WAVE News Extra

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:05]Hi there folks. Uh turning some equipment on. It's been a quite a busy day for us in the wave uh offices, let's say. Uh not just in the uh weather room, but also around in the newsroom. So, I'm just trying to set up a couple things in real time for you as I'm also clearing my throat. I hope if anybody else has been dealing with some really bad allergies out there that you'll you'll forgive me and understand that uh it's just uh trying to uh make it work.

[00:00:31]Uh taking uh medicine to clear all the mucus out. Uh we're starting tonight uh 8:05 bit of an interesting setup. It's been a weather alert day and so uh given the conditions uh we could always uh dip into that if needed. Our meteorologist Brian Good would be the one to join us tonight. He'll also be here to join us at uh 11. So make sure to stick around for what the weekend has in store. Um I'm going to read this part of it. Uh yeah, Crispy Brisket asking it'll be a little Brian after dark. So that'll be pretty special for those of you sticking around on this Friday night. I don't have the video for this uh breaking news uh of update, but you might have gotten an alert uh sent to your phones on the Wave News app, and it was a Jefferson County grand jury uh confirming in this case an LMPD officer indicted because the department claims it found inaccuracies in his reported work hours for overtime. The officer's name, Roberto Grider, wants a school resource officer at Moore High School. The official charges theft by deception somewhere between $1,000 and $10,000. But Jefferson County prosecutors saying this case boils down to overtime issues and how according to city payroll records, Grider made 168,000 last year, 70,000 in overtime. So, uh, LAPD spokesperson, uh, this is Sergeant Matthew Sanders in this case, saying that the the department's integrity unit, the PIU, uh, did launch an investigation for work hours between October of last year and February this year and that during the investigation, the officer in question, Grider, had limited police powers and was put on administrative reassignment. Uh, he was directly indicted, so he was not booked into jail, but the charges are what they are. Um, and that LMPD apparently started to, you know, initiate the process to fire Ryder after he was indicted. His arraignment is going to be on next Tuesday. So, that's just what I couldn't show you on the video part, but uh, there are stories to share with you tonight as, uh, part of that is JCBS's superintendent highlighting what he says are successes, but also acknowledging the challenges of his first year leading the district. And sometimes the video does not want to cooperate in the same way. Let's see if we can go there. Uh, Dr. Brian Yearwood in this case saying JCPS educated nearly 94,000 students, 18,000 staff members were serving. All the students, their families during the school year. Of all these kids uh that we have in the community, 6,500 are graduating. Uh they're going to move on to college or whatever their next ventures are going to be. Dr. Yearwood and the school board, they've been working on trying to balance the district's $188 million budget shortfall, but he says they are making difficult decisions, not kicking the can down the road for others to solve. Here is uh one segment of Dr. Gearwood uh in his uh final address for you know this particular school year uh discussing what the the challenges and uh really the emphasis should be on in his mind.

[00:03:27]You know, nobody gets into public education because they dream about budget reductions and organizational charts. You know, if there was actually a conference for the most fun budget crisis, I can assure you we were not trying to host it this year.

[00:03:47]But it came to us.

[00:03:50]But as we confronted this or leadership rose because leadership means facing reality honestly.

[00:04:05]As Frederick Doug Douglas once said, "If there is no struggle, there's no progress."

[00:04:12]This year required a struggle, but it also produced progress.

[00:04:19]And while the noise is often loud, there are extraordinary things happening inside JCPS schools every single day.

[00:04:29]This year, more than 6,500 students are graduating and preparing to begin the next chapter of their lives.

[00:04:39]Through the generosity of community partners, staff, and supporters, we help provide more than $70,000 in scholarships to students across the district. Students earned industry certifications, college credits, academic honors, athletic championships, artistic recognition, and opportunities that will change the trajectory of their futures.

[00:05:11]That matters.

[00:05:13]And while stabilizing the budget was critical, we also began laying a stronger academic foundation for the future.

[00:05:25]That was important.

[00:05:30]>> So, you heard Dr. Yearwood there emphasizing as they try to stabilize the district budget, they'll work to make sure the cuts do not impact the classroom experience. By the way, because we're using this setup normally for the wave uh weather stream, uh wavy letting us know what's going on uh with flood advisories depending on the specific areas. Going to be a busy night like I told you. For uh folks joining us on the live stream comment section like uh Krispy and ZK, um not sure. I checked in with Brian not that long ago. It's just a matter of uh when it might be needed uh that he might join us a little later tonight, but no promises. uh he will be here for the newscast at 11:00.

[00:06:08]Uh so there you have at least the end ofear review formal address coming there from the superintendent. But regardless uh the reporting shows it's been a tumultuous year. Uh parents though were there to greet kids in the final day of school and some did have questions legitimate questions about the district's future. Uh the financial crisis resulting in downsizing for staff. two schools, Zachary Taylor Elementary and MLK Junior Elementary closing. This is what our David Mattley spent some time reporting on today, talking to parents who are uneasy about the uncertainty. Uh about 400 students from Taylor and King that uh we know of will be distributed to new schools next year. That part is certain. But talking to parents today, David said that it's the uncertainty that the school year brought that has parents wondering what next year will bring. At Conway Middle School, Wave News found the usual pomp and circumstance with cheers, balloons, plenty of pictures to take with proud parents, students preparing that jump into high school. But some are worried about the short-term future of the district.

[00:07:11]>> My biggest concern is making sure she has transportation to school cuz um you know, I work and I might not be able to get her to and from school in time. Um, another one of my concerns is just basically making sure it's enough teachers so she can get the education that she needs, you know, and have a a great school year.

[00:07:33]And that was parent Britney Dickerson.

[00:07:34]But David also did talk to some other parents who were optimistic as long as they have faith in their young students and the teachers, they believe they will be positive outcomes. uh Taylor and King elementaryaries. Uh between the two schools, they'll be reassigned to about eight new schools for 2026 and 2027.

[00:07:52]Now, sticking with the theme, a lot of uh you know, end of school year, what does uh next fall bring? Uh the district has announced it is changing providers when uh parents uh want to follow stay up to date with where their child's bus is located. So again, starting in the 26th 27th school year, there's going to be a new app that the district is going to direct parents to use. It's called My Ride K through 12. K-1 12. JCPS leaders say this app is going to use real-time GPS technology to provide accurate ETAs so you know uh exactly where your child's bus is to try and gauge uh when you should head to the bus stop to meet them once they arrive. Uh we're going to have a little more information about again how to spell out the app, how to download it to your cell phone, what it entails. Just head over to our story with our report on wave3.com. Let's bring you back inside. We're going to touch on some more stories, but um again, this is a different setup than the the Wave News Extra with all the the bells and whistles I might play otherwise um for the streaming crowd.

[00:08:55]So, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and X.

[00:08:57]I'm going to bring up an image of our SkyRack camera network just so you can see that we are still up uh for our users on the Wave now app on your um Apple Roku Fire Sticks. Hopefully we'll go to that conventional commercial break and be right back with some more stories uh to discuss uh traffic coming from the I65 shutdown that is on the way. Uh troubleshooters update in our critical condition series about um the lack of following through on their end of the contract. the healthcare provider for inmates that LMDC had hired. Um, some more stories we've been following over the course of the day and even spreading out across our media uh partnership network. So, let's bring uh this image up. We should be back in another two minutes, folks, but we'll be right back after this.

[00:11:47]Well, folks, for those of you especially on the social media live streams, uh you rock uh for being patient uh when we, like I said, don't have all the commercial breaks and and music to let you know we're just in that brief pause.

[00:11:58]So, uh you you guys are great for that.

[00:12:01]Appreciate that. a reminder this evening because hey, uh we don't have that much time left before we have to deal with the two-month shutdown on I65. Uh we're all going to have to find a different way to drive where we need to go, especially closer to downtown. But we know since last September, crews have been working on laying the foundations for at least this first bundle, as I discussed with project spokesperson Mindy Peterson, and that's essentially the three new bridges that you see here.

[00:12:26]That's the prep work. Uh but workers have also been putting some attention to detail on other major roadways to handle the extra traffic that they're going to have to divert because of the shutdown and larger contexts. A total of nine bridges on 65 have to be replaced or repaired. And so we're talking now about the 5m stretch uh from Jefferson Street to the Watson. State transportation leaders say just be mindful. You're going to have to add a little extra time probably to your drives into work or school. Use your preferred GPS app or technology just to give you those options for your destination. Use your knowhow uh your your you know past experience of the back roads and the ways different uh surface roads connect to get around uh Wave News. We're going to continue to add to our extensive coverage of all the stories of what you need to know, understand, you know, how this is affecting different people in different ways. Uh but we are going to have a section for the summer shutdown on wave3.com. Just look under that tab in the page I65 summer shutdown. All right, let's bring us back here into if I can get the camera working the studio.

[00:13:31]Okay. Um a check-in with uh Breath of County folks and attorneys with the school district have settled a social media addiction lawsuit against pretty big names in the industry. Meta, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and YouTube. The lawsuit claimed these companies were creating addictive technology and the district had to pay more than had to pay more money to offer mental health counseling and tech programs to deal with the consequences done to students.

[00:14:00]Meta and YouTube were actually both found liable in a similar social media trial earlier this year. The district has not said what it received in the settlement, but note what the the dollar mark the dollar figure was. The lawsuit was asking for more than $60 million initially. Whatever the terms of settlement are, uh that might be for another party to disclose if we reached out to either, you know, Meta or YouTube or or Breon County Schools to see what all they could officially comment on the matter. All right. In a story closer for Wave Country, uh people living in the Chickansaw neighborhood of Louisville said they were horrified to learn one of their neighbors is now accused of allegedly setting his own wife's two dogs on fire after they got into an argument. Police arrested this man who's facing charges. This is what our friend Garcia Frances spent time reporting on.

[00:14:52]U in these kinds of stories, the details are going to be pretty disturbing when it comes to the allegations. But according to a police report, Bobby Atkinson and his wife got into an argument Thursday morning. She found out that he had another woman inside of her home. Police say during the argument, Atkinson pulled a gun, told his wife she'd shoot her if it wasn't for the fact that they had a daughter together.

[00:15:13]Police say the wife later found a dog covered in ash with open wounds and burned fur, and a second dog was having trouble standing and was visibly hurt.

[00:15:21]Officers said both dogs even smelled like ash and accelerate. Um, now Fernando seems to talk to Atkinson's wife and so we can disclose that though she did not feel comfortable going on camera but told us it has been a tough 24 hours and that she does fear for her safety and her own family safety. Um, Fernando also talked to the executive director of a local group that works with abused animal, and she pointed to how there's research that has shown a link between animal abuse and alleged domestic violence in this case, but others, you know, past reported and verifiable cases of domestic violence.

[00:15:57]>> There's a number of cases even in Louisville, uh, Kion Salah is something that the legislature has been trying to pass for the last couple of years. He was a little boy that was um killed by his mother and uh the animal control officers came out at least 10 times before he was killed.

[00:16:16]Now Atkinson appeared in court this morning charged with the two counts of torturing a dog, two counts of cruelty to animals, account of menacing and terroristic threatening. At last check, the two dogs were hurt. They did survive. Uh got care for their injuries.

[00:16:30]A judge also said Atinson's bonded $50,000. He's expected back in court on June 1st.

[00:16:37]This next update is from the troubleshooters. Uh although I'm seeing a very active comment section we've got there from uh Derel joining us uh tonight. Uh Krispy and ZK. Uh you guys are carrying the conversation over there. Um so perhaps showing what uh having to divert our usual drives to and from work. Yeah, it it matters. uh it's not going to be pretty in the moment.

[00:17:03]Although, you know, better that than perhaps the alternative of of crumbling road beneath us in real time, but uh it's a story we're going to stay on top of. So, whatever frustrations you all are dealing with, uh we'll we'll be sure to, you know, hear what you've got to say and do a follow-up on all of that.

[00:17:18]Back to what I was saying about a troubleshooter series, I want to keep letting you folks know about the the work we've been doing. um for sharing what we've uncovered about healthcare company ESARE and their financial collapse forcing Louisville's metro jail to make the emergency switch to find some new provider to give healthcare to inmates. Um this is the next part of the critical condition series. our W news reporter Meredith Lee. Uh she wanted to show examples of the stories of testimony of what was going on inside LMDC nurses who were there when things were falling apart, how long they'd been told to stay quiet in their estimation, working close to their breaking point.

[00:17:57]Uh for months, the nurses say they were dealing with conditions that made it almost nearly impossible to do their jobs. and uh what that looked like, what they were told to do about it is what Meredith wanted to share in part two of our troubleshooters critical conditions series.

[00:18:11]>> With guest Care, we're lucky to provide the bare minimum um because we're just not even able to provide that at times.

[00:18:18]>> Multiple nurses who worked inside Louisville Metro Detention Center under Yes Care shared their experiences with Wave News. Their accounts are consistent and what they describe goes well beyond a company running out of money. A nurse who wants to remain anonymous tells me at first conditions were rough but manageable. But by early 2026, the work environment took a significant turn.

[00:18:43]>> It's very often that we are out of what I would consider critical medications. I can remember a time several months ago where we were out of just a normal blood thinner, just aspirin. um just sitewide out of aspirin.

[00:18:57]>> Nurses make claims of unfulfilled or incorrect orders for medication and equipment and not having an adequate supply of protective gear for medical assessments.

[00:19:07]>> And yes didn't provide fentanyl safe gloves. So there was many times where you go out there to assess somebody that's still in the back of the police car or whatever. Um, and you don't have the you don't even want to hardly touch them because you don't know what they might have on their skin.

[00:19:24]>> If you don't have gloves, um, you could have drug exposure.

[00:19:31]>> Yes.

[00:19:32]>> Contract something.

[00:19:33]>> Yes.

[00:19:34]>> That could kill you.

[00:19:35]>> Yes, that's exactly right. The medical staff say they tried to share their concerns with Yes Care's leaders, HR, even the CEO, but they hit a wall.

[00:19:46]>> We would either not get through or they would blame the issue on their bank.

[00:19:50]There was no apology by Yes Care. There was no explanation.

[00:19:55]>> Without answers or help, the nurses say they had no option left but to take matters into their own hands to make up for what their company didn't provide.

[00:20:05]The nurses will pay out of pocket for those supplies to make sure that our patients have the care that they need.

[00:20:11]>> With the resources that you have from Yesare, are you able to accomplish everything that you're asked on a day-to-day basis?

[00:20:21]>> No, >> absolutely not.

[00:20:24]>> But that workound came with a condition.

[00:20:26]The nurses say their management brought in under Yes Care directed them to keep buying supplies on their own, but to not share that information.

[00:20:35]>> It's been my directive to not mention anything to the chief. I'm not sure why it's been said that if the chief finds out the situation, then our management will lose their jobs.

[00:20:48]>> The nurses stopped speaking up about the shortages until March of 2026 when paychecks first stopped coming on time.

[00:20:55]I really never thought that I would have to question whether or not I'm working for free.

[00:21:00]>> It was a problem they couldn't hide. So, several turned to FOP Launch President Daniel Johnson.

[00:21:06]>> Oh, at least five or six nurses have said something to me in passing because they they know what I do for the officers and they don't have that for themselves.

[00:21:14]>> Johnson brought the concerns directly to Chief Jerry Collins, who fought to get them paid. The following week, um, Chief Collins has said that he had been talking directly with the corporate leaders of Yesare, um, to ensure that, you know, that it wasn't going to be an issue, that it wasn't going to be a problem in the future, and it was just a one-time thing.

[00:21:34]>> Did it continue to be a problem in the future?

[00:21:37]>> Yes, it did.

[00:21:38]>> And despite Colin's efforts, he didn't have a full picture of what his nursing staff had been living through. Would you have taken action sooner to look into other healthc care contractors? Had you been aware of the full breadth of issues?

[00:21:56]Obviously, yes. I'm impressed with the folks that work here that it's providing the medical care. That's what I'm impressed with. And you know, some of the challenge that challenges they were having that I was not aware of goes again a testament to them. After months of enduring those conditions, the nurses say they're cautiously hopeful that a new contract means a new start.

[00:22:17]>> And it's just hard when the standard that is set is provide the bare minimum because as a nurse, I would like to provide much much more than the bare minimum. Most of us really do care and that's the only reason why we're there.

[00:22:31]>> Our thanks to Meredith for um that part two of her investigation. Uh to her knowledge and ours, yes, care still not responding to our official request for comment on our reports. Uh but with a new contract in place, there are still questions left unanswered how to ensure what happened in this case with Yes Care based on the decision LMDC had to make does not repeat itself. It doesn't happen again. Uh Meredith is working on part three of the series in critical conditions. Hope to share that with you as soon as as we can on Wave News at 11, wave three.com. All the different ways we can connect with you all. Uh ZK uh asking questions about the roads and bridges. You know, I had Mindy Peterson on live uh was it already this week? It was on Monday. She was describing it as the specific chunk the first of the overhaul for the central corridor that they were built in, you know, 65 or so.

[00:23:26]That was more or less and this is basically now to the the end part of the lifespan. And so over, you know, time perhaps there have been patch patches of work here and there around uh Brook Street. These are places, you know, the underpasses you might be familiar with in old Louisville. Uh but nothing to this scale. So not like the kind of, you know, total repair it sounds like this is going to take that would have happened in the last 5 years. I can go back and and see some reporting we've done here at Wave about uh parts of the Louisville loop having to be repaired for bridge repairs and parklands of Floyd's Fork. Uh, so that's like Poplick Park at Taylor'sville Road, but nothing specifically about uh this this chunk of old Louisville, if you can imagine, taking the honor off ramps in St. Katherine. Um, and yes, it's going to leave a headache, especially for a lot of people who live around the neighborhood for the noise that's going to happen uh late at night and the dust particles that that might surface. But the KYTC team is asking people to reach out to them for ways to rectify see what they can adjust in real time and and what what that might mean for uh impacted uh renters, homeowners and the like. Uh it's uh an information on the main website is called i65 central corridor.com. So, if that were to happen to you or anybody you know, um Mindy Peterson again with KYDC asking uh the project spokesperson asking that if you've got any comments, complaints, things that need to be brought to their attention to go to i65 central corridor.com.

[00:24:57]Um and let's see, new contract.

[00:25:02]Well, perhaps interesting what the shortage on the staff is for nurses drill. I do not know the answer to that off the top of my head. it is now a new provider over top of it. But um presumably they'd be the ones in charge of of the payroll and the budget and having to come to to the table to to prove that they've fulfilled the terms.

[00:25:22]And it is a short one by the way.

[00:25:23]Meredith reporting with uh the the 3C uh company based out here in Kentucky. It is just a one-term deal, 16 plus million dollars. So then it's up to LMDC's discretion and Metro if they wanted to renew for a longer term deal for them to provide care. So we we'll we'll see what it all comes down to, but I promise we'll stay on top of it as best as we can. We're going to take a quick break.

[00:25:45]Uh going to show you the South Louisville SkyRack camera uh for the streaming on the Wave News uh the Wave Now app audience. Again, try to get to that commercial break uh for the streamers. Uh we'll be back in about uh three minutes or so just with more stories to share with you. So we'll be right back.

[00:28:03]Hi there folks. So in the wave now studio. Uh does not look like the best of times outside. Um you know wouldn't want to be uh out in the in the rain dealing with uh the water slides or the roller coasters out there at Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay. But uh for those of you who are luckily uh indoors, under shelter, dry under a roof, hey, uh we'll make it work. Uh what um whatever conditions might pop out of this though, uh hey, we deferred to the storm tracking team, their uh years and years of expertise and passion about this. Uh check it in. Hopefully sometime, you know, over the course of tonight for sure, you will hear more from Brian and um you know, we'll get to explain a little bit more about how that factors into the weekend. uh caught a couple more stories to uh share today. This is just more on the news side of things, but this is a a man convicted of killing a UK student, injuring two more in a car crash. Well, uh he learned his punishment. Uh this was uh the voice you heard there was Judge an Annie Okonnell sentencing Joseph Sami to 25 years. That is the sentence, but this was probated and the official set there to 180 days in jail with probation. Now, it's been four and a half years since the crash where Chase Lawson was killed. Two more people were hurt. Lawson and two friends were all sitting at the intersection of Lraange in North Horn when Sami crashed into them, driving more than 20 miles over that speed limit. A breathalyzer test showed that he had been drinking before crashing. Friends and loved ones of all the victims packed a courtroom describing how their lives have changed drastically as an understatement over what happened. In so many ways, Chase was just like his oldest sister, a 4.0 student, a f future physician with big blue eyes that carried a gentleness rarely seen in young men today. He was a friend of the lonely, gentle, and unwaveringly kind, and deeply devout in his faith, and the sweetest, most loving brother to his sisters.

[00:30:05]>> In Lawson's case, he was 20 years old when he died. the other two inside the car. Uh they had bones, broken cuts, and a head injury. And um whenever this official probation and sentence does start, we'll make sure to let you folks uh know. I always like to say that just for the followup on the story. Uh this is a check-in with our gray team in Washington DC. just the the big political story uh coming out of Washington that uh the the head of the department of of national intelligence uh Tulsi Gabbard saying that she's resigning from her post uh to care for her husband because of his cancer diagnosis. Our Washington correspondent Stson Miller has uh this insight at least in in the latest reporting that they know from another loss uh of the current picks in the Trump White House cabinet.

[00:30:52]Tulsi Gabbard sent a letter to President Trump on Friday, saying she's resigning as director of national intelligence after her husband was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. In the letter, Gabbard wrote that she's stepping down as the nation's top intelligence officer on June 30th to fully support her husband and said, "I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and timeconsuming position." While President Trump praised Gabbard in a social media post made after the announcement, her tenure had been rocky and controversial. She faced skepticism and intense questioning from congressional lawmakers during hearings oversaw a significant downsizing at a key intelligence agency and appeared to be at odds with President Trump's approach to the war in Iran.

[00:31:38]>> I'm very strong on the fact that I don't want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. I think she's probably a little bit softer on that issue. The president wrote that the principal deputy director of national intelligence, Aaron Lucas, will serve as acting director of national intelligence after Gabbard leaves her role at the end of June. In Washington, I'm Stson Miller.

[00:32:00]And another story that's gained a lot of uh reaction and understandably so nationally. Uh but when perhaps we were part of you know the media ecosystem to confirm that Kyle Bush uh NASCAR legend had died fans here leaving flowers and tributes outside the Richard Childress Racing Museum in Welcome North Carolina.

[00:32:19]Bush's family RCR NASCAR leadership confirming announcing that Bush had died yesterday. Uh this happened 11 days after the twotime NASCAR Cup Series champ asked for medical help uh toward the end of a cup race in Watkins. Glenn and his family saying that Bush had to be hospitalized because of a severe illness. Though at this time they're not clarifying or specifying exactly what that illness or disease was. Uh but here you see uh reporters at the museum uh trying to you know talk to in a very tender vulnerable moment for fans and mourners laying flowers at the museum to honor uh the NASCAR great. I think about his kids and his wife and uh that's hard to think about.

[00:33:02]>> Know I was going through a rough time and you know watching Kyle kind of made it exciting and had a couple friends that u work here at RCR and plus some of my relatives and stuff like that called and told me the news and I thought they was telling me a joke but um it wasn't.

[00:33:19]So um my prayers go out to the family.

[00:33:24]NASCAR called Bush one of the sport's greatest, fiercest drivers. He'd won 230 plus National Series races, the most races of any driver. Uh Bush leaves behind a wife, an 11-year-old son, and a 4-year-old daughter. So, certainly for for racing fans, a very hard, sudden, unexpected loss. Um we're going to round things out with a couple of extra pieces from our wonderful Wave uh news and weather team. Uh we're going to start with the, you know, local soccer, uh still shining at the top level for women's sports. Racing Louisville back at home for the weekend trying to notch another win and earn those three valuable points. Artoana Andrews sat down with one of the team star forwards, Kayla Fischer, to talk about where the team season stacks up uh her evolution during her time with racing.

[00:34:14]>> Uh just take it game by game. Um, I think it's easy to look at where we sit on the um, table and just kind of get a little defeated, but I think we have a great group and we can make a great run.

[00:34:27]>> It's that game bygame mentality that's allowed Kayla Fischer to thrive at Racing Louisville.

[00:34:33]>> Settle by Fischer. Kayla Fischer shot.

[00:34:36]Fisher.

[00:34:38]Racing Louisville's on top.

[00:34:40]>> The forward made history last season, scoring the team's only playoff goal.

[00:34:47]danger here in racing at level in Washington DC.

[00:34:54]>> Surreal like obviously playing away with uh Washington Spirits fans and everything. I didn't really realize I scored because no one was cheering and then obviously like all of my teammates and everyone like we were super pumped.

[00:35:09]While she's experienced some incredible highs IN HER CAREER, >> TURNED OVER AND TURNED IN.

[00:35:19]>> KAYLA FISER DELIVERS FOR LOUISVILLE.

[00:35:22]>> She's also dealt with some lows, including being issued a red card last season that led to a three-game suspension.

[00:35:30]>> I hated sitting out last year, obviously, and I think I put a big label over myself from that. Despite the roller coaster, her focus remains the same on the field.

[00:35:40]>> What a banger from Kayla Fischer.

[00:35:42]>> I think just staying in that mindset and really running with the identity that we've created, like we want to be a hardworking team. We want to we want to win games >> and off the field in the work she does in the community, visiting patients at Norton Children's Hospital.

[00:35:57]>> I definitely like being around kids and just giving back to them. I know they're not always in the best place of their in their lives when they are at Norton Children's. Um, so just to take their mind off of the situation that they're going through at the time.

[00:36:11]>> Number nine's message to the next generation of soccer players is simple.

[00:36:16]>> Just enjoy like each stage that you're going through and like if you just work hard every day at that, you'll get there one day.

[00:36:22]>> Tana Andrew, wave News.

[00:36:27]There they are setting examples uh for the future uh you know top athletes and uh you know wishing still uh best of luck for the rest of the season for Kayla and for Racing Lou as they take on North Carolina Courage Saturday. So tomorrow at 4 you can go check it out at Lyn Family Stadium. By the way, you can watch all of Tuana's interviews with the players catching up with them over the course of the regular season even on on cup matches. Uh you can watch that conversation with Caleb on not just wave three.com but also on the Wave YouTube page for separate reasons. you know, you have uh our sports interviews, long form conversations that go way deeper than what we're able to play for you in those two or three minute uh clips at a time.

[00:37:06]In my case, uploading, you know, we got we're over the primaries now, but you know, for longer form interviews with potential political candidates and and going into deeper dives on serious stories uh on YouTube, that stuff could live there. So, you're always welcome to go check that out. The last thing we'll leave you with tonight um is u a checkin of about 30 people swearing uh in as new citizens of the United States uh swearing to support and uphold the US Constitution. Our Brian Schlonsky went by the ceremony at the Frasier Museum and met a woman from Cuba who says being here uh you know is part of the fabric of the US gives her family a chance at a life that she could have never fashioned uh elsewhere or before. So here is Brian's report there.

[00:37:51]I'm very proud to be part of United State and have that liberty and all our rights.

[00:37:58]>> For Ariana Taylor, Friday was a day she's dreamed about for the past six years. She is now an American.

[00:38:06]>> It's like for us like an immigrant is like the last step and now I can vote.

[00:38:12]So that's so huge for us because here we have, you know, your voice matter. So, I'm I'm very happy.

[00:38:21]>> Taylor is one of about 30 people who took part in a naturalization ceremony Friday at the Frasier History Museum.

[00:38:28]>> Cuba.

[00:38:30]>> These new citizens coming from more than a dozen countries, including Vietnam, Rwanda, Burma, and El Salvador. Please raise your right hand.

[00:38:38]>> Standing for the pledge of allegiance, the oath of allegiance, and swearing to support the US Constitution. Take advantage of every opportunity to participate more fully in the civic life of your city, the Commonwealth, and our nation.

[00:38:55]>> For Taylor, that'll be easy. It's why she left Cuba, looking for a better life.

[00:39:00]>> You work hard. You see the results here.

[00:39:03]It's not the same in Cuba. It's very difficult when you try to make a difference in your life or the life of your children's. her home nation in the international news this week as the US Department of Justice indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro for murder.

[00:39:23]>> Thousands of Cubans celebrating the news. Taylor saying, "I know every Cuban is happy today.

[00:39:29]>> That's the reason why many Cubans are here. So Cuba is beautiful, but not the government."

[00:39:41]Brian, with that uh check in and of course our central character um sailor saying that she's hoping now to bring her son from Cuba to raise him here. Uh Louisville tourism pointing to our community as being one of the fastest, faster growing Cuban population destinations for uh new uh you know residents, neighbors, citizens in uh respect to all over the United States. A reminder for all the stories that we do work on uh and share with you day in and day out. Uh kind of set up the website here. Uh but we do upload it all and try to get it as close as as as quick as we can to you on wave3.com. You see the big evident thumbnail there for our wave weather alert day. Well, uh Brian is going to hang with us tonight.

[00:40:28]If things uh take a turn for the dicey or the worst, uh you're going to hear from him pop here in the Wave Now studio. In the meantime, uh depending on that, it might be him or someone else from the storm tracking team uh kind of walking us through all of that. So, make sure uh for any updates and check-ins from Brian and the team, um the Wave weather app, the Wave News app, we're going to have all that ready and the team ready to uh inform you of what is going on. Of course, Wavy with his alerts on special statements for whatever county um you might be in, but it does apply to so much across Wave Country. So, make sure to follow on that. Appreciate you folks who join us on the social media live stream. So, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and X on the Wave Now app. Hopefully, it seems like the equipment was making sure uh we've been streaming to you all this time. But uh if anything does change, remember we're here working late into the night to make sure you're safe and you are informed of what is going on. We're going to just set up our rainy looking Skyrack camera and uh I'm going to sign off for this part of the night. Hope to see you all at 11 as we uh follow up on anything that's changed and all the stories and reporting we want to share with you and our forecast looking ahead to Memorial Day weekend. Folks, stay safe out there and uh enjoy the weekend.

[00:41:41]We'll talk to you soon. Bye.