Louisville, but people may not know it because it’s a gas that you can’t smell or see,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and the city’s chief health strategist. “We encourage people to take advantage of the free test kits to test their homes for radon.”

     The lung cancer risk factors of tobacco smoke and radon are related. More radon-related lung cancers occur in individuals with a history of exposure to tobacco smoke. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins Jan. 6 and runs through March 31, or until available funds have been expended.

To apply, residents must schedule an appointment utilizing the automated appointment system. Beginning Dec. 30, 2019, appointments can be scheduled by phone by calling 502-991-8391 or online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com. The toll-free service is currently open and is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Individuals who require more information can contact Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or (502) 574-5000, email metro.311@louisvilleky.gov, visit the website’s On-line Customer Service at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro311, tweet @LouMetro311, or download the free Mobile 311 app from the website. Residents can also call Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 help referral service.

What is PAL?

Parents of Addicted Loved ones is a support group of parents helping parents. They meet every week on Sundays. Our primary goal is to provide hope through education and support, at no charge, for parents dealing with addicted loved ones.

• When: Sundays; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Where: St. Raphael the Archangel Church (2900 Bardstown Rd.) 
• For more information, please contact mmeeks13@bellsouth.net or (502) 609-0926. 

Are you or someone you know in need of services but don't know where to look?

LouieCONNECT.com  is a mobile optimized website that pulls together the services is our community that provide support for people experiencing a difficult time. It includes only those services that are free and provides all of the information needed to know what they offer, where they are located, when they are open, and any requirements to receive help.

AARP Tax-Aide, has a mission to serve any person who comes through the door, with special attention to those 60 and older. 

AARP sites in Louisville will open the first week of February at the following locations:

• Buechel Park Baptist Church, 2403 Hikes Lane
• Central Government Center, 7201 Outer Loop
• St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2822 Frankfort Ave.
• Iroquois Branch Library, 601 W Woodlawn Ave.
• Jeffersontown Senior Center, 10631 Watterson Trail 
• Lyndon Baptist Church, 8025 New LaGrange Rd.
• Middletown First Baptist Church, 11711 Main St.
• Portland Branch Library, 3305 Northwestern Parkway
• Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Hwy.
• Walnut Street Baptist Church 1143 South 3rd St.

For a full AARP schedule and listing, including sites in Southern Indiana and mobile sites, visit http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org or call (502) 394-3443.

To help preparers accurately determine EITC eligibility and prepare returns, individuals should bring: 

• Picture ID and Social Security cards for everyone listed on the return
• Copy of 2019 tax return with all attachments and schedules
• W-2s and 1099s from your employers
• Other 1099s for interest, dividends, state tax refund or other income
• 1095-A for health insurance
• 1098 for education credit, plus a detailed financial statement from the school
• Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit as well as savings account number (if applicable)
• Childcare information, including Provider ID and actual amounts paid
• Summarized list of other income/expenses for those who itemize or are self-employed
• Additional tax information that may be required

The Southwest Dream Team will host their second offering of the Future Dreamers Civic Leadership Academy this February. Future Dreamers is a 5-week leadership course that focuses on developing and highlighting emerging leaders who live, work, or learn in south and southwest Louisville. Our goal is to cultivate a network of lifelong advocates and ambassadors for the region, and act as a pipeline to fill leadership roles in the city with members and supporters of South Louisville.

The program will begin on February 19 and run for five consecutive Wednesdays, 5:30-8:00p. The schedule with topics is listed below. 

• February 19 - Understanding & Exploring Community Assets
• February 26 - Housing & Neighborhood Development
• March 4 - Local Economy & Future Development
• March 11 - Local Government
• March 18 - Great Stories of South Louisville

Eligibility:

• Open to all residents of the greater Louisville area, community leaders, business owners and their employees, students, homeowners, renters, and everyone in between.
• Must be able to attend 4 out of 5 sessions.

You will find more information and the application here: http://swdreamteam.org/futuredreamers/

Kentucky Kingdom has begun hiring for 1,400 seasonal positions, including lifeguards, ride operators and water park technicians with some ability in plumbing. Pay rates begin “above the minimum wage”. Some jobs are available for workers as young as 14. The park needs seasonal help in more than 20 departments, including kitchen staff, ride technicians, landscaping and warehousing.  Job applicants can get more information on the parks’ official website

Louisville Parks and Recreation annual golf passes are now on sale at the Joe Creason Park administration building (1297 Trevilian Way.)  A seven-day unlimited play pass, good for unlimited play including weekends and holidays after noon, is $500. A five-day pass, Monday-Friday only, is $350. Junior, team, and golf cart discount passes are also for sale through the golf desk at Creason, located in the parks administration building across from the Louisville Zoo. Those seeking a pass are required to fill out an application and to get a photo ID taken at the Creason golf desk. You can download the application here or fill it out in person. For more information, please call (502) 574-6454

With 6,600 acres, Jefferson Memorial Forest offers many opportunities for individuals and families to enjoy and explore the outdoors. The forest features more than 35 miles of marked hiking trails, fishing and primitive camping.

To learn more, please visit this link.

Junior Naturalist Program 

• Third Saturday of each month, January - April; 10:00 a.m. - noon

Beginning in January, Jefferson Memorial Forest will be launching a free Junior Naturalist Program for children ages 7-10. This 4-part series will take place on the 3rd Sat of the month from January through April. Each month’s program will have a different theme and will be filled with exciting adventures and hands-on activities. Participants will learn to explore, observe, and think like a naturalist! Those attending all 4 programs in the series will receive a special certificate and Junior Naturalist Toolkit packed with essential tools for outdoor exploration. FREE! Ages 7-10. A parent/legal guardian must accompany anyone under the age of 18. Call to preregister

89.3 WFPL News is hosting The Next Louisville: Civic Assembly, a community-driven virtual and in-person initiative designed to collectively explore the issues that matter most in Louisville.

Virtual Town Hall: From Feb. 10-21, WFPL will host an interactive online survey at wfpl.org/civicassembly to learn what Louisvillians believe should change in the city to make it a better place to live, work and spend time. The goals: to engage in civil conversation about civic issues, articulate areas of agreement and challenge assumptions about polarization. 

Community Conversations: The results of the Virtual Town Hall will be the basis for a series of in-person events to further explore ideas, challenges and solutions. Mark your calendar for Community Conversations at the following Louisville Free Public Library locations:

• Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m. • Northeast Regional
• Wednesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. • Southwest Regional
• Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. • Main Library, Centennial Room
• Wednesday, March 18 at 6 p.m. •  South Central Regional

Miracle League of Louisville is a baseball league and complex located in Fern Creek Park but serves all Louisville Metro Districts and Kentuckiana for children and adults with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities.The league had a very successful summer and fall season in 2019 and are now seeking volunteers for the upcoming 2020 spring baseball season!

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Buddy (each player in the league has their own Buddy who assists them on the field and in the dugout for each game)
• Coach
• Assistant coach
• Umpire
• Team mom
• General game day help

The spring baseball season games will be played on Saturdays from April 11 through June 13 with the exception of Derby Day and Memorial Day. The volunteer commitment will require a minimum of one hour, or longer if interested each week.  Church groups, athletic teams, corporate groups, civic groups, and school clubs are just a few examples of individuals that can come together to serve our community.  Volunteering as an individual or a group for The Miracle League of Louisville will build camaraderie and a sense of community involvement!

If interested in volunteer opportunities, or you have any questions regarding our upcoming baseball season please visit the Miracle League of Louisville website, or contact us at (502) 445-9430 at your earliest convenience. 

Compostable products like takeout containers, cups, plates, and forks may look and feel like plastic, but are made from plants such as corn or sugarcane. From a disposal point of view, these items are not as "eco-friendly" as they sound if you don't have a way to compost them in an industrial composting system. They won't break down easily (if at all) in a backyard compost pile, but if you try it, consider helping the process along by cutting the item into small pieces first. These products should NOT be placed in the recycling bin. If you don’t have a way to compost, into the garbage they must go. But, like their plastic counterparts, even compostable containers don't break down in any reasonable amount of time in a landfill. Remember, it’s best to REDUCE! Try to avoid single-use items, no matter what they're made from!

Under the ordinance, LMAS will maintain the Animal Abuse Registry, updating it at least once every 30 days. Anyone convicted of animal abuse outside of Jefferson County must register within 10 days of establishing residency. Failure to register or comply with the registry could result in a maximum 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

To view the Animal Abuse Registry and read the ordinance, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/animal-services