NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY EVENING 23 AUGUST

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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"I HEREBY WITHDRAW MY RESIGNATION" SAYS EX-SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

EXCLUSIVE

Her resignation from the Covington School Board on August 2 set in motion a chain of legal and electoral events like no other in recent memory in this town and now Denise Varney has thrown another wrench into the effort to replace her by saying that she wants to replace herself. Varney sent this email message to the school board, the superintendent, the board attorney, and the Kentucky Commissioner of Education:

Please accept this correspondence as my announcement that I am withdrawing my resignation as a Covington Independent School Board member effective immediately. It has come to my attention that legal counsel for the Covington school board did not advise the Superintendent of the school district that my resignation must be voted on and accepted by my fellow board members. I hereby withdraw my resignation.

So, if you are keeping score, here is how it has all played out (so far): Varney resigned, the public was told that the Kentucky Commissioner of Education would make an appointment, advertisements promoting the vacancy ran in the Cincinnati Enquirer as mandated by law, on the day of the filing deadline to run for three other school board seats (but not Varney's because she had two years left in her term) Mark Young attempted to file to run for Varney's seat but the County Clerk's office was unaware of any vacancy and so his request was denied, Young had an attorney threaten to sue the Clerk's office after citing a state statute that indicated an election to fill Varney's seat was likely necessary, the County Clerk added Young to the ballot as the sole candidate running for Varney's seat, a complaint was filed against Young's candidacy in Frankfort, Young's name was removed from the ballot on the grounds that the Commissioner of Education had not accepted Varney's resignation, Varney wants her seat back. Got it?

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CONVICTION ACHIEVED IN CASE OF MURDERED COVINGTON TEEN

The body of 16-year old Dre'Shawn Hammon was found in a wooded area behind City Heights in June of last year and today, fourteen months after Covington Police made the tragic discovery, one of his killers is headed to prison. Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders reports via Twitter:

GUILTY! 1st Asst Comm Atty Jim Redwine just convicted Mikel Crumes of Murder in killing of DreShawn Hammond! ... Wow! Big win in a very difficult case! So proud of Jim Redwine! ... Jury sentences Mikel Crumes to 30 years for Murder of DreShawn Hammond. Great work by 1st Asst Comm Atty Jim Redwine!

Crumes was one of two teens arrested in the murder case, but the second one, Tromonte Rice, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Crumes.

Image via

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WATERFRONT OWNER JEFF RUBY BOOTED FROM ILLINOIS COURTROOM

Ever the showman, local restaurateur Jeff Ruby, who has taken a great personal interest in the murder trial of suspected wife-killer Drew Peterson, was booted from the Joliet, Illinois courtroom today:

“There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell him for seven years,” Ruby said, standing outside his luxury bus, parked across the street from the courthouse, with a cigar. “So I did this,” and mouthed the words “F--- you.”
A sheriff’s department spokesman said Ruby is banned from the rest of the trial.
The confrontation happened after Ruby said Peterson started staring at him during the break. Ruby said he started to stare back. When Peterson wouldn’t break eye contact, Ruby sent his message. Peterson immediately turned to his attorney, Joel Brodsky, and told him what happened. Brodsky asked a bailiff to throw Ruby out.

Full story: Chicago Sun-Times 
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VIDEO:

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ABANDONED COVINGTON HOME CAUSING PROBLEMS

Trouble started with this Latonia home when its owner died last December:

The city of Covington describes the house as being in legal limbo. One owner died and a co-owner abandoned the place. It's in foreclosure but still in that co-owner's name. He won't transfer the title to the bank. So while it sits and rots no one can do much but sit back and watch. A skim coat to seal the top part of the chimney had fallen off. The damage to Ted Polonczyk's cars looks minor but the estimates to fix total more than two-thousand dollars.

More, including a video report, here: WKRC 
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ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FOOD TRUCK EVENT IN COVINGTON
Life returned to Covington Landing Thursday afternoon as the food trucks came back to Covington... and all of them sold out. Pics of the event -- at the link!

More photos: The River City News 

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SHOULD CITIES REGULATE WHERE AND WHEN FOOD TRUCKS OPERATE?

Interesting timing that this debate column would cross Twitter today. It offers two varying viewpoints on a debate familiar to Covingtonians recently:

Pia Lopez: Yes, within reason

And just as conventional restaurants can't open just anywhere, cities should be able to license food trucks and set some limits on the time and place of mobile food sales – as cities do in limiting liquor licenses or keeping chemical plants zoned away from schools.
That said, many cities have regulations on food trucks that are far too restrictive.
In Sacramento, for example, outdated ordinances ban food trucks from parking longer than 30 minutes in any place. They have to close at 6 p.m. in winter and 8 p.m. in summer. In Elk Grove, it's worse – food trucks can't stay in one place longer than 15 minutes or sell past 2 p.m.

Ben Boychuk: Yes, but as little as possible

Flagrant restraint of trade may be illegal, but regulators have a vast toolbox at the ready.
The City of Angels came back with an ordinance the City Council drafted in consultation with the county health department. The new law, which took effect in January 2011, imposed an A-B-C grading system similar to the one restaurants have operated under for years.
The law also requires that trucks have access to a restroom within 200 feet of their location, and mandates health inspections twice yearly.
Sounds perfectly reasonable, doesn't it? Food truck owners actually welcomed the rules.
In practice, however, city and county regulators have enforced the law with draconian zeal. Instead of two health-and-safety reviews a year, truck owners complain it's not uncommon for health inspectors to show up twice a month. Tiny violations – such as parking 201 feet from a restroom – beget hefty fines and low grades. It's absurd.

Read more from both: Sacramento Bee 
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DON'T MISS THURSDAY MORNING'S NEWS!
The heart-wrenching story of a KY man killed in a logging accident, who made one last call to his mom as he lay dying; The drought forces a KY farmer to feed his cattle candy; Plus, the Cash Mob crew is coming to Covington...

Full story: The RC News: Thursday Morning Round-Up |
QUICKIES
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Attorney from Kenton Co disbarred for "appalling conduct" WXIX 
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Unemployment rate falls in 97 Kentucky counties State-Journal 
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Benefits fair planned for 2,000 laid off workers in eastern Kentucky Herald-Leader 
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KY's tobacco crop withstands worst of drought Herald-Leader 
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Gov. Beshear calls on Congress to pass farm bill cn|2 
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Kentucky officials ramp up support for legalized industrial hemp Herald-Leader & cn|2 
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Beshear to name new chief of staff soon WFPL 
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GOP unity appears to be strained State-Journal 
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FOX News is negative towards President Obama, MSNBC is negative toward Mitt Romney Poynter 
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Children's Home of NKY interviewed on WKRC 
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Newport citizens raise funds for dog park Soapbox Cincinnati 
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UK Basketball: Nerlens Noel is not Anthony Davis and he is okay with that Coach Cal 
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"WHY I MOVED BACK TO THE SUBURBS"
A writer shares his story from London:

Still, I don’t regret moving on from my old hip, up-and-coming inner London neighborhood one bit. I’m not glad to have moved on because I need space for my kids (I don’t have any) or because I need to save money (though I do). I’m pleased to be gone because, despite all the hype about their supposed edginess and creative ferment, I find fashionable inner city neighborhoods increasingly as banal, antisocial and plain dull as any suburb. For all their reputation as hives of individuality, neighborhoods like my own city’s Broadway Market offer almost identical businesses to those you’d find in currently hip city neighborhoods anywhere. While the base materials (streets and houses) may be different in, say, NYC’s Greenpoint, Berlin’s Neukölln, or Madrid’s Malasaña, the trappings of gentrification – expensive coffee and bike shops, junk sold at a premium as “vintage” and, soon after, bitterly resented chain outlets – make these places seem increasingly homogenous. 

Full story: The Atlantic Cities 
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THE CARNEGIE'S PRODUCTION OF XANADU IS A HIT!
Check out this review:

As Clio/Kira, Margaret-Ellen Jeffreys is perfect. She exudes an effervescent cuteness and has some wonderfully theatrical facial expressions. Ms. Jeffreys' signing is excellent and her acting is natural and nuanced. CCM junior Blaine Krauss does a great job of conveying Sonny's deadpan cluelessness and shows off a splendid singing voice on several numbers. Rick Kramer is known to Cincinnati audiences as a leading actor in many community theater productions over the years. For Xanadu, he plays both Danny Maguire and Zeus. He sings well and has just the right balance of humor and pathos for the roles. Eileen Earnest and Miranda McGee get plenty of laughs as the evil sisters plotting to destroy Clio. The remaining ensemble members each display multi-faceted talents: Blair Bowman, Aubrey Ireland, McKynleigh Abraham (who theatergoers might remember from season one of "The Glee Project"), and Brian Wylie.

There is one more weekend left! Full review: Talkin' Broadway 
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AREA MAN REGRETS INVESTING IN FACEBOOK
LOL. "Area man"...

Saying that he thought it was a “safe bet” at first, local man Mark Zuckerberg, 28, told reporters Tuesday that—after going what he called “all in” on the business—he now regrets staking so much of his financial future on the Internet company Facebook. “It seemed like a slam dunk—popular company, kids love it, and my financial advisors were telling me this stock was going to be a monster,” said Zuckerberg, who works in computers, and has lost nearly $600 million since Facebook went public in May.

Full story: The Onion (satire)
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DOG MAKE YOU ANGRY? SHAME HIM!
Here's how I wasted about seven hours today:

Many, many, many more here: Dog Shaming

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY AFTERNOON 3 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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UPDATE: The River City News spoke with Covington City Manager Larry Klein about new developments possibly involving the Waterfront restaurant moving to Covington Landing. "I think the project is coming along to a conclusion soon but there is no announcement planned or any decision made by the Commission," Klein said. "We have preliminary recommendations from staff for the City Commission and hope to take that up in the next thirty days but nothing like that will be announced on Friday."

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ORIGINAL POST: 

JEFF RUBY: UPDATE FRIDAY ABOUT WATERFRONT AT COVINGTON LANDING

The Cincinnati-based restaurateur spoke with the Business Courier about the recent failure of his Walnut Street Grill, but at the end of the piece, this was mentioned:

As for Ruby, he will focus on getting The Waterfront reopened and opening a Jeff Ruby’s steakhouse in Lexington. He said he should have an update this Friday about opening The Waterfront at Covington Landing.“My stable is not big enough to hold all these horses,” Ruby said.

The Waterfront has been closed since breaking loose from its mooring earlier this year and since then Ruby has been waiting for tax incentives to reopen his floating restaurant and has on occasion disparaged the City of Covington. The River City News is working to get more information on this development.
Business Courier/Tom Demeropolis

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ONE-LEGGED MAN WANTED IN KENTON COUNTY MURDER

The Erlanger Police are searching for this man:

Click to enlarge

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SOMEONE STOLE A CASH REGISTER DRAWER FROM CORK N BOTTLE

Cork N Bottle, a Covington liquor store, was ripped off on June 5. Surveillance video captured the suspect stealing a drawer from the cash register that was left on the counter. Covington Police say he got away with $600 and rode off as a passenger in a Jeep with Ohio plates. Recognize him? Call Covington Police at 859 292 2222 or Crimestoppers at 513 352 3040.

Click to enlarge

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COVINGTON RANKS LOW IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH $100,000 OR MORE IN INCOME

The latest figures from the US Census Bureau break down more than 9,400 census-designated places (cities, and the like) and have a searchable database that allows you to look at cities in each state. There are 138 places in Kentucky counted and Covington ranks 73 in the number of households with $100,000 in annual income. Of 17,445 households in Covington, 1,616, or 9.26%, reach six-figures in annual income. Nationally, Covington is ranked 6,889 out of 9,423. The rankings are based on percentage of households with over $100,000 in annual income.

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Northern Kentucky cities ahead of Covington (with Kentucky rank): Union (4), Edgewood (5), Villa Hills (7), Fort Thomas (8), Lakeside Park (10), Crescent Springs (13), Cold Spring (15), Fort Wright (17), Crestview Hills (18), Taylor Mill (19), Park Hills (20), Alexandria (21), Hebron (22), Burlington (23), Independence (27), Erlanger (28), Fort Mitchell (31), Wilder (34), Southgate (39), Newport (40), Florence (41), Ludlow (45), Walton (67), and Belleveue (69).

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NKY cities below Covington: Highland Heights (98), Dayton (112), and Elsmere (117). Eat it Highland Heights, Dayton, and Elsmere!

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Search the results here: Business Journals

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WOULD BURYING POWER LINES STOP POWER OUTAGES?

After millions of Americans lost power in the past week, including tens of thousands in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati, burying power lines may be worth a look: 

The winds may howl. The trees may fall. But in Germany, the lights stay on.
There's no Teutonic engineering magic to this impressive record. It's achieved by a very simple decision: Germany buries almost all of its low-voltage and medium-voltage power lines, the lines that serve individual homes and apartments. Americans could do the same. They have chosen not to.
The choice has been made for reasons of cost. The industry rule of thumb is that it costs about 10 times as much to bury wire as to string wire overhead: up to $1 million per mile, industry representatives claim. Since American cities are much less dense than European ones, there would be a lot more wire to string to serve a U.S. population than a European one.

Full story: CNN/David Frum 

File photo of power outage in Downtown Covington
October 18, 2011

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RELATED: Duke Energy completes merger with Progress Energy, creating nation's largest electric utility Business Courier 

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DEBATING THE LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT

Community gardens are increasingly popular, with several popping up in Covington in recent years and possibly more on the way. But there is an argument against local food: 

A libertarian-leaning academic with a thick French-Canadian accent, Desrochers was in Washington, D.C., last week to present the book to what has undoubtedly been one of his friendlier audiences thus far, at the libertarian Cato Institute. He is particularly bemused by the notion that anyone would try to produce local food "when it makes no economic sense," when we have developed over the course of centuries an international and increasingly efficient system for feeding the world affordable bananas and blueberries and lamb year-round. Locavores – and their kind have popped up throughout history – have traditionally championed local food, he says, for no reason other than that it’s local.

"Over the last few years, the local food movement has become something more," he then warns the Cato crowd. "In a way it’s also a rebellion against globalization, against big agri-business, against the way food is produced."
Several dozen heads nod in assent. To this crowd, locavores aren’t mere silly liberals. They’re a menace.

Really interesting read at the link: The Atlantic Cities/Emily Badger 

File photo from community garden at
Madison Avenue Christian Church

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DON'T MISS THIS MORNING'S NEWS

Tenant at Covington-based bioLOGIC makes a breakthrough in artificial tendons; Medical marijuana bill to be introduced in Frankfort; Plus, how are we supposed to pronounce "Louisville" really? Click it.

The RC News: Tuesday Morning Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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Sen. McConnell claims President Obama is harassing the American people Courier-Press
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Test your Obamacare knowledge Click Here 

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Ballot petition to eliminate Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission back in court today Cincinnati Enquirer 

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19 children (ranging in ages 8 months to 14 years old), nine dogs, and one cat found unattended to in Kentucky home that lacked food and air conditioning AP via WKRC 

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Kentucky adult learner program earns national honor press release 

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DEAR SMOKERS, COVINGTON IS NOT YOUR ASHTRAY!

This photo was taken Monday near the bus stop on Pike Street close to Holman Avenue:

Many smokers are responsible and make sure not to litter, but many more carelessly throw their butts on the ground. Please stop!

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Want help to quit smoking? Click here for a program from the NKY Health Dept

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS HAS A NEW BLOGGING PARTNERSHIP

Happy to announce a blogging partnership with The Kaintuckeean, a Lexington-based blog that highlights historic buildings, development news, and preservation issues. The River City News will contribute to that content with a focus on Covington and Northern Kentucky stories. From the announcement:

Find The Kaintuckeean on Facebook by clicking here.

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ROEBLING MUSEUM CELEBRATES 75TH YEAR OF GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

Did you know there is a Roebling Museum? Well, there is. It celebrated this week the 75th birthday of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco: 

It’s been 75 years since the completion of the bridge, which was made with cables developed and patented by the John A. Roebling’s Sons Co., the driving force behind the township’s industrial history.
The story behind those numbers and the steel mill family that made the mammoth feat possible is highlighted in a new Roebling Museum exhibit that runs through Dec. 31.
Last Saturday, the grand opening of “Spinning Gold: The Roebling Company and the Golden Gate Bridge” drew a crowd of 160, including 70 members of the Roebling family descendants who traveled from across the nation and England for the event. The museum is a partner in nationwide 75th anniversary celebrations spearheaded by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. 

Philly Burbs
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Of course, in these parts, Roebling is most famous for the Suspension Bridge, and the Facebook page dedicated to that landmark alerts us to this connection to the Golden Gate:

University of Cincinnati Graduate Joseph Baermann Strauss was the Chief Engineer on the Golden Gate Bridge. He was influenced by the Roebling Suspension Bridge and used the Roebling Comapny for the Wire Cable.

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HERE'S A STORY ABOUT A GREAT DAY:
A 72-year old Indiana man sunk a hole in one on the golf course and then bowled a perfect game of 300 all in the span of two days:

Whatever the odds, Terre Haute resident Sherm "Big Daddy" Wilkins, as he is affectionately known, defied those odds by accomplishing both feats recently.
On Father's Day, Wilkins recorded his first-ever hole-in-one using an 8-iron on the 105-yard No. 7 hole at Mark's Par Three. The very next night, he rolled the fifth 300 game in his lengthy bowling career during league play at Vigo Bowl.
Superstitious is he? Not really. The perfect game was his first in the past 13 years.

AP via WKRC 

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY EVENING 20 FEB

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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ANALYSIS: THE EFFECT OF BRENT SPENCE TOLLS ON I-471

Fort Thomas Matters takes a look:

I know what you are thinking - no one is seriously going to drive out of their way to save a couple bucks - especially with gas prices hovering between $3 & $4. But as a former resident of Independence I had a choice between equal routes in the morning - head up the hill from KY-17 to the Park Hills exit onto 75 or head across 275 to 471. People facing the same choice will choose 471 during construction and after tolls. 

Fort Thomas Matters  
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CHANGES COMING TO KY SCHOOLS AFTER 'NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND'
Now that Kentucky has a scored a federal waiver from 'No Child Left Behind', a new program called Continuous Improvement Technology System will be used as an assessment model:

CITTS tracks each student's grades and test scores, so a teacher can evaluate problem areas. The program will also evaluate teacher's progress and offer solutions to problem areas. CITTS will be paid for through the next four years through Kentucky's Race to the Top grant, which was $17,000,000. 

WBKO  
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MORE PROGRESS AT CVG'S CONCOURSE A

More photos at the link. 

CVG @ Facebook 

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SHIP INVOLVED IN WKY BRIDGE COLLAPSE HEADS ON TO FLORIDA

Its work here is done:

The cargo ship that struck a Kentucky Lake bridge, bringing part of it down, has resumed its voyage to Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

WBKO  
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APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN KENTUCKY RESTRICTION ON SURFACE MINING
Residents of Floyd County had wanted mining companies to stop stripping hills but a court has ruled that it's okay:

The regulation struck down by the Kentucky Court of Appeals had been put in place so the state could impose additional safeguards rather than ban mining altogether, said Tom FitzGerald, head of the Kentucky Resources Council. The safeguards put in place for Wilson Creek in Floyd County included using extra flood-control measures; returning mined areas to their approximate original contour, instead of leaving them flatter; and planting trees to reclaim mined areas. 

Herald-Leader/Bill Estep 
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JEFF RUBY WON'T HAVE RESTAURANT INSIDE NEW CINCINNATI CASINO
He has a non-compete in his contract with Belterra:

Casino officials aren’t offering names, but local restaurant owner Jeff Ruby says he wouldn’t be surprised if the Horseshoe uses its own steakhouse concept, Jack Binion’s Steakhouse, for one of the three restaurants. The Jack Binion concept is used at other Horseshoe casinos, but casino officials said they haven’t decided whether to use it here yet. 

Cincinnati Enquirer/Alexander Coolidge  
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SEN. RAND PAUL TO SPEAK IN COVINGTON THURSDAY
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce welcomes our junior senator at its government forum:

In the short time Senator Paul has been working in the Senate, he has been a vocal leader urging lower taxes, less spending and smaller government. Senator Paul says he wants to help businesses grow their bottom line by decreasing federal mandates and regulations. 

Jeez, get a room, Chamber. ...Oh, they did. It's at the Grand. 
NKY Chamber 
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SEE ALSO: Photos from NKY Day in Frankfort

Covington Commissioner Steve Frank

State Rep. Arnold Simpson (D-Covington)

More photos at the link.
NKY Chamber @ Facebook


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MARDI GRAS FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN TUESDAY NIGHT
At the NKY Convention Center:

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LIBRARIAN IS FIRST TO FINISH NKU'S INFORMATICS PROGRAM

Congratulations:

Betsy Herndon Garland, a employee at the John L. Street Public Library in Trigg County, is the first graduate of the new library informatics bachelor of science program at Northern Kentucky University (NKU).
The Trigg County resident was also a recipient of a scholarship from the federally-funded project called Bridging the Gap: Supplying the Next Generation of Librarians to the Underserved Counties of Rural Kentucky.
The scholarship program was part of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, which supports efforts to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians. Bridging the Gap was offered through a partnership between the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA), NKU and Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC). Garland was one of more than 50 scholarship recipients who work in libraries in the Commonwealth’s high-poverty rural areas.
Garland is a graduate of Trigg County High School and attended Hopkinsville Community College before transferring to NKU.
“I have definitely become much better at my job since using what I learned from my degree,” said Garland. “But, most importantly, I believe that in the near future I will be promoted to a full-time job at the library based on my degree. My library informatics degree has definitely fast-tracked me towards full-time employment and has put me at the top of the list.”
According to NKU, the library informatics program at NKU is designed for those students who want to better understand the relationships among people, information and technology. 

She is the first of many more to come! #GoNorse
(Press Release) 
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DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS 'KENTUCKY SAVES' WEEK?
Me neither:

Gov. Steve Beshear has issued a proclamation declaring the week of Feb. 19-25 Kentucky Saves Week. The Kentucky Saves campaign is part of the nationwide America Saves effort that focuses on making household savings a priority and helping individuals work toward financial stability. Recent economic conditions have highlighted several years of minimal household savings, and many families have found themselves without sufficient savings to deal with the stresses of the financial crisis. The Kentucky Saves effort – http://www.kentuckysaves.org/ – promotes positive saving habits to help Kentuckians work toward financial stability. 

Press Release  
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COLOSSAL CELEBRATION OF URBAN LIVING IN LUDLOW THIS WEEK
Don't miss this: 

Experience the scene under the creative direction of the amazing Paul Miller, proprietor and artist, channeling the powers of sheer wonder and amazement. Tour the extraordinary historic Ludlow Theatre, home to Circus Mojo, and encounter Ludlow's many sites unseen.

It's from 4:00PM - 7:00PM Friday. 
Facebook Event
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in case you missed...
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THIS AFTERNOON'S NEWS
Suspects in Eastside dismembermet case want private investigator; Turfway braces for gambling while Catholics speak out against it; Mrs. Kentucky USA joins fight for statewide smoking ban; Plus, the strange history of Kentucky's blue people. Those stories and more at the link! 
The RC News: Monday Afternoon 
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THIS MORNING'S NEWS
Jerome Simpson was in a Covington courtroom today; Another state title arrives in our city; GQ names Louisville manliest city in America; Plus, a wedding proposal in the winner's circle at Turfway Park. Happy Monday -- click the link! 
The RC News: Monday Morning 
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TOP COLLEGE BASKETBALL RECRUIT WRITES ABOUT VISIT TO KENTUCKY
This young guy was among the top high school juniors earlier this season but reclassified and is now the most sought-after recruit in major college basketball. Nerlen Noel writes at ESPN about his visits to Syracuse and UK:

This past weekend I went to Kentucky.

I got there Friday morning and went to their practice for about an hour. I really liked the way they practice there. I just like the momentum they have in their practice. The practices are short, but they get everything done that they need to get in. It’s really productive.

I went to the game the next day and the fans most definitely lived up to the hype. They were just real live and they chanted my name about eight times. It was so loud in there.

One of the fans came up to me and said “SEC girls love flattops!” I thought that was pretty funny. I really liked watching them play, and sitting behind the bench I got a real feel for how they do it. Coach John Calipari really gets on them when they make mistakes so they won’t make them again. I was impressed.

I got a chance to talk to Coach Cal a lot during my visit. He talked a lot about how I could come in there and work hard and succeed. He talked a lot about playing at the NBA level and things like that. I thought we had a really good talk. 

He goes on to describe how Coach Cal's approach is different than Jim Boeheim's. Check it out at the link. 
ESPN  
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A KENTUCKIAN WOULD STAND OUT IN NEW YORK CITY MORE THAN...
...someone from Toronto? That's the point made in this great piece about Canada and the United States:

Let’s begin with an obvious fact no one will admit: Canadians and Americans are more or less the same people. A Torontonian in New York does not stick out, while a Kentuckian well might. Neither does a resident of Medicine Hat, Alberta, feel out of place in Butte, Montana, though a Vancouverite definitely would. Which is not to say that no significant differences exist between Canadians and Americans — just that our shared national border, unlike those of Europe, was not shaped by linguistic and ethnic variations. The War of 1812 made all the difference here. A complicated and unpleasant struggle, mostly forgotten, sundered our two countries. And that struggle is now 200 years old, which makes this as good a time as any to start remembering. 

Read it all. 
Walrus Magazine/Stephen Marche  
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AS WE AWAIT DEVELOPMENT OF COVINGTON'S RIVERFRONT...
Let's hope it does not resemble any of these disasters:

The Lotus Riverside building complex in Shanghai was a complex of 11 buildings by the side of a river. Imagine that. By June of 2009, the project was nearing completion, with most of the flats already sold off. Then the workers showed up one morning to find that one of the buildings had fallen flat over on its side, completely intact. It was like a giant toddler came by and just smacked it over for the simple thrill of the destruction. 

Check out the 5 most embarrassing architectural failures ever at the link. 
Cracked/Xavier Jackson 

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 18 JAN

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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EXCLUSIVE

COVINGTON COMMISSION ADDRESSES BUSINESS CONCERNS

Mayor Scheper and the Commissioners each maintain part of a list of the top 100 businesses in Covington as an effort to better communication and to address their needs. Also at Tuesday night's Commission caucus meeting was a presentation on new requirements for road construction that would lead to better and longer-lasting streets. So why is the NKY Homebuilders Association opposed?

The River City News 

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PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT FOR TRAFFIC FLOW ON CHURCH STREET

The City wants public feedback on the 90-day trial of changing Church Street to a one-way between 36th Street and Southern Avenue. The meeting is Wednesday, January 18, at 6:00PM inside the cafeteria at Holy Cross High School.

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POLICE CHIEF HOSTS COMMUNITY FORUM TONIGHT
If you have any questions for Covington Police Chief Lee Russo, head over to the Police Headquarters at 20th Street & Madison Avenue at 7:00PM for the Chief's Community Forum. Russo will undoubtedly address the recent murder of a teenager allegedly at the hands to two other teenagers.
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COVINGTON WANTS YOU FOR A 'NEW HOME FOCUS GROUP'

The Housing Authority of Covington wants to know what you would like to see in new homes developed in the city. Three meetings in the next few weeks will last an hour each. Here are the times and locations:

January 19, 2012 at 5:30 pm at Covington Latin.  (Park in the lot behind the Cathedral on the corner of 12th and Scott Street. Enter through those doors of the school);

January 26, 2012 at 5:30 pm at City Hall Commission Chambers, 638 Madison Avenue;

February 2, 2012 at 12:00 noon at the Housing Authority of Covington at 2300 Madison Avenue, Lower Level (lunch will be provided).

Participants are eligible for a drawing at each meeting in which a Kroger gift card and Klingenberg's gift card worth $25 each will be given away. RSVP to Maggie Volkering, Special Programs Administrator at (859) 292-2149 or email volkering@covingtonky.gov if you are able to attend.

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BESHEAR'S 'BLEAK' BUDGET

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said there are no more tricks and no more gimmicks to plug the holes in the state's budget. This year, cuts will be made across the board.

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Beshear called the two-year, $19.5 billion General Fund budget “inadequate for the needs of our people.”
(snip)
The budget does not call for any layoffs of state workers, but Beshear cautioned that some state agencies may have to trim staff to achieve the $286 million of cuts in the budget, which takes effect July 1. Agencies would receive the same amount of money in both years of the budget.

Herald-Leader/Beth Musgrave  
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From the Governor's office:

“We should be making substantial investments in our physical and intellectual infrastructure to bring transformational change to our state. This budget does not allow us to do enough of that,” said Gov. Beshear. “Instead, it requires painful cuts that may well force us to retreat on some core services, and that risk jeopardizing progress we’ve made over decades in education.”
(snip)
Gov. Beshear reminded lawmakers that increasing revenues, not just continued deep cuts, is the only way to ensure Kentucky will prosper in the future.
“We’re at the point where drastic cuts will do more damage to Kentucky’s long-term future than realized savings will help,” said Gov. Beshear. “There are those who continue to insist that Kentucky can cut its way to prosperity. If that were the case, we’d all be wealthy.”
In order to bring more revenue to the state and help balance the budget, Gov. Beshear proposed a tax amnesty and enhanced compliance program, the first in Kentucky in a decade. To encourage taxpayers – both individuals and businesses – to make payments on back taxes, the state will waive penalties and one-half of the interest owed. Additional penalties and enforcement efforts will be imposed after the amnesty period. Forty states have held similar amnesties. The program is expected to net $61 million over the biennium.
The real answers to Kentucky’s revenue woes, Gov. Beshear said, are tax reform and expanded gaming.
Gov. Beshear recently announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform. That group will study ways to better align our state’s tax system with the principles of fairness, business competiveness and adequacy. Recommendations are expected to be finalized toward the end of this year.
In addition, legislators will have the opportunity in this session to allow Kentuckians to vote on expanding gaming.
“Kentuckians have made it clear that they want to vote on this issue,” Gov. Beshear said. “The only question is whether we listen to them, or we ignore them.”

Governor Beshear press release  
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-The slashed, the preserved, and the expanded cn|2
-Beshear would spare prisons, not police or courts Bluegrass Politics 
Kenton Co Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders's reaction to the above link via Twitter:

KYprosecutor Rob Sanders 

KY's governor is cutting prosecutor & police budgets but spending more on lawyers for criminals! Law abiding Kentuckians lose again.

6 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

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-Dept of Education cuts Courier-Journal 
-Higher Education cuts Courier-Journal 
-Stumbo expects few changes to Beshear's budget WFPL 
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BANK OF KENTUCKY OPENS FIRST CINCINNATI BRANCH
The best bank in the region:

The bank, founded in 1990 as the Bank of Boone County, has operated strictly in Kentucky throughout its history. But beginning Friday morning it will have a branch at 100 E. Fourth St. “We have done business in and around Cincinnati for many years and appreciate our clients across the region,” CEO Bob Zappsaid in a news release. “Opening a branch in downtown Cincinnati is an important and historic step for the Bank of Kentucky as we grow and expand, even in these tough economic times.”

Business Courier  
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MEANWHILE... ACROSS THE RIVER...
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dunnhumby MOVE IMMINENT
Will it be to The Banks or will it be in a brand new building?

Real estate brokers say DunnhumbyUSA is looking for 250,000 square feet of space, with large floor plates and an open concept. With existing space failing to meet those requirements, it’s most likely the company would need a new building. The two most likely spots for DunnhumbyUSA to build a new facility are at the northwest corner of Fifth and Race streets or the anchor tenant space for the office portion of The Banks.

Business Courier/Tom Demeropolis  

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RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE COMING TO THE BANKS

Jeff Ruby has new competition in the Downtown steak wars:

Denny Rouse, vice president of real estate and development for Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc.,  said the upscale steakhouse chain has signed a lease for about 9,600-square-feet of space. The restaurant plans to open at the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter of this year.

Business Courier/Tom Demeropolis  
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CADILLAC RANCH IS NOW CINCY'S ON SIXTH
Goodbye mechanical bull, hello... well, yeah, hello:

It will be an American Grill, serving comfort food and appealing to the same basic crowd that goes to Cadillac Ranch: which is bar-hoppers as much as restaurant goers.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Polly Campbell 
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BENGALS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR MIKE ZIMMER NOT NEXT DOLPHINS COACH
He's not headed to Miami, but Zim's not through feeling out head coaching opportunities:

Zimmer was in Tampa to interview for the Bucs opening but interviews with other candidates for that opening are expected to occur for the rest of the week. It is possible that Tampa Bay might not have a decision by Monday, when the Bengals coaching staff is scheduled to be in Mobile, Ala., to watch Senior Bowl practices.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Joe Reedy  

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ADAM 'PACMAN' JONES TRIAL STARTS TODAY

The conrerback allegedly got a little rowdy at a local bar last summer and faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Local 12 

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in case you missed...

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YOUNG WOMAN SOUGHT IN TWO LATONIA ROBBERIES WITHIN MINUTES

A young woman is accused of robbing 2 Latonia businesses within minutes of each other, getting away with cash and prescription drugs. Click the link for details and photos.

The River City News 

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TUESDAY AFTERNOON'S NEWS

More on the big announcement of this new UpTech endeavor that promises 50 new start-ups in NKY; Kentucky's state beekeeper gets fired; Plus, a Ben Kingsley movie will be shot in NKY. Those stories and more in a jam-packed update at the link!

News Round-Up -- Tuesday Afternoon 

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TUESDAY MORNING'S NEWS

More new businesses will soon pop up in our area thanks to an ambitious effort called UpTech; Study: 700 jobs would be created by having a casino at Turfway; Covington's view may be more dramatic as Cincinnati plans a possible new high rise; Plus, Burger King delivers? Those stories and more at the link!
News Round-Up -- Tuesday Morning 
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BUT WAIT - THERE'S STILL MORE... ABOUT THE 50 NEW START-UPS
What an uplifting announcement at NKU Tuesday morning! A new endeavor called UpTech will offer $100,000 (in exchange for a stake in the businesses) to fifty new businesses (that will also undergo six months of training):

The program will include hands-on mentoring by 40 of the region’s top companies, as well as access to College of Informatics faculty, students and facilities – something UpTech’s founders say no other business accelerator can offer. It’s meant to build a stronger “entrepreneurial ecosystem” among businesses, innovators and investors to create jobs and ensure the region can compete in high-tech industries of the future.
“This is a truly big idea for our economic future and the future careers of our students,” NKU President Dr. Jim Votruba said Tuesday. “With one of only a handful of informatics colleges in America, Northern Kentucky is poised to develop an international leadership role in the informatics industry. This initiative is the next step in that development. Attracting innovative companies and the high-paying jobs that come along to our region will be critical to Kentucky’s continued growth and prosperity.”

Cincinnati Enquirer/Amanda Van Benschoten  
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AUDITOR AND AGRICULTURE COMMISH DISCUSS FIRINGS IN AG DEPT
In a joint editorial in the Courier-Journal:

The Department of Agriculture is not an investigative agency and its resources are limited. The auditor’s office, however, has broad statutory powers to review management and spending and its employees have the professional expertise to take on such a broad examination. So a cooperative effort to clean the slate of an incredibly important agency was born. Some Republicans may be unhappy about a fellow Republican calling for an examination into one of their own, a popular sports figure in this state. And Democrats might not like to see a fellow Democrat cooperate with a Republican on a high-profile examination for fear that it might help the Republican seek higher office. But this matter is too important to make political.

It's so serious, that even the state beekeeper was fired.
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VENDOR MATCHMAKER WANTS BUSINESSES TO CAPITALIZE ON CHOIR GAMES
Are you listening, Covington? These games are going to be huge:

“The 2012 World Choir Games is the most significant event in the history of our community,” said Nick Vehr, managing director of the Cincinnati Organizing Committee for the 2012 World Choir Games. “One element of its significance and its success is the opportunities it creates for local companies. This is such an exciting time for Cincinnati.”

FOX 19  
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WIKIPEDIA IS DARK TODAY
Why? Check out a great explanation from ABC News.
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Also, this guy, like Wikipedia, is very much opposed to the legislation:

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IS IT TIME FOR THE TWINKIE TO GO AWAY?

After Hostess, the maker of Twinkies, filed bankruptcy, the biggest worry was over the fate of the beloved yellow spongey cream-filled cake. The Daily Beast asks if it's time to let it go...

A few years ago, I explored how Twinkies’ 39 ingredients are made, and where they come from, for my book Twinkie, Deconstructed. Having heard the unsettling rumor that Twinkies boast an indefinite shelf life, as a science writer and former cook, I wanted to get to the bottom—the very bottom—of what’s inside the yellow “cakes.” My journey took me from phosphate mines in Idaho to gypsum mines in Oklahoma, from cornfields in Iowa to the vanilla harvest in Madagascar, and what I discovered boggled my mind.

I still totally want one. Or two.
The Daily Beast  

Look how much fun that Twinkie's having
riding that twinkie!