NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 8 FEB

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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GALLERY OF GREAT BLACK KENTUCKIANS GAINS 3 NEW MEMBERS TODAY

From the Kentucky Human Rights Commission:

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights invites everyone to attend the February 8 Commission meeting where the Board of Commissioners will rule on discrimination complaints for the people of Kentucky.
This month, the commission will meet at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., at 9:30 a.m. (EST), in Room 113 of the Capitol Annex Building, 702 Capitol Ave., just behind the Capitol building.
Then, at 11:30 a.m., the commission will appear in the Capitol Rotunda to help celebrate Black History Month with the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus and the Legislature. There, the commission will announce three inductees to its Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians. Many other activities are planned for the event, too. The public is invited to both of these events.

Press Release
The new inductees have yet to be named publicly, but Covington already has two women in the gallery:
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MARGARET GARNER
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Margaret Garner became widely known when she and her family rebelled against their bondage and made an escape to freedom. In the winter of 1856, she and her husband Robert, their four children, and Robert’s parents fled the Maplewood Plantation in Boone County Kentucky and got away by crossing on foot the frozen Ohio River from Covington, Ky., to Cincinnati, Ohio. Pursuers found and captured the family in Ohio. Tragically, Garner attempted to put to death all of her children and herself, crying to captors that is was better to die than live as slaves. The unbelievable act so shocked the public that slavery was brought to the fore as a wrong and shameful institution. Garner is not the typical person chosen to have a poster in the educational Gallery series. But her role in Kentucky history is considered sigificant. Her resolve to help her family escape the ugliness of slavery holds a sad place in a dark era of Kentucky history. 

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JANE ROBERTA SOMERS

Jane Roberta Summers (1895 - 1992) was a pillar of strength in the Covington community. She was a tireless activist and trailblazer who waged campaigns against social injustice, racism, homelessness, and hunger. Ms. Summers was the first woman manager of the government ubsidized apartments, Jacob Price Homes, located in Covington, Kentucky. She held the position of manager of Jacob Price Homes for twenty-five years. Ms. Summers was instrumental in the organization of the original Meals on Wheels in Covington, Kentucky. After her retirement at the age of 75, she joined the staff of the Covington Community Action Commission. Remarkably, Jane Summers became a paralegal at the age of 77 to aid those in need of low-cost legal services. Jane Roberta Summers was a stalwart member of the NAACP and the Poor People’s Coalition. On May 5, 1991, Covington Mayor Denny Bowman proclaimed the day to be “Jane Summer’s Day” in honor of the many services that Ms. Summers provided to the Covington community. Ms. Summers was further memorialized through the Jane Roberta Summers Foundation that was formed to continue her endeavor for social equality. 

See the full gallery by clicking here.
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SEE ALSO: NKU to show and discuss the film Natural Woman

The film will explore the voices and images of Black women as they candidly discuss the triumph and tragedy of having natural hair. The event is free to the public and the community is invited to come and take part in this discussion. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion with the creator, Cindy Hurst, and members of the NKU and surrounding community.

Details at the link.
NKU 
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COVINGTON CITY COMMISSION RECAP
Did you miss last night's coverage of the Covington City Commission meeting? A proposed tax amnesty plan, intentions to beautify part of Downtown, and the resignation of three City board chairmen highlighted Tuesday night's meeting. Full report at the link. 
The River City News 
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CENTER CITY ACTION PLAN & BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT DISCUSSED TODAY
The River City News will have this important development covered for you. This morning at 11:30AM, the Covington Business Council and the Denver-based Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA) will discuss the endeavors aimed at revitalizing Covington's urban core. Additionally, we may learn what PUMA has discovered in its research so far. Stay with The River City News for updates.

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WHOA! WHAT'S GOING ON IN FRANKFORT?

Check out this tweet from Kentucky Public Radio:

KPR_Frankfort KentuckyPublicRadio 

Let's recap the past 24 hr: Major Cabinet Secretary is out. Redistricting in shambles. No budget, no gambling bill yet. What now? #kyga12

35 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

That pretty much sums it up... what now?

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HERE'S WHAT NOW:

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KENTON CO STATE REP SPONSORS COUNTY UNIFICATION BILL

If counties want to merge, it would be up to the voters. 

Republican state Rep. Adam Koenig of Erlanger is sponsoring the measure that would allow two or more counties to consolidate if approved by voters. Unification of counties has long been a hot topic in Kentucky, which has 120. But local officials have been resistant to the idea.

AP via WKYT 
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KY CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN LIMBO TOO
After Tuesday's ruling that the Commonwealth's state legislative districts would remain in tact for the November elections, it appears the same may be true for the Congressional maps too:

The deadline was 4:00 pm today. And as it passed, state House leaders were still waiting on approval from the Senate on the latest compromise on what the districts should look like. That approval may not come anytime soon. House Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins says there’s no framework for an agreement in place.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo says if the current proposal can’t pass, then no new maps will be approved this session. 

WFPL/Kenny Colston  
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FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE BILL HEADS TO KY SENATE
The bill would create a new board to oversee for-profit colleges. It passed the house 91 - 5.
Herald-Leader/Beth Musgrave 
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KY COURTS ASK FOR MORE STAFF & BETTER COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
Apparently the state courts are using 25-year old computer systems:

At the heart of the Judicial Branch budget request is money for a new Case Management System to overhaul the current computer system across the commonwealth. The new system would be implemented in three phases. Minton requested authorization to sell bonds for the first phase at a cost of $2.2 million in debt service per year.

More with video at the link.
cn|2/Don Weber 
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A SECOND DEMOCRAT FILES TO REPRESENT COVINGTON IN DC
Bill Adkins, a lawyer from Williamstown, want to be KY-4's next Congressman:

Williamstown, KY—Bill Adkins (D) has filed this afternoon for election to the 4th Congressional District of the United States House of Representatives. Adkins resides in Williamstown, located in Grant County, KY and is married with 7 children and one granddaughter. He is the current Chairman of the Grant County Democratic Executive Committee since 2008.

“I officially filed today to run for Congress. I have entered this race because the hard working people of Kentucky’s 4th District need a voice in Washington who will stand up for them,” says Adkins. “I am running because I believe Democratic principles to be part of the solution and because the policies put forth by Republicans are those same failed policies they’ve promoted over the last decade, the same policies that brought about our current economic catastrophe, increased the national debt by over $6 trillion and wrought havoc with the personal financial status of so many Kentuckians.”

Adkins is an attorney in private practice, operating out of his Williamstown, KY office. He is President of the Grant County Bar Association, a member of the Board of Directors of NKBA, is the Grant County Law Library Treasurer, and currently a member of the County Board of Elections. 

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FORMER UK BASKETBALL PLAYER COMMITS SUICIDE
Rest in peace, Jim Dinwiddie:

Attorney and former University of Kentucky basketball player Jim Dinwiddie, 63, was found dead Tuesday morning in an apparent suicide, said Grayson County Coroner Joseph Brad Hudson. Officers from the Leitchfield Police Department found Dinwiddie dead of a single gunshot wound in his home on the public square in Leitchfield.

Dinwiddie played under Adolph Rupp for three seasons and was drafted in 1971 by the NBA's 76ers.
Herald-Leader/Karla Ward 

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/07/2059865/former-uk-wildcat-basketball-player.html#storylink=rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#storylink=cpy

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SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON: NO GRENADES AT CVG AIRPORT
Nevertheless, some doofus tried to carry one through security anyway prompting an evacuation last night.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jennifer Edwards Baker 
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COVINGTON COMPANY FORCED TO RECALL IMPORTED LAMPS
Designs Direct, which has its offices inside the old NKY Convention & Visitors Bureau building in Mainstrasse, is recalling some lamps from China:

WHY: The electrical cord can fray near the base of the lamp, posing a fire or shock hazard to consumers.

No instances of injury were reported but 2,000 lamps are involved.
Washington Post 
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WHAT'S UP WITH ALL THESE WILD HOGS?
And why do they make me hungry?

A nightmare on four-legs moves into our area and leaves an obvious path of destruction in its wake. "The most destructive wild animal" in North America is making it's way across the Tri-State. Wild hogs will destroy woodlands, farm fields and wildlife if not kept in check.

Local 12/Rich Jaffe 

File photo: Wild hog

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CONGRESSMAN YARMUTH TALKS KENTUCKY BOURBON WITH EZRA KLEIN
I love John Yarmuth and I love Ezra Klein -- what a great treat!
Washington Post 
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KY HORSE PARK WINS 3 SPOTS IN TOP 25 HORSE SHOWS
Another Kentucky treasure:

The KHP was WOWED this week when we found out that THREE of our horse shows made the North American Riders Group (NARG) list of Top 25 Horse Shows of 2011. No other facility was listed more than once. Congratulations Alltech National Horse Show, Kentucky Spring Horse Shows and the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships!

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COVINGTON ARTS PICKS A WINNING PROFILE PICTURE

A neat contest and a good way to engage an audience ends with a winner!

The votes are in, the race has ended, a winner has emerged! Congratulations Chris Kromer. Your stunning image of The Roebling Bridge is our new face! A fun fact about the Roebling Bridge is that over 166,000 people walked across it in the first two days of December in 1866 when the bridge first opened...and we think traffic is bad now when we go to work.

There were lots of wonderful entries. See the full list here.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY EVENING 29 DEC

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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FOMER COV-CIN SUSPENSION BRIDGE PRES, DOO WOP STAR DIES

Bob Armstrong died Tuesday afternoon at his Milford home. He was 67:

Bob Armstrong, also known as T-Bob, was born on May 12, 1944 and lived around the Cincinnati area all his life. In his early days Armstrong was a musician and played the Hammond B3 organ. One of his highlights was playing for The Casinos, who traveled and opened with The Beach Boys in the late 1960’s. He also received a Gold Record with The Casinos for the song “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.”

Armstrong continued his music passion and played locally over the decades. He was a Professional Engineer and worked around Cincinnati and Dayton with his own and other electrical companies. That passion led him to become an integral part of the Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee in the 1980’s. He held two separate terms as the CCSBC President.

Armstrong's most recent contribution to the Roebling Suspension Bridge included spearheading the donation drive to raise $450,000 to replace the structure's lights. More at the link.
FOX 19/Richard Todd  
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The Casinos, a late 1960s doo wop group from Cincinnati for which Armstrong was the keyboardist, had a top 10 song with this recording:

You may be more familiar with Eddy Arnold's 1968 version which topped the country charts or Neal McCoy's top 10 country version in 1996.

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STATE REP. ADAM KOENIG WON'T RUN FOR CONGRESS

Instead, the former Kenton County Commissioner will run for reelection to the 69th House District:

“Serving the people of the 69th District as their member in the Kentucky General Assembly is truly an honor,” Koenig said in a statement. “I’m eager to continue tackling the tough issues facing our state, such as balancing a budget that is short on revenue, cutting back on regulatory red-tape businesses face and increasing our economic opportunities through tax and pension reform.”

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman  
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WEBB-EDGINGTON RELEASES CAMPAIGN LOGO
The Republican State Rep that is running for Geoff Davis's seat wants you to take a look at this:

Nice.

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GOV. BESHEAR TALKS GAMBLING WITH STATE SEN. DAMON THAYER

The Republican legislator from Georgetown (and whose district includes South Covington) met with Democrat Beshear at the Governor's request:

Thayer said he met with Beshear at the governor’s request to discuss several issues for the 2012 General Assembly session, but expanded gambling got the most attention. Thayer said he had a “very frank and open discussion” with Beshear, who won re-election in November and said he would push for a statewide vote on expanded gambling with an emphasis on assisting the horse racing and breeding industry. “It’s going to be a challenge but we pledged to work together in a good-faith effort to come up with ballot language that can pass the House of Representatives and Senate,” said Thayer, who chairs the Senate State and Local Government Committee. “The governor has met one on one with other legislators such as Senate President (David) Williams but wants me to play a major role (on this issue).

Blood Horse  
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FIRE BURNS VACANT BUILDING ON BANKLICK STREET
The 1300 block was busy for a spell at around noon when flames were seen inside the 3-story structure. No one was hurt. Photos available at the link.
NKY Spot 
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COVINGTON LIBRARY BUSY IN SPITE OF MESS
This is such a great development for Downtown Covington. A bigger, better version of an already top-notch library right across the street from what will be a growing urban campus for Gateway College all adjacent to an historic neighborhood. Great stuff:

“Circulation is down a little bit, but not as much as we anticipated, and electronic resources are being used about the same,” said Dave Schroeder, executive director of the county’s library system.
(snip)
The project includes: turning the basement into the new children’s department and staff offices; installing a sprinkler system; turning the garage into office and storage space; fixing the foundation on the east side of the building; a new entrance pavilion, public restrooms, circulation department and drive-thru window; raising the ceiling in the main reading room, creating a clerestory and allowing more natural light into the room; and the installation of emergency stairwells.

Cincinnati Enquirer/William Croyle  
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COVINGTONIAN TO OPEN COFFEE SHOP IN FORT THOMAS
Fort Thomas has a neat little downtown called the Historic Midway District. A Covington woman is ready to add her touch to it:

For the past few months, Covington resident Eden McDermott has been working with the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission to develop the business plan for a new coffee shop she plans to open in the Midway in the spring. McDermott said the idea for the shop came to her after she was laid off from her marketing position around Memorial Day. “I sat down one day and tried to figure out what I wanted to do with my life,” McDermott said. “I’d always wanted to own a small business, so I started looking into it.”

She wants to call it "Eden Perk". Love it.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Amanda Joering Alley  
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HOLY CROSS'S ROAD TO THE STATE FOOTBALL TITLE
Tri-State Football takes you week by week on the Indians' historic gridiron journey:

GAME #10 – HOLY CROSS 41, HOLMES 0: The 2011 “Battle of Covington” between Holy Cross and Holmes ended prematurely during the third quarter when Tom Ellis Field succumbed to a power failure. The end of the game for the Bulldogs happened as soon as it started as Holy Cross bludgeoned Holmes 41-0 at the time the game was called. Fuller destroyed the normally stingy Holmes defense passing for 304 yards and throwing four touchdown passes. Fuller also led the rushing attack with 100 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Beal accounted for 110 yards of total offense (55 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving) and one rushing touchdown. Walker caught four passes for a whopping 165 yards and scored twice through the air. The Holy Cross defense forced three turnovers, an interception by Beal and two fumble recoveries by Lampone, while Kyle Fischer tallied seven tackles.

Tri-State Football  
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JOBLESS CLAIMS RISE BY 15,000 IN DECEMBER
:-(
Business First 
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ANTI-STREETCAR GROUP: DON'T BUILD TRACKS OVER SEWER LINES
Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) has been a loud-mouth opponent to progress in Cincinnati, taking particular aim at the city's planned streetcar. Now apparently a sewer line is in the way:

The letter to City Solicitor John Curp calls the approach “an impermissible interference upon the rights of the county commissioners, for the rights attendant to their ownership of the sewer lines to operate, access, maintain, repair and repair those sewer lines to keep them operational.”

Maybe COAST is angry because its base of supporters is made up of sewer rats?
Business Courier  
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"That wasn't nice, Michael."

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YEE-HAW! SOMEONE IN CARTER COUNTY HIT A MEGAMILLIONS WINNER!
$250,000. Nice.
WKYT 
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in case you missed...
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THIS MORNING'S NEWS
A national media outlet takes note of the real reason that fans haven't gone to Bengals games this year; Newly elected Agriculture Commish joins chorus of calls for legalizing hemp in KY!; Local author Rick Robinson takes aim at 'government funded comedy' on national site; Holiday party tips from... the KY State Police?; And George Clooney sightings make "Worst of 2011" list. Those stories and more at the link!

News Round-Up -- Thursday Morning 

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LAMB BORN AT KROHN CONSERVATORY NATIVITY SCENE GETS FULL TIME GIG

Appearing at the Nativity forever and ever.

FOX 19 

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WYNONNA IS ENGAGED!

Love, love, love this woman -- and any woman with the last name Judd! 

The Grammy Award winner will wed fellow musician Cactus Moser, the drummer for country group Highway 101.

WKYT
Wyononna and a dude from Highway 101. What a concert that would be. In honor of it, here's the best love song ever - which just so happens to be one of Wynonna's...

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BAD SNOW-MANCE

A snowman modeled after Lady Gaga will be on display at Rah-Rah-Ryle High School:

Students worked in groups to make 33 snowmen – a few were traditional, but most were made with themes like Yoda, Lady Gaga and others.

Click the link to see the pics. I hear it was born that way. Zing!
Cincinnati Enquirer/Justin B. Duke 
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99-YEAR OLD MAN TO DIVORCE WIFE OF 77 YEARS FOR AFFAIR IN '40S
Damn:

Notwithstanding the time that had elapsed since the betrayal, he was so upset that he immediately confronted his wife of 77 years, named as Rosa C, and demanded a divorce. Guilt-stricken, she reportedly confessed everything but was unable to persuade her husband to reconsider his decision. She wrote the letters to her lover during a secret affair in the 1940s, according to court papers released in Rome this week.

Doesn't anyone stay together anymore?
Daily Telegraph

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY AFTERNOON

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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NO BOND REDUCTION IN COVINGTON TEEN'S SLAYING

This is one of the most tragic stories to come out of Covington in a long time. Two teens accused of killing another. 

An attorney for Mikael Crumes asked Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe to lower his $100,000 bond in hopes he would be able to be released. Crumes is being held in the regional juvenile detention center in Campbell County. Crumes and 14-year-old Tromonte Rice are charged with murder and robbery in the death of Dre’Shawn Hammond. His body was found June 25 on a trail behind the City Heights housing complex. Hammond’s family has said they believe he was shot over a dice game.

The request was denied. Tragedy all around.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly 
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KY PROSECUTOR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GET DUI TRAINING
The headlines from the official release was eye-catching: "Attorney General Conway Announces Regional DUI Training". Apparently, though, the training is on how to prosecute a DUI, not avoid one while holding a public office:

"Our regional DUI trainings provide police officers and prosecutors with the tools they need to effectively enforce our DUI laws so they can better protect the citizens of our Commonwealth," General Conway said. "The trainings also result in better coordination between police, prosecutors, traffic safety experts and victims' support agencies to ensure that there are appropriate consequences for drunk drivers in Kentucky."

Jack Conway 
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GATEWAY HONORS OAKLEY & EVA FARRIS IN LEXINGTON
The benevolence of the Farrises will be remembered and celebrated in Covington for centuries to come.

Oakley and Eva Farris of Covington were named Benefactors of the Year by Gateway Community and Technical College in honor of their commitment to provide $500,000 to create a child development center at the college’s proposed Urban Campus in downtown Covington.

Cincinnati Enquirer 
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BILL PRE-FILED TO ALLOW 18-YEAR OLDS TO SEEK CITY OFFICES
State Representative Adam Koenig wants to lower the age to open up ballot access to teens:

“I spend a great deal of time speaking to young people within my district as a way to get them interested in government and public service, which is why I sponsored a civics bill to educate high school seniors about the voting process, which was passed and signed into law during the 2011 Regular Session,” said Rep. Koenig.  “This is just another step which I believe will better prepare our local and state leaders of tomorrow, and get them more engaged and informed about what their communities are doing.”

Kentucky House Republican Caucus 
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COVINGTON MUSEUM'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTED TO STATE BOARD
Behringer-Crawford Museum Executive Director Laurie Risch was appointed (in November, but state just issued press release) to the Kentucky Historical Society Board of Directors.
Kentucky Historical Society
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XAVIER SURVEY: VIEW OF AMERICAN DREAM IS LOW
Surprise, surprise:

The index consists of five components. The economic index suffered the second-biggest decline in November, slumping 1.07 percent. The diversity index, a measure of people’s attitudes toward others who are different from them, dropped 1.42 percent. The environment index, which measures how much pollution people are exposed to, improved by 2.5 percent. The other components – a societal index and a personal well-being measure – declined during the month.

So, when people are broke, they like less people that are different from them.
Cincinnati Business Courier
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NKU FACULTY & STUDENTS SEEK TO STUDY LOCAL DIVERSITY
Four professors and three graduate students will work together toward something called "Dialoguing About Diversity". Dialoguing. Must be a word they teach in grad school. Anyway, it may be interesting to participate, though the survey questions are at least slightly ridiculous -- but mostly because they actually do need to be asked. Participate at the link.
NKU Grad Articles
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SOUTHGATE HOUSE TOPIC OF NKU DOCUMENTARY
Nice piece by students from NKU:

With a soundtrack loaded with local music (Mack West, The Tillers and many others), the movie features some great historical information about the old mansion, lovely footage of the interior and exterior of the building and lots of interviews with area musicians, music lovers, Southgate employees and longtime operator Ross Raleigh, all discussing the uniqueness of the club and what it means to the local music community.

Watch the video at the link.
CityBeat 
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RE: SANDHILL CRANES. SO, LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT...
The Commonwealth of Kentucky makes headlines by changing the law and allowing people to hunt and kill the once-endangered sandhill crane, but then in the off-season, the Commonwealth of Kentucky sends out a press release advertising special sandhill crane tours where one can watch them in all their glory, bullet-free? What's next? Weekend tours of the soon-to-arrive horse slaughterhouses when the workers are at home?
Commonwealth of Kentucky
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NKY WOMAN TURNS 103
You must see the photo. 
Cincinnati Enquirer
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REHABILITATED EAGLE RELEASED AT KY'S LAKE BARKLEY
A lovely story. Hope the little guy gets away before we change the law to allow for shooting it!
Herald-Leader
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CHENEY RETURNS TO US WITH THICK HEAD OF HAIR
LOL.
The Onion
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don't miss the news from earlier!
A Kentucky man pleads guilty after sending child pornography directly to the Attorney General; Report urges the closure of a local jail facility; Two reasons why Chez Nora in Mainstrasse will be hopping tonight; Plus, that awkward moment when the Memphis public address announcer introduces their coach as John Calipari. Those stories and more at the link.
News Round-Up -- Monday Lunch
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Horse slaughter is very close to returning to Kentucky; Covington's new music venue is set to open this weekend; Governor Beshear's big party tomorrow will be done on the cheap; Occupy NKY will try again next week. Those stories and more at the link.
News Round-Up -- Monday Morning

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

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RIVERFRONT IS TOPIC OF MEETING TONIGHT

If you wish to weigh in on what the future should hold for Covington's most valuable natural asset, get down to City Hall tonight at 6:00PM:

The Ohio Riverfront is important to Covington's future development, and we have an opportunity to shape what it will look like! Our neighbor to the north, Cincinnati, is making significant improvements to its riverfront, for public use/public recreational space, as well as for private developments like The Majestic Show Boat, the Montgomery Inn & Boathouse and the under-construction Christian Moerlein Lager House. At this Community Input Session, we will share how other communities have improved their riverfronts, what Covington's riverfront currently looks like, and how possible improvements can be made along the Ohio Riverfront.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 @ 6:00PM INSIDE COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL

(Press Release)

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FINAL VOTE ON DAYTIME CURFEW EXPECTED TUESDAY

Following months of debate and a public forum discussing the issue, Covington City Commission will vote Tuesday on whether to implement a curfew for school-age children inside the city. The move is supported by the police and by the superintendent of Covington schools. Much of the push back has come from parents that home-school their children. For previous coverage from The River City News, click the links below.

Support Mounts for Daytime Curfew

Covington Teen Beaten; Calls For & Against Curfew

Cov Schools Consider Tax Increase; Daytime Curfew Moves Forward, ACLU to Scrutinize

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CORNER OF 36TH & CHURCH STREETS TO GET NEW NAME

By order of the City of Covington, "Champions Corner" will forever remember Holy Cross's historic state football title.

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SEE ALSO: A really awesome celebration Sunday at the Holy Cross gym in honor of the state title. The River City News was there and you can see tons of photos and read the moving comments at the link.

Holy Cross: A State Championship Celebration in Photos

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SEE ALSO: A round-up of what all the other media are saying about the Holy Cross victory. NKY Sports Blog

SEE ALSO: Round-up of news on Highlands winning its fifth title in a row. NKY Sports Blog

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LATONIA CHRISTMAS TREE FINALLY LIGHTS UP

When the big event was scheduled, the lights were broken. The resilient people of Covington had a nice time that night anyway (SEE: No Miracle on 34th Street: Latonia Christmas Lights Go Out). But the lights are glowing now:

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WHAT OUR NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP COULD MEAN POLITICALLY

Great analysis by Ryan Alessi:

Because of strong growth in the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati, Davis will have fewer counties regardless of which map becomes law. But Thayer’s map keeps it the closest to what it is now only jettisoning the Democratic County of Elliott (one of only seven counties to go for Obama in 2008), the part of Scott County that was in the district and a couple of precincts from Bath County — the other one that’s currently split. The 4th is probably the second-most reliably Republican district, and all the maps would keep it that way.

Proposed map and election numbers with more analysis at the link.

cn|2

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KENTUCKY DOES NOT NEED MORE BAD PRESS

The racist church in Pike County caved to the publicity from last week and reversed its ban on interracial couples:

Stacy Stepp, pastor of the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church in Pike County, told The Associated Press that the vote by nine people last week was declared null and void after it was determined that new bylaws can't run contrary to local, state or national laws. He said the proposal was discriminatory, therefore it couldn't be adopted.
Stepp said about 30 people who attended church services voted on a new resolution that welcomes "believers into our fellowship regardless of race, creed or color."

Herald-Leader 

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But the archaic laws and beliefs of years past still linger in Kentucky. Did you see this story over the weekend:

More than a half-century after the last Civil War veterans died, a chapter in Kentucky law still offers a $50-a-month pension to any veteran who can prove service in the Confederate Army. State Rep. Adam Koenig, R-Erlanger, pre-filed a bill to repeal Kentucky Revised Statutes chapter 206 on Confederate pensions. “There’s so much stuff in the law that’s a waste, that needs to be repealed.” Koenig said.

Doubtful that this law even applies to anyone, but since we have high unemployment and a busted pension system in the state, Erlanger's Adam Koenig is demonstrating some serious sense of priorities. Pay attention.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman

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Stories like these do not help the state's image in this age of fast-moving headlines. These things get linked all over the country. Checking one relatively popular national blog, Joe Jervis's JoeMyGod and clicking the "Kentucky" tag brings up nothing but embarrassing news:

-"Kentucky Church Bans Interracial Couple"

-"City Floats Massive Tax Breaks for Creationist Theme Park"

-"Help Build the Ark"

-"Mentally challenged gay men kicked out of public pool"

-"Food stamps for fast food"

-"Rand Paul: I have less choice in toilets than women have in abortion"

-"State GOP wants to legalize bullying"

-"Lexington TV station graphic reads: 'Jew York Jets'

-And then of course there's a link to this epic video in which Barefoot & Progressive's Joe Sonka (now of LEO Weekly) asks Gov Beshear about dinosaurs on the ark:

LOL. That never gets old.

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JOHN G. CARLISLE STILL NEEDS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS

The Enquirer today elaborates on a story that appeared last week in The River City News. The school district has still not volunteered which funds were lost, but when I spoke on the phone last week with district communications director, Deborah Vance, she told me basically, and I agree, that the bottom line is that the kids need the gifts. 

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KY PRIESTS JOIN TWITTER

The Gospel in 140 characters or less:

The archdiocese has three official Twitter addresses – @ArchbishopKurtz @ArchLouKy (general information, evangelization, news, etc.) and @Record_Archlou (for the Catholic newspaper, The Record). There are also Facebook pages for the Record, the Office of Vocations (for recruiting priests and others to religious life) and the Why Catholic educational program. Some priests have begun launching their own accounts.

Pope Benedict XVI will even light a digital Christmas tree this year via iPad.

Courier-Journal

SEE ALSO: KFC Offers Twitter scholarships Herald-Leader

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KY PRISON TO PRODUCE ALL-INMATE 'ROMEO & JULIET'

Sounds like a must-see:

James Prichard asked to play Romeo because he identifies with the character. “I’ve been in love, I’ve lost love. I’ve taken a life,” he says. “There’s a lot of qualities that Romeo goes through that I’ve been through.” So what about Juliet? What prison inmate is going to step forward to take on what may be the most iconic female role in all of literature? His name is Derald Weeks: “I’ve got Aryan Brotherhood tattooed on my stomach. I got SWP with some lightning bolts on my chest. It stands for Supreme White Power. You get them for committing violent acts.”

WFPL

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THE 45 MOST POWERFUL IMAGES OF 2011

This amazing compilation of large and small events from the past year illustrate just what a crazy year 2011 was. Click the link and look at all of them.

BuzzFeed

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DID YOU MISS THE SUNDAY EDITION?

All the winners from this year's holiday display contest with photos from a terrific event in the city; Why is KY-native Johnny Depp's new song upsetting some groups?; Those stories and more at the link...

The Sunday Edition

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WHAT ABOUT THE SATURDAY MAGAZINE?

Did convicted NKY child molester Jeni Lee Dinkel pick a fight with her victim's mom during a performance of "Wicked"?; a Cincinnati club promoter takes Chiquita's CEO to task via Twitter (amazing exchange); who went to prison from Kenton County this week? The mugshots you love...; It's a very important (and fun!) Saturday for shopping in Covington; Plus, the very best Kentucky mullet video you will ever see. 

The Saturday Magazine