Uncovered by WDRB News: Recent Episodes
WDRB Media
The former newspaper reporters of WDRB.com in Louisville, Ky. take listeners inside their stories about business, criminal justice, education, government, infrastructure and more. Episodes are released every Tuesday morning.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg has a new, ambitious economic development plan for the city. Pat Mulloy is the man in charge of making it happen. Mulloy, a lawyer who spent most of his career managing senior living companies, joined Greenberg as deputy mayor for economic development earlier this year. In this WDRB+ Studio conversation with WDRB's Chris Otts, Mulloy discussed the broad goals of the plan and how Mulloy plans to prevent it from languishing on a shelf with little action, like so many previous plans have over the years.
In the conversation, Mulloy touched on:
-Why making it easier to build housing, including low-pricedhousing in every neighborhood, is a “moral imperative”
-The importance of international immigration to Louisville’sgrowth
-Remaking downtown in the remote work era
-How Louisville might follow in the steps of Austin andNashville
-How to boost entrepreneurial activity and venture capital
-Why it all revolves the success of the University of Louisville
View video of the conversation on the WDRB News YouTube page.
Recorded: Dec. 20, 2023
Downtown Louisville is still recovering from the pandemic, and in some ways, it will never be the same. Rebecca Fleischaker sits down with WDRB's Chris Otts to discuss how Louisville's central business district is evolving in the remote-work era. Fleischaker is the executive director of the Downtown Partnership. The episode was recorded Oct. 24, 2023. NOTE: This is a pilot episode for an interview show hosted from our new WDRB+ Studio. Should we keep it up? Who would you like to hear from next? Send any suggestions or feedback to cotts@wdrb.com.
WDRB's Chris Otts is headed to Columbia for a fellowship. What does it means for the future of this podcast? He leaves a quick note for subscribers.
In 2013, the theft of large quantities of coveted Pappy Van Winkle and other bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky. captured the world's attention. WDRB's Dalton Godbey discusses his recent interview with Toby Curtsinger, the alleged "ringleader" of the bourbon thefts, who pleaded guilty to charges and served a brief prison stint but still insists the story is not as cut-and-dry as it seems. Curtsinger embraces the moniker, "The Bourbon King," in Netflix's new documentary series, "Heist."
Journalist Alec MacGillis joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, "FULFILLMENT: Winning and Losing in One-Click America," which uses Amazon as a frame to explore regional inequality in the U.S. MacGillis writes that Amazon that has three types of towns: its software development-engineering towns, its data center towns and its warehouse towns. What is the impact of these broad economic forces on 'warehouse towns' like Louisville? How is blue-collar work different now than decades ago? What are the political ramifications of growing disparities between 'hyper-prosperous' places like Washington D.C. and 'left behind' places like Baltimore?
One year ago, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the state would get 'caught up' on a backlog of unemployment claims. It didn't happen. Thousands of Kentuckians still struggle with this frayed social safety net. Have elected officials stop trying to improve the system? WDRB.com business reporter Chris Otts explains.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is allowing college athletes to profit on endorsement deals, autographs and other "name, image and likeness" opportunities. The Supreme Court undercuts the NCAA's business model. What does it all mean in a state where college sports is king? WDRB sports columnists Rick Bozich and Eric Crawford break it down.
WDRB.com's Marcus Green takes back to a simpler time, when one of the biggest controversies in Louisville centered on the plan to build a Topgolf. Three years later, Topgolf still isn't here, but it looks to be coming soon. Green explains what's going on with the much-anticipated project.
The presumed frontrunner is suddenly out. Another candidate picks up a key endorsement. A moderate Republican enters the fray. And there are likely more announcements ahead. WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith discusses recent developments in the 2022 race to succeed Greg Fischer as Louisville Metro mayor. What does David James' exit mean for the race? Why is Barbara Sexton-Smith working for Craig Greenberg instead of mounting her own campaign? Does J'town Mayor Bill Dieruf have a path to victory as a Republican? Smith tackles these questions and more.
Ashleigh and Brooke Skaggs, sisters from Georgetown, Indiana, hardly recognized their father in the months leading up to his tragic death in July 2020. WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green joins the show to discuss his recent story - the first of a series - examining the pandemic's effect on mental health in Kentucky and Indiana.
Background:
QUIET CRISIS: An ‘unprecedented’ mental health toll: COVID-19 drives surge in crisis line calls, therapy wait lists
The constant on-again, off-again schedule at Ford's Louisville plants has an economic impact far beyond the automaker itself. This week's show focuses on how automotive supplier plants are also going dark and struggling to keep their workers during a red-hot job market. Sara Wells, a former worker at Martinrea Heavy Stamping in Shelbyville, Ky., shares her story. WDRB business reporters Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer discuss their recent story, "Ford shutdowns ripple through Louisville-area supplier plants."
WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green discusses a recent court ruling and other developments in Louisville Gas & Electric's five-year-old plan to build a natural gas pipeline across Bullitt County, an effort opposed by Bernheim Forest and some rural landowners. Recent court documents raise the question: Is the controversial pipeline mainly for the benefit of one big customer: Jim Beam?
WDRB's Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer discuss the years-long fight over two proposed 'affordable housing' apartment complexes that could provide public housing in the suburb of Prospect, home to Kentucky's second-wealthiest zip code.
Background:
Judge upholds rejection of low-income housing in Prospect
Prospect affordable housing complex on cusp of construction
WDRB sports columnists Rick Bozich and Eric Crawford discuss the controversy surrounding Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's positive drug test and the shifting explanations from famed trainer Bob Baffert. Does Baffert have credibility? What does this mean for a sport already marred by past drugging incidents?
WDRB's Jason Riley and Travis Ragsdale discuss their recent story about incidents in which Louisville Metro homicide unit personnel are alleged to have been drunk on the job or at the office, and the police department's lackluster internal investigation of the claims.
Background: ATF agent claims Louisville homicide chief was drinking before Kroger hate crime murders
WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley joins the podcast for an update on Jefferson County Public Schools. Wheatley discusses:
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How the district's classroom-virtual hybrid schedule is going
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Why some parents feel it shortchanges their children
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Whether the Louisville school district will be back to pre-pandemic operation in August when the next school year begins
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Why teachers and staff are resistant to the superintendent's proposal to add four school days to next year's calendar to make up for lost learning during the virtual school year
Background:
Hybrid learning at JCPS poses new problems for some parents
Revisions for school calendar, start times on the table at JCPS
Louisville Metro Police first learned of an accusation that narcotics Det. Brian Bailey, one of the department's top cops in obtaining residential search warrants, had abused a female confidential informant in 2016. What did police do with the information? WDRB News and the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting have learned that a total of four women have accused Bailey of coercing them into becoming confidential informants and sexually assaulting them. On this week's show, WDRB reporters Jason Riley and Travis Ragsdale and KyCIR's Eleanor Klibanoff discuss the latest chapter in this story and where things are headed. It's all our part of our newsrooms' joint investigation into Louisville police search warrants, which started in the wake of the Breonna Taylor tragedy.
The latest story: LMPD cleared top warrant detective of sexual misconduct. Then, more women came forward.
One of the biggest Louisville business stories of 2021 has been the frequent disruption at Ford Motor Co.'s vehicle plants. Louisville Assembly Plant has borne the brunt, missing six weeks of production so far. The impact extends far beyond Ford's two factories to dozens of supplier plants in the region. WDRB's Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer explain the roots of the global shortage of computer chips that is roiling the auto industry, with the help of Joseph McCabe of AutoForecast Solutions LLC.
How close are we to having COVID-19 under control? Will Louisville's public schools go back to normal in the fall? Will COVID-19 shots become an annual ritual? Dr. Jon Klein, vice dean of research at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, says that much of life as we knew it may return by the of the summer, but the next one-to-three months are critical. There could be a costly fourth surge of COVID-19 as social behavior loosens faster than vaccines take effect, Klein says. He joins the podcast to explain.
CNN Special Reports producer Matthew Reynard joins WDRB's Chris Otts and Gilbert Corsey to discuss the making of the network's recent hourlong special on Kentucky's unemployment insurance failure. Why did CNN chose to focus on Kentucky? How did the team handle the suicide of former unemployment director Muncie McNamara only 11 days after he was interviewed for the program and before it aired? The documentary, "The Price We Paid: The economic cost of COVID" premiered March 27. It is available to pay-TV subscribers on CNNgo and video-on-demand services.
Kentucky doesn't have money for teacher raises, but the GOP-dominated legislature recently passed or advanced several new or expanded tax giveaways. WDRB's Chris Otts and Lawrence Smith discuss a sweetheart deal for the well-connected developer of a Louisville hotel, an effort to lure remote workers from other states and the controversial school choice bill that would give breaks for supporting private education.
An accused child rapist and violent predator in Louisville is on the cusp of being let out of jail once again thanks to a loophole in Kentucky law: one that allows a person to be both mentally incompetent to face criminal prosecution and too mentally ill to be kept in psychiatric treatment. Now, Louisville-area lawmakers are trying to make up for lost time, mounting a last-minute push to close the loophole before the end of the legislative session this month. WDRB reporter Chad Mills explains.
The pandemic has kept most of Louisville's downtown office workers at home for nearly a year. But even before COVID, the downtown office scene was stagnant despite all the other things happening in the Central Business District -- the Yum! Center, bourbon distilleries, a plethora of new hotels. What happens if workers never return to the office? And, how does the remote work paradigm present an opportunity for an approachable city like Louisville? WDRB's Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer discuss their recent in-depth story.
Republican State Rep. Jerry Miller joins the podcast to explain why he's pushing a bill that would make the Louisville mayor into a nonpartisan position, reduce the mayor's power and make other changes. Miller makes no bones about challenging the Democratic power structure in Louisville. He even thinks removing the 'Democrat' and 'Republican' labels from mayoral candidates might make Louisville more likely to elect its first Black mayor.
Tae-Ahn Lea was a senior at Central High School in 2018 when Louisville police cuffed him, patted him down and searched his car after the teenager made a wide turn in a high-crime neighborhood. Video of the stop went viral. Many in the community were outraged. But despite the attention, and all the police reforms promised in the wake of Breonna Taylor, the internal investigation into Lea's traffic stop failed to include the main detective involved and was swept under the rug by exception in 2020 after lingering untouched for months. Even today, the police department won't release the full file. WDRB reporters Gilbert Corsey and Jason Riley explain.
Background: LMPD detective said he handcuffed teen in viral traffic stop to 'calm him down'
Kentucky's Republican-dominated legislature finally confronted the reality of slot-like gaming in the commonwealth last week. The vote to legalize "historical horse racing" machines showed deep differences among GOP lawmakers about how to help the poor, "trickle down" economics and whether morality should be legislated. WDRB's Chris Otts and Lawrence Smith break it down.
The Louisville detective who has obtained more residential search warrants than any other during the last 18 months is facing serious questions about his work. Eleanor Klibanoff of the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Travis Ragsdale of WDRB explain the latest story in our newsrooms' joint investigation into LMPD search warrant practices in the wake of the Breonna Taylor shooting.
Background:
LMPD’s Top Warrant Cop Accused Of Sexual Abuse, Questionable Tactics
Dig: Klibanoff's 2019 investigative report and podcast series on LMPD rape investigations
After the killing of Breonna Taylor, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer ordered a "top-to-bottom" review of the Louisville Metro Police Department. The audit is out, and it isn't flattering. WDRB reporters Chad Mills and Jason Riley break down the key findings, the reaction from the Black community and what happens next.
Background: LMPD review finds department needs 'major changes'
Kentucky transportation planners are looking at ways to improve Interstate 64 in Louisville, and one of the options is to widen the highway and expand the Cochran Hill tunnel. Is this a realistic plan? Will it happen anytime soon? What about the impact on Cherokee and Seneca parks? WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green discusses his recent story on the topic.
More Republican-dominated than ever, Kentucky's legislature has begun its 2021 session by passing bills curbing Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's COVID-19 emergency powers, as well as measures relating to abortion. WDRB's Lawrence Smith takes stock of the first couple of weeks of the General Assembly and what's ahead. How will Republicans' budget priorities differ from Beshear's? Will they muster the votes to save slot-like gaming in the state? And is a citizen petition to impeach the governor gaining any traction?
Remember perusing the new release aisle on Friday nights? WDRB's Gina Glaros joins the show to talk about the final days of Family Video's lone remaining store in Kentuckiana.
WDRB reporters Jason Riley and Travis Ragsdale explain the recent decision by Louisville Metro police to fire two more officers in the Breonna Taylor case. Why is the agency only now starting the process of terminating the officers, and what questions are still unanswered nearly a year after the tragedy?
The story of Pappy Van Winkle, the world's most sought-after bourbon, isn't as neat and tidy as you might think. WDRB.com business reporter Chris Otts interviews Wright Thompson, author of the new book,“PAPPYLAND: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last." The book carries special significance for the podcast audience, as much of it unfolds in Louisville, home of the Van Winkle family and the Stitzel-Weller distillery that Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle once ran.
WDRB's Gilbert Corsey talks about his special assignment looking at the long-term impact of Louisville's virtual school year. How are families and teachers navigating online instruction? If grades are any indication, Jefferson County Public Schools students are falling behind. Superintendent Marty Pollio says it will take two or three years to make up for the lost learning. And another looming challenge: Even if JCPS goes back to school in mid-February, as many as a third of teachers will still choose to stay home.
Corsey's story with WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley: Digital decline | Failing grades soar in JCPS middle, high schools during virtual learning
Kentucky and Indiana finally managed to build two new interstate bridges over the Ohio River in Louisville in 2016 based on the assumption that toll collections would grow every year to help pay for them. But the pandemic has changed commuting patterns, cutting down on toll revenue. WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green explains why state officials aren't "hitting the panic button" yet.
Background: RiverLink crossings down $5 million in 2020
What's the difference between charity bingo and slot-like 'historical horse race' gaming? A lot, at least in the context of Kentucky's fight against COVID-19. Gov. Andy Beshear's rules limit charity bingo 25 people while allowing hundreds or even thousands to play indoor slot-like machines at the state's racetrack-owned gaming venues. WDRB business reporters Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer explain.
Their story: Beshear restrictions hit charity bingo harder than slot-like gaming
In the wake of the Breonna Taylor tragedy, Louisville implemented a number of police reforms meant to increase public trust and transparency. But a change in how police shootings are investigated has so far had the opposite effect. Police used to release body camera footage of any officer shooting in a day. In the latest shooting, it took more than a week. And Mayor Greg Fischer says his hands are tied. What is going on? WDRB's Travis Ragsdale explains.
University of Kentucky economist Kenneth Troske joins the show to explain why he thinks Kentucky's COVID-19 restrictions are based on flimsy data, and how the state could obtain more useful information. Troske doesn't dispute the serious of the virus, but he says better data would lead to more effective, less costly policies. Masks, for example, are nothing but a small inconvenience. Closing school classrooms statewide, meanwhile, comes at an 'enormous' cost to children. "It's when we start imposing policies that are extraordinarily costly, that we better have good data behind it to support that that's the most effective policy," he says.
Related: Troske's Oct. 29, 2020 white paper with Paul Coomes, "Measuring the Spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky: Do We Have the Right Data?"
When the feds informed Kentucky State Police that four of its troopers got caught up in an illegal prescription drug operation emanating from Florida, what did the agency do? WDRB spent thousands of dollars on a two-year legal battle to force state police to release public records that tell the complete story. WDRB's Gilbert Corsey explains.
The story: INVESTIGATION | 4 KSP troopers caught in illegal steroids operation, agency tries to withhold records
There was no suburban revolt against President Trump in Kentucky. In fact, Republicans further cemented their control by adding to dominant super-majorities in the state legislature. What are the implications for Louisville, the Democrats' remaining stronghold? What policies will the GOP pursue that it hasn't already? Will Democrats figure out a way to appeal to rural Kentuckians, or embrace their role as the urban and progressive minority in a largely white, rural state? WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith joins the show to break it down.
On Election Day 2020, WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith talks about a handful of Kentucky House races in which Democrats are trying to gain more ground in the once safely Republican east Louisville suburbs. Smith also shares some insight from an election eve interview with Sen. Maj. Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Then, WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley discusses the major ruling on the JCPS property tax increase and why the 10% hike isn't even a factor in this year's school board races.
University of Louisville President Neeli Bendapudi has elevated the concept of 'anti-racism', even adding the words to U of L's official mandate. But what precisely does anti-racism mean to her? And what will U of L actually do differently to become a 'premier anti-racist metropolitan research university'? On this episode, WDRB.com reporters Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer discuss their recent in-depth story on the initiative, with extended clips of interviews with Bendapudi, U of L's Pan African Studies chairman Ricky Jones and others.
Background: 'Anti-racism' is 'where the world is going,' University of Louisville president says
Democrat Amy McGrath had a strong Oct. 12 debate performance against U.S. Sen. Maj. Leader Mitch McConnell, but she still faces long odds in her bid to unseat the six-term Kentucky Republican. WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith breaks down the race, including key points in the debate and how the contest differs from the 2019 governor's race won by Democrat Andy Beshear and from the 2014 McConnell trouncing of Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Voters in Louisville aren't just a picking a president and U.S. senator. They're also being asked to weigh in on a 9.5% property tax increase for Jefferson County Public Schools. In the this episode, Iris Wilbur Glick of Greater Louisville Inc. explains why the city's main business group is pushing the tax hike. Chambers of commerce usually aren't enthused about local tax increases. Then, WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley explains the legal wrangling over the increase and why the results of the voter referendum might not matter.
WDRB.com reporters Marcus Green and Chris Otts discuss what we learned -- and what we didn't -- from the release of 15 hours of audio from the Jefferson County grand jury that considered charges against police officers in the tragic shooting death Breonna Taylor.
WDRB.com business reporter Chris Otts discusses Louisville-grown Papa John International's decision to decamp for Atlanta and how Louisville has been affected by other corporate moves, mergers and buyouts over the years. What are the lessons of these decisions? What can Louisville do in response?
Background:
News Analysis | After Papa John’s burn, Louisville has one way to combat corporate flight
WDRB.com criminal justice reporter Jason Riley analyzes the Louisville grand jury's decision to charge only one of the three police officers in the Breonna Taylor shooting with wanton endangerment, and the long anticipated investigation by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Plus, Riley discusses what's still ahead in the Taylor case.
Louisville police could not have burst into Breonna Taylor's apartment, where they fatally shot her in the middle of the night, without a judge's approval. But in Louisville, it's often unclear which judge approved what search warrant. Jake Ryan of the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Travis Ragsdale of WDRB News join the show to discuss their special report, "Which Louisville judge let police raid your house? Most signatures are unreadable."
Under fire for his handling of the Breonna Taylor investigation and the ensuing protests -- and other scandals at the police department and city bus agency -- Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer faces a symbolic 'no confidence' vote at the Metro Council on Sept. 17. Will some Democrats cross party lines to join Republicans in rebuking the mayor? How did things get to this point for Fischer, a three-term mayor who cruised to re-election in 2014 and 2018? WDRB reporter Chad Mills explains.
Background: Louisville mayor apologizes for mistakes as council considers no-confidence vote
WDRB's Stephan Johnson goes one-on-one with Yvette Gentry, a native Louisvillian who is returning to Louisville Metro Police as interim chief during a tumultuous period. Gentry talks about police reform, the Breonna Taylor case, perceived racism in traffic stops and why she doesn't want the job permanently even though she was passed over for it eight years ago. After the interview, Johnson offers his observations about Gentry's return to the department.
The kind of crimes you hear about on the news -- shootings, car-jackings, robberies -- are up substantially in Louisville this year. But more common crimes -- car break-ins, burglaries, drug possession -- are down. WDRB reporters Travis Ragsdale and Marcus Green discuss the factors leading to a confounding picture of the crime landscape as Louisville juggles the pandemic and racial-justice protests.
Background: 2020 in Louisville: Violent crime up, property crime down
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is the first Black person elected independently to a statewide office in Kentucky. Now, all eyes are on the Republican rising star as he navigates the investigation into the Louisville police shooting of Breonna Taylor, whose death in March sparked national protests over police violence against African-Americans. Special guest Perry Bacon Jr., a senior political writer for Five Thirty Eight and a Louisville resident, discusses his recent Bluegrass Beat newsletter piece, The Complicated Racial Politics Around Daniel Cameron. Bacon also touches on Cameron's upcoming speech at the Republican National Convention.
The decade-long battle over the legality of slot-like "historical horse racing" machines has reached the Kentucky Supreme Court for the second time. WDRB.com business reporter Chris Otts breaks down the history of the dispute, the tremendous growth of the casino-lite industry and what's at stake now. Hosted by WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green.
Background:
Legal battle over slot-like racing machines returns to Kentucky Supreme Court
'Silence' of Kentucky legislature at issue in debate over slot-like horse racing
We return to the new developments in the case of missing Bardstown, Ky. mother Crystal Rogers and her father, Tommy Ballard, who was shot to death. Sherry Ballard, Rogers' mother and Tommy Ballard's widow, talks about the emotional toll of losing both of them and, after four years, being on the cusp of answers. Also, why is the FBI going door to door in Bardstown? Why are they retrieving Rogers' car from a storage unit? Are the remains found in a creek bed those of Rogers? WDRB's Fallon Glick joins the show to discuss what we know so far.
WDRB's Fallon Glick joins the podcast to break down new developments in the case of missing Bardstown, Ky. mother Crystal Rogers, who disappeared nearly five years ago. FBI agents fanned out across Nelson County serving search warrants Thursday as the feds took control of the case.
WDRB.com sports columnist Eric Crawford joins the show to discuss the still-developing plans for college football, Louisville-area high school football and the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky and Indiana are nowhere near Florida and Texas when it comes to the coronavirus, but there have been some troubling signs in the last few weeks. WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green joins the show to discuss each state's latest steps and what might lie ahead.
Five decades before Before Breonna Taylor, there was Manfred Reid. Police treatment of an African-American brought people to the streets of Louisville, and some say the Parkland neighborhood never recovered. WDRB anchor Gilbert Corsey joins the pod to discuss his recent special assignment "The Movement | Call for change after Breonna Taylor's death similar to Louisville 1968 protests." What's changed in 50 years? What hasn't?
WDRB.com criminal justice reporter Jason Riley discusses explosive allegations by Breonna Taylor's family that the 26-year-old's shooting death at the hands of Louisville Metro police stems from a mayoral-led redevelopment project in west Louisville. Riley also discusses his story about how the police 'internal' investigator who convinced Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker to talk without a lawyer present hours after the March 13 shooting then testified against Walker as he was charged with murder.
This week's show features WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith's full interview with U.S. Sen. Maj. Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, conducted July 6, 2020. Smith asks the country's most powerful senator about the prospect of federal aid for states and cities, extending what McConnell calls the unemployment insurance 'bonus' of $600 per week, removing the names of Confederates from military bases, McConnell's embrace of masks in public settings and his re-election campaign against Democrat Amy McGrath. After the interview, Smith discusses the challenges of interviewing McConnell and his impressions of the conversation.
WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith discusses Amy McGrath's survival in the June 23 Kentucky Democratic primary and the 'tightrope' she'll have to walk this fall against Republican Sen. Maj. Leader Mitch McConnell. Plus, Smith touches on a special election in northeast Louisville and Oldham County that may portend problems for the GOP with suburban voters.
WDRB anchor and reporter Gilbert Corsey joins the show to discuss his extensive coverage of Kentucky's problems with unemployment insurance. Last week's scene in Frankfort, with hundreds waiting in line for help, made national news. Host Chris Otts looks back on decisions he covered at the time in 2017 that are playing a role in what we're seeing today.
Do students need masks? Smaller class sizes? Social distancing on buses? What happens if a second viral wave hits? Kentucky public schools face a lot of uncertainty about the next academic year and what changes they'll need to make. WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley joins the podcast to discuss.
WDRB reporter Chad Mills worked nine-straight nights covering the protests over police violence and racial injustice on the streets of Louisville, and he's garnered a huge audience for his Facebook live streams of the events. Despite encountering gun shots and tear gas, Mills says the demonstrations have been largely peaceful.
Louisville's outbreak of violent protests has roots that are much deeper than the Breonna Taylor tragedy, the death of George Floyd or Monday's fatal shooting of David McAtee. WDRB anchor and reporter Gilbert Corsey explains what's happened over the last five days and how to place it context.
The Jefferson County Board of Education on May 21, 2021 approved a 9.5% increase in local property taxes, the largest annual hike in at least 22 years. WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley explains why the elected board members supported the dramatic increase amid the coronavirus pandemic and why voters might have the final word in November.
WDRB's Travis Ragsdale joins the show to recap the tragic Louisville police killing of Breonna Taylor, 26, at her apartment in March. Ragsdale discusses evidence recently uncovered by WDRB that challenges the official police narrative justifying the 'no-knock' search warrant.
Louisville postal inspector: No ‘packages of interest’ at slain EMT Breonna Taylor’s home
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer joined WDRB in the Morning anchors Candyce Clifft and Sterling Riggs on May 15, 2020 to discuss the controversial police shooting of former Metro EMT Breonna Taylor at her apartment on March 13. This bonus episode features the full interview.
Mayor Fischer deflects questions of confidence in LMPD chief amid Breonna Taylor investigation
WDRB reporter Travis Ragsdale joins the podcast to discuss the collective effort to clear out Louisville's often-crowded jail during the coronavirus pandemic. Has it gone too far?
Background:
LMPD Chief Steve Conrad calls release of some dangerous inmates by judges 'shocking'
By July 4, amusement parks and festivals could be open for business in Indiana, while pools in Kentucky would remain closed. WDRB.com reporters Chris Otts and Marcus Green explain why Kentucky and Indiana's governors have taken different approaches to reopening, and whether their lack of coordination complicates efforts to contain the new coronavirus.
Is now the time for a tax increase? Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer may have a different answer to that question than the members of the Jefferson County school board. WDRB's Chad Mills and Kevin Wheatley join the show to explain.
WDRB.com reporters Chris Otts and Marcus Green discuss Kentucky and Indiana's very preliminary plans to ease restrictions and reopen their economies amid the pandemic. Hear from both governors, Kentucky protesters and Mayor Greg Fischer on whether it's realistic to plan for a Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. Recorded Monday, April 19, 2020.
Louisville's Perry Bacon Jr., a senior political writer for FiveThirtyEight.com, joins the podcast to discuss local and national politics amid the coronavirus pandemic. Topics include Gov. Andy Beshear's handling of the situation, how things might have been different under former Gov. Matt Bevin, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the recent dust-up between some conservatives and Mayor Greg Fischer over drive-in Easter church services.
What's a sports columnist to do when there is March Madness? WDRB.com sports columnist Eric Crawford talks about his recent pivot to covering daily virus news and offering commentary on the pandemic's impact on the Louisville community. Plus, Eric takes on Chris' most pressing question: Will there be football?
Eric's recent work is available here.
This episode is an audio diary of a rally held March 28, 2020 by GE Appliances factory workers who were upset about having to return the assembly lines amid the coronavirus outbreak. The rally itself had to take on a different form in the age of 'social distancing.'
Background: GE Appliances workers decry 'ludicrous' return to work amid outbreak
How would Louisville handle a surge of critically ill patients stemming from the coronavirus outbreak? This bonus episode features our full interview conducted March 24, 2020 with Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer of U of L Health, one of the city's three main healthcare providers.
WDRB.com business reporter Chris Otts discusses the anxiety many factory workers at Ford Motor Co. and GE Appliances feel about contracting COVID-19. Is 'social distancing' even possible on the assembly line? Also, hear from GE Appliances line worker Kenny Bratcher. NOTE: This show was recorded on March 23, 2020, before Ford said it would extend the shutdown beyond March 30.
SUNDAY EDITION | Coronavirus spreads anxiety at Louisville’s biggest factories
Harrison County was the first place in Kentucky with a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, and its small school district soon became the first in Kentucky to close amid the outbreak. WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley joins the pod to discuss his Sunday story looking at how Harrison County teachers and students are coping. Wheatley also discusses what's next for Jefferson County Public Schools, including challenges with meals for kids and remote instruction.
SUNDAY EDITION | As Kentucky schools close, Harrison County offers glimpse of upheaval
Before it was renamed Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville's Walnut Street was once a thriving hub of black-owned businesses. Then came the wrecking ball: A 1960s-era policy called Urban Renewal. More than 50 years later, Louisville is still paying the price for the destruction brought on by this foolish and racist government initiative. WDRB anchor/reporter Gilbert Corsey joins the show to discuss his recent special segment on Walnut Street.
WATCH: Once a booming strip of black business, Walnut Street faded from Louisville's memory for failed Urban Renewal
WDRB's Marcus Green and Katrina Helmer sat down with Sr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Health & Wellness, to discuss the threat of coronavirus on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. This bonus episode features the full interview.
Link:
CDC tests three 3 Louisville residents for coronavirus; results negative
Old criminal records -- even showing charges that were never proven in court -- remain a barrier for people seeking employment and reintegration into society. After a big reform in 2016, Kentucky lawmakers are considering further efforts to make expungement more accessible to everyday people. WDRB.com criminal justice reporter Jason Riley breaks it down, including a discussion with U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker, the Democratic state representative from West Louisville.
Check out Riley's most recent work on this subject:
SUNDAY EDITION | Kentucky lawmakers look to ease process for erasing criminal records
Louisville Gas & Electric's Solar Share program continues to add customers who want solar energy without the expense and hassle of solar panels. The utility is building a massive solar farm off I-64 in Simpsonville, Ky. But, is Solar Share a good deal? WDRB.com business reporter Chris Otts took a close look at the numbers.
SUNDAY EDITION | LG&E’s ‘community’ solar farm is growing. Is it a good deal?
This bonus episode features the entire interview WDRB's Travis Ragsdale conducted Tuesday with Braidy Industries founder Craig Bouchard. Bouchard spoke out shortly after news broke that he had filed a lawsuit seeking to replace the board of directors who fired him as the company's CEO on Jan. 28. The battle for control of the company comes as its ambitious vision to "rebuild Appalachia" by constructing a $1.8 billion aluminum plant remains just that -- a vision. Bouchard claims his ouster disrupts the progress he was making to secure funding for the mill. The board claims he wasn't making progress.
Craig Bouchard sues to remove Braidy Industries board members
Braidy Industries CEO Craig Bouchard says Kentucky's most-anticipated aluminum plant will be built
WDRB anchor Valerie Chinn and photojournalist Doug Smith discuss their recent reporting trip to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. Chinn and Smith got extraordinary access to U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers to see how they go about their daily jobs. They got a look at at a small section of President Trump's border wall and the fleet of 'predator drones' (costing $11 million each) that the government uses to patrol the boundary. And they talked to a Central American mother who was apprehended with her small children, including a baby she delivered during her journey to the U.S.
Links:
WDRB embeds with Border Patrol at the US-Mexico border wall
WDRB exclusive at US-Mexico border as fentanyl seizures skyrocket
WDRB News gets inside look at $11 million, high-tech drones used to patrol US-Mexico border
As more homeowners and businesses get Ring and Nest cameras, police agencies in the Louisville region want to know where those cameras are and how they can get access to them. WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green discusses his Sunday story examining how police departments are forging 'partnerships' with Ring. Some cities are even subsidizing homeowners' equipment. Police say they're just looking to solve crimes, but some have raised concerns about civil liberties.
SUNDAY EDITION | Louisville-area police forge ties with security camera companies, raising privacy concerns
This bonus episode features the complete one-on-one interviews WDRB politics reporter Lawrence Smith conducted with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, on Thursday, Feb. 6 following President Trump's acquittal in the impeachment trial. Smith also gives his impressions.
Time markers:
McConnell (1:30 to 16:00)
Yarmuth (16:00 to 32:00)
Smith (32:00 - end)
Story: As he celebrates a momentous political win, McConnell says impeachment can't become 'routine'
Kentucky spends a lot, compared to border states, on 'incentives' for businesses to create jobs in the state. Is the money worth it? WDRB.com business reporter Chris Otts discusses his recent Sunday story examining the corporate giveaways. Then (14:00), the conversation turns to Kentucky's best-known economic development deal: Braidy Industries. The company has devolved into a power struggle as it still lacks the $1.7 billion needed to construct its much-heralded aluminum plant in eastern Kentucky.
Background:
SUNDAY EDITION | Cash-strapped Kentucky spends more on job subsidies than border states
Bevin relaxed clawback terms for Kentucky's investment in Braidy Industries, records show
Bouchard says his firing by Braidy Industries is 'without basis'
County jails throughout Kentucky regularly collect 'booking fees' and 'per diem' charges from inmates, as if they were hotels. One person got a $4,000 bill for a jail stay in Clark County after he was released with no conviction for any crime. Is this fair? Is it constitutional? WDRB.com criminal justice reporter Jason Riley explains the history of the practice and efforts to reform it.
SUNDAY EDITION | Kentucky court to decide if jails can force inmates to pay before conviction
In this two-part episode, WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith weighs in on Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's agenda and what's happened so far in the 2020 legislative session (01:00 - 13:00). Smith's discusses Beshear's efforts to bridge divides with the GOP, sports betting, medical marijuana, voter ID issues, the push to prevent 'sanctuary cities,' prison reform and more.
Then, WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley discusses his Sunday story examining how Kentuckiana high school teachers are 'navigating a political minefield' to bring President Trump's impeachment into their classrooms. (13:00-end)
Louisville's Dixie Highway has received an expensive makeover in the last two years. This busy and poorly planned corridor is known as the Dixie Die-way because pedestrians are killed at three times the rate of comparable roads. Did new medians, sidewalks and other improvements help the situation? Are businesses happy about the changes? WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green explains. Appearances: Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Councilman Rick Blackwell and business owners along the highway.
Background:
SUNDAY EDITION | There’s a ‘new’ Dixie Highway. Is it better?
Ashli Watts, the new president and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, sits down with Chris Otts to discuss politics and partisanship (including whether the chamber is too close to the Republican Party) and to preview the 2020 Kentucky legislative session. At 37, Watts is the first woman and the youngest person to lead what is perhaps the state’s most influential interest group, representing some 68,000 employers, including the biggest ones like UPS, Toyota and Humana.
Other topics:
Raising the state’s gasoline tax (12:30)
Tax reform and pushing Kentucky away from income taxes and toward sales taxes (14:30)
Gambling (casinos, sports betting, historical horse racing) (22:20)
The state’s pension debts (26:50)
Raising Kentucky’s $7.25 per hour minimum wage (31:00)
The business lobby’s view of policy on climate change (32:30)
Background:
SUNDAY EDITION | New Kentucky Chamber CEO: Time to 'hit the reset button' on partisanship in Frankfort
WDRB's Valerie Chinn discusses her recent story on how Kentucky and Indiana hold hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid wages and other "missing money." Some of it could be yours. Valerie lays out how to check your name, how to claim your money and what it's like inside the Kentucky state treasurer's high-security vault where unclaimed items -- from jewelry to baseball cards to teeth -- are stored.
Background:
More than $400 million in cash and treasures are unclaimed in Kentucky, and some could be yours
The Louisville-area gambling landscape is more competitive than ever with the opening of the $90 million Caesars Southern Indiana casino earlier this month and the continued growth of slot-like historical horse racing at Churchill Downs. WDRB business reporters Chris Otts and Jessica Bard discuss the evolution of the gaming business and what's next on the horizon. Will Kentucky embrace sports betting? Will Gov. Andy Beshear realize his campaign promise of casino legalization? This episode includes a half-dozen interviews with executives, lawmakers and ordinary folks on the casino floor.
Background:
SUNDAY EDITION | Southern Indiana casino raises stakes for Louisville-area gambling scene
Was is a 'Rumspringa' slaying or a coerced confession? WDRB first highlighted the case of Amish man Daniel Hostetler last summer. He was convicted of manslaughter related to a 2012 death once ruled to be a suicide. But now Hostetler is a free man -- one of hundreds to receive a pardon from former Gov. Matt Bevin in his final days in office. Travis Ragsdale and Jason Riley, the reporters who first brought Hostetler's case to light, discuss the story's wild twists and turns.
Background:
SUNDAY EDITION | Suicide or ‘rumspringa’ slaying? Kentucky Amish man fights his conviction
Amish man at center of 'sickening' manslaughter case released from prison
The Sherman Minton Bridge is the Louisville area's oldest interstate bridge, but it is getting more use than ever because it remains free, while the $2 billion I-65 bridges started collecting tolls in 2016. Officials are eyeing a rehab project to add decades of life to the Minton, but the work will mean closing or restricting access to the popular bridge for months and probably years. WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green discusses the options to manage traffic during the project and how we might avoid another "Shermageddon."
Marcus' recent Sunday story:
SUNDAY EDITION | ‘Shermageddon’ 2? New Albany waits for Sherman Minton Bridge plan
As he prepares to leave office next week, Kentucky Gov. Bevin sat down with WDRB's Lawrence Smith for a final interview. To hear him tell it, Bevin lost his re-election bid last month in part because "the left" mobilized and "harvested" votes on college campuses, public housing complexes and other urban centers. The governor who tried to nationalize the race and piggyback on Kentuckians' affinity for President Trump now says he regrets how "polarized" the country is becoming based on geography, and suggests that some voters don't have "as much information and thoughtfulness as we would hope and want them to."
Bevin also discusses:
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What he considers his most significant accomplishment (and it's not about the economy and jobs)
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Why the state shouldn't promise pensions to future government workers
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Whether Braidy Industries, in which Bevin invested $15 million of state money, will build its aluminum plant in Ashland.
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Why his administration denied Louisville's Passport Health Plan a new, five-year Medicaid contract
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What he plans to do next
We play the full interview.
Smith's story: Touting the positives of his term, Gov. Bevin offers few regrets of 4 combative years in Frankfort
Papa John's founder John Schnatter recently sat down with WDRB News' Stephan Johnson. Schnatter has rarely granted in-depth interviews since being ousted from the pizza company in July 2018 following his admitted use of racial language. In this week's show, Chris Otts of WDRB.com plays extended clips of the Schnatter interview and adds background and context. The multi-millionaire talks about why he is downbeat on the company's prospects and claims he was 'set up' last year as part of a corporate coups.
Link: As Papa John's moves on without its founder, John Schnatter vows for a 'day of reckoning'
Three Louisville police officers were convicted last month of faking overtime hours to boost their pay and pensions. The convictions followed investigative reports by WDRB's Travis Ragsdale and Jason Riley. On this week's show, Ragsdale and Riley discuss how they unraveled the story.
Background: 21-hour days and $320,000 of overtime highlight 'shocking' extra pay to 7 LMPD officers
WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley and anchor/reporter Valerie Chinn discuss their Sunday story on the school reform group paying for top Kentucky education officials to go to its conferences. Plus, Kevin discusses teachers' role in electing Andy Beshear and what his governorship means for education, teacher pensions and JCPS.
Background:
SUNDAY EDITION | Kentucky education officials get free perks from reform foundation closely tied to lobbying group
His mission isn't just to make aluminum; it's to "rebuild Appalachia." But people in northeast Kentucky are still waiting. Braidy Industries CEO Craig Bouhcard grants a rare interview to WDRB News. Hear him in his own words, as well as analysis by reporters Chris Otts and Travis Ragsdale.
Story: 'Don't give up. There is going to be a bright future here.'
In this special bonus podcast, WDRB political reporter Lawrence Smith and WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green discuss Andy Beshear's apparent razor-thin upset of Gov. Matt Bevin, what's next if Bevin continues to contest the results and Beshear's prospects working with a GOP-controlled legislature.
WDRB.com's Chris Otts discusses his extensive story about family feud that has plagued the Al J. Schneider Co., which owns the largest hotel in Louisville, the Galt House. Marcus Green hosts the show.
‘WE WEREN'T A FAMILY ANYMORE' | The inside story of the dispute that broke the family behind Louisville's Galt House