360 Fireworks Party

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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THE GREAT BANANA SPLIT OF 2011:
        CHIQUITA LEAVES CINCINNATI
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CHIQUITA CEO THANKS CINCINNATI
This morning, Fernando Aquirre is all over Twitter thanking Charlotte, but he last night he did offer thanks to the Queen City, which just didn't have enough millions of dollars worth of welfare checks to throw at the banana company:
"After an extensive review of our capabilities and needs, we are confident that Charlotte is the optimal location for our business and that our decision to relocate is in the long-term best interest of our company, customers, employees and shareholders," said Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement. "I want to thank the citizens of Cincinnati," Aguirre said when he was introduced in Charlotte. "They have treated us extremely well."
Race to the bottom economics.
Cincinnati Enquirer 
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COVINGTON IS STILL THE BIGGEST LOSER IN ALL THIS


Cincinnati will still have a net gain of jobs after the three large companies receiving welfare checks (Omnicare, Nielsen and Chiquita) settle down. Nielsen is moving from Madison Place to the Chiquita building, but remember, the marketing research company was throwing a hissy fit that they would not move unless they could get their pretty name on the building. It used to say only Chiquita. I don't think that's a problem anymore:
"We're very confident that we have a leasing program in place to re-lease a substantial portion of the space within a reasonable amount of time," said Chuck Male, vice president with the downtown office of CB Richard Ellis and the leasing agent for the Chiquita Center. A final deal with Nielsen could close before the end of the year. "Negotiations are on track with Nielsen to complete a transaction at The Chiquita Center within the next few weeks," Male said.
MEANWHILE, SMALL BUSINESSES COULD BE HELPED BY PAYROLL TAX CUT
If government leaders ever turn their attention away from the corporate welfare queens, maybe small business owners could get some of the nurturing they deserve:
The bill’s payroll tax cut would not only boost workers’ paychecks by hundreds of dollars or more in 2012 but also cut the taxes of every small business.  Employers would receive a tax holiday on fully half of their 2012 Social Security taxes on the first $5 million in payroll.  If employers create jobs, they would pay no Social Security taxes on the first $50 million inincreased taxable payroll.
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SOUTHGATE HOUSE WAS JUST KIDDING ABOUT CLOSING?
What a strange story. It's all just a big family feud:
The historic building at 34 E. Third St. in Newport had been owned by Ross Raleigh, who runs the day-to-day business of the club; his sister, Armina "Mina" Lee, who also owns the Brass Ass adult club in Newport; her husband, Roger Petersen; and another sister, Nancy Young. But a recently settled legal battle between the siblings has put the majority ownership of the club in the hands of Lee and Petersen, who spoke to The Enquirer from their Newport home Tuesday.
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DISCOVER COVINGTON: The Mad Hatter may be closed but a new venue may be on the way. Rumor has it a new venue will open in its place in January! Stay tuned!
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ENQUIRER STAFF FORCED TO TAKE MORE FURLOUGHS
It's ridiculous. Good journalists lose out while Gannet, the Enquirer's parent company, pays its executive a six-figure bonus:
But the latest round is certain to renew anger over multimillion-dollar bonuses to Dickey and other top executives in recent years, awards that have eaten into the furlough savings and drawn sharp criticism in the national press.
Dickey, for example, got paid $3.4 million last year, including a $600,000 cash bonus. His total compensation jumped from $1.9 million in 2009.
Then, last month, CEO Craig Dubow resigned for medical reasons, taking with him a retirement and disability payout estimated at $37.1 million.
But the Occupiers are the ones playing class warfare? Right...
Gannett Blog
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DELTA ADDING FLIGHTS AT CVG
But for Chiquita, the flights are too late (or delayed, if you will). Worst. Airline. Ever.
CVG
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HERMAN CAIN'S LATEST CONTROVERSY STARTED IN KENTUCKY
The Cain Train rolls into our region today before it finally derails for good. Yesterday, Cain announced that he was reassessing whether to stay in the race for the GOP Presidential nomination. The former restaurant executive and lobbyist is accused of sexually harassing a couple ladies, but the latest lady to come forward says she and the Cain Train started their 13-year long affair where most people fall in love for the first time: Louisville.

"It was pretty simple," White told the station. "It wasn't complicated. I was aware that he was married. And I was also aware that I was involved in a very inappropriate situation, relationship."
She said they met in the late 1990s when Cain, as president of the National Restaurant Association, was making a presentation in Louisville, Ky. He later would fly her to cities where he was speaking and give her gifts, she told the TV station.
"He made it very intriguing. It was fun," White said. "It was something that took me away from my sort of humdrum life at the time, and it was exciting."

They met in the late 1990s, huh? I wonder if it was 1-9-9-9?
FOX News
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GROUNDBREAKING FOR 'MAKE COVINGTON HOME'
A new home will be showed off to showcase the work of our neighborhood stabilization program. The River City News will be there, but here's a nice preview from Local 12 with video.
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PACKED MEETING IN COVINGTON FOR CINCINNATI'S POST OFFICE
The Dalton Street Post Office processing center faces closure. That led to a full meeting at the NKY Convention Center:
The local union says the money problems come from a mandate to overfund health and retirement benefits and big discounts given to big businesses who mail large amounts. Local employees would be relocated. 1200 full time jobs are affected. And service would change for all customers. Right now, the postal service commits to deliver first class mail on 1-3 days. Because of consolidation, first class mail would then be deliver in 2-3 days. Trucks would only roll out of processing centers when full. Union leaders say its a raw deal for customers. "You'd be paying first class rates still in Cincinnati but 2.1 million people would be getting third class service."
1,200 jobs? Maybe Chiquita, Omnicare and Nielsen's moves are not a net gain for Cincinnati. Video at the link.
Local 12
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LETTER TO SANTA MUST BE MAILED FROM KENTON CO BY DECEMBER 5
Drop of some non-perishables along with your child's letter at the Kenton County Public Library:

Letters must be mailed to Santa by December 5 to give him time to write a return letter and allow time for the post office to deliver it. Because each child at the same address will receive a different letter from Santa, your letters to Santa must include full names and home addresses so that each child will receive his or her letter at home.
Each of the Kenton County Public Library will be accepting letters. The libraries are located at 502 Scott Blvd. in Covington, KY 41011; at 1992 Walton-Nicholson Rd. in Independence, KY 41051; and at 401 Kenton Lands Rd. in Erlanger, KY 41018. 
FOX 19

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PHOTOS FROM CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IN MAINSTRASSE
With appearances by Santa, a couple city commissioners, Holmes choral students and lots of your neighbors:











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