12.6.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the reading of the Courier Journal for Saturday,
December sixth, twenty twenty five, which is brought to our
Louisville listeners via Louisville Public Media. As a reminder, Radio
I is a reading service intended for people who are
blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult to
read printed material. Your reader for to day is Melody Ryan.

(00:22):
We'll start with the five day forecast brought to you
by w h a s local forecast. Some sunshine will
finally return to Kentuckiana with slightly higher temperatures through the
week end. Some wintry showers are possible Sunday, with cooler
conditions Monday to day high forty, partly sunny, to night

(00:42):
low twenty nine, mostly cloudy. Sunday high forty, low twenty five,
chilly with snow and rain. Monday high thirty two, low
twenty five, partly sunny and cold. Tuesday high forty two,
low thirty three, mostly sunny. Wednesday high forty four, low
twenty seven. Cloudy showers possible Thursday high thirty six, low

(01:07):
twenty four, periods of sun. The Almanac temperature high thirty four,
temperature low twenty six normal high fifty, normal low thirty four,
record high seventy three and nineteen ninety eight record low
eight in nineteen forty two. Precipitation Thursday, trace month to

(01:28):
date zero point five zero inches normal month today zero
point five three inches. Year today fifty two point eight
zero inches normal year today forty four point seven four inches.
Air quality Friday moderate today moderate, sun and moon Saturday

(01:50):
sunrise seven forty five am, sunset five twenty three pm,
moonrise seven seven pm, moonset nine fifty three am. Sunday
sunrise seven forty five am, sunset five twenty three pm,
moonrise eight twenty two pm, moonset ten forty five am.

(02:15):
The headlines from the front page of today's edition are
mask ban for law officers, fails, DOJ named suspect in
January sixth pipe bomb case, and no More Rotunda rallies.
The first article in today's front page is mask ban
for law officers fail. Council rejects proposal After heated debate

(02:39):
over ice by Killian Barlar, a proposal to ban local, state,
and federal law enforcement from wearing masks while engaged in
enforcement activities was rejected by the Louisville Metro Council on
December four. The vote followed more than an hour of
heated debate that was heavily focused on immigration and Customs
enforcement or ICE agents where mass during enforcement operations, a

(03:02):
practice that has come under fire across the country since
President Donald Trump's return to office. The ordinance failed via
a twelve to thirteen vote, with one council member, District
seventeen Metro Councilman Marcus Winkler, a Democrat, voting president. District
seven Metro Councilwoman Paula McCraney, an Independent, voted in favor.

(03:23):
Metro Council President Brett Akerson, who represents District twenty six,
was the sole Democrat to join all council Republicans in
voting against it. District six Metro Councilman J. P. Lineger
proposed to change Lousvill's existing ban on wearing facial coverings
in public in late October. At the time, he said
the proposal was inspired by reports of ICE agents regularly

(03:46):
wearing masks while engaged in enforcement activities and concealing their
identities during immigration raids. Residents are terrified by the unaccountable
and unconstitutional actions taken by ice in recent months. Should
not be a place where secret police operate in the
streets and drag people away from their homes, schools, workplaces,
and places of worship, Leneger said in a news release

(04:09):
about the proposal. Law enforcement officers are expected to be
identifiable as public servants to uphold the civil liberties of
our residents. Past in nineteen eighty three, the ordinance was
originally intended to discourage Ku Klux Klan activity. According to
archived Courier Journal reports, the city stopped enforcing it at

(04:29):
the outset of the COVID nineteen pandemic, but in October
twenty twenty four, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, citing a pattern
of individuals wearing masks while committing crimes, said he would
restart enforcement in such situations. The current ordinance includes several
exemptions from the public wearing mask restrictions. People who are
wearing holiday costumes or are under the age of sixteen,

(04:52):
for example, are exempt from the ban. Leneger's proposal would
have clarified that law enforcement officers are not exempt from
Louisville's existing ban, though it included language that would have
allowed masks for undercover officers ask about the proposal at
a December second news conference, Greenberg declined to comment on
whether he would sign the legislation if passed, but said

(05:15):
he generally believes law enforcement, including federal agents, should not
wear masks while working. There are certain situations where I
think face coverings are appropriate when you're directing traffic and
cold weather like today. Certainly there are situations where there
needs to be protection for individuals, the mayor said, but
in general, I believe that law enforcement should not be

(05:35):
wearing face coverings, that they should be showing their faces
in their line of work. Lineger said officers would have
been permitted to wear facial coverings when working in cold
conditions because of the law's workplace hazard's exemption. The debate
over masked federal agents leaped into the national stage amid
a rise in immigration enforcement after Trump returned to office,

(05:57):
with media reports shining a light on ice age wearing
masks during enforcement operations in major U. S Cities. Critics
of federal agents wearing masks have argued the practice so's
intimidation and undermines government accountability. Federal officials, meanwhile, have countered
same privacies necessary because of threats against federal agents. Some

(06:17):
Democrat run jurisdictions have considered or past similar legislation. California
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law in September that prohibits
most law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks
while conducting official business, prompting the Trump administration to sue.
The Associated Press reported officials in Los Angeles County are

(06:40):
weighing a similar law. Local media reported after the U. S.
Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the California law
Attorney General Pam Pamela Bondie said that policy discriminates against
the federal government and puts federal agents at risk. These
laws cannot stand, she said in a statement. Akerson, the

(07:00):
Metro Council president, was one of multiple council members who
raised concerns over whether Louisville has the authority to impose
restrictions on federal agents. He argued the proposal was poorly timed,
given immigration rates are not occurring in Louisville to the
same degree as other U. S. Cities. Court cases in
other places, he said, could serve as a litmus test
for whether such a law could stand. Down the line,

(07:21):
While avoiding a potential confrontation with the Trump administration in
the immediate future. Akerson also noted Greenberg's directive for Louisville
Metro Department of Corrections to hold innates for up to
an additional forty eight hours to comply with ICE detainers
helped the city avoid a sanctuary city designation. I fear
for the hard working folks out there that right now

(07:44):
are not suffering like Nashville and other cities are suffering,
but it could get that way, Akerson said. I'm afraid
to poke the bear because I know the bear being
the federal government is much stronger than us right now
and has so shown a resilience to take action against cities.
The next article in Today's front page is DOJ named

(08:04):
suspect in January sixth pipe bomb case by Rebecca more
in USA Today. Before joining the Trump administration, FBI Director
Cash Pattel and deputy director Dan bo promoted conspiracy theories
about the pipe bombs planted in Washington a head of
the US capital attack on January sixth, twenty twenty one,

(08:25):
going as far as calling it an inside job. The
Justice Department, which includes the FBI, identified as spuspect in
the case. December fourth, after nearly five years of investigation,
but years before, both Patel and Bonnigo repeatedly cast doubt
on the investigation into the pipe bombs found outside the facilities,

(08:47):
specifically the one found at the Democratic National Committee headquarters
when Kamala Harris, who was then Vice President elect, was
at the facility. Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with side
Patel and bon dat Go, on December four, identified Brian
Cole Junior, thirty, of Woolbridge, Virginia as the suspect in

(09:07):
the investigation into the pipe bombs found outside both the
Republican National Committee and Democrat National Committee headquarters. Cole is
being charged with use of an explosive device. As more
search warrants were still being executed December four, Bondie said
at a news conference, You're not going to walk into
our capital city, put down two explosive devices and walk
off in the sunset. Bonagoe said at the press conference

(09:30):
December four, not going to happen. We were going to
track this person to the end of the earth. Bettel
and Bonago praised President Donald Trump's FBI and Justice Department
and finding the suspect, but in twenty twenty four, they
promoted conspiracy theories about the incident. In a January twenty
twenty four interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Patel called

(09:52):
the case extremely troubling. If the allegations aren't true, or
there was some government ruse or some FBI rogue source
or whatever, then there's another corruption, sick gandal in and
around an election time narrative that their advancing, Patel said.
Bonago claimed the case was a set up and an
inside job in several episodes of his show, The Dan

(10:12):
Bonnegoet Show, spending several years between twenty twenty two to
twenty twenty four. I have zero doubts it was a
set up, Bonagoe set on his show in January twenty
twenty four. Was it government, I don't know. I'm not
going to speculate on who did it. Someone who hated
Donald Trump planted those bombs there. During a Senate Judiciary

(10:34):
Committee hearing in September, Patel defended himself and Bonagoe as
being private citizens when those comments were made. What we
have the ability to do is set aside our personal
belief to deliver the mission of justice. For this country,
and we're doing it day in and day out, he said,
shortly after the suspect was named. December four, Patel appeared
on Donald Trump Junior's podcast Triggered and criticized the handling

(10:58):
of the case by the Biden administrations f I. The
next article from today's front page is titled no More
Rotunda rallies. Advocacy groups worry about state Capitol's closure to
the public by Hannah Penske. During Kentucky's legislative session, the
state capitals halls in Rotunda can become crowded on any

(11:19):
given day, from aviscazy days to protest organizations across the
Commonwealth often use the space as an opportunity to make
sure their voices are heard as lawmakers make their way
into the building's chambers. But starting this summer, the bustling
and boisterous hallways have been closed to the public and
politicians as the capitol undergoes renovations for the foreseeable future.

(11:40):
As the twenty twenty six legislative session approaches, there will
be advocacy groups in Kentuckians be able to exercise their
First Amendment rights. It's a question some are still looking
to answer. While organizations have or are working to make
plans on where to hold events, some have expressed concerns
that wherever they end up won't be as effective. The

(12:02):
whole point of having a rally of supporters is so
that state lawmakers are confronted whether they want to be
or not. Fairness Campaign Executive Chris director Chris Hartman said,
it's really going to create sort of a closed off
atmosphere for lawmakers to be entirely separated from their constituents
in this situation. The Fairness Campaign is an affocacy organization

(12:23):
that pushes back against discrimination based on gender and sexuality.
Each year, the group holds a Fairness rally in Frankfurt
during the legislative session with advocates and state lawmakers. Hartman
said the twenty twenty six rally is planned to take
place in the Capital Education Center, but he called the
new location not an ideal situation. The Capital Education Center

(12:44):
is across the parking lot from where temporary legislative chambers
were built for lawmakers to convene in for at least
three years. While the General Assembly first funded a thirty
three hundred million dollars capital renovation project in twenty twenty
two and suggests that it would be completed in twenty
twenty eight. There's still some uncertainty on whether the work
will be completed in that timeline. We jam pack that

(13:07):
Capital Rotunda every year with supporters that lawmakers typically have
to walk past. Hartman said. We see many folks stop
and listen, folks that are our supporters and dropping by,
and folks that may be on the fence but are
testing the waters a little bit. Will often stop and
watch parts of the rally. But that's completely going to
evaporate as we are moved to a new location. Tamara Wedler,

(13:30):
Kentucky State director for Planned Parenthood Alliance, advocates that having
to pivot her organization's rally day outside the Rotunda is
unfortunate and it's troubling that the renovation could take place
for multiple years. The temporary chambers also won't have a
gallery for public viewing, which is also sparked a concern
among some groups. While pub people can watch a live

(13:51):
stream of legislative proceedings both online and in the Capital
Annex next door, Wider said the temporary chambers is another
space where Kentuckians cannot participate in the democratic process. When
you don't have the ability of people being able to
be in the galley, you also take away opportunities for
people for any reason to participate in the galley, from
getting awards to school children coming and seeing how the

(14:12):
process works. Wider said, could capital renovations stifle lobbying efforts.
Some are also concerned that the capital closure could affect
lobbying efforts. Hartman said a good portion of the interactions
between lawmakers and lobbyists occur during the walk from the
Capital NX to the Capital Chambers. The walk and talk
meeting is one of the most common to get a

(14:33):
couple of minutes with a lawmaker right before a critical
vote to share important information with folks we haven't been
able to get a hold of, Hartman said. If I'm
having a walk and talk meeting with a state lawmaker,
it starts in the Capital ANX and ends at the
temporary chambers. It may only last thirty seconds, where previously
there was a good five or more minutes you could
have a meaningful conversation. Manny Clark with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

(14:57):
The grassroots organization focused on issues including a economic justice
and voting rights, said he was also concerned with getting
FaceTime with legislators next session. The less they see us,
the more they can forget about us. Clark said, if
you see a person every day, you'll be more inclined
to say hello, give a smile, or even take a compliment.
But the less you see of a person, you're not worried.

(15:18):
Who said what how are Kentucky lawmakers responded to the concerns.
Republican Representative James Nimes, who serves as House Minority whip,
said there was no intent to stop organizations from having
access to lawmakers and advocating for their beliefs. I think
there will be opportunities for them to have events, maybe
right outside of the steps on the annex or in

(15:38):
committee rooms. Nimes said it's a work in progress. When
asked about concerns lobbyist Haat about having access to legislators,
Names said he believes they have enough access already. I'm
not really worried about the lobbyist, Names said, I'm more
worried about the citizens. Names added. The decision not to
build galleries in the temporary chambers was because law maskers

(16:00):
hope they will only be in use for three years
and wanted to spend taxpayers money. Wisely, I think the
citizens have as much access to the legislators as they
ever had, Nimes said, let us remind ourselves the galley
was not an opportunity to be heard. It was just
an opportunity to watch. Democratic Representative Al Gentry said, while

(16:20):
he hasn't had a chance to review the new area yet,
he believes if there's no access for the public, then
that's a concern for him. It's not like the general
public can stop a bill in the process of passing
anyway other than regular channels that should be there and available.
Gentry set, perhaps it's not anything catastrophic, but I've always
been inviting the public to follow the business we conduct

(16:41):
every day, and we'll do everything in my power to
make myself available to constituents on lobbying efforts. Gentry said
he understands the concerns and ask his colleagues to listen
and make themselves accessible to any lobbyist and constituents. It's
our job to listen to the people we represent, and
we should be making ourselves accessible and accommodable to anybody

(17:02):
that we can, he said. The next article from today's
edition is titled LMPD officer hospitalized following downtown car crash
by Lucas Albach, a Louisville Metro Police officer and another
individual who were hospitalized following an early morning car crash
in downtown December five. The crash was reported at three

(17:25):
nineteen a m. After the officer, who was injured, responded
to a report of a break in. A statement from
the department said the officer's cruiser, which LMPD said had
its lights and siren activated, collided with another passenger vehicle
at the intersection of Second Street and West Market Street.
Emergency Medical Services and the Louisville Fire Department responded to

(17:47):
the crash. Both vehicles were damaged, along ay along with
a utility poll. According to the LMPD statement, both drivers,
the officer who was not named, and another adult were
alert as they were taken to the hospital with injuries
not believed to be life threatening. Footage from wave shows
the crash occurred on the northwest corner of the intersection.

(18:10):
The cruiser appeared significantly damaged. A Metro Safe supervisor told
The Courier Journal the crash knocked out stoplights at the
intersection and crews were working to fix them as of
about eight a m. The next article in Today's Editions
titled Panel revises Hepatitis B guidance for newborns by Ken Altucker,

(18:30):
USA Today. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy
Junior's influential vaccine Advisory Panel on December five voted to
no longer universally recommend the first dose of the hepatitis
B vaccine for newborns within twenty four hours of birth.
One day after tabling the vote during a contentious meeting,
the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended individual based decision

(18:55):
making for parents of babies born to mothers who test
negative for hepatitis B. For parents who declined the birth dose,
the panel recommended the first shot be delayed to no
earlier than two months of age. Committee members who supported
the change emphasized the panel still recommended newborns get vaccinated
at birth when born to a mother with hepatitis B.
The panel's recommendations are sent to the Centers for Disease

(19:17):
Control and Prevention Director. The committee does not have regulatory authority,
but states often consider the panel's recommendations when requiring vaccines
for school age children and other groups. Robert Malone, the
committee's vice chairman, characterized the vote as one that pitted
individual rights against societal obligations. We're torn by these two
conflicting points of view, Malone said. There are these two

(19:41):
fundamental differences of opinion about the rights of individuals versus
the rights of society. Committee member Cody Meisinger rejected the changes.
He said hepatitis B cases are dropping due to the
effectiveness of the vaccine. It's a mistake to say, because
we're not seeing so much disease, we can alter the
frequency or the schedule for a administration, because we will

(20:01):
see hepatitis B infections come back, Messinger said. Committee member
Joseph Hiblin said the committee lacked the data to support
wording to delay the first dose, noting there isn't enough
evidence to suggest some babies might be better protected by
such a delay. He also noted the wording of the
questions had been changed four times over four days. Committee

(20:23):
member retzif Levi, who supported the change, said the risk
ri children born to a mom without hepatitis B is
extremely low. Do you want you expose your baby to
an intervention that could have some potential harms Senator US
Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican Louisiana, has been critical of efforts
to change the Appetitis B vaccine schedule. On December four,

(20:43):
he criticized the committee's decision to invite Aaron Currie to
discuss vaccinations, calling him a trial attorney who makes his
living suing vaccine manufactures he is presenting as if an
expert on childhood vaccines. Doctor Richard Besser, president and CEO
of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and former Acting Director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the

(21:06):
vote puts children's health at risk. This vote opens the
door to a resurgence of hepatitis B infections and is
one more step in the administration's concerted efforts to dismantle
the recommended childhood vaccination schedule, Besser said. The next article
in today's edition is titled Hawn Paulson Honor Keaton at

(21:26):
Women in Entertainment Gala. Diane Keaton received a star studied
tribute at the Hollywood Reporters Women in Entertainment Gala on
December third. Goldie Hawn and Sarah Paulson both took the
stage to honor Keaton, who died from pneumonia on October
eleventh at seventy nine. On eighty, who co starred with
Keaton in The First Wives Club, spoke to guests through

(21:49):
tears December third as she remembered her friend and fellow actress.
Then it came time when she passed, and I happened
to learn when I was in my backyard and I
went over to my backyard, to my rosegarden, Hawn said,
I just looked down. She can't be gone. She just
cannot be gone. No one like that should ever die.
She just brought so much joy, so much life, so

(22:10):
much exuberance. She was like lightning in a bottle. She
was just an extraordinary human being. Hawn added, She's an
amazing actress. Look what she can do. Look at the
natural aspect of how her body and mind work together,
and how she's able to bring us joy and give
us emotion and all of it. She's an incredibly hard worker,
Hawn added. At the same time, she would come into

(22:33):
the makeup trailer, which was my favorite thing, and she
had a different hat on every day. Paulson, who co
starred with Keaton in nineteen ninety nine's The Other sister
also offered praise, calling the actress a class act. The
next article in today's edition is titled Brown Foreman's Sales
profit down, Jack Daniel's Parent Optimistic about Global Growth, by

(22:55):
Olivia Evans and Matthew Giliwicki. Brown Foreman, the maker of
iconic whisky products such as Jack Daniels, Tennessee Whiskey and
Woodford Reserve, continues to see decreased sales and profits, largely
attributed to the trade environment and lower used barrel sales.
The first half of fiscal twenty twenty six, which ended
October thirty one, saw Brown Foreman report a four percent

(23:18):
decrease in net sales and a four percent decrease in
gross profit. The company shared its earnings report December four.
We believe cyclical pressures related to ongoing macro economic and
geopolitical uncertainties continued to negatively impact consumer confidence and reduce
discretionary spending in the US and in many developed international markets,

(23:42):
Brown Foreman, President and CEO Laws and Whitling said in
December four. On the other hand, we continue to see
resilient consumers in a number of our emerging international markets,
which trends are generally much stronger. The spirits maker, which
closed its life Cooperridge in April and laid off twelve

(24:02):
percent of its global staff in twenty twenty five, saw
a decline in its twenty twenty five fiscal year sales.
Has repeatedly spoken about the impact of tariffs and trade
on its products. It noted that while its net sales
have shown a decline in the first half of fiscal
year twenty twenty six, it remains optimistic about growth in
emerging international markets and its ability to innovate new products,

(24:25):
like its recent launch of Jack Daniels Tennessee BlackBerry. We
continue to navigate a spirit sector facing headwinds and still
expect that the behavior of the consumer and the level
of trade inventories will not change meaningfully. During the twenty
twenty six fiscal year, sid Leanne Cunningham, executive vice president
and chief financial Officer at Brown Foreman. The company reported

(24:47):
its entire whiskey portfolio was neutral, seeing no growth or
loss for the earnings period. Brown Foreman also reported its
ready to drink products saw five percent growth in the
first half of fiscal year twenty twenty six. Tequila was
down three percent, and the rest of the company's portfolio
of l thirty five percent in net sales. Whitling said

(25:07):
that while the company experienced notable declines, it's important to
note the performance in developed international markets and the US
sequentially improved when compared to the first quarter. While Brown
Foreman continues to feel drastic effects of many provinces in
Canada removing all US made products from shells in response
to President Donald Trump's tariffs, in Europe becoming a more

(25:29):
challenging operating environment, the alcohol producer saw strong growth in
countries like Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. Whitting said the company
has taken a sixty percent hit in Canada organic net sales.
The continued unavailability of American spirits products in Canada resulted
in a significant impact to our top line performance. Cunningham said,

(25:52):
While we are hopeful for the return of American products
to Canadians store shelves, we continue to assume this headwind
will persist for our full fiscal year. In addition to
Canada driving sales down, the other main headwind at play
for Brown Foreman is used barrel sales. Used barrel sales
have returned to levels that reflect the challenging and uncertained

(26:12):
operating environment for the spirit's industry. Cunningham said we continued
to expect use barrel sales to be lower by more
than half of fiscal twenty twenty five level. The next
article in today's edition is titled Family Dream Have a
Holly Jolly Holiday at the Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green

(26:33):
by Lillian Metzmeyer. The Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green started
as a late night conversation. Co founder Jessica Anderson said.
Anderson was on the phone with her husband, Russell Anderson,
who was working the third shift at a new job
and wanting to spend more time with family. He said,
I would just love to do something together as a family,

(26:53):
she said. Obsessed with Christmas and with lifelong dreams of
being a farmer, the Andersons decided to go out on
a limb. The couple moved from Logan County to Warren
County and bought a soybean field where they built a
house and barn. After four years of legal back and
forth with the Commonwealth, the two now raised ten reindeer
alongside their three children. The Andersens officially opened the Reindeer

(27:16):
Farm in twenty twenty, right before the start of the
COVID nineteen pandemic. They started out with two reindeer. Raising
reindeer is kind of like raising kids. There's so much
to know, Anderson said. With the price of an eighteen
dollars admission fee, visitors can use the farm for a
full day with access to the farm's ten reindeer, Christmas
movies and music, and even a wine tasting for adults

(27:39):
twenty one and older. New and twenty twenty five is
the Farm after dark, where visitors can access the farm
lit by the glow of Christmas lights. If you're wanting
to come on a date, you can purchase wine by
the glass or by the bottle and sit by the
fire pit. Andersen said it really has a little romantic
glow to it. Other activities include snowball fights with white dodgeballs,

(28:01):
many zip lines, pedal cars, basketball, and Christmas karaoke. For
an additional charge, visitors can spend thirty minutes up close
with the reindeer. Due to high demand to tickets for
the reindeer encounter can only be purchased online. In addition
to the farm's ten reindeer, the Andersens also raise alpacas, rabbits, pigs,
and miniature Highland cows. Visitors can also see live demonstrations

(28:25):
of chainsaw carving and ice sculpting on the days of
special events at the farm. The theme of the twenty
twenty five ice sculpting event, led by Food Network's Danny Kissel,
is Frosty. The Reindeer Farm is at twenty five forty
one Old Union Church Road in Bowling Green, a little
over a two hour drive from downtown Louisville. The twenty

(28:47):
twenty five season for the Reindeer Farm opened November fourteen
and will remain open until December thirty one. The farm
is open each day from six ten pm during the
day from nine am to five pm Fridays and Saturdays
and eleven am to five pm Sundays. Anderson hopes her

(29:09):
children will continue the family farm legacy one day. There
was always the fear of is this going to take
away from their Christmas experience? Anderson said, But I mean
they get to be a part of winter Wonderland every
day we're open. Now it is time to read the obituaries.
We read only the name, age, and location. If you
would like further information on any of the obituaries, please

(29:31):
call us During the weekdays at eight five nine or
two two six three nine zero, and we will be
glad to read the entire obituary for you. I will
repeat that number at the end of the listings. There
are no obituaries today. If you would like further information
about any of the listings today, call us on weekdays
at eight five nine or two two six three nine zero,

(29:54):
and we will be glad to read the entire item
to you. The next article from today's edition is titled
seven Events Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah by gig Reid. Hankkah,
also known as Shaunkah, is an eight day Jewish holiday
that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem

(30:15):
by the Maccabees after it was destroyed by the Syrians.
It commemorates the miracle where a one day supply of
oil for the temple lamps lasted for eight days. Jews
celebrate Hankkah by lighting manoras, telling the Honkkah story, playing dradel,
and eating special foods. Celebrated for eight days. This year,
the holiday falls December fourteen to twenty two. Here are

(30:38):
a few ways to celebrate around Louisville in date order
Hankkah events at the temple. What Numerous events are taking
place at the temple ahead of Hankkah when December seven,
two to four pm Hanaka Cookie Decorating. Bring the family
to this fun and creative event that is open to everyone.
Everything is provided, Just bring your cookie decorating enthusiasm. Participants

(31:02):
can take the cookies home or share some or all
of them with the Temples Carrying Committee to deliver to
homebound temple members free, but donations will be accepted. The
reservations are needed by December four and can be made
by emailing Sarah Harlan at Sarah Harlan eighty six at
gmail dot com or online. December seventh, two thirty to

(31:25):
four pm. Young Adult Honkah Celebration. Join Rabbi Matt and
Next Gen Louisville for a young Adult Honuka celebration at
Flame Run Glass Works eight one five West Market Street.
Participants will create their own handblown glass suncatcher and enjoy
refreshments for ages twenty one through forty. Free registration is

(31:47):
required call five oh two four two three one eight
one eight or online. December fourteen, five to eight pm
the Temple's annual Honkah Celebration featuring the Temple Brotherhood dinner
with one thousand lot keys and troop thirty vendors, photo booth,
arts and crafts and the family Honkkah Menora Lighting Bring

(32:09):
your Hanukia eighteen dollars ten dollars Temple members free for
ages twelve and younger. Reservations are requested. The Temple lou
ky dot org slash event Slash Honkkah where five's one
oh one US forty two unless otherwise noted. More information

(32:30):
five zero two four two three one eight one eight
or the Temple lou ky dot org slash Calendar Honka
Events at Congregation Eighteth Jersum What Honaka Palooza Enjoy a
festive dinner, Honukkah, music, crafts and popular bounce houses. Bring

(32:51):
your own Manora Fair Community candle lighting. Reservations are needed
by December eight ten dollars free for Eighteth Jurrison members
and the eighthth Jerson Preschool families when December fourteen, five
to seven pm where to four zero one Woodbourne Avenue.
More information five zero two four five eight five three

(33:12):
five nine or a d A T h J E.
S h U r un dot com Hankah events at
the Kenneth's Israel Congregation. What. Numerous events are taking place
at the Kenneth Israel Congregation for honicup When December seventeen,

(33:33):
six pm Ice Skating joined the Jewish Community at Alpine
Ice Arena one eight two five Garnier Lane for a
night of skating, Honaka, treats and lots of fun. Free.
December eighteen, six to nine pm. Honukkah Speak Easy, Enjoy,
Locky's Light or Derbs, drinks, music and Honkkah lighting at
the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience five to eight West Main

(33:55):
Street for ages twenty one and older. Ten dollars includes
two alcoholic drinks, unlimited sodas and lockase. Reservations can be
made at TinyURL dot com, slash kis Ki speak Easy
where multiple locations more information five zero two four, five

(34:16):
nine two eight two seven eight oh or Kenneth Israel
dot com. Honka events at the Traeger Family Jewish Community
Center What, Honakka Celebrations, Honaka Party with Lockeys, Doughnuts, Crafts, Gelt, Gaga,
Ball Music, PJ Library, and the Dreidel Den. Free reservations

(34:39):
are requested at Jewish Louisville dot org slash Honkah twenty
twenty five when December twenty two, four thirty to six
thirty pm, where three six zero zero Dutchman's Lane more
information five zero two four five nine zero six six
zero or Jewish Louisville dot com. The next article in

(35:04):
today's edition is titled LMPD officers shoot kill man at
Hurstborn Acres apartment complex by Leo Bertucci Elilian Metzmeyer. A
man is dead after two Louisville Metro Police officers shot
him while responding to a call for service at an
East Louisville apartment complex December fourth. LMP Deputy Chief Ryan

(35:25):
Bates said a caller reported that a shirtless man had
pointed a gun at a woman at the complex in
the nine thousand block of Red Deer Circle in Hurstborn
Acres at around one thirty pm. When officers arrived and
began investigating, they found an armed man in the area
matching the description and ordered him to drop his weapon.
Bates said two officers then fired their service weapons, striking him.

(35:50):
Officers rendered a rendered aid, but he was pronounced dead
at the scene by first responders. We are grateful to
no other citizens or all officers were injured. This highlights
the dangerous work or officers encounter every day. Baits said,
we encourage anyone who witnessed this incident to report information
to the police. The shooting comes after two officers shot

(36:12):
and killed an armed robbery suspect in Louisville's South Side
neighborhood November twenty second. LMPD will follow department protocol by
identifying the involved officers within seventy two hours and releasing
body camera footage within ten business days. Baits said residents
are advised to avoid the area while the investigation is ongoing.

(36:34):
The next article in today's edition is titled Fewer Layoffs
choppy hiring in November job cuts were highest for the
month since twenty twenty two by Mike Snyder USA Today.
After a record setting volume of job cuts on October,
employers in November posted fewer layoffs, but reductions were twenty

(36:56):
four percent higher than a year ago and the highest
since the Cove nineteen pandemic, another sign of a volatile
job market buffeted with economic challenges from slowing demand to
tariff uncertainties. US employers announced seventy one thousand, three hundred
twenty one job cuts in November, down fifty three percent
from the one hundred fifty three thousand, seventy four layoffs

(37:19):
announced in October, according to the consulting firm Challenger, Gray
and Christmas, but the November layoffs were up twenty four
percent from the fifty seven thousand, seven hundred twenty seven
announced in December twenty twenty four. The global outsourcing and
executive coaching firm said November's job cuts were the highest

(37:41):
for the month since twenty twenty two, when seventy six thousand,
eight hundred thirty five job cuts were announced, the continuation
of a trebling trend, as it is the eighth time
this year job cuts were higher than the corresponding month.
One year earlier. Layoff plans fell last month certainly a
positive sign and eus Challenger workplace expert and chief revenue

(38:02):
officer for Challenger, Gray and Christmas said in the report
that said job cuts in November have risen above seventy
thousand only twice since two thousand and eight, in twenty
twenty two and in two thousand and eight, he said,
referencing the years of the Great Resignation and the Great Recession, respectively.
Year to date job cuts hit a five year high,

(38:23):
as employers have announced one point one seven million job
cuts so far in twenty twenty five, up fifty four
percent from this time last year and the highest year
today job cuts since twenty twenty during the onset of
the COVID nineteen pandemic, when two point two two million
cuts were announced through November. The firm said small businesses

(38:44):
pull back. The Challenger report comes a day after ADP's
National Employment Report published December three, which found private employers
cut thirty two thousand jobs during November after adding forty
seven thousand in October. Hiring has been choppy of late
as employer's weather, cautious consumers, and an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

(39:06):
Nella Richardson, ADP's chief economists set in the report, which
is based on anonymised payroll data of more than twenty
six million U S employer ease and while November's slow
down was broad based, it was led by a pullback
among small businesses. Government data has yet to reflect an
increase in layoffs. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits felt

(39:29):
twenty seven thousand to a seasonally adjusted one hundred ninety
one thousand for the week ending November twenty nine, the
lowest level since September twenty twenty two. The Labour Department
reported December four the most recent job reports from the
Bureau of Labour Statistics found US employers added one hundred
nineteen thousand jobs in September, which surpassed expectations but tracked

(39:53):
activity before the government shutdown. The unemployment rate rose slightly,
from four point three percent scent to four point four
percent in September. The BLS said. October and market and
economic conditions, along company restructuring, led reasons for job cuts,
with tariffs cited for two thousand sixty one job cuts

(40:14):
in November and seven thousand, nine hundred eight year to date.
According to the Challenger Report, Telecommunication and technology had the
most job cuts in November, the report said, with fifteen thousand,
one hundred thirty nine job cuts and telecom including more
than thirteen thousand announced by Verizon on November twenty, and

(40:35):
twelve thousand, three hundred seventy seven in tech, likely bolstered
by Amazon's reduction of thousands of corporate employees, a move
confirmed in late October. Retail and non profit organizations have
reported the highest percentage increase in job cuts so far
this year. Retail companies have reported ninety one thousand, nine
hundred fifty four job cuts, up one hundred thirty nine

(40:58):
percent from a year ago, while nonprofits announced plans to
cut twenty eight thousand, six hundred ninety six this year,
an increase of four hundred nine percent. Layoffs from the
Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency cost cutting initiative have
not been the cause of job cut announcements in the
last two months, according to the Challenger Report, but they

(41:20):
remain the leading reason for job cuts for the year
so far, having been cited in two hundred ninety three thousand,
seven hundred fifty three planned layoffs. The report attributed an
additional twenty thousand, nine hundred seventy six cuts to what
it called DOGE downstream impact for the loss of federal
funding for private companies and nonprofits forever layoffs. A soft

(41:45):
jobs market with smaller but regular layoffs rather than infrequent,
large cuts, has employees feeling insecure and disconnected from management,
according to Glassdoors Work Life Trends twenty twenty six report
released November twelve. In reviews on the Job site mentions
of layoffs or similar terms a job in security have
surpassed the level in March twenty twenty. While serial layoffs

(42:09):
may fly under the radar, they don't fool the employees
who take on more work afterward and wonder if they
might be next. Glassdoor said in the report, the persistent
drag from forever layoffs are likely to damage worker morale
and workplace culture in twenty twenty six and beyond. In
the past, most companies tended to announce layoffs near the

(42:30):
end of the year, but it became unpopular after the
Great Recession, especially, and best practice dictated layoff plans would
occur at times other than the holidays. The Challenger reports said,
as for planned hiring employers, four hundred ninety seven thousand,
one hundred fifty one planned hires so far this year,
down thirty five percent from the seven hundred sixty one thousand,

(42:52):
nine hundred fifty four announced at this point in twenty
twenty four. The report said that's the lowest year to
day total since twenty ten, when three hundred ninety two thousand,
thirty three new hires were planned through November. The next
article from today's edition is titled Netflix WB deal represents

(43:14):
seismic shift. Agreement could face strong antitrust scrutiny by Mike
Snyder USA. Today, Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Brothers
Discovery TV and Film Studios and streaming division for seventy
two million billion dollars, a blockbuster deal that would give
the streaming pioneer control of one of Hollywood's oldest and

(43:37):
most prized assets. The agreement, announced on December five, followed
a week's long bidding war, where Netflix seized the lead
with nearly twenty eight dollars a share offer that eclipsed
paramount Sky Dances nearly twenty four dollars a share bid
for the whole of Warner Brothers Discovery, including the cable

(43:57):
TV assets slated for a spinoff. Comcast was the third suitor.
At the close of markets on December twenty four, Warner's
Brother's Discovery had a market value of sixty one billion dollars.
If the deal goes through, it would reshape the media landscape.
A combined Netflix and Warner Brothers Discovery could further tilt

(44:19):
the power balance in Hollywood in favor of the streaming giant,
helping it ward off competition from Walt Disney and the
Ellison family backed paramount. If this deal makes it through
regulatory approval, Netflix will cement itself as the goliath of
streaming services now with the combined weight of HBO Max
and the content studios behind it all, said Mike Prolucks,

(44:41):
research director at Forrester, a tech advisory firm. This deal
changes the calculus of the streaming wars, representing a seismic
shift in the entertainment industry. Under the deal, each Warner
Brothers Discovery shareholder will get twenty three dollars twenty five
cents in cash and about four dollars fifty cents in

(45:02):
Netflix stock per share, valuing Warner at twenty seven dollars
seventy five cents a share, or about seventy two billion
dollars in equity and eighty two point seven billion dollars
including debt. The deal is expected to close within twelve
to eighteen months. At Netflix co CEO Ted Sarandos after

(45:23):
Warner Brothers Discovery spends off its global networks unit, Discovery Global,
which includes CNN, TBS, TNN and other channels, into a
separate listed company, a move set for completion in the
third quarter of twenty twenty six. David Zaslov, the president
and CEO of Warner Brothers Discovery, will run the company

(45:45):
until the transaction is complete, the company said. Netflix said
it expects to generate at least two billion to three
billion dollars in annual cost savings by the third year
after the deal closes. Together, we can give audiences more
of what they love and help define in the next
century of storytelling, Sarandos said in a statement. Founded in
nineteen ninety seven as a DVD rental company, Netflix has

(46:09):
grown into a streaming giant, building its own catalog with
shows such as Bridgerton and Stranger Things and Oscar winning
movies Parasite and Roma. Now, the California based company finds
itself on the verge of acquiring one of the most
iconic movie studios, home of Casablanca, Superman, and Bugs Bunny.
Acquiring marquee franchises such as Game of Thrones and Harry

(46:31):
Potter represents a rare opportunity, Sarandos said in a call
about the deal on December five. It's going to help
us achieve our mission to entertain the world and to
bring people together through great stories. Analysts have said Netflix
is driven by a desire to lock up long term
rights to hit shows and films and rely less on
outside studios as it expands into gaming and looks for

(46:53):
new avenues of growth after the success of its password
sharing crackdown. However, the deal will likely face strong antitrust
scrutiny in the United States and Europe, as the combination
would give the expanded company Netflix's three hundred million or
so subscribers with HBO Max's nearly one hundred and thirty
million streaming subscribers. Paramount, which is led by David Ellison,

(47:16):
the son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, has been the
expected leader in the fight for Warner Brothers Discovery after
it kicked off the bidding war with a series of
unsolicited aufers. Ellison and Paramount have close ties with the
Trump administration and questioned the sale process earlier this week
in a letter alleging favorable treatment to Netflix. Paramount has

(47:38):
offered thirty dollars per share for Warner Brothers Discovery see
NBC reported after the merger deal was announced, the Trump
administration said it viewed the deal with heavy skepticism. CNBC
reported Sarandos stressed that this deal is pro consumer, pro innovation,
pro worker, pro creator, and pro growth, and expressed confidence

(47:59):
the deal could be consummated. Consumers would be able to
subscribe to Netflix and HBO Max and other Warner brother
Discovery packages, increasing value for consumers. He said Netflix would
also continue releasing Warner brother Discovery films to theaters going forward,
ending off fears that the deal would eliminate another studio
and major source of theatrical films. Still, a group of

(48:21):
concerned feature film producers sent a letter to Congress on
December fourth, expressing concern that a Netflix Warner Brothers Discovery
deal could destroy the theatrical movie business. Variety reported Netflix
could effectively hold a news around the theatrical marketplace with
its clout. The letter alleged, Variety wrote, Netflix acquiring Warner

(48:41):
Brothers Discovery one of its top competitors, is a kindid
having let Facebook acquire Instagram and WhatsApp. Ross Bennes, a
senior analyst for research firm E Marketer, told USA Today
in a statement, despite whatever the company says, this is
not a win for consumers. Netflix is already a pressively
raised prices, increased ad load, and stopped people from sharing passwords,

(49:04):
he said. The next article for today's edition is titled
grand jury declines to reindict Trump target by Asha Bagjee
and Michael Lauria USA Today. A federal grand jury on
December four rejected an attempt to indict New York Attorney
General Letitia James, a key target of President Donald Trump's iire,

(49:27):
less than two weeks after a judge throughout the Trump
administration's first indictment against her. The grand Jury's rejection of
charges marks the Justice Department's second attempt at indicting the
New York Attorney General, whom the President has railed against
in recent weeks. James brought a lawsuit against Trump in
twenty twenty two. In a statement, James slammed the attempted indictment,

(49:49):
calling the charges against her baseless. It is time for
this unchecked weaponization of our justice system to stop. New
York toop's prosecutors said in a statement, grateful to the
members of the grand jury and humbled by the support
I have received from across the country. Now, I will
continue to do my job standing up for the rule
of law and the people of New York. After the

(50:10):
first indictment for alleged bank fraud. Senior U S District
Judge Cameron McCowan Curry concluded that Attorney General Pam Bondi
unlawfully appointed Lindsay Halligan, who had previously worked as Trump's
personal lawyer, as a top prosecutor in Virginia. Since Halligan
secured the indictment, it had to be dismissed. Curry ruled

(50:31):
those initial charges against James came less than three weeks
after Trump set in a post on social media that
James and two others, former FBI Director James Comey and
Senator Adam Schiff, Democrat California, were guilty as hell and
delay their prosecution was not an option. The post sparked
concern among legal experts as it appeared to show a

(50:53):
president interfering in the Justice Department investigations, despite a historical
norm following the next administration's Watergate scandal of DOJ investigative
independence from the White House. Trump addressed the post to
his Attorney General Bondie and didn't explain what alleged crimes
he was referring to, but praised Halligan. Bondie installed Halligan,

(51:13):
who had never worked as a prosecutor within days. Comy
was charged on September twenty five with lying to Congress,
and James was charged October nine with bank fraud and
making false statements to a financial institution. Judge Curry dismissed
both indictments, basing the dismissals on the conclusion that Halligan's
appointment was invalid. Scheff is not facing charges, but the

(51:36):
Justice Department has also investigated him. The three Trunk targets
have upset the President to the point of lashing out
publicly for different reasons. An appeals court later upheld the
fraud finding, but throughout the financial penalty, deeming it excessive.
James's office has appealed that ruling. Comey led the FBI
at a time when it was investigating potential contacts between

(51:59):
the Trump twenty six sixteen campaign and the Russian government.
He became an outspoken critic of Trump after the president
fired him in twenty seventeen. Schif investigated Trump's role, as
well as that of his allies, and the attack on
the US Capitol on January sixth, twenty twenty one, and
helped lead the first impeachment of Trump. The next article

(52:20):
in today's edition is titled Trump TAP's new lead for
White House ballroom. Original architect to continue as consultant by
Joey Garrison and Swabna Vina Paul Ramaswani. USA Today the
White House has hired a new lead architect for President
Donald Trump's White House Ballroom after he clashed with the
project's original architect over the size of the massive edition.

(52:42):
The White House spokesperson Davis Ngel confirmed to USA Today
that architect Shalom Baronees of Washington, d C. Has been
hired as the new lead architect for the ninety thousand
square foot ballroom. The move comes after James McCreery, the
second the project's original lead architect, express concerns to Trump
about the size of the project and the ballroom overshadowing

(53:04):
the main White House building. According to a report from
The Washington Post, Mercree will continue as a consultant. Shalom
is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural
identity of our nation's capital for decades, and his experience
will be a great asset to the completion of the project, Ingles, said.
A White House official told USA Today the move is

(53:26):
not a replacement of architects, but rather a passing of
the baton as the project moves into a new phase,
early sight excavation. Another construction work on the ballroom is underway.
After the White House's East Wing was quickly demolished in
October to make way for the addition. Trump wants the
ballroom finished before the end of his term. In January
twenty twenty nine, Trumps set the ballroom, which will have

(53:49):
a capacity of nine hundred ninety nine people, is needed
to hold large White House events that currently take place
outdoors or in the much smaller East Room. A recent
Washington Post ABC News I PSS poll found fifty six
percent of Americans opposed the wings demolition and ballroom project,
including forty five percent who said they strongly oppose it.

(54:12):
Tromp has said he plans to use private donations to
pay for the ballroom, which is projected to cost three
hundred million dollars after it was initially ballparkd at two
hundred million dollars. The White House demolished the east wing
even though design plans hadn't been submitted to the National
Capital Planning Commission, the central planning agency of the federal government,
since nineteen fifty two. Well Sharf, the Commission's chairman and

(54:36):
White House Staff Secretary set on December fourth. The White
House intends to submit design plans to the panel later
in December. The White House's East Wing was not protected
under the National Historic Preservation Act of nineteen sixty six,
which requires reviews of projects that affect most historic buildings,
but explicitly exempts the White House, Supreme Court Building, and

(54:58):
U S Capitol. The White House US argue the National
Capital Planning Commission does not have jurisdiction of the demolition
of federal buildings, only the construction. The next article in
today's edition is titled Guard Members honored at Christmas Tree
Lighting by Zach Anderson and Francesca Chambers USA. Today, President

(55:19):
Donald Trump honored two members of the National Guard who
were shot November twenty six on patrol near the White
House as he and First Lady Malania Trump continued the
more than a century old tradition of lighting the National
Christmas Tree. National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom died after the attack.
Trump said he met with the parents as surviving Guard
member Andrew Wolfe. Andrew is getting better. Sarah, unfortunately is

(55:41):
watching from on high, watching from heaven. Trump said December fourth,
I just want to pay my respects to them, to
incredible people, unbelievable people. I spoke with the parents and
met with the parents today, the parents of Andrew. The
tree lighting ceremony included performances by the Beach Boys, Alana'sin,
Brett Young, and other musicians. It's beautiful, not too cold.

(56:05):
There's no wind. We don't have to wear hats or anything,
Trump said of the thirty degree fahrenheit weather, making light
of his twenty twenty election loss, which saw him leave
the White House for four years before returning in January.
Trump said that if it weren't for that outcome, he
wouldn't be president. As America celebrates two hundred fifty years
of independence next year. I'm so happy that our presidency

(56:27):
was delayed. Otherwise I'd be sitting home watching television, not
being invited. I would be extremely upset, Trump said, repeating
baseless claims that the vote was rigged. Trump later said
he loves all US citizens, whether you like them or not.
We love them all. We want to take care of everybody.
We want to take everybody in our country. Trump said

(56:47):
the December fourth ceremony was the one hundred third such event,
which dates to former President Calvin Coolidge, who presided over
the lighting of a forty eight foot balsam fur from
Vermont in nineteen twenty three. The National Christmas Tree Display
runs from December sixth to January one and is free
for visitors. It is open every day from ten am
to ten pm Sundays through Thursdays, and ten am to

(57:11):
eleven pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Thus concludes readings for
the first section of the Courier Journal for Saturday, December sixth,
twenty twenty five. Stay tuned for more news to follow immediately.
Your reader has been Melody Ryan