So the @WFPLNews room in downtown Louisville smells like farts today. BUT IT'S NOT JUST US. If you want to learn about the magical world of why Louisville sewer odors follow along. Long stretches without rain dry out the sewers, especially in the older parts of the system known as the combined sewer system that mostly resides within Interstate-264. last September, for example, complaints skyrocketed during conditions similar to what we are seeing now.

Here's a thread recap of what 2020 was like for me as a public radio reporter in #Louisville, Kentucky. Let me start by saying it was the most challenging year of my decade-long career in journalism and I at one point covered breaking news in Florida. I'll mostly skip past the first months of the year when I was a sweet summer child, save to say that misinformation reached a fever pitch in 2020 and stories like this one from January show it was a problem long before the pandemic and the election: wfpl.org/a-decade-of-cl…

Lmpd have arrested Rep. Attica Scott, author of Breonna’s law Police say they will leave once they finish arrests following the library get set on fire

Louisville protesters have maintained a tight formation tonight as they march through downtown ahead of the curfew at 9. A chopper and sirens punctuate the chants of demonstrators. Uhhh I dont think that’s a protest sign.

Alright it’s Thursday, one night after the AG’a announcement in the Breonna Taylor case and @jess_m_clark and I are headed into downtown Louisville. We’ve heard it’s been pretty quiet today. National Guard strategically stationed around downtown. Officer on the right carrying a long gun of some kind.

Police asking media to step back as one lone protester confronts police. Louisville

Im back in downtown Louisville starting my shift for the night. Seeing protesters headed for the square, a chopper circling overhead, police on nearly every block. Thread. Welcome to Louisville. This used to be our downtown tourist trap.

Good morning from downtown Louisville. Here’s the view from one of the few entrances to downtown. Police do not appear to be stopping and talking to drivers this morning. Also there was some confusion yesterday, police are not asking for ID to come downtown. Here’s what Fourth Street in downtown Louisville looks like ahead of AG Daniel Cameron’s decision in the Breonna Taylor case.

This is the Breonna Taylor Memorial in Downtown Louisville today. For the National audience tuning into today, this is the symbolic heart of the protest movement. Protesters carefully manicure and maintain the memorial. Here is the memorial for David McAtee, who was killed by the National Guard in Louisville’s West End during the first days of protests.

It’s 10 am in Louisville. LMPD has established a perimeter around downtown. They are already stopping and talking to drivers who come through, though they have all been permitted to pass so far. All of this is in anticipation of AG announcement in the Breonna Taylor’s case. A local pizza place beside our office on Fourth Street is putting in place the finishing touches on their hardening efforts.

Here’s what Louisville looks like in downtown ahead of the Cameron decision. police have set up a checkpoint to get on fifth street but say it is only this block around the building that is blocked. Won’t let me pass. Investigating more of downtown in this thread. Here’s Armory and Muhammad Ali looking north toward the square.

Today @WFPLNews published a web story, a radio story and a video compilation of police drone surveillance in the early days of protests in Louisville. You can check it out here: wfpl.org/police-drones-… Here's a compilation video made from the 168 videos WFPL News received through its records request.

Findley says on a megaphone that they want leadership from the city but the mayor isn’t doing that. He says Breonna Taylor isn’t who LMPD is trying to portray her to be. Protesters chanting we want justice with hands in the air.

The Until Freeom march is set to begin at this year’s Kentucky Derby. Chanting “we have nothing to lost but our chains”

A speaker says “we don’t want mint juleps, we want justice, we aren’t partying, we are working.” She then shouts in call and response “no justice no derby” .@SadiqaReynolds tells protesters not to be distracted by counter protesters, and focus on justices she asks protesters to avoid violence. She says pastor Timothy Findley has a plan.

NFAC setting up in GH Moore Park near Churchill Downs. Jay Johnson says they will collect member IDs, ask them to sign waivers and will check weapons ahead of the march G.G. Moore *

A dangerous situation is brewing in downtown Louisville at Jefferson Square Park. Armed counter protesters are squaring off against racial justice protesters and there are no police in sight at the moment.

https://twitter.com/RylandKY/status/1302286689633792000

I should add that both sides are well armed.

Ahead of the Kentucky Derby, activists hung a massive Breonna Taylor banner from a Mill beside the I-64 in Louisville overnight. The banner reads “Breonna’s Louisville” with a portrait of Taylor, who was killed by police in her home during an overnight right in March. The style co-opts the city’s Hometown Heroes campaign, which honors notable Louisville figures including Muhammad Ali. An artist familiar with those involved said there’s a subversiveness to using the city’s own campaign to highlight the life of a Black woman killed by LMPD

I’m out here for @WFPLNews in South Louisville at a church near South Central Park ahead of a planned demonstration from @untilfreedom. I’ll post updates throughout the action. The group is prepping to head over to south Central Park now.

Photo thread of images I shot yesterday when NFAC marched on Louisville. Story from me and @jess_m_clark here: wfpl.org/nfac-militia-c… The Breonna Taylor memorial in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on July 25, 2020.

Situation getting tense now. Arguments breaking out, was quiet now getting loud. Militia arguing with some press too.