NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY EVENING 9 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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COVINGTON ROAD PROJECTS GET FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH OKI

The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) today announced $85 million in federal funding to support 33 area road projects including two in Covington:

The funds were allocated through three federal programs: the Surface Transportation Program  (STP), Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) and Surface Transportation Program for  Northern Kentucky (SNK). Funding was exclusive to Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio and Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties in Kentucky.

(snip)
“These projects play an important role in revitalizing our region and enhancing the quality of life for our citizens,” said OKI Executive Director Mark Policinski. “OKI continues to  move projects  forward to help relieve stress from our congested roadways and provide transportation options to  save citizens time and money, attract commerce and improve our environment.” 

Covington projects on the list include:

• $441,000 for the Caroline Underpass reconstruction from 34th Street to 26th Street in Latonia
• $631,000 for Latonia Avenue construction from Madison Avenue to Southern Avenue and Southern Avenue to Latonia Avenue up to Grace
• $1.2 million to replace 4 TANK buses with bike racks, security cameras, and wheelchair lifts

Other NKY projects include improvements to Carothers Road in Newport. For the full list and information: OKI  

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KENTUCKY RANKS FIRST IN TOXIC AIR POLLUTION FROM POWER PLANTS

A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Fund shines an unflattering light on the Commonwealth's air:

Maybe I’ve been watching way too much TV from London over the last few days, but it occurs to me that if they held a power plant pollution Olympics and states “won” medals for being home to the most toxic emissions, the gold, silver and bronze would go to Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Source: NRDC Switchboard
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More:

This year's analysis also found that toxic pollution declined by 19 percent compared to 2009 levels, which includes a 4 percent decrease in mercury emissions. In part, the reduction is due to some power companies' decision to invest in pollution controls before the standards come into effect, in essence getting a head start on the reductions. The EPA estimates that these reductions will prevent as many as 11,000 premature deaths; 130,000 asthma attacks; 5,700 hospital visits; 4,700 heart attacks; and 2,800 cases of chronic bronchitis annually. The public health improvements will save between $37 billion and $90 billion in health costs, and prevent up to 540,000 missed work or "sick" days each year.

Full story with link to full report: NRDC
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Analysis:

Even though 92 percent of Kentucky’s power comes from burning coal, the 92 percent of elected Kentucky public servants are dead set on keeping that number right where it is. 

Why? Because the mining and burning of coal is totally safe, of course. No water contamination, no asthma, no cancer. You just flip that switch in the room and the lights come on, thanks to the coal industry — which you may never question, ever, or else you hate people from Appalachia. Our governor and legislature have things totally under control, so don’t worry about it.

Full story: LEO Weekly
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KENTUCKY CORPORATION'S HEALTH CARE STANCE GOES NATIONAL
Politicos across the country are debating comments made by the CEO of Kentucky-based Papa John's Pizza, but no one had more fun with it than late night satirist-in-chief Stephen Colbert:

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Meanwhile... Bluegrass Politics reports via Twitter: "David Adams of Tea Party: Aug. 21 Frankfort rally also will urge folks to buy Papa John's, whose owner said Obamacare will hike pizza prices." So, after a week of arguing over chicken sandwiches, our new foodie wedge issue is pizza. It's gonna be a long three months, isn't it?

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WHOOPING COUGH CASES INCREASE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY

The Northern Kentucky Health Department sent out this news via Twitter:

3 more cases of whooping cough in NKY this week. Total for year is up to 82. Age ranges from 3 weeks to 67 years old.

For info on how to prevent and treat whooping cough, also known as pertussis, click here.
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QUICKIES
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CVG, Delta improve on-time scores Business Courier 
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Support for Democrat Bill Adkins in special election urged by State Party Chairman press release 
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KY Republicans organize campaign around Democratic State House Speaker Greg Stumbo's support for President Obama WFPL 
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KY Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer to advise Mitt Romney on agriculture issues WFPL 
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Coal miners union not wild about Obama or Romney WFPL 
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It may take years for eastern Kentucky schools to recover from tornadoes Kentucky Forward 
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Kentucky Historical Society to display Civil War artifacts at state fair press release 
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Attorney General Jack Conway schedules events to warn seniors of scams press release 
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DON'T MISS THURSDAY MORNING'S NEWS
How are the candidates for office in Covington doing on the fundraising front?; The School Board will take up the issue of taxes at today's meeting; A local food truck is already expanding its services; Plus, a look at what to do in Covington this weekend! Click it.
The RC News: Thursday Morning Round-Up 
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LOUISVILLE MAN SETS TOILET ON FIRE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS
So, this happened:

A 36-year-old Louisville man was arrested Saturday morning after police said he set a toilet on fire at a Speedway gas station and claimed he did it for “religious reasons.”

(snip)

Officers reported that Crittenden was “intoxicated on nitrous oxide from huffing the Reddi-wip,” the report said. He had “extremely slurred speech” and was unsteady on his feet, it said. Crittenden, who had already been banned from the store, was huffing the whipped cream cans in the aisles of the store, which was “causing alarm” to customers, the report said.

Wow. Full story: Courier-Journal 

Dangerous!

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MARTY BRENNAMAN TO TRIM NOSE HAIRS IF REDS WIN PENNANT

LOL:

Following a successful hair-cutting promotion last week to benefit the Reds Community Fund, Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman announced he will publicly undergo a full nasal trim if the Reds win the National League pennant.

Full story: Derf Magazine (satire)
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AIN'T THAT AMERICA...

A man living in our nation's capital ordered a TV but received an assault rifle instead:

Thirty-eight-year-old Seth Horvitz says he purchased the 39-inch television from a third-party seller. A box arrived from UPS on Tuesday evening, and it seemed too small to contain the TV. He says he initially thought it contained accessories.

More with video: WXIX 
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10 THINGS A BURGLAR DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW
Good to know info written in the form of thank-you notes from burglars:

You’d be surprised how many home owners position a mirror in their entry hall so I can see from a window if the alarm system is armed. (Yours wasn’t, but I’m guessing you know that by now!) Thanks for taking a lot of pressure off of me.

A little free advice: Relocate the mirror so your alarm system isn’t visible if someone else would peer through a window.

Of course, you could always just order an assault rifle.
Full story: House Logic