NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY AFTERNOON 20 DEC

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter  

|

COVINGTON MOM GETS 5 YEARS FOR BABY'S DEATH

What a terrible story. Shocking:

Gray admitted to being impaired on a cocktail of cocaine, prescription drugs and alcohol when the 9-month-old, Anthia Lattimore, rolled off a bed and became wedged between a mattress and the heater. The mother lived in a West Covington apartment with another family and had only one bed for herself, Anthia and her three other children – ages 4, 3 and 2.

The baby melted to death.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah
Video report here: WCPO/Bill Price  
|
BOONE CO JUDGE-EXEC GARY MOORE ENTERS CONGRESSIONAL RACE
Another NKY Republican jumps in what will likely be a crowded primary:

“There is a big difference between talking about issues and living them,” he said. “I know what businesses need because I’ve been a businessman and a friend of business as County Judge Executive. I know that government can be run more efficiently because we’ve done it in Boone County. There won’t be any other candidate in this campaign with that kind of experience.”

More and the full statement from Moore at the link.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Amanda Van Benschoten  
|
DEMS THINK THEY CAN WIN DAVIS'S SEAT
There's certainly a fighting chance, but who will step up and run?

Campbell County Democratic Party Chairman Paul Whalen says because it’s an open seat the party has a chance, which will help Democrats in their efforts win back control the House in 2012. “It’s as important as any other congressional seat. Obviously, it will make a difference if the Democrats retake Congress, also it will strengthen our situation here statewide in Kentucky and perhaps it would even help elect some more Democrats to the legislature,” he says.

WFPL/Phillip M. Bailey 
|
KY CONGRESSMAN WANTS MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
Louisville's popular Congressman, John Yarmuth, introduced a bill to rid the political scene of the troublesome loads of money in that game:

“Corporate money equals influence, not free speech,” Yarmuth said. “The last thing Congress needs is more corporate candidates who don’t answer to the American people. Until we get big money out of politics, we will never be able to responsibly address the major issues facing American families – and that starts by ensuring our elections and elected officials cannot be bought by the well-off and well-connected.”

Yarmuth just appeared on MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan show to discuss the move. Read his full statement at the link.
John Yarmuth  
|
UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS LOCALLY, IN KENTUCKY, & IN 43 STATES
Slowly (very slowly) but surely. Local:

The unemployment rate for the 15-county region last month was 7.8 percent with 86,200 jobless, down from 8.6 percent, or 95,900 jobless in October, the Department of Job and Family Services reported Tuesday.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Lisa Bernard-Kuhn
Kentucky:

Kentucky’s November unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, a decline from 9.6 percent the month before and 10.2 percent a year earlier.
(snip)
About 20,600 more people in Kentucky were employed in November compared to a year ago.

Louisville Business First/Steve Ivey  
National:

The vast majority of states — 43 in all — saw their unemployment rate decrease in November, a month that saw the biggest decline in the national rate in close to a year.
(snip)
In all, the U.S. economy added 120,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate fell to its lowest rate since March 2009. The national unemployment rate in October was 9 percent.

The Hill 
|
THOMAS EDISON APARTMENTS TO HAVE RIBBON CUTTING IN JANUARY
According to Kevin LeMaster of Building Cincinnati (via Twitter), the old schoolhouse's transition into apartments will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting on January 4 at 11:00AM. The 26 units will range in price from $450 - $650.

Image via

|

KY FALLS SHORT IN ANTI-SMOKING EFFORT

Health advocates think the Bluegrass State can only be saved by a statewide smoking ban:

Smoking-related illnesses claim the lives of 8,000 Kentuckians and cost the Medicaid program about $500 million dollars a year.

84 WHAS 
MEANWHILE...
The Northern Kentucky Health  Department wants smokers to sign up for its free classes to help stop through the Cooper Clayton method:

The Cooper-Clayton Method to Stop Smoking program is a comprehensive, 13-week program that helps you stop smoking with peer support, educational guidance, and nicotine replacement products (i.e. patch, gum, lozenge).

Full details with dates at the link.
NKY Health  
|
32% OF KENTUCKIANS HAVE RELATIVES WITH PILL PROBLEMS
Surprised?

Although other studies have shown that Kentucky has among the highest levels of prescription-drug abuse in the nation, the latest survey helps illustrate how pervasive the issue has become in the state, said Van Ingram, executive director of the state Office of Drug Control Policy."That's a lot of people," he said. "To me, that's even bigger than I thought."The survey found that younger people — ages 18 to 29 — were more likely to have a friend or relative who'd had a problem with pain pills than in other age groups. The figure was 43.8 percent in that age group, compared to 29.7 percent of people ages 46 to 64.

Herald-Leader/Bill Estep 
|
CINCINNATI UNVEILS ITS STREETCAR STATION DESIGN
It's happening:

The modular design of the new station ensures various elements will be easy to maintain and replace. The materials themselves are thin, light, and durable – allowing natural light to come in while protecting waiting riders from the elements. Each station will include a route map, information about the Streetcar system and an electronic sign displaying the arrival time of the next car, as well as important messages for riders.

Urban Cincy/Jenny Kessler 

|

************************************************************

did you miss this morning's news?

|

At City Hall, the police chief's contract will be voted on tonight; The 10 stories from Covington in 2011 (agree? disagree? weigh in!); Holmes students make sure the city building is festive; Plus, where to drop off school supplies to help local students. Those stories and much more at the link!News Round-Up -- Tuesday Morning 
*************************************************************
|
NORWAY IS SERIOUSLY OUT OF BUTTER & THIS GUY IS SERIOUSLY PISSED
The fact that his country has no butter is bad enough, but Americans' use of humor in detailing the story just churns his... well... yeah.