THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
|
by Michael Monks
|
POLICE RETIREMENTS TOP COVINGTON COMMISSION AGENDA
Two Covington Police officers will have their requests for retirement accepted at Tuesday night's Covington City Commission meeting. Captain Dennis Sparks is set to leave the department August 1 while Officer Dennis Wesseler's retirement officially took place July 1. Other items of note on the agenda for Tuesday night:
- The City is to renew its contract with Dr. Paul Spellman for services for the Covington Fire Department
- For consideration, the approval of a "state bid" proposal from Ohio Caterpillar for the purchase of a new 299D XHP skid steer loader in the amount of $74,645 (50% payable from Devou Park Trust Fund, 19.3% payable from Drees allocation for equipment, 9.3% payable from Devou Trust tree removal allotment, and 21,4% from City capital improvement funds
|
 |
| New piece of equipment will look similar to this |
- Consideration for approval of $85,500 for new Panasonic toughbook computers, payable from asset forfeiture fund
- Promotions for several employees in the police and fire departments
- A presentation on the Latonia Banner
|CDBG FUNDS "GOOD NEWS FOR COVINGTON" SAYS COMMISSIONER CARRAN
City Commissioner Sherry Carran posted this message to Facebook via the Kentucky League of Cities:
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5972) last Friday. The House considered several amendments to the THUD Appropriations bill that would have cut important funding for communities.One of the most important programs for cities is funded through this legislation. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides federal funding for various community, housing and economic development projects in cities of all sizes. The House-passed measure includes $3.34 billion for CDBG, which is higher than the $3.1 billion approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and more than the $2.9 billion proposed by President Obama.Prior to final passage, the House voted on four amendments that would have significantly cut CDBG or Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding, including one amendment that would have eliminated CDBG entirely. All of the amendments were defeated with strong bipartisan votes. Fortunately, not a single Kentucky representative voted to eliminate the CDBG program.
|
DUKE ENERGY TO FIGHT SURCHARGE TO FUND CONSOLIDATED DISPATCH
Another kink is thrown into the planning on how to fund Kenton County's consolidated 911 emergency dispatch center once the City of Covington's center goes away in the fall. Via WCPO:
|
MEANWHILE... DUKE'S NEW CEO SERVES FOR 24 HOURS, LEAVES JOB, AND WALKS AWAY WITH $44 MILLION:
Hours after Bill Johnson became CEO of Duke Energy, its board sought his resignation—which it received at 12:01am the day after he took the job. Such a quick change is practically unknown in US history, theWall Street Journal notes—and nearly as shocking is the $44.4 million Johnson's set to walk away with. The energy firm announced Johnson's selection as CEO a year and a half ago; he had held the same position at Progress Energy, which merged with Duke at that time. Now, however, former Duke CEO Jim Rogers will take the job.
Nice work if you can get it.
|
HAVE "PET" PROJECTS TAKEN FUNDING FROM NEW BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE?
Some federal funding is being criticized in that it could have been better served going toward the Brent Spence Bridge project:
A white squirrel sanctuary in Kenton, Tenn., received a combined $269,000 in 1999 and 2002 in federal transportation enhancement grants to build trails and foot bridges. Kenton is known for its population of rare albino squirrels. Kenton Mayor Virginia Davidson said she doesn’t appreciate (Sen. Rand) Paul or other politicians picking on her town’s squirrel sanctuary.
“I wouldn’t vote for him for dog catcher,” Davidson said.
Davidson said her town received the grant in a time when the country’s economy thrived. Other cities received similar grants, she said, including a town nearby that received aid for its “World’s Largest Tea Pot Collection.”
“I don’t think at this time it is right to bring up something like that from so many years ago,” Davidson said. “I know it was 12 years ago, and the economy was so much better. They’re not giving money for things like that now.”
Hear from a Covington resident and a Covington business owner in the full story at the link.
|
COVINGTON TEEN'S SUICIDE INSPIRES STUDENT TO FIGHT BULLYING
“I am very honored to have received the award,” (Zoe Chin) said. “It means a lot to me. I would like to do whatever I can to help stop this major issue. I think it’s important for kids to stand up for one another and speak out. Kids do what they do to each other because they know they can get away with it. Us kids need to be good examples for each other. Being a bystander without saying anything can be just as bad as being the bully.”
According to the Lexington Fairness website, lexfair.org, the Political Leadership award is “reserved for those among us who do the most to ensure that the LGBT community is afforded equal protection under the law – not special rights, just human rights. Whether it is protecting domestic partnership benefits at our local universities, championing anti-bullying initiatives or standing up against legislation designed specifically to divide, this award will honor the person who works the hardest just to make things fair.”
Read the full story at the link.
|
CONVICTED: WEEKLY MUGSHOT ROUND-UP FROM KENTON COUNTY
Who's going to prison, who got probation, and who's still on the loose? Your weekly mugshot round up from Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders is at the link!
|
DON'T MISS FRIDAY'S NEWS
Covington City Commissioner to firefighters union: "I'd advise you not to provoke us"; A new brochure promotes Downtown Covington; Podcast covers the history of the Roebling Suspension Bridge; Plus, the Emergency Shelter graduates eleven men from homelessness to housing. Those stories and more -- at the link!|
QUICKIES
|
|
Kentucky legislator wants tougher DUI law WFPL |
Conservative KY think-tank starts a PAC WFPL |
Cincinnati Reds player's dog missing after fireworks WKRC |
Former Kentucky basketball star, Agriculture Commissioner, and candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Richie Farmer's divorce is final Courier-Journal |
Sen. Rand Paul wants to save the internet -- conservative style Mashable |
Track Jack! Attorney General Jack Conway's blog Jack Conway |
|
|
TROUBLE FOR A COUPLE KENTUCKY MAYORS...
|
Paintsville mayor owes thousands for utilities WKYT |
ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING DAY OF HEAT EXPECTED SATURDAY
But on the upside... this is supposed to be the last in a string of depressingly scorching days...
|
8 WORST THINGS ABOUT SUMMER IN AMERICAN CITIES...
Concrete, trash, bugs, humidity...and more. The Atlantic Cities breaks down which cities have it worst in various summer categories. Click Here |
MEANWHILE, IT'S BEEN A DEVASTATING YEAR FOR KENTUCKY FARMERS
(Agriculture Commissioner James) Comer says many farmers planted their largest corn crop in years and some won't see any corn at all. Comer says some corn stalks are 6 feet tall, with not an ear of corn on them.
Consumers will be paying the price at the grocery store. Comer says there will be a huge corn shortage and prices will climb. He says many items have corn byproducts in them, from soda to cereal to baking supplies.
|
|
WATER SHORTAGE WARNING: 27 Kentucky counties are on alert for the possibility of not having enough water press release |
KROGER DIMS ITS LIGHTS DURING HEAT EMERGENCY
The grocery chain will dim the lights in its stores by 1/3 to conserve energy. WKRC |
DESPITE THE HEAT, THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Cincinnati is The City That Sings even when it's too hot to do anything at all and today, the World Choir Games come to Covington for two friendship concerts at Devou Park. The first is at 4:00PM at the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky and the second is at 7:30PM at the ampitheater/bandshell. It's going to be hot... very hot. Be prepared.
|
Headed to Devou Park for the two World Choir Games friendship concerts today? It's going to be a hot one -- and parking nearby the concerts is limited. Tip: Use the shuttle that leaves Covington Catholic High School and that drops you off right at the venue. It's a buck each way. (Thanks to Devou Park Ranger Larry Ballinger for the tip.)
|
Cincinnati heat can't keep a good choir down WXIX
