Louisville Asset Building Coalition VITA Program

Today, the Mayor and community partners announced the opening of free federal and state income tax preparation for eligible residents. The Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, and AARP Tax Aide programs provide trained, IRS-certified volunteers to offer free tax services via online or at select drop-off sites. The service is available to individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 in 2020. Learn more.

The VITA free tax preparation sites are located at:

• Americana Community Center, 4801 Southside Dr.
• Bates Community Development Corporation, 1228 Jackson St.
• Eastern Area Community Ministries, 9104 Westport Rd. 
• Louisville Urban League, 1535 W. Broadway
• Portland Promise Center, 1831 Baird St.
• Salt and Light Community Development, 3025 Gerald Dr.
• Sun Valley Community Center, 6505 Bethany Lane
• United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 State St.
• Wesley House Community Services, 5114 Preston Hwy.

For more details including hours of operations at VITA locations, visit http://labcservices.org or call Metro United Way’s 211 help referral service.  

AARP Tax-Aide Program

The other service, AARP Tax-Aide, has a mission to serve any person who comes through the door, with special attention to those 60 and older.  AARP select drop-off sites in Louisville will open Feb. 15.

For future updates including online filing options AARP Tax Aide plan to offer, visit http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org. 

The work of the Louisville Asset Building Coalition and the AARP Tax Assistance Program is made possible by Metro United Way, Louisville Metro Government, the IRS, the AARP Tax-Aide Foundation and dozens of other partners.

Visit http://labcservices.org or http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org for more information about the required documentation.

To stay informed on the Snow Team’s progress, visit the METRO SNOW MAP.

Cold Weather Driving Tips (AAA)

• Stay home. Only go out if necessary.
• If you are out – slow down, increase the following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Keep a bundle of cold-weather gear in your car, such as extra food and water, warm clothing, a flashlight, a glass scraper, blankets, medications, and more

Apply now for a one-time credit on your bill

Metro COVID-19 Relief funds are available now for Jefferson County residents with a past due Louisville Water/MSD account. Customers can apply for the credit at the Metro Relief Portal on our website or call 502.583.6610. The one-time credit is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply now -- don't delay!

To qualify for a credit up to $500, customers must meet the following criteria: 

• Live in Jefferson County and have a Louisville Water/MSD residential account 
• Have an unpaid balance on their water/wastewater bill that occurred between March 16 and December 31, 2020 
• Identify a COVID-19 based financial hardship that resulted in the past-due balance 

Customers can apply for the credit at LouisvilleWater.com/MetroReliefPortal or call 502.583.6610.

1. Immediately report any suspicious person, or vehicle to (502) 574-7111 or (502) 574-TIPS. This is not just for vehicle vandalism but drug activity, home/garage vandalism - ANY suspicious activity! Make a report!
2. Never leave anything of value in your vehicle; this includes laptops, purses, GPS devices and even loose change.
3. Always lock your vehicle doors.
4. Remove garage door openers from vehicles usually parked outside.
5. Do not leave your keys in your vehicle. Do not warm up your vehicles without you in them!
6. Do not leave the windows of you vehicle open, or partially open.
7.  Try to park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
8. Never leave a firearm unprotected in your vehicle

LIHEAP Crisis Component will run through March 31, or until available funds have been expended, whichever comes first. This year’s Crisis Program will allow residents receiving a current utility bill with a past due amount and residents receiving a disconnect notice to apply for assistance. To apply, residents must schedule an appointment utilizing the automated appointment system. 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. Applicants must be a resident of Jefferson County with a household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (e.g. for a household of four, the gross monthly income cannot exceed $3,275.00).  Applicants must also meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• Received a disconnect notice from LG&E, or
• Received a current bill with a past due amount, or
• Have a current payment plan with LG&E due to a past-due balance, or 
• Received an eviction notice if utilities are included in the rent, or
• Be within four days of running out of bulk fuel; or
• Be within ten days of running out of pre-paid electric service.

For more information on what documents you need to provide and more program information, please click here

The federal and state government control what vaccine Metro receives, how much, when they get it and who gets it first. Metro is working through the Vaccine Implementation Task Force to plan and ensure an efficient and equitable distribution of the vaccine. Metro's community Vaccine Communications Task Force has also been meeting to collaborate on collective ways to provide support in alleviating fears, sharing accurate, timely and easy to understand information across the community that will include instructions on where and how to get vaccinated. Any questions call the Kentucky COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-722-5725 or go to StayStrongLouisville.com to get important COVID-19 information and resources in English and Spanish.

Kentucky State website: kycovid19.ky.gov is the best way to keep up with the latest news about the novel coronavirus.

Louisville Metro website with updated information about COVID-19 -CLICK HERE-

Residents who have questions related to COVID-19 call the recently launched helpline at (502) 912-8598 or to seek information at louisvilleky.gov/covid19.

University of Louisville Sponsored Test Sites:

• Downtown at the corner of Brook and Liberty streets
• U of L Health Mary and Elizabeth Hospital
• U of L Health in Bullitt County

To make an appointment, call 502-588-0414. 

Almost 100 employers in Healthcare, Logistics, Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Retail, Business Services, Tech, and other sectors are hiring now in the Louisville area.

You can see which companies are hiring and how you can apply at our online COVID-19 Job Board, run in partnership with Greater Louisville Inc. and WorkOne Southern Indiana.

CLICK HERE  To view job Listing   

• Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services: COVID-19 Updates
• Louisville Metro Government: Daily Updates on COVID-19
• Kentucky Unemployment Insurance website
• COVID-19 Pandemic Response Loans for Individuals and Small Businesses

More resources for Small Businesses

Give your sweetie the moon, the stars, and a romantic treat by a warm bonfire! This year’s valentine’s day hike will include two options: a candlelit hike ending with hot chocolate for you and your partner or a candle lit hike leading to a private bonfire with a table for two and a s'mores kit (welcome to bring your own picnic dinner). Meet in the Horine Reservation main parking lot. 

Pre-registration required. Start times vary, space limited. To register, click here or call (502) 368-5404.

$20/couple - Hike & hot chocolate $40/couple - Hike, bonfire & s'mores 

Sun Valley Ladies Golf League accepting membership payments.  Ten Saturday morning tee times 4/3 – 9/25 (8:00 a.m, - 9:03 a.m.) Teams of two playing 18 holes (hole by hole scoring). Signup with a partner or request a partner. Checks payable to Sun Valley Ladies Golf League.

• $59.00  - includes World Golf Handicap System fee of $24.00
• $35.00 – paying WGHS fee elsewhere for the 2021 golf season.

League will be full when 40 membership payments have been received.  Others may join to sub during absences of regular league players and establish eligibility to compete in the Jefferson County Ladies Golf Tournament to be held at Seneca Golf Course.

Mail completed membership form and check or pay in person at Sun Valley Golf Course 6505 Bethany Lane, Louisville, Ky. 

Send questions to grantsunvalley@gmail.com.

Assistance is available for eligible residents in need of paying water and/or sewer bills via the Healthy at Home Utility Assistance Program. Appointments are required by calling 502/991-8391 or visit louisvilleky.cascheduler.com. Income eligible residents within 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, who have lost income due to COVID, with proof of arrearage, payment plan, or disconnect notice for water and/or wastewater bill may be eligible to apply.

Puppy of the Week - Doodle Bear

Doodle Bear's future has yet to be written. Adopt this sweet puppy and help pen the next the chapter of her story. Doodle Bear is an approximately 5-month-old Cane Corso-Labrador Retriever and she weighs 44lbs. She’s a happy puppy whose curiosity and friendliness quickly overcomes her initial shyness when meeting new people. Adopt Doodle Bear by making a $150 donation to the Pay It Forward Program. She's already spayed, microchipped & up-to-date on vaccinations. Doodle Bear can be tested with other dogs or cats by request. A meet and greet is mandatory for families with children. To adopt Doodle Bear, visit Animal House Adoption Center, located at 3516 Newburg Road, from 12-6pm daily. Send questions about Doodle Bear to animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov

Dog of the Week - Perfection

Nobody’s perfect except for Perfection - and her adoption fee is waived! The stunning beauty is an approximately 3-year-old Pit Bull mix. Perfection can be shy, but she’s a friendly, sweet dog who loves attention. An approved adopter can adopt Perfection for free, thanks to the Pay It Forward Program. Spay, microchip and vaccinations are included. Perfection weighs 65lbs. Child, dog and cat testing are available by request. To meet or adopt Perfection, visit Animal House Adoption Center (3516 Newburg Road) from 12-6p daily, no appointment required. For more info about Perfection, email animalservicesadoption@louisvilleky.gov.

To see all of the adoptable animals available at Louisville Metro Animal Services, visit their website here.

Want to help? Donations Welcome

KHS welcomes pet food donations – especially cat food – for the COVID-19 Pet Food Bank through Amazon or from local pet supply stores. View our overall Wish List and our Amazon wish list at http://tinyurl.com/wishlistkhs (items are not in order on Amazon, so please scroll to find dry cat and dog food options). Deliveries are accepted at 241 Steedly Drive, Louisville KY 40214.

Louisville Metro Police Department

Sign up for crime alerts from LMPD by clicking HERE

Sign up for Emergency Alerts by clicking HERE

Metro Police:

(Non Emergency)574-7111 or 574-2111

3rd Division: 574-2135

Anonymous Tipline:

574-LMPD (5673)

Metro Safe: 572-3460 or 574-7111

The Louisville Metro Council is now livestreaming all of its regular meetings and committee meetings on Facebook Live.

To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.

The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99.  Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.

If you would like to see the agenda for any of the Metro Council’s Committee meetings click here

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.

Dare to Care Food Bank

First Baptist Church Fairdale 413 Fairdale Road 
Wednesdays - 3:30 to 6:00 pm
Phone:  368-9053
Website: https://daretocare.org/contact-us/