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Monday, April 30, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY AFTERNOON 30 APR

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
by Michael Monks 
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TEEN MURDER SUSPECT TO PLEAD GUILTY
He is one of the youngest people ever to face a murder charge in Kenton County and Tromonte Rice, 15, is expected to plead guilty today to killing 16-year old Dre'Shawn Hammond: 
Hammond’s grandmother, Brenda McFall, didn’t attend the hearing, but when reached by telephone, said prosecutors have kept her abreast of the details. She said Rice will plead guilty to manslaughter and robbery in exchange for prosecutors recommending a sentence of 15 years to 20 years.
Rice will also have to testify against co-defendant Mikael R. Crumes, 17, also of Covington, said lawyer Rick Scott, who is assisting lawyer Brad Fox in defending Crumes. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah  
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MAN ACCUSED IN FATAL COVINGTON CRASH FACES MORE TRAFFIC CHARGES
Already facing two counts of reckless homicide charges, Richard Michael Beers, 20, of Independence, was pulled over again last month: 
Beers’ headlights were “miss-aimed to blind oncoming traffic,” according to the report. The officer then discovered that Beers was not wearing a seat belt and did not have his driver’s license with him.
(snip)
Beers has now been pulled over 14 times in five years. 
The reckless homicide charges were brought following a fatal crash on 3-L Highway near Richardson Road. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly  
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INVESTIGATION: CVG AIRPORT IS A HUB FOR INTERNATIONAL SMUGGLERS
WCPO's I-Team will present its investigation into smuggling at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport during its 6 o'clock news tonight: 
Customs officers are intercepting drugs every night. In the last six months, they've seized more than 1 ton of illegal narcotics in Northern Kentucky. Here are the numbers on what they've found:Cocaine - 90 poundsHeroin - 176 poundsMethamphetamines - 61 poundsMarijuana - 516 poundsSynthetic narcotics - 593 poundsOpium - 626 pounds 
WCPO  
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SCATHING AUDIT REVEALS MANY IMPROPRIETIES BY RICHIE FARMER
Twenty years ago Richie Farmer solidified his standing as an "unforgettable" Kentuckian as part of the 1992 UK men's basketball team that lost in the NCAA East Regional Finals to eventual champion Duke in what many call the greatest college basketball game ever played. That team's trip to the tournament ended several years of dark clouds over UK's program that included a losing season, the firing of head coach Eddie Sutton, and a ban from post-season play. Now, Richie Farmer has brought some dark clouds of his own over the Commonwealth as revealed today by Kentucky Auditor Adam Edelen that detailed many improprieties in the Department of Agriculture during Farmer's two terms as commissioner: 

In addition to the basketball court, Edelen said Farmer had state employees take him hunting and shopping, mow his yard and chauffeur his dog — all while on state time.
"He showered himself with gifts and office equipment and rewarded friends with jobs," Edelen said. "These are just some of the documented abuses that should outrage every Kentuckian." 
Herald-Leader/Janet Patton
It is a damning audit full of details that will disappoint Farmer's former fans. It was just six months ago that Farmer could have been elected the state's Lieutenant Governor, running with Senate President David Williams in a bid to unseat Governor Steve Beshear. 
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READ THE FULL AUDIT: Click Here 
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Meanwhile, Farmer's attorney responds: 
“My response is I think in a lot of ways we’re going to find that the audit itself is a very political and self-serving audit. It’s pretty much what we expected,” True said in his Frankfort office. 
WFPL 
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REP. DAVIS: FRANKFORT DROPPED THE BALL ON BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE
In his weekly column, NKY's United States Representative Geoff Davis expressed his frustration with delays in Frankfort in regards to the Brent Spence Bridge project: 
Lawmakers in Frankfort just concluded work on Kentucky’s transportation budget and Road Plan for the next two years. Unfortunately, they failed to prioritize sufficient funds to keep the Brent Spence Bridge project moving forward without delay.
Many may rightfully wonder why a bridge carrying an interstate highway across the Ohio River is an issue for Kentucky’s General Assembly. Kentucky’s Road Plan for the next two years determines which projects will get funding. This transportation budget spends $4.5 billion — including about $2.4 billion in federal funds — to pay for the projects detailed in the Road Plan. These dollars are the primary funding source for a project like the Brent Spence Bridge.
I support quick passage of a fiscally responsible, long-term federal highway bill. However, due to the congressional ban on earmarking, State governments will decide what projects are funded by the money provided in the federal bill.
Simply put, the ball is in Frankfort’s court. And while replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge is one the Commonwealth’s most pressing transportation needs, the General Assembly and the Governor have adopted a strategy of delay.
Absent from the tumultuous debate over the recently passed two-year Road Plan (HB 267) was a modest allocation of additional funds to keep the Brent Spence project on schedule. Governor Beshear’s budget request for fiscal years 2012-2013 for the project was $43.78 million, which was $24.22 million short of the $68 million needed by this July. 
Read the full column here. 
DO WEALTHY SCHOOL DISTRICTS PERFORM BETTER?
The Cincinnati Business Courier is not sure: 
Readers perusing this week’s “Wealthiest Tri-State School Districts” list won’t see any clear answers. The perennial No. 1-ranked Indian Hill Exempt Village school district, for example, has an assessed per-pupil property valuation of more than $1.8 million, way ahead of No. 2 district Sycamore Community City at $940,000. Indian Hill also pays the highest average teacher salary, at about $74,500. And it spends the second-highest amount per student, at $15,207, just behind third-placer Princeton City Schools’ $15,269. 
Business Courier  
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QUICKIES
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Cincinnati dumps Duke Energy Huffington Post
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Sen. Mitch McConnell bulldozing any possible primary opponent WFPL 
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Beshear announces 600 new jobs in Louisville as Cafe Press moves its headquarters there press release 
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Kentucky extends concussion training for coaches to middle school level WFPL 
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Lexington Fire Department's hiring practices under federal investigation Herald-Leader
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Ohio lags Kentucky, other neighbors in tourism dollars Columbus Dispatch 
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NKU's Griffin Hall (home of the much lauded College of Informatics) is honored for its technology press release 
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After years of work, ambassadors in Over-the-Rhine are a reality Urban Cincy
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Husband of Ben-Gal cheerleader that is accused of sex with teen student will appear on Inside Edition tonight Cincinnati Enquirer
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SAME-SEX INSURANCE COVERAGE COULD COST CITY $543,000
The city is Cincinnati, however: 
Offering medical, dental and vision to city employees and their same-sex partners could cost about $348,000 if 44 partners took part in the insurance plan, or up to $543,000 if 77 did. Those are just estimates based on guesses about how many people might enroll and about how many would enroll children also. 
Covington City Commissioners Shawn Masters and Steve Frank said last fall during a gay pride celebration that Covington would also offer same-sex benefits. Not much has been made of that pledge since. 
Cincinnati Enquirer

MONDAY MORNING HEADLINES
Did you miss this morning's report? A Covington City Commissioner appointed to area youth board to help combat school bullying; Retired Covington Police officer reflects on Erpenbeck scandal; Plus, is the UK-Indiana basketball rivalry really coming to an end? More Covington News Than Any Other Source at the link! 
The RC News: Monday Morning Round-Up 
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CONGRATULATIONS TO HOLMES STAR DONTEL RICE!
The standout basketball player has committed to play college ball at Gulf Coast Community College in Florida according to NKY Sports Blog which quotes Enquirer contributor Richard Skinner's Twitter feed:
At 6-5, Rice’s game is currently that of a combo-forward. He has tremendous bounce and athleticism that he uses to finish at the rim and rebound. He lacks the true size and back to the basket game to be a post player though, but his skill level has continued to improve over the last two years. He may very well end up becoming more of a wing, as his skills continue to improve, which will elevate his stock as a college recruit by the time he’s finished with his associate’s degree.
NKY Sports Blog
This video of a Rice dunk from this past season never gets old: 

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/30/2169892/auditor-details-spending-by-richie.html#storylink=cpy

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