Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was reelected to a second term last month. He sat down with Kentucky Public Radio’s Joe Sonka this week in the state reception room of the Capitol Building in Frankfort to discuss his electoral success, his relationship with Republican lawmakers ahead of the 2024 session and whether he will now comment more on national issues.

It's been 20 years since the governments of Louisville and Jefferson County merged, and residents continue to feel the impacts today. In this special, Roberto Roldan, City Politics and Government Reporter for LPM, talks to guests to take a look at the challenges the newly-merged government faced and how it managed them.

Some of you may have wondered what happened to the “In Conversation” talk show. And some of you, who read and hear our news on LPM or WFPL already know. In August, our host, colleague and friend Rick Howlett passed away from cancer. Senior producer Laura Ellis who worked with Rick for years, including on the “In Conversation” team, wrote a lovely tribute about him. Since Rick was co-creator of “In Conversation,” and its only host since it launched in January 2019, we are left with a Rick-sized hole. But he also leaves us inspired to carry on with programming that reflects his passion for examining the news, encouraging community engagement, and contributing to public discourse in a way that makes us better together. In the spirit of sharing the kind of work you value as an “In Conversation” listener, here is the documentary “Dirty Business,” from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Our journalists uncover the true cost of cleaning up after the eastern Kentucky floods, including how unfinished work can set up more problems the next time there’s extreme weather.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is all over the headlines these days. But it's not as new as you might think it is. Ever start to look something up and your phone autofills the rest of the word for you? Have you played one of those Facebook games that makes you look like your pet, or a Renaissance painting? Do you ask Siri or Alexa to add something to your grocery list so you won't forget it? Then you've been using artificial intelligence. This week on "In Conversation," we talked about how AI works, how it's already become part of many industries, and of course, the ethical implications that accompany its use.

Affirmative action is a loaded term with a weighty history. Now that the Supreme Court has eliminated race-conscious admissions decisions for higher education, what’s next? On this week’s “In Conversation,” we unpacked the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling, what equity goals for higher education look like now, and whether eliminating affirmative action in higher education could foreshadow similar changes in the workplace.

When The New York Times recommended their top 52 destination spots for this year, Louisville landed smack between cities in Greece and Brazil and even outranked some places in Italy and Spain. Tourism is big business in Louisville, and this week on “In Conversation,” we’ll meet some of the folks working to make sure business keeps booming. We took a look at downtown tourism and measures to get more Louisvillians from outlying areas to venture back for museums, dinners and shows. And we checked on the outlook for the rest of 2023, as our hospitality industry still attempts to rebound from the early days of COVID-19.

In March, the Kentucky General Assembly voted to make use of medical marijuana legal, effective 2025. They also passed a law that will allow racetracks to become licensed sports betting facilities. Experts and journalists joined us to talk through how each of those laws could affect the commonwealth.

Juneteenth can be a complicated holiday. It’s an official holiday of celebration — rejoicing in enslaved people being freed as part of the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s also a reminder that many enslaved people were not informed about slavery’s end until years later. On “In Conversation” this week we talk about the origins of the holiday and what Juneteenth means in a modern context. We also let you know about upcoming Juneteenth events in Louisville and in Oldham County.

School's out, pools are open, and you might be wondering which novel or biography to grab on your way to the park. We've got you covered! This week on "In Conversation," guests from the Louisville Free Public Library and Carmichael’s Bookstore helped you make the perfect summer reading list. We got philosophical about what makes a book great for summer. And we asked some young readers what they're excited to page through before school's back in. This episode was made possible in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund.

It’s our fourth spring living with COVID-19, and pretty much everywhere you go, it looks like it’s over. Fewer people are masking, and you're less likely to be asked for proof of vaccination. But are we actually past the pandemic? With a downward trend in numbers, the World Health Organization has declared that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency. And national emergency status in the U.S. ends this week thanks to a bipartisan resolution signed by President Joe Biden. That means, for example, your insurance company no longer has to cover diagnostic testing, including at-home testing kits. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked with doctors about where we are with a global pandemic that literally changed the world in March, 2020.

On this episode, we look at who’s hot and who’s not in this year's Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. Ed DeRosa, Vice President of Content at Horse Racing Nation, and Kellie Reilly, who writes for Churchill Downs, Inc. help us make sense of our racing programs and figure out where the smart money is this weekend. And we’ll talk with Louisville author and poet Hannah Drake about her poem “Home,” which was commissioned by the non-profit organization Kentucky to the World as a response to the controversial state song “My Old Kentucky Home.”

May is National Foster Care Month. So on this week’s “In Conversation” we'll learned about the state of foster care in Kentucky and what children here need. We also talked about the shortage of foster parents in Kentucky, how it affects kids in the system, and what could encourage more people to give it a try.

In Kentucky, suicide is the second leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults. This week on “In Conversation,” we aimed to understand why, and what we can all do to help bring the numbers down. Experts helped us untangle this complex health crisis about how to support the young people in your life. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by phone at 988, or online at 988lifeline.org. You can also contact the Trevor Project, which provides free, confidential counselors who specialize in helping LGBTQ youth.

This week on "In Conversation," we talk through the events surrounding a mass shooting in Louisville on Monday morning. Reporters who have been covering the shooting and its aftermath give us context about gun laws and gun violence in our city. And mental health professionals share practical advice on recovering from the trauma and secondary trauma of community violence.

It’s just a few weeks before Derby Day in Louisville, and you know what that means: almost time to start tending to your spring garden. This week on “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to gardening experts about what to plant in your soil. From first-timers trying to begin a begonia, to experts who want to make it rain with vegetables, plants, shrubs and trees, no question is too big or small for our troubleshooters.

Senate Bill 150, passed this month by Kentucky state legislators, has been dubbed the worst anti-trans bill in the country. Although Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear vetoed the bill, the majority-Republican legislature voted to override the veto. And Kentucky’s not the only state grappling with laws like this. Over 120 bills have been introduced across the country this year affecting LGBTQ people—many focused on the rights of transgender children and their parents. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we discussed legislative measures focused on transgender kids, here in the Commonwealth and across the country.

If it’s March in these parts, it means you’re going to hear about two things: getting back on your allergy medications and filling out brackets for the NCAA basketball tournaments. This week on “In Conversation,” we talked about who can win, who will wither in the first round, and the art of bracketology. If you’re still doing your research, here are the brackets for the men’s NCAA tournament and the women’s NCAA tournament.

Sleep: The final frontier. Or that’s what it feels like when you have trouble drifting off. And while sleep may do a body good, half of all adults have dealt with insomnia at one time or another, and one in 10 experience chronic insomnia. On this week’s “In Conversation,” in honor of Sleep Awareness Week starting on March 12, we discussed how to get better sleep, how sleep impacts our health, and how sleep-deprived bodies interact with the world—including children who have to get up at the crack of dawn to stand on a bus stop. We also unpacked the results of the Department of Justice’s investigation of the Louisville Metro Police Department.

The Great Resignation. Quiet quitting. Remote vs. in-person. Workplace trends we haven’t even heard of yet. COVID-19 and its aftermath changed how people view their jobs, and even their careers. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked about the workplace trends and conditions that impact everything from how someone leaves a job to whether your living room has become your permanent home office.

Love songs have a way of distilling all the exciting, confusing, thrilling feelings of falling for someone into a perfect three and a half minutes of clarity. They say things more artfully than you can express them yourself, and make such a strong impression that hearing the opening notes, even years later, can take you right back to when you fell in love. Of course that also means that if the relationship doesn't last, the song might be ruined forever by your lousy ex. Just in time for Valentines Day, "In Conversation" is exploring what makes a great love song... and a great breakup song. Do you and your sweetheart have a special song that always brings you back together? When you're unlucky in love, do you like to wallow with sad songs, or do you prefer to scream-sing along with angry rock?

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are the basics of a good education. So is basic civics, like the three pillars of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. But are students still taught civics? And how do teachers approach it in the wake of the Jan. 6th insurrection, continued 2020 election denial, and the protracted vote to make Kevin McCarthy speaker of the House of Representatives? On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked to education experts about how threats to democracy influence the way today’s students are being taught civics, and the impact on society when many don’t know how their local, state, and federal governments work.

Between natural disasters, and unexpected emergencies like gas leaks or lengthy blackouts, life can change in an instant. How do you best prepare for disruptions out of your control, yet not live in a state of fear or paranoia? On this week’s “In Conversation,” we spoke to experts about how to prepare for the worst, at home and elsewhere. How much food should you store? What items should you keep on hand in case there are community-wide outages? What should you keep in your car in case weather leaves you stranded?

The Kentucky General Assembly is covering a lot this session, including a possible tax rate cut, medical marijuana, and flood recovery funds to Eastern Kentucky. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we speak to journalists about what this year’s legislative session in Frankfort looks like, and how it could affect you.

This is the time of the year when we all worry about catching a cold, as the weather stays colder and the gatherings increase. But this winter, we’re worrying not just about avoiding common cold sniffles, but also what public health experts have dubbed a tridemic or tripledemic:  a surge of the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (“RSV”) at roughly the same time.  On this week’s “In Conversation,” we spoke to doctors about how the tripledemic is affecting our community and what we can do to avoid it. We also talk about other health risks that increase this time of the year.

Emails. Calls. Texts. Social media. All are easy entry points for scammers to try to get your money this time of the year. Or maybe you’re doing some holiday shopping online, you pay, and your items never show up. The FBI says that’s one of the biggest scams to look out for this time of year. This week on “In Conversation,” experts told us how scams work, how to spot one, and how to protect yourself from getting a bite in the wallet as you try to shop and celebrate the Winter holidays.

Recently in Kentucky, we’ve seen how hate speech can lead to real consequences. In Louisville, some called for a boycott against restaurants co-owned by Fernando Martinez, after he shared homophobic Facebook posts making fun of the attack on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi. And at the University of Kentucky, a student was expelled and banned from campus after attacking a Black student while repeatedly calling her the n-word. This week, on “In Conversation,” we talked to experts to unpack the legal and business ramifications of engaging in hate speech, and the psychological toll it takes to be on the receiving end of it.

Whether you’re talking turkey or planning for a plant-based feast, putting a holiday meal on the table costs more than it used to. How do you save cash and spend wisely during the holiday season as creeping inflation and higher prices strain budgets? Host Rick Howlett spoke to financial experts to for an overview of how the economic forecast looks, and get tips and advice on how to financially navigate the start of the winter holidays. 

Between yard signs, television commercials, texts, calls, and emails, y’all know what time it is: election season.  And with a number of school elections, local elections, and state seats up for grabs, this week’s “In Conversation” has you covered.  Host Rick Howlett talked to the Louisville Public Media journalists who have been covering the elections: Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Reporter Divya Karthikeyan WFPL Education and Learning Reporter Jess Clark WFPL City Politics and Government Reporter Roberto Roldan WFPL Managing Editor for Collaboratives Ryland Barton Justin Hicks, Data Reporter for WFPL and the Ohio Valley ReSource They are among the team who put together the 2022 Voter Guide from LPM.

Of the more than 76,000 agricultural operations in Kentucky, fewer than one percent are owned by Black farmers. But it wasn’t always like this. Nationwide, Black farmers have seen a 98% reduction in ownership in the last century — and efforts to help them maintain their farms have been watered down, leading to a class action suit against the federal government.  On this week’s “In Conversation” we talked with Black Kentucky farmers about their experiences and insights. But first we checked in with WFPL health reporter Aprile Rickert and education reporter Jess Clark, who have been analyzing school immunization data across the city. Turns out, the vast majority of schools fall far below the state's target vaccination rates, leaving many classrooms at risk.

Sadiqa Reynolds.  You may know her as president of the Urban League’s Louisville chapter for the past seven years. Maybe you heard her calming civic leadership during the protests over the killing of Breonna Taylor by police and David McAtee by a National Guard bullet. Or maybe you’ve seen stories about the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, the $53 million athletic facility that opened in the West End in 2021 with Reynolds at the fundraising helm. On issues of justice and equity in Louisville, you probably know of Reynolds’ impact. This week on “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett sat down to talk with Sadiqa Reynolds, who exits her Urban League presidency this month. We’ll reflect on her accomplishments, her challenges, her legacy, and her next chapter.

Trees are more than just pretty. They provide a range of environmental, economic, and psychological benefits. They reduce stormwater runoff and improve our physical and mental health. This week on “In Conversation,” we talked about Tree Week in Louisville, which starts Saturday. We talked with people from TreesLouisville, a local organization dedicated to preserving the city's tree canopy. We also checked in with the city’s Urban Forestry department, and learned how to care for the trees on our own property from a tree maintenance expert.

From figuring out your financial readiness and understanding market rates to learning more than you want to know about roofs and property lines, buying and owning a house is an ongoing education. This week, we discuss the basics of buying a house, like checking out interest rates, and figuring out how much house your paycheck and credit can afford. Our panel will tell you how to figure out what’s really important to you in a home—what are your musts, and what are your dealbreakers? We’ll also talk about home maintenance and repair, and learn about programs for first-time homeowners and people who need help making repairs. It’s part of our month-long focus on home and housing.

To paraphrase the song, a house can be more than a home. Our homes are our shelter, but they also contribute to our identities.  This week on “In Conversation,” we discussed home as a part of our personal identity in ways that can comfort us and challenge us. We also talked about how some of us look at Louisville a little differently since the killing of Breonna Taylor in her home by the Louisville Metro Police Department.  It’s part of our month-long focus on home and housing; and we also talked about the new Louisville Magazine issue that focuses on home, produced in collaboration with Louisville Public Media. Visit this link to share how you view home in Louisville. 

Home is home whether you own your real estate or rent it. But renters do have different considerations. This week on “In Conversation,” we discussed the good, the bad, and the ugly of renting a house or an apartment in this city. Joining us in this conversation were Adeshina Emmanuel and Jacob Ryan from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting who are doing a project on rental inequities in Louisville. This episode is part of our month-long focus on home and housing.

This week on “In Conversation,” we talked about Louisville’s refugee community, who come from more than 15 countries around the world.  We talked to Louisville refugees about how they came to call Louisville home, and meet advocates whose organizations try to make the transition easier. It’s part of our month-long focus on what it means to call a place “home.”

It would probably be an overreach to say that everyone likes the state fair. But not a big one. People like the food, the rides, the exhibitions, and the animals. We can’t forget the animals. This week on “In Conversation” we did our broadcast from the Kentucky State Fair. We talked to people who told us more about the cool things to see, eat, and do at the fair, and hear why the fair remains important to Kentucky’s farmers and the agriculture industry.

If you have a job and also have young children, you know the rock and the hard place of needing good and affordable child care so you can go to work to pay your bills.  On this week’s “In Conversation” we explored solutions to juggling parenting and holding down a job. That included a look at Kentucky House Bill 499, which creates a pilot program that provides incentives for employers to contribute to the child care costs of employees. 

It’s that political time of the year in Kentucky – Fancy Farm. Where politicians go to stump and signal their policy positions, and others go to partake of mutton, pulled pork, and other picnic goodies. This week on “In Conversation” we discussed what’s new with this year’s Fancy Farm, and learned more about the history of the 142 year-old event. We also got an update on the deadly flooding in Eastern Kentucky and heard more about how recovery and rescue are going.

Even a lot of adults get a little giddy at the sight of all the back-to-school supplies hitting the front of stores. New pens and notebooks, lunch bags and backpacks seem full of possibility. But today’s students go into this school year after a summer of stressors. Mass shootings, inflation, mutating variants of COVID-19, and the hot impact of climate change combine into an anxiety-producing backdrop. This week on “In Conversation,” we learned about the upcoming school year at Jefferson County Public Schools, national education and school trends, and how to help students deal with the psychological impact of so much negative news. We also heard from children about what they are looking forward to. 

Reproductive rights have been front and center lately, including rhetoric about the United States' relatively high rate of death during pregnancy and birth. And it's true, the U.S. does have a higher pregnancy-related mortality rate than many comparable countries. As with most health problems, people of color are affected disproportionately, and CDC data shows racial disparities in pregnancy outcomes are getting worse. With all this in mind, let's talk solutions. What factors contribute to poor health outcomes during pregnancy, and how can they be mitigated? What can you do to have the healthiest pregnancy and birth outcome possible? And who in our community is stepping up to help? We explored it this week on "In Conversation," with Dr. Edward Miller, a maternal-fetal medicine physician and high-risk obstetrician with U of L Health, doula Meka Kpoh, who's the executive director and founder of Black Birth Justice, and more.

Animal shelters in Louisville have been at capacity, prompting some to try to recruit foster more homes, and even waive their adoption fees. What's behind this surge in the homeless pet population? Are these the pandemic puppies and kitties whose families don't have time for them anymore? Has there been a decrease in spaying and neutering, leading to too many litters? We dived into it this week on "In Conversation," with folks from local animal rescue organizations. And we had a trainer on hand to answer your questions, in case your pet's behavior has you threatening to add them to the shelter roster (we know you don't mean it).

The world is in year three of a pandemic that has taken over one million lives in this country alone.  Countless families and friends are grieving the loss of loved ones to COVID-19.   This week on “In Conversation,” we talked to grief counselors and other experts about the unique aspects of grieving amid the pandemic and beyond.  We also heard from journalists about the local impact of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the decision that made abortion a federal constitutional right. 

It has been about six months since a swath of tornado devastation in western and southern Kentucky killed 81 people.  It also caused hundreds of millions of dollars of destruction, leaving many to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities.    This week on “In Conversation,” we talked to journalists who have been covering the tornado destruction and the recovery efforts in their communities. 

It’s Pride Month, a celebration of LGBTQ history and contributions, celebrated in June to honor the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. This week on “In Conversation,” we talked to organizers and activists about LGBTQ representation and equality, and what local organizations are doing to help. We also looked at some legal challenges that could affect LGBTQ Americans, like Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and legislation around transgender athletes here in Kentucky. 

Warm weather is here, and people are getting out of the house for fun and frolic. And for some of us, the perfect summer day isn’t perfect without a good book. This week on “In Conversation,” guests from the Louisville Public Library gave the skinny on which books to tuck into your beach bag or read in your favorite chair. We also talked about the books that might keep children and young adults reading while school’s out for summer.

Muhammad Ali, Louisville’s favorite son, is remembered for his activism as much as his first-class boxing. But Ali was not alone in using the pulpit of his sporting success to stand up for social causes. This week on “In Conversation,” we explored how fighting for equity — in the past and now — is as important to many athletes as competing for awards and accolades.

Primary Election Day is May 17th, with early in-person voting taking place May 12-14. Louisville decides who its mayoral candidates will be in the fall, and Kentucky has key congressional races up for grabs.   On “In Conversation,” state and local journalists joined host Rick Howlett in a live voter guide, to sort out the people and positions you’ll be voting on. 

It’s Derby Week in Louisville, Kentucky, y’all! Is there anything more to say? Actually, there is, as host Rick Howlett sat down with two handicappers to get the scoop on what bets are good, which horses are long shots, and where the racing industry stands these days. The Kentucky state song will be performed at this year’s Derby, despite controversy over its racist themes. We talked to Emily Bingham about her book “My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life and Reckoning Of An Iconic American Song.”

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is heading into the final months of his administration. This week on "In Conversation," we checked in with him about the next city budget, and issues like policing, racial justice, homelessness and Louisville’s economic emergence from COVID-19.

This Friday on “In Conversation,” we talked about the pandemic's effect on how kids are learning, developing, and socializing. What does the future hold for young people as we navigate current and possibly new variants? We talked to child development experts and educators, and ask some young people how COVID-19 changed their lives. This episode was made possible in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund and through funding provided by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop as part of the Next Gen Public Media Initiative, generously supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Reaching a certain age once meant your best years were behind you. But scientists say advances in medicine now mean people are aging "better" than they used to. On this Friday’s “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talked with experts about how growing older doesn’t look quite the same as it used to. And we got their advice on how to stay healthy and happy later in life.

Love has always been in the air, but for the past two years, COVID-19 has impacted all of our air quality. This week on “In Conversation,” we talk to love and relationship experts on the challenges and rewards of dating in the era of apps and masks. And in case your romance didn't survive the pandemic, we get some advice on how to get back out there and find a new boo.

April showers bring May flowers. And vegetables! But what do experts say about how to get the best from your garden? “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talks to gardeners who work with plants, flowers, trees and vegetables. They answer the questions of first-time gardeners and experienced handlers of soil and seeds.

Louisville concert series Waterfront Wednesday turns 20 this year! This week on "In Conversation," we found out how WFPK is planning to celebrate the big anniversary, and share some memorable moments from the waterfront.  Have you gotten into the Wordle craze and wondered whether it’s good for you? Rick Howlett asks an expert on brain health.  We also revisited a conversation with visitors from the latest Festival of Faiths, about the intersection of racial justice and religion.

It’s March. And for those who love college basketball, that means it’s also the time for a little madness to kick in.   This Friday on “In Conversation,” we discussed what might happen now that the brackets for this year’s NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have been set.

Plastic, paper, cans and bottles. It can get confusing figuring out what should stay in your regular trash can and what should go in the recycling bin.  This Friday on “In Conversation,” we learned what to recycle, how recycling protects the environment, and how recycling technology has changed.

The German educational system has the daunting task of teaching about the Holocaust and the rise of the Nazi Party. Can their approach inform how schools in the U.S. teach about atrocities in our own country’s past?  On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked about the difficulties of teaching about race in America, particularly with current legislative attempts to limit curriculum about race in the public school system.  Our panel included WFPL's Jess Clark and Stephanie Wolf, who created the documentary "A Critical Moment," and Professor Jamel K. Donner, Associate Professor of Education with The Center for Racial & Social Justice at William & Mary.

Your credit score doesn’t determine your worth—but it can greatly affect your access and opportunities. And if money management isn’t something you learned about as a kid, it’s hard to figure out how to catch up. This week on “In Conversation” we discussed personal finance and financial literacy. Do you need a budget, and how do you tackle making one? Which debts should you pay off first? And how can you take what you make now and use it to plan for a more financially secure future?

Education news tends to focus on high schools and grade schools. But what about higher education — how are COVID-19 and education bills, for example, affecting colleges and universities? On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to regional college and university leaders about their issues, challenges, and aspirations.

Turn on cable news or open any social media app, and you’ll see example after example of awful public behavior. People are throwing hands on airplanes, serving up knuckle sandwiches in restaurants and bullying each other online. Public civility seems like a quaint concept.  On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked about how our social norms and behaviors have changed since 2020, and how we can de-escalate the situations in our lives that make our blood boil.

Coming up this Friday, we'll talk about teaching race in schools. Proposed legislation in several states, including Kentucky, could limit how race is covered in classrooms. It's the subject of a recent documentary from the WFPL newsroom called "A Critical Moment," and the reporters who made it will be part of our panel this week. Here's the piece, so you can listen in advance of our show. To learn more and see photos from the project, visit wfpl.org/acriticalmoment

Failure brings to mind all the negative associations of letting yourself or others down. But what are the benefits of missing the mark? On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to some of the participants from a program at the Louisville Free Public Library on how and why to celebrate failure from various perspectives. 

Many big-ticket items are under consideration during this session of the Kentucky General Assembly: the budget, redistricting, education bills, abortion, laws regarding criminal justice, the legalizing of medical cannabis, and more. On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to reporters Ryland Barton, Jess Clark and Becca Schimmel, along with Dee Pregliasco with the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, to examine and explain the proposed bills and laws, and discuss their possible implications. 

bell hooks was a widely regarded author, activist, and academic who explored the intersection of sexism and racism in American society. She was also a Kentucky native, with deep roots in the state. hooks died at the age of 69 last month in Berea, Kentucky.   On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked with friends and colleagues of bell hooks, and Kentucky poet laureate Crystal Wilkinson reflects on hooks’ influence, her legacy, and their friendship. 

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 years to come. Also, WFPL Health Reporter April Rickert joined us with an update on COVID-19 and the omicron variant. 

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 keeping up with Gov. Andy Beshear and relief efforts. And we talk with Jared Bennet from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting about Mayfield Consumer Products, the candle factory that's now at the center of a class action lawsuit related to its leadership's management of the emergency.

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 fighting for racial justice. Louisville’s 25th annual Festival of Faiths is underway this weekend, and some of the panelists joined us to explore this year’s theme, faith and race. The festival is produced by the Center for Interfaith Relations, an organization dedicated to celebrating the city’s diverse faith landscape. But this year, the planning process went beyond the center’s walls, tapping community leaders from Simmons College, Spalding University, the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary to help curate. Here are the guests you’ll hear on our show this week: Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson Ronda Magee Imam Zaid Shakir Sarah Kelley

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 veterans a day take their own lives. If you include active duty soldiers, members of the National Guard and reservists, that number rises to about 20 a day who die by suicide. On this week’s "In Conversation," we learned more about the mental health challenges that are specific to people who have served in the armed forces. We’ll find out what resources are available in the community to help improve veterans’ mental health and quality of life.  And we got an update on the long-awaited new VA Hospital in eastern Jefferson County, and how it might improve vets’ access to health care. We also talked about recognizing the significance of Black servicemembers on Veterans’ Day. There are more than 2 million Black veterans in the country. If you are thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255).

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” with host Rick Howlett, we discussed cars, car parts, supply chain problems, and what all this means for economic development and jobs in Kentucky. And we looked at how Kentucky’s auto industry compares to that of other states. Auto fun fact: the average car is made up of 30,000 parts — a few more buttons and cranks than the Ford Model T.

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 violence itself, it’s easy to forget that there are activists, community members and organizations actively working to reduce it. This week on “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to people who take different approaches to curb violence, and address the root causes of it. Our guests included Christopher 2X, Executive Director of the non-profit organization Game Changers, Paul Callanan, Assistant Director at Louisville’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, and Jen Pauliukonis, Director of Policy and Programming at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

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 Louisville’s Black communities became even more fractured.  A new season of Louisville Public Media’s podcast, “Dig,” explores that. In a joint KyCIR/Newsy investigation, insiders and documents reveal the systemic barriers and choices made by city leaders and LMPD that led to its failure to meaningfully change. This week on “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talked with those who made the podcast and who are a part of what “Dig” explores. 

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 Law at NYU School of Law and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny. The cases before the Supreme Court have implications for every state and community in America, and Kentucky sits right in the epicenter of national attention as Attorney General Daniel Cameron asks the Supreme Court to allow him to defend a Kentucky abortion law that was struck down by a federal court. We get an update about a topic truly closer to home - the Sherman Minton Bridge project. We discussed the changes that will extend the life of the bridge for another 30 years, and make it safer and more convenient for the 70,000 or so cars a day that travel between Kentucky and Indiana.

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 Association, in Kentucky there were 921 more deaths from dementia than expected in 2020, and researchers think COVID-19 may trigger an increase in Alzheimer's cases down the road.  This week on “In Conversation,” we talked about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, including new treatment, COVID-19 and its possible impact on the number of dementia cases, and cultural disparities in how dementia is diagnosed and treated.  Our guests were Shannon White, Executive Director of the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Heehyul Moon, an associate professor at the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work, and Dr. Greg Cooper, who leads the Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center.  This Saturday, the annual Walk To End Alzheimer’s takes place in Louisville, and cities across the country. 

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 Kentucky at large.  In August, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the latest moratorium on evictions, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help renters who had income loss because of COVID-19. There is no longer a state or federal law that prevents evictions because of COVID-19, but there is money residents can apply for to help pay their rent and utilities. We talked about that and unpacked some of the legal tangles tenants and landlords have to wade through.

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 Elahi and Education Reporter Jess Clark about a drive-by shooting that shook Louisville this week. 16-year-old Tyree Smith was killed and two other teenagers were wounded while they waited for the bus to take them to school. We talked through the latest in the case, the city's response, and how JCPS and the community are trying to cope with the loss. 

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 will be a series of events celebrating the series, which runs September 19-22. On this week’s “In Conversation” we had an all-Ali hour hosted by Rick Howlett. We talked to Burns about the making of this film, and his acclaimed career documenting some of the most important cultural topics and people in history. WHAS-11 reporter and anchor Doug Proffitt told  us about the archival footage his station discovered and provided for the Ali documentary. And Laura Douglas, who leads the Ali Center, shared her thoughts about how Ali’s legacy still endures and influences future generations.

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 to Louisvillians who lived in New York City when the Twin Towers were attacked, and the world as we knew it was changed forever. We also talked about the backlash and bigotry that followed 9/11 for our Muslim American communities. We unpacked pain and healing and continued bias as it connects to that day, and ongoing international events. 

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. For a few of us, workplace struggles might be as simple as figuring out how to ask about a co-worker’s vaccination status without sounding like a lawyer cross-examining a hostile witness. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked work. With Sarah Jaffe, author of "Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone", and Jason Bailey of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, we discuss what’s up with so many people deciding to up and leave their jobs, which some have dubbed “the great resignation.” Women in particular are leaving the workforce in droves, and equity consultant Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown joins us to discuss what particular challenges have one-in-four women peacing out of corporate America. And Betsy Johnson, president of the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities/Kentucky Center for Assisted Living, unpacks how the changing tide of COVID-19 concerns impacts the employees of nursing homes and other assisted living facilities.

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. Complicating the issue is that vaccines are not yet available to those 12 and under. So, while research is still underway on whether the variant itself is more harmful to children, some say the numbers are going up because the variant is just far more transmissible and adults just aren’t being as careful because of vaccines and summer weather. On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to WFPL Education Reporter Jess Clark and Health/Southern Indiana Reporter John Boyle about how school openings have looked in both Kentucky and Indiana as the delta variant sweeps through school districts. And we checked in with Dr. Marty Pollio, superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools, about how the school year kicked off, how the surge of COVID-19 cases has shifted preparation for the school year, and what other issues are shaping the 2021-2022 school year. 

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 variant even compare to the original? Where and when to mask? What’s a breakthrough case? How are those vaccinated against the coronavirus protected or left unprotected? What are the concerns of the unvaccinated? How is testing going? Right now the state of Kentucky is experiencing the highest number of new cases and highest positivity rate since February. Dr. Klein discussed what that means. And on a lighter note, we talked about the return of the Kentucky State Fair. Where else can you go to see goats and other animals, peruse award-winning eggs and pies, see goats, ride a carousel, and did I mention goats? This year’s fair will feature a photo exhibit called “The Ripple Effects: Exploring Water in Louisville.” We’ll meet the exhibit’s organizer and learn more. The Kentucky State Fair runs from August 19 to Aug. 29, 2021.

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 most instructive and inimitable lesson in Kentucky politics an outsider could receive in three hours.” The picnic has a long history as a fundraiser that goes back to 1881. It is organized by St. Jerome Catholic Church in the western Kentucky town of Fancy Farm, which is in Graves County. Politicians and those who aspire to hold political office subject themselves to heat and heated verbal barbs the first Saturday in August. People go to Fancy Farm to see political swagger, but they also go to partake in the several thousand pounds of pork and mutton cooked and sold at the picnic.  This year, the Louisville Democratic Party has launched a new event the same day as the Fancy Farm Picnic. It was originally called FancyVille but has now been dubbed FancyVaxx to focus on promoting vaccinations in light of the Delta variant of COVID-19. Whether you’re interested in hearing more about the Fancy Farm Picnic or the FancyVaxx event, “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talked with organizers of both events and with Kentucky Public Radio’s Capitol Bureau Chief Ryland Barton. 

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 the interplay between free speech rights and social media. 

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 infrastructure plan, the budget process, state election laws and legislation, redistricting in Kentucky, ending the Afghanistan war, and getting things done in Congress amid current political divisions.

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 National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) violated antitrust laws by not allowing student-athletes to leverage their ability to get paid. The NCAA has since changed its bylaws to allow them to be compensated for use of their name, image and likeness. We talked to experts who will explain what this decision means, the practical implications of the change and what other ways this is a game changer.

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 McClave, and Susan Riegler about places in Louisville to go to get your grub on, even if the grub is fine dining. We also dished about how the local restaurant scene is changing, and how people are cooking up their own food cravings when they don’t go out to eat.

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 checking out books, using computers and being a community resource now that COVID-19 rates have declined. We also discussed SummerWorks with its director Chris Locke. SummerWorks connects local youths with employers and jobs. We learned about the program, and how this year’s job market is affecting it.

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 about them on “In Conversation.” We also celebrate Pride Month, an amplification of LGBTQ communities. We talked with leaders of established and new organizations that put the focus on empowerment and visibility.

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 Stone Guess, the new President and CEO of Louisville’s Fund for the Arts. We also discussed two big issues in the Louisville arts community - leadership turnover at several organizations and how to address and create more equity in the arts.

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 people to not want to work, or did extra unemployment pay just highlight that some employees had not been making a living wage to begin with?

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 this week that protests started in Minneapolis against the police killing of George Floyd, and here in Louisville, over the killing of Breonna Taylor. We talked about the investigations into Taylor’s death, and lessons learned about local policing.

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 whether you’re taking a good book to the beach or a state park, or cozying up in your favorite reading spot at home, we’ve got you covered on book recommendations, too.  Here are some of the books recommended by our guests, librarians Jenny Lewis and Yalonda JD Green: Children’s books “Outside, Inside” by LeUyen Pham        “When the World Turned Upside Down” by K. Ibura “The Bad Guy” series by Aaron Blabey  Adult books “The Premonition: A Pandemic Story” by Michael Lewis  “The Other Black Girl” by Zakiya Dalila Harris “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” by Chanel Cleeton “Sex and Vanity” by Kevin Kwan

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 after they have served their sentences. May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, so we also took some time to reflect on the contributions and history of the AAPI community, and why acknowledging this month is particularly important in 2021.

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 play, and the complicated role that hemp plays in the farming landscape.

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. But in 2021, we’re back to Kentucky Derby as usual — sort of. This week on “In Conversation,” we talked with Churchill Downs’ Darren Rogers about preparations for this year’s Derby, which has returned to the month of May but will be run with a limited number of fans. We also assess the state of the thoroughbred racing industry and Kentucky’s equine community with Keeneland Vice-President Vince Gabbert, and Sarah Coleman with the Kentucky Horse Council.

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 abusers. Plus the closing of schools, daycares and other safe places for months left many with no place where abuse could be reported or detected. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and this week on “In Conversation”, we’ll discuss the child abuse epidemic, what’s being done to address—and prevent-the problem and how you can help.

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 thriving throughout the year.

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 the financial impact of a world gone a little topsy-turvy right now.  We discussed nuts and bolts of campus return — graduation, in person classes, disinfection stations and other COVID-19 protocols. We also caught up with Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Ryland Barton on the state legislature — including the vetoes by Governor Andy Beshear, bills curtailing his powers, changes to Kentucky elections, spending federal coronavirus relief aid, and the status of no-knock warrants.

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 looked at the challenges of finding affordable housing, and what relief looks like for those who can’t afford their rent. We also heard more about the history of housing discrimination faced by Black Louisville as part of an oral history project conducted by the Metropolitan Housing Coalition and the University of Louisville Oral History Center.

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 Conversation,” we talked with JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio about the challenges and benefits of reopening, and how they plan to keep students, teachers and safe from COVID-19. And because it’s March, we discussed the madness of 2021 NCAA basketball tournaments — men’s and women’s. Louisville sports journalists will give their predictions on how basketball betting pools will shake out.

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 weekend, activists commemorate Taylor’s death with events and rallies.  And Tamika Palmer will mark the first year without her daughter. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked with Breonna Taylor’s mother about the pace of police reform. We talked with Black women who reflect the legacy of activism that started before Taylor’s death, and continues onward. And we talked about grief, and how the process of grieving has been more difficult this past year because of the coronavirus.

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 have battled COVID-19 and many are grieving the loss of loved ones Most activities we once took for granted, like getting nails done, going to see a play, and dining in a restaurant, were disrupted. Normal was no longer normal. On this week’s In Conversation we talked about what the upcoming year will look like as COVID continues to impact our lives. We’ll talk about the case numbers and the vaccines. We’ll also discuss how COVID and its protocols have affected the arts, the opening and closing of venues, and the impact on the business community. What we can expect to see next?

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, and is home to two polar bears, Qannik and Lee. What do those adorable animals, and other endangered species, have to tell us about the issue of climate change and how we can be better custodians of planet Earth? The International Day of the Polar Bear is this Saturday, so this week we talk not just about polar bears, but about climate change in general, the connection to animals in danger of extinction, and how conservation impacts all communities.

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 Black Lives Matter. On this episode, we talk with professors and cultural curators on how to celebrate Black history smack dab in the middle of current historic Black moments. We also talk about a little known figure in Black Kentucky history: Julia Chinn, an enslaved woman and the common-law wife of Richard Mentor Johnson, who became the ninth vice-president of the United States.

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, and a researcher who tell us how problems with homelessness in Kentucky and Indiana compare on a national level, and how the economic throes of not being able to afford a home intersect with the eviction crisis.

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 organizations that help provide food to those in need – are seeing historically high numbers of people seeking groceries from food pantries. Research by Feeding America, a national nonprofit network, places Kentucky’s food insecurity rate at more than 18%. On this show, we talk to leaders of food pantries and food insecurity experts about what they are seeing, what they project about the future, what their needs are, and how we can help our neighbors not have hunger on their plates.

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 the Holler Pastor Tyler McKenzie from Northeast Christian Church Cynthia Knapek, President of the Leadership Louisville Center Reverend David Snardon from Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church

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 right to free speech, like some people say? What role did his Trump’s online rhetoric play in inciting the violent breech of the U.S. Capitol last week? On this week’s “In Conversation,” we break down First Amendment rights as they apply to social media, and discuss how digital platforms should respond when online speech creates real-world danger.

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 responding. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton joins us to discuss the start of the new Kentucky legislative session, where a bill would curb Gov. Andy Beshear's powers to close businesses and schools, as part of combating the spread of COVID-19. And we look at Beshear's proposed new spending plan. We check in with Congressman John Yarmuth, who was in D.C. on Wednesday when pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol. Yarmuth has joined other lawmakers in calling for Trump's removal from office. And University of Louisville Political Science Professor Dewey Clayton helps us put this week's events into historical context.

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 about receiving the vaccines and the timeline of what a new normal may look like in 2021. Already, health care workers in the area are receiving the Pfizer vaccines with the first 38,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arriving in Louisville on Sunday. So we’ll talk about what it is like to receive one and what happens next as the country has lost more than 300,000 lives this year to COVID-19.

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 relatively integrated schools. But now, JCPS wants families in west Louisville to have more options close to home – a choice families say they want too. This week, WFPL’s Jess Clark hosts a five-part series looking at the history and future of student assignment and racial segregation in Louisville’s schools. (wfpl.org/raceunwrapped) On this show we talk with Clark about what her reporting discovered. JCPS superintendent Marty Pollio joins us to explain how he envisions the new plan working, and we check in with parents and community leaders about their concerns.

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 still think it's a good idea to gather? How will you communicate with them about why you won't be there? This week, we're talking about adapting our celebrations to the times we're living in. Childhood development expert Deborah Farmer Kris shares some ideas about making the holidays feel festive for the children in your life, and how to explain to them why things have to be different this year. Even in the best of years, holidays can turn up the pressure on relationships. So marriage and family therapist Eric Sharp joins us to talk about navigating tricky interpersonal dynamics. We talk about how to defend against this year's unique flavor of holiday stress, and which harmful coping strategies we should be trying to avoid. More people than usual may be experiencing grief this year, and the holidays can make even old losses feel fresh again. So we look at healthy ways to process those challenging feelings — both for adults and children. And even though the holidays are weird, we still gotta eat. Lexington Chef Samantha Fore of Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites has some advice for what to put on the table this season. She talks about how to scale down some traditional holiday meals for smaller groups, and shares non-traditional dish ideas for these non-traditional times. 

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-year contract that is retroactive to the date the last contract ended — July 1, 2018. This new contract is in effect through June 30, 2021, at a cost of $390 million over the next three fiscal years. Breonna Taylor’s killing and the continuous racial justice protests that have taken place since May have placed local policing in the spotlight, here and nationally. On today's show, we talk about the contract and its provisions and implications. Our guests include a representative from the local Fraternal Order of Police and Louisville Metro Council President David James.

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 challenger Amy McGrath soundly for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Some answers have taken a more circuitous route, with ballots for President Donald Trump and Former Vice President Joe Biden being counted throughout the week by several states to determine which candidate won the Electoral College. On this week’s show, Rick Howlett talks with a social scientist about polling and how unusual this week is, with Secretary of State Michael Adams to see how the Kentucky election process went, with political reporter Ryland Barton, and with Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio about the tax initiative on the ballot.

Thousands of Kentuckians are voting every day, and about three-fourths of absentee ballots in Kentucky have been returned. With this Friday’s “In Conversation” we're just four days from Election Day 2020. COVID-19 has turned voting on its head, with more than 60 million Americans having already voted. What do all these numbers mean? What do professionals who follow and cover politics think? What do they predict? Is the current climate too unprecedented to calculate? Are there still undecided voters still, and if so, what will sway them?

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced this week that the state had the highest number of new COVID-19 cases on a Monday and Tuesday since the pandemic started. The positivity rate is the highest in two months. Like most states, Kentucky is experiencing a dramatic spike in cases, with experts worrying about how much worse the spread will be as we head into holidays and flu season. On this week’s “In Conversation” experts talk about why cases are spiking, the strain on hospitals, how the growing numbers can be flattened, and what might happen next.

Breonna Taylor’s name has become a national and international battle cry on the issue of police brutality against Black women. But Taylor isn’t just representative of a cause. In Louisville, she’s one of us. And many people in the city’s Black community see her death as the continuation of a struggle for racial equity that goes back generations. Over the course of 2020, Louisville’s Black citizens have tried to process the trauma of the raid on Taylor’s home, the shooting of David McAtee by a member of the National Guard, and the resulting protests and investigations, all while trying to stay safe from a worldwide health pandemic that disproportionately impacts the Black community. For Louisville in general, and the Black community in particular, there have been few chances to pause and reflect. This Friday, we’re making that time. WFPL’s Jonese Franklin and Michelle Tyrene Johnson host this special episode of “In Conversation,” where we check in with Louisville’s Black community about coping with dual pandemics and a pivotal upcoming election.

Experts say about 40 people a year in Kentucky, mostly women, die as a result of domestic violence. Around one in four of them filed a domestic violence report with authorities before they were killed. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month, and no one immune to its impact. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are victims of physical violence by a partner every year. This week on “In Conversation” we talk about domestic violence here in Kentucky. Our guests will be Arlene Grullon, director of the Center for Women & Families’ emergency shelter, and Isela Arras, the chief operating officer for the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We’ll talk about risk factors, how to get help, the challenges faced by specific populations, and how COVID-19 has impacted advocacy work. If you think you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, help is available on the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE.

Last week, the city and the world got the long-awaited answer on what specific criminal consequences, if any, would happen to the police involved in the death of Breonna Taylor. The results of last week’s grand jury proceeding led only to the indictment of former Louisville Metro Police detective Brett Hankison on several charges of wanton endangerment, for bullets that traveled into a neighbor’s apartment. Neither of the other two police officers involved in the shooting, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, were indicted. Since Hankison was already fired from the force, that left no one in LMDP criminally indicted in Taylor’s death. With the outcome leaving as many questions as before, rather than bringing finality, we talk this week about the issues left to grapple with, like the psychological impact on Louisville’s black community and how this connects to the future of criminal justice reform. We also check in with NPR’s Brakkton Booker about how the Taylor case compares on a national level to other notable cases involving the police killings in the Black community, and how protests in other places have continued on while we were focused on our own. And we hear from U.S. Representative for Kentucky John Yarmuth, who has recently criticized the Louisville Metro Police Department, including its handling of the Taylor case.

The eyes of the world have been on Louisville for months, following the death of Breonna Taylor. Would the three officers involved be indicted on criminal charges? Would there be protests, and if so, how would they turn out? This week, the city — and the world — got the answer. The grand jury decided that Brett Hankison would be charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, and with the other two police officers not indicted at all, people began to march. Because Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who served as the prosecutor in the grand jury proceeding, hasn’t disclosed what he presented to the grand jury, there are still unanswered questions about the outcome. We talk about the decision and what it means, this week on “In Conversation.” Dr. Cicely Cottrell is with us — she’s the director of Spalding University’s Criminal Justice Program. We’re also joined by Keturah Herron from the ACLU of Kentucky, and Amina Elahi from the WFPL newsroom.

The Louisville Urban League and more than 50 community organizations have petitioned the city to address issues in the Black community, including a review of the Louisville Metro Police Department by an independent, non-traditional agency. The letter also asks for an immediate re-evaluation of the 2020-20201 city budget, so a $50 million Black Community Fund can be added. “The time has come to give us the necessary resources to begin to do the work for ourselves,” the petition reads, “since our elected leaders are reluctant to do what they have been sworn to do for all of our citizens.” This week on “In Conversation,” we talk to Louisville Urban League CEO and President Sadiqa Reynolds about the petition, and how our city can continue grappling with its racist history, and current inequity, with an eye toward a better future. Also on this week’s show, we get a status update from our local Census Bureau office ahead of their impending 2020 deadline. And while there has been an uptick in drinking alcohol during COVID-19, some bourbon distillery tours have closed, and the tourism arm of the industry has taken a hit from the pandemic. We talk with Eric Greogory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, about how the future is looking for Kentucky’s native spirit.

March 13, 2020. The date will live in the memory of Breonna Taylor’s family, friends, and community. Her death, at the hands of the Louisville Metro Police Department, has been featured in news stories, television specials, social media, magazine covers, even billboards financed by Oprah Winfrey. Throughout 2020, there have been sustained international protests for several Black people killed by police, the best known being George Floyd. In Louisville, protests have gone on for more than 100 nights, demanding accountability for Taylor’s death. Now the world knows her name. But rumors and misinformation continue to circulate about the night she died, and the circumstances that led to it. This week on “In Conversation,” we speak to journalists who have extensively covered Taylor’s death and the ensuing protests, to help deconstruct the complicated facts and bust a few myths.

It’s 2020. Which means that everything is weird or different. That includes the Kentucky Derby. Which is why it’s on the first Saturday in September this year, instead of May. It also means that there will be more jockeys, owners, trainers, staff and media on hand than spectators to watch the famous Run for the Roses because no fans will be allowed in due to COVID-19 concerns. So, on this week’s In Conversation we’ll be still talking about the Kentucky Derby, just not in the same way. We’ll hear from listeners on how they are celebrating the most famous two minutes in sports, in non-Churchill Downs settings. We’ll discuss the racial justice protests that are scheduled to take place on Derby Day despite the lack of visitors and spectators, and the history of civil disobedience at big events like the Derby. And there will be racing, of course, so we’ll discuss the art of handicapping and which horses are predicted to win, place or show.

When Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” he wasn’t talking about the tale of one global pandemic. The one we’re in now has brought obvious changes — like the impact on businesses, education, and the economy — but no one could anticipate the changes to society beyond the obvious. Like the impact on social services, supply chains and the different ways we have to navigate social interaction. People have rescheduled medical procedures. Stores are sold out of exercise equipment because gyms were closed. People who read lips can’t do that as easily with so many people wearing masks in public. What unforeseen effects have you noticed since the pandemic, and subsequent safety measures, have begun? This week on “In Conversation,” we talk about what you could not have planned for as COVID-19 has changed everything, with these guests: Rebecca Hollenbach – Louisville Center for Health Equity Sean McMahon – Lister Hill Center for Health Policy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham David Lopez- Louisville Metro United Way

Velveeta cheese, the Panama Canal, button-down Polo shirts and the Kentucky Derby are all older than the American woman’s right to vote. One hundred years ago this week, the 19th Amendment was ratified, which gave women the right to vote in America. And even though not all women were given that right, it was a step on the road to equality for women in a country that’s been around for 244 years. This week on “In Conversation,” we discuss the role of women voters and of elected officials who are women to change and shape the history and growth of the United States. We talk about why it is important to vote, the importance of women in the electorate, the types of issues that are important to women, and the importance of women leadership. We also discuss how the right to vote for white women was one that other groups of women had to wait longer for, and how voting access continues to affect elections today.

The challenges that the Appalachian region faces aren’t just Appalachian problems; they're American problems. Those problems include addiction, poor health outcomes and the need for communities to make a transition from fossil fuel extraction, and they will largely determine whether we, as a nation, can meet challenges of inequality, climate change and economic recovery. Far from being a backwater, Appalachia is a bellwether for the country. This week is the debut of Louisville Public Media's very first book, "Appalachian Fall," written by Jeff Young, Managing Editor of the Ohio Valley ReSource collaboration, and the rest of that reporting team. The book is a collection of the reporting this team has done on the future of Appalachia — from the Blackjewel coal miners blocking the train tracks in Harlan County to people on the front lines of the opioid crisis and others fighting for a just economic transition for coal country. Kirkus Reviews says the book is: "Blunt, essential reading on today's Appalachia that is less elegiac and more forward-thinking than most." This week we talk to Jeff Young, and reporters Brittany Patterson, who covers energy and environment, and Sydney Boles, who covers economic transition in Appalachia. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

If you’ve ever looked at historical photos of downtown Louisville, you might have been struck by how busy and bustling it looked. Loads of people were out and about going to work, wearing fancy outfits to the theater, and shopping at department stores. But mid-century “urban renewal” efforts changed downtown, putting parking lots and high rises where multi-use buildings and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks used to be. Since then, efforts to revitalize downtown have come and gone (remember the Galleria?), but in the last few years, our city center seemed to gain some momentum. The Yum Center brought people downtown for games and concerts, Whiskey Row reopened with restaurants and shops, and some distilleries opened their doors to teach tourists where the good stuff comes from. Enter 2020. The coronavirus pandemic shuttered downtown, closing courts and government offices, and sending workers from their high rise cubicles to their dining room tables. Then protests drew opportunistic vandals who broke storefront windows. Buildings are still boarded up. Bars are closed by order of the governor, and restaurants are still operating at limited capacity in the interest of public health. What does this all mean for the urban center of Louisville? Will the downtown those workers and sports fans and diners and tourists eventually (hopefully?) go back to look anything like the one they left behind? This Friday on “In Conversation,” we’re talking about the challenges this year has brought to downtown Louisville, and what the future might hold.

The Fancy Farm Picnic is known through the state as the place where political candidates come to stump, kiss babies and encourage the eating of pounds of meat. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, and numbers in the state spiking uncomfortably high, politicians won’t speak at the picnic this year. How are politicians campaigning differently this summer? And what will Fancy Farm be like without the rhetoric and heckling? This week, we talk about the history and legacy of the Fancy Farm picnic, and how it went from a simple fundraiser for St. Jerome Catholic Church to an important milestone on the Kentucky campaign trail. We also have updates on the LMPD's response to Louisville protests, and coronavirus testing availability in Kentucky, from KYCIR's Jake Ryan, and WFPL's Ryan Van Velzer.

Getting children and teens ready to go back to school takes on a different meaning this year, as COVID-19 infection rates are spiking around the country and here in Kentucky and Indiana. On this week’s “In Conversation,” we explore the decisions educators, administrators and parents have to make to keep students and teachers safe. We also talk about how parents are weighing the pros and cons of sending their children back to school versus delaying their return. WFPL’s Education Reporter Jess Clark joins us with the latest school reopening news, and Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio talk about JCPS’s plan. Kerri Massey also join us — she’s a veteran teacher, currently at Smyrna Elementary and has three school aged children herself. And Angie McDonald, a school nurse advisor with the Kentucky Department of Education talks about health and safety protocols in school settings.

Demonstrators across the country who have been demanding an end to racial injustice and excessive police violence have also been calling for the removal of Confederate monuments and other public displays that for many evoke slavery, white supremacy and oppression. Some protesters have taken matters into their own hands, tearing down statues themselves. This week on In Conversation, we jump into the debate over controversial monuments and public art. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

The coronavirus pandemic seems to be changing our relationship with drinking and drugs. Liquor sales are booming. Drinking socially wasn’t an option for a while, so people who never drank alone found themselves mixing up cocktails for one. And why wait for happy hour when most hours of the day are the same? Meanwhile, folks with serious substance use problems saw their weekly meetings move to Zoom. Opioid-related drug overdoses nearly doubled in Kentucky. Substance use issues are on the rise, and they require different solutions as shutdowns and social distancing affect the ability to get needed help. Join us on “In Conversation” this Friday as we talk to experts about the impact of the coronavirus on how we use alcohol and other substances. We’ll talk about people with long time addictions, those dealing with COVID-19 prohibitions in the beginning of their recovery, and how to keep a handle on your own drinking when the cocktail hour seems to have no beginning or end. We’ll find out how professionals and advocates are finding news ways to offer support, and hear from members of the community about how they are handling alcohol and drug use while isolated, and dealing with the stress of a growing pandemic. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

The stage is set for the November General Election in Kentucky. The state’s primary was delayed until June 23 because of the coronavirus, and it took a week for all the votes to be tabulated because most of them were absentee mail-in ballots. In Kentucky’s closely watched Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, retired Marine pilot Amy McGrath held off a late charge by state Rep. Charles Booker to win the nomination. She’ll try to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this fall. This week on In Conversation, we analyze Kentucky’s primary election results and look ahead to the November General Election with Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton. Plus, Education Reporter Jess Clark joins us to talk about Kentucky’s plan to reopen public schools following the coronavirus shutdown. We also replay our conversation with former Camden, New Jersey Mayor Dana Redd and Rutgers University professor and Camden resident Nyema Watson. The city overhauled its police department during Redd’s administration. Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

Many states that have reopened their economies from coronavirus shutdowns are seeing a dramatic surge in COVID-19 infections. Some have reinstated certain restrictions, and Texas has paused its reopening plan. Gov. Andy Beshear and state health officials say Kentucky remains in a plateau, but the commonwealth continues to record scores of new coronavirus cases daily, with many recent ones tied to out-of-state travel.  Health officials say numerous people have returned to Kentucky with COVID-19 after traveling to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Starting Monday, bars across Kentucky can reopen under certain conditions, people can congregate in groups of up to 50, and other activities will be permitted.  The state has also released its plan for the reopening of schools this fall, and Churchill Downs says the Kentucky Derby will be held — with spectators — on September 5. Today on In Conversation, we talk about the coronavirus pandemic in Kentucky and how a surge in cases would affect the state’s reopening plan. Two guests join us for this segment: Mike Berry, Secretary of Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, and Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, Vice Chair off the Infectious Disease Society of America's Global Health Committee. Plus, this is Pride Month, but amid the coronavirus pandemic and the racial justice demonstrations around the world, the celebration is different this year.  We talk about it with Allen Hatchell, outgoing president of Kentuckiana Pride, and DJ Victoria Syimone Taylor. Listen to In Conversation live on 89.3 WFPL Friday morning at 11:00.  Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

Kentucky’s primary election is Tuesday, June 23rd, and the coronavirus pandemic is changing the way most Kentuckians cast their ballots. The primary was postponed from May to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and for the first time, Kentuckians are being allowed to vote by mail, or vote in person early without providing an excuse. Most Kentucky counties will have only one voting location, but a federal lawsuit has been filed seeking to add balloting sites in the state’s most populous counties. This week on In Conversation, we’ll talk about the upcoming election and the balloting process with Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams. Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton will be here to preview the primary races. Plus, we’ll have the latest on the demonstrations for racial justice that are entering their fourth week in many cities. Friday is Juneteenth, and we’ll hear some citizens’ thoughts on the day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.

Camden, New Jersey was once considered one of the most violent cities in the country. Now, it’s a case study in police reform. The city completely dissolved its police department in 2012 and put together an entirely new one, focused on community engagement. Crime in Camden dropped by almost half. As pressure grows in Louisville to make sweeping changes to LMPD, we want to know what drastic police reform actually looks like. So this week, we’re talking to some of the change makers in Camden: Mayor Dana Redd, who was mayor during the police reform and is widely credited with its implementation and success. And Dr. Nyeema Watson, a lifelong Camden resident who’s the associate chancellor for civic engagement at Rutgers University. Later in the show, we’ll check in with Congressman John Yarmuth, co-sponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. He’ll explain some of the changes called for in the bill, which has won support from civil rights groups. We’ll kick things off with an update on local protests and calls for police reform, with WFPL’s Amina Elahi and Ryan Van Velzer. Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

The fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor by police in Louisville and the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police have sparked protests around the world. In Louisville, the family of David McAtee wants more answers after the popular barbecue stand owner was shot to death this week by law enforcement as they tried to clear a crowd from a parking lot to enforce a curfew. Police say surveillance video appears to show McAtee firing a gun, but his family says the footage just raises more questions. This week on In Conversation, we talk about the events of the past week, the status of the investigations into the deaths of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee, and what steps are being taken to address the underlying issue of racism in the community. Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

More than half of Kentucky's deaths from coronavirus have been people who lived or worked in long term care facilities. As of this week, 240 residents and two staff members have lost their lives to the virus. This week we talk about how our long-term care facilities are faring right now, what circumstances that make these facilities so vulnerable to the virus spreading, and what Kentucky is doing to plan for and prevent outbreaks. Three guests joined us to talk about it: Secretary Eric Friedlander, who heads the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. He’s overseeing Kentucky’s response to coronavirus in long term care facilities. Bob Kramer is the founder of Nexus Insights, a consulting firm focused on the senior care industry. And Jared Bennett has written about some outbreaks for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. At the top of the show, we checked in with Jake Ryan from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting about protests that happened Thursday night in Louisville. Seven people were shot during a demonstration against the shooting death of Breonna Taylor by LMPD. Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

Restaurants are reopening this week at 33% capacity — but as a business owner recently wrote to us, “We aren’t getting a 66% discount on our bills.” This week on “In Conversation,” we talk about restaurants reopening and the challenges they still have ahead of them. Chef Edward Lee joins us to talk about what the Lee Initiative has done to help restaurants during the shutdown, what they’ve been hearing from restaurant owners, and what they’ll do next. Stacy Roof, President & CEO of the Kentucky Restaurant Association tells what her group has been advocating for, and why. And Amy McNatt from Doe Anderson shares her research on how the coronavirus pandemic is expected to change consumer behavior going forward. Will the new ability to have dine-in customers be too little too late for Kentucky restaurants? Or is the reopening too soon? Will you be going out to eat this holiday weekend? Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

On Wednesday, April 22nd WFPL's reporters went out into the community to capture a moment in time amid the coronavirus outbreak. They interviewed some people and gave recorders to others so they could document their day. And then we compiled these snapshots from Coronavirus Day 47. On this episode, we'll hear the results, and talk to some of the reporters who participated in the project.

Kentucky has begun executing Governor Andy Beshear’s plan for a gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions. Certain medical practices and procedures were allowed to resume this week, and starting May 11, some business will be able to reopen if they meet state COVID-19 safety requirements. This week on WFPL’s In Conversation, we talked about the reopening process in Kentucky and how it differs from those in Kentucky’s border states, and the legal responsibilities businesses have to insure the safety of their employees and patrons. Guests: Ashli Watts, President and CEO, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Kevin Brinegar, President and CEO, Indiana Chamber of Commerce Attorney Jay Ingle, JacksonKelly PLLC Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

For many people left largely homebound by the coronavirus, pets have been a source of comfort and companionship. More people are adopting or fostering pets as they shelter at home. How are pets adapting to having more time with their human caretakers? How will they react when their guardians return to the workplace? Is this a good time to add a dog, cat or other pet to your household? Friday on WFPL’s In Conversation, our guests addressed those and other pet-related topics, including the risk of coronavirus in animals and precautions that should be taken. Plus, we previewed Saturday’s virtual Kentucky Derby. The coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of the 146th Kentucky Derby until September 5. The virtual Derby will be a computer-simulated race featuring the 13 Triple Crown winners. Fans can choose their favorite horse online and, along with Churchill Downs, make a donation to COVID-19 emergency relief.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has unveiled a three-phase recovery plan for the city as the COVID-19 outbreak begins to show early signs of subsiding. The plan is called “Build Back Better, Together.” Fischer says reopening the economy and lifting restrictions on services will be dependent on meeting various benchmarks. They include a decline in the number and rate of new coronavirus cases, expanded testing and protecting at-risk populations. Louisville Metro Government is also seeking public input about the recovery effort. Mayor Fischer joined us, along with Louisville CFO Daniel Frockt and Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, for a special edition of In Conversation. We talked about the recovery plan, the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and Louisville’s financial health.

Governor Andy Beshear has announced that there will be no in-person classes in Kentucky schools for the rest of the academic year because of the coronavirus pandemic.  Students will continue their online classes through their districts’ non-traditional instruction programs. Beshear says Kentucky needs to show a steady decline in new COVID-19 cases and meet other benchmarks before he will ease business closures and other restrictions. Those closures have led to soaring jobless claims, which have overwhelmed Kentucky’s unemployment processing system. This week on WFPL’s In Conversation, we spoke with Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman about the state’s response to the pandemic.  Coleman is also secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. WFPL's Amina Elahi joined us to give us an update on the budget address Mayor Greg Fischer gave to the Metro Council on Thursday evening, and to tell us how the council has responded so far. And we heard from Jennie Cole, Director of Collection Access at the Filson Historical Society. The Filson is collecting stories and artifacts to help document the current coronavirus pandemic, through the experiences of the citizens of Louisville.

There’s no playbook for how to conduct elections during a global pandemic. A few weeks ago, Wisconsin held their primary like normal. In Kentucky, we’ve already delayed ours until June, and we’re still trying to figure out whether in-person voting will be safe by then.  Some states already have absentee voting available on request, while some (like Kentucky) require the voter to have a valid reason why they can't go to the polls on Election Day. And some lawmakers worry that allowing mail-in voting for all could lead to fraud. On today's show, we talked about election plans in Kentucky and surrounding states, and the challenges facing those who are in charge of making the decisions. Sydney Boles with the Ohio Valley Resource joined us at the top of the hour; she's been looking into election plans in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. Later in the hour, we checked in with Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who said it's unlikely Kentucky will be able to hold a traditional election in June. Adams said it takes 16,000 poll workers to make an election happen, and most of them are over age 65, so particularly vulnerable to complications from coronavirus. He told us he and Governor Beshear are negotiating an agreement for what Kentucky's primary election will look like. To wrap up the show, we talked to Kentucky Public Radio's statehouse reporter Ryland Barton about the General Assembly session that came to a close on Wednesday.In Conversation Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

For most, if not all of us, life has been completely upended lately. Some of us are stuck in the house with our whole families — maybe for the first time ever. Others are working on the front lines against the coronavirus outbreak, afraid to go home to our loved ones at all. On this episode, we talk about what it’s been like for you. How is your life different now, and how are you coping with the changes? Have you come up with strategies that you want to share, that might help someone else?

More and more Kentuckians are losing their jobs and have less money to spend every day during the coronavirus pandemic. That means there will eventually be a drop in income and sales tax revenue for the state, though Kentucky is slated to receive $1.6 billion in federal aid to help prop up essential services this year. State legislators have attempted to adjust by only passing a one-year budget, with plans to pass a new spending plan next year once the outlook is a little clearer. But many are worried that state services and the people who rely on them will be affected. For this special episode of In Conversation, host and Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Ryland Barton discusses how the coronavirus pandemic will affect Kentucky's citizens, economy and government. Our guests were Democratic Sen. Morgan McGarvey of Louisville, Republican Rep. Kim Moser of Taylor Mill, Kentucky River District Health Department Public Health Director Scott Lockard and Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Executive Director Jason Bailey. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

The spread of the coronavirus has brought many businesses to a standstill, and forced others to change how they work. Jefferson County Public Schools is giving thousands of Chromebooks to students who don't have guaranteed access to a computer as part of its remote learning plan. The attorney general's office is devoting time to fight scams related to the coronavirus. Most in-person court services in Kentucky have been suspended. In Conversation discussed changes happening across the commonwealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our guest were JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, Consumer Protection Division Director for Kentucky's office of Attorney General Chris Lewis, and Kentucky Chief Justice John Minton. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

Kentucky expects to receive $1.7 billion in aid from the federal CARES Act that was signed into law last week. The money will be used to, among other things, provide unemployement benefits, support for businesses, and meet public health needs. Health officials say citizen participation in social distancing and other prevention steps will be critical in the next few weeks in slowing the spread of coronavirus. For this special In Conversation episode, we answer questions about the coronavirus and how the $2 trillion federal aid bill could impact Kentuckians. Our guests were Dr. Christian Furman from U of L Physicians, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Ryland Barton. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

"As a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package emerges from Washington, people across Kentucky and the rest of the country are trying to adjust to life amid the coronavirus pandemic and more restrictions to control its spread. This week on In Conversation we talk about what’s in the rescue legislation and and the continued impact of the pandemic. Our guests were Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Kentucky), Personal Counseling Service, Inc. Clinical Director Dr. Jeff Romer, and Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting Investigative Reporter Jacob Ryan. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

The coronavirus and closures ordered in response to it are presenting new challenges for Kentucky youth. Childcare services across the commonwealth have shut down, and the closure of Jefferson County Public Schools and other Kentucky school districts has many youth learning from home. Amid those changes, JCPS has begun distributing laptops to students, and given away thousands of free meals to families affected by the virus. For this special episode, In Conversation discusses how the coronavirus affects youth. Our guests were University of Louisville Child Psychologist and Researcher Dr. Judith Danovitch, Kentucky Youth Advocates Executive Director Terry Brooks and WFPL Education and Learning Reporter Jess Clark. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

The coronavirus has spread quickly since the first case in Kentucky was confirmed March 6, with a sharp rise in positive cases expected as more people are tested. State and local officials have dispelled some rumors and answered questions about the virus through daily briefings, but there is still a lot we do not know. In Conversation asks more questions about the virus and discusses what may be ahead for Kentucky and the region. Our guests were Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, University of Louisville Department of Medicine Vice-Dean for Research Dr. Jon Klein and WFPL News Energy and Environment Reporter Ryan Van Velzer. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

Efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus are taking a toll on Louisville's economy. The Kentucky Derby, with it's $400 million local economic impact, has been delayed until September. Louisville Tourism officials said the city has lost $57.6 million from canceled events, and Governor Andy Beshear's order to stop in-person service at restaurants and bars has led some businesses to lay off employees and change their operations. For this In Conversation special episode, we talk about the economic impact of the coronavirus. Our guests were Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Greater Louisville, Inc.Senior Vice President of Regional Economic Growth Deana Epperly Karem, U of L Health-Peace Hospital Behavioral Health Outreach Coordinator Greg Oerther and Murray State University Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development Director Chris Wooldridge. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

The spreading coronavirus has been labeled a pandemic by the World Health Organization and caused massive disruptions in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency after a case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Harrison County on March 6. Since then, events including the NCAA tournament have been canceled and Kentuckians have been advised to distance themselves from others. This week, In Conversation talks about the coronavirus. How has the state responded to the virus? How are residents coping with it? Our guests were Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness Medical Director Dr. Lori Caloia and Norton Medical Group Chief Medical Administrative Officer Dr. Joshua Honaker. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

Home sales remain strong in the Louisville area and across Kentucky, according to Realtors' groups. In Jefferson County, the Property Valuation Administrator's office has begun its 2020 reassessment of tens of thousands of properties. On In Conversation, guests discussed the state of the housing market in Greater Louisville, how the property assessment process works, and a program to help low and middle-income west Louisville residents become homeowners. They also addressed concerns about gentrification and racial issues in the housing market. Guests included Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator Colleen Younger, Southern Indiana Realtors Association President Bob Murphy, Greater Louisville Association of Realtors President Kathryn Sotelo and Rebound Inc. Executive Director Kevin Dunlap. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

Access to high speed internet, which can bring opportunities for economic and educational growth, is lacking in some Kentucky communities and efforts to remedy that have faced challenges. The KentuckyWired project is one of the state's largest internet connectivity efforts, aiming to build more than 3,000 miles of high-speed fiber optic cable in counties across the commonwealth. But the project is not expected to generate revenue until 2025, and investigative reports have raised questions about delays and costs to taxpayers. On In Conversation, we talked about internet connectivity, how the commonwealth compares to the rest of the nation, and what new internet technologies may be ahead. Our guests were Courier-Journal Investigative Reporter Alfred Miller and BroadbandNow Editor-In-Chief Tyler Cooper. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

Recent proposals to arm school security officers in Kentucky have divided constituents. Propoents say that arming school security will keep students safe and could prevent a school shooting similar to Marshall County High School's 2018 incident. Others contend that arming security is ineffective and could traumatize some students, especially students of color. This week In Conversation, we talked about school safety and how to ensure Kentucky and Indiana students' security. Our guests were Safety For Our Schools Floyd County PAC Chairwoman Misty Ronau, JCPS Board of Education Member Chris Kolb and Marshall County Sheriff Eddie McGuire. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

The Louisville Urban League will publish its new State of Black Louisville report in the coming weeks, documenting issues that affect African-American residents and their livelihoods. The report is expected to address topics like criminal justice, affordable housing and more, and features essays from local leaders who will suggest solutions to issues and barriers faced by residents. This week for In Conversation, we talked about the upcoming report, concerns affecting African-Americans and potential solutions. Our guests were Louisville Urban League President and CEO Sadiqa Reynolds, District 7 Councilwoman Paula McCraney and freelance writer and author Michael Jones.

Recent changes in Louisville's arts scene have drawn attention to the industry. StageOne Family Theatre's artistic director left his job after two years with the company, and nine Actors Theatre employees were laid off as part of "organizational restructuring. News of those layoffs comes just ahead of Actors Theatre's 44th Humana festival, which attracted more than 38,000 people and generated a $593,705 economic impact for Louisville last year. WFPL's In Conversation talked about the state of the arts in Louisville, and asked leaders what they expect in the months and years ahead. Our guests were Fund for the Arts President and CEO Christen Boone, Looking For Lilith Theater Company Co-Founder Shannon Wooley Allison and Actors Theatre of Louisville Executive Artistic Director Robert Barry Fleming.

Kentucky's 2020 legislative session has thus far included bills on school safety, immigration, abortion and more. With Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's budget address proposing funding changes for education, health care and other areas, WFPL's In Conversation discussed what has happened so far and what may be ahead for the legislature. Our guests were Kentucky Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey, Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence President & CEO Brigitte Blom Ramsey, Kentucky Voices for Health Board Chairperson Dr. Sheila Schuster and Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Ryland Barton.

Each year before the Kentucky Derby, state and local advocates raise awareness about potential "spikes" in human trafficking. Governor Andy Beshear highlighted the topic last week when he declared January as "Human Trafficking Awareness Month." But major sporting events can present challenges to stopping human trafficking, and the Kentucky Department of Education says the state's location, degree of youth homelessness and poverty make the commonwealth conducive to human trafficking. This Week In Conversation, we talked about research on human trafficking, what signs indicate someone is being trafficked and what resources are available for victims. Our guests were: People Against Trafficking Humans (PATH) Coalition of Kentucky Program Director Jaime Thompson, Women of the Well Ministry Founder Summer Dickerson and University of Louisville Human Trafficking Research Initiative Director Dr. Jennifer Middleton.

Thousands of Kentuckians have expunged their records since a 2016 law made some low-level offenses eligible to be cleared. Greater Louisville Inc. has endorsed expungement as a way to boost Kentucky's workforce development and economy, but the process is still unaffordable and difficult for some to complete. WFPL's In Conversation talked about record expungement, who is eligible for it and what resources are available for those who qualify. Our guests included Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy Education Branch Manager Melanie Foote, ACLU of Kentucky Field Organizer for Juvenile Justice Keturah Herron, Greater Louisville Inc. Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy Iris Wilbur and Legal Aid Society Staff Attorney Jenn Perkins.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says expanded gaming could become a new revenue source which could help fund the state's struggling pension systems. Some lawmakers have proposed bills that support expanded gaming, but two top Republicans say Beshear has overstated potential revenue from casino gambling and say proposals to legalize it are "off the table." WFPL's In Conversation talked about gambling addiction, how other states have used gambling money and whether expanded gaming bills will gain traction in Kentucky's upcoming legislative session. Our guests were Kentucky Council On Problem Gambling President Dr. Herbert "Bud" Newman, Democratic State Representative Al Gentry and Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Ryland Barton.

In Conversation covered a lot in 2019. From homelessness and vaccinations to bourbon and marijuana, more than a hundred guests joined the program this year to talk about dozens of topics. This week, WFPL's In Conversation looked back on some of our favorite shows: our program with the University of Louisville's president and her optimism for the school's future, our show with advocates who said more funding and support is needed to address homelessness in Louisville, and our talk with officials about marijuana laws in Louisville and the rest of the state.

Eastern High School's principal apologized and the school has changed its policies after girls were turned away from their homecoming dance for violating dress code this fall. Their dresses were measured before some girls were told they cannot enter the dance, sparking controversy from parents and students who alleged such rules are sexist. And Jefferson County Public School data shows that in schools without dress codes, where rules can be applied more subjectively, girls are cited more often for dress code violations than boys. WFPL's In Conversation talked with Courier Journal Education Reporter Olivia Krauth, University of Louisville Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Chair Dawn Heinecken and Democratic State Representative Attica Scott about dress codes and whether they help students learn.

Kentucky has instituted major reforms to its systems that handle sexual assault cases. Those reforms include requirements for providing, testing and tracking rape kits, mandated trauma-informed training for first responders, and clearing a backlog of more than 3,000 untested rape kits. But there are more areas for improvement, as revealed in The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting's investigation "Prosecution Declined". The project, part of KYCIR's new podcast called "Dig", found that Louisville police rely heavily on prosecutors' judgement for whether rape cases should prompt an arrest. Prosecutors often decline such cases, resulting in only 15 percent of rape cases reported in 2017 ending with an arrest. WFPL's In Conversation discussed how Kentucky has reformed its systems for handling sexual assault cases, described what services are available for victims, and highlighted what areas need improvement. Our guests were Investigative Reporter Eleanor Klibanoff with the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Survivors' Corner Founder and Director Donna Pollard.

The rate of foster youth entering Kentucky's foster care system has grown since 2011, and a decreasing percentage of those youth are being reunified with their parents or guardians. That data was outlined in a report from the nonprofit Kentucky Youth Advocates that was released this November. Though the report suggests some child welfare measures to improve, many of those solutions cost money and the state could face a $1.1 billion budget shortfall and fiscal needs from its underfunded pension system. WFPL's In Conversation talked with Kentucky Youth Advocates' Executive Director Terry Brooks, Republican Senator Julie Raque Adams and Voices of the Commonwealth member Christopher Hagans about why the rate of foster youth has increased, what issues in the child welfare system should be addressed, and how legislators might address child welfare during this upcoming legislative session.

The Louisville Story Program's new project, "Better Lucky Than Good," is an oral history of Churchill Downs backside workers and people who lived near the track. WFPL's In Conversation talked with subjects from the book about their experiences and how the racing industry has changed. Our guests included Syl’s Lounge Proprietor Sylvia Arnette, who grew up 'The Hill' neighborhood near Churchill Downs, retired groom Paul Goffner, Louisville Story Program Deputy Director Joe Manning.

Philanthropy in Louisville is changing. Cuts to the city's budget slashed nonprofits' funds as officials look to philanthropic organizations for help. But the most recent data from the Kentucky Nonprofit Network shows growth in the industry: Nonprofits made up 9.1 percent of Kentucky’s workforce in 2015, and the industry grew to 19,009 organizations in 2016 — a 9 percent increase when compared to 2012. WFPL's In Conversation talked with Metro United Way CEO Theresa Reno-Weber, Gheens Foundation President Barry Allen and Papa John's International Chief of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Victoria Russell about the industry and how changes could affect it going forward.

Kentucky's Republican party won big in the 2019 election, securing all but the governor's seat. With Democrat Andy Beshear preparing to follow through with policies of his platform, In Conversation looks at what's next when it comes to the governor's race, in which current Gov. Matt Bevin has requested a recanvass, policies under Beshear and more. Our guests were WFPL Political Reporter Ryland Barton and FiveThirtyEight Senior Writer Perry Bacon Jr.

Louisville officials opened an $11.6 million animal shelter last week, expanding animal services for strays animals and pet owners. Also last week, a local animal abuse registry went live--it requires anyone convicted to animal abuse in Jefferson County to self-register. WFPL's In Conversation talked with officials about what other animal services are available and about how owners can take better care of their pets.

Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear is in a tight race for governor against Republican incumbent Matt Bevin, according to a recent Mason-Dixon poll. That poll also shows Bevin has shored up support within his party, and that Beshear has more support among women and younger voters in metropolitan areas. This week on In Conversation, we ask Beshear about his agenda if he is elected governor, and then talk with WFPL Political Reporter Ryland Barton about the race. Note: We asked Governor Bevin to join our show, but his staff said he had a scheduling conflict.

It has been a memorable year for Louisville and Mayor Greg Fischer. Last November, Fischer was elected to his third and final term in office and major projects, like a track and field complex and a new YMCA, are finally underway. Fischer has used his office to take up issues like gun control, but state and federal laws could hamper city efforts. Then, there's also the city's budget challenges as it grapples with a state pension crisis. We talk to Fischer and ask what other challenges are ahead as part of WFPL's In Conversation.

Louisville is hosting the inaugural Define American Summit this weekend, welcoming hundreds of visitors to comedy shows, work shops and discussions about race, culture and identity. It all aligns with the nonprofit Define American's mission to share stories and stir change around immigration, identity and citizenship. This week on WFPL's In Conversation, we talk with officials and guests taking part in the summit to ask how they define 'American' and how they use their stories to make change. Our guests were Comedian Nikita Hamilton, Define American Executive Director Ryan Eller, Comedian Zahra Noorbakhsh and Actor Christian Arteaga.

Debate around gun access and gun violence has spilled into Kentucky and the rest of the nation amid high-profile mass shootings. Some states, like California, are taking steps to ban assault weapons. But Kentucky legislators have been hesitant to support bills restricting access to guns, and last year the General Assembly approved a bill expanding access for people who carry concealed guns in public. Panelists talked about guns and what's next for Kentucky as part of WFPL's In Conversation. Our guests were: Kentucky Representative Jeffery Donohue, Kentucky's Concealed Carry Coalition President Stephen McBride and Paducah-based author Sarah Stewart Holland.

Climate change has increased Kentucky's average temperature, contributed to heavier rainfall and is associated with other weather-related changes in the state. Activists like Greta Thunberg have brought more attention to the issue, but panelists on WFPL's In Conversation said more that action from those in power at the federal and state level is necessary to make a substantive change. Our guests included WFPL Energy and Environment Reporter Ryan Van Velzer, University of Louisville Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives Justin Mog, Louisville Climate Strike Coalition Co-Lead Fernanda Scharfenberger and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Chairperson Cassia Herron.

Suicide among veterans is still a big problem across the nation, but Kentucky outpaces the nation with a reported 36 veteran suicides per 100,000 people in 2016. Advocates talked about what's being done to address veteran suicide and how people can help as part of WFPL's In Conversation. Our guests were Gulf War Veteran Sherry Whitehouse, Veterans Club Founder Jeremy Harrell, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Legal Counsel Dennis Shepherd, WFPL Health Reporter Lisa Gillespie and Veterans Affairs Medical Center Suicide Prevention Coordinator Kelly Marcum.

Louisville's western neighborhoods are about to witness unprecedented investment, with nearly $1 billion flowing into projects in and around the Russell neighborhood. But residents worry those investments could gentrify the area and displace them -- a topic explored in WFPL's Here Today podcast. This week for In Conversation, we talk with members of the podcast team about what they learned and what's next for the neighborhood. Our guests were WFPL City Reporter Amina Elahi and WFPL News Editor Jonese Franklin.

Marijuana is still illegal in Kentucky but advocates and officials are shifting their attitudes towards the drug. The Jefferson County Attorney's Office said it would prosecute fewer marijuana-related offenses in Louisville, and state lawmakers have pushed for the passage of medical marijuana. This week on In Conversation, panelists talked about how other states have handled legalizing the drug, and what Kentucky could learn from them. Our guests included Colorado Public Radio Reporter Ann Marie Awad, State Representative Nima Kulkarni, Metro Councilman Brandon Coan and Marijuana Policy Project Legislative Analyst Matt Simon. Click here to support the work we do.

Kentucky now has the highest rate of child abuse and neglect in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Children's Bureau. Panelists talked about what has driven Kentucky's child abuse, state workers' struggles to address it and how the community can help. Our guests were Courier-Journal Reporter Deborah Yetter, Kentucky Child Fatality Review Panel Member Dr. Melissa Currie and Kentucky Department of Community Based Services Commissioner Eric Clark.

This week In Conversation, we talk about the University of Louisville's plans to buy Jewish Hospital and other properties and how those plans could affect the commonwealth. U of L announced last week that it had cemented plans to buy the hospital and other facilities owned by its parent company for $10 million. But it hinges on a $50 million loan from the state, and lawmakers said a special session to approve that loan might not happen. Our panel talked about the plan and what the hospital means to the community. Guests included State Senator Morgan McGarvey (D-Louisville), State Senator Stephen Meredith (R- Leitchfield), WFPL Health Reporter Lisa Gillespie and University of Louisville Emeritus Professor of Medicine Peter Hasselbacher.

This Week In Conversation, we talk labor. From recent right-to-work legislation in Kentucky to groundbreaking reporting on failures in the way the state investigates on-the-job deaths to Harlan County miners protesting to demand their pay, these issues have been in the news lately. We talk with AFL-CIO of Kentucky President Bill Londrigan, University of Louisville labor law professor Ariana Levinson, Eleanor Klibanoff of the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Sydney Boles of the Ohio Valley ReSource. Click here to support the work we do.

This Week In Conversation, we talk with University of Louisville President Neeli Bendapudi. A lot has happened at the university over the past few years, from the school's former president resigning and being sued to the head basketball coach and athletic director being fired amid a federal bribery investigation. We talk with President Bendapudi about starting at the university under those situations, and what's next for the school. Click here to support the work we do.

The more than $90 million Sherman Minton renewal project would add up to 30 years of life to the aging bridge. But construction could have a huge effect on traffic and nearby local economies. One option for the bridge would close it down and speed up the construction process, but some residents have argued against that option and say it would devastate the local economy. We talk with officials and about the project, what they've heard from the community so far and what plans are ahead for the 57-year-old bridge. Our guests were: One Southern Indiana Vice President Mike Hall Sherman Minton Renewal Spokesperson Andrea Brady Michael Baker International Engineering Lead Aaron Stover Michael Baker International Environmental Lead Wendy Vachet Click here to support the work we do. +

Louisville officials closed another homeless camp last week, continuing a string of camp shutdowns as the city struggles to find solutions for its homeless population. There were more people experiencing homelessness in Louisville last year according to a count by the nonprofit Coaltion for the Homeless. That count reported 6986 homeless people between October 2017 and September 2018 — a 4 percent increase from what they counted the year before. The city has worked to find solutions, commissioning a five-month study to find proposals and putting more than $500,000 towards low-barrier shelters and item storage. We talk with advocates and officials about homelessness and what challenges they face in addressing it. Our guests were: Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Natalie Harris Metro Government Chief Resilience Officer Eric Friedlander Wayside Christian Mission CEO Nina Moseley Wayside Christian Mission client Aaron Jones Click here to support the work we do.

Though substantial evidence of nation-wide raids by Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE) last weekend failed to materialize, the threat affected Louisville's immigrant population and may have discouraged some from getting basic services. We talk with advocates about President Trump's immigration policies and how the community has become accustomed to the threat, yet continually impacted by it. Our guests were: Americana Community Center Executive Director Edgardo Mansilla Define American Executive Director Ryan Eller Mijente Louisville Spokesperson Jesús Ibañez Click here to support the work we do: https://wfpl.org/supportinconversation.

The Louisville Free Public Library nearly lost two branch locations and $2.26 million from its overall library funding under Mayor Greg Fischer's proposed budget cuts. Lawmakers ultimately approved less drastic reductions, but the library system will still have to close its branch location in Fern Creek and curtail services. We talk with officials about the system's services, and why they are calling for public support ahead of their expected challenges. Our guests were: Louisville Free Public Library Director Lee Burchfield Educational Justice Coordinator Katelyn Robalino Library Foundation Executive Director Chandra Gordon Click here to support the work we do: https://wfpl.org/supportinconversation.

We look back on previous episodes of In Conversation. These include discussions about the increasing number of youth in Kentucky using electronic cigarettes, the obstacles and successes of Louisville's park systems, and work to promote awareness about vaccinations. Our guests were: Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky President Ben Chandler University of Louisville Professor of Medicine Dr. Daniel Conklin Cameual Wright, CareSource Medical Director Louisville Parks and Recreation Parks Administrator Bennett Knox Louisville Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Ben Johnson Olmsted Parks Conservancy President Layla George Parklands of Floyds Fork President David Morgan Click here to support the work we do: https://wfpl.org/supportinconversation _

Kentucky's public pension system is putting a crunch on the budgets of regional universities and "quasi" state agencies. Those entities will be required to have a massive increase in their pension costs starting July 1. Some agencies say the changes will affect their services and hurt residents in Kentucky. WFPL's Ryland Barton talked with legislators and others about the pension issue. Our guests were: David McFaddin, Senior VP for Operations at Eastern Kentucky University Steve Shannon, Executive Director of Kentucky Association of Regional Programs (which represents community mental health centers) Joni Jenkins, Democratic Representative - Louisville Jerry Miller, Republican Representative - Louisville Click here to support the work we do: wfpl.org/supportinconversation

Kentucky's hemp industry is booming, reporting a $41 million growth in sales last year when compared to 2017. The passage of the federal 2018 Farm Bill effectively legalized the crop and opened it for research and farming. WFPL's Rick Howlett talked with industry experts about the crop and how it might affect Kentucky's agricultural landscape. Our guests were: Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles University of Louisville Researcher Jagannadh Satyavolu Kentucky Hemp Heritage Alliance Founder Alyssa Erickson You make In Conversation possible. Click here to support the work we do: wfpl.org/supportinconversation

The Congress for New Urbanism's 27th Annual Convention landed in Louisville this week, and more than a thousand designers, planners and architects showed up to learn about the present and future of urbanism. WFPL's Rick Howlett asked convention speakers how urbanism helps develop Louisville's neighborhoods and the rest of the city. Doug Farr, Architect and Founder of Farr Associates Hazel Borys, Principal and Managing Director of PlaceMakers You make In Conversation possible. Click here to support the work we do: wfpl.org/supportinconversation

Kentucky was one of a few states where the jail population increased last year, and officials have taken notice. The nonprofit Kentucky Center for Economic Policy won a $10,000 grant to research the issue, and national organizations like the Bail Project have landed in Louisville to institute bail reform. WFPL's Rick Howlett talked with jail officials and advocates about Kentucky's incarceration rates, and what they think should be done to address it. The guests were: o Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Director Mark Bolton o Louisville Bail Project Site Manager Shameka Parrish-Wright o Eastern Kentucky University Associate Professor Judah Schept You make In Conversation possible. Click here to support the work we do: wfpl.org/supportinconversation

The Louisville Metro Council announced it would close public pools and cut the city budget to address an impending budget shortfall. Those cuts could affect public safety, health, and recreational opportunities offered through Louisville's park system. WFPL's Rick Howlett talked with park representatives about the obstacles they face, and expectations going forward. The guests were: Louisville Parks and Recreation Parks Administrator Bennett Knox Louisville Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Ben Johnson Olmsted Conservancy President Layla George Parklands of Floyds Fork President David Morgan

Kentucky and the rest of the nation are wrestling with the huge popularity of electronic cigarettes among youth. A survey by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky found the number of youth who use e-cigarettes, an activity referred to as vaping, doubled from 2016 through 2018 for sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th graders. Research has found many non-smoking youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to later turn to traditional cigarettes when compared to teens who didn't vape. Jefferson County Public Schools launched an awareness campaign on the issue, and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell recently introduced a bill to raise the national minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21. WFPL's Rick Howlett talked to Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky President Ben Chandler and Dr. Daniel Conklin of the University of Louisville School of Medicine about the topic and how vaping affects Kentucky's youth.

In April, WFPL published a five-part series about toxic air pollution in Louisville. Energy and Environment Reporter Ryan Van Velzer examined who is responsible for the pollution and who is affected by it. This week on In Conversation, WFPL’s Rick Howlett talked to experts featured in that series about the state of air pollution in Louisville and what the community can do about it. Our guests were: Keith Talley Sr., Director of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District Michele Roberts, National Co-Coordinator for the Environmental Justice Health Alliance Sarah Lynn Cunningham, environmental engineer

In an update two weeks ago, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the recent measles outbreak has led to the most cases of the disease since 2000. Before 1963, in the decade before the measles vaccination was created, an estimated three to four million people were infected, and about 400 to 500 people died of the disease each year. But there's still some push-back against not only the measles vaccine, but vaccines in general. Opponents sometimes cite religious reasons or debunked studies linking vaccinations to autism as reasons not to be vaccinated. We discussed the outbreaks and the science on WFPL's In Conversation. Our guests included: Cameual Wright, Caresource Medical Director Jeff Howard, State Health Commissioner Dawn Balcom, University of Louisville Family Nurse Practitioner

The Kentucky Derby tradition has grown and changed over the past 145 years in Louisville, creating epic moments and memorable scenes for people. We hear from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, the Kentucky Derby Museum's Chris Goodlett and historian Emily Bingham, as well as Louisvillians who celebrate the Derby in their own unique ways.

Earlier this month, a Courier Journal story about a traffic stop involving Tae-Ahn Lea sparked public outrage. Lea, a black teenager, was pulled over for making a wide turn and ended up handcuffed and searched. Is this what's supposed to happen? Are LMPD traffic stops effective, or used as a way to harass and intimidate black drivers? WFPL's Rick Howlett talked with panelists to ask how traffic stops work and what the police and community can do to better their relationship. Our guests were: Jessica Green, 1st District Metro Councilperson Nicolai Jilek, President of the River City Fraternal Order of Police Keturah Herron, ACLU of Kentucky Field Organizer for Juvenile Justice

Much of Louisville’s infrastructure needs repairs, but the city has a long way to go before it can upgrade its aging systems. Meanwhile, residents in some Louisville neighborhoods are experiencing frequent flooding. This Week on In Conversation, we talk infrastructure: where we are, what needs to be done and where we're going. Our guests were: Tony Parrott, Executive Director, Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District Tom Rockaway, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Louisville Arnita Gadson, Executive Director, West Jefferson County Community Task Force Annie Haigler, Board Member, West Jefferson County Community Task Force

As Louisville's art scene grows, so too has diversity and representation in the industry. One sign of that is new Actors Theatre of Louisville Artistic Director Robert Barry Fleming, the first non-white artistic director in the company's history. This Week on In Conversation, we talk about diversity in the arts community and what's being done to shine the spotlight on diverse voices both on and off the stage. Our guests were: Idris Goodwin, first black artistic director at Stage One Family Theater Shannon Woolley Allison, Co-Founder of Looking For Lilith Theater Company Stephen Reily, Speed Art Museum Director

Legislators passed several bills during this year's legislative session affecting the state pension system, abortion, felony expungement, school safety and more. The session also brought a new round of protests in Frankfort from public school teachers, with rallies leading Jefferson County Public Schools to close for six days. Guest host Ryland Barton talks with a panel of state lawmakers to review this year's legislative session. Our guests were: Representative Attica Scott, Democrat from Louisville Representative Jason Nemes, Republican from Louisville Representative Kim Moser, Republican from Taylor Mill Senator Morgan McGarvey, Democrat from Louisville

Debate on whether the state should manage the school system is ongoing, and JCPS teachers organized several "sickouts" to protest education-related bills in Frankfort this legislative session. This meant six days of school closures as teachers flooded the Capitol, and created obstacles for families juggling childcare. We'll talk with JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio about the state of education and JCPS, recent legislation, his thoughts on the sickouts and more.

The 2019 Kentucky Derby Festival expects to attract hundreds of thousands of people to the Louisville area for events like the Thunder Over Louisville fireworks display and the Pegasus Parade. This year's festival will be the last at the helm for its longtime leader: Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry is retiring this year. We talk with Berry about his tenure, and we talk with KDF's Chief of Staff and Vice President of Communications about this year's events and how they stage the two-week festival. Our guests were: Kentucky Derby President and CEO Michael Berry Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Stacey Robinson Vice President of Communications Aimee Boyd

Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth is in a powerful position in his new role as chair of the House Budget Committee where he's now instrumental in determining spending levels for federal dollars. In this episode of In Conversation, we talked about Yarmuth's new position, his thoughts on the Green New Deal, the federal budget's effect on the commonwealth and more.

The neighborhoods of Louisville's west end are undergoing a flurry of investment and development, and it could mean big changes for the area's residents. The city recently finished road improvements at 18th and Broadway. OneWest, a nonprofit created to promote commercial real estate development, bought properties near the site to spur growth. There's also a planned $35 million track and field complex and a $28 million YMCA branch under construction in the area. Friday's guests talked about those developments and possible effects for residents--both good and bad. Our guests were: Lyndon Pryor - Chief Engagement Officer at the Louisville Urban League Evon Smith - President and CEO Of One West Jackie Floyd - Longtime Russell Resident

Citing soaring state pension obligations over the next four years, budget restrictions and few choices, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer says Metro government faces a serious fiscal shortfall and services and city employees could be casualties. Fischer is asking the Metro Council to increase the insurance premium tax or find a better solution. We talked about whether that proposal will benefit Louisville. Our guests were: Metro Council President David James (D) District 18 Councilwoman Marilyn Parker (R) University of Kentucky Economics Professor William Hoyt

Kentucky lawmakers have discussed medical marijuana bills in recent years, but measures have never gained enough momentum to pass the early stages of the state legislature. But two bills introduced this session, Senate Bill 170 and House BIll 136, would legalize the drug for medicinal use, creating exemptions for dispensaries and rules for how physicians could prescribe it. Both measures have bipartisan support, and Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has said he would support such a law depending on “how it’s written.” Host Rick Howlett and guests talked about medical marijuana and whether it has a chance to pass this legislative session. Our guests were: Justin Lewandoski - veteran of the war in Afghanistan and a medical marijuana advocate Dr. James Murphy - Clinical professor at the University of Louisville’s School of Medicine Michael Raus - Founder of Kentucky Bluegrass Cannabis

Whether it’s the new toll bridges, potholes and construction along Dixie Highway or new electronic fare cards at TARC, transportation — or the lack thereof — plays a big role in many people’s lives in Louisville. In highway projects alone, Jefferson County spent $113 million in 2018, according to data from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. But when it comes to public transportation, people relying on the bus system still face challenges getting to where they need to go. Plus, a change to the Transit Authority of River City’s new fare system has caused delays and other disruptions for some riders. And major construction to improve Dixie Highway, which officials in 2017 said had a fatality rate three times that of similar state roadways, is set to finish this December. We talked about transportation and what's next for the city. Joining us were: Ferdinand Risco Jr. -- Interim Executive Director of the Transit Authority of River City Cathy Hinko -- Executive Director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition Jeff O’Brien -- Director of Develop Louisville

It’s been 20 years since Louisville became the first Kentucky city to pass an ordinance making it illegal to discriminate in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We discussed the ordinance and how it has -- and has not -- changed things. We also review similar measures approved by 10 other cities across the state, and how these local initiatives coexist with new state laws allowing religious expression. Our guests were: Lisa Gunterman — Fairness Ordinance Organizer Chris Hartman — Director, Fairness Campaign Alicia Pedreira — Fairness Ordinance Organizer Dawn Wilson — Transgender Civil Rights Activist and member of the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission

Soccer is big in Louisville. College basketball is huge. So why don't we have a major league team here? That's what we talked about this week on In Conversation, with these guests: Dan Issel, president of NBA2LOU, the business group trying to land an NBA team Kent Oyler, president of Greater Louisville Inc., the Louisville-area chamber of commerce Dr. Patrick Rishe, Founding Director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis The NBA's official position is that expansion isn't on the table. But Dan Issel, president of NBA 2 Louisville, has some doubts. "In talking to some current and former administrators in the NBA front office, their feeling is that expansion is inevitable," Issel said. "Because the owners are always looking for ways to make more money." He said revenue from things like ticket sales and TV contracts has to be split 50/50 between owners and players' associations. But expansion fees go directly into the owners' pockets. "So the feeling is, it's inevitable," Issel said. "Do we know the timeline? No." Kent Oyler from GLI says having an NBA team could attract talent to the city, and increase Louisville's national visibility. "We that live here know our city. We love our city. It's a great place, lots to do, lots of cultural attractions," he said. "But if you get out of the city, and you're trying to talk to somebody that's in Chicago, or Austin, or Denver, they've heard of Louisville, but they really don't know Louisville. We're just not on the radar screen out of town." He said it's important to attract new folks because Louisville's population numbers are flat, and there are around 27,000 open jobs. "And if we want to get more people moving here, they have to start thinking of us." In Conversation airs live on 89.3 WFPL, Friday mornings at 11. You can call the show during that hour at 502-814-TALK (8255).  

A state corrective action plan with Jefferson County Public Schools has gone into effect. The plan follows a scathing audit of JCPS — including concerns about security and culture — and helped the district to avoid a state takeover. That takeover was recommended by Dr. Wayne Lewis almost immediately after he was appointed Kentucky Education Commissioner. The move drew condemnation from civil rights groups and JCPS and the state later negotiated an agreement that averted a takeover. Join us as we talk about funding for charter schools, the state intervention at JCPS, new state education standards and education-related legislation. This week’s guest was: Dr. Wayne Lewis, Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner

Kentucky’s bourbon boom is showing no sign of fading, with both new and longtime distillers investing hundreds of millions of dollars in expansions and new projects. But the bourbon explosion comes with worries. Producers say escalating trade tensions could hurt the industry. This week, WFPL’s In Conversation with Rick Howlett checked the pulse of the industry with an hour-long talk with bourbon insiders — and with you. This week’s guests were: Susan Reigler, Bourbon writer Marianne Eaves, Master Distiller at Castle and Key Distillery Eric Gregory, Kentucky Distillers’ Association President

We’ll take calls from listeners and comments from social media, giving the community a platform to have their questions answered and hold elected officials accountable. The show will give people a space to talk — both to each other, and with the larger community. We also want your input on show topics. What are the important issues that aren’t being publicly discussed? Who do you want to hear from? What’s happening in your neighborhood? Send us your ideas through the form below, and we’ll let you know if we produce a show on the topic.