NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY MORNING 26 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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OPEN HOUSE TODAY FOR RENOVATED COVINGTON HOMES

You can check out five newly renovated homes in Covington today from 5:00-700PM as the City of Covington and its partners at Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, the Center for Great Neighborhoods, Huff Realty, Sibcy Cline, Coldwell Banker West Shell, and Century 21 show off their latest effort to increase home ownership:

The City of Covington along with its partners, the Center for Great Neighborhoods, Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, Huff Realty, Sibcy Cline, Coldwell Banker West Shell and Century 21, proudly invite you to tour 5 of its newly renovated and constructed homes in the 900 block of Banklick Street and Berry Street in Covington. An Open House tour will be hosted by the Realtor Partners on Thursday, July 26 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. These 5 homes are near completion and are ready for purchase.

As part of a grant from the Kentucky Department for Local Government for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), the City of Covington was able to take 14 home sites, restore them, and offer them for sale to qualifying buyers. Three of the sites are new construction while the remaining 11 are full restorations. To date, one home has been sold and two more are under contract.

The NSP program offers potential homebuyers financial incentives that include paid closing costs, sizable grants, and half of the down payment. Buyers must meet income guidelines to qualify for the program. Information on the program can be found at www.makecovingtonhome.com or by calling the City of Covington Community Development Department at 859-292-2147.

Please join us for this Open House event to experience these exciting new homes and discover the quality construction, convenient location and positive impact this project has given the City of Covington. Refreshments will be provided.

More details: Click Here
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1 MILLION IN KENTUCKY TO GET INSURANCE BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE

A new report predicts that one million people in Kentucky who were previously unable to attain health insurance will be covered when part of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) goes into effect in 2014:

“I think this brings peace of mind to those families who have been denied coverage for so long because of pre-existing conditions," said Mitchell. "I think when we speak to a lot of Kentucky families there’s not really anyone I have spoken to that has not been affected by pre-existing conditions,” she says.
The clause will allow those who’ve had illnesses like cancer, diabetes or other sickness to get insurance coverage, Mitchell says.

WFPL 

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COVINGTON FIREFIGHTERS MEET VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

Vice President Joe Biden addressed the International Association of Firefighters convention in Philadelphia Wednesday:

In an emotional speech to a quiet room here in Philadelphia, Biden declared to the International Association of Fire Fighters that the GOP views them as "the community's problem," and quoted Romney's pledges to cut spending deeply.
"This new Republican Party looks at you as both the reason for and the solution to this godawful recession we inherited," Biden said. "They look at your ranks and they see an easy place to cut budgets to accommodate their priorities — not just you, but cops, public workers generally. Don’t take my word for it. Just listen to what Gov. Romney — who by the way, is a good family man, a guy who means well, I think part of the problem is, I don’t think he just gets you."
Biden repeatedly argued that Romney is out of touch with the values of firefighters and other middle-class voters, telling his audience that the GOP's intent to focus on slashing budgets and keeping upper-income taxes low would hurt their communities.
"He said, I quote, guaranteeing the government will keep its fire, police and teachers intact is not an effective way to get the economy rolling again. Tell that to the store owner who, without you, may lose everything they own," Biden continued. "He further said — referring to Gov. Romney — my own view is that right to work is the right way to go, and I’d like to see it on the national level as well. Did you think that we’d be fighting these fights again in 2012?"

Full story: Politico 
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The executive board of Covington's firefighters union, IAFF Local 38, shared this photo on their Facebook page:

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NORTHERN KENTUCKIANS WANT TAX REFORM TO BOOST EDUCATION

More from this week's public meeting on tax reform in the Commonwealth at Northern Kentucky University. Via cn|2:

Brent Cooper, owner of a small tech company in Covington and chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, said he had concerns about the lack of tax credit for angel investors in start up businesses. The General Assembly failed to enact legislation this year to allow such tax credits other states have.
Cooper told the commission, “imagine you are a new startup and someone comes to you and says I’ll give you $200,000 for your idea, but you’ve got to move four miles north, because I get a 25 percent tax credit in Ohio and we don’t get that in Kentucky. That is not just made up. That is happening. Tax policy in Kentucky is costing us jobs.”

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Hear from outgoing NKU President James Votruba and the university's student government president about the importance of solving the tuition and higher education funding problems at the link: cn|2 

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SEE ALSO: Governor Beshear makes appointments to higher education board, including the President of EW Scripps to the NKU Board of Regents press release 
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QUICKIES

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Banking scandal could be hurting Kentucky's pensions WFPL 

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Tax increases, program cuts could help boost pensions cn|2 

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Pension reform is still troublesome Daily Independent 

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Governor Beshear to promote Kentucky on trip to Europe press release 
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Kentucky Secretary of State heads to Afghanistan to help troops vote press release 
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Drug money funds voter fraud in Kentucky FOX News 

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US Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) named best in Congress for working people press release 
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US Rep. Geoff Davis passes off his signature cause, the REINS Act, to a colleague since Davis won't be around to see it passed WFPL 
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Good news for wine lovers: the grape harvest is ahead of schedule WPSD 
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Governor Beshear orders flags at half staff in honor of victims of Colorado movie theater shooting press release 
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Bengals say "no" to new TV blackout rule Business Courier 
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Kentucky low on list of creative class population The Atlantic Cities 
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COVINGTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TONIGHT

The Covington School Board will meet Thursday at 7:00PM inside the Board of Education. No agenda has been made public yet, but it is expected to include discussion of the three bids sought to reconstruct the playground at Sixth District Elementary School that was partially destroyed by fire in June. Also, board member Mike Fitzgerald returns after missing a couple meetings due to an illness that kept him in the hospital for an extended period of time. The River City News will have it covered for you.

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FEMALE TEACHERS & MALE STUDENTS SEX SCANDALS IN THE AREA
Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati have had their share of teacher-student sex scandals:

Fox19 Legal Analyst and former Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen added that society's double standard also makes it tougher to prosecute offenders.
"If the male teacher is the defendant and there's a female student, that person is probably going to prison," said Allen. "If on the other hand, it's a female teacher and a male student, you're not seeing that many stiff sentences."

See the video report here: WXIX 
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COVINGTON CITY ARBORIST EXPLAINS DANGERS OF EMERALD ASH BORER

Jason Roberts, the City of Covington's urban forester, certified arborist, and municipal specialist discusses the fight against the emerald ash borer in Devou Park through this video produced by NKU:

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A HEROIN ADDICT'S STORY
Heroin is a growing problem in our City and region:

Once the scourge of the 40's, 50's and 60's, heroin is back. And though it has an inner-city reputation, experts say it's gone suburban, even rural, perhaps next door to you. Cooking up in a spoon: It's what many heroin addicts do, what they live for, dream about. The god they worship. 

(snip)

Some people don't think that could happen to people they know, but pay attention to the addresses that recovery expert Jeff Duell of the Awareness and Recovery Group has seen at his recovery center. "It's Ft. Thomas, Newport, Covington, Ft. Mitchell, Villa Hills," Duell said.

Full story with video report: WCPO 
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SEE ALSO: As pain pills change, abusers move on to new drugs WFPL 
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KY MAN ACCUSED IN ANTI-GAY ATTACK CHALLENGES FED HATE CRIMES LAW
After he and an accomplice were charged with beating up a man in Eastern Kentucky because the man is gay, Anthony Ray Jenkins, 20, and his cousin became the the first ever charged under a new federal hate crimes law:

Part of the hate-crimes law is unconstitutional because it impermissibly creates special protection for a class of people based on the sexual orientation of victims, Anthony Jenkins' attorney, Willis G. Coffey, argued in the motion filed Wednesday.
There is no compelling interest in providing more protection for gay crime victims than for others, and the Constitution bars doing so, the motion said.
The federal hate-crimes law once included protection based only on race, color, religion and national origin.

Full story: Herald-Leader/Bill Estep 
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MORE QUICKIES
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What Penn State football can learn from Kentucky basketball after scandal The New York Times 
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Whooping cough cases on the rise and could get worse here WLWT 
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Man finally charged for causing a violent scene at a Salvation Army Christmas Dinner in Louisville WDRB 
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KENTUCKY MAN INDICTED FOR STEALING FROM BODY AT FUNERAL HOME
Ugh:

William Mitchell, 33, has been indicted in Grayson County. Police say he took a ring off the woman's finger at the funeral home in Caneyville, then broke into a car sitting outside.

A few more details: WKYT 

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 25 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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DOWNTOWN COVINGTON: DON'T LOOK TO PAST FOR THE FUTURE

Downtown Covington will never be what it once was, so it's time to focus, says a consultant. Madison Ave should own that focus while Pike, Scott, & MLK are on hold for now. (The consultant says there are not enough people with enough money in Covington to support a larger vibrant Downtown.) Plus, Mainstrasse should rebrand itself as a destination for fine-dining and refined tastes. Full story at the link.

Full story: The River City News 

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EMOTIONS FILL CITY HALL AS FIRE CHIEF, FIREFIGHTERS RETIRE

"People don't see at three in the morning when a young lieutenant has to put two toddlers and their grandmother in body bags. When a sixteen-year old boy hangs himself with an electrical cord. How do you close your eyes at night after that?" An emotional night at City Hall as firefighters retire. Click it.

Full story: The River City News 

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CITY COMMISSION RECAP

Though the retail consultants presentation and the firefighter retirements dominated Tuesday night's meeting, there were plenty of other items on the City Commission's agenda:

• CITY FUNDS AWARDED TO CENTER FOR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS The City will allocate roughly $120,000 of its federal housing dollars to the Center for Great Neighborhoods as that organization embarks on an ambitious rehabilitation project on and around Orchard Street, starting with three houses purchased from the City for a dollar. (Measure passed unanimously, with Commissioner Shawn Masters voting "present" since he lives in the neighborhood.)
• 115 STREET LIGHT FIXTURES TO BE REPLACED Of the approximately 4,000 streetlights in the Covington city limits, the City is responsible for the maintenance of about two hundred and 115 of them are in need of having their top fixtures replaced. In fact, the model used for many years has been discontinued. City Engineer Tom Logan called the hodgepodge of inconsistent light fixtures "embarrassing". The commission approved the purchase of new fixtures for 115 streetlights in Mainstrasse Village and Licking Riverside at a cost of $105,000, though all of those funds come from a rebate the City received from Duke Energy. These are the decorative-style streetlights you see on Main Street, Sixth Street, and Philadelphia in Mainstrasse and along Riverside Drive in Licking Riverside.

• CHANGE OF PLANS FOR LAPTOPS AT POLICE DEPARTMENT At the previous commission meeting, the police department was given approval to purchase laptop computers, but after the meeting a better deal came along. Finance Director Bob Due explained that the previous approval would have been for 3-year old computers whose warranties have expired but Panasonic, the maker of the laptops, offered a deal on new computers in the form of a 3-year lease with an option to buy at the end of the term for one dollar. Originally, the approval was to fund the laptops through the evidence forfeiture fund but whether that is still entirely the case was not full explained for the new, higher price of $291,000 over three years.
• NEW GUIDELINE FOR HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAM ANNOUNCED The City will have fewer federal funds to apply toward home ownership down payments, facade grants, and other incentives but the program will be opened up to more parts of the City once a certain threshold of spending has been reached.
• NEW CITY HALL SECURITY CONTRACT AWARDED The Commission approved a new contract for Brantley Security to provide the part-time security officers that patrol City Hall at an annual cost of $27,428.
• DEVOU PARK TO GET NEW SIGNS Geograph Industries was awarded a $36,000 contract (payable from Drees Pavilion Allocation Fund) to create and install new destination and rules signage for Covington's Devou Park
• Notes: The Covington Neighborhood Collaborative made a short presentation to highlight its upcoming Covington calendar, its work with Keep Covington Beautiful, and the successful renovation of Barb Cook Park in West Latonia

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KENTON CO FISCAL COURT SPLIT ON 911 DISPATCH FEE

Things did not go as planned at Tuesday night's Kenton County Fiscal Court meeting as the Judge-Executive and the County Commissioners could not agree on funding the new consolidated 911 emergency dispatch center through a $6 fee assessed to energy bill:

The new fee would have replaced the monthly dispatch service fee on telephone land lines, which an average of 3 to 4 percent of users have been phasing out each year.
Kenton Judge-executive Steve Arlinghaus and Kenton County Commissioner Jon Draud supported funding a consolidated 911 emergency dispatch operation through a monthly fee on electric bills. Commissioners Kris Knochelmann and Beth Sewell voted against it.
“I have a problem with asking a private company to sneak this on a bill and not make it apparent to customers,” Sewell said...“I just feel like most residents are saying: ‘Just put it on the (property tax) bill so we can see it.’”

Covington's dispatch center is being shut down in September.
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Libby Cunningham 
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UPDATE:
City Commissioner Steve Frank writes at The River City News Facebook page:

OK here's the skinny on last night fiscal court's vote. 911 dispatch merger is still on (as far as I can tell). There were 3 original proposals on how to pay for it, car tax at $35 per car, Duke Bill per Electric Meter, or a Property tax bill based on valuation per $1,000. What Beth Sewell and Kris Knochelmann have proposed instead of putting it on the Duke bill, is to put a twist on the property tax bill and levy a charge per parcel. Their rational was that Duke was going to sue and might delay the collection of fee for several years. Personally I think Duke may have bought some ill will for their trouble. No one liked the car idea unless you only walked or rode bicycles (and they might need 911 service one day). Charging by property tax value wasn't fairly spreading the costs because some people would pay very little and others way more than the cost of service. The per parcel charge and I do not know what that number is, ( say $75 per parcel wither you had a quarter acre or 10 acres) would be placed on property tax bills that would be in addition to one's monthly escrow or charged presumably all at once if you pay that way as I do. Everyone pays more or less the same for the same service and the costs are shared by the whole covered area. Something might still have to be worked out for people with multiple properties or very large commercial properties; but that is for the working out the details and avoids a Duke lawsuit gumming up the works. If I have a complaint it was that this proposal was not clearly marketed before hand leaving those of us who believed that the Duke bill idea was the most fair way of doing things thinking that there was no Plan B in place.

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NORTHERN KENTUCKIANS SPEAK OUT ON TAX REFORM
Governor Steve Beshear's blue ribbon tax reform commission visited Northern Kentucky University Tuesday night to hear from the public:

The 23-member tax reform commission made up of business and education leaders will make a recommendation for reforming Kentucky’s tax structure by the end of the year.
Fort Thomas resident Joan Gregory asked for more taxes. Gregory said when she moved to the area, she didn’t locate where the taxes are low, but where the schools, parks and libraries are great. Businesses often make the same decisions, she said.
“I’m a history teacher, and, historically, I’ve known Americans have always opposed taxes,” Gregory said. “It caused the American Revolution. It’s in our DNA. But I’m here to ask you to take one for the team, because I want you to raise taxes. I want you to consider raising them to improve the quality of life in Kentucky, to attract businesses to the Commonwealth, to improve our schools, to build infrastructure, to support transportaiton, to provide public safety and to provide tax incentives for businesses.”

Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman 
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VOTRUBA: KY NEEDS STRATEGIC TAX REFORM NOW
NKU's retiring President Dr. James Votruba pens an op-ed to the tax commission:

You’re the tax experts. However, what I’ve learned over the past 15 years is that Kentucky is in a battle for its future. That battle will be won or lost based on our capacity to recruit and retain the talent needed to drive innovation essential for economic growth. Mark my words – over the next decade there will be some states that thrive and move forward while others fall further and further behind. Tax policy must contribute to our capacity to attract investment capital, new knowledge-based companies and the talent needed to drive them.

Full editorial: Kentucky Forward
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THE PRECARIOUS PROFESSION OF THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Related to the above post comes this interesting piece from the Chronicle of Higher Education:

The time in office for public-university presidents is shrinking rapidly, notwithstanding the recent reinstatement of the University of Virginia's president, Teresa A. Sullivan. The high turnover, while alarming, should not be surprising. Average inflation-adjusted state appropriations per student for higher education fell 24 percent from 1986 to 2011, just as public universities have been asked to enroll increasing numbers of often less prepared students while maintaining quality.
Such financial challenges call for bold changes, which is precisely what universities are least accustomed to doing. Presidents find themselves sandwiched between state legislatures and governing boards demanding significant shifts in how the university operates, and faculty senates defending an academic culture that is both resilient and excruciatingly resistant to change. Think of the dilemma for a university president who faces the threat of dismissal by the governing board for failing to react quickly, and the ire of a hostile faculty if real change is begun. No wonder the reward for most university presidents who do little other than seek consensus is a short tenure in office.

Full story: The Chronicle of Higher Education
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SEE ALSO: The value of Pre-K education Mother Jones
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QUICKIES
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Shelter in Kentucky forced to put down 200 dogs after illness WLWT
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Kentucky goes from driest June to possibly wettest July Herald-Leader
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Attorney disputes accuser of former Ben-Gal cheerleader WLWT
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Louisville airport makes list of 37 airports that could help influence the spread of global disease The Atlantic Cities 
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19,000 cited in Kentucky for not wearing seatbelts during "Click it, or ticket" campaign WKYT 
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Excellent Photo: The Belle of Cincinnati at the Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge Ledger-Independent 
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Arts Council seeks nominations for Kentucky Poet Laureate press release 
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Great shot of Anthony Davis swatting away a Spaniard during this week's USA vs Spain basketball game KSR 
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REPORT: 1 IN 4 KY KIDS MIRED IN POVERTY
Terrible:

Mirroring a national trend, the number of the state’s children living below the poverty line — defined in 2010 as $22,113 for a family of two adults and two children — rose 18 percent between 2005 and 2010, according to the annual report, which provides an annual snapshot of child well-being.

Full story: Courier-Journal 
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REGION'S ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS EXPLORED TONIGHT
Via Direction 2030:

One of a two scheduled round table discussions to allow members of the public – including residents, builders, developers, business owners and operators, and others – to participate in a discussion with a panel of experts from various fields and provide input on the Comprehensive Plan, a policy and planning document that is designed to guide the development and growth in Kenton County over the next 20 years.
This series of meetings will be comprised of two public meetings, one in Independence and one in Ludlow, to elicit input from all neighborhoods and communities within the county. Citizens may attend one or both of the meetings. Please be sure to register for each meeting you plan to attend. If you have questions, you may contact NKAPC at 859.331.8980.

Info on location and time: Direction 2030
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FORMER BOONE JUDGE-EXEC ENDORSES BILL ADKINS IN KY-4
The Fourth Congressional District race sees another endorsement from a Judge-Exec, and another for Democrat Bill Adkins, a Williamstown attorney:

"Just two years ago Thomas Massie emerged on Kentucky's political scene to run for judge-executive of Lewis County. The duty of being elected as a judge-executive in Kentucky is to lead and serve the highest government body in the county for a period of four years. After just one year in office, Mr. Massie decided to run for Congress and just six months after that, he quit his job as judge-executive in order to run his Congressional campaign.
"I served as Boone County Judge-Executive for 23 years and I know that holding elected office is more than winning campaigns and moving up the ladder. It is about service to the people; serving the citizens who work and pay the taxes in the community. Citizens count on and depend on their elected leaders to act in their best interest for the greater improvement of the community. They expect and deserve a solid performance by their elected officials. Before the citizens cast their votes this November in the race for Congress, they should think about whether they believe Mr. Massie has performed his duty that he was sworn to do when he took office in January, 2011. Voters should look beyond partisan politics and choose the person who has a track record of keeping their word and contributing to the community. That person is Bill Adkins." 

Bruce Ferguson
Former Boone County Judge-Executive

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NOTES
-The Licking Riverside Neighborhood Association meets tonight at 6:30PM at 327 Riverside Drive and will feature a presentation by Superintendent of Covington Schools Lynda Jackson.
-The City is distributing orange safety flags for wheelchairs in conjunction with the Human Rights Commission. Today's location OASIS Outreach Center (1016 Greenup Street) from 11:00AM - 1:00PM. For other locations and times, click here.
-Kenton County Animal Shelter employees can't believe these particular animals are still there! Click for photos 
-From The Welcome House: How would you like to drive a 2012 silver Cadillac CTS Sports Sedan for just $50.00? Go to our website www.welcomehouseky.org to buy a chance on a 2 year lease.
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THINGS ARE ROUGH, BUT LET'S HOPE THEY DON'T GET THIS BAD
The mayor of a town in Argentina is also running out of city funds so he has decided to pay employees only if they win a raffle:

Without enough money to pay all his city employees their regular wages, the mayor of a small town in central Argentina has implemented a money-saving plan that's equal parts desperation and spin. Instead of laying people off or implementing furloughs, the mayor has instituted a weekly raffle wherein the winners receive their pay. The losers receive nothing.
The economy has been declining in the town of Bialet Masse, home to about 5,000 people and a modest tourism industry. Funding from the provincial government has dwindled in recent years as the entire country's economic growth has faltered. With few options at his disposal, Mayor Gustavo Pueyo got creative.

Full story: The Atlantic Cities
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FOOD TRUCK INVASION IS FRIDAY
Get to the parking lot next to the Artisan Enterprise Center on West Seventh Street from 11:00AM to 2:00PM and have a great, quick lunch. You'll see more of these posters around town:

BUSY, IMPORTANT COVINGTON CITY COMMISSION MEETING EXPECTED TUESDAY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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BUSY COVINGTON COMMISSION MEETING SET FOR NEXT WEEK

On Tuesday night the Covington City Commission will meet for what will likely be a lengthy, important session. Here are the details:

• Lots of retirements and one resignation on the agenda. From the Fire Department: Chief Chuck Norris, Asst. Chief Alan Terry, Battalion Chief Bill Shelton, Lt. Chuck Spenlau, Engineer Todd Ryder, and EMT/Paramedic Marty Finan. From the Police Department: Sgt. Steve Sweeney. From the Devou Park Rangers: Karl Fry (listed as a resignation, not a retirement).
• EMS Director Dan Mathew will be appointed acting fire chief
• Another part of the Center City Action Plan (CCAP) will be presented for the first time as retail consultant Mike Berne comes back to town to discuss "retail positioning and strategy".
• The City's efforts to relax zoning restrictions on various types of businesses, as recommended in the CCAP, will have a first reading (but not a vote until August). For a review of what those zoning restrictions are, click here.
• A contract will likely be approved for the installation of 115 LED light fixtures in Mainstrasse Village and Riverside Drive at a cost of $105,000
• A contract for new destination signage for Devou Park will likely be approved at a cost of $36,000 (payable from Drees Pavilion allocation funds)
• The City will likely shift some of its federal housing funds to the Center for Great Neighborhoods as the organization moves to renovate three vacant properties on the 300 block of Orchard Street (which were purchased from the City earlier this year for one dollar). $74,000+ from the City's community development block grant funds and $44,000+ from the City's home "HOME" funds are being sought for assistance with this project.
• The Covington Neighborhood Collaborative will also present at the meeting, led by its President, Bill Wells

The River City News will have the most comprehensive coverage after Tuesday night's meeting here at this site, on Facebook, and Twitter.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING 13 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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NO SUCH THING AS FREE PARKING IN AN URBAN DOWNTOWN

From a piece titled Why an urban Downtown and lots of free parking spots are mutually exclusive published in Las Vegas Weekly:

Donald Shoup, UCLA economist and genius of all things parking, notes that there’s no such thing as “free parking.” Parking takes up valuable real estate, and mandating parking increases the cost of development, just as mandating a hot tub in every condo would push up the cost of housing. The city sharply curtailed with parking requirements for new buildings Downtown. Let’s keep it that way.
City parking meters are not priced according to any rational scheme. In a free market, price is the interplay of supply and demand. The price of the parking meters, by contrast, is arbitrary, like the price of bread in the old Soviet Union. Ideally, higher demand spots would fetch higher prices, and vice versa, and with rational pricing all the spots on a block would be taken except for one or at most two, which allows for the circulation that business owners desire.
Because the meters aren’t rationally priced, people cruise around looking for underpriced meter spots, which creates traffic.

Full story: Las Vegas Weekly
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RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE, PENSIONS CONTINUE TO HIT CITIES
Covington has been dealing with this issue and three California cities have gone bankrupt over it (and other issues)in the past two weeks, but larger cities like Philadelphia are struggling, too:

For the $3.589 billion budget for the 2013 fiscal year, employee benefits have jumped to $1.116 billion – $629 million for pensions and $487 million for other benefits.
While the city budget grew by only 16.15 percent over the last decade, employee benefits obligations grew by more than 111 percent. This trend is likely to continue.

Full story: The Atlantic Cities
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DON'T MISS THURSDAY'S NEWS
Guilty plea in case that involved dismembered legs found on Hands Pike; Killer fakes his death in KY only to show up on his own YouTube channel; Plans are announced to rebuild playground destroyed by fire; Plus, why we're not supposed to call Cincinnati "The Queen City" anymore. Click it.

The RC News: Thursday Evening Round-Up |
QUICKIES
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Pregnant woman, unborn child die after crash on I-471 Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Fatal crash on I-75 Thursday also, this time near Walton Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Governor Beshear tells federal government that he is creating the health care exchange WBKO 
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Beshear uses Governor's Mansion to raise funds for daughter-in-law's horse competition Herald-Leader 
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MORE SUCCESS NOTED AT COVINGTON SHELTER (AND A REQUEST)
From the Emergency Shelter of NKY:

We have a guest who has secured an apartment in Covington and will move in the 3rd of the month. He is in need of these basic items: twin or double bed, chest of drawers, table/chairs, end tables and a sitting chair. If you have these items to donate, please email me at emergencyshelter@yahoo.com I am able to pick up after August 3rd if items are not too large. 
Our guest, Ed that needed the bike for work hopped on the bus early this morning with his bike in tow for his orientation day at his new job. Thanks for all of you who responded and a big thank you to the Powers family who donated a bike and lock to Ed.

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"HUGE NEWS" FOR DEVOU PARK FROM THE GUYS ON THE TRAILS

From the Devou Park Trails:

Rotary Grove Lane has been closed off to motorized use. This is huge for Devou. It gives yet another passage way for self propelled activities. The asphalt still remains, yet the cars are gone. Rotary grove lane dissects the Lewisburg Trail. First road crossing coming down. Rotary lane can now act as another motor-less way to access the top of the park. We are fired up!!

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DANIEL BOONE'S DESCENDANTS HELP PROMOTE BOONE'S TRAIL IN KY
From the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Agencies of Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet are applauding an effort by the national Boone Society to develop and promote the historic Boone Trace through eastern Kentucky. This famous road, which followed trails used by Native Americans and buffaloes, was used by thousands of settlers traveling to Kentucky and beyond, launching the westward movement.
Properly developed, marked and promoted, the trace could become an economic engine stimulating tourism in the region, proponents say.
The Boone Society, a national organization of Boone family descendants, interested genealogists and historians, is working to identify, restore and preserve the trail blazed in 1775 by Daniel Boone, who was then an agent of the Transylvania Company. Known as the Boone Trace, the 117 mile trail entered Kentucky at Cumberland Gap near Middlesboro, crossed the Cumberland River at Pineville, ran northwest past London, and ended at Fort Boonesborough near Richmond.

Upon further progress in the Boone Society’s development efforts, the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism and the Kentucky Department of Parks will assist the Boone Society with promotion of the Boone Trace and its historical significance.
There are four state parks and one national park within the Boone Trace corridor: the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site, Levi Jackson State Park, and Fort Boonesborough State Park. 

In 1915, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) placed 12 stone markers along the trail to highlight its historical significance. These and other historical markers placed along the route since that time will be the focus of an effort by the Boone Society to list the Boone Trace on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more info, click here.
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COVINGTON PARTNERS GOF OUTING SET FOR MONDAY

The Covington Partners 3rd Annual Golf Outing at Traditions Golf Club is Monday, July 16. There is still time to register your foursome for a fun filled day of great golf at a world class course. Contact Margo Willman at (859) 392-3172 or margo.willman@covington.kyschools.us to reserve your space today!

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HOW THE FUTURE WAS VIEWED ALL THE WAY BACK IN... 1979
Some of the predictions are pretty spot-on:

• Flat screen TV. No longer a bulky box, TV screens have shrunk to a thickness of less than five centimeters.  
• Mail slot. By 1990, most mail will be sent in electronic form. (The year was a little off, but still...)
• Domestic robot rolls in with drinks. (OK, so we're all still waiting on that one...)

Check out the predictions with a terrific cartoon at the link.
BoingBoing 

COMMISSION RECAP: 10 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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The Covington City Commission convened for its regular legislative meeting on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Here is what went down"

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Facade grants for Lewisburg for when new bridge is built

The Commission unanimously approved authorizing the mayor to enter a memorandum of agreement between the City of Covington, the federal highway administration, and the Kentucky state historic preservation officers with concurrence by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet regarding the adverse effects expected to hit the Lewisburg neighborhood when the Brent Spence Bridge project begins construction. City Manager Larry Klein explained that $420,000 will be placed into a fund for facade grants to be used specifically in that neighborhood to counter the adverse effects, though it could be several years before construction on the new bridge begins. The agreement is good for ten years and has a clause that it can be revisited at the time of its expiration. Mitigating the effects to Lewisburg was one of Covington's top concerns as a final design for the new bridge is selected. "This helps strengthen the neighborhood by reinvesting in it," Klein said.

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Backhoe trailer involved in accident to be sold

The trailer that flipped over with a backhoe on it (and a city employee inside the backhoe) will be sold as surplus property. (SEE: Employee pulled from backhoe that flipped in Devou Park) "This is way to get some salvage out of the damaged piece of equipment," Klein explained.

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Two Covington Police officers retire

Dennis Wesseler and Dennis Sparks each started at the Covington Police Department in 1990 and now they leave together, each having his retirement approved by the city commission. Wesseler arrived in Covington from Cold Spring's police department. Chief Spike Jones said Wesseler was a "rock star" in South Covington. "He has a huge following out there," Jones said. 

Dennis Wesseler

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Sparks arrived in Covington fresh off the mission in Panama that helped bring down former dictator Manuel Noriega. He won two life-saving awards in Covington and was described by Chief Jones as the best administrative lieutenant the department has ever had. "I came here tonight to be honored but it's been my honor serving the citizens of Covington and this is very hard for me," Sparks said.

Dennis Sparks

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OTHER NOTES: 

• The City will purchase a new Caterpillar steer loader in the amount of $74,645 as the current one is four years past its shelf life according to city engineer Tom Logan. Half the cost will be paid for through the Devou Trust Fund, a fifth from the Drees Pavilion allocation for equipment, a tenth from the Devou Trust for tree removal, and a fifth from the City's capital improvements fund. Half the time, the new piece will be used in Devou Park where it will play a major role in combating invasive species, as it also will along the Licking River Greenway & Trails when being used by the Cuty for other purposes the other half of the time.
• The Covington Human Rights Commission presented a framed certificate to the City Commission thanking them for extending health care benefits to same-sex partners of City employees.
• The asset forfeiture fund at the Covington Police Department will pay for $85,500 worth of new laptops for the department
• The contract of Dr. Paul Spellman was renewed for services for the Covington Fire Department.
• Guidelines were approved for the City's home buyer assistance program. $139,000 is available in individual opportunities to have $5,000 put toward lender-required down payments.
• Eight firefighters, two EMS workers, and two police officers were given pay increases.
• Jennifer Stein of Kenton Hills was appointed to the Devou park advisory committee.

New mural for Latonia to be hung in school

Artist Tammy Stephens, well known for her work on the popular mural in Helentown, showed off a new mural for Latonia. Though much smaller in scale compared to the one in Helentown, it was created in the same spirit by bringing together local children to help. Much of the work was done during the Latonia children's festival. It will be displayed at Latonia Elementary.