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Dear Neighbor and Friend,
Has anyone ever recommended to you that when life throws you lemons, you should make lemonade? Well, the truth of the matter is, it's not always easy to make lemonade. But, one thing's for sure, whether you suck on lemons or make lemonade, life goes on with or without you.
As we work together as a community to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, please continue to wash your hands, practice social distancing, wear a mask, and think of ways to beat cabin fever. Life goes on!
Actually, things are happening around us, so I'm using this space to give you an overview of what's going on at our State Capitol.
The worldwide pandemic prompted the legislature, an institution steeped in tradition, to make changes to usual procedures. Lawmakers went from considering drafts of a two-year state budget to instead passing an austere one-year spending plan, an acknowledgment of the difficulties of making long-term revenue projections amid the economic turmoil of a pandemic. COVID-19 relief bills were quickly drafted and acted upon during the latter part the session.
Efforts to promote social distancing left the marble corridors of the 109-year-old Capitol quieter than usual for a budget session. Broadcast coverage of the session was expanded after the general public was restricted from visiting the Capitol. House members were allowed to cast votes while not in the chamber. Ultimately, the legislators gaveled into session for only 53 days -- seven days less than allowed by the Kentucky Constitution.
The $11.3 billion executive branch budget, however, will keep steady the basic per-pupil funding for Kentucky schools and support safety measures envisioned when lawmakers approved a major school safety bill last year. The spending plan, contained in House Bill 352, also provides the full actuarial-recommended level of funding for state public pension systems.
A COVID-19 relief measure, contained in Senate Bill 150, will loosen requirements for unemployment benefits and extend help to self-employed workers and others who would otherwise not be eligible.
It will also expand telemedicine options by allowing out-of-state providers to accept Kentucky patients, provide immunity for health care workers who render care or treatment in good faith during the current state of emergency, extend the state’s income tax filing deadline to July 15, address open meeting laws by allowing meetings to take place utilizing live audio or live video teleconferencing, and require the governor to declare in writing the date that the state of emergency ends.
Additional bills that the General Assembly approved include measures on the following topics:
Alcohol: House Bill 415 will allow distillers, wineries and breweries to be licensed to ship directly to consumers -- in and out of Kentucky. The bill imposes shipping limits of 10 liters of distilled spirits, 10 cases of wine and 10 cases of malt beverages per month. Packages of alcohol will have to be clearly labeled and be signed for by someone 21 or older. HB 415 will also prohibit shipping to dry territories, communities where alcohol sales are prohibited by local laws.
Elections: Senate Bill 2, dubbed the voter photo ID bill, will require voters to present photographic identification at the polls, starting in the general election in November. If a voter does not have a photo ID, they will be able to show another form of ID and affirm, under the penalty of perjury, that they are qualified to vote. The bill also allows poll workers to vouch for a voter they personally know even if that person has no valid ID. Another provision of SB 2 will provide a free state-issued ID card for individuals who are at least 18 and do not have a valid driver’s license. It currently costs $30 for that ID.
Human rights: House Bill 2 will require a national anti-human trafficking hotline number to be advertised in airports, truck stops, train stations and bus stations. Posters with the hotline number are currently required in rest areas. The bill also closes a loophole in the state sex offender registry by adding specific human trafficking offenses to the definition of a sex crime.
Senate Bill 72 will ban female genital mutilation, often referred to as FGM, in Kentucky. The bill will also make performing FGMs on minors a felony, ban trafficking of girls across state lines for FGMs and strip the licenses of medical providers convicted of the practice. The World Health Organization classifies FGM, a procedure that intentionally alters or causes injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, a human rights violation.
Jurors: Senate Bill 132 will add people with state-issued personal identification cards to the pool of potential jurors in the county where they live. Currently, the pool draws from driver’s license lists, tax rolls and voter registration lists.
Lt. Governor: House Bill 336 will let gubernatorial candidates select their running mate for lieutenant governor before the second Tuesday in August instead of during the spring primary campaign.
Pensions: House Bill 484 separates the administration of the County Employees’ Retirement System (CERS) from the Kentucky Retirement Systems’ board of trustees. CERS accounts for 76 percent of the pension assets KRS manages and makes up 64 percent of the KRS membership -- but controls only 35 percent of the seats on the KRS board.
REAL ID: House Bill 453 will allow the transportation cabinet to establish regional offices for issuing driver’s licenses and personal identification cards. It also requires a mobile unit to visit every county multiple times per year to issue such credentials. It will ensure Kentucky complies with the federal REAL ID ACT enacted on the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation.
School safety: Senate Bill 8 will require school resource officers (SROs) to be armed with a gun. The measure also clarifies various other provisions of the School Safety and Resiliency Act concerning SROs and mental health professionals in schools.
Sex offenders: House Bill 204 will prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a publicly leased playground. Sex offenders must already follow these standards for publicly owned parks.
Students’ wellbeing: Senate Bill 42 will require student IDs for middle school, high school and college students to list contacts for national crisis hotlines specializing in domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide.
Taxes: Senate Bill 5 will require library boards, and other so-called special-purpose governmental entities, to get approval from a county fiscal court or city council before increasing taxes.
Terms of constitutional offices. House Bill 405 proposes a constitutional amendment that would increase the term of office for commonwealth's attorneys from six years to eight years beginning in 2030 and increase the term of office for district judges from four years to eight years beginning in 2022. It would also increase the experience requirement to be a district judge from two years to eight years. The proposal is seen as a way to align terms of service among elected judicial officials so judicial redistricting could be more easily achieved in future sessions. And redistricting is seen as a way to balance uneven caseloads among courts without creating expensive new judgeships.
The proposed constitutional amendment will be decided on by voters this November.
Tobacco: Senate Bill 56 will raise the age to purchase tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, to 21 from 18. The move will bring Kentucky’s statute in line with a new federal law raising the age to 21. The bill will remove status offenses for youth who purchase, use or possess tobacco, often called PUP laws, and will shift penalties to retailers who fail to follow the increased age restriction.
Veterans: House Bill 24 will support plans to build a veterans nursing home in Bowling Green. The legislation appropriates $2.5 million needed to complete design and preconstruction work for the 90-bed facility. That must be completed before federal funding is allocated to start construction on the proposed $30 million facility.
Remember, Robert Frost said, “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”
(P. S. I am about 85% recovered from double pneumonia and COVID-19. I'm still quarantined, but am progressing nicely. I appreciate you, and THANK YOU for the thoughts and well wishes!)
Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, and Earth Day 20 occurs on Wednesday, April 22—the holiday's 50th anniversary. The holiday is now a global celebration that’s sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green living. The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson and inspired by the protests of the 1960s, Earth Day began as a “national teach-in on the environment” and was held on April 22 to maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses. By raising public awareness of pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight.
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April 22nd and EVERY DAY!
1. Be a Vegetarian for a day
2. Compost Food Waste
3. Ditch Plastic Straws
4. Don't Idle in Your Car
5. Install Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
6. Recylce
7. Start a Garden
8. Shop Eco-Friendly Household Products
9. Stop Drinking Out of Plastic Water Bottles
10. Turn Off and Unplug Lights, Appliances and Televisions
The Effects of Littering During COVID-19
Litter is always bad...but now it's worse! Gloves and masks all over streets and parking lots!
There’s a noticeable difference in the type of trash currently littering our streets and parking lots. It’s not just plastic bags, convenience food packaging, and cigarette butts – it’s latex gloves, masks, and wipes. These items are being used to protect people from possible COVID-19 contamination, but when they’re not disposed of properly there is a risk of spreading the virus. Proper trash disposal is even more important due to this possibility.
According to Keep America Beautiful, this is happening all over the country. As with any type of trash you generate, it is your duty as a responsible citizen to dispose of it properly. Help keep Louisville’s streets and parking lots clean by not littering. There are typically trash receptacles in front of stores or even in their parking lots. And if not, keep a bag inside your vehicle to place the items in and then put in your trash container at home. This goes for all the other trash too!
Metro Public Works Director said, "Another factor to consider is the safety of waste collection workers. Our people are in the front lines every day, making sure the essential work of keeping the city clean is getting done; we ask that you consider their safety. Now more than ever, proper trash disposal is of utter most importance. Be our partner and please be responsible with your trash!"
Why is the Coronavirus Disease Being Called COVID-19?
On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”.
There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, caused be a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. The name of this disease was selected following the World Health Organization (WHO) best practices for naming of new human infectious diseases.
A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease. Pandemics happen when a new virus emerges to infect people and can spread between people sustainably. Because there is little to no pre-existing immunity against the new virus, it spreads worldwide.
 Source: CDC’s "Updated Preparedness and Response Framework for Influenza Pandemics."
The virus that causes COVID-19 is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-person. On March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the WHOexternal icon.
This is the first pandemic known to be caused by a new coronavirus. In the past century, there have been four pandemics caused by the emergence of new influenza viruses. As a result, most research and guidance around pandemics is specific to influenza, but the same premises can be applied to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemics of respiratory disease follow a certain progression outlined in a “Pandemic Intervals Framework.” Pandemics begin with an investigation phase, followed by recognition, initiation, and acceleration phases. The peak of illnesses occurs at the end of the acceleration phase, which is followed by a deceleration phase, during which there is a decrease in illnesses. Different countries can be in different phases of the pandemic at any point in time and different parts of the same country can also be in different phases of a pandemic.
Related: Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Global Map
As the community continues to be challenged by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, Mayor Greg Fischer has lauded the many, many compassionate people who have opened up their wallets to help their neighbors.
After less than a week, the One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund has collected $5.6 million to help to people and organizations impacted by the unprecedented economic shutdown taking place.
The One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund is designed to help people and community organizations meet immediate physical and operational needs, such as food, transportation, educational services, and more.
The fund is a community partnership that includes Metro Government, business leaders like UPS, Humana and GLI, and philanthropic partners like the James Graham Brown Foundation, Metro United Way, and the Community Foundation of Louisville.
Individual Assistance
To apply for individual assistance, call Metro311 or (502) 574-5000, or visit: www.louisvilleky.gov/neighborhoodplace
Grants for community-based organizations
For information on grants to community-based organizations, go to:
www.louisvilleky.gov/government/city/one-louisville-covid-19-response-fund
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The U.S. Census will help determine Louisville's future for the next 10 year — representation in government, the allocation of federal resources affecting communities and families, education funding, and much more.
Mayor Greg Fischer and the Louisville Municipal Complete Count Committee are working to help ensure a complete and proper count of all Louisville residents, and are seeking the community's help in getting out the word. The official Census 2020 date is April 1. Invitations to complete are arriving now and residents are encoureged to respond to the 2020 Census and be counted! Learn more.
Want to see how many of your neighbors have completed the census? If so, click here: site. To date, 53.5% of Jefferson County residents have completed the census. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is at 50.4% completion rate. While Louisville's numbers are slightly better than the entire state, we can do better!
https://louisvilleky.gov/census
The Census is here – Timeline
- March 12-20 – An invitation to respond online to the 2020 Census.
- March 16-24 – A reminder letter.
- March 26-April 3 – A reminder postcard. (if you haven’t responded yet)
- April 8-16 – A reminder letter and a paper questionnaire.
- April 20-27 – A final reminder postcard before the Census follows up in person.
Where are people counted?
- Count people at their usual residence, which is the place where they live and sleep most of the time.
- People in certain types of group facilities on Census Day are counted at the group facility.
- People who do not have a usual residence, or who cannot determine a usual residence, are counted where they are on Census Day.
Census Job Opportunities
As a reminder, another challenge we are facing is fulfilling jobs at the Census National Processing Center and Field Operations. Attached are our flyers that explain the job opportunities. Please keep sharing this information through your social media, websites, newsletters etc. More information is below:
- To apply at NPC go to USAJobs.gov Search keyword: PNC Location: Jeffersonville
- Field Operations apply at Census.gov/jobs Hiring process may take 30-60days.
If you wish to see other information in a different language click on the link below.
https://www.census.gov/library/fact-sheets.html
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 The Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center staff is working with employers looking for talent due to surges experienced with COVID-19. Our team is working with Kentucky’s Workforce and Education Cabinet and Career Centers across the state to identify talent currently experiencing job loss due to COVID-19.
• Who’s hiring in Kentucky (PDF)
• Fill out this form if your company is hiring
 With schools closed, Junior Achievement is providing free online resources to families and teachers. We are doing this so our kids can spend more time planning for and dreaming about tomorrow, and less time worrying about today. Junior Achievement is ready to support families and teachers during this period of uncertainty.
The resources are online, ready-to-use, include everything needed and are offered for all grade levels. Students can do the lessons on their own, with a parent or guardian, or with their teacher. Access Junior Achievement’s free resources HERE.
Check back often as Junior Achievement continues to add resources.
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Check out this article in Recycling Today featuring campaign results from Louisville's participation in the Foodservice Packaging Institute's Community Partnership program. If you haven't already, try out the What Goes Where search tool on the Recycle Coach app! Get the free app at the App Store or on Google Play.
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Meals on Wheels
Volunteering for Meals on Wheels is another great way to make a huge impact in a short amount of time. By delivering meals you bring nutritious food and a friendly visit to eight to 10 seniors and people with disabilities in your community.
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Anyone can deliver meals, and it’s a great volunteer opportunity for families and teams of employees, as well. Sign up HERE and find out how easy and rewarding it is to bring nutrition and independence to your neighbors! |
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Kerry Magro
@kerry-magro
Kerry Magro is an award-winning professional speaker, best-selling author, autism advocate and consultant who is on the autism spectrum. A recent Masters graduate from Seton Hall University, he currently is CEO and Founder of KFM Making a Difference, a non-profit corporation focused on disability advocacy and housing. In 2012, Kerry consulted for the major motion picture “Joyful Noise” starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.
You can follow Kerry at www.kerrymagro.com, via Facebook at Facebook.com/Kerrymagro and/or on Twitter @Kerrymagro.
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In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to share with you some things we, as people with autism, hope you take from April.
Here are 10 things people with autism wish you knew:
1. Not all people with autism are the same. If you’ve met one individual with autism, you’ve met one individual with autism.
2. We’re not all are math geniuses (i.e., “Rain Man”).
3. Being unable to speak doesn’t mean you can’t communicate. About 25 percent of people with autism today are nonverbal, yet they can be highly intelligent (like best-selling author Carly Fleischmann).
4. As much as you spread awareness for autism, we also want you to spread autism education. We want to be accepted for who we are and not seen as a label.
5. “Normal” is really only a dryer setting. Most of us are unique and that originality is a beautiful thing in our community that should be acknowledged.
6. People with autism are smart and talented. It may not be noticeable all the time, but all of our minds work in different and beautiful ways.
7. To those on the “high-functioning” end of the spectrum, please don’t say things like, “I could never imagine you having autism” to us. Autism is a spectrum disorder.
8. Kids with autism will become adults with autism. As much as we’d love to emphasize children on the news, we want you to know that autism is a lifelong disorder. We don’t want to be forgotten when we become adults, because we don’t grow out of autism.
9. If you see me in a public setting and I’m me rubbing my hands together or leaning back and forth, please don’t look at me like something is wrong. I ask for empathy in these situations as doing these things make me feel more comfortable.
10. Autism can’t define us. We define autism. This is the truth for everyone on this planet, actually. No one thing should be able to define us as people — we define ourselves. I’ve never wanted to be known by a label. More than anything, I want people to see me as Kerry.
So this April, realize that people with autism are here for a purpose. We all are meant to shine in this world. I hope we are given the opportunities to progress and live the best lives possible.
Just like anyone else.
 For the week of Sunday April 5th to Saturday April 11th
Theft from Automobile - There were a total of fifteen thefts from autos, which was a decrease from the previous week (20). Two were unlocked, six were by force and seven were by unknown means. Please remember to lock your vehicles and take your valuables out of your car. See attached maps for more detail.
Auto Theft - There were five reported auto thefts for the week which was an increase from the previous week (2). In two the keys were used after being stolen during a burglary, two were by unknown means and one was unfounded. See attached maps for more detail.
Burglary - There were seven reported burglaries this reporting period which was an increase from the previous week (1). There were five residential and two business burglaries. Entry was made by the following: Force was used in four, two were by unknown means and one was unlocked. See attached maps for more details.
There was one reported Homicide during the reporting period.
On 4/11/2020 at 6:24am in the 1500 block of Bardstown Road the victim was found deceased as a result of being shot. The Homicide Unit is investigating.
There were four reported Robberies for the reporting period:
1) On 4/5/2020 at 9:39pm in the 2000 block of Brownsboro Rd. the suspect displayed a handgun and demanded victims shoes. Arrested-Justin Schoenlaub W/M
2) On 4/6/2020 at 6:00pm in the 100 block of Crescent Ave. the victim stated that three females knocked on her door and when she answered they forced their way into her apartment. The suspects then assaulted her and stole her property. Suspects-3 B/F's possibly known by the victim.
3) On 4/6/2020 at 9:17pm at 1510 Bardstown Road the victims were followed into business by two unknown males and then robbed at gunpoint. The suspects fled with business cash and the victims personal property. Suspects-Two B/M's in their 20's wearing hoodies and masks.
4) On 4/9/2020 at 12:39am in the 300 block of N. Hite Ave. the suspects broke into victims home. The victim chased them out and they got into a vehicle. The suspects then ran over the victim causing injury. Suspect #1-W/M w/blonde hair in his 20's. Suspect#2-W/F w/blonde hair in her 20's. The vehicle the suspects were in is described as a green Jeep Grand Cherokee.
LMPD 5th Division Email. 5thdivlmpd@louisvilleky.gov This is an email address that is monitored by the 5th Division Command Staff and District Resource Officers. If you would like to contact us about issues in your neighborhood this is a great way to let us know about it.
We need your help to catch people committing crimes. Many of these crimes occur in a short time. Your call can put us in the right place at the right time. Please make sure you report any suspicious activity you observe. How to Call? In an emergency always call 911. If you don't feel it is an emergency but you would like to report it to the police you can always the non-emergency line. 574-7111. You will hear a recorded message, you can press 5 and it will go straight to a call taker. It will be entered in as a run to be dispatched and the next available officer will be sent to the area.
Crime Trends from Louisville Metro Police Click here and view our interactive crime mapping tool. Save it in your favorites, it's updated daily. Forward this email to your friends and family!
Use the crime mapping iPhone app:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crimemapping/id452856454
Although it isn't actually a muscle, your brain has a lot in common with your biceps: When you exercise it, it gets stronger. Because your brain can't run, do yoga, or lift weights, however, you've got to find a different way to keep it fit—and brain teasers are just the thing. In fact, in one 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, people who did brain teasers and other types of "brain training" reported improvements in mental sharpness and in their ability to execute mundane tasks, like cooking and accounting. Want to see for yourself? Take a stab at the following puzzles that'll test your genius. At the very least, we can guarantee they'll keep you entertained!
Question: You're in a cabin with no electricity. Come nightfall, you have a candle, a wood stove, and a gas lamp, but only one match. What do you light first?
 Answer: The match.
Question: You're running a race. Before you cross the finish line, you pass the person who is in second place.
In what place did you finish?
Answer: Second place.
Question: A family has two parents and six sons. Each of the sons has one sister. How many people are in the family?
 Answer: Nine (Two parents, six sons, and one daughter!).
Question: You're driving a bus. The bus starts out empty. At the first stop, two people get on. At the second stop, eight people get on and one person gets off. At the third stop, three people get on and five people get off. The bus is blue, but what color is the bus driver's hair?
Answer: Whatever color your hair is. You're the bus driver.
1. Q: What can you hold without using your hands or arms? A: Your breath.
2. Q: How many seconds are there in a year? A: Twelve. The Second of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September...
3. Q: Is it legal for a man to marry his widow's sister? A: No. He is dead.
4. Q: Why is it against the law for a person living in New York to be buried in California? A: He is alive.
5. Q: What goes up but NEVER comes down? A: Your age.
6. Q: Which month has 28 days? A: All of them.
7. Q: A cowboy rode into town on Friday, stayed three days, and rode out again on Friday. How did he do that? A: His horse's name is Friday.
8. Q: Adam's mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child's name? A: Adam.
9. Q: You see a boat filled with people, yet there isn’t a single person on board. How is that possible? A: All the people on the boat are married.
10. Q: If an electric train is traveling south, which way is the smoke going? A: There is no smoke, it's an electric train!
11. Q: What do the letter 't' and an island have in common? A: Both are in water (waTer).
12. Q: How many letters are in alphabet? A: 8 (The alphabets have 26 letters, but the 'word' alphabet has only 8 letters. Lol!)
1. Sand Box 2. Man Overboard 3. I Understand 4. Reading Between the Lines 5. Long Underwear 6. Cross Road 7. Down Town 8. Tri Cycle 9. Split Level 10. 3 Degrees Below 0 11. Neon (Knee-On) Light 12. Circles Under the Eyes 13. High Chair 14. Two Die 4 15. Touch Down 16. 6 Feet Under Ground 17. Mind Over Matter 18. He's Beside Himself 19. Backwards Glance 20. Life After Death
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