360 Fireworks Party

Thursday, May 3, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY MORNING 3 MAY

|
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
by Michael Monks 
|
PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN COVINGTON PARTIALLY REVEALED
The long-awaited Center City Action Plan which aims to revitalize Downtown Covington will be released to the public online today or tomorrow according to Jackson Kinney, the city's community development director. In this exclusive report, the plan would reconstitute the Urban Partnership as an umbrella organization funded in part by the city and staffed by 3 - 4 people. See all the details, including what roles would be played by many city organizations, at the link. 
|
BUSINESS LEADERS TO CONVENE FOR BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE PLANS
Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson will join representatives from Chambers of Commerce on both sides of the river on Monday afternoon to announce a path forward toward a new Brent Spence Bridge. The luncheon will take place at the Christian Moerlein Lager House in Downtown Cincinnati. A press release offers these statistics: 
  • The Brent Spence Bridge is our collective lifeblood to move goods, people and materials in and out of our region. 
  • Everyday, $1 billion worth of goods cross the bridge. 
  • For every month construction is delayed, the cost of the bridge increases by $8 million. 
  • The price tag of $2.5 to $3 billion to complete the project will generate $18.9 billion in regional benefits. 
The River City News will have it covered for you. 
MEANWHILE, THE WASHINGTON POST FACT-CHECKS REMARKS ABOUT THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE PROJECT MADE BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: 
As we said before, we understand the need for symbolism. But that does not give a president license to stretch the facts.
Calling out the Republicans at the Brent Spence bridge was bad enough, given the bipartisan support for its reconstruction. But pointing to the Sherman Milton Bridge, which already has been repaired without funding from the president’s jobs bill, is ridiculous.
Perhaps the president was using outdated talking points, but that’s little excuse. Given that the president earned Three Pinocchios before, we have little choice but to up the ante this time. 
More at the link (where the President scores four "Pinnochios" for his bridge remarks. 
Washington Post   
|
 |
LAWMAKER: MORE ROAD FUNDING FROM STATE SHOULD GO TO URBAN AREAS
A Kentucky state representative from Louisville says road project money is distributed disproportionately to non-urban areas: 
“It is absolutely very frustrating. This transportation formula has been around since the 1940s. It needs to be changed,” she said (2:15). “And it needs to be done on population centers. We have huge needs in Jefferson County. Fayette County has lots of roads that need to be repaired. And Northern Kentucky as well.” 
More with a video interview at the link. 
cn|2  
|
BUT WAIT! THERE'S STILL MORE... TROUBLE FOR RICHIE FARMER
The disgraced former Commissioner of Agriculture, the subject of a scathing state audit this week, has more trouble to deal with: 

Former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has failed to file an annual financial disclosure form covering his last year in office with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission. Farmer was the only Kentucky constitutional officer who did not meet an April 16 deadline to file the financial disclosure form for 2011. 
Herald-Leader/Jack Brammer  
|
SEE ALSO: State Auditor Adam Edelen, in a TV interview, says Kentucky should be very disappointed in Farmer cn|2 
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
QUICKIES
|
Newly formed Kentucky Tax Commission to pay consultant nearly $60,000 Herald-Leader 
|
Attorney and radio host Eric Deters fights for reinstatement of his law license Cincinnati Enquirer 
|
NKY health centers to offer free hepatitis-C testing WKRC 
|
The federal Affordable Care Act helps to expand health centers WFPL 
|
Kentucky is the 25th best state for business Business First 
|
Kentucky State Police taking part in multi-state campaign 84 WHAS 
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
FOLLOWING COVINGTON, CINCINNATI PASSES DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS
The goal on Tuesday night for the Covington City Commission when it passed domestic partner benefits for city employees was two-fold: to do the right thing and to beat Cincinnati. Covington got in just under the wire: 
The measure passed 8-1, with only Charlie Winburn opposing it. Councilman Chris Seelbach, the city’s first openly gay council member, promised to introduce the idea as one of his first priorities. Offering the health insurance is fair to same-sex couples, he says, but also will help the city attract employees if they don’t have to worry about providing insurance to their non-married partners. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jane Prendergast  
|
UPTECH SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR TO ANNOUNCE FIRST WINNERS TODAY

The small business incubator promises to bring important entrepreneurship to the river cities and Northern Kentucky and the first signs of that promise will be revealed this afternoon at the Hofbrahaus in Newport: 
A panel of national informatics, futurists, and business and investment experts from leading companies, such as CBS, Cisco, Dell, Procter & Gamble, SAP, Scripps, and Summus Software served as the contest judges. UpTech will invest up to $100,000 into each of the eight winning startup companies. In addition, the business accelerator will provide:

• Six months of free, premium riverfront office space in a Newport office building and with a view of the Cincinnati skyline.• Essential business support, including legal, accounting, and marketing services.• Support from faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and two student interns from Northern Kentucky University’s College of Informatics.• Use of on-campus informatics labs and facilities at NKU for collaboration, events, and seminars. 

|
in case you missed...
|
WEDNESDAY'S HEADLINES
Mayoral candidate Dara McDowell voices opposition to the newly passed domestic partner benefits; A KY man confronted with photo evidence of his sexual abuse of a horse threatens to kill father; Plus, the Congressional candidates debate the Brent Spence Bridge. Those stories and more at the link! 
The RC News: Wednesday Round-Up 
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
HOLMES MARCHING BAND IN LOUISVILLE'S PEGASUS PARADE TODAY
The kids were seen practicing last night by WLWT  
|
More from Covington Independent Public Schools
Students from Ninth District support the Red Cross click here 
|
Photos from the Holmes Middle School honor roll breakfast click here 
|
DESTINATION: GRADUATION PROFILE
Meet Caeza Reynolds. From CIPS: 
Caeza Reynolds already has 12 college units completed – a semester’s worth of college credit. The 19-year old took dual credit classes that Holmes High School offers through a partnership with Gateway Career and Technical College.

“Taking dual credit classes has saved me time and money,” Caeza said. “It’s allowed me to get some college out of the way and given me a head start on life.” 
More of Caeza's story here
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
NKY SUPER PAC INVOLVED IN CONGRESSIONAL RACE DRAWS CRITICISM
A Super PAC called AmeriGOP is supporting Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie in his bid to win the Republican primary in NKY's Congressional race: 
“I’ll say this all this news about Massie’s relationship with a Super PAC not only violates his own promise to avoid politics as usual but it’s not even really a Super PAC,” says Moore’s campaign manager Jonathan Duke. “It’s just two guys that want to literally give Thomas Massie more money than the law allows. And with Massie’s full knowledge and encouragement, they found a loophole to do just that.”  
WFPL   
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
MORE QUICKIES
|
Kentucky courts to close for three days WFPL 
|
Judge fines Kroger over pricing, inaccurate labels Business Courier 
|
New book is critical of the development happening in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood CityBeat 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
COURT SAYS IT'S OK TO CARRY GUNS IN CARS ON KY COLLEGE CAMPUSES
Reporter Joe Webb tells the story from Northern Kentucky University: 
Campus police are concerned where this may be headed. No matter who you ask, guns are not a serious issue on the NKU campus. But, last week some off-campus visitors who came to a dance were asked to leave after a gun was found in their car. "I think we're disappointed with the decision. We really strive to have a safe environment here. I think the easiest way to do that is restricting guns in their entirety from campus." 
Video at the link. 
WKRC  
|
PHOTOS: NKU STUDENT UNION OFFICIALLY NAMED FOR THE VOTRUBAS
Outgoing NKU President Dr. James Votruba and his wife, Rachel, were part of another emotional stop on their farewell events list as the school's student union was officially named in their honor. The River City News was there: 






Think NKU loves the Votrubas? You're more right than you can imagine. 
|
RELATED: NKU is not a good shortcut option on Sunday Cincinnati Enquirer 
|
RELATED: Gateway College, Thomas More reach transfer agreement Cincinnati Enquirer  

MAINSTRASSE TO HOST WORLD CHOIR GAMES CONCERT
This is great news: 
It's official, MainStrasse Village Association's application was selected to host a World Choir Games Friendship Concert in The Village! Sunday, July 8th, 2012, 4:00 p.m. More details to follow! 
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
SPORTS
|
The draws are made and the odds are listed for Saturday's Kentucky Derby Herald-Leader 
|
Casino cash fuels use of injured horses in racing The New York Times 
|
UK basketball star Anthony Davis is a candidate for the US Olympic team Herald-Leader 
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
in case you were wondering...
|
KENTUCKY WILL SOON HAVE A PENITENTIARY MUSEUM!
From a press release: 
The Kentucky State Penitentiary is proud to announce the completion of the penitentiary’s new museum. The public is invited to attend the grand opening ceremonies on Friday, May 11, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. CST. If you ever wanted a glimpse into the Castle on the Cumberland (Kentucky State Penitentiary), now is your opportunity. You will be able to travel through time from the construction of the prison to a live virtual tour of present time. You will then be given the opportunity to purchase a little piece of history from the museum gift shop. Following the grand opening, the museum will be open to the public by appointment at (270) 388-2211 ext. 302. 
You're calling right now, aren't you?

No comments:

Post a Comment