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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks
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COVINGTON PASSES DOMESTIC PARTNER INSURANCE FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
"We have an equal rights law on our books but we have not practiced what we preach." A last second addition to the commission agenda leads to Covington joining Louisville as the only Kentucky cities to offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples. The sudden passage of the legislation was in anticipation of a similar vote expected in Cincinnati soon and Covington leaders wanted to be first. Full story at the link. |
MAYORAL CANDIDATE DARA MCDOWELL REACTS TO DOMESTIC PARTNER VOTE
The Monte Casino mother of eight who hopes to pull of an upset in the May primary for Covington mayor over Commissioners Sherry Carran and Steve Casper, and who has also expressed concern over what she calls the "homosexual agenda" in Covington, is not pleased with the decision to extend domestic partner benefits to city employees:
“I’m in disagreement with that because it should have been put on the agenda, and citizens should have had a chance to voice their concerns about it,” (Dara) McDowell said. “And also this will be an expense to the taxpayers when we’re already having to lay off the 911 dispatch workers because of the shortfalls.Cincinnati Enquirer/Mike Rutledge
“In addition, I would be against that anyway, because the message that we’re sending out is that we are affirming gay relationships and as a Christian I believe that homosexuality is a sin,” McDowell added.
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CITY COMMISSION MEETING RECAP
Domestic partner benefits were not the only piece of legislation approved last night. The city commission accepted the terms of the third and final working agreement between Covington and its public employees unions. Plus, you will likely lose at least one channel when Time Warner takes over your cable service; And, the city is buying new street sweepers because the ones bought a few years ago were not equipped for urban streets.
The RC News: Commission Recap 1 May
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COVINGTON TASER DEATH HIGHLIGHTED IN ENQUIRER PIECE
The Cincinnati Enquirer shares the stories of four individual who died after being tased, including one man in Covington:
Leroy Hughes, 52, died in December 2008 after being shocked by a Taser and struggling with Covington police officers at Highland and Jefferson avenues. Hughes, who was 6 feet and 6 inches tall and weighed more than 400 pounds, was carrying a concealed weapon and threw a box of bullets at officers during the struggle. His mother sued the city and three police officers over the use of the Taser, but the suit was dismissed. The court found the officers acted with reasonable force and did not act maliciously.Cincinnati Enquirer/Jennifer Edwards Baker
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COVINGTON TEEN'S BULLYING DEATH MOTIVATED YOUTH FOUNDATION
The Northern Kentucky Youth Foundation moved into action to create an anti-bullying effort following the October suicide by teenager Sam Denham, a student at Woodland Middle School:
“We’re working with local schools and organizations to create a community-wide response to bullying,” says Ryan Courtade, the foundation’s executive director. “This is an issue we need to get out into the open.” Founded nearly three years ago, the Northern Kentucky Youth Foundation is a nonprofit youth advocacy organization that is composed entirely of volunteers. Courtade, who formerly was the youth leader at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Thomas, said he saw the need for more after-school activities in Northern Kentucky, both to help keep kids out of trouble and to help them feel more invested in their communities.CityBeat/Kevin Osborne
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C+V=G TOUR CONTINUES WITH MEETING IN THE EASTSIDE
Mayor Chuck Scheper and the City Commissioners will meet this evening with the Eastside neighborhood association at the OASIS Outreach Center at 6:00PM. The presentation will include an update on Scheper's 10-point plan and other issues going on in the city.
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SPEAKING OF C+V=G...
Check out the larger version of the images going up in vacant storefronts in Downtown Covington:
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in case you missed...
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TUESDAY AFTERNOON'S HEADLINES
A Covington girl inspired by a production of Rapunzel donates her hair; NKU to increase tuition by largest amount allowed by law; Plus, a Covington Latin grad is the newest Dean at UC. Click it.The RC News: Tuesday Afternoon Round-Up
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KY MAN ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT SEXUALLY ABUSING HORSE, THREATENS DAD
Um... awkward:
According to a police report, an officer was dispatched to the home of Cohron's father on Alford Avenue Sunday because of a domestic dispute. Police said Cohron and his father were arguing about video and photographs depicting the younger Cohron having sexual intercourse with a horse. Cohron Jr. had allegedly shown the material to his 8-year-old brother and was asked to leave the home by his father.WAVE
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LOCAL HOUSING MARKET MAY BUCK TREND
In a piece on the local housing market, the Cincinnati Enquirer points to Covington:
A continued run of increased demand and shrinking inventory will mean less competition for sellers – and potentially the return of prices rising in their favor, says Rebecca Weber, an agent with Huff Realty. “Inventory is getting really low,” she says. “I don’t want to say we’ve shifted back to a seller’s market, but it’s starting to feel that way because we’re not seeing a ton of new inventory coming back.”Cincinnati Enquirer/Lisa Bernard-Kuhn
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NKY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES DEBATE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE ISSUE
From cn|2:
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Ryan Alessi at cn|2 has more videos and more coverage from this week's debate at NKU, at the link.
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KENTUCKIANS SUPPORT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, BUT NOT FEDERAL LAW
From an annual poll of Kentuckians about health:
Every region found 80 percent or more of citizens favored health care for everyone. But less than 50 percent in every region said they were favorable to the health care reform law Congress passed a few years ago.WFPL
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NKU NAMING STUDENT CENTER AFTER PRESIDENT AND MRS. VOTRUBA
The event is today:
A ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the lower lobby of the Student Union, which will be renamed the James C. and Rachel M. Votruba Student Union, in honor of the Votrubas’ 15 years of service to the university and the region.Business Courier
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QUICKIES
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Villa Hills citizens react to investigation of mayor Cincinnati Enquirer
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Regulators seek comment on water pollution plant in Kentucky WFPL
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Secretary of State Allison Lundergan Grimes is recruiting election workers WKYT
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ATTORNEY GENERAL JACK CONWAY: STOP THE TEXTS
Conway issued a statement on his support of National Stop the Texts Day:
"In 2010, more than 3,000 people were killed and an additional 416,000 injured nationally due to distracted driving," General Conway said. "I want Kentuckians to know that they are risking their lives and the lives of others when they text and drive. It is also illegal."press release
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MCCONNELL TURNS DOWN INVITATION TO MEET WITH UK AT WHITE HOUSE
Kentucky's senior senator in DC will not meet with the national champion UK basketball team and President Obama on Friday:
The president asked McConnell to join but the Senate leader will be in Kentucky participating in festivities leading up to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, according to a McConnell aide. Some Kentucky Republicans are wondering if the invitation was sincere, however, given that Congress is on recess and the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for the next day. They suspect it may be what Jerry Seinfeld would call an "unvitation."The Hill/Alexander Bolton
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MORE QUICKIES
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The special mystique of a white horse NPR
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Choosing a hat for the Kentucky Derby Wall Street Journal
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Disputed 1933 Kentucky Derby came to a fighting finish Kentucky Forward
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Children paint colorful canvasses for Governor's Derby celebration press release
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Holmes boys basketball coach to lead Kentucky all-stars The Ohio County Monitor
