by Michael Monks
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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VIDEO TRIBUTE TO COVINGTON TEEN MURDERED LAST MONTH
This video appeared on YouTube in memory of 18-year old Brett Thornberry who was shot to death on Greenup Street in December.
A 15-year old boy is in custody, charged with Thornberry's murder. The teen suspect also faces a complicity to robbery charge. Covington Police are still interviewing potential witnesses and at least one other suspect.
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KENTUCKY STATE LEGISLATURE RECONVENES TODAY
Lawmakers meet in Frankfort today for the first day of the General Assembly's 2012 session. Gambling, education, and redistricting are all on the agenda. While Congressional lines may be divisive, there is not much expected in the way of a fight over state House and Senate boundaries:
It’s doubtful that reapportioning the state House, Senate and judicial districts will cause much of a stir. (House Speaker Greg) Stumbo and Thayer said they and leaders in their caucuses are close to finalizing plans, which should be ready before the legislative session begins next Tuesday. Stumbo said he expects the House to go along with whatever plan the Senate proposes for the Senate, just as he expects the Senate to approve whatever plan emerges from the House for its own members.Courier-Journal/Joseph Gerth
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COVINGTON CITY COMMISSION OPPOSES REDISTRICTING OF CITY
At today's meeting, four City Commissioners (The River City News has not heard from Mayor Chuck Scheper) are expected to pass a symbolic resolution opposing the redistricting of the 65th House District, a mostly-Covington area represented by Democrat Arnold Simpson of Old Seminary Square. The Democratic leadership in the House will likely cede portions of Covington (including Licking Riverside and the Eastside neighborhoods) to the 67th District, represented by Democrat Dennis Keene of Wilder. For background, click the links:
The RC News: Arnold Simpson Opposes Inevitable Redistricting
The RC News: Redistricting Will Leave Covington Without Unified Voice
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JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF PROPOSED COVINGTON METHADONE CLINIC
The contentious issue was decided last week in Kenton County Circuit Court. The Covington Board of Adjustments had ruled that zoning laws did not permit a methadone clinic, but the Judge found an error in the zoning language, allowing the plans for the clinic to move forward. Click the link for the story.
The RC News: Methadone Clinic Wins Approval from Kenton Court
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CRIT LUALLEN WOULD AUDIT STATE'S SCHOOL SYSTEMS
But only if she had more time in office. Crit Luallen, the long-serving Democrat was formally replaced by fellow Democrat Adam Edelen in the office of Kentucky Auditor following a swearing-in ceremony yesterday. While most reviews of Luallen's tenure are extremely positive, the potential 2015 gubernatorial candidate says she would have liked to have looked at the books of public school districts:
Upon finishing her two terms as state Auditor, Crit Luallen said the one area she didn’t get to thoroughly investigate was the efficiency of Kentucky’s 174 local school district administrations. “If I had more time and more resources — staff resources — I’d love to take a look at some of the administrative costs in elementary and secondary education across the state’s local school districts,” she said.More, with video, at the link.
cn|2
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SEE ALSO: Luallen is included on the list of a dozen political people to watch in 2012. cn|2
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SHOULD KY GOVERNOR CANDIDATES CHOOSE LT. AFTER PRIMARY?
That's what one bill before the legislature suggests. Currently, a candidate for governor must have a running mate during the primary, which may eliminate better candidates from becoming second-in-command:
Harmon’s bill also bans lobbyists from contributing to any candidate for governor, lieutenant governor, or their campaigns. Harmon says he believes lobbyists’ power of persuasion may be exaggerated a bit. “I don’t think they have quite the influence that most people think,” he says. “You know I’m sure they have some influence. I’ve always said that my door is open to anybody whether they give me money or not.”The fact that a politician has to say that his door is open 'whether they give (him) money or not', as if that is some courageous statement, shows just how ridiculous things are in Frankfort.
WFPL
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SEE ALSO: Pseudophedrine bill also to be considered WFPL
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KY CAPITOL CHAPEL GETS FACELIFT
So... at least the legislators can pray away all the sinning they're about to commit:
King raised the issue with legislative staff members, one of whom was a member of the Frankfort Kiwanis Clubs. The Kiwanis raised funds to create the chapel in the early 1960s. Thus was born the idea to renovate the chapel, with the Frankfort and East Frankfort Kiwanis clubs helping to raise a few thousand dollars in private funds for the job. “I didn’t want any problem with the fact that we had a chapel in the Capitol,” King said. “I did not want state monies funding the renovation.”Courier-Journal via Cincinnati Enquirer
Michael Aldridge, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said he also was surprised to learn that the Capitol contains a chapel but saw no problem as long as it was made available to all.
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SEN. RAND PAUL TO HELP FATHER DURING TONIGHT'S IOWA CAUCUS
The circus sideshow that is this year's GOP Presidential primary has its first actual vote (or whatever they do in a caucus) tonight in Iowa. Texas Representative Ron Paul is hoping to pull the upset and his son, Kentucky's Junior Senator, Rand Paul is there to help.
WBKO
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IS KENTUCKY'S REPEAT-OFFENDER LAW TOO TOUGH?
Maybe, maybe not -- but it sure is expensive:
Prosecutors view the harsher penalties as a tool to crack down on career criminals and counteract the effects of early-release programs.Courier-Journal
But since 1980, the number of state inmates sentenced under the PFO law has grown from 79 to more than 4,000, costing Kentucky taxpayers nearly $89 million in incarceration costs each year. Critics say that’s too much, given the state’s budget problems. “We really can’t afford to continue this policy,” said Ed Monahan, head of the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy.
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UPS EXPECTS TO BE BUSY WITH RETURNS TODAY
All because of the huge jump in online shopping:
The delivery company expects to handle more than 550,000 returns on Tuesday, a record, and up almost 8 percent from a year earlier. Several other days during the first week of 2012 will also top half a million returns, UPS said. "This will definitely be the busiest year for returns," Ken Burkeen, marketing director of the retail and consumer products division at UPS, told Reuters.Reuters
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in case you missed...
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LAST NIGHT'S NEWS
Ed Hughes on what the Gateway Urban Campus could mean for Covington; Jim Bunning makes endorsement in race to replace State Sen. Westwood; What is Swing This Kettlebell in Latonia, anyway? Those stories and more at the link!
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*************************************************************MAN SUED FOR TAKING HIS TWITTER FOLLOWERS WITH HIM
His old employer was not happy when the man left his job and took with him 17,000 followers on Twitter:
Associated Press via Courier-Journal
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The River City News will be there!
His old employer was not happy when the man left his job and took with him 17,000 followers on Twitter:
PhoneDog LLC filed a lawsuit in July against Noah Kravitz, a writer who worked for the Mount Pleasant, S.C., firm from 2006 until last year. Attorneys for the website, which reviews mobile devices like phones and tablets, said Kravitz owes them $340,000. It said when Kravitz resigned, he changed his Twitter name from PhoneDog-Noah to noahkravitz, and kept his 17,000 followers. The company said the followers should be treated like a customer list, and therefore PhoneDog’s property. PhoneDog said Kravitz should pay $2.50 per follower per month for eight months, or a total of $340,000.#21stCenturyProblem
Associated Press via Courier-Journal
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OLD COVINGTON SCHOOL TO DEBUT AS APARTMENTS TOMORROW
A ribbon-cutting is set for 11:00AM at the Thomas Edison School Apartments. The 1939 building is listed on the National Register as Fourth District School and will now be home to 26 rental units.
Read about the project here: AU Associates
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There is an ad on Craigslist seeking renters:
There is an ad on Craigslist seeking renters:
Preserving the historic character and charm of the historic Thomas Edison Elementary School, the Thomas Edison Elementary Apartments provide 26 units of affordable housing in the heart of the historic Helentown Neighborhood in Covington, Kentucky. The apartments, slated to be completed near the end of 2011, feature ADA accessible apartments, elevator access to each floor, off-street parking for residents, a community room, a community theater and stage , resident storage, on site laundry facilities, individually controlled HVAC systems, and energy efficient appliances and light fixtures.Cincinnati Craigslist
14 One Bedroom: $450/month8 Two Bedroom: $550/month4 Three Bedroom: $650/month
Be the first to rent at Thomas Edison School Apartments - Join our waiting list today!
Contact us at 859-445-6119!
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The River City News will be there!
