by Michael Monks
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COVINGTON'S 10-POINT PLAN UPDATE SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT
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NUMBER OF STUDENTS ON FREE/REDUCED LUNCH IN COVINGTON GROWS
A new searchable database at the Lexington Herald-Leader website shows that students qualifying for free or reduced lunch at school is growing in Covington and the other River Cities, including Fort Thomas. Click the link for details on each school in Covington and more.
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MAN ARRESTED IN COVINGTON ACCUSED OF RUNNING DRIVERS OFF ROAD
More details have emerged about the police chase that ended with an arrest in the parking lot of the Burlington Coat Factory in Latonia:
Each driver says the same thing-a car pulled up beside them .. then come around to the front, forcing the driver behind to brake. Then Woods would back up his car and hit the driver behind him. It all happened just after dark on Saturday. "He got me here."Very bizarre. More with video at the link.
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| Shawn Woods |
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SEE ALSO: Man charged in fatal Covington crash is allowed to keep driving:
Richard Michael Beers was arraigned on two counts of reckless homicide Monday in Kenton Circuit Court. He is out of jail on $5,000 bond.Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna R. Kelly & Patrick Reddy
Despite requests from prosecutors, Judge Martin Sheehan declined to change the condition of Beers’ bond to prevent him from getting behind the wheel.
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CLERMONT POLITICIAN IN COVINGTON COURTROOM THIS MORNING
The former Clermont County Commissioner accused of hiring a prostitute and paying for services with drugs in Kenton County will face a judge today:
Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmonson said in a statement that a lawyer for former Clermont County Commissioner Archie Wilson agreed to present his client in Kenton County District Court to be arraigned on the misdemeanor charges.WLWT
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YIKES
This guy from southern Kentucky is accused of beating to death his own great-grandmother:
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| Jesse James Durham |
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IT IS COSTING US MOST OF $220,000 FOR REDISTRICTING FIASCO
This got out of hand long ago, but now maybe more people will get angry once a cost is associated with the shenanigans in Frankfort involving the redistricting process:
- $95,000 budgeted for House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D) and Senate President David Williams (R) to defend the newly drawn districts
- $50,000 for the Secretary of State and the Board of Elections to defend the newly drawn districts
- $75,000 for the House Republicans who brought the challenge to the newly drawn district
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CANDIDATES ANGRY WITH LIMBO STATUS, SOME CALL FOR NEUTRAL PANEL
It's hard to run a campaign when you don't know where you're runnin':
Democrat Steve Bittenbender can run in the 37th District for the state Senate under either map proposal. But he says the uncertainty of representation is too much for candidates and voters.
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SEE ALSO: The ceaseless redistricting fight is leading to a "candidate tax":
One consequence of the redistricting confusion that has led to multiple district maps and candidate filing deadline has been that candidates — particularly incumbent lawmakers — have had to file multiple times in some cases.cn|2/Ryan Alessi
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However, this is some work getting done:
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| Dennis Keene |
Rep. Dennis Keene’s, (D-Wilder), House Bill 308 passed the House Licensing and Occupations Committee meeting and cleared the House floor on Wednesday. Last year, State Auditor Crit Luallen conducted an audit of Kentucky’s 122 for-profit colleges after receiving complaints about high tuition, lack of job assistance and education, and a gross lack of financial accountability prompted the audit.
The audit concluded that the current board that regulates the state’s 122 for-profit colleges provided inadequate oversight, had not conducted an outside financial audit in 10 years and lacked a clear understanding of its role.
HB 308 would abolish the current State Board for Proprietary Education (BPE) and establish the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education, an independent agency of the Commonwealth attached to the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet for administrative purposes. The commission will be fully funded by the schools and will not cost Kentucky taxpayers one dime.
The legislation would require the new Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education to establish membership of commission reducing the number of proprietary school representatives so that they don’t comprise a majority of the commission’s membership (6 to 4) and decrease appointed members’ terms to two consecutive terms.
“I am encouraged by the swift passage of HB 308 because it underscores the commitment of our legislators to protect Kentuckians who have been harmed by misleading or misguided practices in the for-profit school industry,” said Rep. Keene. “Folks trying to better their lives through education should have full confidence in the promises made by these institutions. While most proprietary schools do an admirable job preparing students for the workforce, unfortunately there are some who need more stringent oversight.”Dennis Keene
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KENTUCKY CANNOT THRIVE WITHOUT MORE PRESCHOOL FUNDING
So says Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson:
“We’re not where we need to be,” Abramson said. He said the Beshear-Abramson will find money by 2015 to fund preschool for students whose families earn up to 200 percent of the poverty level. In 2012 dollars, that would be $30,260 for a single parent with one child or $46,100 for two parents and two children, according to the federal poverty guidelines.More with video at the link.
But Abramson wouldn’t say how the administration plans to fund it —whether it’s from growth in tax revenue or proceeds from casino gambling, if that is approved.
cn|2/Ryan Alessi
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SEE ALSO: KY Senate President David Williams calls Governor Beshear's new tax panel, which Abramson will lead, a joke:
“The people that he put on this tax panel are redistributionists,” he said, a reference to those who favor a larger tax burden for people with bigger incomes. “They are people with a long history of supporting tax increases.”Someone please tell this man that the election is over and that he lost big.
Courier-Journal/Joseph Gerth
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LIFE SCIENCES INCUBATOR FAILS IN CINCINNATI
Covington is banking on the success of bioLOGIC but a similar endeavor, Biostart, has failed in Cincinnati:
The organization’s board decided to end operations because of facility debt, the inability to develop a sustainable business model following displacement from its incubator facilities in September 2011, and the availability of other entrepreneurial support resources in the region, according to a news release.Business Courier
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UPTECH NAMES JUDGES FOR BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
This exciting new venture has eight new faces associated with it who will decide which ideas get to be part of the program. Check them out at the link.
Business Courier
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UK COACH CALIPARI & GOVERNOR BESHEAR TALK TO TROOPS
From Coach Cal:
Just got done speaking with the Kentucky Army National Guard 1204th Aviation Support Battalion in Kuwait via Skype. What an honor it was to sit with Governor Steve Beshear and Major General Edward W. Tonini and connect with our Kentucky troops who are making this country a safer place. You thought you were big UK fans -- these troops were nuts! I'm so glad Anthony Davis got to stop by for the troops to talk to him for a few minutes.
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SEE ALSO: UK's tough road win over Vanderbilt is a promising sign for the Wildcats as the postseason nears. State-Journal
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AS TAX DAY NEARS, KY COUPLE SUES SOFTWARE MAKER OVER MISTAKE
Be careful. It would not be fun to get a refund only to have to return it plus interest:
The couple is now suing 2nd Story Software, maker of the popular TAXACT software, claiming a glitch in the program allowed the mistake and that the company is aware of the problem, but has no incentive to fix it. The Lorenzana's, of Corydon, Ky., are seeking class action status for the lawsuit.AP via Herald-Leader
"They have an interest to maximize refunds for clients," said Sam Rock, an attorney for the couple. "If their refunds are not higher than somebody else's ... the customer is going to select the one that brings in the higher refund."
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PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DUKE ENERGY BILL - THERE MAY BE A MISTAKE
A Cincinnati couple found themselves enrolled in a special program and no one knows why, but they still had to pay for it:
Hundreds of people are paying for more than utility service when they pay their Duke Energy bill, including Karen O'Malley of Anderson Township who got a letter from Duke Energy. "My husband opened it up and it said we'd like to thank you for being a loyal customer of our Shop at Home program and we said oh we didn't know we were a member of anything. It says other credits, charges 5.99. But you kind of blow that off. I even have my cable bill and I don't go and look at taxes and fees and monthly charges and surcharges. I don't really look at what all those mean."More with video at the link.
Local 12/Howard Ain
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SEE ALSO: Kentucky Public Service Commission Vice Chairman Jim Gardner is named to lead a national task force of state public service commissioners that will serve as a liaison between state utility regulators and federal environmental rule makers.
Press Release
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LOCAL REACTIONS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET
The President presented his budget to the public Monday:
"By reducing our deficit in the long term, what that allows us to do is to invest in the things that will help grow our economy right now," Obama said during remarks at Northern Virginia Community College.AP via Herald-Leader
The White House says the "Community College to Career Fund" would train 2 million workers for jobs in potential growth areas such as electronic medical records and cyber security within sectors such as health care, transportation and advanced manufacturing.
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Congressman Geoff Davis:
The national debt and recurring federal deficits jeopardize the future of our economy and job creators.No solutions were offered in Davis's statement, but if you're in the mood for GOP talking points and shallow analysis, click the link for the rest of his statement.
Geoff Davis
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Meanwhile, Davis is still going on about health care:
After two weeks of outrage over this mandate, President Obama on February 10th attempted to quell it by announcing a “compromise.” Religious organizations would not have to pay for contraception services for its employees; instead they would have to offer it, but the insurance company would have to pay for it.Still waiting for an alternative health care plan from Davis.
While the Administration is shifting who would pay for it, they are still mandating a violation of religious liberty and conscience protections for religious institutions by requiring them to facilitate access to these products.
More Geoff Davis
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One of the candidates hoping to replace Davis in Congress is also angry that more Americans have access to health care:
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I proudly stand with 58 other KY lawmakers in challenging the 2010 Affordable Care Act. RT if you stand with us! bit.ly/zsZu9K
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That's her call to action. A retweet. No alternative plan. Just a retweet.
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NEW FLIGHTS ADDED AT CVG FOR TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, DC
US Airways adds three flights.
Business Courier
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happy valentine's day, covington!
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COVINGTON'S STEVE HOFFMAN HAS MARRIED 28,000 COUPLES
Another profile of the Marryin' Man whose chapel can be found in Roebling Point:
This Valentine's Day, we asked Stephen Hoffman for some of his best stories. His favorite involves a pregnant bride whose water broke while saying her vows. "We're going through the ceremony, he does his vows, she does hers, then gives me that 'oh uh' and I go 'Oh darn and now by the power vested in me, go get the car now!.' It was a lot of fun."More with video at the link.
Local 12
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GET MARRIED AT THE KENTON COUNTY LIBRARY TODAY!
It may be the quietest wedding ever:
“We have several couples who have booked spots but many more are still available,” said Katie Shumate, one of two Kenton County Magistrates/Justices of the Peace who will be performing the weddings. The other is Mary Lou Blount.NKY Spot
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HAVE A HEART! SUPPORT THE NKY EMERGENCY SHELTER
A wine & cheese fundraiser will be held tomorrow for the Covington shelter at the law offices of Sutton Rankin.
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VALENTINE'S DAY BY THE NUMBERS
269 A.D.The year St. Valentine was said to be martyred for marrying Christian couples and coming to the aid of persecuted Christians under Roman Emperor Claudius.
More numbers in a very charming candy heart slideshow at the link.
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ROSEMARY CLOONEY IS SUBJECT OF NEW STAGE MUSICAL
Check it:
The Cincinnati-based composer-lyricist-playwright duo also teamed for the delightful musical “Anne of Green Gables” that was launched by The Human Race at the Victoria in 2005. They have paired for several other shows. “Tenderly” is closest to home for them because the Queen City was homebase for singer and screen performer Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002), the aunt of film star George Clooney, sister of longtime Cincinnati TV newsman Nick Clooney and mother in law of singer Debby Boone. The family, including some of Rosemary’s five children with film actor Jose Ferrer, have signed off on the project.Dayton Daily News/Terry Morris
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COVINGTON NATIVE'S BLOG IS UP FOR AWARD
A note from his sister, Rene King Thompson @ Facebook:
Covington native, Steven Thompson, has been nominated for the 2012 Rondo Hatton Best Blog of the Year Award for his blog 'Four Color Shadows'. The Rondos are given to the best horror related work in media including film, books, television, blogs and articles.Congratulations! Check out the blog at the link.
Steven is a 1977 graduate of Holmes High is a comics historian and writer/editor/proofreader who has 11 pop culture blogs. He contributed to nine books last year including 'Archie, A Celebration of America's Favorite Teenagers'.
Four Color Shadows
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LEARN OUR GERMAN HISTORY TONIGHT AT THE LIBRARY
If you're not headin' to the library to git hitched...
Kenton Co. Library
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ARE YOU READY FOR THE FACEBOOK TIMELINE?
Fort Wright City Councilman Dave Hatter is also considered a tech expert and has weighed in on the new Facebook timeline:
Although it’s always been possible to find old posts, it was substantially more difficult using the Wall. To see my 2008 posts, you had to visit my profile and click the "Older posts" link about 1000 times as it only displayed a few posts at a time. With Timeline, you just click 2008 on the right and you’re off to the races.Facebook is starting to be a little scary.
The Journal News
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ARE YOU STILL MAD AT DIGGER PHELPS, UK FANS?
Then have a good laugh at his blowhard expense!
Lots of hilarious photos with the "Listen to me" meme, at the link. LOL!!!
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