In this Issue
Hello Neighbors and Friends,
As we prepare for a weather storm expected to impact Louisville on Sunday, January 5th, and Monday, January 6th, I want to remind everyone to prioritize safety during this time. Severe weather can bring unexpected challenges, so please take a moment to read the precautions and helpful tips included in this eNewsletter to ensure you and your loved ones are well-prepared.
Additionally, I’d like to remind you that the Louisville Metro Council will return to City Hall from our holiday break on Monday, January 6th, for our annual organizational meeting, where we will elect the Council President for 2025. The meeting starts at 4:00 p.m., and can be accessed HERE.
Stay safe, stay informed, and don’t hesitate to reach out to me or call Metro311 if you need assistance during the storm. Together, we can weather anything that comes our way.
Warm regards,
Dr. Paula McCraney
Metro Councilwoman, District 7
The Democratic Caucus of the Louisville Metro Council will meet on Monday, January 6, at 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Third Floor Conference Room, Historic City Hall, 601 West Jefferson Street.
The full Louisville Metro Council will host its organizational meeting on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. During this meeting, Council members will elect the President for the 2025-2026 calendar year.
The meeting is open to the public. The public may enter City Hall using the Sixth Street entrance. Anyone needing assistance may enter City Hall from the Jefferson Street entrance.
Under KRS 61.826, some members will be video conferencing using WebEx.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click HERE.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here. To watch Metro Council Meetings live on YouTube, you can visit the Louisville MetroTV channel 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.
For additional information or questions, you can reach the Metro Council Clerk’s Office at (502) 574-3902.
Since Thursday, a winter storm watch has been in effect for southern Indiana and parts of Kentucky, including Louisville. Starting Sunday morning, a wintry mix of rain, snow, ice, and sleet is expected to result in hazardous travel conditions and potentially cause numerous power outages throughout the region.
This includes Jefferson County, where snowfall is projected to be between 3-6 inches.
Members of Metro’s Snow Team have been working since Tuesday checking equipment, attaching plows to ensure all is working well, and the Team is ready for the anticipated snowfall. The Team will work around the clock for as long as necessary to ensure Metro’s 110 snow routes (2,734 two-lane mile) are in safe driving condition.
With such weather approaching, here are some ways you can be best prepared and actions you can take during cold weather events:
Prepare Ahead of Time:
- Have safety supplies for your home and car
- Refuel your car and heating sources
- Bring pets indoors
- Adjust plans
- Have multiple ways to receive warnings, such as Louisville Metro's LENSAlert, which you can sign up for in seconds by clicking here.
During and After:
- Check on neighbors and family
- Properly ventilate emergency heat sources
- Keep generators at least 20 feet from your home
- Take it easy while shoveling snow
- Check Louisville Metro's Snow Map to see which roads have been salted or plowed and whether they are safe to drive on
If You're Driving:
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Slow down, don’t rush – approach roads with caution, as they may be icy and slippery
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Plan ahead – give yourself ample to time, by at least doubling the time it usually takes to get there during normal weather
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Look out for snow plows and give our Snow Team room to work – Snow plows are big and bulky, and sudden maneuvers around them create additional hazards
For more safety information, click here for the National Weather Service's cold weather safety tips. Stay safe and stay warm!
Latest forecast: National Weather Service - Louisville
Travel information: TRIMARC | Kentucky 511 - KYTC
Power outages: LG&E Outage Map
Safety Information: Winter Weather - Ready.gov | #WinterReady - Ready.gov | Car Safety - Ready.gov | Build A Kit - Ready.gov | Prepare Your Pets - Ready.gov
Meet me at the St. Matthews library on February 22nd and the Northeast Library on March 8th!
With 2024 out and 2025 in, some new state laws have been in effect since Wednesday, January 1st:
- All license renewals in Kentucky require drivers to complete a vision screening. These can be completed for free either at any Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) regional office or with their vision specialist (optometrist/ophthalmologist).
- Retailers will only be allowed to sell FDA-approved vape products, as part of House Bill 11 passed in April 2024.
- Medical Cannabis/Marijuana will be able to be sold by licensed dispensaries, as part of Senate Bill 47 passed in March 2023, which legalizes medical cannabis in the commonwealth effective January 1st, 2025.
- The Office of Medical Cannabis in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services is charged under KRS Chapter 218B with implementing and administering Kentucky's Medical Cannabis Program.
What did Louisville lawmakers accomplish in 2024? Here are the biggest laws they passed
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/27/these-are-the-biggest-laws-passed-by-louisville-metro-council-in-2024/76712353007/
Much of life in Louisville — from how businesses are regulated to which roads get speed bumps — is legislated by the 26-member Louisville Metro Council. Every year, the council passes hundreds of pieces of legislation, from approving appointments to boards and committees to determining whether a proposed development is appropriate for its area. As 2025 approaches, The Courier Journal analyzed the last year of legislation to identify the biggest laws passed.
Eleanor McCrary, Louisville Courier Journal Reporter
From housing to public safety: Metro Council members plan to tackle these issues in 2025*
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/01/new-years-resolutions-2025-priorities-for-louisville-metro-council/76897551007/
Louisville Metro Council members are no strangers to resolutions. In 2023, nearly 40 were introduced to the council — from calling on the state legislature to let Louisville destroy confiscated firearms to requesting the city's Planning Commission review the Land Development Code. Ahead of 2025, The Courier Journal asked each council member what New Year's "resolutions," or commitments, they wanted to make to their constituents. Here's what they hope to do this year.
Eleanor McCrary, Louisville Courier Journal Reporter
*NOTE: I don't recall indicating for this story that my focus in 2025 would be on the 1983 mask ordinance. However, it is something that I am working on for consideration and debate this year (it's a carryover project of mine from 2024). My priorities are on infrastructure, our homeless crisis/housing, and crime prevention. I will be sharing more about my 2025 goal with you in future eNewsletters. Please stay tuned!
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2024) – Today, as part of her commitment to Kentucky students, First Lady Britainy Beshear announced that TeachingBooks is now available and free to use at all Kentucky schools and libraries throughout the commonwealth, as well as online from a laptop or cellphone. This website provides learning resources about approximately 100,000 books for children and young adults.
“Reading to children, either in the classroom or in our public libraries, is one of my favorite things to do,” the First Lady said. “On my visits around the state, I’ve learned that teachers, librarians and families are always looking for ways to bring stories to life for their kids, just like Andy and I loved to do for Will and Lila. That’s exactly what TeachingBooks is all about.”
TeachingBooks Now Available Across Kentucky
TeachingBooks is designed to help students from kindergarten through high school learn more about their favorite books and authors while also enhancing reading comprehension and instruction.
TeachingBooks, provided free by the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA), currently features over 376,000 resources for approximately 100,000 books for children and young adults.
To access TeachingBooks, go to TeachingBooks.net, enter a favorite book, series, author or subject in the search box, and begin exploring! Public libraries that wish to initiate customized access for their library should visit TeachingBooks.net/KYSetup. For questions about TeachingBooks, call 800-596-0710 (option 2) or email accounts@TeachingBooks.net.
Statewide TeachingBooks access is provided using existing agency funds from the Library Services Division of KDLA and is funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Starting May 7th, Kentucky driver's licenses, permits, or identification cards without a black star will not be able to be used for domestic and international air travel or to visit federal facilities that require ID, including military bases.
With this deadline fast approaching in a few months, now is the time to make sure your driver's license is compliant before then.
To ensure a smooth application process for a REAL ID, residents should make an appointment at a regional office.
Click here for a listing of regional offices and prepare by taking the IDocument Quiz or reviewing the list of valid documents to avoid any delays. The full list of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved credentials can be found here.
For more information, visit www.realidky.com.
A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now?
https://apnews.com/article/irs-covid-rebate-payments-40a089de6ebd3d42b82a7ac84a06861d
Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check. The IRS said it’s distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. People who missed one of the COVID stimulus payments or had received less than the full amount were able to claim the credit. But the IRS on Friday said it discovered many eligible taxpayers hadn’t done so.
How will this work?
Eligible taxpayers don’t have to take any action. The payments will go out automatically this month and should arrive by direct deposit or check by late January 2025. They’ll be sent to the bank account listed on the taxpayer’s 2023 return or to the address IRS has on file.
Payments will vary but the maximum amount will be $1,400 per individual. The IRS has posted information online about eligibility and how the payment was calculated.
How radon enters your home
Radon is a gas that occurs naturally from the breakdown—or the radioactive decay—of uranium. Rocks, soil, and in some cases groundwater can all contain uranium. Because radon comes from so many sources, people are easily exposed to it. Exposure can occur through breathing outdoor air, in buildings and homes, and by eating or drinking (ingestion). Radon gas can seep through cracks in buildings and expose people to the radiation, which can lead to severe health problems. The EPA lists the following ways that radon can get into buildings:
- Cracks in solid floors and walls
- Construction joints
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Gaps around service pipes
- Cavities inside walls
- The water supply
A Citizens Guide to Radon: The Guide for Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon
For information about radon levels, please see the United States Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Radon Risks Chart.
Above information is provided by the CDC.
Learn Jackie's story (video), and her experience with radon.
Find approved and certified professionals to help you:
Related Links
January brings some significant birthdays for some of the Louisville Zoo’s most beloved animals. On January 4, 2025, the Zoo celebrated polar bear Qannik (pictured above), Asian elephant Punch and western lowland gorilla Jelani’s birthdays.
This year’s celebration carries extra significance. It was Punch's last birthday at the Zoo before she and African elephant Mikki move to the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, in the spring of 2025.
Zoo guests sang “Happy Birthday,” and each animal received special celebratory enrichment items and treats:
10:45 a.m. Jelani’s 27th birthday
11:15 a.m. Qannik’s 14th birthday
11:45 a.m. Punch’s 55th birthday
For more information, you can visit the the Louisville Zoo website.
Get motivated to get organized in 2025! Learn tips, tricks, and hacks on Monday, January 6th, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, to get your space - and your life - cleaned and organized. January's program will focus on home office decluttering and paper/document organizing.
There's no better place to make pter-iffic memories playing with adorable baby Dinos, excavating fossils, or even training a raptor while being surrounded by behemoths like sky-scraping Spinosaurus and, the King himself, Tyrannosaurus rex!
Get your tickets for Friday, January 10 through Sunday, January 12 by clicking here before they go EXTINCT!
Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest, most popular Dino event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family. Observe our herd of life-size dinosaurs including Apatosaurus, Spinosaurus, and an INCREDIBLE T.rex!
With 2025 giving us all a fresh year of opportunity, we all have goals and things we want to accomplish, so to start, try your hand at this word search that's all about those resolutions!
Click here to read the social media public comment policy of the Louisville Metro Council.
Just for Fun Answers
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