 Mayor Greg Fischer announced that he is ending the 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. citywide curfew he put in place.
The State of Emergency enacted during the disturbances in downtown Louisville and other parts of the city will, however, remain in place until Monday, June 8.
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As restaurants are beginning to re-open, you might notice a new addition to the collection of eateries located in Colonial Gardens.
Check out Biscuit Belly for all of your breakfast and brunch cravings. They are excited to open Friday, June 5th to serve up some of their delicious eggs, hashes, and of course biscuits!
For more information, check out Biscuit Belly on Facebook.
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 There is an Air Quality Alert for Sunday (6/7/2020) in Louisville.
While the Friday and Saturday forecast is moderate, the long-range outlook is for slightly elevated ozone on Sunday.
Ozone is forecast to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (seniors, children, people with breathing ailments like asthma and COPD).
The general public is not likely to be affected.
You and your child made it! Yesterday was the last day of school for the 2019-20 school year. While this wasn’t the end of the school year we’ve all come to expect, it is certainly one for the history books, and we’ve been constantly amazed at how our students, staff and families created innovative ways to keep learning.
Now that school is out for summer break, JCPS is offering multiple summer learning opportunities to continue engaging and supporting students. The programs are being held as virtual experiences, although the district will make every effort to host face-to-face learning late in the summer if circumstances change:
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Summer League, June 22-July 31, is open to students in grades 1-12 and is designed with the appeal of video game-based learning in mind.
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Lit & Camps, beginning mid-June, are designed for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders, offering campers the opportunity to learn about chess, yoga, karate, hip hop and fencing.
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AMPED, beginning mid-June, is designed for students in grade 6 and up and will teach students how to download and install audio production and editing software and how to make, edit and publish beats.
To learn more about the programs, go to our website. We’ll be posting updates and ways to access the experiences on this site.
In order to support these learning opportunities, students who received Chromebooks and/or hotspots from the district will keep those throughout the summer.
Meal sites will continue to be open throughout the summer on the same Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule, with additional mobile sites starting Monday, June 1. A couple other changes to note: Wilt Elementary’s food site will be closed after today but Laukhuf Elementary will open for meals beginning Friday, May 29, and the Community Connections mobile stop will have its last day on May 29. For a list of sites and times, click here.
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 First-responders, doctors and nurses can visit https://www.firstnet.com/ for special offers on AT&T wireless products and services.
The FirstNet mission is to deploy, operate, maintain, and improve the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety.
The latest AT&T COVID-19 response news is always available online at https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html.
 T-Mobile’s offer of free mobile service for first responders for 10 years is now available, CEO Mike Sievert announced today. The program, officially called “Connecting Heroes,” provides free access to the company’s network over the next decade for members of state and local public and nonprofit law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies.
The offer of free service, which includes unlimited talk, text, and 4G / 5G data, was part of a set of promises the company made to help convince regulators to approve its merger with Sprint. And now, with that merger successfully completed, the newly expanded T-Mobile is making good on that promise. Sievert claimed T-Mobile will follow through on its other pledges as well.
Of course, there are a few caveats to the offer. The deal is only available of members of eligible first responder groups — and agencies will have to contact T-Mobile to get approved first. The Connecting Heroes plans are also more limited than T-Mobile’s regular Magenta plan: while some things are the same, like the 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico and Canada and the SD video limitations, there are a few perks that aren’t included.
Tethering on the Connecting Heroes plan is limited to 1GB of LTE tethering (compared to 3GB on the Magenta plan), and there’s no mention of the free data and texting abroad (although the fine print does note that Connecting Heroes plan members can purchase additional international features) or the free Netflix or in-flight Wi-Fi offers that come with the Magenta plan.
The Connecting Heroes plan is just part of T-Mobile’s promised goodwill initiatives. Also included is its $15-per-month Connect wireless plan with unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of data for half of the company’s $30 “Essentials” plan, and Project 10Million, which promised free internet for 10 million households to provide children around the country better access to the internet to close “the homework gap.”
for the full article click the link below: https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/21/21266302/tmobile-connecting-heroes-free-service-first-responders-ten-years-5g-sprint-deal
 Voters will have to request mail-in ballots in a portal on the State Board of Elections website by June 16 here:
https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/abrweb/
After voting, ballots will be sent to the county clerk. Mail-in ballots will have to be postmarked by June 23 and be received within three days of Election Day. In-person voting, with the possibility of drive-through voting, will be allowed, in new ways, for those who need to vote in person. Post cards will be sent out to Kentucky voters explaining the changes.
For more information check out the article written by the Courier Journal by clicking here!
 
COVID-19 TESTING:
Councilman Yates is pushing hard to have more COVID-19 free drive-thru testing locations throughout our city and especially in the South End of town.
However, if you think you or a family member need to be tested, do not wait!
1. Register to take the test in the parking lot at the Bashford Manor Walmart, https://doineedacovid19test.com/Louisville.htm
or Shawnee Park, https://www.thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing
2. Create an account and complete the survey asking about race, sex, symptoms, etc.
3. Schedule your appointment time.
Be sure to print your test voucher and bring it to your appointment. If you need help, contact my office, 574-1125.
https://govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19
For a Kroger appointment CLICK HERE!
 For a Bashford Manor Walmart appointment click here: https://doineedacovid19test.com/Louisville.htm
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Paving of the New Dixie Highway is complete. This marks a significant milestone for the safer and more efficient Dixie Highway corridor. The surface of New Dixie Highway is a major upgrade from the severely deteriorated pavement that previously covered the stretch.
Drivers will notice a smoother roadway on their next trip of the corridor. A higher quality surface was achieved through daytime paving work. The final surfacing is being completed on schedule with little impact from COVID-19. Foundational work done to level, wedge and mill the roadway will ensure the New Dixie Highway surfacing holds up for years to come on the highly traveled corridor. Some striping work, which requires a dry surface to be completed, remains.
The Project Team is thankful to construction crews for their hard work to complete this important piece of the New Dixie Highway. Their dedication is greatly appreciated as we near the finish line for the project.
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In addition to finishing paving, the project team has also completed its first mowing of the transformative medians. The new medians between Greenwood Road and Crums Lane encourage safer traffic patterns by limiting where drivers can make left turns.
Mowing will continue at least once every two weeks throughout the growing season using mulching mowers and weed eaters. By using fine turf equipment and techniques, crews will minimize the amount of grass scattered on along the highway.
All landscaping elements of the project, including shrubs, sod, and newly planted trees along sidewalks and near bus shelters, are also complete. To ensure successful plantings, the New Dixie Highway project included investing in an innovative underground system to provide support for trees to grow productively without interfering to utility lines.
We hope Dixie Highway travelers are enjoying how these new elements beautify the roadway. Our project team appreciates the patience of Dixie Highway area residents and travelers throughout this major construction project.
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The only remaining pieces of the New Dixie Highway project are related to technology. Installation of fiber optics and other tech elements will continue this spring and summer.
This includes pylons with digital screens at each RAPID bus stop. Real-time information on TARC riders’ commutes will be available on the high-tech pylons.
TARC buses will travel even more rapidly to RAPID line stops when linked with an Intelligent Transportation System that preempts traffic signals for quick and efficient movement. That technology will be operational later this year.
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 Public Works intends to contract Guardian Retention Systems, who currently has a contract with KYTC, to build and install a barrier wall to mitigate the reoccurring landslides on St. Anthony's Church Road. The barrier will be constructed of trapezoidal concrete bags that are 2-4' in height. This will serve as the most cost-effective and timely solution. Construction of the barrier is expect to cost $152,000 and last one-week (weather permitting). Councilman Yates secured funding from this project this week in the Budget Committee and final approval will occur next Thursday at the Louisville Metro Council Meeting. Construction can be scheduled once the funds have officially appropriated.
The concrete bags are intended to absorb the lateral earth pressures caused by landslides and shift the pressures downward due to the unique trapezoidal shape of the concrete bags.
Once the concrete cures the bags can be removed to provide an aesthetically more appealing exposed surface. Councilman Yates is working directly with Public Works to find the most appealing solution.
 
 You can see which companies are hiring right now in the Louisville area and how you can apply at our new online Job Board, created in partnership with Greater Louisville Inc. in response to COVID-19.
Job listings are based on information submitted from employers and are updated daily. Click the link below to see avaliable job opportunities!
Councilman David Yates volunteered with the Louisville Covid19 Match Program to help deliver groceries to those at highest risk if they contract COVID-19. The match program needs more volunteers in the zip codes 40216, 40258 & 40272. If you are healthy and at low risk consider volunteering to help our neighbors! Visit: https://lc19match.com/#/low-risk to get started today!
SummerWorks is a free program that matches young people in Louisville to quality summer job opportunities! SummerWorks jobs include hospitality, advanced manufacturing, and business.
To be eligible, youth must be 16-21 years of age as of June 1, 2020 and a resident of Louisville.
To learn more about the program and to apply, please visit https://www.summerworks.org/sign-up
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 We offer free virtual career services and guidance for youth ages 16-24.
We are here to help during this challenging time.
Although the KYCC locations in downtown Louisville (4th St. and Nia Center) are currently closed to the public, we are still providing many services online:
- Career guidance and support
- GED prep (18+)
- Paid internship opportunities (Internship Academy)
- Basic job readiness workshops and skills training programs that award nationally-recognized career credentials
- Earn incentives for completing program goals
https://www.wearekycc.org/
 The Mayor announced the COVID-19 Reskilling Initiative, which offered free online tech training courses through the Future of Work initiative. Over the past three weeks, more than 4,000 people responded by going to www.futurelou.com to get connected to free, online, self-paced resources.
In the second phase launched today, the Reskilling Initiative will provide instructor-led trainings aligned with career paths that are in-demand in the data economy.
These short-form offerings will provide Louisville residents with the opportunity to explore data-focused career tracks, including data analytics, digital marketing, software engineering, and user experience design in sessions ranging from two to three hours.
There are 500 slots available for this phase of the Reskilling Initiative. To take advantage of this opportunity, sign up for the Future of Work Initiative at http://futurelou.com/
- If you receive an email from Amazon that asks you to open an attachment to review your account information, don’t open the attachment. It’s a scam! You are asked to verify billing information. If you are concerned, go directly to your Amazon login instead!
- If you begin to receive unordered merchandise, it could be an Amazon “Brushing” Scam. The scam companies, usually foreign, third-party sellers, stole your Amazon account information. They send the items, then post a fake, positive review to improve their products’ ratings, using you as a verified customer. This means more sales for them!
- Beware of Fake Job Scams! A local consumer told us she saw a Facebook post about a stay-at- home job. She had to download a hangouts app. The person interviewed her, then asked for bank account information, and account username and password to be hired.
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Mobile payment apps can be a convenient way to send and receive money, but they are also a great way for scammers to steal your money. If you get an unexpected email or text message that asks you to send money, don’t click on any links. Go to your app directly to see if there are any requests. It’s always best to use these apps to send money to people you know and trust.
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Fake Insurance Agents are using high-pressure sales tactics over the phone, offering to insure consumers against getting coronavirus. If you get a call offering this type of protection, it's likely fake. Never buy a product peddled via unsolicited calls without checking out the company first. Go to bbb.org.
- There is an uptick in online extortion scams due to more people staying home, due to COVID. The scammers blackmail you into giving them money by claiming they have hacked your computer, activated your webcam, and videoed you while you watched pornography (whether you did or not!). They threaten to send the images, videos and screenshots to stolen contacts if a payment isn’t made.
- Scammers are cashing in on the demand for COVID-19 tests. If you receive a robocall or are directed to a website that looks like a medical supply company offering the at-home tests, beware. Some even promise results available in 10 minutes. To get a test, all you need to do is complete a form, and/or enter your credit card details. Talk to your doctor instead.
- If you receive a call saying you may qualify for loan forgiveness through a stimulus package, hang up! A local consumer says the scammer told him he qualified for student loan forgiveness, then asked for his credit card number to charge $199 for 6 months then $49 for another 6 months. Once that was done, they said he would receive a $0 balance on his federal student loan. This is a scam!
- A local consumer received an automated call from the Social Security office, saying his social security number was being revoked. When a live person got on the phone, and wanted personal information, the consumer asked questions and the scammer got irritated, saying, “he would send police to arrest him.”
- If you get a call or letter saying your new car warranty is about to expire and it offers you an “extended warranty,” use caution. Car warranty scams trick consumers into believing the calls were from their vehicle manufacturer or car dealer, and get them to buy a vehicle service contract. Those who purchase the contracts find out the coverage was far less than what was represented.
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Kentucky Science Center School’s Out Science Camp will begin the week of June 15!
This summer's KSC School's Out Summer Camp will provide the transition our campers need. From stay at home, 2D, online interactions to in-person, friends laughing together, building friendships while doing all things Science. Camp provides a familiar, safe place to take those first steps into the new normal.
We aim to provide the safest camp possible for our campers and staff. The science is still there, just with a little more space between the bowls of slime. We are exploring new ways to communicate with and include our campers in the conversation. Navigating these uncertain times can be scary and overwhelming. Camp can lay a course toward building resilience and hope that will set root and grown with our campers throughout their lives.
We anticipate some camp families will be more comfortable with waiting until later in the summer to join us for these families we can transfer earlier registrations to later in the summer. We will be offering a risk-free refund for families make their attendance decision up to one week prior to camp start date.
This summer's camp may look different, but we will be there for our campers, their families, our staff and the community! For more information about this summer's camp experience, please visit kysciencecenter.org.
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The Kentucky Science Center is very excited to share our digital content with the public.
Despite our building being closed, the staff at KSC has been working hard to continue providing our members and the public with at home content. Roughly eight weeks ago we began a new online series titled “Do Science at Home.”
The videos are released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11am on our Facebook and YouTube. A direct link to our YouTube channel and Facebook page will be included below. In addition to these videos, KSC is also creating a bi-weekly newsletter with updates related to reopening, School’s Out Summer Camp, and at home content/resources. This will allow you to directly receive updates from KSC and share them as you see fit.
 After some much-needed maintenance, the Waste Reduction Center at 636 Meriwether Avenue will reopen on Tuesday, June 2. This is a popular disposal site for large loads of unbagged yard waste, tree limbs and stumps up to three feet in diameter, construction debris, and large household items. (Fees may apply.) Residents can dispose of up to four tires, up to three electronic items, and up to three large household items for FREE! Details can be found on the website. Open Tuesday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Metro Solid Waste office is pleased to announce a one-day only compost bin and rain barrel truckload sale on Saturday, June 13! The online store offers several types of compost bins, kits, accessories, and rain barrels.
Shop online and pick up your items at 1030 Phillips Lane, across from the Kentucky Exposition Center on Saturday, June 13, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Staff will wear personal protective equipment and will stay at least 6 feet away from citizens. Staff may be able to safely place your order inside your vehicle or, if not, they can leave it for you to put in.)
Watch a 10-minute presentation by Public Education Supervisor, Karen Maynard, about backyard composting given during the Louisville Sustainability Council's Green Convene.
To shop the online store, visit louisvillecompostersale.com.
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