360 Fireworks Party

Saturday, April 7, 2012

PHOTOS: HUNTING FOR EGGS IN DEVOU PARK

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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It was perfect weather Saturday for the City of Covington's Easter Egg Hunt in Devou Park. Check out the photos: 
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LOTS MORE PHOTOS BELOW, JUST CLICK THE LINK!
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NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY MORNING 7 APR

by Michael Monks 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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WOMAN DRIVES CAR THROUGH COVINGTON BUSINESS
The Wireless Connection store on Madison Avenue needs some facade work after a confused driver guided her car through the front door Friday morning:
Police say a woman, whose name has not been released, thought she parked her car on the street; however, she accidently hit the gas propelling her into the front of Wireless Connection at 1320 Madison Ave. at about 6:30 a.m. 
A photo of the damage with the car still inside is at the link. 
KYPost.com 
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HERE'S WHAT THE STOREFRONT LOOKED LIKE FRIDAY EVENING:
Click to enlarge
They got that board up and the "sorry for the mess" sign made pretty quickly!
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CROSS-COUNTY CONNECTOR COULD GET $54 MILLION
Kentucky 536 through Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties still would not be built, but right-of-way design would be funded. The roads bill in Frankfort, in addition to several other Covington projects, includes funding for Taylor Mill Road and Hands Pike:
The plan also includes $21 million for the completion of the Ky. 16 widening in Taylor Mill and Covington and for widening an accident-prone portion of Hands Pike. “If the road plan passes intact April 12, it will be the best road plan for my district in several years,” said Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman  
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CONVICTED: MUGSHOT ROUND-UP
Who's going to prison and who got probation? Click the link for your weekly mugshot round-up from Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders. 
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HAVE YOU SEEN THESE MEN MISSING FROM KENTON COUNTY?

Click to enlarge
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FRANKFORT HEADLINES
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Governor, Attorney General urge passage of prescription drug abuse bill Bluegrass Politics 
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Bipartisan effort to pass pain pill clinic bill Herald-Leader
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Governor's inauguration committee must decide what to do with $300,000+ left over from event Courier-Journal 
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Treasurer's office returns unclaimed items to counties affected by tornadoes WFPL 
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Coal lobby has grown since Upper Big Branch disaster WFPL
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Ex-mine boss not allowed to leave West Virginia Herald-Leader
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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VILLAGE WINE GALLERY OPENS IN MAINSTRASSE
Hamelin's Square is starting to take shape as owner David Jones welcomed guests for the first time to the Village Wine Gallery at 6th & Philadelphia Streets. Works by Cincinnati International Wine Festival artist Larry Womack was on display. Two candidates for Covington offices were also in attendance with campaign materials in tow, mayoral candidate Steve Casper and Commissioner Steve Frank. 
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PHOTOS:
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David Jones (L) and artist Larry Womack


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COVINGTON, NKY WINERIES TRY TO BUILD MOMENTUM
Drink a glass of wine that was created right here in Covington: 
Schmidt’s Covington winery is among dozens returning the commonwealth to pre-Prohibition days, when the Bluegrass State was the country’s third-largest grape- and wine-producing state, according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Mike Rutledge 
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QUICKIES
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President Obama's Kentucky campaign headquarters opens today in Louisville Click Here 
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Will Kentucky's GOP primary matter? Herald-Leader 
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Here are the long-term consequences of abuse: Child Welfare
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Could banning pink slime be bad for the environment? Washington Post 
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Check out what's coming up at The Carnegie Click Here 
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THREE PIZZERIAS IN THE RIVER CITIES MAKE ENQUIRER LIST
Cincinnati Enquirer food critic Polly Campbell compiles a Hall of Fame for the best pizza places in Greater Cincinnati. Giuseppe's in Covington made the list (and she ain't lyin' -- it is outstanding pizza) as did one in Newport and one in Dayton. LaRosa's also made the list and has multiple locations in Covington and the river cities. 
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THE JACKSONS KICK OFF UNITY TOUR IN LOUISVILLE
Catch the four surviving members of the Jackson Five at the Palace Theater in June: 
“This is a dream coming true,” Jackie Jackson said in a statement. “I can’t believe this is finally happening. There’s nothing like having all the brothers on stage at the same time. This will be exciting for our fans around the world, and I know at each concert, MJ’s spirit will be in the house with us.” A reunion has been rumored for years, predating Michael Jackson’s 2009 death from a fatal overdose of propofol. 
Courier-Journal/Jeffrey Lee Puckett 
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NKY RECORD PRODUCER AUTO-TUNES LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR
Did you know that there is a Grammy-winning record producer in Northern Kentucky? Erwin Musper has worked with Bon Jovi and other big time acts in his Campbell County home/studio dubbed The Bamboo Room. WCPO's Tanya O'Rourke went for a visit in a fun segment

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SPORTS
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UK'S ANTHONY DAVIS APPEARS ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
While in Los Angeles to accept the John Wooden Award, Davis made an appearance on the late night talk show where he admitted that while he may stay in school, driving around in a Bentley sure sounds nice. 
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KENTUCKY WOMAN PUTS HOME-MADE UK QUILT ON EBAY FOR $150,000
A Bardstown woman spent years working on a quilt that includes the name of every player to suit up for the Wildcats since 1903. Now that it's finished -- she wants big bucks for it: 
"I sat down and tried to figure out what someone would pay me if I was sewing for them," she told Page 2. "The hours I put into it, I tried to figure out the middle pay, and that's how I came up with that price. For 18 years straight I worked on it. It wasn't 40 hours per week, so I probably had six or seven years of full-time hours tied up in this. I'm just trying to figure out an honest price for it." $150,000 is the least she'd sell the quilt for, but she is hoping to surpass $200,000. The "buy it now" price is $275,000. There were zero bids as of Friday afternoon, with three days left to bid.
ESPN 
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Now there is even less time to bid, and still no takers.
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POST-GAME COUCH BURNING ALLEVIATES LEXINGTON'S BED BUG PROBLEM
LOL:
Pest control experts confirmed the news shortly after the celebrations had quieted and the couches had been extinguished. “This is now one of the most bedbug free cities in America,” said Dr. Kevin Nopinger. “It seems that the biggest population of the bugs were in hiding specifically at the homes of Kentucky Wildcat fans, and specifically at the homes of Wildcat fans who show their happiness by setting furniture on fire.” 
Derf Magazine (Satire) 
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Fans stuck with counterfeit Reds tickets FOX 19 
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EASTER EGG HUNT THIS AFTERNOON IN DEVOU PARK
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Head to Devou Park's Volpenhein Pavillion around 1:30PM today. The hunt starts at 2:00PM, but don't show up late! Parking fills up fast. Happy hunting, kids!
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OR YOU COULD GO PUPPY HUNTING!
Check out the Recycled Doggies adoption event in Milford, OH today from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. 

CONVICTED: MUGSHOT ROUND-UP 7 APR

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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The following people are among a long list from this week's activity in Kenton County Circuit Court. Some are going to prison while others are on probation or in the felony diversion program. A few more are still wanted for failing to appear in court: 




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The most high-profile sentencing of the week belongs to Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson: 
On 3/1/12 Simpson pled guilty to Prohibited Acts Related to a Controlled Substance. Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders recommended a sentence of 3 years probated for 3 years, serve 60 days in the county jail. On 4/5/12 Simpson was sentenced to 3 years probated for 3 years, serve 15 days in the county jail. 
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There are more at the link below with an 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. 
This Week in Kenton Circuit Court

Friday, April 6, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING 6 APR

by Michael Monks 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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in case you missed...
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THURSDAY EVENING'S NEWS
City expresses concern over Brent Spence Bridge plans (a pool may be eliminated and access to Devou Park may be affected); Steps being taken to involve residents in preventing a repeat of the St. Patrick's Day fallout in Mainstrasse; One Covington neighborhood warns of cars being "egged"; And, in case you missed, a second candidate drops out the city commission race. Click the link for those stories and more. 
AMAZON WAREHOUSE PUSHES WORKERS TO PHYSICAL LIMITS
The Seattle Times takes a look at a Campbellsville, Kentucky warehouse (Amazon has another one in Boone County): 
"The Amazon motto is 'Work hard, have fun and make history,' and that's what we did," said Wethington, who worked for more than a decade at the Campbellsville fulfillment center before she was fired last year for a safety violation.
But over time, said former workers at Campbellsville, production pressure from headquarters intensified amid constant turnover.
As those tensions spilled onto the warehouse floor, Amazon gained a reputation as a difficult place to earn a living.
"There would be phone conferences [with Seattle], and all this screaming, about production numbers. That was always the problem; the production numbers weren't high enough," said a former safety manager with oversight of the warehouse who spoke on condition of anonymity. "This was just a brutal place to work."
Former managers said the company created a work environment where employees who complained about conditions, including excessive heat, risked retaliation.
After nearly two years on the job, one former manager was troubled enough about conditions to write an email to an Amazon regional vice president. He says he detailed concerns about unreasonable expectations of workers during extremely hot days, how production rates were set and other issues.
A week later, the former manager says, he was accused of a minor rules infraction and given the choice of leaving the company or getting fired.
"I said that this makes no sense," he recalled. "There were huge problems at Campbellsville, and I wanted them to do an investigation." The tough tactics extended to the treatment of sick and injured workers, according to a former human-resources employee.
"They would have meetings on how we could get rid of people who were hurt. It was horrible," she said. "I would try to find them [the workers] light-duty jobs that they could do, and they [managers] would say no. They wanted the workers to exhaust their time off so they could fire them."
Read it all. 
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LICKING RIVER TRAILS TO HOST EVENT TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION
From Vision 2015: 
Vision 2015, in partnership with the City of Covington and our trail funders Humana, the R.C. Durr Foundation, Kenton Conservancy, the Recreational Trails Program and Jerry Stricker invite you and your family to attend a celebratory event marking the beginning of construction on the Licking River Trails. Saturday, May 5, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. A short program will begin at 11:00 a.m. At the Corner of Levassor and Easter Avenues in Covington (just behind Holmes High School) Loads of activities, prizes and give-aways including a bike raffle, a band and entertainment for the entire family!

To see more photos from the trails shot last week during a large clean-up effort that was filmed by KET, click the link below. 
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NEW ART GALLERY TO OPEN TONIGHT IN MAINSTRASSE
One of the features of the planned Hamelin's Square at 6th & Philadelphia Streets will debut tonight. David Jones will celebrate the opening of his art gallery at 526 Philadelphia Street tonight from 5:30 - 8:30PM. For more about all that's planned for Hamelin Square, click the link below. 
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QUICKIES
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State Senator: 2012 session in Frankfort "one of the worst" cn|2
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Copper thieves cost Kentucky community phone service WKYT 
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Manager of a Kentucky Kroger shot by shoplifter Local 12 
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At UK, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas talks about his early life and the court Herald-Leader 
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KENTUCKY IS BEST AND WORST OF NCAA BASKETBALL
So says a New York Post columnist:
This Kentucky team may have been fronted by a university, nothing else related to college, but it knew how to play winning, attractive five-man ball, none of that “Gotta get it into your star’s hands” plan played to the beat of a funeral drum and sold by simplistic media voices.
Of course, The New York Post represents only the worst of the media. 
NY Post/Phil Mushnick 
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SEE ALSO: State of Kentucky shone during NCAA Tournament Herald-Leader 
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SEE ALSO: Professor teaches leadership through basketball WKYT 
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NKU grad to debut with White Sox Maysville Ledger Independent 
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IRS offers eight tips to remain in its good graces Business First 
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Help on the path to losing a pet Cincinnati Enquirer 
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LUCKY DOGS (AND CATS!) ADOPTED SO FAR IN APRIL AT KENTON SHELTER

See more here.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY EVENING 5 APR

by Michael Monks 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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CITY COMMISSION FIELD SHRINKS TO EIGHT AS DRESSMAN DROPS OUT
The city commission election is now down to eight candidates which means all will advance to the November general election. Candidate Matt Dressman has withdrawn his candidacy. Click the link for his statement and for what this means for the ballot.
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in case you missed...
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THIS MORNING'S NEWS
The man accused of killing an Ohio woman and dumping body parts in South Covington says the victim wanted to die, and now he does, too; Plus, a nice music video shot in the former Kenton Co Jail. Those stories and more at the link. 
The RC News: Thursday Morning Round-Up 
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CITY TO HOST MEETING ON IMPACT OF BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE
The City of Covington is concerned about an exit ramp from the new Brent Spence Bridge and possibly losing Goebel Park's pool and an important access to Devou Park. A public meeting is scheduled for next week. Click the link for details on the concerns and the meeting.
The River City News 
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SEE ALSO: House in path of new Louisville bridge not eligible for historic register Courier-Journal 
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FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS
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West Latonia: Via Facebook, "Latonia residents... be on alert... on Ashland Ave... cars were egged and broken into last night... everyone be extra aware of whats going on..."
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Mainstrasse: At Wednesday night's Residents of Mainstrasse Association meeting, Covington city solicitor Frank Warnock met with neighbors and discussed the Saint Patrick's Day event and offered a list of roughly twenty suggestions on how to make similar events work better in the future. Additionally, Warnock asked the neighbors for more suggestions. 
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COVINGTON POLICE NAB ONE OF ITS MOST WANTED

Lucius Hutchinson was arrested on April 3 by Oxford Police based on a Crimestoppers tip. 
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DOCUMENTS RELEASED IN MURDER CASE OF FORMER GOVERNOR'S SON
Former state legislator Steve Nunn, son of former Governor Louie B. Nunn, had a strong rift grow between his father and him before he murdered his ex-fiancee, as demonstrated by newly released documents: 
In his letter to his son, the former governor foretold: “You are going to wake up some morning and be all alone.” Louie Nunn closed his admonishment by writing: “To the fullest extent possible within my mind and memory, you do not exist. You have had many choices and chances to amend. Your decisions have been otherwise. May God have mercy.” 
Read an article on the documents: Courier-Journal 
Read the documents: Courier-Journal 

QUICKIES

Deadline approaching to file for tornado-related unemployment insurance press release 
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$100,000 assigned to help rebuild West Liberty press release 

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Kenton County Police publish photos of tornado damage:
See more here.
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Guilty plea reached in scheme to mail large doses of oxycontin from Florida to Kentucky press release 
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Industrial hemp closer to being legalized in Kentucky despite failure in Legislature NKY Spot 
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month press release  


SEN. MCCONNELL BLASTS PRESIDENT'S REMARKS IN LEXINGTON
Kentucky's senior senator was in the Commonwealth Thursday and blasted President Obama for remarks made regarding the Supreme Court's current deliberations over the Affordable Care & Patient Protection Act: 
“So earlier this week, the President did something that as far as I know is completely unprecedented: he not only tried to publicly pressure the Court into deciding a pending case in the way he wants it decided; he also questioned its very authority under the Constitution.
“And if anybody had any doubt about that, it should have been dispelled on Tuesday, when a federal appeals court ordered an administration lawyer to clarify whether the administration does, in fact, believe that the courts of the United States of America have the right to determine whether laws passed by Congress violate the Constitution. This was a clear response to the President’s comments from earlier in the week, and proof positive of the signal it sent to the judiciary. 
Mitch McConnell (The River City News will link to McConnell's plan to solve this country's health care crisis as soon as our senior senator has one.) 
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SEE ALSO: The latest SuperPAC to emerge in Kentucky is working to get McConnell reelected in 2014 cn|2 
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FIREFIGHTERS ENDORSE ALECIA WEBB-EDGINGTON IN 4TH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL RACE press release 

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MORE QUICKIES

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Covington man among winners of $250,000 Mega Millions ticket sold in Taylor Mill (1 of 2 suck tickets in NKY) Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Some Covington restaurants (Keystone, for example) among those saving tons of money working with this food service provider Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Southgate House to reopen as Thompson House which now has a new website and opening date set Cincy Music 
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Volunteer opportunity at the Notre Dame Urban Education Center in Covington NKY Helps 
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Travel industry magazine profiles Louisville Travel Industry Today 
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What effect have the ArtWorks murals had on Covington: 

"It was important that this mural was done in our neighborhood because it demonstrated to residents and visitors alike the community pride in the area. It is uplifting to all who work, live and/or play in the neighborhoold to know that someone cared enough to go to such expense and trouble to put this spectacular painting on the Be Concerned wall. Our experience with ArtWorks has been a consistently positive one."-Paul Gottbrath, Be Concerned, Covington, KY 
ArtWorks 
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New brick oven pizza joint opening in Newport Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Kentucky Derby trophy arrives at Churchill Downs Daily Racing News 
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Kentucky Historical Society to discuss how the Run for the Roses became the most important race in America press release 
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LOL: 
Ever since that photo of Hillary Clinton looking like a total badass emerged online this week, a new internet meme is born -- and it is hilarious. Check them out here.

CITY EXPRESSES CONCERN WITH ONE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE PLAN

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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The City of Covington will host a meeting next week to hear feedback on the remaining possible plans for a new Brent Spence Bridge. Today the City issued a press release outlining its concerns with "Alternative I" and its impact on Covington:
Access issues:

Northbound: Instead of having direct access to 5th Street like there is today, motorists would need to exit at 12th Street and then travel on a new, one-way, local road (Jillians Way) from 12th to 5th through several traffic signals in Alternative I that is being recommended. The City feels direct access to 5th Street from the collector distributor road is necessary.

Southbound: Alternative I does provide access to 5th Street and 9th Street from SB I-75. However, the decision point is located one mile north of the Ohio River near the Museum Center at Ezzard Charles. If you miss this exit, your next opportunity to exit in Kentucky from I-75 southbound will occur at Kyles Lane in Fort Wright. There is no opportunity to exit into Covington once the City is visible or once you cross the bridge into Kentucky. The City feels direct access from I-75 southbound into Covington on the Kentucky side of the bridge is necessary. The project team has looked at several options and has determined a direct ramp from I-75 SB to 9th Street is feasible.

Clay Wade Bailey Bridge: Alternative I currently shows connections from the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge to I-75 northbound and to Clay Wade Bailey Bridge from I-75 southbound. The City feels these connections would improve access into the City's Riverfront area and better utilize this bridge. There have been talks about removing these connections from the project and we want to advocate that they remain.

Impact to Goebel Pool:

The City feels that Goebel Pool will become unusable once the Brent Spence Bridge project is built. The noise studies taken at and around the pool already exceed the acceptable levels for a recreational facility. This project will bring the roadway even closer to the pool and noise projections show the noise levels will increase even further beyond the acceptable range. In addition, the proximity of the road will also create issues with cleaning the pool. The City feels we should be compensated for the loss of the usefulness of the pool, or the pool should be relocated as part of the project.

Access to Devou Park if Lewis is closed:

In Alternative I, the plans show the connection from Pike Street to Lewis being closed. This currently acts as one of the major access points into Devou Park. If the connection to Lewis is removed, the City feels off street parking needs to be provided along Montague and road improvements on Montague need to be made in order for this to become a 2-way road and an entrance to the park.

Mitigation for impacts to Goebel Park and Lewisburg:

As part of the 4f and 6f environmental processes associated with roadway projects, the project team is required to mitigate the impacts to parks and historical areas. Goebel Park and Lewisburg both fall into this category and will be impacted by the project. The City would like to make sure the recommendations that have been made by the City, SD1, residents, and other stakeholders are implemented into the project. For Lewisburg, the City is recommending a façade grant program, a purchase rehab program, demolition of non-contributing buildings, and/or the Charles Zimmer Memorial Path as a re-connection from Lewisburg to commercial and recreational areas of the City. For Goebel Park, SD1 developed a plan incorporating Green Infrastructure into the park along with improvements recommended by the public (parking, walking trails/boardwalk, basketball court, etc.)
The public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11, from 5:00 - 8:00PM at City Hall in the Commission Chambers.