by Michael Monks
Email Michael
Email Michael
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hey punxatawney phil, we'll gladly take 6 more weeks of this kind of winter!
That rascal groundhog up in Pennsylvania reported this morning that there will be six more weeks of winter. Six more weeks? What winter?
Today's High: 57 sunny and mild
Love it.
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Groundhog Day explained:
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SEE ALSO: How accurate is Punxatawney Phil? FOX 19
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KENTON CO INDOOR AIR QUALITY STILL BAD WITH PARTIAL SMOKING BAN
KENTON CO INDOOR AIR QUALITY STILL BAD WITH PARTIAL SMOKING BAN
A study from the University of Kentucky School of Nursing and the Clean Indoor Air Partnership led researchers to check out the indoor air quality at nine unidentified Kenton County locations before and after the enactment of the partial smoking ban on April 15, 2011, and an additional ten locations after the partial ban was enacted:
- Pollution in the air was twice the national standard for outdoor air, four times the average in Lexington (which has a full indoor smoking ban) and eight times higher than the average in Louisville (which also has a full ban)
- Of the original nine venues tested, there was an average of 120 patrons with an average of 3.2 smoking a cigarette
- The average level of indoor air pollution in Kenton County, Kentucky dropped from 123µg/m 3 pre-ordinance to 74 µg/m 3 post-ordinance, but air quality remained dangerously high and above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for outdoor air. While the nonsmoking venues fell below the outdoor standard, the split shift and smoking venues exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (35µg/m 3) by 1.8 and 4.2 times, respectively. These findings show significant improvement in air quality in the nonsmoking venues but workers in the exempt venues remain exposed to toxic levels of secondhand smoke. Given these findings, the indoor air pollution could improve significantly if Kenton County had a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance.
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ADDITIONAL MEETING SET TO DISCUSS COVINGTON'S PROPOSED "BID"
The Business Improvement District proposed for Covington's urban core will be discussed publicly again on Wednesday, February 8th from 11:30AM to 1:00PM at the Artisan Enterprise Center on 7th Street.
Please RSVP to office@cbcky.com or by calling 859-431-1500, ext. 2 as lunch will be provided.The folks leading the Center City Action Plan, Covington's effort to revitalize the urban core will be present as well:
Join Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA) and the City of Covington Community Development Department as we continue to lay the groundwork for the development of a business improvement district service plan along with a proposed territory and assessment rate.
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UPTECH'S APPLICATIONS (AND $100,000 STARTUP FUNDS) NOW AVAILABLE!
This just in from the organization that promises huge startup opportunities for businesses in our region:
We're looking for any informatics companies comprised of driven entrepreneurs that will be able to reach significant milestones (e.g. a working version for customer feedback, early customer acquisition, next stage funding) during their time at the UpTech program. No company is “too early” to apply. We will accept companies with big ideas still in the ideation phase of development. Nor is any “company” too late” – we will accept companies into our program with paying customers. We will accept any company we feel would benefit from the acceleration in growth and development.
Check out the application at the link.
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EDUCATION CUTS WOULD DELAY OVERHAUL OF CURRICULUM AND TESTING
Just what Kentucky needs, another impediment to better education:
Terry Holliday, commissioner of the Department of Education, told a House budget subcommittee that cuts proposed under Gov. Steve Beshear's two-year budget also would mean less money for teacher professional development and less money for technology assistance for local school districts. There also would be no new state money to help some schools that have been deemed low-performing schools.Herald-Leader/Beth Musgrave
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UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS WILL DISCUSS STATE BUDGETS
Higher education is also a concern as was expressed last weekend at NKU. UK & UofL's presidents are taking their case to Frankfort.
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ARE YOU READY FOR THE EARTHQUAKE?
You better be! There's a planned earthquake drill for the entire Central United States including Kentucky. The Great Central US Shakeout. "Drop, cover, and hold on!" It all sounds like a line dance from junior prom.
You better be! There's a planned earthquake drill for the entire Central United States including Kentucky. The Great Central US Shakeout. "Drop, cover, and hold on!" It all sounds like a line dance from junior prom.
Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. The ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. This page explains what to do-- and what not to do.How to
More info and registration at the link.
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CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT HAS BECOME OF UK GREAT RICHIE FARMER?
If he's not charging candy to the taxpayers or charging Caribbean vacations to the taxpayers or staying in luxury hotels in Lexington to the taxpayers or hiring his girlfriend in his own department at an expense to the taxpayers, he's filing for unemployment after getting booted from office. I can sympathize with the joblessness, but it's against Kentucky law for elected officials to claim unemployment once they leave office:
Farmer’s successor, Agricluture Commissioner James Comer said: “Without commenting on any specific unemployment claim, I will say that I do not believe in general that elected officials can or should receive unemployment benefits. I am mindful that the unemployment fund is depleted and there are Kentuckians who are out of work and hurting and far more deserving of these benefits than politicians.”Courier-Journal/Tom Loftus
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Maybe something snapped inside Richie when this happened:
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A 5TH REPUBLICAN JOINS RACE TO REPRESENT NKY IN CONGRESS
Meet Tom Wurtz:
NKY Spot
A Northern Kentucky Tea Party leader has entered the race for U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis’ 4th District seat. Tom Wurtz, 56, posted the announcement Wednesday on his web site. “I’m tired of talking. I’ve decided to report for duty. Yesterday, I traveled to Frankfort and declared my candidacy for federal office,” he wrote in his announcement. Wurtz is president of Tom Wurtz Consulting and writes a weekly column for his business subscribers. He previously was president of The Sheakley Group, a consulting firm in Cincinnati. He describes himself as a “speaker, author, columnist, constitutional-conservative and active in politics.”
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Our current Congressman, Geoff Davis (R-Hebron), gave a shout-out to Holy Cross boys basketball this morning on their All A Classic title:
Congrats to two State Championship winning basketball teams from#KY4, the Holy Cross Boys and the @WVBearcats Girls team! #nkyhoops
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COVINGTON POLITICAL STRATEGIST CELEBRATES WOMEN IN POLITICS
Kathy Groob:
Last Saturday, Emerge Kentucky, a Democratic women’s training program, hosted its first banquet event with over 500 Democrats in attendance to honor and roast their favorite elected woman, outgoing state auditor Crit Luallen. A Who’s Who of Democratic stars, one after another, praised and poked fun at Crit Luallen, lauding her many accomplishments. The audience cheered loudly each time the prospect of her running for U.S. Senate or governor was mentioned.
More on this growing organization at the link (Did you know KY ranks 39th for elected women in officer?)
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THAYER SOUGHT COUNSEL FROM ETHICS COMMITTEE
Following the dust-up between the Republican state senator from Georgetown, Damon Thayer (who represents South Covington) and the Lexington Herald-Leader, Thayer asked advice from the ethics committee:
Thank you for contacting the Legislative Ethics Commission with your question regarding whether a legislator who has business clients such as thoroughbred horse farms is allowed by state law to support a proposed constitutional amendment relating to casino gaming, which if adopted, may benefit horse racing and other areas.Read the rest here.
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FABULOUS FUNDRAISER FOR COVINGTON PARTNERS
Donna Salyers's Fabulous Furs will host a fundraiser next Wednesday, February 8 from 5:30PM to 7:30PM to raise money for Covington Partners, a group "dedicated to reducing barriers to student achievement for Covington youth and families". Admission is $20 and some of the prizes include a faux-fur throw blanket ($350... and exquisite), a golf outing ($200), or a diamond necklace gift basket!
More info at the link.
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LAST YEAR'S DERBY WINNER PREPARES FOR 4-YEAR OLD RACING
Animal Kingdom's 4-year old debut is a couple weeks away in the Tampa Bay Stakes, February 25.
Animal Kingdom, whose races before the Kentucky Derby were on synthetic and grass surfaces, has not raced since the June 11 Belmont Stakes, in which he suffered a hairline fracture of his right hock and underwent surgery. He has posted six workouts since Dec. 24, including a bullet five-furlong move in 59.61 seconds Wednesday morning on the turf course at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla.
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PLEASANT SURPRISES IN UK FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS
What a great season the Wildcats may have someday... Oh, by the way, I had no idea that Patrick Towles, the UK-bound quarterback of the state champion Highlands Bluebirds, was Jim Bunning's grandson. #Clueless
