Apr 8 Education At Risk: Once Persistently Truant, Louisville Student Begins Routinely Attending Classes A year ago, WFPL dedicated several months of reporting to exploring the lives and circumstances of Louisville’s at-risk students. The resultant documentary, At Risk: Louisville’s Daunting Education Challenge, aired in May 2014; you can listen to it below. Nearly a year later, we’re revisiting the students in the documentary. Ashley Taylor missed more than 50 days […] By Devin Katayama Apr 8 Education At Risk: Once Persistently Truant, Louisville Student Begins Routinely Attending Classes Devin Katayama
Apr 7 Education At Risk: Classroom Misbehavior Subsides, But Struggles Remain For Young Louisville Student A year ago, WFPL dedicated several months of reporting to exploring the lives and circumstances of Louisville’s at-risk students. The resultant documentary, At Risk: Louisville’s Daunting Education Challenge, aired in May 2014; you can listen to it below. Nearly a year later, we’re revisiting the students in the documentary. At home recently, Bryan Bishop got a phone […] By Devin Katayama Apr 7 Education At Risk: Classroom Misbehavior Subsides, But Struggles Remain For Young Louisville Student Devin Katayama
Apr 5 Education At Risk: Nearly a Year on Her Own, Shantasia Durr Still Seeks to Find Her Own Way A year ago, WFPL dedicated several months of reporting to exploring the lives and circumstances of Louisville’s at-risk students. The resultant documentary, At-Risk: Louisville’s Daunting Education Challenge, aired in May 2014; you can listen to it below. Nearly a year later, we’re revisiting the students in the documentary. Shantasia Durr was first institutionalized at age 5. […] By Devin Katayama Apr 5 Education At Risk: Nearly a Year on Her Own, Shantasia Durr Still Seeks to Find Her Own Way Devin Katayama
Apr 1 Education Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday to Retire Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says he will retire on Aug. 31 of this year. Holliday’s decision was announced this morning at the monthly Kentucky Board of Education meeting in Frankfort. In a letter read by chairman Roger Marcum, Holliday said, “I am humbled and very proud to end my 43 years in public education […] By Devin Katayama Apr 1 Education Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday to Retire Devin Katayama
Mar 23 Education Kentucky Students Protest Politics In a Bill They Helped Craft A group of Kentucky students has planned to rally on the steps of the state capitol Monday to encourage lawmakers to pass a bill they helped craft–and which has become a victim of the political process. The students want to change the law to allow students to serve on the committees that screen superintendent candidates before school boards […] By Devin Katayama Mar 23 Education Kentucky Students Protest Politics In a Bill They Helped Craft Devin Katayama
Mar 20 Community Louisville Ranks 11th Among Major U.S. Cities For LGBT Population, Gallup Poll Says Louisville has the 11th highest rate of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender among the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., according to a Gallup survey released Friday. Louisville’s rate also beats out major neighboring cities including Cincinnati, Nashville, Indianapolis and St. Louis and Columbus, Ohio. The New York Times calls this survey the […] By Devin Katayama Mar 20 Community Louisville Ranks 11th Among Major U.S. Cities For LGBT Population, Gallup Poll Says Devin Katayama
Mar 19 Community What NCAA Fans Should Know About Parking In Downtown Louisville Because melting snow and heavy rain have caused flooding around the Louisville waterfront, city officials are urging fans heading to the KFC Yum Center for NCAA Tournament games this week to arrive early. “There are still a number of parking spaces that are flooded. A number of roadways that are blocked or closed and construction as well,” […] By Devin Katayama Mar 19 Community What NCAA Fans Should Know About Parking In Downtown Louisville Devin Katayama
Mar 18 Community Louisville-Based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage The Louisville-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will recognize same-sex marriage for all of its congregations. The top Presbyterian legislative body endorsed the new wording last year, but amending the church’s constitution required approval from the majority of regional bodies, called presbyteries. That majority was reached Tuesday with a favorable vote by New Jersey’s Presbytery of the Palisades, […] By Devin Katayama Mar 18 Community Louisville-Based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage Devin Katayama
Mar 17 Arts and Culture Meet Kentucky’s Next Poet Laureate: George Ella Lyon Kentucky’s new poet laureate will be freelance writer and teacher who is originally from Harlan County. George Ella Lyon will succeed Frank X Walker, who was appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear in 2013. Lyon has written more than 40 books, including the poetry collections “Mountain,” which won the Lamont Hall Award in 1983, and “Catalpa,” […] By Devin Katayama Mar 17 Arts and Culture Meet Kentucky’s Next Poet Laureate: George Ella Lyon Devin Katayama
Mar 16 Local News When Will The Ohio River Recede? Forecasters Say Late Thursday Forecasters expect the Ohio River to remain above the flood stage for most of this week after reaching its highest level in two decades on Sunday morning. “The worst of the flooding is what you have right now,” the National Weather Service’s Robert Szappamos said Monday morning. “Over the next few days [the river] will begin […] By Devin Katayama Mar 16 Local News When Will The Ohio River Recede? Forecasters Say Late Thursday Devin Katayama
Mar 16 Community Louisville Hosts Its Last Regional Braille Competition Before English Code Changes On Monday, 37 Kentucky students will participate in one of several regional Braille competitions happening around the country; it’s the last year students will use the current Braille code before the U.S. aligns its code with all other English speaking countries. “Braille is not a language. Braille is a code,” said Janie Blome, director of Field Services […] By Devin Katayama Mar 16 Community Louisville Hosts Its Last Regional Braille Competition Before English Code Changes Devin Katayama
Mar 16 Education 5 Louisville Elementary Schools Challenge What Report Cards Look Like What does an A on a report card represent? For most students it’s a mix of homework assignments, class participation, projects, maybe even a little extra credit. But if a student doesn’t complete his or her homework but can master the material, what grade does that student deserve? Principals in five Jefferson County public elementary schools are experimenting with […] By Devin Katayama Mar 16 Education 5 Louisville Elementary Schools Challenge What Report Cards Look Like Devin Katayama
Mar 13 Education Kentucky Community and Technical College System Freezes Tuition in 2015-2016 The Kentucky Community and Technical College System will keep its tuition the same for the next academic year. In the first tuition-rate decision of President Jay Box’s tenure, the KCTCS Board of Regents voted Friday to repeal its decision this summer to raise tuition. Box took over the role in January. The vote means in-state students will pay $147 per […] By Devin Katayama Mar 13 Education Kentucky Community and Technical College System Freezes Tuition in 2015-2016 Devin Katayama
Mar 10 Education Louisville Adult Education Teacher Wins National Recognition Kitty Head remembers asking one of her adult education students years ago what his plans were for Thanksgiving. The man had been homeless and said he didn’t have any friends or family to spend time with during the holiday. Head invited the man to spend time with her family. She became his advocate, helping set […] By Devin Katayama Mar 10 Education Louisville Adult Education Teacher Wins National Recognition Devin Katayama
Mar 9 Community The Frustrations of Navigating a Snow-Covered Louisville in a Wheelchair Warmer weather has moved into Louisville after bleak weeks of snow, ice and cold—paths are clear of slick conditions for drivers and walkers alike. But getting around Louisville can pose difficulties for people with disabilities, regardless of the weather. This is true for Connie Light. Light, 70, used to be able to walk until a car […] By Devin Katayama Mar 9 Community The Frustrations of Navigating a Snow-Covered Louisville in a Wheelchair Devin Katayama