NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY EVENING 25 JUNE

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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INTERIM POLICE CHIEF ON PLAYGROUND FIRE: "ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING"

The fire that mostly destroyed the playground at Sixth District Elementary School in Austinburg early Sunday morning is being investigated as suspicious according to Covington Police. No arrests have been made but investigators are hopeful that surveillance video from the school that shows activity before and during the fire will help lead to suspects. "Our investigators are meeting with area residents and potential witnesses to put together facts surrounding this event," said interim Covington Police Chief Spike Jones, who attended first through third grades at Sixth District in the 1970s. "It's absolutely horrible that anyone would torch a child's playground, especially at an elementary school. It's absolutely disgusting."

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Meantime...

Representatives from the Center for Great Neighborhoods which primarily built the park in 1999, Gateway Technical & Community College, Keep Covington Beautiful, and Janice Wilkerson of Covington Independent Public Schools met this afternoon to assess the situation. Daneille Eulitt of Keep Covington Beautiful tells The River City News: 

1.The playground site is currently an official crime scene. We are waiting to hear from the police and fire departments, as well as the insurance company, to see if and when we will be able to begin the clean-up. As of right now, plans for renovation and the swing set installation are stalled until we hear further information from them, which may take several weeks.
2. We have a preliminary estimate of the cost of rebuilding the structure at $100,000, mainly for materials. Of course, we will be seeking donations and volunteers, and we are working on some fundraising efforts now.3. We plan to keep our initial “build” date of July 21st, however, in lieu of any building, installing or renovation, we will focus instead on hosting a community involvement event at Sixth District. We also plan to start the beautification project with some planting and initial landscaping around the front and back entrances of the school building itself.
4. At the event we will have a volunteer sign-up, encouraging community members to donate their time and expertise in rebuilding the playground. We will also be asking the community to provide their input and ideas for designs for a blacktop mural as well as components they would like to see as part of the new playground structure. 

To donate or help with repairs please contact : Heather Abbott Student Affairs Specialist Urban Center of Gateway Community Technical College 525 Scott Boulevard Covington, KY 41011Office: (859) 815-7634
heather.abbott@kctcs.edu

To read the original report and to see more photos of the damage, click the link below. 

Fire Destroys Playground at Covington School 

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POSSIBLY SUSPICIOUS FIRE IN OLD SEMINARY SQUARE

A dumpster used for construction debris during the renovation of a row house at the corner of Russell & Robbins Streets caught fire Saturday afternoon. The location was also the site of a fatal fire in 2009 that nearly destroyed the four connected row houses, nearly all of which have now been renovated. A neighbor who witnessed Saturday afternoon's fire tells The River City News, "Flames were shooting and the smoke was very thick for a couple of hours. The Covington Fire Department had two big trucks and they got it under control. They did a good job protecting property and cars in the vicinity. Kudos to them for averting a terrible fire in our neighborhood."

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Interim Chief Jones says the police department is also investigating the dumpster fire as suspicious. "They were lookinh into that to see if there are connections (to the Sixth District playground fire)," Jones said. "We'll look at any possible connections and right now we're looking at all aspects on that one."

COVINGTON CHANGES PARKING RULES FOR MAINSTRASSE LOTS

There will soon be a limit on how long drivers can park in the Fifth Street parking lot and the 501 Main Street parking lot. From a City of Covington press release: 

In an effort to free up these lots for the residents, businesses, and the visitors to Mainstrasse Village - and keep commuters that were using the lot as a Park and Ride out of the lot - we had AMPCO install "3 Hour Parking, M-F 8 AM to 5 PM" signs. AMPCO has made parking passes that will be available to the residents, businesses, and their employees that will be free of charge. With the pass, vehicles will be able to park longer than 3 hours without being ticketed. These passes will be distributed free of charge.

The passes are available in the AMPCO office that is located in the Midtown Garage (corner of 5th and Scott, directly across from the Library). Those wishing to obtain a pass will need to show Ampco a pay stub showing employment at a business, or a piece of mail, drivers license, or something similar showing proof of residency to receive their pass. AMPCO will be issuing warning tickets initially, explaining the process for those that did not get the notification. 

If anyone has questions, please call Mike Yeager, Covington Engineering Division, at 292-2112 or Ron Traweek with AMPCO at 431-7049.

MEANWHILE...

The City of Covington is writing more parking tickets than ever before

From the Cincinnati Enquirer: 

Vigilant meter monitors, working for Ampco System Parking, have been writing significantly more parking tickets in recent months than city police wrote in the past. The aggressive enforcement will pour nearly $387,000 into city accounts, 52 percent more money than two years ago when Covington police – often cadets – were primarily responsible for parking enforcement.
In addition to a boost to city coffers, city leaders hope the boost in ticket-writing will make it easier to find parking in Covington and lead to more people visiting Covington businesses. 

Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Mike Rutledge 
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MONDAY MORNING'S NEWS
Don't miss this morning's news! Should school board members be tested for qualifications? KY's education commissioner thinks so; Work on a business improvement district for Downtown Covington begins in earnest in the coming days; Plus, how you can help rebuild Sixth District's playground. Click it.
The RC News: Monday Morning Round-Up 
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CITY COMMISSIONER TO MISS IMPORTANT COVINGTON BUDGET VOTE
City Commissioner Steve Frank will not be present at either of this week's important meetings regarding the City of Covington's finances. Frank writes at Facebook: 

All, unfortunately I will be out of town beginning this morning on business and may not be able to be back until Friday. I have made every city meeting both public and executive and tried to make as many neighborhood and city events as possible given the fact that I also have a 60 hour work week in my other profession. That means I will miss Tuesday Night's presentation from Management partners along with Chuck Scheper's State of the City Speech and Thursday's final vote on the budget. That said I have read the Management partner's report cover to cover, several times and participated in several all day events that helped shape its content. As per the budget. I am in full support and have seen the final numbers. Its a tough budget but one that is required if we want to get Covington back on a sustainable path to economic recovery. The budget vote should carry without my presence. Even given that, the only way I would miss these events is if it was absolutely required by my professional business to be away. 

Those meetings are Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday night, Mayor Scheper and the city commission will present the 2012-13 budget to the public at 6:00PM inside the Madison Event Center. On Thursday night at 6:00PM inside City Hall, the commission will vote on the budget. The River City News will have full, in-depth coverage both nights.
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PENSION COSTS CONTINUE TO DOG CITY BUDGETS
The rising cost of public pensions weigh heavily on municipal and state finances but a new rule will bring to light the financial obligations that could have been hidden previously: 

The new rules are the result of more than five years of work by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board on one of the most contentious topics the agency has ever tackled. The current rules have been criticized for making pensions look more affordable than they really are and creating incentives for governments to take undue risks with taxpayer money.
(snip)
Mr. Attmore declined to predict which states and cities would bear the brunt of the board’s rule changes, but said that, in general, it would be those that had failed, year after year, to set aside as much money as their actuaries instructed. Such plans include those operated by Illinois, New Jersey and Kentucky. 

Full story: The New York Times 
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SEE ALSO: Despite many reforms, big problems persist in most states with public pensions The Economist 
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HOW MUCH DO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS MAKE?
The Courier-Journal created a list of salaries and total 2011 compensation received by members of the Kentucky House of Representatives and the State Senate and shows House Speaker Greg Stumbo earning the most with a salary of $47,114 and total compensation of $94,183. 
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Local legislators: 
Rep. Arnold Simpson $27,480 in salary, $63,976 in total compensaion
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Rep. Dennis Keene $29,906 in salary, $71,000 in total compensation
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Rep. Tom Kerr $16,752 in salary, $47,083 in total compensation
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Sen. Jack Westwood $22,189 in salary, $58,180 in total compensation
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Sen. Damon Thayer $19,240 in salary, $47,901 in total compensation
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The full list, as well as explanations on how total compensation is calculated, is at the link. 
Courier-Journal 
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GOV BESHEAR SIGNS BILL CRACKING DOWN ON METAL THEFT

From a press release:

Metal recyclers in Kentucky will soon be required to register and keep records of their purchases under legislation sponsored by Rep. Tanya Pullin
(D – South Shore), which becomes law July 12.
During a ceremonial signing of House Bill 390 today at the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Third Division, Gov. Steve Beshear said the bill will ensure that recyclers are not inadvertently receiving stolen metal such as copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead or zinc.
“What Rep. Pullin has put into place is a statute that will give our Kentucky State Police the ability to track not only sellers of stolen metals, but those who knowingly purchase those metals, many times after Kentuckians have been victimized by the vandalizing of home and business air conditioning units or other sources of these metals,” said Gov. Beshear. “This will make it much more difficult for metal thieves to operate in the Commonwealth.”
HB 390 requires a registry for second metal recyclers, which will be administered by the Office of Occupations and Professions (O&P) in the Public Protection Cabinet. That registry will require applicants to pay the Kentucky State Police for conducting background checks. The legislation also limits payments for restricted metals to be done by check or electronic bank transfer rather than cash. It also requires the registry to keep records of restricted metal purchases such as manhole covers, guardrails, traffic signs, etc., and makes those records available to law enforcement at all times. Additionally, HB 390 recommends the creation of a Recyclable Metals Theft Prevention Working Group.
Once the regulations have been finalized, second metals recyclers will be required to submit to a name-based background check and receive a certificate of registration from O&P within 60 days of the effective date of the regulations.

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QUICKIES

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Police work to combat growing heroin epidemic in NKY Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Triple digit weather coming to Kentucky this week Herald-Leader 

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Kentucky ranks tenth in injury related deaths State-Journal 

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Immigration ruling at US Supreme Court could halt Kentucky legislation WFPL 

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US lawmakers reworked their own portfolios as economy was collapsing in 2008 Washington Post 

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NKU to study human trafficking in region Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Dole recalls salads sold at Kroger and Walmart in Kentucky, other states Business Courier 

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BUZZKILL: 45-50 LBS OF MARIJUANA SEIZED IN KENTUCKY

A lot of weed is seized after a traffic stop on I-75 in Whitley County. From the Kentucky State Police: 

During the stop officer Douglas learned 58 yr old Carl R. Bradshaw of Cincinnati Ohio was operating a 2003 Chevy Z-71 Tahoe at a high rate of speed and in a careless manner. While on the stop, Douglas smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked the driver to step from the vehicle at which time consent to search was obtained.
Located in the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle was a suitcase and duffle bag containing approximately 45-50 lbs of marijuana. Bradshaw was arrested without incident and lodged in the Whitley Co Detention Center.

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CINCINNATI (AND COVINGTON) GET SHOUT-OUT IN LARGE NEWSPAPER

The swath of positive national media attention bestowed upon Cincinnati lately continues with a nice profile in the Chicago Tribune about the World Choir Games: 

Cincinnati is a city of neighborhoods, and two on the must-see list include Over-the-Rhine, an uber-chic area near downtown with a distinct Old World vibe. It's one of the most intact historically significant collections of architecture in the nation, comparable to New Orleans and Savannah, Ga.
In this rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, you'll find specialty shops, boutiques and several restaurants named among the best in town by Cincinnati magazine. 

Covington and Newport get nice mentions, too: 

When it's time to dine, the German heritage is in evidence across the Ohio River in places such as the MainStrasse Village area in Covington, Ky. Or walk across the "Purple People Bridge" to Newport, Ky., where the Hofbrauhaus is modeled after the original in Munich. While there, save time for the nearby Newport Aquarium, with its long underwater tunnels where sharks glide above you, and Mighty Mike, the biggest gator in the U.S. outside of Florida.

Full story: Chicago Tribune 
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When the World Choir Games kick off next month, three events will be held in Covington, with one each at Devou Park, Mainstrasse Village, and the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.

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CAN YOU HELP THE HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL BAND?

From the Holmes Band: 

Alumni and supporters of the Holmes Band we need your help!!! We are quickly approaching band camp season and we are looking for some items to help our students. If you are able to donate any of the following we would greatly appreciate it: a case of bottled water, granola bars, small bags of chips. If you are able to help us out please let us know!!!!! Thanks so much in advance and as always "Once a Bulldog .... Always a Bulldog"

STUNNING HISTORIC COVINGTON HOME HITS MARKET TODAY

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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A home built on Russell Street in 1874 for the widow of a rare wood salesman in Cincinnati is back on the market today. Known as the Harriet Albro house, 1041 Russell Street has a history as storied as its Old Seminary Square neighborhood. Henry Albro's work in the fine wood industry is exhibited in the craftsmanship throughout the home which was eventually sold to the Klefken family which operated a grocery store in Covington during the early twentieth century. In the 1970s, as the home celebrated a century on Russell Street, Covington steamboat captain Don Sanders purchased and renovated it. After yet another renovation by Todd and Carole Carter (the home won a beautification award from the Friends of Covington in 2006) with all the modern amenities one could want as well as much of its original charm, its current owners are placing the home back on the market at a price of $294,000. 
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1041 Russell Street features nine rooms adorned by well preserved original woodwork and high ceilings, twenty-eight walnut doors, four original fireplaces, and a stunning center staircase that makes a full ninety degree turn to the second floor. The Italianate townhouse boasts of carved stone detailing and decorative cornice work on the facade. The square structure is enhanced by a large bay window that creates a comfortable nook in the living room, allowing for a beautiful view of the street outside. 

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Modern updates include a zoned heating and cooling system, hardwood floors (some original, others replaced), an updated modern kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, and a paved patio covered by a pergola. Original pocket doors separate the master bedroom from a seating area with windows near the walk-in closet. The second-floor laundry room features a front-loading washer and dryer. The master bathroom boasts a large whirlpool tub, separate shower, and windows to allow natural light. Three of the home's five bedrooms are on the third floor which also has a large bath. 

|Covington realtor Rebecca Weber is handling the sale. 

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For a collection of historic photos from the property, visit the Kenton County Library link here 

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For more photos from inside the home as it looks today, click the link below!

CLUES TO COVINGTON'S PAST UNCOVERED AT JACOB PRICE SITE

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

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by Michael Monks 

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EXCLUSIVE

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In the late nineteenth century at the corner of Lynn and Greenup Streets, there likely lived a shoe repairman, a couple seamstresses, a butcher, carpenters, and steel mill workers. The homes of those people were torn down in the late 1930s, but many of their belongings survived underneath the former Jacob Price housing project. "Somebody on that block made or repaired shoes," said Jeannine Kreinbrink of K&V Cultural Resources Management. "We found a lot of shoes but they were shoes that you threw away because they were too worn to fix. We found scraps where he was cutting out heels and soles so we have the leather scraps."

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The cobbler had neighbors, too. "We've got a lot of thread spools, so at least two women who lived there were seamstresses, and we've got a bunch of cut tin scraps, so a guy who rented on the corner in the 1870s was a tin cutter, and big cut animal bones out of one the outhouses that certainly came from the butcher shop," Kreinbrink said. "We can actually match deposits with individuals so our hope is to recreate that neighborhood through the second half of the 1800s to the early twentieth century."

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Kreinbrink and her team spent twenty-two days digging beneath the former Jacob Price site where six outhouses, three cisterns and other items from four or five former homes remained relatively intact underground. She explained that in those days people not only used an outhouse as a restroom but also as a trashcan. "Outhouses are interesting in many ways because people threw things in there that they didn't think people would look at again, so you look in there and you see secrets, like people who wanted to grow their hair back or liquor bottles," she said.

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The items discovered underground, such as torch supports and trellises and lots of glass containers, are an important link to Covington's past. "They can be connected to households and certainly addresses and time frames, so, say the house is occupied from 1850 forward, we can trace the deed history so we know who owned it every decade and we can luckily in the urban area look at the Covington city directories and figure out who lived there," Krienbrink explained. "We have the occupation history of those lots and it gives us the background, the ethnicity, the religion, where they came from." 

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The lots on the site examined by Kreinbrink's team were the only ones not totally disturbed during the construction of Jacob Prince in the late 1930s. The historical underground investigation happened just before another development is set to take the place of Jacob Price: River's Edge at Eastside Pointe. Construction could not begin on that mixed-income housing development until the underground dig took place as part of a federal law connected to the Hope VI funds that are paying for River's Edge. 

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The new construction will be the third such major development on the site since the middle of the 1850s. Originally, the area was part of 370 acres owned by the Western Baptist Theological Seminary which purchased the land in 1835. Eventually the seminary sold most of its acreage for development, keeping only twelve acres for its school and public square and twenty-two acres for Linden Grove Cemetery. The site that became Jacob Price and will now become River's Edge was originally developed as three subdivisions: the First, Second, and Third Baptist. 

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"It's really interesting because we span that entire time frame of that part of Covington from when it was first laid out to when the first houses were torn down to make Jacob Price," Kreinbrink said. 

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Now that excavation and field work is over, Krienbrink and her team (which is subcontracted through Mid-South Cultural Resource Consultants which is contracted by the Housing Authority for these purposes) will begin work on a formal report. "We have two weeks after we're done with field work to put this document together," she said. "It says we got everything out of that corner that we could get in terms of artifacts and information, so let them go ahead and start building and then we have a year to finish our research and all the analysis and then put a report together that will be reviewed by everybody." She said that copies will be kept at the library and stored at the state level and that much of the information will be incorporated into an educational program for the schools. There will also be a public presentation on the discoveries at the conclusion of the research.

All photos provided by Jeannine Kreinbrink.

PHOTOS: SATURDAY IN COVINGTON

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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Saturday's beautiful weather enhanced another wonderful afternoon in Covington. Check out how people in our great city can spend a great day:

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Covington Farmers Marker

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More photos of Saturday afternoon in Covington below, just click the link!

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING 27 APR

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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SCHOOL BOARD APOLOGIZES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AT PREVIOUS MEETING

The Covington School Board apologizes for allowing a lengthy personal attack on a volunteer and vocal critic of the district to be delivered during public comments; Plus, Superintendent Lynda Jackson thanks Covington Police for breaking up a large fight at Holmes. Details at the link. 

The River City News 

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MORE NOTES FROM THURSDAY'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 

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Continued upgrades coming to Holmes

The Board approved upgrades at Holmes High School that will include the relocation and renovation of the band room, the replacement of exterior conrete panels on the gym/science building, asbestos abatement on the ground floor of the gym lobby and stairs, and architectural and lighting upgrades in the gym lobby and stairs. The estimated project cost is $1,165,409.98. The funding source is a bond sale. The Board also entered in a consultant contract with Covington-based PCA Architecture which will serve as the prime consultant for the upgrades. That contract is worth $77,600.

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CIPS approves partnership with City for summer youth program

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The Board approved a memorandum of understanding between the school district and the City of Covington for the 2012 summer youth program. The district approved a budget of $20,000 for additional costs and transportation. The program is five weeks long (June 18 - July 27, but will not include the first week of July) and will be hosted at each of the district's schools for students in grades K through 4. College students are already applying for the popular positions and applications are available at the Board of Education, City Hall, and soon, online. 

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Monthly attendance report

Latonia Elementary 96.26%

Glenn O. Swing 95.28%

Sixth District 95.27%

Ninth District 95.27%

John G. Carlisle 95.49%

Holmes Middle School 94.04%

Holmes High School 91.13%

Holmes Alternative 83.13%

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Computer printer supplies contract awarded

Two companies bid on the district's request for computer printer supplies and the contract was awarded to MRO Express, LLC of West Chester, Ohio.

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Custodial supplies contract awarded

Twelve companies responded to this bid request and the contract was awarded to Pyramid, Greko, Acorn, and Phillips Custodial Supplies.

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Fitness assessment evaluator contract awarded

CIPS will enter into a contract with Dr. Bradley R. A. Wilson who will serve as the primary evaluator for the required fitness assessments under the Carol M. White physical education grant in an amount not to exceed $14,000.

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Holmes students to visit Washington, DC

The five day trip's sample itinerary includes visits to Arlington National Cemetery, Iwo Jima Memorial, Washington National Cathedral, the Pentagon, the International Spy Museum, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the US Capitol, the White House, the American History Museum, the the Natural History Museum, the Baltimore Aquarium, Ford's Theater/Peterson House, the Holocaust Museum, the Air & Space Museum, and the Newseum. The cost is $500 per person and students must have a solid attendance and discipline report in addition to good grades, and a teacher recommendation.

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COVINGTON POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH OF BABY IN MAINSTRASSE

A newborn was found dead inside a home on Lockwood Street in Mainstrasse Village Wednesday morning. Covington police are currently investigating, though no charges have arisen yet. That story and more, including: Covington mayoral candidate Dara McDowell continues her morality debate on Facebook. Click the link.

The RC News: Thursday Afternoon Round-Up 

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NATIONAL GAY BLOG PICKS UP DARA MCDOWELL STORY

Back2Stonewall, a nationally-oriented gay news blog based in Covington had this to say about mayoral candidate Dara McDowell: 

Ex-Gays are like ex-smokers. They still want to have some but since they won;t they have to make life miserable for everyone else that still does. 

Back2Stonewall  
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FRANK: THERE WILL BE NO NEW BRIDGE WITHOUT COVINGTON'S CHANGES
City Commissioner Steve Frank posted online that the Commonwealth of Kentucky would not match any funds for the Brent Spence Bridge project without Covington's requested changes being included: 

Well here is the deal. The State of KY has many uses for what highway money it has and if we do not get a bridge design that meets our needs in Covington; I have it better than on good authority that there will be no required state match to build the bridge. The Highway Department first was promoting plan "E" which would have eliminated the 4'thand 5'th street exits into KY and I and some of my associates successfully moved them to endorse Plan I...though until this week Plan E was still an option. There isn't an ounce of compromise on maintaining Plan I with its 4'th and 5'th street exits. There is always room to compromise on other things but we feel we are within our rights to be asking for what we believe is in the best interests of the citizens of Covington. Yes federal rules for safety are paramount; but the collector distributor road that we want so that our Northbound traffic to fifth street can arrive unimpeded (as it currently is now) rather than hit three stop lights is both cost effective and safe. The Clay Wade Bailey exits exist in Plan I and they will stay in Plan I or there will be no bridge. Cincinnati's objections that our having a new access point to the Interstate via the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge is because it would prevent their streetcar from coming to Covington. To which I say if it was so important to Cincinnati that their toy trains come to Covington, you would think that they might have picked up a phone to call us before now (we are still waiting). 

Read more here. 
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DID YOU MISS COVERAGE OF THE MASSIVE COVINGTON MEETING ABOUT THE BRIDGE PROJECT? Nearly every Covintonian that spoke worried that the bridge plans would kill our city. For the most comprehensive report from that important meeting, click the link below. 
The RC News: Covington Raises Voice in Bridge Battle 

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2012 PRESERVATION AWARD TO GO TO CHUCK EILERMAN
Local real estate agent and Covington City Commission candidate Chuck Eilerman will be presented with the 2012 River Cities Preservation Award - Karen and Peter Rafuse Memorial Award in May, the City of Covington announced this week. 

This award was created to honor and celebrate individual  dedication to the preservation of  Covington's architectural and cultural heritage.  Through your work on saving the Grant House, expanding the Licking Riverside  National Register Historic District, serving as a member and president on the Renaissance Board, serving on the original Urban Design Review Board, and on  various.other cOlIllT).ittees wi~ha focus on preserving Covington' s  Landmarks you have helped establish and further historic preservation in Covington. Further, you promotion of  Covington through you job as a Real Estate Agent and through your photographs have helped people appreciate the beauty of  the built environment here in Covington.  

Read the full announcement here (PDF). 
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QUICKIES
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An exclusive look at the new Concourse A at CVG Airport Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Kentucky gets $1 million for tornado clean-up efforts press release 
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KFC sandwich causes Australian girl brain damage, company to pay $8.3 million Business First 
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Americans put to shame by immigrants on civics test Cincinnati Enquirer
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19 Kentucky nonprofits in running for award from Toyota, including one from NKY Kentucky Forward 
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Kentucky woman wins $63,000 on a ten-cent bet State-Journal 
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COVINGTON ANNOUNCES WEEKEND ROAD CLOSURES
The 1100 block of High Street in Botany Hills will be closed by the Sanitation District for sewer main repair all weekend. (The 5 houses affected are 1108 to 1120 High St. and the residents have been notified.)

West 8th Street from Main to ½ block east to the alley has been closed by the City's Department of Public Improvements.

Questions? Please contact Mike Yeager, Engineering Division, at 292-2112. 
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POLITICS
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GOP CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES DEBATED THIS WEEK
All seven Republicans seeking the GOP nomination for the race to represent NKY in Congress met for a debate in Oldham County. Lots of analysis and videos here: cn|2 
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The liberal Louisville newspaper LEO Weekly offered this analysis: 

LEO Weekly was at Oldham County High School last night for the 4th congressional District Republican candidate forum, where a packed auditorium heard about the evils of Obama, Obamacare and everything the president touches. The winner of next month’s primary will be Kentucky’s new representative in D.C., baring a miraculous Democratic victory this fall in the very conservative district.

LEO Weekly 
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SEE ALSO: NKY Super PAC defends itself Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Geoff Davis introduces legislation to incentivize "clean coal" press release  
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Rep. Yarmuth vows to vote against student loan bill WFPL
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Governor Beshear urges Congress to keep student loans affordable press release 
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Senators McConnell and Paul vote against Violence Against Women Act LEO Weekly 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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DESTINATION: GRADUATION PROFILE FROM HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL

From CIPS: 

Kayla Mitchell, 18, is a serious person. She spends most of her time studying and preparing for college. She is a quiet leader. “I’ve made it possible for myself to go on to college,” said a soft spoken and articulate Kayla. “I have a $40,000 scholarship from UK.”
At Holmes Kayla is enrolled in the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma program, where she takes university-level courses. Her grade point average is 4.911. She is ranked second in her class. She plans to become a nurse and then possibly pursue a degree in dentistry. She will be attending the University of Kentucky and will room with her friend and classmate, Rani Davis.
An important lesson that Kayla learned at Holmes is that anything is possible if you try. “School is what you make of it,” Kayla said. “Good things happen at Holmes.” 

Read more here. 
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THURSDAY'S "WHERE IN COVINGTON AM I?" PHOTO
Are you playing along yet at The River City News Facebook page? 

The answer to this photo's location is Annie Hargraves Park in Old Seminary Square. Background on the park from a 1997 Cincinnati Enquirer article:  

A teacher at the Lincoln-Grant School, superintendent of the St. James AME Church Sunday School and director of the park at West Robbins and Chesapeake, Mrs. Hargraves was a woman who helped calm some of the racial strife in Covington during the 1960s and 1970s.
''She was so instrumental in that transition,'' said Ken Shields, basketball coach at Northern Kentucky University. He worked for the Covington Recreation Department the same time Mrs. Hargraves did.
When not teaching, Mrs. Hargraves spent her time in the park, organizing softball and basketball games, checker tournaments and parties for the neighborhood children. 

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2012 National champs have stiff competition for "best UK team ever" Herald-Leader 
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Tonight is NKU Night at the Cincinnati Reds game NKU 
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A very cool bike tour is taking place this weekend through Newport Barons & Bike Tour