Gary Bauer, President of something called "American Values" ("Your voice to protect life, marriage, faith, family and freedom" - Goodness, with so much under attack, how do these poor souls sleep at night?!) will endorse fellow flag-wavin', gay-hatin' right-winger Rick Santorum for the GOP Presidential nomination. Bauer, who was born in Covington and went to Newport High School & Georgetown College, sought the nomination himself in 2000. It pretty much ended when this happened:
In a statement prepared for release on Sunday, Bauer says that, while there are “many fine candidates” competing for the nomination, none personifies “the Reagan-inspired conservatism that unites the GOP” better than Santorum does. Calling the 2012 election the most important in a generation, Bauer says Santorum offers a vision of a “strong, growing, confident America.” in contrast to the “deficits, big government, higher taxes and slow growth” that he said have defined the administration of President Obama.
FURTHER READING: For information on Bauer's time in Reagan administration, click here.
"Like" The River City News on Facebook! Click here. "Follow" @theRCnews on Twitter! | The only photograph of you that is more important than yearbook, wedding, and holiday, is a mugshot. One must look his best at the time of arrest because more people are going to see that photo than any other of you. The least you could do is put on a shirt! | Who got sent away in Kenton Circuit Court this month? |
There are more at the link from Rob Sanders's Commonwealth Attorney's office. Some have been sent away, some are awaiting sentencing, and others will get probation. Whatever they end up with, let's hope as a community that they return healthy and rehabilitated, otherwise the cycle continues.
A strong jolt of pride could go a long way here in Covington. We have a lot of work to do here in Northern Kentucky's capital city but the list of brags Covington has is a long one. It is a preservationist's dream with ample old buildings is shockingly strong conditions for living or working or both. The nightlife is unrivaled in the entire Greater Cincinnati region. No other city does festivals as well as Covington. The number of quality restaurants ranging from fine dining to neighborhood pizzeria to hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon is immense. But what Covington lacks weighs down the list of good because what we lack is pride in that long list.
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Recently at The River City News, we bragged on Louisville's slogan, "Possibility City". It is an incredibly optimistic invitation to visit, move to or create business in Kentucky's largest city. It was mentioned that shortly after Louisville merged its government with Jefferson County, thus gaining hundreds of thousands in population, a sign was erected on the interstate welcoming motorists to America's 16th largest city. Do you think the 15th or 17th largest cities brag about that? Probably not, but Louisville is proud. Proud of everything good within it. Covington could stand to learn a lesson in pride from its larger neighbor one hundred miles down the Ohio River.
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So, if you were charged with creating a slogan for Covington, what would it be? We have used (and still use on police uniforms and cruisers) The Gateway to the South. We were burned by the 2000s effort, It's Happening. The Convention & Visitors Bureau has used The Southern Side of Cincinnati. But can we do even better than that as we settle into the second decade of the twenty-first century, a critical period for the future of Covington? Share your ideas here in the comments section or on The River City News @ Facebook.
STUMBO: REDISTRICTING OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN 2013?
News just crossed that Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo may delay the redistricting of the state's House & Senate districts until 2013:
"As far as the House and Senate districts are concerned, it would be my opinion, not a suggestion, that yes, it could wait until 2013 from a legal perspective," said Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. (snip) Several were upset with plans to put them in districts with other incumbent lawmakers or to carve up their districts. "There's going to be people who are unhappy. There always is," Stumbo said. "It's difficult on them, personally, because our districts are much smaller (than the Senate's). You have more feeling, more interaction with people on the precinct level." The House State Government Committee had planned to take up on Monday the House leadership's plan to redraw state House districts, but chairman Mike Cherry, D-Princeton, announced on the floor that his panel will not meet Monday.
The redistricting of Congressional Districts, however, must happen this session. Herald-Leader/Jack Brammer | The news tonight from Stumbo that redistricting would bolster his office's remarks to Covington City Hall that there were no plans on the table to redistrict Arnold Simpson's seat, which represents the city's urban core. That bombshell followed more than a week of on-the-record reports at The River City News from Simpson, Rep. Dennis Keene (D-Wilder, who was expected to take over representation of multiple Covington precincts) and all four Covington City Commissioners who believed House District 65 would inevitably be altered. Perhaps now that battle will be delayed until after the November elections. | SEE ALSO: Resolution opposing redistricting passes unanimously at Covington City Commission The River City News | RELATED: Editorial by Rep. Keene in the Community Press. Click Here. | LAWSUIT AGAINST COVINGTON POLICE DISMISSED Remember a few years ago when a paranoid/schizophrenic waved a loaded gun at Covington Police officers and then died after being tased? His family sued the Department and today, US District Judge David Bunning dismissed the suit:
Covington City Solicitor Frank Warnock called it an important legal victory for the city, but added he was very sympathetic to the family of Hughes. The city and five of its police officers were named as defendants in the suit. “The officers under these circumstances acted reasonably and with good faith,” Warnock said. “They meant no harm to Mr. Hughes. They acted professionally and in accordance with their training.” While the final legal tab hasn’t been tallied, Warnock said it has been a costly suit to litigate for the city because of the number of defendants. “It is outrageous that these officers, who risk their lives to protect little children at two elementary schools, were sued,” said lawyer Phil Taliaferro, who represented officers Ron Allen and Robert Bacon. “They could easily have been killed by this man who was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenia. He was carrying a loaded weapon.”
Really great explanatory report from Jim Hannah at the link. Cincinnati Enquirer | MURDER OF COVINGTON VICE MAYOR SUBJECT OF NEW BOOK Vice Mayor Carl Kiger was shot to death along with his 6-year old son while sleeping inside their Boone County country house. Kiger's own daughter went to trial, but was acquitted. The Vice Mayor was rumored to have ties to the mob:
A lot has been written about the murder “but nobody knew anything about the murder victim, Carl Kiger,” he said. Kiger was one of the most powerful politicians in Northern Kentucky at the time, both popular and controversial, Schrage said. “Then right when he achieved the height of his political success, he was murdered,” he said. Schrage said he was interested that Kiger came from the “sort of the same neighborhood” he did – Kiger was born and raised on the west end of Covington while Schrage was born on the east end of Ludlow.
There are two planned public discussions of the book. Click the link for those details and more on this story. Cincinnati Enquirer/Stephanie Salmons
SEE ALSO: More from NKY Views BUY THE BOOK AT: Rabbit Hash USA | LOOK AT THE TWO NEW FACES IN THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Former Kenton Judge Frank Trusty (with cane) and
Covington attorney Bob Sanders are sworn in by Judge
Martin Sheehan
Image via
That's Frank Trusty and current Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders's dad, Bob Sanders. From Sanders's office:
Today, former Commonwealth's Attorney and Kenton County Judge Frank O. Trusty was sworn in as a pro-bono Asst. Commonwealth's Attorney by Kenton Circuit Judge Martin J. Sheehan, Trusty's former judicial office mate. Also sworn in was Trusty's former 1st Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Sanders, father of current Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders. Bob Sanders previously volunteered as a prosecutor but had since re-retired. Trusty will begin handling preliminary hearing dockets next week. Trusty and the elder Sanders also plan to go to trial again as co-counsel for the Commonwealth! Rob Sanders said he is in the process of examining his current caseload, looking for "something meaty" to assign to the veteran prosecutors. Neither Trusty nor Bob Sanders will receive a salary and their services are provided at no cost to the taxpayers.
How cool. And what a great name for a judge: Trusty. | NORTHERN KENTUCKY MAGAZINE LIVES! In digital print, anyway. Click the link and check it out. It's really quite nice. NKY Magazine | KY TO PROMOTE 1-OF-A-KIND MUSEUMS; WHY NOT THE CREATION MUSEUM? In the Commonwealth's new strategic marketing plan, the bureau of tourism or whatever it's called wants to highlight unique museums in Kentucky. They've picked six... but I would guess that the Creation Museum is the only one of its kind. We gave tax money to its operators for them to build an epic tribute to Noah's Ark (complete with rides!), so why not bolster its attendance? I bet Muhammad Ali never walked with dinosaurs! press release | LOL FROM TWITTER:
| Oh, we kid the Creation Museum... | CONWAY WARNS KENTUCKIANS OF NEW TELEMARKETING SCAM These things never seem to end:
Attorney General Jack Conway is alerting consumers about a new telemarketing scam that is making its way across Kentucky. General Conway's Office of Consumer Protection has received more than two dozen complaints since mid-November about a "Tech Support" telemarketing scam. Consumers report that the scammers impersonate tech support specialists who claim to have detected a virus on the victims' computer. "This is just another attempt by scammers to gain access to personal financial information and for the purpose of identity theft," General Conway said. "Never share personal information over the telephone with a stranger."
Click the link for all the details on what to do should you receive one of these calls. Also, alert your older relatives who tend to be more vulnerable to these things. press release | ********************************************************** | in case you missed... | THIS MORNING'S NEWS New homes development discussed that would be stronger link between Licking Riverside & River's Edge @ Eastside Point (old Jacob price); More evidence that a Popeye's is opening at Mainstrasse entrance -- but the building is for sale with a million dollar price tag?; Those stories and much more at the link!
Three churches in Latonia have been broken into in the past two weeks. Covington Police think the same group of suspects may be responsible. Click the link for details.
|IMAGINE GETTING FIRED AFTER LOSING TO A TEAM WITH 6 PLAYERS! That's what happened today to Western Kentucky University men's basketball head coach Ken McDonald. The Hilltoppers are off to a rough start at 5 - 11, but last night's loss was particularly ridiculous. Tie ballgame with just seconds left and Louisiana-Lafayette sinks a last-second shot -- but the refs never noticed that the Ragin' Cajuns had six men on the court! Outrageous! Count the red jerseys, including the guy set to inbound the ball:
LOL: The announcer's tone: "Puts it up and in... and the Ragin' Cajuns have won." So subdued. But even they in the press box didn't catch the error.
| IS THE AVENUE LOUNGE TRYING TO GET LOCAL TEACHERS DRUNK?
They're just back from winter break and already they need to be liquored up? That's one tough job. Check out this promotion:
The Avenue Lounge and Patio The Avenue Loves Educators! Today, we open at 3pm and to show our appreciation, all of you who work in education get 50% off your drinks today! Just show some sort of school ID or verification you work in teaching to our bartender, Aubrey. Our regular happy hour specials still apply to all until 8pm $1 off Wells & Import Bottles $2 off Calls, Drafts, Cocktails & Wines $2 Domestics
As of this writing, it's 7:30PM. How many teachers do you think are still sitting at the bar, sloshed? | COVINGTON ARTS DISTRICT BEGINS ITS REINVENTION After the City Commission voted a few months ago to rid the City of the zoning that created the Arts & Technology District, it was unclear what would happen to the City's arts initiatives. Maybe we're seeing the beginning of those changes with the launching of a new Facebook page for Covington Arts. There is no profile pic yet and that's part of the fun:
Dear Art Lovers,As we kick off this New Year, Covington Arts is embracing some change…at least in the Social Media realm. We are getting a Facebook facelift. This new Facebook page will make information to the public more easily accessible so that they will be able to hear about all the creative events, people and initiatives that Covington has to offer. Though our Facebook Group has served us well, we will be saying good-bye to it soon and embracing our new cyberspace home. With this New Year, and new page, we also need a new look. In order to do that, we are calling on the creativity of the Covington Arts Community. There is blank bellowing blue space on our new page that needs a new image. In order to find that new image, we are going to have a fun competition. Anyone who becomes a member or “likes” our new page can enter. It can be a photograph, a graphic design or a digital image. The only rule is that it should not have any business logo in the composition. Think vibrant, visual, vivid, and any other cool “v” word you can think of. Send your image to krentzke@covingtonky.gov by January 16, 2012. The images will then be uploaded to the Facebook Page and shared them with the community. Whichever image ends up receiving the most “likes” will be the new face of our page until the end of February when we will have another competition. So come on over, and join the fun.
So, it seems clear that it's the end of the road for this logo:
It always had a sort of You Can't Do That On Television/Nickelodeon feel to it. Stay tuned.
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HOLMES & HOLY CROSS FACE OFF ON THE HARDWOOD TONIGHT
That should be a great game... Follow the score at the link.
Turns out that this week's burglary at Latonia Christian Church is the third break-in at a church in Latonia in the past two weeks. From the Covington Police Department:
The Covington Police Department is currently investigating (3) three burglaries that have occurred at churches in the Latonia area of Covington, KY. The following churches have fallen victim to what the investigators believe to be the same suspect or group of suspects. The suspect and/or group of suspects have the same point of entry and they have targeted the same type of items in all (3) three burglaries. On 12-25-2011, the Trinity United Methodist Church located at 101 E. Southern Avenue was burglarized. On 12-31-2011, the First Church of God located at 524 W. Southern Avenue was burglarized. On 1-4-2012, the Latonia Christian Church located at 3900 Decoursey Avenue was burglarized. In all (3) three burglaries, the suspect and/or suspects have targeted electronics and cash. The suspect and/or suspects have caused sufficient damage to the churches while committing these burglaries. The Covington Police Department is looking for any information the general public may have to help identify the individual(s) responsible for committing these burglaries. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers or Detective Derek Uhl with the Covington Police Department at (859)292-2242. Media inquiries may be directed to Lt. Col. Spike Jones.
CITY CONSIDERS ADDING NINE HOMES NEAR NEW JACOB PRICE DEVELOPMENT
At this week's meeting of the Housing Authority of Covington Board, it was suggested that Covington could cede nine pieces of property that it owns so that new single family homes could be constructed there by the Housing Authority. HAC would pursue the project using federal "Hope VI" funding from Housing & Urban Development. The goal would be to create more and better home ownership opportunities in the area between Licking Riverside Historic District and the new Jacob Price housing development which will be called, "River's Edge @ Eastside Point". The boundaries for the proposed homes would be the blocks surrounded by Greenup, 9th, Prospect and East Robbins Streets.
City would provide those lots "gratis" to HAC
HAC staff is to have preliminary info next week
Covington's Community Development Dept will meet with HAC to develop a concrete plan for the proposed project
This development is in the very early stages. The River City News will continue to follow.
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MORE EVIDENCE THAT A POPEYE'S CHICKEN IS COMING TO MAINSTRASSE
Not much has been done in the way of infrastructure at the old Skyline Chili on 5th Street at the Main Street entrance to Mainstrasse Village since The River City News spread a finger-lickin' rumor that a Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits would be moving in. But take a look at this: A new real estate listing actually calls the property "Popeye's Chicken at 502 Main Street" as someone tries to sell it. But look at that price! $990,000? They do know that Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen is just a theme and that it isn't actually in New Orleans, right?
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It's a prime location but several entities have failed there for some reason. KFC (which the building still totally looks like, no matter what anyone does to it), some Chinese buffet for a hot minute, then a Skyline, which always seemed strange since there were other Skylines three blocks south, and six blocks east. I'm a total Mainstrasse cheerleader, but I'm not sure any building is worth a million bucks, especially now. But good luck!
PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A MAN MID 20'S TO 30'S TAN TO LIGHT SKINNED ON FOOT OR IN A TAN LIGHT/ BROWN COLOR OLDER 4 DOOR CAR WITH MISMATCHED FRONT DOORS ONE IS RED OTHER IS POSSIBLY BLUE OR BLACK. HE IS DISCRIBED AS BETWEEN 5'10" - 6' TALL SLINDER SEEN WEARING A BLACK COAT & BAGGY JEANS ALSO A BLACK BEANIE HAT. THIS MAN CHASED A FRIENDS 13 YEAR OLD NIECE THIS EVENING APROX 6 PM ON HER WAY HOME FROM HER FRIENDS HOUSE FROM LATONIA ELEMENTRY THRU THE ALLEY TO 42ND ON DECORSEY WHEN HE GOT INTO THE DISCRIBED CAR. THIS CAR HAS ALSO BEEN SPOTTED IN OTHER AREAS OF LATONIA. IF YOU KNOW WHO THIS PERSON IS OR HAVE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT COVINGTON POLICE THIS IS NOT A JOKE! THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE AND A REPORT HAS BEEN MADE!! THANK YOU!
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SEE ALSO: Somebody broke into the Latonia Christian Church and stole the Nintendo Wii from the senior center! Click the link for details.
There is a BIG IDEA growing in Northern Kentucky that will be announced at the January 17th Eggs 'N Issues breakfast. The Big Idea is an economic development concept that will attract new talent, new money and new ideas to the Northern Kentucky area.
But I want to know now! NKY Chamber | STRANGE TURN OF EVENTS IN THE PROPOSED REDISTRICTING OF COVINGTON House leadership in Frankfort now says there never was any plan to redistrict Democrat Arnold Simpson's district. Strange indeed. Also strange that the news arrived just before the Covington City Commission was to pass unanimously a resolution opposing any changes to the urban core's representation in the General Assembly. This one's not over. The RC News: Resolution Opposing Redistricting Passes | WE MAY SEE THE PROPOSED NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TODAY From Ryan Alessi:
The House state government gave its approval to a congressional map similar to the one House Speaker Greg Stumbo unveiled in November. That approach would make the 1st and 5th congressional districts more competitive for Democrats to pick-up and the 2nd and 4th districts more secure for Republicans,according to a Pure Politics analysis.For instance, it would move Ashland and Boyd County, as well as surrounding counties of Carter and Greenup, from the 4th District to the 5th District.
NKY's 4th District will be even more competitive for Republicans. Who's excited, huh?! cn|2 | GARY MOORE FORMALLY FILES, HIRES CAMPAIGN MANAGER Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore also says the GOP field to replace Geoff Davis in Congress won't be large like everyone thinks:
Moore said he expected fewer Republicans than many people expect to ultimately enter the 4th District race. He said he hasn’t spoken to his fellow Republican judge-executive, Thomas Massie, about whether Massie plans to run. (snip) Moore also said he hired Jonathan Duke as his campaign manager. Duke, a Paducah native, most recently worked as political director on the 2011 campaign of Republican candidate for attorney general, Todd P’Pool.
cn|2 | TEEN WANTS MURDER CONFESSION TOSSED FROM COURT Because he didn't know that the word attorney is a synonym for lawyer. SRSLY:
The 18-year-old testified Thursday in Kenton Circuit Court that he did not understand he had a legal right to remain silent and ask for an attorney. Instead, he admitted to shooting Clayton Meyer, 22, of Covington in January 2011 on Patton Street near the intersection of Garrard. Spencer even went to the scene and re-enacted the crime for detectives.
The teen's father is in jail for a different murder. Another young life taken and another young life wasted. Read this article.
CALIPARI: LAWMAKERS NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT UK'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
After news emerged that the state legislature is weighing a bill that would force UK & UofL to play in basketball and football every season (as they do now without a mandate), Coach Cal says the General Assembly has other issues on its plate, or at least, should have:
He thanked legislators for their pride in the UK basketball team before saying, "I hope you would be just as proud of the campus ... I think it would be hard to say that. "You want to be proud of this basketball team," he said. "Don't you want that same thing for all your students? ... We must rebuild this campus. With your help, we can all be proud." UK says it could use at least $500 million to upgrade its academic and research facilities. It has another $500 million in housing needs, but is exploring a proposal to turn over its housing construction to a private company.
Congratulations on the milestone, Norse! NKU is undefeated so far this season, their final one in Division II. The athletics program joins the Atlantic Sun conference in Division I next season.
They needed overtime to score the landmark win. Click the link.
SEE ALSO: 3 NKU students vie for Miss Kentucky USA FOX 19
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PARISITIC FLY DISCOVERED ON HONEYBEES
And now scientists think that may be why more honeybees are buzzing off "zombie-like" into the night, never to be heard from again:
But apiculture researcher Tom Webster at Kentucky State says it’s still too soon to know whether the fly will provide clues to colony collapse disorder in Kentucky. “We can’t say that all these problems in all these countries and for all these beekeepers that the problems are the same. They are actually very different,” he said. “The parasites and possibly also these flies that have just been discovered can all be expected to be very different in different places and also in different times of years.” Kentucky’s fruit and vegetable crops rely on honeybees for pollination. But Webster says it’s important to look at the problem globally.
Scary. WFPL | | STUDENTS DONATE WARMTH TO WELCOME HOUSE More good news for the Pike Street shelter. Cincinnati Enquirer | A FABULOUS FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT 'COVINGTON PARTNERS' & SCHOOLS At Fabulous Furs:
Enjoy complimentary cocktails, light appetizers served courtesy of the Madison, and a 15% discount on all purchases made during the evening with your $20 admission. $1 raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win a Fabulous Faux Furs throw blanket ($350 value), an entry to the Covington Partners 3rd Annual Golf Outing at Traditions Golf Club ($200 value) or a diamond necklace gift basket!
For more details, click the link. Facebook Event | CHECK OUT THE NEW ENTRANCE AT SCOTT HIGH SCHOOL Looks amazing:
More photos at the link. Scott @ Facebook | NKY AUTHOR RICK ROBINSON WINS GRAND PRIZE AT LONDON BOOK FEST And we ain't talkin' London, Kentucky neither, y'all!
Rick Robinson’s political thriller “Writ of Mandamus” has been named the grand prize winner of the London Book Festival, which honors the best of international publishing. Robinson’s fourth novel, which will be published later this spring by Headline Books Inc., weaves from Washington, DC to the countryside of Ireland, following Congressman Richard Thompson and the CIA as they chase Middle Eastern conflict and Kentucky horses. According to the press release issued by the London Book Festival: "Its page-turning prose and intriguing plot makes it an instant classic in Robinson’s series and promises to be optioned for other media." "It is certainly an honor to be chosen by the festival as its grand prize winner," said Robinson. "I am hopeful that my readers enjoy it as much as the contest judges."
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A report of burglary at the Latonia Christian Church in which cash and a camera were stolen. Additionally, at least one thief got into the Latonia Senior Center which is housed in the same building and walked away with a black Nintendo Wii, two game controllers and some sports games. The camera is a black Sony Cybershot for which you can see the serial numbers below.
Unsurprisingly, the church would like its stuff back, so call Covington Police with any information at 859.292.2222 or call Latonia Christian at 859.261.8693.
Gary Bauer, President of something called "American Values" ("Your voice to protect life, marriage, faith, family and freedom" - Goodness, with so much under attack, how do these poor souls sleep at night?!) will endorse fellow flag-wavin', gay-hatin' right-winger Rick Santorum for the GOP Presidential nomination. Bauer, who was born in Covington and went to Newport High School & Georgetown College, sought the nomination himself in 2000. It pretty much ended when this happened:
