by Michael Monks
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Email Michael
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NKY LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS MEETS THE PUBLIC TODAY AT NKU
10:00AM at Northern Kentucky University's Student Union ballroom. Covington's representation in Frankfort is expected to attend. Including Senator Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown, whose district includes South Covington) who has sponsored a bill to make it easier to place the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission's existence on the ballot.
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Supporters of NKAPC had this update about Thayer's bill:
Senate Bill 62 (SB62), the bill being pushed by the HBA and the Tea Party to eliminate the NKAPC, has some interesting features that need to be explored. The bill is designed to make it easy for a small group of people with big financial interests to get what they want – elimination of an organization that regulates them. Since they lost last time, they’ve decided the rules aren’t fair and so they want to change them.4 NKAPC
In addition to lowering the petition signature threshold to about one sixth (1/6) of the previous requirement and extending the amount of time to collect the signatures by 33%, another interesting feature of SB62 is a requirement that the county clerk accept a petition signature at face value if it is accompanied by a birth date or a verifiable address. Here is the language in the bill:
A signature of a voter accompanied by a verifiable address or date of birth shall have a presumption of validity. The county clerk shall bear the burden, by clear and convincing evidence, for the exclusion of any signature on a petition by proving that the signature in question is not that of a registered voter.
This means that Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse and Elmer Fudd would all be accepted as valid if accompanied by a birth date and a verifiable address, unless the clerk can prove otherwise. See how this works? This is obviously intended to cost the clerk both time and money – and we all know how the Tea Party hates wasting taxpayer dollars, don’t we?
House Bill 214, sponsored by Representative Steve Riggs (D-Jeffersontown), was moved from the House Committee on Local Government last week and reassigned to the House Committee on Labor and Industry. The bill will likely be heard on Thursday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. in room 149 of the Capitol Annex. This measure is intended to require the scheduled overtime pay of a professional firefighter or EMS personnel to be included in the computation of the average weekly wage as set forth in KRS 342.140 for workers' compensation benefits.|
House Bill 214 would directly affect cities that employ firefighters on a 24/48 work schedule. KLC opposes the bill because it would increase the workers compensation indemnity payments to firefighters by approximately 12 percent, which would cause increases in workers compensation insurance premiums paid by many cities. The amount of premium increases would vary among the cities, hitting those cities with more firefighters on the payroll harder.
COVINGTON MAN SENTENCED FOR MURDER; MAINSTRASSE ROBBER PUT AWAY
A man who beat his mother to death and a man who robbed six Mainstrasse patrons at gunpoint (and who also faces a murder charge in Ohio) are among the faces you'll see in this week's mugshot round-up brought to you courtesy of Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders.
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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOVES TO BLOCK OMNICARE'S TAKEOVER PLANS
The Covington Cincinnati-based corporation is being watched closely by the Federal Trade Commission:
In a news release issued late Friday, the FTC said its move to block Omnicare's acquisition of PharMerica alleges "that the combination of the two largest U.S. long-term care pharmacies would harm competition and enable Omnicare to raise the price of drugs for Medicare Part D consumers and others." Both companies provide pharmaceutical services to long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted-living centers.Harm competition? Why would Omnicare want to do that?
Business First/Ed Green
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NATIONALLY-KNOWN EDUCATOR'S VISIT TO COVINGTON FILMED BY PBS
Ron Clark, whose celebrated approach to education prompted the production of a made-for-TV movie, The Ron Clark Story starring Matthew Perry in the title role, will speak to Holmes Middle, Holmes High, and Glenn O. Swing Elementary Schools on Monday. And PBS is sending a crew to film the visit!
The River City News
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sports
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HOLY CROSS ADVANCES IN ALL A CLASSIC; HOLMES WINS BIG
Covington is home to two terrific high school basketball programs this season. Both Holmes and Holy Cross will make a serious run at the Sweet 16 this year. Last night, the Indians advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament for small schools by toppling Owen County, 48-35. Meanwhile, Holmes clobbered Beechwood 82-57.
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SUPERSTAR FILL RACHEL ALEXANDRA WATCHES NEW COLT TAKE FIRST STEPS
This pony's papa is Curlin' and his mama is Rachel Alexandra and he took his first steps this week.
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| Image via |
Another picture here.
Links to video here.
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SHELTER RESIDENTS THANK STUDENTS
SHELTER RESIDENTS THANK STUDENTS
Residents and staff of the Northern Kentucky Emergency Shelter in Covington headed out to Union to thank some helpful students:
The roughly 150 students collected money for the shelter as a Christmas service project. That cash turned into 45 McDonald’s gift cards, long underwear, hats and gloves. The students were so excited to help that they held a cereal drive the first week of this month and collected 60 boxes. They held another one this past week and collected about 70 more.The kids are all right.
Cincinnati Enquirer/William Croyle
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HELP COVINGTON ARTS PICK AN IMAGE FOR ITS FACEBOOK PAGE
Covington Arts has a new Facebook page and wants help from the public in selecting a profile picture:
Though Picsasso's Blue Period was inspiring, our blue space on FB, is getting tiring. So this a shout out to all you funky creative folk, this is the last call to enter our image competition. Send your images to krentzke@covingtonky.gov no later than Monday and your image could turn that boring blue space into an alluring attractive artwork.
