On Track

With a global pandemic, a tumultuous election season, and widespread racial justice protests, it’s safe to say that the past two years have brought about unprecedented change and chaos. Or is it unprecedented? On this week’s “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talked with historians about how the events of 2020 and 2021 could be viewed and talked about by historians and students of history for yea...

It's been almost a week since tornadoes hit western part of the commonwealth. The storms killed over 70 Kentuckians and reduced whole communities to rubble. On this week's show, we hear from WKMS's Derek Operle and WFPL's Ryan Van Velzer, some of the reporters who have been our eyes and ears on the ground in places like Mayfield and Dawson Springs. We check in with WEKU's Corinne Boyer, who's been...

The phrase "thoughts and prayers" has become overused almost to the point of cliché, but using faith and prayer as a tool to get through hardship is as old as recorded history. This week on "In Conversation," we explored the role of religion in healing from the traumatic events of 2020 — a particularly poignant question to ponder here in Louisville, where protesters spent a good part of last year...

Veterans Day is about honoring our heroes and showing support for our soldiers. There are ceremonies and parades, and special offers for veterans to thank them. But military service is a tough and sometimes thankless job. And the challenges servicemembers face don’t always end when they return to civilian life. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, on average, about 18 vet...

Watch out, bourbon and horse racing, the auto industry is catching up to be one of the things Kentucky is most known for. More than 500 automotive-related companies reside in Kentucky. And Gov. Andy Beshear announced last month that Ford Motor Company selected Glendale for a $5.8 billion project to build two battery plants, which are expected to create 5,000 jobs. This week on “In Conversation” wi...

When news spread across the city that 16-year-old Tyree Smith was shot and killed in a random shooting while waiting for his school bus, the reality of gun violence shook the city. Almost daily, it feels as if the Louisville community wakes up or goes to sleep hearing about a new violent crime. And we’re not alone. Gun violence sweeps through all parts of the country. Hearing so much about violenc...

Policing and police reform have had a particularly bright spotlight on them in recent years, and the Louisville Metro Police Department has gotten more than its share of attention.  At one point, Louisville aspired to “model city” status when it came to policing. Five years later, the killing of Breonna Taylor and then David McAtee stamped out that hope, as the relationship between LMPD and Louisv...

Abortion, guns, and religious liberty. Few issues are more hot button than these. And in its current term, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear cases involving all three. Because the topics are complicated but important, on this week’s show two law professors helped us sort through them: Sam Marcosson, Professor at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, and Melissa Murray, Professor of L...

More than 6 million Americans over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s Disease, making it the most common form of dementia. Dementia, in any form, interferes with cognitive function, memory and personality. It can dramatically affect the life of the person with it, and their loved ones who serve as caretakers.  According to the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s...

If you're a renter trying to keep a roof over your head or a landlord relying on housing income, these last few months have been particularly unsettling. The federal moratorium on evictions has ended, and even with financial assistance available, it’s a confusing and stressful time. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we discussed the current state of evictions and utility shutoffs in Louisville and...

The most recent census numbers show more than seventy-five thousand Asian-American folks live in Kentucky, and a new podcast seeks to share their stories and experiences. “Where Y’all Really From” is the first show to come out of the Louisville Public Media podcast incubator, and three of its four co-creators join us this week to tell us all about it. We also check in with WFPL City Editor Amina E...

Muhammad Ali, Louisville’s favorite son, left a big footprint on the world. It’s about to become bigger with the new eight-part documentary produced by filmmaker Ken Burns that premieres this weekend on PBS. Burns brings his storytelling eye to the life and legacy of Ali, as he has done with a wide variety of subjects over the years, including wars, sports, and music. This week in Louisville there...

Usually, the word anniversary brings to mind celebrations. Commemorating happy occasions. The marking of a precious moment in time. But remembering 9/11 is different. Yes, it’s the anniversary of the date on a calendar. But it was also a complicated historical event — an attack on American soil that still resonates two decades later.  This week on “In Conversation,” we talked about what it means t...

If you work for a living, figuring out how to live and work during COVID-19 has been no small job. Some are still wrestling with working remotely and staying productive when the commute to work involves passing the television set. Others are working from home while also learning how to homeschool their kids. Many are front-line workers juggling a deadly pandemic, personal politics and PPE mandates...

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a regular back-to-school season for our children. And unfortunately, this year’s return still has personal protective masks on the school supplies list. When COVID-19 first started, many of the most severe cases were in older people. With the delta variant, data shows an increasing number of kids not just testing positive, but more having to go to the hospital...

For a moment in time, it seemed as if we were getting COVID-19 under control. But then the delta variant moved in with a swiftness, and now many of us have more questions than reliable answers. On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked with Dr. Jon Klein from UofL's School of Medicine about what Louisville and the Ohio Valley Region need to know about the delta variant. How does a...

It’s about to get fancy up in here. Fancy Farm Picnic, that is.  The Fancy Farm Picnic is considered the Super Bowl of Kentucky politics. Or as former WFPL Morning Edition host Jonathan Bastian described it in 2013, “enflamed politicians shaking their fists in the air; partisan crowds engulfing each other with heckles and howls; the smell of dead pigs thicker than the humidity; and perhaps the mos...

As the Kentucky  horse racing industry gallops toward the future, scandals plague the field, and changes might be just around the next turn. This week on “In Conversation,” we discussed the state of the thoroughbred horse racing industry. We talked to insiders about what might be next for the sport, and what they think could be improved. 

It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy. At least if you have good books to read, gardening to do, and social media fights to get into. This week, we listened to a few “In Conversation” discussions from earlier this year. Two Louisville librarians recommended summer reads for both adults and children. A panel of gardeners give advice on potting and planting. And First Amendment experts talk about t...

This week we talked to Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) about what is happening in Washington, D.C. as it impacts Kentucky. Host Rick Howlett discussed various issues with Yarmuth, who represents the state’s 3rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives and who serves as the chair of the House Budget Committee. Issues unpacked included working with the Biden administration, the...

The most recognizable “face” of a college or university can often be a popular athlete. Yet, until recently, the athletes haven’t been able to earn money from being unofficial ambassadors. But college athletes now get to profit from endorsements, sponsorships, appearances, marketing opportunities or just being able to tutor for extra cash. Last month, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the N...

Food, food, food — that’s what Friday’s show was all about. And it’s just in time for a three-day We started off with grilling tips from local BBQ master Chan Nelson who followed his dream of turning his food truck into a restaurant. Host Rick Howlett got some tips on how to make your own pork, beef and chicken stack up at weekend barbecues. Then we talked to local food writers Robin Garr, Lindsay...

No matter what community you come from — city, suburb, or rural — you probably know where the local library is. This week on “In Conversation” we talked with Lee Burchfield, director of the Louisville Free Public Library. We discussed the state of the library system — such as finances and government allocations, ongoing negotiations with the library employees, and what new norms are in place for c...

June is a month of commemoration and celebration. For the first time this year, Louisville Metro Government employees had Juneteenth off work, to commemorate enslaved people being freed as part of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth originated in Texas, and has increased in popularity throughout the country. Several citywide events were planned last week in celebration, and we learned more a...

Live music. Live theatre. Live events. Being able to attend shows, performances and other events in person is part of the long-awaited leap from pandemic life to a summer that resembles the old normal. On this week’s show we talked to community arts leaders about what’s new, what’s coming back and what the trends are nationally and locally for reopening the arts. Our guests included Andre Kimo Sto...