Tagged: Louisville

What makes a Louisville neighborhood safe?

Community activist Anthony Smith hopes to answer that in his new Metro government role aimed at crime prevention.

The city's director of Safe Neighborhoods was created as a result of the violence prevention task force, which submitted a report containing over six dozen recommendations in response to a brazen triple homicide last year.

Since that shooting spree onlookers have awaited to see if the work group's plan will be more than just another study.

Smith is a Louisville native who acknowledges residents are impatient when it comes to previous promises to help improve dangerous areas.

"There's always going to be this idea around are we doing enough as a city and are we moving fast enough," he says. "And I think we've got to understand this is a long-term situation—we didn't get here overnight so it's not something you can just put some programs in place and it's all gone."

The Transit Authority of River City is conducting a series of random passenger surveys on buses over the next two months to gain information about travel patterns and rider needs.

Passengers on bus trips included in the scientific survey will be asked to complete a brief written questionnaire.

The poll will begin April 15 and additional passenger surveys will also be conducted in mid-May.

Louisville looks to have a wet Christmas night -- and maybe snow on Wednesday.

Rain is expected to move into the Louisville area Tuesday evening, and the precipitation would stay until Wednesday evening, said Tom Reaugh, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. The temperature will drop through Wednesday, which means the rain would transition to snowfall as the day goes on.

For more than 20 years, Louisville artist Ed White has led River City Drum Corps to teach children and young adults about the arts.

The program centers on African drumming and also helps at-risk with leadership skills. Participants are also challenged to find materials in their own neighborhoods to make their “pipe drums” for their first performance.

White was recently recognized for his work by the California-based United States Artists, and awarded a hefty $50,000 grant.

But while hundreds of young people have come through his doors to learn music and life lessons, White still faces budget cuts in his native-Louisville.