NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY EVENING 31 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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CHECK BACK TONIGHT
Comprehensive coverage of the public meeting at Covington City Hall involving discussion of the future of the police and fire departments will be posted here.

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COVINGTON WOMAN'S EMAIL HACKED, REPORTER HELPS HER OUT

Via WKRC:

Local 12 News Reporter Rich Jaffe had a "conversation" with both the hacker and the victim. Rich was sitting at his desk this morning when he got an email that appears to be from a Covington woman named Karen Chambers. It said Chambers had been robbed in Madrid, lost everything and was headed back to her home in Northern Kentucky, but needed some money. It even gave Rich her home address in Covington along with home and cell phone numbers.

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COVINGTON BUSINESSES RECOGNIZED AS BEST OF NKY

NKY Magazine has published its August/September edition featuring the winners of its "Best of NKY" honors. The following Covington businesses were recognized:

360, Chez Nora, Covington Yoga, Dee Felice, Donna Salyers, flow - a shop for men, Geez'l Pete's, Jackson Florist, Joe Daniels - Daniels Fitness Training, Keystone Bar & Grill

Read about the winners here: NKY Magazine
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$30,000 GRANT TO RESTORE LINDEN GROVE CEMETERY POND
Good news:

Over the cemetery’s 169-year history, the site has fallen into various stages of disrepair and neglect only to be brought back to life with the help of caring citizens and the local courts.
Although the site is now more like a 22-acre park, Pete Nerone, Chairman of the Board for Linden Grove, says that the grounds lost its pond in the early 1960s when it was filled in during the construction of Interstate 71-75.
The pond once supplied a local brewery and provided a self-sustaining water source to the grounds. Thanks to the work of people like Nerone and former board member John Dietz, the pond is about to make a comeback.

Full story: Soapbox Cincinnati 
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QUICKIES
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US Judge strikes down EPA water rules for mines WKYT 
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Police capture naked man who fled Maysville hospital WKRC 
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NKY Chamber to discuss potential 2020 labor market Lane Report 
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KY Republicans may attack KY Democrats over national party's endorsement of same-sex marriage WFPL 
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Senators McConnell and Paul to speak at Kentucky Tea Party rally Herald-Leader 
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Editorial: Average Americans don't need assault weapons CNN 
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Old Enquirer building in Cincinnati to become hotel Business Courier 
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State Police accepting applications for next cadet class press release 
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KY Dept. of Education puts news on an app WKYT 
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Hey Kentuckians, register to win a FREE iPad press release 
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UK freshman Nerlens Noel gets advice from Massachusetts Governor Herald-Leader 
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NO NONSENSE SCIENCE ON GLOBAL WARMING THAT HAS SOMETHING FOR ALL
From an editorial published in the State-Journal (Frankfort):

CALL me a converted skeptic. Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that global warming was real and that the prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct. I’m now going a step further: Humans are almost entirely the cause.

My total turnaround, in such a short time, is the result of careful and objective analysis by the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project, which I founded with my daughter Elizabeth. Our results show that the average temperature of the earth’s land has risen by two and a half degrees Fahrenheit over the past 250 years, including an increase of one and a half degrees over the most recent 50 years. Moreover, it appears likely that essentially all of this increase results from the human emission of greenhouse gases.

Read it all: State-Journal 
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DON'T MISS TUESDAY MORNING'S NEWS!
What cuts will be made to the City's police and fire departments? Your chance to weigh in is tonight; Group: KY school districts failing to protect kids from bullying; Plus, a drunken invitation to the Anchor Grill leads to fun exchange online.
The RC News: Tuesday Morning Round-Up 
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REGISTER FOR STATE PRESERVATION CONFERENCE
From a news release:

Online registration is now available for the 2012 Kentucky Historic Preservation Conference Sept. 20-22, with educational sessions primarily in Princeton and other activities planned in Dawson Springs, Eddyville and Kuttawa. For more, visit www.kypreservationconference.org 

This year is the first time the biennial conference is taking place away from a major metropolitan region, and this regional approach is reflected in the theme “Our Towns: Partnering Regionally, Preserving Locally,” which emphasizes the need to focus local efforts in neighborhoods and communities while seeking opportunities to work together regionally for the economic benefit of all.

Conference co-sponsors are the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office and Preservation Kentucky Inc., with presenting sponsors the city of Princeton, Princeton Main Street/Renaissance on Main, Princeton Tourism Commission, Lyon County Tourism, and the Dawson Springs Main Street and Preservation Program, with assistance from many other local organizations.
Guest speakers include Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham, author of “On Bended Knees: The Night Rider Story,” “Castle: The Story of a Kentucky Prison” and other titles focusing on the region’s history; Art Jackson, Director of the Small Towns Economic Prosperity (STEPs) initiative for the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center Inc.; economist Donovan Rypkema, principal of PlaceEconomics in Washington, D.C., who will discuss his new report “Historic Preservation and Rightsizing”; and Jane Turville, writer, director and producer of the award-winning movie “The Greenest Building.”

More details: Click Here 
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10 WAYS TO RESEARCH HISTORY OF YOUR HOUSE
Interesting stuff:

When we make friends we like to learn about them -- we ask them where they grew up, where they went to school, and when they were born.
Our homes are a lot like that. We spend time with them, value them, and take care of them. So it makes sense that we want to know more about them -- who lived there before, how it’s changed over time, and when it was built.
If only walls could talk, right? Instead, here are 10 ways to uncover the story behind your older or historic home (or any other building you’re interested in):

Check out the tips here: Preservation Nation

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY AFTERNOON -- 24 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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MAN ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING, SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TEEN IN MAINSTRASSE

A 17-year old girl contacted Covington Police at 8:37AM Monday and reported that she was forcibly brought into an apartment on the 700 block of Greer Street where she was sexually abused. Police arrested Waheed Abdul Rahman, 22, and charged him with first degree sex abuse and kidnapping a minor. Rahman is being held at the Kenton County Jail on $10,000 bond. He is to appear in court on August 1. "The suspect was known to the victim but not well known, more like an acquaintance than anything, and the victim was en route to somewhere and just happened to run into this person," said Covington Police Spike Jones to The River City News.

Waheed Rahman

AFTERNOON STORM ALL BARK, NO BITE

A strong thunderstorm system rolled through the region and the skies over Covington got to be quite dark but nothing serious ever materialized here outside of some threatening clouds:

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IMPORTANT CITY COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT & OTHER NEWS

Don't miss Tuesday morning's news: Kenton Co Prosecutor: "Not the time to be cutting police positions"; Expect a busy, important meeting tonight at City Hall; Plus, get your first look at the new murals along the Licking River Greenway & Trails. Those stories and more at the link!

The RC News: Tuesday Morning Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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Landmark prescription drug abuse bill takes effect in KY press release 

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Teen shot to death on Louisville city bus WKRC 

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State social sentenced for falsifying child abuse records press release 

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Man charged in police chase in Kentucky blames his seizure attack, even though the chase went for ten miles WKRC 

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Task force to study whether former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer's gas lab can be saved WLEX 

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Lexington schools add protections for GLBT employees WKYT 

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Independence city council considers adding ATVs to nuisance list Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Parents of murdered Florida teen Trayvon Martin to appear in Cincinnati Wednesday Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Muhammad Ali seeks to inspire youth through social media WKYT 

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SEC suddenly changes upcoming season's basketball schedule KY Sports Radio 

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EDITORIAL: OUR RIDICULOUS APPROACH TO RETIREMENT

An economics professor pens this op-ed in The New York Times:

So it’s not surprising that denial dominates my dinner conversations, but it is irresponsible for Congress to deny that regardless of how much you throw 401(k) advertising, pension cuts, financial education and tax breaks at Americans, the retirement system simply defies human behavior. Basing a system on people’s voluntarily saving for 40 years and evaluating the relevant information for sound investment choices is like asking the family pet to dance on two legs.
Not yet convinced that failure is baked into the voluntary, self-directed, commercially run retirement plans system? Consider what would have to happen for it to work for you. First, figure out when you and your spouse will be laid off or be too sick to work. Second, figure out when you will die. Third, understand that you need to save 7 percent of every dollar you earn. (Didn’t start doing that when you were 25 and you are 55 now? Just save 30 percent of every dollar.) Fourth, earn at least 3 percent above inflation on your investments, every year. (Easy. Just find the best funds for the lowest price and have them optimally allocated.) Fifth, do not withdraw any funds when you lose your job, have a health problem, get divorced, buy a house or send a kid to college. Sixth, time your retirement account withdrawals so the last cent is spent the day you die.

Read the full editorial: The New York Times 
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COULD COVINGTON INCREASE REVENUE BY SELLING ADVERTISING?
Pittsburgh is giving it a whirl:

Companies would be allowed to buy naming rights to city buildings and advertise on city vehicles and employee uniforms, at swimming pools and recreation centers, in city mailings and on benches and parking meters under legislation to be introduced today in Pittsburgh City Council.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said in a statement that the policy is intended to generate additional revenue in a "responsible and community-minded" way. This year's city budget projects $500,000 in revenue from advertising.

Full story: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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BREAKING: Tonight's Covington City Commission meeting is brought to you by:

Grippo's! ;-)

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THIS DROUGHT ISN'T JUST BAD FOR CORN, IT'S BAD FOR WINE, TOO

Wait, what? The wine's in trouble, too? Yep:

This summer's weather is bringing a whole new meaning to dry wine as grape growers deal with the heat and dry conditions as well. Grapevines are deeply rooted and have a great knack for finding water in periods of drought; however, the 2012 drought has proved challenging for even the most tenacious vines.

“With the below-average rainfall and extremely high temperature spikes we’ve experienced here in Kentucky, we want to make sure grape growers monitor their vineyards for symptoms of water stress,” said Patsy Wilson, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture viticulturist. “This is especially true for newly established vineyards.”

Wilson said a mild degree of stress is not harmful, but severe stress can reduce crop levels and delay fruit ripening, potentially harming fruit quality and vine health in both current and subsequent vintages.

Ten years from now, be wary of those "vintage" 2012 bottles...
Full story: University of Kentucky
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JOB OPENING: Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK) has Americorps opening Click Here (PDF)
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HOLY CROSS FOOTBALL COACH HONORED BY CINCINNATI BENGALS
Bruce Kozerksi, who led the Holy Cross Indians to a state title last season, was honored Tuesday by his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals:

Kozerski, who played for the Bengals from 1984-1995, was named the winner of the 2011 Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award on Tuesday.
Kozerski led Holy Cross to a 12-3 record last year and a Kentucky Class 2A state championship. Bengals’ owner Mike Brown is presenting Kozerski with a $5,000 donation to Holy Cross’ athletic department at Paul Brown Stadium during Tuesday’s training camp media luncheon.

Full story: NKY Sports Blog 

Bruce Kozerki
(RCN file photo)

WIND & LIGHTING WREAK TREE HAVOC IN PARTS OF 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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A severe thunderstorm rolled through Covington and the lighting that accompanied it knocked down many trees, some landing on vehicles and homes. The wind, however, appears to be the biggest culprit in much of the damage, a lot of which is concentrated in Covington's Westside along Holman, Banklick, and Russell as well as Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth. Linden Grove Cemetery also suffered serious damage when a tree struck by lighting destroyed portions of its fence. A residential parking lot with about five to seven cars in it is now covered by a large tree that came down on Bakewell. Covington city employees, including fire, police, and public improvements are hard at work all over town.

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PHOTOS:

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Lots more photos below, just click the link and then click on a pic to start the slideshow.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY MORNING 17 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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EASTSIDE ORGANIZES TO GET BLACK MEN INVOLVED IN SCHOOLS

"It's squarely on our shoulders and we are not stepping up to the plate," said Jerry Avery, an Eastside resident and member of the Covington School Board of the lack of involvement of black men in the lives of the City's youth and spending at least an hour a week in the schools. "As men in this neighborhood it is our responsibility and we're not there." Avery and neighborhood leader Clint Jackson organized a meeting Monday night at OASIS, Inc on Greenup Street to brainstorm ideas on how to get more men involved, but even the meeting was evidence of how that involvement is lacking. "We got four men from this neighborhood (at the meeting). It's unacceptable."

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Joining the four men at the meeting were Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank and Reverend Richard Fowler. Frank commented that there are not enough black members of the police department, fire department, or even the city government. "We're committed to trying to do something as we reorganize to fix a lot of these problems," Frank said. The visibility of black men in the schools and the community was a constant theme throughout the meeting.
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"It's our fault," Avery said. "We are not blaming the City. We're blaming ourselves. Children believe what they see and they don't see us there." Avery and Jackson are at Holmes High School frequently and see the difference that can be made when members of the community take an active role in helping to keep order in the school so that teachers can focus solely on teaching. "(Teachers) only got forty-five minutes to teach the whole class but if they're spending ten minutes with this knucklehead and ten with that one, they only got twenty-five minutes. But if we're there, they get the whole forty-five minutes."

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Jackson was disappointed in the low turnout saying that he had verbal commitments from many more men who said they would attend. "We all know this community and the black males are stubborn and hard-headed," Jackson said. "We have black males still festering over things that happened (between them) twenty to twenty-five years ago. But we're going to get through this. It's too important."

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"We got to go with what we got," Avery said. "Look at where we're starting. This is not where we're going to end." 

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VOCAL CRITICS APPOINTED TO SANITATION DISTRICT BOARD

Described as "two of the most ardent critics" of Sanitation District One, the new appointees to SD1's board of directors are expected to continue their scrutiny of the organization's finances:

A majority of Kenton County Fiscal Court has agreed with Judge-executive Steve Arlinghaus’ recent decision to name local developer Rick Wessels and Northern Kentucky Tea Party activist Garth Kuhnhein to the board. The two have questioned the organization’s spending practices and argued that there was a lack of sufficient financial oversight under former General Manager Jeff Eger.
Both plan to continue their watchdog role. “I don’t know that I want to criticize the existing board or anyone that’s leaving, but I plan to be hands-on and try to keep my eyes on what’s going on down there,” Wessels said.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Cindy Schroeder & Mike Rutledge 
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HEAT ADVISORY ISSUED FOR AREA TILL 8:00PM
Another hot one... Heat index could topple one hundred degrees. Drink lots of water and avoid strenuous outdoor activity!

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DON'T MISS MONDAY'S NEWS!
Licking Riverside gets statewide exposure in Kentucky blog; the President and the Governor discuss the Brent Spence Bridge; A 5-day old baby escapes injury in bad crash on Madison Pike; Plus, a Kentucky man's final wish goes viral. Click it.

The RC News: Monday Evening Round-Up 

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QUICKIES
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President of Kentucky District Judge Association collapses at church, dies Herald-Leader 
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US Rep. Ben Chandler: Obama is still best candidate, not attending national convention is not a snub cn|2
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Agriculture Commissioner James Comer warns against drought stricken silage WKYT 
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LESBIAN COUPLE KICKED OUT OF KY PARK TO APPEAR AT RALLY
The City of Richmond, Kentucky has yet to consider an anti-discrimination ordinance that includes protections for gay citizens, but a rally Wednesday hopes to change that. A lesbian couple recently kicked out of a park after being seen kissing for a maternity photo will appear at the rally:

William Sharp, staff attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky, said the park, based on available facts, would be considered a public accommodation subject to anti-discrimination protections, according to the news release.
"In the same way a restaurant is privately owned and operated but open to anyone in the public to visit, the privately funded side of E.C. Million Park would likely be considered a public accommodation since it is open to the public to enjoy," Sharp said in the news release. "Were there a local or statewide anti-discrimination fairness law in place, the young couple would be protected by that law."

Covington joins Louisville and Lexington as the only Kentucky cities to extend such protections to gays.
Full story: Herald-Leader 
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THE GEOGRAPHY OF TOLERANCE
Via The Atlantic Cities:

The map above shows how metros across the U.S. score on the Tolerance Index, as updated for The Rise of the Creative Class, Revisited. The chart below shows the top 20 metros. Developed by my Martin Prosperity Institute colleague Kevin Stolarick, it ranks U.S. metros according to three key variables—the share of immigrants or foreign-born residents, the Gay Index (the concentration of gays and lesbians), and the Integration Index, which tracks the level of segregation between ethnic and racial groups.

You can see a larger version of the map at the link below. Cincinnati/NKY does not score the worst possible rating, but shows room for improvement. We also rank behind Louisville and Lexington. 
Full story with map: The Atlantic Cities 
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SPORTS
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Scott HS names a new football coach and a Holy Cross baseball player is invited to a prestigious event Cincinnati Enquirer 
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ALL OF BOB ROSS'S PAINTINGS?

From Mental Floss:

We have only a vague idea. Some Ross actually sold. Before becoming a TV star, Ross was an Air Force Master-Sergeant in Alaska. There, he painted and sold gold pans. Later on, Ross taught lessons year-round, and he regularly gave free paintings to his students. Sometimes Ross kept his paintings, eventually donating them to charity. A couple of his pieces even found their way onto the black market: during Joy of Painting’s second season, a burglar stole 13 reference paintings from Ross’ van.

There's more to the story: Mental Floss 
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Let's relax and paint a quiet pond and some happy little trees...

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 7 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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POLICE RETIREMENTS TOP COVINGTON COMMISSION AGENDA

Two Covington Police officers will have their requests for retirement accepted at Tuesday night's Covington City Commission meeting. Captain Dennis Sparks is set to leave the department August 1 while Officer Dennis Wesseler's retirement officially took place July 1. Other items of note on the agenda for Tuesday night:

• The City is to renew its contract with Dr. Paul Spellman for services for the Covington Fire Department
• For consideration, the approval of a "state bid" proposal from Ohio Caterpillar for the purchase of a new 299D XHP skid steer loader in the amount of $74,645 (50% payable from Devou Park Trust Fund, 19.3% payable from Drees allocation for equipment, 9.3% payable from Devou Trust tree removal allotment, and 21,4% from City capital improvement funds

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New piece of equipment will look similar to this

• Consideration for approval of $85,500 for new Panasonic toughbook computers, payable from asset forfeiture fund
• Promotions for several employees in the police and fire departments
• A presentation on the Latonia Banner

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CDBG FUNDS "GOOD NEWS FOR COVINGTON" SAYS COMMISSIONER CARRAN

City Commissioner Sherry Carran posted this message to Facebook via the Kentucky League of Cities:

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5972) last Friday. The House considered several amendments to the THUD Appropriations bill that would have cut important funding for communities.One of the most important programs for cities is funded through this legislation. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides federal funding for various community, housing and economic development projects in cities of all sizes. The House-passed measure includes $3.34 billion for CDBG, which is higher than the $3.1 billion approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and more than the $2.9 billion proposed by President Obama.Prior to final passage, the House voted on four amendments that would have significantly cut CDBG or Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding, including one amendment that would have eliminated CDBG entirely. All of the amendments were defeated with strong bipartisan votes. Fortunately, not a single Kentucky representative voted to eliminate the CDBG program.

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DUKE ENERGY TO FIGHT SURCHARGE TO FUND CONSOLIDATED DISPATCH
Another kink is thrown into the planning on how to fund Kenton County's consolidated 911 emergency dispatch center once the City of Covington's center goes away in the fall. Via WCPO:

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MEANWHILE... DUKE'S NEW CEO SERVES FOR 24 HOURS, LEAVES JOB, AND WALKS AWAY WITH $44 MILLION:

Hours after Bill Johnson became CEO of Duke Energy, its board sought his resignation—which it received at 12:01am the day after he took the job. Such a quick change is practically unknown in US history, theWall Street Journal notes—and nearly as shocking is the $44.4 million Johnson's set to walk away with. The energy firm announced Johnson's selection as CEO a year and a half ago; he had held the same position at Progress Energy, which merged with Duke at that time. Now, however, former Duke CEO Jim Rogers will take the job.

Nice work if you can get it.

Full story: Newser

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HAVE "PET" PROJECTS TAKEN FUNDING FROM NEW BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE?

Some federal funding is being criticized in that it could have been better served going toward the Brent Spence Bridge project:

A white squirrel sanctuary in Kenton, Tenn., received a combined $269,000 in 1999 and 2002 in federal transportation enhancement grants to build trails and foot bridges. Kenton is known for its population of rare albino squirrels. Kenton Mayor Virginia Davidson said she doesn’t appreciate (Sen. Rand) Paul or other politicians picking on her town’s squirrel sanctuary. “I wouldn’t vote for him for dog catcher,” Davidson said. Davidson said her town received the grant in a time when the country’s economy thrived. Other cities received similar grants, she said, including a town nearby that received aid for its “World’s Largest Tea Pot Collection.” “I don’t think at this time it is right to bring up something like that from so many years ago,” Davidson said. “I know it was 12 years ago, and the economy was so much better. They’re not giving money for things like that now.” 

Hear from a Covington resident and a Covington business owner in the full story at the link.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman

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COVINGTON TEEN'S SUICIDE INSPIRES STUDENT TO FIGHT BULLYING

Last October, 13-year old Woodland Middle School student Sam Denham took his own life after suffering at the hands of bullies. Now, Sam's best friend has become an anti-bullying advocate and recently won an award for her efforts:

“I am very honored to have received the award,” (Zoe Chin) said. “It means a lot to me. I would like to do whatever I can to help stop this major issue. I think it’s important for kids to stand up for one another and speak out. Kids do what they do to each other because they know they can get away with it. Us kids need to be good examples for each other. Being a bystander without saying anything can be just as bad as being the bully.” According to the Lexington Fairness website, lexfair.org, the Political Leadership award is “reserved for those among us who do the most to ensure that the LGBT community is afforded equal protection under the law – not special rights, just human rights. Whether it is protecting domestic partnership benefits at our local universities, championing anti-bullying initiatives or standing up against legislation designed specifically to divide, this award will honor the person who works the hardest just to make things fair.” 

Read the full story at the link.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Amy Scalf (via NKY Youth Foundation)

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CONVICTED: WEEKLY MUGSHOT ROUND-UP FROM KENTON COUNTY

Who's going to prison, who got probation, and who's still on the loose? Your weekly mugshot round up from Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders is at the link!

Convicted: Mugshot Round-Up 

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DON'T MISS FRIDAY'S NEWS

Covington City Commissioner to firefighters union: "I'd advise you not to provoke us"; A new brochure promotes Downtown Covington; Podcast covers the history of the Roebling Suspension Bridge; Plus, the Emergency Shelter graduates eleven men from homelessness to housing. Those stories and more -- at the link!

The RC News: Friday Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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NKY manufacturers struggle to fill jobs Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Kentucky legislator wants tougher DUI law WFPL 

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Conservative KY think-tank starts a PAC WFPL 

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Cincinnati Reds player's dog missing after fireworks WKRC 

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Former Kentucky basketball star, Agriculture Commissioner, and candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Richie Farmer's divorce is final Courier-Journal 

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Sen. Rand Paul wants to save the internet -- conservative style Mashable 

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Track Jack! Attorney General Jack Conway's blog Jack Conway 

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Black-owned businesses in Cincinnati among nation's largest Business Courier 

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Base jumper leaps from Carew Tower Cincinnati Enquirer 

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TROUBLE FOR A COUPLE KENTUCKY MAYORS...

Corydon seeks to oust its mayor over expense Herald-Leader 

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Paintsville mayor owes thousands for utilities WKYT 

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ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING DAY OF HEAT EXPECTED SATURDAY

But on the upside... this is supposed to be the last in a string of depressingly scorching days...

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8 WORST THINGS ABOUT SUMMER IN AMERICAN CITIES...

Concrete, trash, bugs, humidity...and more. The Atlantic Cities breaks down which cities have it worst in various summer categories. Click Here 

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MEANWHILE, IT'S BEEN A DEVASTATING YEAR FOR KENTUCKY FARMERS

From 84 WHAS:

(Agriculture Commissioner James) Comer says many farmers planted their largest corn crop in years and some won't see any corn at all. Comer says some corn stalks are 6 feet tall, with not an ear of corn on them. Consumers will be paying the price at the grocery store. Comer says there will be a huge corn shortage and prices will climb. He says many items have corn byproducts in them, from soda to cereal to baking supplies.

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PHOTOS: Kentucky's drought as seen from the air Herald-Leader 

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WATER SHORTAGE WARNING: 27 Kentucky counties are on alert for the possibility of not having enough water press release 

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KROGER DIMS ITS LIGHTS DURING HEAT EMERGENCY

The grocery chain will dim the lights in its stores by 1/3 to conserve energy. WKRC 

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    DESPITE THE HEAT, THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Cincinnati is The City That Sings even when it's too hot to do anything at all and today, the World Choir Games come to Covington for two friendship concerts at Devou Park. The first is at 4:00PM at the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky and the second is at 7:30PM at the ampitheater/bandshell. It's going to be hot... very hot. Be prepared.

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Headed to Devou Park for the two World Choir Games friendship concerts today? It's going to be a hot one -- and parking nearby the concerts is limited. Tip: Use the shuttle that leaves Covington Catholic High School and that drops you off right at the venue. It's a buck each way. (Thanks to Devou Park Ranger Larry Ballinger for the tip.)

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Cincinnati heat can't keep a good choir down WXIX