|
Starting January 1, 2025, all Kentuckians must undergo a vision screening to renew their driver’s license. Multiple states have adopted mandatory vision screenings to ensure drivers have the visual acuity required to operate a vehicle safely.
This new requirement, enacted during the 2021 General Assembly, aims to promote highway safety by ensuring that all drivers maintain good vision throughout their driving career. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is responsible for administering the vision requirement law for drivers seeking to renew their license.
For more details, please visit https://drive.ky.gov/Drivers/Documents/KCTC_fact%20sheet_public_.pdf
24-MPLAT-0121 Spears Minor Plat 5711 OLD HEADY RD 40299 09/25/2024 12/26/2024 20 Sydney Fawcett A minor plat to divide 1 tract into 2 tracts and to dedicate the right of way on 18.609 acres in the R4 zoning district
24-MPLAT-0126 Meeting House Rd Minor Plat 981 POUNDS LN 40067 10/03/2024 12/26/2024 20 Sydney Fawcett A minor subdivision plat to shift lot lines 6.56 acres in the R-4 zoning district.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) is seeing a spike in probable and confirmed cases of chickenpox (varicella). So far this year, 14 cases have been reported with seven of them being reported in November. The cases have all been in people who were either unvaccinated or too young to be vaccinated.
“Chickenpox is highly contagious and caused by the varicella-zoster virus,” said Dr. Kris Bryant, associate medical director of LMPHW and pediatric infectious disease specialist at Norton Children’s. ”It easily spreads through touching the blisters or through the air when someone with chickenpox coughs or sneezes. A person with chickenpox is contagious 1 to 2 days before the rash begins and until all the blisters have scabbed over. Children who are not immune to chicken pox can also be infected by contacting the blisters of a person with shingles.”
Chickenpox signs and symptoms
A rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs.
The rash often first shows up on the face, chest and back before spreading to the rest of the body. A person with chickenpox can have as many as 500 blisters.
Complications can occur and include bacterial infections of the skin and underlying tissues, infection of the lungs, swelling of the brain, and abnormal bleeding.
Who is at risk?
Anyone who has not had chickenpox or has not gotten the chickenpox vaccine.
Chickenpox can be serious and life-threatening to newborns, pregnant people, and any individuals with weakened immune systems.
Prevention
Children with chickenpox need to stay home from school and childcare until all blisters are dry and have a scab.
The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine.
Everyone—including children, adolescents, and adults—should get two doses of the vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated.
Children should get their first dose of the vaccine at 12 to 15 months old and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old.
Most people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox. The chickenpox vaccine prevents almost all cases of severe illness. Most people who get the vaccine are protected for life.
Chickenpox cases should be reported to the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness by calling 574-6675.
For more information about chickenpox, visit the CDC’s website.
 The Louisville Zoo is spreading holiday cheer this December with a month-long lineup of festive activities for the whole family. From animal-themed holiday enrichment to a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this season.
Key Highlights for December:
-
Qannik’s Beary Happy Holiday (Weekends: Dec. 14–15, 21–22) Join Qannik, the Zoo’s beloved polar bear, and her animal companions as they enjoy special holiday-themed enrichment activities. Sponsored by Great Clips, this festive event runs select weekends in December.
-
Santa and Mrs. Claus Visit (Dec. 21–22, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) The power couple of the season will make a stop at the Louisville Zoo for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities with guests. Families can also enjoy sweet treats like cookie decorating and s’mores during this special weekend.
-
Holiday Scavenger Hunt (All Month) Guests can embark on a Zoo-wide scavenger hunt for all ages. Scan the QR code at the Zoo entrance to join the adventure and complete challenges for a chance to win Zoo-themed prizes.
Additional Details: Holiday programming is included with general Zoo admission or membership. Visitors can also take advantage of discounted admission during Wild Winter Days, presented by Kroger, running through February 28, 2025. Guests who bring at least one non-perishable food item per person for Dare to Care Food Bank can purchase tickets at the Zoo for $10.50 per adult and $7.50 per child/senior.
For a complete schedule of events and activities, visit louisvillezoo.org/bearyhappy.
Zoo Hours The Zoo is open daily year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with guests exiting by 5 p.m. The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
About the Louisville Zoo The Louisville Zoo, the State Zoo of Kentucky, is the top, non-profit, paid attraction in the state. The Zoo is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education.
-
Misleading Social Media Ads: As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see products advertised. Always research before you buy. BBB Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised.
-
Social Media Gift Exchanges: Each holiday season this scheme pops back up. Newer versions of this scam revolve around exchanging bottles of wine or bourbon; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. In all these versions, participants unwittingly share their personal information, along with those of their family members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping gifts or money to unknown individuals. It's also an illegal pyramid scheme. Stick to buying your friends gifts from trustworthy businesses, and check BBB.org before you buy.
-
Holiday Apps: Apple's App Store and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish lists. Review privacy policies to see what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee. Free apps can also contain malware.
-
Fake Toll Collection Texts: watch out for fake road toll collection texts, which have been on the rise this year. In this con, scammers impersonate a state road tollway collection service and text you saying you owe a road toll fee and provide a link to click to make your payment. If you receive at text, don’t click the link. Instead, if you think you may owe road tolls, verify your outstanding balance with the legitimate agency.
-
Free Gift Cards: Scammers have been known to send bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and promise gift cards to reward their loyal customers. They may also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize. If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do not open it. Instead, mark it as spam or junk and delete it. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links.
-
Temporary Holiday Jobs: Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday employers because of the increase in online orders that need to be delivered before Christmas. Job seekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information from job applicants.
-
Imposter Scams: Impostor scams can take many forms, especially during the holiday season when you may be purchasing and returning gifts. When shopping online, be on the lookout for fake, look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making dead-end purchases, and sharing private information. If you’re reaching out to a business on social media for customer support, watch out for fake social media accounts pretending to be a customer service representative for a business. When in doubt, go to the business’s website and find their official social media handles, or use the information on the site to reach out.
-
Fake Charities: Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today. Verify a charity at BBB's Give.org or on the Canada Revenue Agency website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.
-
Fake Shipping Notifications: More consumers making online purchases during the holidays leads to an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers use this surge to send phishing emails and texts about package deliveries with links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device. Never click a link in a text or email that you’re not expecting. If you want to track a package, find the original email or text confirmation you received directly from the store and use that link.
-
Advent Calendars: In past years, BBB received reports to Scam Tracker about advent calendar ads on social media not delivering as promised. Some were not received, and others received inferior products or incomplete orders. Consumers should research before they buy, read reviews and look up the company on BBB.org before purchasing. BBB also has a shopper's guide to help you purchase that niche advent calendar.
-
Holiday Wish List Items: Low-priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. The same applies to popular toys. This year, the Ms.Rachel Speak & Sing Doll, Barbies, Bluey toys, and brain teasers and puzzles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when considering purchasing popular toys from resellers on Facebook Marketplace and other platforms.
-
Puppy Scams: Many families may be considering adding a furry friend to their household this year. However, be on the lookout for scams. Many would-be pet owners turn to the internet to find their future cat or dog, but experts say a shocking 80% of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake. Be sure to see the pet in person before making a purchase.
School is almost out for winter break and the Louisville Free Public Library is ready to help keep families engaged and entertained, without putting a dent in your budget. All LFPL branches offer free activities for children, teens, and caregivers throughout the winter break (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day), including a variety of craft and maker workshops, dance parties, hands-on learning, movie screenings, teen challenges, and more!
-
Vie for the title of puzzle master at a Teen Jigsaw Puzzle Race (Dec. 21, 2-3:30 p.m. @ Main), or try to escape not one, but three rooms at Northeast’s Teen Escape Room Challenge (Jan. 2, 1-5 p.m. @ Northeast Regional Library)
-
The whole family can relax and create together at special Mindfulness Storytimes at Western Library (Dec. 23 & 30, 6 p.m., for kids ages 0-10 and their families), or drop-in to make winter crafts over hot cocoa at Shively Library (Jan. 2, 2:30-4:30 p.m., ages 0-10).
-
Dress to get messy at a Slime Party at Main (Dec. 30, 2 p.m.), or get creative with glue and paint at Crescent Hill’s Winter Crafts & Games (Dec. 23, 2-4 p.m., ages 4-10).
-
Young book fans can read to a dog (Jan. 2, 3 p.m. @ St. Matthews Library, ages 5-10 & Jan. 4, 2-3:30 p.m. @ Northeast Regional Library), get cozy with snacks and a good book at Silent Book Club (Dec. 28, 2 p.m. @ South Central Regional Library, ages 8-12), and meet new friends at the Little Bookworms Book Club (Jan. 2, 1:30 p.m. @ Iroquois, ages 6-11.
-
Celebrate New Year’s Eve early with a NYE Storytime (Dec. 31, 10:30 a.m. @ Northeast Regional Library), NYE Dance Party (Dec. 31, 11 a.m. @ Iroquois Library), NYE Around the World (Dec. 31, 2 p.m. @ Main Library), and a Noon Year’s Eve Party (Dec. 31, 11 a.m. @ South Central Regional Library).
-
Our youngest patrons are invited to try out percussion instruments while their parents chat at a Musical Baby Play Group (Jan. 4, 10:30am @ Middletown Library, ages 0-2), or take in a storytime at any Library branch.
-
Kids & teens are invited to the Shawnee Library to learn the basics of cooking (Jan. 2, 3 p.m.) and discover their green thumb at an indoor plant session (Jan. 3, 3 p.m.).
-
Learn how to play loteria in both Spanish and English / Acompáñenos a jugar lotería Vamos a jugar de forma bilingüe Española e Ingles. (Jan. 2, 6 p.m. @ Iroquois Library)
-
Teens can get out of the house and meet up at an indoor snowball fight (Jan. 2, 2-3:30 p.m. @ Main Library), or grab snacks and a movie at a teens-only Holiday Party (Dec. 23, 2-4 p.m. @ Shawnee).
-
READ! There is always a good book to check out at your local library branch.
These are just a few of the many free activities hosted by your Louisville Free Public Library. In addition, we offer a wide selection of books, eBooks, audiobooks, DVDs, and streaming videos to keep kids and teens reading and entertained during the break—all for free! For a full list of activities and registration information, go to www.LFPL.org/winterbreak, or call (502) 574-1611.
|
