THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks
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FEDERAL BILL WON'T IMPACT BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE
The federal transportation bill passed by Congress Friday does not include much in the form of news for this region's most important transportation project:
But there are provisions in the two-year, $54 billion agreement that indicate the federal government might place a higher priority on projects such as the Brent Spence Bridge. A provision in the new bill designates funds for projects determined to be of national and regional significance. But the program funding is just $500 million for the entire nation; the Brent Spence Bridge project alone has a $2.4 billion price tag.Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Jason Williams
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CITIES WAIT TO SEE HOW 911 MERGER PANS OUT
Before any of the Kenton County cities served by Erlanger's 911 emergency dispatch center express any interest in a fully merged county operation, they will watch and see how Kenton County absorbs Covington's dispatch operations first:
Officials from the cities of Edgewood, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright,Comments from officials in each city affect can be found in the full story at the link.
Lakeside Park, Ludlow and Park Hills say they’re exploring options, but are interested in seeing how the merger pans out before making any decisions.
Kenton County’s dispatch, which serves Taylor Mill, Ryland Heights, Kenton Vale and Independence and unincorporated areas of the county, is scheduled to take over Covington’s operations on Sept. 1.
After that, the cities served by Erlanger can choose to join the county’s service; officials from Edgewood, Fort Wright and Lakeside Park agree that services should eventually be under the same roof.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Libby Cunningham
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SPIKE JONES IS NAMED COVINGTON'S CHIEF OF POLICE
When he was 19, Spike Jones walked into the Covington police chief's office and asked how to become a cop. More than a quarter century later, he's sitting on the other side of that desk. Click the link for the full story and lots of photos.
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DON'T MISS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF COVINGTON CITY HALL
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Budget
"I feel sorry for the people in a state of limbo because it's a time of uncertainty." The City Commission passes a budget for next year that is short on specifics, but there is a promise that more details are on the way after they hear from you. Click the link for the full story.Specifics Will Come Later for Covington's New Budget
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Full City Commission Recap
The City finds itself on the losing end of two settlements: $600,000 to be paid to retired & active firefighters and $150,000 to be paid to the operators of a methadone clinic. Plus, why one Commissioner did not approve the exit agreement for the departing community development director. Click it.|
FRIDAY'S HEADLINES
The Governor was in Kenton County today for a large economic development announcement; A free concert in Covington tonight features 30 bands on 2 stages; Plus, an architect says The Ascent should be demolished! SRSLY. Those stories and much more at the link!
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DEFENDANT CAPTURED AFTER FLEEING DURING TRIAL
A Covington man convicted of hitting another man in the head with a tree branch, costing him part of his skull and causing brain damage, fled before the guilty verdict came down. But the Kenton County Sheriff's Office and US Marshals captured him Friday night in Cincinnati. Full story at the link, along with the weekly mugshot round-up.
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REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE QUITS JOB TO FOCUS ON NKY CONGRESSIONAL RACE
Thomas Massie has resigned his position as Lewis County Judge-Executive, less than two years on the job, so that he can focus on his Texas-based Super PAC-backed campaign to represent Northern Kentucky in Congress. The tea party Republican's job will be filled by an appointment made by Democratic Governor Steve Beshear.
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Democrat Bill Adkins, an attorney from Williamstown, who faces Massie in November, said this via his campaign Facebook page:
My opponent just quit his job as Lewis County Judge Executive after just a little over one year in office. He's had one job in ten years and quit after one year. What is the real reason behind his quitting a job that he was sworn to do, and that he promised to serve the people of Lewis County?|
PRIVATE AMBULANCE SERVICES DEBATED IN LEWIS COUNTY
The very county Massie no longer wants to lead is dealing with its decision to use a private ambulance company, a possibility in the near future for Covington as well, as complaints from the public begin to mount:
Richard Evans, a former employee of Med Corp, also spoke with reserve about Med Corp's coverage. Evans claimed that Med Corp had requested a $10,000 grant for equipment and that equipment was no longer usable. He also claimed Med Corp did not know where the equipment was currently located.One volunteer firefighter says in the report that he had heard of no complaints. Full story at the link.
Arthur argued back that Med Corp did know where the equipment was located, but it was currently out of commission due to the lack of parts to fix the equipment.
Evans also told the court he had a petition with 133 signatures requesting a new ambulance service in Lewis County.
Ledger-Independent/Christy Hoots
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QUICKIES
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700 new jobs coming to Northern Kentucky press release
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Kentucky woman who lost leg in tornado meets President Obama WBKO
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US Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville)tells Republicans that they should consider actually reading the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") WFPL
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Report: More abuse and neglect at Kentucky care centers Herald-Leader
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Governor Beshear signs House Bill 362 press release
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Businesses: File your annual reports by July 2 Secretary of State
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STATE SEN. THAYER: TASK FORCE TO REVIEW PENSION PROBLEMS
Perhaps the biggest obstacle facing Kentucky's economic vitality is the low fund balance in the pension system. Sen. Thayer issued this release Friday:
A new state task force charged with recommending ways to improve the financial health of the state’s public pension funds will hold its first meeting on July 2nd.More details here.
The Kentucky Public Pensions Task Force – chaired by Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, and Rep. Mike Cherry, D-Princeton – will hold monthly meetings up until a Dec. 7 deadline for offering recommendations. Members plan to take a wide look at issues surrounding the systems, including benefits, investments, funding and any other matter that impacts the financial stability of the state-administered retirement systems.
As of June of last year, the unfunded liability of Kentucky’s state-administered retirement systems exceeded $30 billion. The systems administer retirement and retiree health benefits to more than 475,000 current and former public employees.
At the task force’s first meeting, members will be provided with an overview of the administration, benefits, funding, investments, and concerns of the Kentucky Retirement Systems and a national perspective on public pension issues and individual state reactions. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 2, in room 171 of the Capitol Annex.
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KY SPEEDWAY CONFIDENT IN NO REPEAT OF 'CARMAGEDDON'
These folks like to see cars go fast, after all:
In the 51 weeks since parking problems at the track spawned traffic backups on highways leading to it — marring the long-awaited running of a Cup Series race at the Gallatin County venue — Kentucky Speedway and the state's transportation cabinet have spent more than $11 million to expand available parking and improve infrastructure around the track.The real trouble will be staying cool out there around all that concrete on this very hot day.
A new traffic management and parking plan has been developed using computer modeling. Kentucky State Police will be responsible for executing that plan with the help of a new parking vendor. One trooper will be stationed in each of the speedway's parking lots to keep order.
Cincinnati Enquirer via USA Today
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CITYBEAT REVIEWS COVINGTON'S NEWEST RESTAURANT - WHACKBURGER
So far, people seem to really like it:
What do ground beef, onomatopoeia and a slew of fresh ingredients have in common? Well, nothing, really, unless you’re at the new gourmet burger restaurant WhackBurger in Covington. The small restaurant has been open for about a month now, serving big, juicy burgers with creative toppings right across the street from Madison Theater.See what they thought of the food at the link.
I’m a huge fan of restaurants with simple menus and a clear specialty, and WhackBurger takes the prize for both these things. They offer essentially one thing (you guessed it — burgers). There are 14 styles of burgers and six different sides. You pick one of each and pay the only price listed on the menu: $9.95. Simple, yes. But the options are anything but boring.
Take, for instance, the Egg & Green Chile burger with a fried egg, melted bleu cheese and green chile relish or the Aufiderzein with grilled sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and spicy mustard. Pow!
CityBeat/Brian Cross
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BOYFRIEND READY TO TAKE RELATIONSHIP TO PREVIOUS LEVEL
LOL:
"After spending every waking moment with Carol for 72 hours, I know in my heart that I'm prepared to see her face twice, maybe even once a week," said Sullivan, who met Moag, 34, at a friend's New Year's party in January. Sullivan claimed he has been considering "taking the big leap backward" since Moag suggested last month that the two get a cat.The Onion
