NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING 17 FEB

by Michael Monks 

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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DUKE ENERGY TO LEAD CAMPAIGN FOR NEW BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE

The annual dinner for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce was met with exciting news from Duke:

"Without a new bridge, our structure to deliver our products fails us. Our system to receive materials to build those products fails us. Simply put, our economy fails us," said Julie Janson, in her first public remarks as chair of the chamber's board of directors. "So I am dedicating myself and I ask the business community to grab the lead on this project, not for a year, not for two, but seize it and drive it until we cross the finish line."

Business Courier/Dan Monk  
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HOOTERS PATRON IN NEWPORT FINDS HIS CAR IN OHIO RIVER
Perhaps he was distracted inside Hooters?

The car's owner says he's not sure what caused it to roll into the water. Police say it's not the first time this has happened to drivers who park in that area. 

Video at the link. 
Local 12  
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NKY NATIVE WRITES OF MOB EXPERIENCES FOR HUFFINGTON POST
Great piece that is actually about marketing:

I grew up in northern Kentucky. My father was a professional gambler and the Newport and Covington were heavily influenced, or controlled, by the mafia.
My dad said about his bookmaking operations, "we can't advertise or television or put a sign in the window. We can't sue if someone doesn't' pay us. All we can do is hope that honorable people refer us to other honorable people."
It must have been a good system. Without advertising, he never seemed to lack for customers. 

Huffington Post/Don McNay  
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CINCINNATI TO BREAK GROUND ON STREETCAR TODAY
United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will be in town for this exciting occasion:

The big news came in the final statement of the meeting when Mayor Mallory announced the groundbreaking for the Cincinnati Streetcar will take place at 1pm on Friday, February 17 outside of Memorial Hall (map). Mayor Mallory also stated that city and project officials will be joined by the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood at the groundbreaking. 

Urban Cincy/Randy A. Simes 
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COVINGTON MAN ARRESTED AFTER FT. WRIGHT CLEANERS IS ROBBED

Fort Wright police arrested Miller after they saw him emerge from woods near the store and get into a car. Miller was charged with robbery and is being held in the Kenton County Detention Center on $10,000 cash bond. 

NKY Spot  
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KY COMPANY WILL CLOSE IF CONTRACT GOES TO PRISONERS INSTEAD
Did you know that those spiffy jackets worn by airmen and even Presidents are made right here in the Commonwealth? Well, they are! For now, anyway:

“It’s not a done deal yet,” said Ashland Sales President Michael Mansh, who is enlisting help from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to persuade the Defense Department to reverse course. 

Courier-Journal/James R. Carroll  
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FRANKFORT...
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CASINO BILL IS NOT A SLAM DUNK IN THE STATE HOUSE
Even if it passes the Senate, Governor Beshear's gambling bill may face trouble in the House:

“I really have not made up my mind about it,” said Rep. Darryl Owens, a Louisville Democrat who chairs the House Elections and Constitutional Amendment Committee that is likely to take up the issue if comes to the House.
Owens said he hasn’t yet read the 131-word proposed measure. But he said he does have questions about specifically designating licenses only for horse race tracks. 

cn|2/Ryan Alessi  
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HOUSE VOTES TO RESTORE FELONS' VOTER RIGHTS
Good:

Most felons would be eligible to vote after they have served their sentences or completed probation or parole. It would not apply to those convicted of treason, intentional killing, sex crimes or bribery. 

WKYT  
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NO LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT TO REFORM REDISTRICTING PROCESS
Shocked? 

Under House Bill 310, legislative leaders would appoint 12 people to the commission who would come up with a redistricting plan. Then the General Assembly would vote up or down on that plan.
But so far, Moore has been joined in the effort by just five other lawmakers — Democratic Rep. Jim Wayne of Louisville and four Republicans, Mike Nemes and Louisville, David Osborne of Prospect, Danny Ford of Mount Vernon and Bill Farmer of Lexington. 

cn|2/Ryan Alessi  
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KY HOUSE PASSES BILL TO RAISE DROPOUT AGE TO 18
The bill passed overwhelmingly, 87 - 10:

House Education Committee Chairman Carl Rollins, D-Midway, said sending a message to students about expectations is the bill’s most important goal.
Others said raising the age will not cure Kentucky’s low graduation rate but at least will provide a first step in addressing the issue. 

Courier-Journal/Mike Wynn 
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in case you missed...
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COVINGTON LANDS 3 PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP RIVERFRONT
A couple of the plans have big ambition while another seems to seek only the reopening of the Waterfront. Click the link for the full explanation on all three plans -- one of which includes a new 28-story tower!
The River City News 
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THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S NEWS
Attorney blasts Covington Police after losing lawsuit: "They held Steven Scott for five months, knowing him to be innocent."; Plus, Tim Tebow is coming to town; And, the NKY Health Dept says we're seeing a lot more... well... don't make me type it again. Just click the link! 
The River City News 
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LOCAL ATTORNEY CALLS FOR ARMED REVOLUTION AGAINST PRESIDENT
And Eric Deters says he means it: 

When there are guns and a crowd, there could be violence and death. So? Is not the cause of saving America worth dying for no less honorable than dying for her in her defense? I say it is just as honorable. Barack Obama is a traitor to America. 

Wow. Read the rest. #Awful
Eric Deters @ Facebook  
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MITT ROMNEY WILL SPEND THE NIGHT IN CINCINNATI
Another GOP Presidential hopeful is coming to town:

Romney, who will appear Monday night at a previouslyannounced fund-raiser at Great American Tower, Downtown, is expected to remain in Cincinnati overnight and will attend another campaign event Tuesday. Where and when has yet to be determined. 

Cincinnati Enquirer  
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54 MILLION AMERICANS GOT PREVENTIVE CARE BECAUSE OF HEALTH REFORM
You can call it Obamacare all you want, but it's working:

“Americans of all ages can now get the preventive services they need, like mammograms and the new Annual Wellness Visit, free of charge, as a result of the new health care law,” Secretary Sebelius said. “With more people taking advantage of these benefits, more lives can be saved, and costly, and often burdensome, diseases can be prevented or caught earlier.”
The Affordable Care Act requires many insurance plans to provide coverage without cost sharing to enrollees for a variety of preventive health services, such as colonoscopy screening for colon cancer, Pap smears and mammograms for women, well-child visits, and flu shots for all children and adults. The law also makes proven preventive services free for most people on Medicare. 

Press Release  
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TURFWAY PARK SHOWS IMPRESSIVE SAFETY NUMBERS
It's always tough to see a horse fall, but it's happening less at Turfway Park:

Featuring a synthetic Polytrack surface, Turfway has seen just one fatal breakdown from 3,676 starters in 40 race dates from December 1 through February 5. 

Thoroughbred Times  
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SEE ALSO: The list of possible Derby contenders and their earnings Courier-Journal 
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TOP TV MARKET FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL IS LOUISVILLE
With fans of UK, UofL, and Indiana all in one spot, this was easy to predict:

From November 11, 2011 through February 12, 2012 for all men’s college basketball games on ESPN (a total of 93 games), Louisville stands as the top men’s college basketball viewing market (of 56 metered markets nationwide). 

The Cincinnati market was #7.
Courier-Journal/Rick Bozich  
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HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW BOGART'S?
Music fans that cross the river to see shows will be delighted with the new Bogart's:

It’s a smell, but not a smell people long have associated with Bogart’s: Stale beer, sweat or, in the days before Ohio’s smoking ban, thick clouds of cigarette smoke.
It’s a clean smell. It’s the smell of…Febreze.  

Cincinnati Enquirer/Lauren Bishop