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Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
The Gasman cometh
A household name in Canadian comedy will be right here in Lethbridge next week for two very special events. Brent Butt, stand-up comedy icon and the visionary behind Corner Gas, the most successful sitcom in Canadian history, is making his first stop at the Yates Memorial Theatre this Sunday (May 25). He'll be performing alongside his good friend and fellow comedian, Charlie Demers, to raise awareness and funds for students facing food insecurity through the University of Lethbridge Food for Thought initiative. 'I was naively unaware that [food insecurity] was even an issue,' Butt told the Herald. 'Some people are just barely getting by in their education, and as someone who likes to eat, food security should be the last thing anybody has to worry about. It really does seem to me to be the sign of a population in decline when some people don't have food to eat. So, I was keen to participate in the show.' A small number of tickets are still available through the Arena website. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Butt will also be walking the stage at the U of L spring convocation on May 30. The university chose him for an honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Canadian culture over the last 35 years. 'Laughter is incredibly important in our lives, and I think we are realizing that more every day. Brent's devotion to his comedic craft, willingness to share with others in the comedy community and unwavering commitment to his rural roots and Canadian culture says a lot about the kind of person he is,' says Terry Whitehead, U of L chancellor. This will be Butt's first honourary degree. He joked that it's tremendously flattering, but he wouldn't be surprised if it were also his last. Butt says stand-up comedy has been his dream since he was 12-years old. Now looking back on his career, there are plenty of significant turning points that lead to where he is today. 'I really look at the first time I stepped on stage in a professional environment, at a club for strangers who had paid money to hear comedy. That was in February of 1988,' Butt recalled. 'Then the first time I performed at Just for Laughs about four years in. That's a milestone for any comedian, especially Canadian comedians at the time because it was our sole outlet to be seen by anybody outside the country. Then the opportunity to do Corner Gas. That was the big one; that was very life changing.' Butt created, wrote and starred in Corner Gas across the span of six seasons from 2004 to 2009. The show averaged 1.2 million viewers per episode and collected a number of awards. He now utilizes his well-earned platform to promote and mentor growing comedians and the comedy community as a whole. Butt will be giving a short speech during the graduation ceremony. He says he plans to use the time to offer a message of inspiration, not only to the new graduates, but their supporters, as well. 'You really should pursue what makes you happy,' he says. 'The notion of pursuing something for security reasons is kind of silly because you can never anticipate security. At least try and chase down something that you're passionate about, that you love doing, because – in a perfect world – you're going to be doing it for the rest of your life. 'Too many teachers, professors, parents, and people like that squash the dreams of other people. Don't be that person. Be there for guidance, be there for encouragement, but don't be a roadblock. You're not doing anybody any favours, despite how it might feel.' Moving forward, Butt says performing stand-up comedy will always be part of his life. He's also releasing his first comedy album this spring, writing a second novel and working on a new television script that he hopes to shop around to networks soon. However, it doesn't appear that his new title of Dr. Butt will be appearing in the credits. 'With the last name that I have, you always have to be careful. It definitely gives proctology vibes. I don't think that will ever be in my introduction.' Butt is joined by writer David Robertson, former U of L Chancellor Charlie Weaselhead, conductor Kirk Muspratt and local advocates Bernadine and Toby Boulet who will also be receiving honorary degrees from the U of L this year.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
University of Louisville doctor faces child pornography charges, placed on leave
A University of Louisville doctor suspected of possessing and distributing child pornography faces 30 felony charges, according to court records. Bradford Lee Marsili, 35, was arrested in downtown Louisville and booked into Louisville Metro Corrections on May 9. Marsili was arraigned in Jefferson District Court on May 10. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Kristina Garvey set a cash bond of $75,000 and an order barring contact with minors. Court records show Louisville Metro Police received a tip about child pornography being distributed via electronic means between June 2024 and January 2025. After issuing a search warrant and seizing Marsili's cell phone, police alleged Marsili knowingly possessed 68 images depicting child pornography, 10 of which were allegedly shared on social media. UofL spokesperson John Karman said Marsili was immediately placed on leave after the university was notified of the charges. University officials are "fully cooperating" with law enforcement in regard to the matter, he said. Marsili's next hearing date is set for 9 a.m. May 19. More: 'It's never acceptable': UofL Health leader condemns violence after hospital altercation Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@ or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: UofL doctor Bradford Lee Marsili faces child pornography charges
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration restores some visas for Kentucky international students and graduates
A statue of "Bowman" on the University of Kentucky campus honors Kentucky Wildcats. The sculpture is located near the Avenue of Champions opposite Memorial Coliseum. The Patterson Office Tower is in the background. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) Visas revoked by the Trump administration for international graduate students at the University of Kentucky and recent international graduates from the University of Louisville have been restored. University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto announced the reversal following the Trump administration's Friday decision to restore student visa registrations of foreign students that faced legal challenges. In a message to campus issued Friday afternoon, Capilouto said the visas revoked for a small number of international graduate students earlier this month had been restored. On April 4, Capilouto announced the Department of Homeland Security notified UK that the department was revoking some F-1 student visas. 'This week, we learned that this decision has been reversed for those students and their status has been restored,' Capilouto said Friday. 'University officials again immediately informed impacted students. Teams from across the university continue to monitor this important issue and any changes.' Capilouto said UK administration will continue to update students, faculty and staff about how federal policies will affect campus online. International students and graduates at other Kentucky universities — Murray State University, Campbellsville University and the University of Louisville — faced similar situations over the past couple of weeks. A spokesperson for UofL said visas for three recent international graduates have been restored Friday afternoon. Spokespeople for MSU and CU did not immediately return a request for comment Friday afternoon. Earlier this week, campus groups and local organizations rallied on MSU's campus to show support for international students there after a student's visa was revoked. Inside Higher Ed tracked that as of Friday, more than 1,800 international students and graduates across the country had their legal status changed by the U.S. State Department. Meanwhile, Capilouto addressed how changing federal policies at large under President Donald Trump are impacting higher education in a report to UK's board during a Friday meeting. In addition to the revocation of visas for international students, universities across the country are facing pressure to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or risk losing federal funding. At the state level, Kentucky public universities are weighing how to implement a recent state law that seeks to eliminate DEI in higher education. In response to that, UK and UofL canceled graduation ceremonies for students in some minority groups. Capilouto said in his report UK took 'that action because we believe that's what is required' under the law. To the board, Capilouto said the administration will be 'seeking your guidance on how we can best' navigate this time' over the next few months. 'How do we comply with the law — and the directives we receive — from policymakers at both the federal state and levels … while, at the same time, working every day to support the people … our students … our staff … our faculty … who make our mission possible?' Capilouto said in his report.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Q&A on Louisville's air as city gets another ‘F' on national pollution scorecard
Particle pollution is made of tiny particles, so small they lodge deep in the lungs and can enter the bloodstream, causing heart attacks, lung cancer and asthma attacks. This image depicts particle sizes compared to fine beach sand and human hair. (American Lung Association) After news that Louisville's air just received a failing grade for its high rates of particle and ozone pollution, a UofL Health researcher and nurse practitioner says the news is not surprising and steps can be taken to protect people's health. Rachel Keith, a nurse practitioner with UofL's preventive cardiology clinic and a clinician researcher with the Environment Institute, said that while Louisville has 'had occasions to kind of bounce up a little bit and get better' it's been in 'that F range for a while.' During a press conference Thursday, Keith discussed the 'State of the Air' report, which the American Lung Association released Wednesday. The report showed that Louisvillians spend more than a week every year breathing unhealthy air. In Louisville, 'unhealthy days' for ozone pollution number eight per year on average — an increase from the average of five reported in the 2024 report. Ozone pollution can come from a variety of sources including cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants and more, according to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA). Here's more of what Keith had to say about the report. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. Question: Why does Louisville have such poor air quality? Answer: Air quality has two main pieces that the American Lung Association looks at. One is gaseous compounds. The one that we tend to do really poorly on is something called ozone, and the other is particulate matter. Louisville has really high levels of something called NOx (nitrogen oxides) and we also have some high levels of things called VOCs (volatile organic compounds).Think of these as gasses that readily react in the air when you add sunlight on top of it. They mix into this three-oxygen compound called ozone that's really bad for health. Here in Louisville, we have high sources of those emissions that come from combustion, and particularly the NOx — that can be roadway, that can be industry, that can be different sources of it. We also have this stagnant air that comes with being in the river valley. So, we have the stagnation of air, we have high production and we have a weather and air pattern that brings other regions' air into our area. And all that with our sunlight, especially that we have in summer, leads to really high levels of these compounds and these air pollution factors that can affect health. Q: What exactly is ozone pollution? A: Ozone is a gas. Gas is like air; it's a light molecule, a light compound. It has three oxygens, and it can be reactive and highly reactive. In particular, in Louisville, we have a lot of that really highly reactive ozone, which, as it implies, means that it can interact with lots of things. It can interact with a human and make them unhealthy, but it can also do damage to plants and crops and these other aspects of our environment. Q: Are there risks for people in their day-to-day lives from this pollution? A: I think everyone, when you think of a gas or air, things like this, immediately it goes to the lungs. And there are risks for lung problems. It can trigger asthma, it can lead to asthma. People who have COPD or other breathing conditions — this can contribute to that. But I think the lesser known and lesser thought about health conditions are really important too. Long term exposure to these, and even at somewhat low levels — so not like you're looking outside and see smog — can lead to heart disease, strokes, can affect diabetes. There's now links of air pollution to autism, Alzheimer's. Your whole body is negatively impacted by these compounds. Unfortunately in our city, they're really high, so it's going to lead to people having detrimental health problems from the air they breathe. Q: Are there any signs and symptoms that people should be on the lookout for? A: Those ones that you'll see are definitely related to respiratory conditions. So they're asthma, people with COPD. It can be trouble breathing, feeling what we call 'air hungry,' — even though you are breathing, you feel like you're not getting enough — wheezing. Most people have very distinct symptoms to their particular condition, and so those are the ones you're going to see right away. What's harder are those that take 10 to 15 years to really manifest, because you don't feel your arteries hardening. You don't realize you're not getting the blood flow, or the proteins may be changing in your brain. Those are the ones that I think are most scary, because people don't know they're happening until it's too late, and they have a big problem with it. Q: Is there a way to progress past an F — even to a D or a C? What are things people can start doing to help? A: The easy answer is: you have to reduce emissions. That's the easy answer. That means, if you bring down NOx, if you bring down VOCs, your air quality will change. The hard answer is, how? One simple thing I typically think about is: if we say a lot of this comes from combustion and automobiles, Louisville is a big commuter city, and so there are simple choices people can make that could impact our air quality. One of them that an individual could do was, if you think of a car pool line or at a drive through restaurant or places like that, whether you choose to idle or turn your car off, makes a huge difference. On a policy level, supporting things that can make public transportation easier or more available, things like bike lanes and sidewalks that also could potentially change the dynamic of our transportation in the city are very easy ways to think through a way for us to reduce emissions. Q: What effect, if any, do disasters have on air pollution? What about the 2024 ? A: All these are going to affect it. Wild fires and explosions, industries, controlled burns that sometimes happen — these all impact air quality. In particular, in 2024, we had those emissions blowing down from up north (Canada). That year was absolutely impacted by wildfires. And it also goes to show that those can be in a whole other area, region, country, and our air quality changes with it. Q: Does air pollution ever lead to acute problems? A: Asthma attacks are a very relevant acute problem, as is an exacerbation of COPD, but it can change your heart rhythms. We do think that there's a potential for those to trigger heart attacks, but the duration you're exposed and the levels plays into that. It's not a given, but there are studies that suggest even things like an acute heart attack can occur at these higher pollution levels. The Columbia Climate School offers suggestions for lowering individual carbon footprints. They include: Avoid buying fast fashion clothes, which result in significant waste, and buy durable clothes or recycled items instead. Think: vintage and thrift stores. Use reusable bags when shopping. Turn off lights and unplug electronics when they're not in use. Find ways to drive less — carpool, bike, walk or use public transportation — when possible. Travel by airplane as little as possible. When you travel by air, try to book a nonstop flight to create fewer take-offs and landings. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Louisville cancels graduation ceremony for LGBTQ+ students. Here's why
A University of Louisville spokesperson confirmed a graduation ceremony for LGBTQ+ students was cancelled April 21 amid new federal and state policies calling on schools to end diversity, equity and inclusion practices. UofL spokesperson John Karman said in a statement to The Courier Journal the cancellation of Lavender Graduation ceremony was made in relation to the new policies, which includes Kentucky House Bill 4, a state law banning DEI initiatives at public universities. Karman said he was not aware of any other graduation ceremonies canceled due to the policies. The Lavender Graduation ceremony, where graduating LGBTQ+ students would be honored for their achievements, was scheduled for 3 p.m. April 21 in the College of Business Horn Auditorium, according to an online registration form. Graduates who were planning to receive rainbow graduation cords will still be able to pick them up at the Cultural and Equity Center until May 9, according to an Instagram post from UofL's LGBT Center. Under House Bill 4, UofL and other Kentucky universities have until June 30 to eliminate DEI initiatives, defined as being "designed or implemented to promote or provide differential treatment or benefits to individuals on the basis of religion, race, sex, color or national origin." UofL President Gerry Bradley said last week the university would form work groups to review new policies for compliance. Implementation of the approved recommendations is set to begin by May 30. The Trump administration has also pushed schools to ban DEI programs or else risk losing federal funding. A four-page "Dear Colleague" letter sent by the U.S. Department of Education in February stated all public institutions had 14 days to stop "using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life." The University of Kentucky also canceled its Lavender Graduation, as well as the Harambe Unity Celebration Graduation honoring Black graduates and the First-Generation Student Pinning Ceremony, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported April 18. More: Ex-Louisville professor who sued school over transgender comments lands $1.6M settlement Reporters Killian Baarlaer and Krista Johnson contributed. Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@ or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: University of Louisville graduation ceremony for LGBTQ+ students canceled
