On Track

As you drive through Louisville, you see more people out shopping and dining since before the pandemic hit. But you also see more help wanted signs. While the economy has been severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, employers are practically begging people to apply for jobs. On this week’s “In Conversation” we explored with our guests what that's about. Is extra unemployment pay really causing...

In the best of times, it’s not easy being in charge of a city. And it’s fair to say, 2020 and 2021 have not been among the best of times. Mayor Greg Fischer joined us this Friday on “In Conversation,” to talk about where we’ve been, where we are, where we’re going as a city. We discussed his proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and the priorities the budget reflects. And it was one year ago t...

Travel-size bottles of hand sanitizers are going to be packed in a lot of luggage this summer. Because with higher temperatures and lower COVID-19 numbers, many are ready to chance a change of scenery.  Road trips and flights are making a big comeback and we talked to travel agents on “In Conversation” to talk about where people are going and how they plan to get there — and stay safe.  And whethe...

Whether in local jails or state prisons, at any given time there is a large number of Kentuckians behind bars — almost 30,000 at the end of 2020. This week on “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talked about incarceration with experts in the criminal justice field. We talked about policies that impact the people serving time, and what can happen when businesses give a second chance to Kentuckians...

Everyone has to eat. And whether you’re a veggie lover or meat eater, what you eat almost always starts on someone’s farm. Kentucky is home to over 75,000 farms. We unpacked whether the Kentucky farming industry is a growing field or a declining one. This week on “In Conversation,” we talked about the state of farming in Kentucky — how supply and demand have changed, what agricultural laws are in...

Last year’s Kentucky Derby was unprecedented in many ways. Instead of being run the traditional first Saturday in May in front of more than 150-thousand fans, it was held in September with no fans, because of coronavirus. And for the first time in decades, a major demonstration was held outside the grounds of Churchill Downs, demanding racial justice following the police killing of Breonna Taylor....

Kentucky continues to lead the nation in the rate of child abuse and neglect, according to the latest available data. The numbers in Indiana are also disturbingly high. We’re still learning about just how much the coronavirus pandemic has affected the incidence of abuse and neglect, but advocates have been worried over the past year, as COVID-19 has caused many children to be isolated with their a...

Whether you know your way around the garden or don’t know compost from compote, we’ve had you covered this week. What is growing in your garden this year? What challenges are sprouting, and what problems need to be uprooted? Are you still wondering where to start? This week on “In Conversation,” we talked to gardening experts to get the dirt on what you can do now to keep your garden alive and thr...

A month shy of celebrating three years at the helm of the University of Louisville, Neeli Bendapudi has spent more than a third of her time navigating uncharted waters. On this week’s “In Conversation” we talked with Bendapudi about how the city’s largest college, like every other business and institution in the area, has dealt with the impact of a global pandemic, the city’s racial protests, and...

Home is where the heart is. But if you’re struggling to make ends meet, keeping a roof over your head is probably going to be your biggest worry. COVID-19 has put a huge dent in the economy, with many renters finding out that, despite state eviction relief funding, they can still be kicked out on the streets. On “In Conversation” this Friday, we talked about the state of housing in Louisville. We...

This week is back-to-school season for the Jefferson County Public Schools. Only not with the typical excitement of getting new school supplies and seeing old friends. This comeback will be more about hybrid schedules, social distancing and plentiful bottles of hand sanitizer to mark the reunion. After a year of school shutdowns due to COVID-19, JCPS returns to in person teaching. This week on “In...

A year ago, while the world began focusing on the loss of normalcy from COVID-19, one family was living with an unimaginable loss of its own. On March 13th, 2020, Breonna Taylor was killed by Louisville Metro Police officers serving a no-knock warrant related to her ex-boyfriend, already in custody. Her name has become a national and local battle cry for police reform and accountability. This week...

This time last year, the coronavirus was already quickly spreading through parts of the world, and it wasn’t long before the first case hit our area. And then the next one. Before we could all truly grasp it, we were in the middle of a global pandemic. Every aspect of living in Louisville and the surrounding region changed, and the virus has taken a huge human toll. Tens of thousands of people hav...

Climate change and conservation and polar bears, oh my! Cute and cuddly polar bears are more than a trademark animal of a popular soft drink. Some say that polar bears have become the poster child for climate change. Our own Louisville Zoo is part of the effort to protect polar bears and educate the public about them. The zoo is a designated Arctic Ambassador Center for Polar Bears International,...

For many people, February is associated with Black History Month as closely as July is associated with Independence Day. But this year’s Black History Month lands differently. It’s the first one after national and local protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. And it’s happening as hundreds of businesses and organizations make big public statements about equity and how Bla...

There’s never a good time to be without a bed to sleep in and a safe roof over your head. But with the bitter low temperatures and a highly contagious virus running rampant through the whole world, it’s a particularly bad time. This week on “In Conversation,” we talk about homelessness and how the numbers and the issues compare to previous years. Host Rick Howlett talks to leaders of area shelters...

While some people struggle with putting on pounds during quarantine, from the luxury of deciding what food delivery to pick from, not far away, there are neighbors trying to figure out how they can afford their next meal. Food insecurity. It’s real. And it’s on the increase during a pandemic, as people with thinner wallets struggle with being able to afford the basics. Food pantries – the organiza...

This past Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and in Louisville, that means the annual Hope Breakfast. It’s a fundraiser for the Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Alpha Lambda Education Foundation.  Today on “In Conversation,” we bring you highlights from the event (which was held remotely this year): Former State Representative Charles Booker, founder of Hood to...

Tweeting a link to the Facebook post about the TikTok video they saw while scrolling through Instagram is how many people get—and share—information these days. And even if you get your news from traditional and reliable sources, like WFPL, you probably still recognize how social media is shaping conversations and influencing events. Is President Donald Trump’s ban from twitter a violation of his r...

As the old saying goes, this week, we have more news than the law allows — at a local, state, and national level. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we discuss Louisville's new chief of police, the former chief of Atlanta who stepped down in June following the police shooting of Rayshard Brooks. We'll talk with WFPL's Amina Elahi about what we know about the new chief, and how the community is resp...

Vaccines, vaccines, vaccines! As COVID-19 vaccines hit Louisville and the rest of the country this week it’s the topic everywhere you turn. The first light at the end of a still long and dark tunnel brings as many questions as it does hope. On this week’s “In Conversation” we have experts answering your questions about distribution, access and reliability. Also, we talk about who is skeptical abou...

Racial integration by school assignment has been a large part of the public school system struggle in America since the days of legal segregation. Louisville’s public school system is part of that history. For decades, Jefferson County Public Schools has assigned students from Louisville’s majority Black and low-income West End to schools in whiter suburbs. It’s how the district has maintained rel...

Coronavirus cases continue to surge around the country and here in the commonwealth, and we're all starting to come to terms with how different our holiday celebrations will have to look this year. On Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear said Thanksgiving gatherings in Kentucky shouldn't include more than eight people, coming from only two different households. But what if you have family members who...

Last week, the Louisville Metro Council approved a new police union contract. The vote was divided 16 to 10 and many consider the contract controversial. For example, opponents question whether it provides sufficient accountability and transparency when officers are under investigation. The contract also raises the starting salaries of police officers from about $35,000 to $45,000. It’s a three-ye...

With COVID-19 as a backdrop, the 2020 general election had Americans voting in record numbers. Because of the pandemic, voters across the country and here in Kentucky and Indiana cast their ballots through early voting, drop-off voting, mail-in voting, and traditionally, in person on Election Day. Some answers we had right away, such as Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell beating Democratic chall...