by Michael Monks
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COVINGTON & NKY REGION UNDER WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
Beginning at 3:00PM we'll all be watching for some winter weather. The National Weather Service says to expect 1 to 2 inches of snow as the advisory lasts until noon Saturday. The heaviest snowfall is expected during the evening and overnight hours.
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HUNDREDS OF JOBS MAY MOVE FROM CINCINNATI TO COVINGTON
Paycor is leaving Queensgate and is looking elsewhere, including Covington's riverfront towers:
“We’re most certainly aggressively marketing the opportunities in both Madison Place and RiverCenter, because of the most recent losses,” said Dan Tobertge, president and CEO of Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corp. He declined to talk about dealings with Paycor. Covington officials also did not return calls for comment.
Hundreds of jobs are at stake and this would be a big win (and sweet revenge?) for Covington. Read the Enquirer exclusive at the link.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Laura Baverman |
NKY START-UP INCUBATOR RECRUITS ENTREPRENEURS IN PITTSBURGH
This is aggressive and it may pay off for the region:
In a whirlwind visit earlier this week, Caswell met with Carnegie Mellon University folks on campus and would-be entrepreneurs in East Liberty at The Beauty Shoppe to recruit applicants for the inaugural class of UpTech.
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CITY HALL REACTS TO COVINGTON'S CULTURAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION
If you missed this great news yesterday when Covington was selected as one of five Kentucky cities to be certified as a Cultural District, click the link below.
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City Hall released this statement on the honor:
The opportunity to be certified at a state level has been well-timed for Covington and coincides with the City's decision to rid itself of the pre-existing Art District zoning boundaries that was initially created to encourage art and technology businesses to take residence in the core of downtown but was challenged due to its rigid land use zoning restrictions. In contrast, the new State certification calls for a district that promotes mixed use development. As a result, the City has defined the new Arts & Cultural District to overlay the entire downtown of Covington spanning from the riverfront to 12th Street from the Licking River boundary to the 71/75 interstate, and including all of Devou Park.
According to Jackson Kinney, Director of Community Development for the City of Covington, "The focus will be on highlighting the City's arts and cultural assets andapproaching these assets as part of broader economic development and community
enhancement efforts."
The City's Arts Initiative was recently the beneficiary of Mayor Chuck Scheper's generosity of a $10,000 donation. When asked how he thinks the arts & cultural assets are beneficial to Covington, he said, "In order for us to be a great city and enhance the quality of life in Covington, we need to embrace the arts. In the past, we have not invested enough into the Arts and that is why I made a personal monetary commitment. I wanted to keep the momentum going so we would not lose out on the return on investment in the city that the Arts can provide."
Good things are starting to happen more and more in Covington. Cam you feel it?
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COMMISSIONER STEVE FRANK REPORTS FROM FRANKFORT
I come back to Covington reasonably optimistic that many of our projects are thought very highly of and worthy of funding. I would not be surprised, if when all is said and done that Gateway’s Urban Campus to be built in Covington, receives some additional support. It’s quite obvious though that the campus is going to have to walk before it runs; but the will seems to be there to see that the campus continues on an upward trajectory despite the Commonwealth’s many budget woes. More on that later.
The second main ask was for support of HB 113 sponsored by our own Arnold Simpson. This would enable Kentucky to be on more favorable terms when trying to incubate exciting new companies. While it is not widely known; Covington has eight High Technology, early stage life science businesses being accelerated with eight more getting ready to come in as well. Angel tax credits makes possible the willingness of entrepreneurs to invest money in inherently risky projects that could lead to big gains for us all. Frankly the College of Informatics at NKU will give rise to an eco system that, using these tax credits; can put Northern Kentucky on the map as a hot bed for new start ups.
The Expansion of the Northern KY Convention Center is very well considered; but budget realities and the slow timeline for setting aside the land by IRS makes this project not as likely this year; but I’ll be back down in Frankfort next week pushing for it again.
I have less positive news for Brent Spence Bridge funding. This was not a specific topic for the Senators and House members I spoke with today as none were involved directly with road appropriations. I can say with certainty that Louisville has eaten most of the funding for the next six years that we would need for our state match and that they have set a precedent by tolling their bridges to reduce the Commonwealth’s overall expense. I know that we are dead set against tolling up here; but it will be hard to argue that we should not have to do what Louisville did to justify their funding.
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IN OTHER FRANKFORT NEWS...
If you missed the video interview with Covington's State Rep. Arnold Simpson talking about his 'angel investor' bill, click here.
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Legislators may be close on Congressional redistricting (though this seems to change like the weather). Herald-Leader
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Senator Damon Thayer's clients will benefit from his legislation Herald-Leader
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CLERMONT POLITICIAN WILL SURRENDER IN KENTON CO AFTER TREATMENT
Archie Wilson, who allegedly shacked up on occasion in Kenton County motel rooms with a hooker that he compensated with drugs, will turn himself in... after treatment. The article below does not explain what treatment Wilson is seeking.
Local 12
UPDATE: A court date has been set... for Valentine's Day FOX 19
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COMPANY SEES PROFITS SOAR AFTER OMNICARE'S HOSTILE EFFORTS
Hopefully Covington will experience the same success as Pharmerica when Omnicare decides to leave it alone:
“We emerged from the distraction of Omnicare’s hostile tender offer as a stronger company with a laser focus on driving customer value. Looking forward, we see continued improvements in client retention, margin expansion and a very favorable acquisition climate.”
Business First
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LAST DAY TO VOTE FOR THE BEST OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY
I hope you'll take a moment to click the link and support as many Covington businesses as you can! Vote now!
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HOLMES HOSTS SKILLS USA COMPETITION SATURDAY
The competition seeks to identify the best students in advertising design, automotive, collision repair, computer, television production, web design, welding and more.
Students will also compete in the leadership category in areas such as debate, extemporaneous writing, job interview, prepared speech, medical terminology and more.
The competition is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chapman Career and Technical Education Center on the Holmes Campus, 2500 Madison Avenue, Covington.
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WHAT'S GOING ON IN FORT THOMAS?
A new restaurant called the New Garden... Cake Towne closes... A new school board member appointed by the state... and a Fort Thomas woman has another book out. Click over to Fort Thomas Matters to find out all the comings-and-goings in one of our fellow river cities.
Fort Thomas Matters
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SPORTS
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CHURCHILL DOWNS DOUBLES ITS OWNERSHIP OF KENTUCKY DOWNS
That's a race track in Franklin.
Herald-Leader/Janet Patton
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NEW PONY AT CENTER FARM!
And what a great looking colt:
More on this future champion -- including some adorable videos at the link.
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LONGTIME SCOTT COACH TO RETIRE
This will shock all my fellow Scott grads -- Jerry Mohr is retiring! This guy coached boys and girls in swimming, cross country, and track. Well deserving of a break, though.
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THE STREAK IS OVER! MURRAY STATE GOES DOWN...
What an amazing run though and another great testament to the quality and importance of basketball in the Commonwealth. Murray State was the last unbeaten team in men's college basketball but fell last night at home to Tennessee State in one the ugliest final thirty seconds of basketball possibly ever.
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CELEBRATE THE NEW LEXUS IN COVINGTON TODAY
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in case you missed...
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THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S NEWS
Urgent care facility plans to open location in Latonia; Rep. Arnold Simpson sees his angel investor bill pass committee (video); Plus, why the unseasonably warm weather may be to blame for a spike in KY traffic deaths. Those stories and much more at the link!
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