SATURDAY MAGAZINE

  The
  Saturday
  Magazine
  
  19 NOVEMBER 2012
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SAVE COVINGTON: SHOP LOCAL

Many lament the loss of a thriving business district within the City of Covington, but there are still many locally-owned, independent retailers who remain because they believe in this community. It is a great disservice to the new pioneers of the urban core and to those who have been there through good times and bad, to take one's money and spend it at a big-box national chain. Dollars spent at any store in Florence or any other indistinguishable suburb run over by large merchants do not stay in town. They are used to build products overseas and to hire Americans at poverty-level wages. Do you want to save Downtown Covington and our other business districts? Then spend all of your money this holiday season at locally-owned, independent retailers. Shop Covington! Shop Newport and the other River Cities! Shop Cincinnati's neighborhoods! Do not shop Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Lowe's or any other store that is bigger than most of NKY's towns. You may have to spend a few dollars more for products, but there is a reason for that. Do not let corporate entities squash our town and leave it in ruins. Target does not care about Covington, and neither do any of its big box cousins. Make the commitment now: shop local this holiday season and shop local always. That is how Covington and its urban neighbors thrive again.
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COVINGTON BUSINESSES AMONG
THOSE IN TODAY'S "CINCINNATI
UNCHAINED" SHOPPING EVENT
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BuyCincy.com: Every dollar you spend at a locally-owned business generates  approximately three times more economic activity than a dollar spent at  the typical “big-box.” By choosing to shop locally-owned for just one day, we can help support the local entrepreneurs in our own neighborhoods who help make Cincinnati unique.
Covington merchants participating today are all in Mainstrasse (6th & Main area):
Cock & Bull, The Enchanted Florist, Wertheim's, Groove Coffee House, Dee Felice, The Candy Bar, The Magic Shop, Zola Pub & Grill, Ottoman Imports, Cosmos Grille Pub, Lime, and MK's Totebags & Monogramming.
For a list of the specific specials and for other businesses around town, including Newport & Bellevue, check out the link here: Buy Cincy: Cincinnati Unchained.
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REMEMBER WHEN BLACK FRIDAY ACTUALLY
HAPPENED ON A FRIDAY?
In another move to show just how much they do not care about their employees or their communities, the large big-box, poverty-inducing, small business district-killing, chain stores are opening earlier than ever this year. But even though these shops fear negotiating with their employees (and therefor show anti-union videos upon hiring people), at least one employee has had enough and is standing up: Yahoo: Black Friday Backlash
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FACT: A recent retail diversity study of San Francisco and three Peninsula cities found that purchasing from locally owned stores created about 70% more local jobs, and 67% more overall local income, per dollar spent. The authors concluded that by shifting just 10% of purchases to local businesses, consumers would add nearly 1,300 new jobs and $200 million in economic activity to the cities studied.

For more facts like these: Buy Local Berkeley

REMEMBER, COVINGTON IS THIS REGION'S ORIGINAL  

           OUTDOOR SHOPPING MALL

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Want to know why Wal-Mart is in fact the devil a lot of people say? Click here.

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The recent presentations by the Denver-based company assigned with studying how to revitalize Covington's Central Business District included a remark that it is important to strengthen and then build upon the success of the Mainstrasse Village. For the record, there was never one mention of the need for a big-box retailer.

Get Your Christmas Tree in Mainstrasse too!

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IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOP OTHER LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND TOWNS TOO

Many local cities have been damaged by the big-box retailers who sell cheap goods from other countries (kept in poverty, by the way), so let's make sure to help revitalize communities on the river and across the river too and encourage them to return the favor!

OTR Gateway

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IN BRIEF...

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COMMONWEALTH OF KY URGES LOCAL GIFT PURCHASES

KY Arts press release

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NEWPORT CHRISTMAS TOUR SCHEDULE

Go 2 Newport

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EATING OUT FOR THANKSGIVING?

NKY River City options include Chez Nora in Covington and BB Riverboats & Mokka in Newport.

Cincinnati Enquirer 

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OH SNAP! PUMPKIN PIE WAR!

Frisch's and Busken are going at it:

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enquirer, courier-journal are big box national chains too, now (just so you know).

They are owned by a massive corporate entity called Gannett, and while the local journalists that are still employed do the best work in either town, their big bosses do not care about the communities. Take a look at what Louisville-blog The 'Ville Voice has to say about a "Shop Local" promotion being propped up by Gannett newspapers: The Ville Voice

Also, use cash when shopping local as often as possible. 

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PRESIDENT OBAMA NOT A FAN

OF NEW CLOTHING AD

The always-cutting edge United Colors of Benetton have launched a new campaign called, "unHate" featuring world leaders in moments of passion.

Image via

I guess you can see why? Check out the beautifully made video from Benetton to promote the new campaign (WARNING: sexually suggestive):

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HUMOR

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NEW LEGISLATION WOULD SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS, GIVE EACH STUDENT MONEY TO START SMALL BUSINESS.

The Onion

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SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR THE SUNDAY EDITION!

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY LUNCH

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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EXCLUSIVE

It appears that there was no study or planning done prior to the 2005 creation of Covington's Arts District. Now the current City staff is dealing with those mistakes. You won't see this story anywhere else. Click the link.

The RC News: Documents Indicate No Real Plan for Original Arts District

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FOUR INVOLVED IN MURDER AMONG THOSE IN KENTON COURT THIS WEEK

The "Ugly Mugs" from Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders's office this week include four people sentenced for their involvement in local murders. An interesting development appears in Sanders's newsletter about how Covington Police detectives were able to get the necessary information from suspect Samantha Mayse (accused in the murder of Shawn Davis):

Exhausted and at wits end with a lying suspect, Wietholter and McGuffey told Mayse she was going to jail and walked out of the interview. Detective Brian Kane, who had been a detective for less than a year at the time, asked the senior detectives if he could take a turn with Mayse. Kane calmly entered the interrogation room despite actually knowing very little about the details of the case. Kane made Mayse back up to the very beginning of her story then slowly and methodically went through it in painstaking detail. After an hour, Mayse started to get caught up in her own lies. Before long she began to crack and finally admitted being present when Davis was killed but denied any involvement in the crime. Before Kane was done, Mayse had admitted to luring Davis to the residence after meeting him on a phone chatline, and to being present in the room when Davis was attacked.

All the details from the investigation are included at the link (it's a must-read), along with all the other people sent before Kenton judges this week, and those who are still on the lam.
This Week in Kenton Circuit Court 
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BENGAL SPEAKS TO SCOTT HS, FOLLOWING DEATH OF COVINGTON TEEN
A Cincinnati Bengal spoke on the issue of bullying to an audience at Scott High School that also featured students from neighboring Woodland Middle School where 13-year old Sam Denham was a student before killing himself following bullying online and at school. Denham's parents were there too.
WLWT
SEE ALSO: Covington Commission Passes Anti-Bullying Resolution
SEE ALSO: Candlelight Vigil for Bullied Covington Teen
SEE ALSO: Commissioners Want Anti-Bullying Resolution
RELATED: Parents record student to capture bullying FOX 19
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SHOCK! DUKE ENERGY POLLUTES COVINGTON, GREATER CINCINNATI
The Cincinnati Business Courier identifies the region's top 12 biggest polluters, and would you be surprised to know that Duke Energy takes up multiple spots? Awful. And they've been an awful company for a century.
Cincinnati Business Courier
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STARBUCKS RAISING PRICES
But only in selected regions. Notice a hike in prices at Starbucks inside the NKY Convention Center?
SEE ALSO: Is there a coming scarcity of coffee? Oh Good God, I hope not. The Daily Beast
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DEAD ANIMALS, SICK KIDS. WHAT'S GOING ON AT THIS NKY FARM?
A very bizarre story from Channel 9's I-Team:

She’s talking about 5-year-old Aidan, a quiet boy who never said a word as he sat coloring at the kitchen table of their new home. Angie says he has selective mutism and an anxiety disorder, all developed after that day when, “He was playing and he just went down. He couldn’t hold his head up.”She says she rushed him to Children’s Hospital. Medical records she provided the I-Team show doctors ran a gamut of tests trying to find the cause.“They tested for drugs, botulism, anything over-the-counter," Johnson said. "Four days later he was able to walk and regain his coordination and (the doctors’) diagnosis? ‘Unknown.’”

Video & story at WCPO

Hat tip: NKY Spot

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ONE MORE CREEPY STORY FROM RURAL NKY

From Channel 12:

A teenager comes face to face with a rotting corpse swinging from a tree in Pendleton County. Fifteen years later,  no one knows how the dead man got there or who he is. The community is left with a lot of uncomfortable and unanswered questions.

Local 12
By the way, can you tell it's November Sweeps in local TV?
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST PIZZA
There's a really terrific news blog dedicated to Fort Thomas, called Fort Thomas Matters. They're on a quest to find the best pizza in Campbell County:

Add this to your daily read: Fort Thomas Matters
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CLOONEY WINS TOP HONORS AT PALM SPRINGS FESTIVAL
Don't you just love everything this NKY-native-made-good does?
FOX 19
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BRIGHTON CENTER SAVES TWO HOMES FROM FORECLOSURE!
According to their Facebook page.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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EXCLUSIVE

It appears that there was no study or planning done prior to the 2005 creation of Covington's Arts District. Now the current City staff is dealing with those mistakes. You won't see this story anywhere else. Click the link.

The RC News: Documents Indicate No Real Plan for Original Arts District

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COVINGTON MOTHER GUILTY IN BABY'S DEATH

Just an awful story.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah

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THREE CONVICTED IN COVINGTON MURDER SENTENCED THURSDAY

These people are awful human beings for what they did to Shawn Davis.

NKY Spot

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IF YOU MISSED...

The USS Nightmare is a huge eyesore for Covington's Botany Hills neighborhood. Turns out, that vessel (which is only used one month a year) is owned by the same company that owns the abandoned Mike Fink floating restaurant, which is an eyesore in Licking Riverside.

The River City News

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LET'S CELEBRATE THE GREAT SMOKEOUT WITH NEW STATS ON KY

We're still number one in smoking! 29% of Kentuckians smoke.

Gallup

SEE ALSO: The NKY Health Dept will host free Cooper-Clayton method seminars to help people quit smoking in 3 different local towns. Details to come.

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STATE PENSION FUND EVEN WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT

Woah:

The Kentucky Retirement Systems' pension fund that covers 115,000 state workers and retirees saw its funding level slump to 33 percent in 2011, down from 38 percent in 2010, creating an unfunded liability of $7.4 billion. Counting pension and health insurance obligations together, that fund looks even bleaker: Its funding level fell to 27 percent in 2011 from 30 percent in 2010.

Herald-Leader
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ANOTHER MODEST DROP IN KENTUCKY'S JOBLESS RATE
It fell from 9.7% to 9.6%. Good Lord.
Herald-Leader
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DIRECTION 2030 HOSTS SECOND MEETING ON KENTON'S FUTURE
You can check out photos from their Facebook page. Or, watch this video of "2 Different Persectives" about what Direction 2030 is doing:

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NKU STUDENTS SHOW OFF WORK FOR "EXPERIENCE COVINGTON"

"Originally designed to capitalize on the second largest number of historic structures in a single city in all of Kentucky, Experience Covington! helped Covingtonians express their pride in their city."
A new article from NKU's graduate programs brags about all the good being done by students from the Masters in Public History program.

NKU Grad Articles

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WHOA -- THE NATALIE WOOD MURDER CASE IS REOPENED?

NPR

DOCUMENTS INDICATE NO REAL PLAN FOR ORIGINAL ARTS DISTRICT

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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Documents obtained by The River City News show that there was no research or precedent used in creating Covington's Arts District in 2005. On August 24, Covington City Commission approved the rezoning of the Arts District back to Central Business District. The Kenton County Planning Commission was supposed to hear the issue last month, but that was postponed without further explanation from the Commission. Now it is revealed that City staff has discovered a number of issues with the current Arts District, including the facts that there was never any real study performed, there was no precedent established in other cities, and that the planning commission was never used in crafting the zoning for Arts District in 2005. 

From a memo dated May 4, 2011:

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY AFTERNOON

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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PUBLIC MEETING FOR FUTURE OF COVINGTON'S RIVERFRONT

The first week of December, the City of Covington will host a public input session regarding the riverfront. From the City's release: 

The Ohio Riverfront is important to Covington's future development, and we have an opportunity to shape what it will look like! Our neighbor to the north, Cincinnati, is making significant improvements to its riverfront, for public use/public recreational space, as well as for private developments like The Majestic Show Boat, the Montgomery Inn & Boathouse and the under-construction Christian Moerlein Lager House. At this Community Input Session, we will share how other communities have improved their riverfronts, what Covington's riverfront currently looks like, and how possible improvements can be made along the Ohio Riverfront.

The meeting is set for December 5 at 6:00PM inside Commission Chambers at City Hall.

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COVINGTON'S RIVERFRONT NIGHTMARE VIEW

From today's earlier post: Is it right that the USS Nightmare is a business boon for Newport for one month and an eyesore for Covington the other eleven months? Photos of the USS Nightmare being moved from Newport to Cincinnati, right in front of Covington's Botany Hills (The same company owns the Mike Fink, an abandoned former restaurant that sits in front of Covington's Licking Riverside Historic District) at the link.

The RC News: Thursday Morning

SEE ALSO: The Onion explains, hilariously, why owning a boat is not worth it. (The short ad that precedes the audio is also hilarious.) Click here.

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NO CONFERENCE YET FOR NKU

NKU's search for a home at the Division I level continues today following a rejection by the Ohio Valley Conference. The OVC is the Division I home three Kentucky university athletic programs, Murray State, Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. NKU's communication office tweets to The River City News, "Yes, we're very excited about the road ahead. Whichever league we end up in will want and get a strong new member." The Norse will continue discussions with the Summit Leage and the Atlantic Sun Conference. NKU President Dr. James Votruba said this in a statement:

We have been contacted by multiple Division I conferences that have stated a strong interest in adding NKU. Over the coming days and weeks, the university will continue to explore our options and determine which league makes the most sense for us.

Read the entire statement by Dr. Votruba here.
SEE ALSO: Somebody made a big oops at the NCAA office. Years of financial records were accidentally made public, and some downloaded them before they could be removed. Check it out at the link: Dead Spin
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ONE MORE REASON GATEWAY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT TO COVINGTON
We want more manufacturing jobs in this country and so do the manufacturers, incidently:

The demand for skilled labor in Northern Kentucky far exceeds the available pool of qualified workers, despite current economic conditions. This interactive discussion will focus on the new face of manufacturing in the region, including the education and career pathways that exist beyond high school to support this industry. 

NKU will host a forum Thursday, December 1 at 5:30PM (to 7:30PM). Click the link for details.
NKU 
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OK, ONE MORE NKU THING
Dr. Votruba spent some time reading to kids recently. Check out the pics here.
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TODAY IS THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT
For a message from President Obama on the day, click here. For a message from someone speaking of the day I imagined that this designation was for, click here.
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WELCOME HOUSE GETS PAINT JOB FROM GENEROUS COMPANY
Benjamin Moore painted Covington's The Welcome House as part of its plan to paint 50 shelters in 50 days project. Video at link.
Local 12
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JOIN DIRECTION 2030 TO DISCUSS KENTON COUNTY'S FUTURE

The next meeting is tonight at the Kenton County Agricultural Extension Office, 10990 Marshall Road, Covington at 6:30PM - 8:30PM. 

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DELTA SLAMMED OVER ANTI-VACCINATION AD ON AIRPLANES

Delta operates most flights out of CVG.

Business Courier

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DID YOU KNOW AUNT JEMIMAH WAS FROM KENTUCKY?

Then you probably didn't know that today is her birthday, either!

 

It's true:

According to Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia, today is the birthday of the first living trademark, Nancy Green. Green, born a slave in 1834 in Montgomery County, Ky., became known as Aunt Jemima and was one of the first black corporate models in the United States.

Herald-Leader

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EVER WONDER WHAT MAKES FANCY KETCHUP SO FANCY?

Of course you have.

Mental Floss

Hope you are having a great Thursday! - The RC News

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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A NIGHTMARE VIEW IN BOTANY HILLS/IS IT TIME TO TOW MIKE FINK?

The River City News has heard from multiple residents in Botany Hills that the Bernstein family's placement of the USS Nightmare across the river for the next year dampens the peaceful view of the western North Bank. Of course, residents of Licking Riverside have had their view obstructed by the abandoned Mike Fink Restaurant (which still claims to be closed for renovations and is owned by the same family, the Bernsteins). What? Is the Ohio River now a junkyard for their old boats? Our cars parked on the street this long would result in a ticket and then a tow. What do you think? Time to tow the Mike Fink?

PHOTOS FROM USS NIGHTMARE BEING MOVED:

The people who own the USS Nightmare & the Mike Fink also own & operate BB Riverboats, a fine local business that used to be in Covington but is now in Newport. Why let them operate a business in Newport while leaving their junkyard boat the Mike Fink in one of Covington's most frequently visited neighborhoods? Tow it!

REPORT SHOWS PROGRESS IN COVINGTON SCHOOLS

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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The Strive Partnership released its 4th annual report this week on progress in the school districts of Cincinnati, Covington and Newport. Strive is made up of school superintendents, college presidents, early childhood education advocates, community & business leaders, and service providers according to its website. To look at the way the data was collected and what Strive's goals are, read the full report here (PDF).

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Here are some highlights:

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• Covington has seen a 4% improvement in readiness for Kindergarten over last year. 67% are now deemed ready for Kindergarten (The district's goal is 85% by 2020). Newport is at 72% readiness and Cincinnati is at 53%.
• Covington experienced meaningful growth in 4th grade reading, 8th grade math, high school graduation rates.
• Covington saw a slight decrease in ACT scores but a large increase in college-bound students.
• Covington Partners in Prevention have established goals for the future: 75% of after-school programs needs secured by 2013; By 2015, Holmes High School will increase by 10% the number of students enrolling in college and will increase average ACT score by 2.5 points; By May 31, 2013, mentors will be available to every student that needs or wants one. 

Also, included in the report is information reported by The River City News in August: "Holmes High School's campus will be transformed into an early college high school with each of its 900+ students earning 15 college credit hours upon graduation. The school is being redesigned to follow a career-cluster models -- delivering curriculum around specific career industries to help students see a pathway for their future beyond high school. The turnaround program will focus on school and curriculum redesign, professional development for teaching and advising staff, development of industry-specific training programs, and strengthening hte partnership with the community and local technical college."

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READ THE ENTIRE REPORT: Strive Together: 2011 Partnership Report (PDF)

PHOTOS: EPA EXERCISE, TRAIN DERAILMENT IN LATONIA

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (Cincinnati office) practiced a scenario involving a train derailment in Latonia. The exercise happened at the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati at 315 W Southern Avenue. What a terrific, hidden gem in the city. Check it out ASAP: http://cincirailmuseum.org/

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PHOTOS:

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER OMNICARE STORY TO PISS YOU OFF

The Fortune-500 company that is moving out of its section-8, government-subsidized office space in RiverCenter won't let charges of more criminal activity slow down its effort to buy its nearest competitor. Keep in mind folks, this is a company that can no longer afford to pay rent in Kentucky, so it needed more corporate welfare from Ohio to keep going, yet in can spend hundreds of millions to buy PharMerica? Pay attention, folks.

Louisville Business First
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A TRAIN WILL DERAIL IN LATONIA TODAY
Do not forget that there will be a train derailment on Southern Avenue today. It is only a drill, but will be very realistic. Click the link for the story.
The RC News: A Train Will Derail in Latonia, But Don't Worry

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JOIN DIRECTION 2030 TO DISCUSS KENTON COUNTY'S FUTURE

The next meeting is Thursday evening at the Kenton County Agricultural Extension Office, 10990 Marshall Road, Covington at 6:30PM - 8:30PM. It may not be as fun as this video implies, but it's important nonetheless:

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CENTER FOR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS BANQUET TONIGHT

The Center for Great Neighborhoods celebrates 35 years of serving Covington. Their annual banquet is tonight from 5:30PM - 7:30PM at The Grand in Covington. You can read a countdown of 35 contributions the Center has made to the city by going over to their Facebook page.

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DID YOU KNOW UNION TERMINAL WAS ALMOST ON THE RIVERFRONT?

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DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE AND NOT FINISH? NKU IS HERE FOR YOU

If you earned 80 or more credits, it's even easier with Project Graduate. The Commonwealth of KY wants to double the number of college graduates in the state by 2020. Project Graduate at NKU helps. Click the link for more info.

NKU

THOUGH: If you've never gone to college, it's never too late for that either. Gateway College in Covington or NKU in Highland Heights. Get goin'!

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LOOK AT THE COOL THINGS STUDENTS AT NKU ARE DOING!

A group of them won a national computer programming prize. Remember when Commissioner Steve Frank hyped the new College of Informatics building, Griffin Hall, as possibly the place the next Steve Jobs may come out of? He may be right!

FOX 19

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STATE POLICE CRACK DOWN ON UNDERAGE DRINKING

The law enforcement agency awarded $300,000 in grants to reduce underage drinking, including funds for the documentary about the 1987 Carrollton Bus Crash (Google it). For the rest, click the link.

KSP

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AND SINCE IT'S UGLY OUT TODAY... WE'LL END WITH SOMETHING PRETTY...

...a view of Covington from the US Geological Survey. Watch the video. It's very beautiful and calming. -And then, get back to work! You're on the clock!