NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY LUNCH 19 DEC

by Michael Monks 

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POLICE CHIEF CONTRACT VOTE TOPS COMMISSION AGENDA

Police Chief Lee Russo's contract renewal will be voted on by the Covington City Commission Tuesday. The language of the ordinance is vague as to the contents of the proposed contract:

AN ORDER/RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF COVINGTON POLICE CHIEF LEE RUSSO EFFECTIVE JANUARY 15, 2012. 

The chief has a community forum scheduled for the following day, Wednesday, at Police Headquarters on Madison Avenue from 7:00 - 9:00PM. In addition the chief's contract, the Commission will offer final approval on merging the City's animal control services with Kenton County, set the schedule for next year's meetings, approve salaries for the new part-time Devou Park rangers, vote on a bid to improve the Devou Park golf course clubhouse/multipurpose facility, vote to declare police property as surplus and eligible for sale, appoint Commissioner Sherry Carran to the OKI Regional Council, appoint citizens to the Devou Park Advisory Board and the Urban Forestry Board, and approve a raise for a police officer. Also, expect presentations on Linden Grove Cemetery and the public parking facilities. Duke Energy Foundation will present its checks to the city (presumably to the Center for Great Neighborhoods and possibly bioLOGIC) and the fire department recruit class of 2011 will take the Oath.

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OMNICARE STILL HOPING TO BUY KENTUCKY COMPANY

The courting continues for the corporate welfare queen to buy its nearest competitor (which, again, it can do even though it cannot afford rent without taxpayer subsidies, apparently):

Officials with PharMerica Corp. andOmnicare Inc. met last week to further discuss a merger but made “no progress toward an agreement,” according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission . The documents include letters sent back and forth between representatives of the two firms this month. They indicate more willingness by PharMerica to discuss Omnicare’s acquisition bid.

Louisville Business First  
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GEOFF DAVIS'S WEEKLY COLUMN
The newly minted lame-duck Congressman urges the Senate to pass the GOP bill to extend the payroll tax (only if the President approves of an oil pipeline to run through the center of the country). Oh, and he supports drug testing for unemployment benefits:

The House bill also extends benefits for millions of unemployed Americans in a fiscally responsible way, while making needed reforms to the UI program to protect taxpayers and help more Americans get back to work. It gradually reduces the maximum number of weeks for benefits from a maximum of ninety-nine to fifty-nine, and requires benefit recipients to search for work, work towards their GED if they have not finished high school, and participate in reemployment services to help them get reemployed more quickly.
The measure would allow States to perform drug screening or testing as a condition of providing UI benefits, and would give States more flexibility to test new solutions to reemployment. These reforms would not only provide a safety net for those looking for work, it will help move more people from unemployment checks to paychecks more quickly.
In addition to providing tax relief and extending UI benefits with needed reforms, the House bill includes several initiatives that will help create jobs. Most importantly, it would require President Obama to stop stalling and make a decision on allowing the expansion of the Keystone XL pipeline, which is expected to create 20,000 private sector jobs. It also includes the EPA Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2250) to stop the job crushing Boiler MACT rule.

Geoff Davis  
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WHAT IF THE PAYROLL TAX EXTENSION DOESN'T PASS?
That's bad news, so why hold it hostage in order to promote such a stereotypically Republican measure: an oil pipeline (and drug testing the poor and unemployed):

– According to Macroeconomic Advisers, allowing the payroll tax cut to lapse “would reduce GDP growth by 0.5 percent and cost the economy 400,000 jobs.”
– Barclay’s estimated that letting the cut expire would knock 1.5 percent off of first quarter growth next year.

The GOP has become a caricature of itself. Want to see what happens when the payroll tax is extended? Click the link.
Think Progress  
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STATE ISSUES WARNING FOR HOLIDAY DRIVERS
Ten Kentuckians died in driving accidents during the Christmas and New Year holidays last year:

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is reminding people celebrating the holidays not to drive drunk and warns law enforcement officers will be out in force to arrest those caught driving while intoxicated.

WKYT 
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MEANWHILE: A Northern Kentucky family will appear in anti-drunk driving commercials for the state following their own accident at the hands of an intoxicated driver.
FOX 19 
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KENTON LIBRARY NAMES ITS TOP 5 LISTS
What a great library system we have, and how fortunate we are that the Covington branch is growing. Check out some of the most read, listened to, and other materials:

The top five CDs checked out at the three branches were Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” followed by Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” Taylor Swift’s self-titled album, Ke$ha’s “Animal,” and “Now 36: That’s What I Call Music.”

Yikes, this reminds me that I have 4 overdue books sitting right here. I know where I'm headed right after this post. #ShameOnMe
Cincinnati Enquirer/Sarah Hardee  
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HUSBAND & WIFE GRADUATE TOGETHER AT NKU
Video report at the link.
"The Kentucky Post" 
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IT'S WARM THIS WEEK, BUT ROAD CREWS ARE READY FOR SNOW
The Commonwealth says its road workers are prepared for the coming winter storms.
press release 
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COVINGTON ART EXHIBIT PROFILED IN CITYBEAT
You have until January 13 to check out the New Reality exhibit at the Artisan Enterprise Center:

But throughout A New Reality, Grote’s works give the impression of having been made by two different artists. One creates professional, craft-oriented pieces that seem to have salability in mind. The other is emotional, ragged and not afraid to risk failure. 

CityBeat  
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did you miss this morning's news?
Police Chief Russo's contract is up for a vote before the City Commission where an extension may not receive unanimous approval; One candidate formally announces a run for Congress; A tiny KY town's post office is overwhelmed this and every holiday season because of its name. Those stories and more at the link.
News Round-Up -- Monday Morning

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WHY WE DELETE FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
Interesting:

...knowing someone in real life is the top reason cited for friend-ing someone (82%) and offensive comments are the main reason someone gets the boot (55%).

Full analysis with graphic at the link.  

NM Incite