The director of the Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness has delivered an assessmentof the health of Louisville citizens and some strategies for improvement.Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt has been studying the city’s health statistics---the latest available are from 2009. Nesbitt says the smoking rate among Louisville adults was almost 24 percent, down slightly from previous years but still well above the national average. And nearly two-thirds of Louisville adults were overweight or obese. Nesbitt says, among other things, she plans to work with the Metro Housing Authority on smoke-free policies in public housing, and with the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown movement on nutrition and disease prevention programs.She also wants to hear from citizens about the health care services they receive. "And understanding if we have a match of the services that are available with the community need. And the best way for us to do that is to go directly to the community and understand why they’re seeking care in the way that they are, or not seeking care," she said. The department has scheduled four public meetings this month:Each meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will last for approximately one hour.Tuesday, March 13NIA Center, 2900 W. Broadway Thursday, March 15 Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Hwy. Tuesday, March 27Worthington Fire Station #1 9514 Featherbell Blvd.(in Norton Commons)Prospect, KY Wednesday, March 28Okolona Branch of Louisville Free Public Library7709 S. Preston Hwy. Thursday, March 29Greater Louisville Medical Society, 101 W. Chestnut St. (This meeting is targeted to physicians, leaders of community based organizations and business leaders and is cosponsored by the Greater Louisville Medical Society.)
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.