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Saturday, January 14, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 14 JAN

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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2 BOYS AGED 15 & 16 CHARGED IN MURDER OF COVINGTON TEEN
Covington Police confirmed late Friday afternoon that a second arrest was made in the December 20 shooting death of Brett Thornberry, 18, on Greenup Street. Each suspect is a younger teen. For the full story, click the link.
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CREDIT CARD STOLEN IN FLORENCE MAKES ROUNDS IN COVINGTON
A woman's car was broken into in Florence and less than a half hour later her credit card was being used at Covington gas stations. Take a look at the suspect from a surveillance camera at the Speedway:
Do you know that guy? Call Covington Police at 859.292.2222 or CrimeStoppers at 513.352.3040.
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COVINGTON'S LIFE SCIENCES FOCUS GOES REGION WIDE
Now that Covington is pushing to land more companies like bioLOGIC which will be adding more employees and possibly developing a life science cluster on Pike Street, the effort is being promoted by a regional entity. Here's what TriEd says:
Northern Kentucky's Interest in Life Science Benefits Your Company!

COMMITMENT: Region-wide life science's initiative to establish centers of excellence in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and scientific research.
SUCCESS: bioLOGIC, a dynamic, global life science accelerator, ViaCord, PPD Global and others have substantial presence in Northern Kentucky, resulting in the attraction of multiple Life Science companies.
SUPPORT: Surrounded by a willing, growing business and educational environment in Northern Kentucky that supports life science efforts.
INCENTIVES: Talent at competitive wage rates ready to meet your workforce needs and backed by exceptional educational institutions.
OUTSTANDING: Dedication from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and local Northern Kentucky communities to provide ease-of-business and offer innovative and flexible incentive packages for eligible companies.
REAL ESTATE: Aggressive Northern Kentucky real estate options for life science and office space.
Tri-Ed is the regional business organization representing Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties. 
TriEd 
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YIKES: FOUR BUSINESSES BAILING ON CRESTVIEW TOWNE CENTER
Even newer storefronts are having a hard time finding occupants:
Tala’s Distant Treasures closed Sunday, Hoggy’s restaurant closed Monday, and the Talbots and Famous Footwear stores at the shopping center are featuring going out of business sales. However, The Limited has signed a lease for the soon-to-be-vacant Talbots space, said Christine Wesselkamper, the town center’s property manager.
Potential business owners and budding entrepreneurs should consider Downtown Covington, the original outdoor shopping mall.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Cindy Schroeder  
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YOU KNOW THE ECONOMY IS BAD WHEN...

...people aren't even dying fast enough:
The Batesville Casket Company is cutting 100 jobs, its entire second shift, starting in March. FOX19 spoke with two employees facing pink slips who wanted to remain anonymous but say they were expecting the move. "We all knew this day was coming we just didn't think it was coming this soon," says a 13-year veteran utility worker.
"I still got to go through the process of finding out where I'm at in seniority and whether I'll be there or not. It's still heartbreaking that I'm gonna lose all the people I've worked with," he says. The company explained the cuts, "As part of our continuous process of maximizing production capabilities to meet the needs of our customers."
More with video at the link.
FOX 19  
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MIKE FINK: DEAD IN THE WATER
The Enquirer's Mike Rutledge had this nice report yesterday about a topic that has been explored multiple times here at The River City News: what to do with the Mike Fink.
Three years and five months later, the 76-year-old sternwheeler is getting cold stares from some Covington residents, especially those living nearby in the historic Licking Riverside neighborhood. They’re weary of watching nothing happen on the National Register of Historic Places vessel, which from 1968 to 2008 was the popular Mike Fink Restaurant. It’s docked on Covington’s riverfront, still awaiting renovation above the waterline and gathering river debris around it. They want it shaped up or shipped elsewhere.
The Bernstein Family, which owns the Fink and BB Riverboats, did not comment for the report. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Mike Rutledge  
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politics

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KY-4: MASSIE COURTS TEA PARTY SUPPORT
Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie wants to represent Covington and the rest of the 4th District in Congress. He is already a darling of the Tea Party:
"For me, the government was one of those entities that was putting land mines in the field that I had to navigate when we started the company," Massie said. "The tax code, you had to navigate the tax code. The regulations, you had to navigate the regulations. When you located your building, you had to find the right zoning areas, get the right zoning permit. More often than not the government was in the way and not helping me start this company."
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LOCAL AUTHOR'S NATIONAL COLUMN ON CUBA & IRAN
Rick Robinson, whose Strange Bedfellows I am currently reading, takes aim at the Castros and Ahm -... Akmah...- Um, that Iranian guy:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent his Latin American “solidarity” tour to Havana this week shortly after the United States toughened sanctions on his government. It was a whirlwind stop for the president. He dropped by the University of Havana and, after giving a speech denouncing capitalism and America, received an honorary doctorate.
Following his rousing address, “Dr.” Ahmadinejad visited with Fidel Castro for several hours and reportedly said, “It was a great motive of joy for me to find [Castro] sane and healthy” — a statement that makes you wonder who Ahmadinejad hangs out with back home in Tehran.
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WOULD YOU LOSE COVERAGE IF HEALTH CARE REFORM WAS REPEALED?
17 million young Americans would according to a lawsuit filed Thursday:
Some 20 million young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 currently don't have insurance, the group argues. When the full benefits of the law kick in in 2014, about 8 million young adults will qualify for Medicaid and another 9 million will become eligible for federal subsidies to buy private insurance on new state health insurance exchanges. The group's amicus brief argues that the requirement that everyone have insurance — the crux of the legal challenges against the law — "does not impose a significant burden on young adults."
The Hill 
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COMMISSIONER STEVE CASPER CAPTURES MOMENT WITH SAMUEL L JACKSON
And Angela Bassett too! Casper is in Manhattan on business but got to see The Mountaintop, a new play about MLK's last night on Earth. After the performance Casper got to meet Jackson and Bassett and shared some photos with The River City News:
Samuel L Jackson signs autographs

Casper says Bassett stole the show
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COVINGTON STUDENTS' ARTWORK ON DISPLAY AT THE ASCENT
The windows are tinted and it's not a pedestrian friendly block, but do make an effort to check out the pieces created by students from Covington Independent Schools grades K-12 on the windows of the empty retail space at the Ascent. The schools want you to vote on which one's the best and the winner gets $500 for art supplies:

There are four ways to vote:
•     Email votes to Trisha.brundage@covington.kyschools.us
•     Call in votes to 859-392-3162
•     Visit www.covschools.us and, to vote, click on the poll link located on the home page
•     “Like” your favorite on Covington Independent Public School’s Facebook page




More art from Covington students will be on display next month:
Fifth grade students at Ninth District Elementary School will be selling their artwork to help an international charity with its hunger relief effort. The artwork will be on display and available for purchase in the Nordheim Gallery, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Thursday, February 9. Proceeds from the art sales will benefit Food for the Poor. Money donated to the organization can buy more than food. It can buy solutions to hunger. For example, $25 will buy 20 chicks for a family, or $50 buys a family a goat. Through this service learning project, students are making meaningful connections through art, social studies, math and language arts. The Nordheim Gallery is operated by Covington Independent Public Schools for students' Fine Arts enrichment and as an outreach to the community. It is located in the Senior Building at Holmes High School.
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THE ART OF AIR OPENS SUNDAY AT THE CARNEGIE
From the performing arts center:
The Art of Hair, presented by Wella Professionals, is The Carnegie’s exciting new exhibition celebrating the high-profile world of hair. The show will feature artwork both made from, and inspired by, our lovely locks. See unique, avant-garde styles on the catwalk during the opening reception, which will feature original artistic hair designs by stylists from some of the areas top salons.
The Carnegie has been keeping note of the progress  on Twitter:
The runway
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The Carnegie's technical director is in the spirit
Click here for more details
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PANTIES ON THE PURPLE PEOPLE BRIDGE!

Passersby may be forced to clutch their pearls once they feast their eyes upon this:
The panties, found hanging around the intersection of Crawfis and Savage Hill roads in August in one of Fairfield County's most bizarre moments of 2011, will have a new home to hang from this summer -- on a bridge spanning the Ohio River from Cincinnati and Kentucky as part of a cancer awareness event.
"This is so great," said Stacy Holbert, of Blanchester. "Last year, we were able to put up about 4,000 panties on the bridge. This year we will have a lot more with this."
It was August when Berne Township Trustee Jim Carmichael and Fairfield County Litter Control Deputy Gary Hummel discovered around 3,000 panties hanging from the trees in Fairfield County.
The panties were taken down and collected as evidence. Hummel said authorities came up with a couple of viable leads but nothing more.
Coshocton Tribune 
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SEE ALSO: Recycle your pantyhose! Click Here 
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SEASHELLS TRANSFORM SUBURBAN BATHROOM INTO TROPICAL HIDEAWAY

LOL:
‎"I can't believe the difference adding those seashells made," said Paula Watson, who had somehow been transported from a beige, run-of-the-mill bathroom to an unforgettable island paradise thousands of miles from the Greater Cleveland area. "Every time I walk in here now it's like, 'Wow, where am I? CancĂșn?'"
The Onion 

Friday, January 13, 2012

SECOND TEEN BOY CHARGED IN MURDER OF 18-YEAR OLD BRETT THORNBERRY

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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A Covington tragedy worsens as a second teenage boy is arrested and charged with murder in the December 20 shooting death of Brett Thornberry, 18, at 1010 Greenup Street. Covington Police tell The River City News that a 16-year old boy was arrested on December 28 on the charges of murder and robbery. That news, which was just released today, follows the December 22 arrest of a 15-year old boy on charges of murder and complicity to robbery in the same case. 
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Police were called to 1010 Greenup Street in the 7 o'clock hour of December 20 after neighbors reported the sound of gunfire. Officers discovered Thornberry in the backyard, shot to death. The property is the same location of one of Covington's most gruesome murders in recent years in which Shawn Davis was lured to the address at the promise of sex before being robbed, beaten to death, transported to Campbell County, and burned. 
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The names of the teen boys charged in Thornberry's murder are being withheld as they are juveniles. Their names would be revealed if the case were to be transferred to adult court. Each is being held in the juvenile detention facility in Campbell County.

"GRAND THEORIES DO LITTLE TO REVIVE CITIES"

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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This is another post from the right-leaning City Journal presented for your consideration. On Thursday, we discussed the merits of convention center expansions. Today, let's take a look at the magazine's position on economic development plans titled Urban Development Legends as it may relate to Covington's Center City Action Plan, currently under construction in Denver: 
A lot of grand theories have been advanced—targeted tax incentives! bike paths!—but they have proven of little practical use.
(snip)Though cluster-based strategies remain popular among economic-development strategists, they contain an inherent flaw: today’s winning clusters may be tomorrow’s losing clusters. Building an entire development strategy on one cluster is as risky as assembling an investment portfolio concentrated in one or two stocks.
(snip)A declining Rust Belt city can’t be turned around simply by inventing a snappy slogan. In the late 1970s, Rochester launched a marketing campaign with the tagline “I’d rather be in Rochester.” To judge from the city’s fortunes, the branding didn’t produce the desired results. It’s hard to imagine that the new slogan that Rochester introduced in the 2000s—“Rochester. Made for living”—will do any better.
(snip)Don’t get me wrong: I’m not ideologically opposed to public investments in the arts. But it’s hard to demonstrate that they promote economic growth. The problem is the direction of causality: Does a vibrant cultural scenecause local prosperity, as Florida’s acolytes say, or is it the consequence of local prosperity?
(snip) A city with poor development prospects is doing the right thing in educating its young effectively, of course, but it is also increasing the chances that they will leave, which is good for the students but makes the city even poorer. Indeed, the fact that education in America is usually financed locally means that richer cities are essentially free riders, importers of labor educated elsewhere.
(snip)Big and small cities are also very different economic animals, so no one development scheme is likely to work across the board. The small ones mostly compete by trying to offer lower costs (especially in real estate and wages) and access to various nearby markets, not by attracting the café latte crowd.
(snip)The conclusion to draw from all this isn’t that cities can do nothing to promote economic development. It’s that they should avoid academic fads and quick fixes, which are no substitute for obvious policy goals like competently providing mandated services at reasonable cost, keeping streets safe, and not taxing and regulating away businesses—good governance, in sum, and even that comes with no guarantee to work.
The whole thing is worth your time to read. So, what are your thoughts? It has been said that Covington has been "planned to death" as evidenced by the Center City Action Plan being the 20th such attempt since 2000 to revitalize the City. Are the obstacles for any plan too big to succeed?

STATE HOUSE REDISTRICTING DEBATE TAKES TURN FOR THE FOLKSY

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"Follow" @theRCnews on Twitter!
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The fact that the redistricting debate currently underway in Frankfort has been heated and sometimes personal is well documented in the pages of The River City News. What can be lost on those of us in Northern Kentucky sometimes is just how country this great Commonwealth is. We have our share of characters up here, but none with the folksy rhetorical fire of House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonburg).

The new state House district map approved by lawmakers Thursday sets the stage for six new open seats and pits potentially as many as 11 incumbents against each other in this year’s elections. Most of those incumbents affected are sitting Republican legislators. But lawmakers approved the map 63-34 with five Republicans joining with the Democrats to vote for it. The redrawing of the 100 House districts also sparked one of the more passionate House floor debates. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, stepped down from his speaker’s chair to lead the Democrats’ response to Republicans counter proposal map. Stumbo, in full country-lawyer mode, criticized the map presented by Rep. Joe Fischer, R-Fort Thomas, because as it was drawn it would violate the Federal Voting Rights Act by removing precincts with a heavy Hispanic population from the 77th District in Lexington.
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Full country mode, indeed! Here's what Stumbo said to Fischer as the debate was winding down: "I don't come from a fancy place like he does where they got a lot of lawyers and they got fancy courtrooms, I'm an old country lawyer, myself. But I know this: if it complies with the law, it don't need fixin'!"
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WATCH THE FULL EXCHANGE AND READ MORE AT THE LINK. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. OH, AND SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT COVINGTON'S REP. ARNOLD SIMPSON!
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CONVICTED: TRAFFICKERS TOP LIST

"Like" The River City News on Facebook! Click here.
"Follow" @theRCnews on Twitter!
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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. 
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This week, a great deal of the folks convicted at Kenton Circuit Court by Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders and his team of prosecutors were drug traffickers of cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, and marijuana.

|Who got sent away in Kenton Circuit Court this month?
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There are more at the link with explanation of charges and recommended sentences 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.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY EVENING 12 JAN

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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EXCLUSIVE
COVINGTON'S DAYTIME CURFEW THWARTS SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEEN
EXCLUSIVE: The recently adopted daytime curfew for minors in Covington is being credited with stopping the sexual and physical abuse of a teenager. The teen was stopped during daytime hours by Covington Police and it was later revealed that the teen was trying to escape an abusive household. The revelation led to the arrest of an adult on sodomy charges. Click the link for more on this exclusive story from The River City News.
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$500,000 MISSING FROM KENTUCKY DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
Ahh... so this is what that bipartisan audit of Richie Farmer's old office is about:
According to inventory records obtained by the Herald-Leader, more than 100 state computers are missing, including some issued personally to former Agriculture Commissioner Farmer, who took office in 2004. The state issued Farmer four new Dell laptops in 2010 and he has not returned any of them to the Department of Agriculture, according to the inventory records.
(snip)
In all, the list of missing inventory obtained from the Department of Agriculture details 171 items worth about $334,000, including computers, digital cameras, printers, copiers and other equipment.
And the Republican Party thought this guy should be Kentucky's Lieutenant Governor. What a bullet we dodged. What. A. Mess. Read the whole disgusting thing.
Herald-Leader 
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SEN. RAND PAUL RETURNS $500,000 TO FEDERAL TREASURY
This is apparently only a coincidence, and not related to the same amount of money missing from the Agriculture Dept:
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul today announced that he is returning $500,000 to the United States Treasury - money unspent from his official operating budget. The total amount being returned is more than 16 percent of Paul's original office budget. As far as is known, no U.S. Senator has returned as much to taxpayers.
"I ran to stop the reckless spending," said Paul. "And I ran to end the damaging process of elected officials acting as errand boys, competing to see who could bring back the biggest check and the most amount of pork."
Senator Rand Paul  
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SEE ALSO: Sen. Paul says he is not interested in being Vice President:
Paul, speaking Thursday morning in Louisville, said he’s “seen the chatter on the Internet” about the possibility of being tapped as the GOP nominee’s running mate. But he said for now he is focused on helping U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s campaign for the GOP nomination. “I haven’t really considered it yet,” Rand Paul said. “I’m focused on trying to help my dad.”
Associated Press via Cincinnati Enquirer  
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MORE DETAILS ON TIER 1'S NEW COMMITMENT TO GROWING IN COVINGTON
The performance solutions company will take up a big chunk of space at the RiverCenter Towers:
Tier1 signed a 10-year lease for 12,500 square feet of space on the ground floor or Corporex Cos.’s RiverCenter. Greg Harmeyer, co-founder and CEO of Tier1, said the RiverCenter space will be more efficient, designed specifically for the company’s uses, and it gives the company room to grow. Before this deal came together, Tier1 was looking at moving out of Covington. “We were looking elsewhere for sure. We were pretty far down the path to going elsewhere,” Harmeyer said. “I have to give Covington a lot of credit.”
Business Courier/Tom Demeropolis  
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DRIVE SAFELY OUT THERE
The roads are slick due to the snow coming down tonight. Here's a safe-driving announcement from the Kentucky State Police at the link.
KSP 
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GATEWOOD GALBRAITH REMEMBERED IN LEXINGTON

The perennial candidate and character in Kentucky politics died this week:
Congressman Ben Chandler recalled that when Galbraith was making one of his early runs for office, he sought advice from Chandler's grandfather, former Gov. A.B. "Happy" Chandler. Galbraith wanted to know what the two-time governor thought of his idea to legalize marijuana and make it a Kentucky cash crop.
Ben Chandler said his grandfather replied, "I think it's a great idea ... and then you get to tax the hell out of it."
Artist and blues musician Rodney Hatfield said he'd known Galbraith since the 1960s when "we were young men together ... with all that implies."
"I thought his concession speech after his last campaign was absolutely Jeffersonian, one of the most elegant speeches I ever heard," Hatfield said. "It would have been wonderful if he had won one of those races, just to see what he would have done in office."
Herald-Leader/Jim Warren Photos from the memorial here.  
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KY GOP MAY CHALLENGE NEW HOUSE DISTRICTS IN COURT
The Republicans in the House are not happy with what the Democrats there did to the districts. The Democrats in the Senate won't be happy with what the GOP has in store for them there. Ah, Frankfort.
|SEE ALSO: Boy, if you thought Covington was upset with what was proposed to happen to it, wait till you read about how some Republicans feel. This piece is great: Daily Independent/Ronnie Ellis 
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SOME KY KINDERGARTENERS COULD START SCHOOL A YEAR LATER
That's if a new bill passes, pushing back the birthday requirement by two months:
Senate Bill 24 would require that kids turn 5 by Aug. 1 to enroll in kindergarten that fall. If approved, it would take effect with the 2013-2014 school year. The bill cleared the first hurdle Thursday with near unanimous approval by the Senate Education Committee. The current Oct. 1 cutoff has been in place since 1980, said Lisa Gross, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education. She said the change could increase enrollment, but her department doesn’t have a strong stance on the legislation.
State-Journal/Katheran Wasson  
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RECORD YEAR FOR KENTUCKY BOURBON TOURS

I'll drink to this:
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail passport program saw 11,757 visitors to all of the six distilleries on the tour in 2011, setting a new record for a single year. It was the second consecutive year a record was set.
Business First/Stephanie Clouser  
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UK GAME KNOCKED OFF AIR BY HUNGRY ANIMALS
The surprisingly close basketball game last night between UK and Auburn was not seen for a while in the Lexington market because some varmint chewed through a power line:
Mike Kanarek, WKYT's vice president of operations, said the animal ate away at a line on the station's property and caused an electrical outage. The station has a backup generator that kicked in within a minute, but it took 10 to 12 minutes for its transmitter to cycle back up and resume broadcasting the game, he said. Coverage of the game was out from 9:27 to 9:42 p.m.
Herald-Leader/Scott Sloan 
Image via
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TSA FINDS $400,000 IN LOOSE CHANGE LAST YEAR
Bet you've never had this happen when you tear through your couch cushions:
TSA found $409,085.56 in spare change last year that was unclaimed by passengers, according to figures released by the agency. Historically, if no one comes back to get the leftover money, it stays with the TSA.
(snip)The airports where passengers left the most spare change were New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where $46,918.06 was found, and Los Angeles International Airport, which collected $19,110.83.
The Hill/Keith Laing  
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WE MAY SEE MORE BENGALS GAMES EVEN IF THEY DON'T SELL OUT
Senator Sherrod Brown is urging the FCC to change the blackout rules:
“We are one step closer to ending the blackout rule,” Brown said in a news release. “Today, the FCC announced that it would begin taking public comment on the blackout rule, an outdated rule which is unfair to the teams, the fans, and especially the taxpayers. Although the Bengals season ended last week, I’ll keep fighting to repeal the blackout rule.”
(snip)
But it didn’t make much difference for the Bengals this year. Despite making the playoffs this season, the team had the three smallest crowds in Paul Brown Stadium history in 2011.
Business Courier/Steve Watkins  
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in case you missed...
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THE CASE AGAINST CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSIONS
As state legislators weigh the funding of various proposed projects, NKY's wish list includes two in Covington: convention center expansion and development of Gateway's urban campus. City Journal makes a case against convention center expansions. Click the link, check it out, and share your thoughts on which is more important.
A Case Against Convention Center Expansions 
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THIS AFTERNOON'S NEWS
New grant money may help allow for food stamps at the Covington Farmers Market; Yet even more bad news for Omnicare today; Dayton (OH) is worried about Cincinnati's syphilis problem (SRSLY); Plus, a new license plate option for fans of historic preservation in KY! Those stories and more at the link.
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JAMES FRANCO TO STAR IN NEW MAPPLETHORPE MOVIE
The artist Robert Mapplethorpe had died by the time his work created a firestorm/embarrassment for the City of Cincinnati.
Background on the Cincinnati Mapplethorpe episode here
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OBAMA WONDERS WHY HE HAS TO INITATE PHONE CALLS WITH NCAA CHAMPS
LOL:
"They are national champions. I'm president of the United States. Am I crazy to think that one of the first things they'd want to do is call me? I'd just like to know I'm on their minds for once."
The Onion 

DAYTIME CURFEW THWARTS SEXUAL ABUSE OF COVINGTON TEEN

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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NOTE: The River City News is only able to release limited information at this time due to the sensitive nature of this story. 
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A teenager, spotted wandering the streets of Covington in the morning hours of a school day last week, was stopped by a Covington Police officer under the rules of the newly enacted daytime curfew. The teen was taken to Covington Independent Public Schools' central office. Originally, the teen offered the police a false name, concerned that there was a warrant out for the teen's arrest. While talking with a school official, the teen's true identity was eventually revealed and more truth began to emerge. 
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The teen admitted to being on the run from a parental figure in Covington, saying that there had been years of sexual and physical abuse in the home. While staying with a relative in Covington who was away for the day, the teen was picked up here and had not attended any school for some time. 
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Acting on the tip from the teen, Covington Police interviewed the parental figure who admitted to the abuse and was subsequently arrested on four counts of sodomy. 
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The teen is now in a safe place, attending classes. "That was unexpected, you don't ever expect something like that," said Lt. Col. Spike Jones of the Covington Police Department. "But it worked out for (the teen), it got (the teen) to a safe place. (The curfew) seems to be doing what it's supposed to be doing, giving officers an additional tool that they need to pick up kids and get them to a safe place."

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY AFTERNOON 12 JAN

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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THE BAD NEWS FOR OMNICARE KEEPS ROLLING IN
It's not polite to delight in the misfortune of others, but with Omnicare The River City News is always willing to make an exception:
Shares of Omnicare Inc. and PharMerica Corp.  tumbled Thursday morning on news reports that Omnicare’s proposed acquisition of its Louisville-based competitor may be a no-go with the Federal Trade Commission. Covington-based Omnicare was down nearly percent just before 10:30 a.m. to $33.29. PharMerica was down about 9 percent to $13.60.
Click the link for the story which includes background on this morning's report that President Obama intends to block any proposed merger between Omnicare and Pharmerica. Omnicare brings in $6 billion a year, so remember that when they are up to their shenanigans of allegedly defrauding the government in addition to requiring your money to pay their rent, first at RiverCenter and soon in Cincinnati. What an awful company.
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COVINGTON SCORES $88,000 TO BUILD HEALTHIER COMMUNITY
Awesome:
The funds from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors will support four health initiatives within the city: study of the impact of a smoke-free policy for residents of Housing Authority of Covington properties; smoke-free policies for all Covington pools; ability to use WIC nutrition vouchers and SNAP food benefits at the Covington farmers’ market; and increasing the infrastructure of the Licking River Greenway Trail.
The Covington Farmers Market is a worthwhile but struggling endeavor. Hopefully, allowing low-income residents the ability to participate will both boost those families' nutrtional intake and bring more people to the market.
Cincinnati Enquirer 
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DAYTON WORRIED ABOUT SYPHILIS FROM CINCINNATI
No, seriously, the headline at Carl Weiser's Cincinnati Enquirer blog even says so. But the entry links to an article from The Dayton Daily News:
The number of new syphilis cases in Hamilton County climbed to 420 in 2010 from just 36 in 2006. Occurrences in Montgomery County are also on the rise.
Public Health — Dayton and Montgomery County reported 70 cases in 2011, compared to 26 the year before. Interviews by disease-intervention specialists found a rising number of syphilis cases in Montgomery County originated in Cincinnati, according to Jim Gross, health commissioner for Public Health.
Dayton Daily News 
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UNEMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS SPIKE
Just when things start to turn around slowly, we get a blow of bad news:
Applications for weekly unemployment benefits spiked last week, largely because companies let go of thousands of workers after the holiday season. Weekly applications rose by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 399,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the highest level in six weeks.
ABC News  
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CHRISTIAN MOERLEIN LAGER HOUSE TO HIRE FOR NEXT 3 DAYS

This is going to be an awesome addition to Cincinnati's The Banks, and it's also an opportunity to get a job:
On-the-spot interviews will be conducted to fill more than 200 positions, including servers, bartenders, hosts, cooks and dishwashers.
Local 12 
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COVINGTON-BASED LGBT BLOG BLASTS GOP POSITION ON BULLYING
Back2Stonewall:
Well Ohio has gone one step further with Ohio Senate Education Committee passing the “Jessica Logan Act,” designed to stop harassment of students on and off campus but the the committee would only HB116 at the last minute when it was stripped the provision , “that would prohibit bullying based on any real or perceived characteristics of the student, such as race, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, and the bill did not include enumeration of particular characteristics.” according to Equality Ohio director Ed Mullen.
So basically this law protects no one and is so vauge that is give authority figures an “out” to ignore bullying of LGBT students, diabled students, or student bullied by race because they either don’t want to stop it or perceive it as wrong.
Back2Stonewall  
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BILL WOULD CAP WHAT KY CAN PUT ON STATE CREDIT CARD
The general fund debt could not exceed 6% of state revenue. Video at the link.
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CONWAY CALLS FOR REAUTHORIZATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
It has an ambiguous name, but the law is in fact supposed to protect women from abuse:
Attorney General Jack Conway today joined 52 of his fellow Attorneys General in calling on the U.S. Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to ensure that vital programs working to keep women and families safe from violence and abuse continue uninterrupted.
“The Violence Against Women Act is invaluable to those of us who work every day to investigate, prosecute and prevent domestic violence deaths,” General Conway said. “Since its passage in 1994, VAWA has resulted in a 50 percent drop in the number of domestic violence cases. Even so, three women each day in the United States are killed by abusive husbands and partners.”
press release 
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COVINGTON PRESERVATION FANS: ORDER YOUR NEW LICENSE PLATES TODAY!

Starting today, you can apply for a specialty licences plate that supports historic preservation in Kentucky. Check it out:
Details at the link.
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FORMER OHIO GOVERNOR JOINS KY'S TREY GRAYSON AT HARVARD
Ted Strickland, who was defeated in 2010 by Omnicare-stealer John Kasich, now has a new gig alongside former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson:
He will spend the academic semester as a resident fellow, interacting with students, participating in the intellectual life of the Harvard community and leading weekly study groups on a variety of issues, according to a press release from the school.
The fellows’ “public service experience throughout local, state and federal government and in journalism and international politics should create strong interest among students, faculty and the entire University community,” said Trey Grayson, director of the school’s Institute of Politics.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Carl Weiser  
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PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH WOULD HAVE ENDORSED HIS BROTHER IN 2012
That's what Laura Bush is saying:
Speaking to a sold-out Sarasota audience on Wednesday, Bush said she had hoped that her brother-in-law and former Florida governor would have jumped into the race this year. Husband George W. Bush “and I wish he would,” Laura Bush said when asked if Jeb Bush will run for president someday. “We wanted him to this time.”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune  
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in case you missed...
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A CASE AGAINST CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION
As state legislators weigh the funding of various proposed projects, NKY's wish list includes two in Covington: convention center expansion and development of Gateway's urban campus. City Journal makes a case against convention center expansions. Click the link, check it out, and share your thoughts on which is more important.
The River City News 
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THIS MORNING'S NEWS
President Obama is set to tell Omnicare, "Nope"; NKY Head Start chief defends quality in program amid trouble at other locations nationally; Holmes & Holy Cross will start tonight's basketball game in the second quarter; A Scott HS student plays video games with his feet and goes viral; Those stories and more at the link!
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MADISON EVENT CENTER SHOWS EXPANSION PROGRESS
The popular event center is getting a fresh new look and its Facebook page shows some of the progress:

The unveiling is set for January 25. More photos at the link.