Norman Seawright III

In its 35th year, Thunder Over Louisville marks the beginning of the Kentucky Derby Festival, and the 2024 theme is "Celebrating Derby 150." The challenge is to make a landmark event memorable every year, which doesn't always mean "bigger and better." As Thunder's producer, Wayne Hettinger faces that tall task annually. "The answer for me is to make myself surrounded with people that I have with me," Hettinger says.

Using the $90 million Derby City Gaming as both backdrop and example, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg spoke about plans to draw residents, visitors and businesses downtown. "What happens downtown helps improve the lives of people from all across our city and all across our state," he said.

Louisville Metro Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins needed to get a new driver's license after her old one was stolen, so she had her legislative assistant schedule an appointment at the Nia Center Driver's License Branch in the Parkland neighborhood. "I walked in—and my appointment was at 9:45 [a.m.]—to witness at least 50-60 people in line," Hawkins said. "I said, 'This cannot be life.'" For customers waiting at the branch on Monday, this is indeed what life is like.