NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY EVENING 11 JAN

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael

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COVINGTON MEN BACK IN COURT ACCUSED OF TOYS FOR TOTS THEFT

The case is now before a grand jury:

“You want to spare him the humiliation of a preliminary hearing, I take it,” District Judge Ann Ruttle said to attorney Mike Hummel who was filing in for Mike Bouldin who is representing Simpson. Public defender Elizabeth Selby, who is representing Rose, asked Ruttle to lower her client’s bond. Ruttle agreed to release Rose on an unsecured bond but required him to be on electronic monitoring.

Most of the toys have been recovered.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly  

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KY GOP HOUSE MEMBERS UNHAPPY WITH REDISTRICTING
That's because several of them will possibly have to run against each other in the November election:

“It’s politics at its worst,” complained Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover, who called Democrats “political cowards.”
“I do not believe it bodes well for a good relationship on so many issues that we need to address this session,” he said.
“This should be about our constituents and not about us,” said Rep. Mike Nemes, R-Louisville, who would lose a block of voters who supported him when he first won election in 2010.

So, we're off to a good start in Frankfort, then?
Courier-Journal/Joseph Gerth
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COVINGTON'S MAIN HOUSE DISTRICT STRETCHES FURTHER SOUTH NOW
That means Democrat Arnold Simpson, who has apparently avoided losing Covington precincts to Campbell County Democrat Dennis Keene, will have to compete in Taylor Mill:

The 67th District of state Rep. Dennis Keene, D-Wilder, doesn’t cross county lines, as feared by some in Covington. Because the House districts of Keene and State Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington, along the Ohio River lost population in the past 10 years, both districts extend further south. The House’s plan extends Keene’s district further south along the Ohio River into Fort Thomas, Silver Grove and Melbourne.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman  
MORE ON REDISTRICTING FROM CN|2 Here & Here.
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NKU TO NAME STUDENT UNION FOR VOTRUBA WHO WARNS OF BUDGET CUTS
NKU's relatively new student union will officially be known as something along the lines of the James & Rachel Votruba Student Union following approval by the Board of Regents today, according to news released by the university today. Meantime, Dr. Votruba told the Board to brace for budget cuts of up to 7% involving money from the state.
SEE ALSO: When The River City News talked to Dr. Votruba just a day before he publicly announced his pending retirement at the end of August, he was asked about which building he'd like to have named for him. Votruba said he'd prefer to be the namesake of the old log cabin by the Honors House. Click the link for the full interview and learn why Votruba is so deserving of the honor.
The RC News: NKU President to Step Down 

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MORE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT MISSING FROM SOUTHGATE HOUSE
An oil painting of Andrew Jackson disappeared from the now-shuttered music venue in Newport some time in December. President Jackson is one eight Presidents believed to have visited the home:

Ross Raleigh commissioned the paintings because the artist was a personal friend and he wanted to share the buildings history with his faithful patrons. The portrait somehow disappeared between 7 pm December 15th and 5 p.m. on December 16th during business hours. Adding to the mystery is the fact that while the club was open there was a bartender in the room, and a security guard at the front door. "We all sat there...how did this happen, how did they get it out...why did they want to do it? Did they particularly want Andrew Jackson as opposed to the other Presidents because out of all of them Abraham Lincoln would be the most desirable to a Presidential painting collector."

Great report by Rich Jaffe with video at the link.
Local 12  
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STUDENTS TO BE TRAINED IN BIOSCIENCES
Hopefully by the time they graduate, Covington will have established itself as the hub of that industry:

Two years ago, Ohio received a $5 million federal grant to help develop bioscience talent in Ohio. The grant covers the cost of class tuition at several community colleges throughout the state - ultimately the goal is to prepare 700 people for bioscience industry jobs by next year.

Local 12  
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PORT AUTHORITY ALSO WINS DUKE ENERGY GRANT
The Foundation that was so generous to Covington's bioLOGIC and the Center for Great Neighborhoods, $100,000 was awarded to the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority:

The grant will help further the port authority’s decade-long mission of redeveloping abandoned and distressed properties. But it also represents an investment in the future of the agency and its evolution into an economic development powerhouse for Hamilton County and Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Amanda Van Benschoten  
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GOVERNOR AND TWO MAYORS PROMOTE KY AT DETROIT AUTO SHOW
The car industry is an important one in the Commonwealth, so Governor Beshear teamed up with Mayors Greg Fischer of Louisville and Jim Gray of Lexington for a visit to Detroit:

Mayor Greg Fischer says, "We wanted to work with some of our customers from the city. Obviously, already having their automotive presence here and growing, obviously that's Ford, and understand where they are going with their products and see how we can be a better service provider to them."

Video at the link.
WDRB  
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SEE ALSO: KY among top 10 for low business taxes and regulations Urban Land 
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SEE ALSO: KY General Fund receipts up Herald-Leader 
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CHILD THERAPISTS WILL CLOSE DOORS IF STATE DOESN'T PAY UP
That's the warning from the professionals that work with abused and at-risk kids in the Commonwealth:

Because of communication mix-ups between the state and the managed care companies, the billing codes for therapy services were not provided to managed care companies in a timely manner, said Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville, and chairwoman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. That means providers have gone months with only minimal payments. And those payments haven’t provided information about which client the state is paying for. Without that information, it’s impossible to disburse the money to the appropriate therapists, providers told the committee Wednesday. Denton said an email from one Impact Plus provider said it had $257,000 in outstanding payments from three managed care companies since Nov. 1.

Read the whole disaster at the link.
Herald-Leader  
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'GHOST HUNTERS' FEATURES KINGS ISLAND TONIGHT
The SyFy Channel series hits up Mason looking for ghouls:

Don Helbig had heard the stories of “the little girl in the blue dress” long before he became Kings Island’s spokesperson. The legend appears to be as old as the Mason amusement park itself, which opened in 1972, and each account bears a remarkably similar tale. “I’d always heard the stories from different people and park employees,” said Helbig. “You look at the number of people who’ve claimed to see the little girl in the blue dress over the past 40 years and they all have the same description. You think, maybe there is something here.” Local paranormal groups have investigated the claims through the years, said Helbig. Now, Kings Island’s friendly ghost will be the subject of investigation on the season premiere of the Syfy Channel’s “Ghost Hunters,” which airs tonight at 9 p.m.

It repeats at 11:15PM tonight and at 9:00AM Sunday.
Mason Buzz  
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in case you missed...
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THIS AFTERNOON'S NEWS
Yet another whistle-blower files a claim against Omnicare. Did the company cost the federal govt millions?; Big trouble expected to come out of the state's agriculture department; Plus, where else but KY would a horse be available for autographs? Those stories and more (PLUS, what you missed during the day) at the link.

News Round-Up -- Wednesday Afternoon 

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|ADOPTABLE HORSE OF THE WEEK
Who wants a horse? The KY Horse Park's horse of the week happens to be named Michael...what a nice name:

Meet Michael, the adoptable horse of the week from the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC). Michael is an 8-year-old, 16.1-hand Thoroughbred gelding. He is currently in the retraining program at KyEHC where is is going nicely and moves out well under saddle at walk, trot and canter. Because he raced extensively, the KyEHC veterinarian has suggested that Michael is sound for flat work or as a trail horse. The trainer is recommending him for an intermediate rider. This handsome boy is also very kind, gentle and inquisitive, and stands well for the farrier and grooming. For more information on Michael or any of the other adoptable horses representing many breeds at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, contact them at 859-881-5849,info@kyehc.org or www.KyEHC.org.

KY Horse Park 

How you doin'?

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KEY MOMENTS IN TWINKIE HISTORY
Hostess is going through bankruptcy again... let's hope the Twinkie survives. Here's a look back at the fluffy cream-filled stoner snack:

1930: The Great Depression, and Hostess parent Continental Baking Co. is looking for an inexpensive treat to market to a penny-pinching public. Chicago-based Baker Manager James Dewar starts experimenting, injecting cakes with banana-cream filling. He decides to call them Twinkies after passing a billboard for "Twinkle Toe Shoes." The price? Two for a nickel.
(snip)
1986: "Twinkiegate" erupts when a grand jury indicts Minneapolis City Council candidate George Belair for serving Twinkies to senior citizen groups in violation of a law prohibiting candidates from providing food, drink or entertainment to gain votes. Separately, Ted Bates Worldwide, New York, then Twinkie's agency of record, talks up new advertising focused at adults.
(snip)
1999: President Bill Clinton puts a Twinkie in a millennium time capsule, joining a piece of the Berlin Wall, a World War II helmet and a pair of Ray Charles' sunglasses. "When it's opened in 2100, will people know what a Twinkie is?" asks the Associated Press. More likely, the treat will be reduced to crumbs. Despite urban myths that Twinkies stay fresh forever, the company has said the snack is good only for 25 days.

Many more Twinkie moments at the link.

Ad Age