Officials with the Kentucky Derby Festival have released some details about this year's Thunder Over Louisville celebration. The official kickoff of the two-week festival draws about 750,000 people to the Ohio River banks for an airshow and fireworks display.Festival President Mike Berry says the tough economic times have forced organizers to cut the pyrotechnics budget by about ten percent, but it won't be evident to spectators."Where the fireworks are concerned, if you loved Thunder last year, you'll love it again. It's not going to diminish the show and it won't fail to be the spectacle that it always has been," Berry said.Berry says the airshow budget will also be trimmed by about ten percent.All four presenting corporate sponsors of last year's Thunder, UPS, Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, E.ON U.S. and Meijer, are back on board this year.Thunder Over Louisville will be held Saturday, April 18. This year's theme is "Thunder Road."
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.