A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed Louisville’s proposed settlement with the Department of Justice regarding police reforms after the DOJ withdrew its support. The DOJ’s decision, influenced by new leadership, cited concerns over the legal theories used in evaluating police departments, leading to the cancellation of proposed consent decrees for Louisville and Minneapolis. The judge’s ruling does not prevent the city from pursuing its own reforms, and Louisville has since created its own reform plan and hired an independent consulting group. Mayor Craig Greenberg remains committed to continued reform, and has begun implementing changes, including addressing open records requests.
Read More
A UPS cargo plane crashed and exploded in a massive fireball upon takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least seven people and injuring 11 others. The plane, departing for Honolulu, experienced a fire on its left wing before crashing and impacting nearby businesses. The death toll included individuals not on the aircraft, and authorities halted operations at the UPS Worldport hub while the National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation. The airport was shut down with an expected reopening for Wednesday morning.
Read More
Emergency responders are currently on the scene of a plane crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali Airport. The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. involving UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, which was en route to Honolulu. Grade Lane will be closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden, and a Shelter-In-Place order has been issued within a five-mile radius of the airport, extending north to the Ohio River. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the crash, with the NTSB taking the lead.
Read More
Body camera footage shows Louisville Lt. Caleb Stewart citing a pregnant woman experiencing homelessness for violating Kentucky’s street camping ban, even after she stated she was in labor and her water broke. Stewart expressed skepticism about her claim and issued the citation regardless of the apparent medical emergency. This incident highlights the conflict between enforcing the new law and providing compassionate care to vulnerable individuals, particularly pregnant women experiencing homelessness. The woman later gave birth to a healthy child, but the event underscores the potentially harmful consequences of criminalizing homelessness.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker