The News You Need To Know This Week In Louisville (8/25-8/31)

1. University of Kentucky Ditches DEI

The University of Kentucky is abandoning its Office for Institutional Diversity, which supported programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). UK President Eli Capilouto said in an email to UK’s staff that no one will lose their job as a result of the disbandment of this office, and that many other offices will absorb people and services, including a new office called the Office for Community Relations.

2. Updated COVID-19 Vaccine To Be Widely Distributed To Kentuckians

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine To Be Widely Distributed To Kentuckians With a spike in COVID-19 infections as schools are back in full swing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have begun distributing an updated COVID-19 vaccine to combat a new dominant variant. According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, there have been over 4,000 positive COVID-19 tests across the Commonwealth in August, with 2,000 more positive cases recorded in just the last seven-day period.

3. US DOJ Alleges Kentucky Is Breaking Federal Law With Lack Of Mental Health Services In Louisville

US DOJ Alleges Kentucky Is Breaking Federal Law With Lack Of Mental Health Services In Louisville On Tuesday, August 27, the United States Department of Justice said it has “reasonable cause to believe” that Kentucky is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the Louisville metro area for segregating adults with mental illness into psychiatric hospitals instead of providing care in integrated community settings. According to the DOJ, every year, thousands of people are admitted to psychiatric hospitals in Louisville, with more than a thousand people experiencing multiple admissions to these “restrictive and often traumatizing settings,” the DOJ said in its statement.

4. JCPS Bus Stipend Begins For Families Affected By New Routes. Only Some Families Are Able To Sign Up

Jefferson County Public Schools are now giving out bus stipends to JCPS families, however only some families are able to sign up. The stipends are for more than 21,000 families who were affected by the latest change in busing routes from JCPS. Those families, whose children attend magnet, traditional or non-resides academies of Louisville are now having to drive their kids to school instead of sending them on buses to school. The pilot program for stipends currently only includes Butler High, Carter Elementary, Foster Academy, Newburg Middle and Valley High Schools. Families of children who attend other schools currently cannot access the stipend that would alleviate the financial burden of transporting their kids to school.

5. Tickets For “Boo At The Zoo” Are Now On Sale

The Louisville Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” is back with its 43rd annual merry, and not so scary fun. Tickets are on sale now for the event at louisvillezoo.org/boo for $13.50 for all non-members 3 and older, with tickets costing $7 for members 3 and older. Every admission ticket for kids 2 and under are free for this event. The event is a Louisville tradition, with festivities starting earlier than usual on Sept. 28, and running until Oct. 27.

6. Louisville Democrats Ask Rep. Daniel Grossberg To Sit Out Events While Investigation Underway

Louisville’s Democratic Party has asked Rep. Daniel Grossberg to “refrain from participating” in party events in the city during his ongoing harassment investigation. Grossberg, who represents District 30, has been under investigation for many allegations including inappropriate text messages to women by the Legislative Ethics Commission. He has been removed from all of his interim committee and suspended from the House Democratic Caucus.

7. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Celebrated With Gov. Andy Beshear

Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear held an event on Tuesday, August 27, celebrating Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library expansion across the entire state. The Imagination Library of Kentucky mails books monthly to children 5 and under for free. The program began in 1995, and has expanded to dozens of countries around the world.

8. Kentucky's School Safety Risk Assessment Report Brings Good News

The Kentucky Office of the State Schools Security Marshal released its yearly report indicating which schools across Kentucky are following statutory safety standards that were passed in 2022. In the latest School Safety Risk Assessment Report, Kentucky showed a 99.81% following rate for the state’s requirements, which equates to 1,325 schools in compliance with the School Safety and Resiliency Act, known as House Bill 63, which was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear (D) in 2022.