360 Fireworks Party

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 29 FEB

by Michael Monks 
|   
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
|
MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL ERECTED TO HONOR HAWK, SQUIRREL
Ah, Covington. You are one crazy, irresistible town:

Thanks to Mike Grabiel and Connie Kohlman for the photos and the laugh. In case you were the one that missed Tuesday's story about a hawk, a squirrel, and an unforgiving power line, click the link.
|
COVINGTON, HOME CONSORTIUM HOLD PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT
In an effort to identify needs and priorities, the City of Covington and the NKY Home Consortium will have a public hearing tonight at 6:00PM inside Commission Chambers at City Hall:
This Public Hearing is being held to assist the City of Covington and the Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium in the preparation of the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for housing and community development programs. These Plans are an integrated approach that incorporates planning, application and reporting requirements for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City of Covington is an entitlement city for the Community Development Block Grant program, and a participating jurisdiction for the HOME Program. As the participating jurisdiction, Covington serves as the lead entity for the Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium, which includes the cities of Covington, Ludlow, Newport, Bellevue, and Dayton. 

EXECUTION DISCUSSION TONIGHT AT COVINGTON CHURCH
The September 2011 execution of convicted cop killer Troy Davis caused much debate as former witnesses retracted their stories. Davis always maintained his innocence. Tonight at 6:00PM at 9th Street Baptist Church in Covington in a presentation titled "Making Our Voices Heard", three academics will lead a discussion based upon their research in the case. 
Troy Davis
COVINGTON'S URBAN PARTNERSHIP FEATURED IN INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
From the Covington Business Council and the Urban Partnership: 
The Urban Partnership of Covington was saluted in an international trade industry publication dedicated to the revitalization of urban centers. IDAdvantage is the weekly online newsletter of the International Downtown Association, a champion forvital and livable cities that strives to inform, influence and inspire downtown leaders and advocates. The newsletter featured UP in its February 9th, 2012 online addition. IDA President & Chief Executive Officer David Downey CAE says UP deserves the recognition:

” IDA provides expertise and guidance to executives dealing with the myriad of issues their organizations face. But of equal value to our members is their ability to simply share best practices with peers. The membership spotlight provides that and we salute the city of Covington for its innovative efforts at creating a more livable environment in their downtown."
The Covington Business Council, which oversees the Urban Partnership, has also added two new members to its Board of Directors for 3-year terms: Mark Calitri, sales director at the Holiday Inn Riverfront, and Bob Berendsen, owner of Berendsen & Associates. 
|
HOLMES BASKETBALL STAR IS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
From the Covington Independent Public Schools:
Congratulations to Holmes HIgh School basketball player Dontel Rice, who has been named "Player of the Year" by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
This guy is good. I never get tired of watching this sweet dunk from a few weeks back:



|

TWO ANALYSTS PICK HOLMES AS #2 SEED IN 9TH REGION TOURNAMENT
It looks as though Holmes's first-round game against Boone County tomorrow night in the first round of the 9th Region tournament could be among the toughest. Click the link for analysis from two die-hard high school basketball fans, each of whom pick the Bulldogs as the #2 team in the tournament.
NKY Sports Blog 
|

GAMBLING FAILURE STRENGTHENS IS SUPPORTERS, SAYS GOV. BESHEAR
That's one way to cope: 
“I think if anything it strengthens the coalition because they’ve become more determined to get the job done,” he says.
(snip)
“We now have been able to do that, we know who’s for it, who’s against it and I think we also know the votes we can work on and so actually this was a step forward. This is a good omen,” he says. 
WFPL/Kenny Colston 
|
FRANKFORT QUICKIES...
|
House passes Amish Buggy bill Bluegrass Politics
|
Alternative diploma bill (for special needs) passes WFPL 
|
Bill would increase penalties for makers & users of synthetic drugs WFPL 
|
Kentucky bill may hang up land line phone service Courier-Journal 
|
Bill would regulate middle school athletics just like high school Herald-Leader  
|
PRESIDENT TELLS GOVERNORS TO STOP CUTTING EDUCATION FUNDING
The nation's governor met with the President and got a little bit of a tongue-lashin':
"Nothing more clearly signals what you value as a state as the decisions you make about where to invest," Obama told the governors, according to a statement. "Budgets are about choices, so today I'm calling on you to choose to invest more in teachers, invest more in education, and invest more in our children and their future." 
Education Week 
|
EX-KENTON JUDGE-EXEC MURGATROY GETS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
From Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at NKU: 
The Eta Rho Chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Northern Kentucky University presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dick Murgatroyd last Friday during the Founder's Day celebration of the chapter's 40th anniversary.
Murgatroyd initiated into the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity over 50 years ago while attending The Ohio State University and has devoted his time back to the Eta Rho Chapter ever since he helped the colonization in 1972.

Matt Bodner, current president of the Eta Rho chapter, said he was thrilled to present the award to someone he considers a personal role model and mentor. "Dick Murgatroyd is someone that everyone can look up to," Bodner said. "Dick exemplifies what it means to be a true Pike and has been a great influence on all of our members, both in terms of our personal lives and professional careers." 
|
UPTECH LEADER DISCUSSES POTENTIAL IMPACT ON COMMUNITY
Adam Caswell of UpTech, the business start-up accelerator based at NKU, is interviewed in the podcast that you will find at the link. 
UpTech  
|
OCCUPY LOUISVILLE TO PROTEST AT CARDINALS BASKETBALL GAME
And Coach Rick Pitino is not thrilled with the idea:
Chris Harrell, an attorney for the protest movement, told Occupy members during their bi-weekly organizational meeting Tuesday night that police officials have offered them a designated area on the main plaza, just outside the arena’s front entrance, to stand and protest when the protesters rally from 4-7 p.m.
(snip)
“I don’t think that from a political standpoint … that a college basketball game is where you should demonstrate anything,” Pitino said. “It just doesn’t make any sense. (But) I respect all people and everybody’s right to do whatever they want to do, as long as it’s civil.” 
More with video at the link. 
Courier-Journal/Dan Klepal  
|
TOBACCO FARMERS CONCERNED ABOUT PACIFIC TRADE DEAL
This would be bad for Kentucky's crop:

Southern tobacco farmers fear that they could lose a significant portion of their export business if health advocates win a battle to carve tobacco out of a major trade agreement that's being negotiated with eight countries on the Pacific Rim. 
McClatchy/Franco Ordoez 
|
BEWARE THE GREEN DOT MONEY SCAM
Instead of using Western-Union, crooks have moved on to the pre-paid green dot cards: 
"The suspects are taking advantage usually of elderly people and convincing them that they are winning the lottery. They are winning a brand new Mercedes and they're gonna deliver that Mercedes, but what they need to do first is to go specifically go to a store and purchase this certain amount of Green Dot money card and then give them that number," says Lexington Police Sergeant Jody Stowers.
|
DIPPIN DOTS USED TO BE PROUD OF BEING FROZEN
But that was before the "frozen" referred to its credit:
The company is running out of money because the bank that had been its main source of funding is refusing to loan Dippin' Dots more money until CEO Curt Jones is ousted. Alabama-based Regions Bank says it wants a judge to appoint a third-party trustee to run the company instead of Jones. 
Will "the ice cream of the future" soon be a thing of the past?
MSNBC 
|
FT THOMAS: BOUTIQUE CLOSES, JO DEE MESSINA COMING TO TOWN
Check out the latest headlines from Fort Thomas by clicking over to Fort Thomas Matters
|
CINCINNATI'S NORTHSIDE COULD BECOME ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
Will it be a rival to Mainstrasse? 
With the approval of the entire City Council, Wednesday, Northside will be Cincinnati's latest Community Entertainment District. The seven members of the Livable Communities committee approved the designation, Tuesday. 
700 WLW 
|
SEE ALSO: Some more big time acts added to Cincinnati's inaugural Bunbury Festival CityBeat 
|

                HAPPY LEAP DAY!
Did you know that tradition has it that women are expected to propose marriage to men when February 29 rolls around every four years? It's true! Or, was true, anyway. Mental Floss


Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/28/2087876/tobacco-farmers-are-concerned.html#storylink=rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#storylink=cpy

1 comment:

  1. The River City News has been a tremendous success story and continues to provide value to the Greater Cincinnati news scene, said Mark Calitri, president, Visit Owensboro

    ReplyDelete