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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 18 APR

by Michael Monks 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
MAYOR ADDS #11 TO HIS 10-POINT ACTION PLAN
During a speech before the Latonia Business Association Wednesday afternoon, Covington Mayor Chuck Scheper freshened up his standard presentation of his 10-point action plan for the city by adding an eleventh point. The addition involves code enforcement and followed visits to approximately thirteen neighborhood associations and civic organization. I pledge to do more than what we've been doing," Scheper said of future efforts to combat blighted and neglected properties. "It's something we hear consistently from the neighborhoods."
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While most of the mayor's speech followed his familiar script, Wednesday's event at Twin Oaks golf course featured subdued celebration that multiple points on that 10-point plan have received check marks, including new union contracts and the elimination of Covington's 911 emergency dispatch center. "This has to become not just out plan, not the just the plan of a unified commission, but also the plan of the community," he said. "We're going to accomplish a lot before I get out of here as mayor."
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OTHER NOTES FROM THE LATONIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON: 
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Three candidates in Covington's 2012 elections were present and spoke briefly, including commission challengers Chuck Eilerman and Greg Paeth. Commissioner Steve Casper, who's running for mayor, also spoke. "It's rather daunting to think I'd be following in his shoes," Casper said of Scheper, "but we think alike and I've pledged what we've started this year will continue next year."
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The new Hometown Urgent Care that just opened on Winston Avenue in a former 5/3 bank location is offering a give-back program for Kenton County Schools students that get their annual physicals there with ten dollars will be given back to the school the students attends.
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It was a beautiful day at Twin Oaks for the luncheon...

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COVINGTON TO BROADEN, INCREASE HOUSING PROGRAM IN 2012-13
The popular housing programs offered by the City of Covington that include facade grants and down payment assistance will continue to bolster home ownership in its original targeted areas of the urban core and Latonia, but during the second half of the next fiscal year the program will broaden and be available across the city. 
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Community Development Director Jackson Kinney said Tuesday night at the City Commission meeting that while federal funding for the program will be less, the grants available to property owners and prospective home buyers would increase. A facade grant in 2011 was worth $2,500 but that amount not only doubles to $5,000 next year, it will also be available to multifamily homes on the condition that the owners match the grant. "In neighborhoods where we're trying to have an impact it doesn't matter if they are rental or owner occupied, they all have an impact on the quality of living," Kinney said. 
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The federal funding comes through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and two of its programs: HOME and CDBG. In addition to funding the housing programs, funds will go towards commercial rent subsidies, micro loans for small businesses, and and upper floor residential rehab work above retail spaces. Previously those programs were only available to spaces along Short Pike and Madison Avenue but will be expanded to spaces on Scott Boulevard from 8th Street to the river. 
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Priority 1 indicates where the housing program will be focused during the first six months of the 2012-13 fiscal year while priority 2 shows the other areas where the program will be available in the second half.
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BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM: 

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WEDNESDAY MORNING HEADLINES
A Covington swimming pool is to be shut down; New vehicle fees proposed to fund merged dispatch center; Plus, a full report from last night's no-hitter by a Holy Cross pitcher. Those stories and much more at the link!
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NO EARLY RELEASE FOR WOMAN CONVICTED OF COVINGTON MURDER, RAPE
A woman convicted in the 1987 kidnapping, rape, and murder of a woman (a crime that originated in Covington) will not be released early: 
The two-member panel rejected 58-year-old Brenda Humphrey's move for immediate release from prison after a quarter-century, after quizzing her for more than 30 minutes about the death of 36-year-old Debbie Pooley, an Ohio native who lived in Covington at the time. The decision means Humphrey, who was sentenced to life without parole for 25 years, will not be eligible for release until at least 2017.
The board cited the seriousness of the crime as well as Pooley's death as reasons for the decision after the hearing at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women in Pewee Valley. 
AP/Brett Barrouquere 
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FRANKFORT HEADLINES
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Kentucky jobless rate drops to 8.6% press release
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House passes roads budget, pill bill WFPL

Law enforcement rally for pill bill Herald-Leader 
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Attorney General Jack Conway speaks in favor of pill bill:


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SEE ALSO: Conway warns Kentuckians about phony invoice scam press release
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With passage of pill bill and roads budget, eyes turn back to Governor Beshear cn|2 
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TREY GRAYSON SAYS BESHEAR, SENATOR WILLIAMS EMBARRASS KENTUCKY: 
“I’ve heard a lot of folks saying, ‘David Williams has done a lot for the party, he’s done a lot of good things legislatively but it’s time to go,’” Grayson said. He noted that the public doesn’t have control over that — those decisions are made by legislators at the beginning of January in odd-numbered years.
When asked whether both legislative chambers need to pick new leaders, Grayson said, “I think they do.” 
More with video at the link. 
cn|2

SEE ALSO: Democratic Congressional candidate from Grant County, Bill Adkins, takes on the Tea Party and defends Medicare cn|2 
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QUICKIES

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Kentucky's community health centers rank near the bottom nationally Herald-Leader
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Five Guys opening 3 local locations, including Newport-on-the-Levee Business Courier 
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Global marijuana march in honor of Gatewood Galbraith WFPL
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High school senior shares story from hospital meeting with UK basketball's Darius Miller Herald-Leader 
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NKU journalism workshop gives local high school students the informatics experience NKU|
OHIO CITY DEVELOPING AN ARTS DISTRICT

They work in some places, but not everywhere...
IndeOnline 
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       GOOD LUCK HOLY CROSS BASEBALL!
The Indians take on NewCath tonight in the regional championship of in Class A action with the winner going to the state sectionals. Here's video from last night's no-hitter pitched by a Holy Cross junior: 

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DON'T FORGET TO SUPPORT 'KEEP COVINGTON BEAUTIFUL' TONIGHT DURING HAPPY HOUR AT THE PIKE STREET LOUNGE!

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