NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING 30 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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TRUCK DISCUSSION LEADS TO PLANS TO PATRONIZE OTHER BUSINESSES

A lengthy thread emerged at The River City News Facebook page following the posting of this editorial:

Boy, things sure got testy when Downtown Covington welcomed some food trucks Friday afternoon. Is Covington ready to eat standing up? An editorial at the link.

Full story: Food Fight: Shut the Truck Up 
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In the comments that followed, several people while showing support for food trucks in Covington also wanted to set aside special days to patronize brick-&-mortar businesses en masse. The first event that emerged from the discussion at RCN is this Saturday at Bread & Spice, a terrific little bakery/lunch spot on Pike Street. Click the link below for more details and plan to join us!
Patronize Bread & Spice 
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The Tinney Family, operators of Bread & Spice

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THE SUNDAY EDITION
"Sure, Covington has the highway access, but the communities to the north on I-75 are mostly low to middle income." The retail consultant expands upon his findings in Covington exclusively at RCN. Plus, a look back at the week that was and a look ahead at the week that will be. The Sunday Edition is at the link!

The Sunday Edition 

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WEEKLY MUGSHOT ROUND-UP

Who's going to prison, who got probation, and who's still on the run? Your weekly mugshot round-up from a busy week at the Kenton County Courthouse is at the link.

Full story: Mugshot Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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37 Kenton Co families dealing with flooded property are still waiting nearly a year for lifeboats Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Farmers face paltry yield, hay shortage Herald-Leader 

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Visual impact of the 2012 drought across the country Facebook 

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KY Agriculture Commissioner James Comer talks about the drought on FOX News 

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Coal industry sheds jobs, leaving Eastern KY economy in tatters Herald-Leader 

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Congress may raise minimum wage to $9.80 Business First 

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Blood donations reach 15-year low WXIX 

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Ft. Thomas soldier memorialized for sacrificing life Cincinnati Enquirer 

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KY man killed by falling rock while camping WLWT 

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Bear sightings shut down KY camp ground WKYT 

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Gov. Beshear, Lt. Gov. Abramson, Sen. Paul no-shows at this year's Fancy Farm Herald-Leader 

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Where are all the Democrats for this year's Fancy Farm? cn|2 

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Western KY University to allow guns on campus in parked cars WKYT 

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Yearling training is Kindergarten for horses Herald-Leader 

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THEFT VICTIM SAYS KY LAW IS TOO LENIENT AFTER SUSPECT IS LET GO

Imagine the police knocking on your door and telling you that they caught someone breaking into your vehicle... but that they were only going to be able to write the guy a ticket and then let him go:

Proponents of the law that passed back in February, 2011 say House Bill 463 will reduce Kentucky's prison population by more than 3000 inmates over the next 10 years and save hundreds of millions of dollars in corrections costs, but critics say it creates a bigger cost. "Police officers hands are tied," former homicide detective Don Evans said, "With this House Bill, it tells officers that they shall issue citations for a lot of the crimes that they deal with now as opposed to make arrests even if the officer feels like an arrest is more appropriate, their hands are tied. They can't."

Full story with video: WKYT 
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SOCIAL WORKER: THE POOR HAVE BEEN PUSHED FROM OVER-THE-RHINE
A social worker in Cincinnati has written a book called Econocide that focuses on the gentrification of OTR and the effect it has had on the poor:

Washington Park’s renovation is coordinated with the removal of services for the poor and removal of affordable housing units from the area around it. There is no permanent supportive housing in Census Tract 9 (the area immediately surrounding Washington Park). In 2009, there were changes in the city zoning laws: a homeless shelter (the Drop Inn Center) can’t be located adjacent to a school (School for Creative & Performing Arts). The overall goal is to eliminate the economic “other” by removing their housing and their services.

Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Mark Curnutte 
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DOWNTOWN COVINGTON BUSINESS WANTS IDEAS FOR NEW PAINT JOB
C-Forward, a tech company prominently located at Fifth & Madison in Downtown Covington is planning to repaint its building, and it's asking for suggestions for colors. 

Do you have suggestions for them? Join the discussion at C-Forward's Facebook page.

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WE INTERRUPT THIS NEWS REPORT FOR AN INTERNET MEME

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We now return to our regularly scheduled news report...

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MOVE. BREATHE. GROW. COVINGTON.

A new Covington-related group has popped up on Facebook:

The Vision of Move. Breathe. Grow. Covington is: Covington, a vibrant, active, and green community where the healthy choice is the easy choice.

Follow the group on Facebook: Click Here 
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CAN YOU SAY "TOY BOAT" TEN TIMES FAST?
Of course you can't. How about three times fast? Nope. Why? 

When you read the first sentence of this article, you understood a command to say "toy boat" three times in rapid succession. One region of your brain read the words and formulated the command. You then made the decision whether or not to follow the command. If you chose to follow it, another region of your brain understood the written words and began the process of speaking the words you read.
This process is no small matter. Your diaphragm has to produce the proper amount of pressure to form the word. Your vocal cords relax or contract, depending on the words. And then there's your tongue. Signals from your brain tell your tongue what to do based on what you've learned during your cognitive development of speech.

More on the fascinating science behind tongue twisters at the link.
Discovery Health 
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Toy boat...Toy boit... tie b - Wow.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY EVENING 11 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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COVINGTON COP SAVES 3 PEOPLE, ANIMALS FROM BURNING HOME

One of our police officers is credited with helping to save three lives, alerting people inside a burning home to get out. He also saved the dog and three birds. Meanwhile, a man inside the home says he was targeted by an arsonist. Full story at the link.

Officer Alerts Tenants to Fire, Tenant Says He Was Targeted 

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SCHOOL DISTRICT CHOOSES SHERIFFS OVER POLICE TO SAVE MONEY

EXCLUSIVE: The Covington School Board will save more than $100,000 by using the Kenton Co. Sheriff's Office instead of the Covington Police Department to provide school resource officers. The vote put a dent in the City's budget, but that may already be accounted for, and on the upside, more officers are coming to the streets. Full story at the link.

Schools Choose Sheriffs Over Covington Police to Save Money 

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COVINGTONIANS RETURN AFLOAT "RAFTER CLYDE"

Here is a great story about riverboat captain Don Sanders, a Covington native and river dweller, who has purchased a small steamboat and journeyed down the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, documenting the trip on Facebook. Via WKRC:

Don Sanders's brother Bob Sanders has a law office in Covington and his nephew Rob Sanders is the Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney.

Follow the Rafter Clyde on Facebook Click Here 

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DON'T MISS THIS MORNING'S NEWS

Firefighters blame budget cuts for delayed response to overnight fire in Covington; Transportation officials say Covington's "last chance" exit would cause crashes; WCPO anchor and Covington resident Katherine Nero announces she has breast cancer. Plus, a Kentucky woman sues porn companies over alleged extortion. Those stories and much more at the link.

The RC News: Wednesday Morning Round-Up 

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CAN CITY DWELLERS HAVE NICE THINGS?

Recently, The River City News published this photo:

Those discarded cigarette butts litter the sidewalk near a bus stop on one Covington's most important thoroughfares, Pike Street. Trouble is, the photo could have been snapped on many blocks around town where people who don't seem to give a damn just throw their trash on the ground for others to pick up. Others rarely pick it up. Covington is filthy. But, it's not alone:

The other day I was down at the beach in Coney Island. The tragedy of the commons was all around me – evidence aplenty that we cannot, in fact, have nice things. People were tossing their trash right next to their beach towels, and as the tide came in, the garbage was swept into the water, where it bobbed alongside all the little kids and old folks and parents and teenagers who were splashing in the waves, finding relief from the brutal heat.
No one besides me seemed to care about the trash. Everyone else appeared quite happy with the way things were. I picked up what I could, clearing a little patch of beach around myself and my son, because I really couldn’t bear to see the detritus get sucked under into the only Atlantic we have. I felt like a chump. That is part of the tragedy of the commons – that stinging sense of embarrassment at trying to make something nice when no one else gives a damn.
I’m familiar with this feeling from a lifetime of living in cities and being a total civic nerd. Fortunately, it doesn’t really bother me any longer.
Halfway up the beach was a corral full of garbage cans, with signs telling people not to litter, admonishing visitors to keep “your beach” clean. I dumped a couple of bags of garbage in those cans, wondering if and how more people could be convinced to do the same, how the sweating masses of New York could come to feel that “their beach,” and their ocean, should not be filled with junk.
I’ll confess: It wasn’t a high point for my relationship with my hometown.

Raise your hand if you've had a similar experience in Covington.
READ THE FULL STORY: Can City Dwellers Have Nice Things?
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QUICKIES
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Former state legislator, teacher dies one year after head injury suffered while breaking up a fight cn|2
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Kentucky ends fiscal year with $83 million left over Herald-Leader
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KY falls to 36 on CNBC list of best states in which to do business Business Courier 
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Government contract review examines if Kentucky is getting biggest bang for its buck cn|2 
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Attorney General Jack Conway's cyber crimes unit turns 4 press release 
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Kentucky's Department of Financial Institutions turns 100 press release 
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PREGNANT LESBIAN AND PARTNER BOOTED FROM KY PARK AFTER KISS
A Kentucky woman and her female partner are expecting a baby in September and like many of their heterosexual counterparts, hired a photographer to take maternity pictures. After a gatekeeper at the park witnessed the couple kiss, they were ordered to leave:

“They were a little reluctant, and they kissed so quickly that I wasn’t even able to take a picture of it,” she said.
After that, the park gatekeeper approached them again.
“He said that we had to leave and that it was inappropriate,” Miller-Poole said.
Miller-Poole’s husband accompanies her on all photo shoots, she said.
“He talked to the man and said that if it was because they were two women, that he wanted to know,” Miller-Poole said. “The man said, ‘Those type of people were not welcomed there,’” she said. “My husband ended up getting very angry and had to walk away.”
Miller-Poole said she conducts photo shoots at the park frequently and was trying to understand if she was banned from the park permanently or just with same-sex couples as clients.
“The man said, ‘If you come back and bring those type of people, you will be removed from the park,’” she said. “I never understood why people make such a big deal about being treated differently until I was actually in the middle of it and witnessed it firsthand. It really bothered me and upset me to witness someone be so cruel.”

Full story: Richmond Register/Ronica Shannon
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THE PLOT THICKENS IN THE CHANNEL 5/INSIGHT/TIME WARNER DISPUTE
After being unable to reach an agreement, Time Warner/Insight yanked WLWT from the cable line-up, but decided to air a station out of Terre Haute in its place. Time Warner did something similar in Louisville and Orlando where they were also unable to reach agreements with local stations owned by Hearst, which owns Channel 5 here. Trouble is, the owners of the stations airing in place of the local ones never gave permission. Via Ad Week:

"We believe Time Warner on an unauthorized basis in an illegal manner misappropriated our signals from three markets. Nexstar intends to pursue all legal and regulatory remedies to cause Time Warner to cease and desist misappropriating signals," a Nexstar spokesperson said in a statement.
However, Time Warner sees this as a legal loophole. "We are acting well within our rights, as we have in the past, in trying to help our subscribers through this," said a TWC spokesperson. 

But the drama doesn't end there. Via John Kiesewetter:

Time Warner has been forced to block afternoon programming on Terre Haute NBC affiliate WTWO-TV — which replaced WLWT-TV Tuesday — because a Cincinnati station has exclusive syndication rights to the shows. Time Warner can’t show “Divorce Court” now (2 p.m.) or “People’s Court” (3 p.m.) from the Terre Haute station because WSTR-TV (Channel 64) has rights to those programs here. Channel 64 complained after seeing the shows on Time Warner yesterday.

If you're keeping score, Time Warner is now blacking out programming on the replacement channel it is (possibly) illegally broadcasting in place of the local station that it is blacked out.
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LOL: RATINGS UP AS TIME WARNER REPLACES WLWT WITH TEST SIGNAL
From the humor guys at Derf Magazine:

Due to a contract battle with WLWT’s parent company, Time Warner Cable dropped Channel 5 from it's cable lineup. Time Warner replaced the Channel 5 signal with a test pattern, which resulted in a significant viewership spike. Neilsen officials say the Channel 5 test pattern popularity has nearly exceeded that of the rotating hot dog machine on a closed circuit TV at a local UDF.

More LOLz: Derf Magazine
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AWWW...
Watch champion filly Zenyatta's baby grow:

Many more awwwdorable photos here: Zenyatta 

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 9 JUNE

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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FAMILY SAYS MAILMAN RAN OVER AND KILLED DOG ON PURPOSE

A terrible story out of Kenton Hills where a grandfather says he watched the mailman deliberately run over and kill the family dog. Details at the link. 

The River City News 

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COVINGTON POLICE INVESTIGATE HOUSE FIRE AS POSSIBLE ARSON

A home in Monte Casino is a total loss after a fire that may have been set on purpose: 

The fire destroyed the home and about 80 percent of its contents, said Lt. Col. Spike Jones, interim police chief. After the fire was extinguished firefighters called for police assistance because they believe the fire was set, Jones said. 

Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly 
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Meanwhile... a Covington man is being called a hero for a second time...
The same man who frantically knocked on the door of the burning home to get the family out of the house is the same man who stopped a would-be thief at a gas station earlier this year. From WKRC: 

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WHEN WILL BOTANY HILLS GET A NEW FIREHOUSE?

No clue: 

City Manager Larry Klein and the two city commissioners running for mayor – Steve Casper and Sherry Carran – don’t give the impression a decision on where to construct a $2.5 million to $3 million station is imminent. 

Cincinnati Enquirer/Mike Rutledge 
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COVINGTON CITY COMMISSION AGENDA FOR TUESDAY
On Tuesday, the Covington City Commission will meet for a legislative meeting. Note that this meeting starts at 5:00PM instead of the normal 6:00PM. On the agenda: 

• First reading of the proposed budget ordinance for the 2012-13 fiscal year (no vote will be taken). Read about some of the details within the budget here: Long Night at City Hall Includes More Talk of Layoffs 
• Purchase of services from Mobilcomm to narrowband the public safety communication towers ($22,858.58 from general fund)
• Purchase of two street sweepers ($351,512 from capital improvements fund)
• Rescinding the approval of a bid from Heitzman Construction to perform roof work on 118 and 120 East Fifteenth Street (original bid was awarded for $89,750)
• Executing a contract with Entryway, Inc in the amount of $66,000 for the rehabilitation of a single family home in Newport (938 Hamlet Street) as part of the Home Consortium's efforts in the river cities
• Approval of the authorization of other city employees to execute documents in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program
• Various appointments and reappointments to city boards, and the resignation of a police dispatcher

The River City News will be there and will have the most comprehensive coverage afterwards right here. 
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DON'T MISS FRIDAY'S NEWS!

Mother of God Church gets a good scrubbin'; Businesses moving into Covington Station and on West Seventh Street; Celebrating the Holmes High Class of 2012 which graduates today; Plus, a prosthetic leg surfaces in the ocean -- with a UK logo on it! Those stories and tons more at the link! 

The RC News: Friday Round-Up 

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CONVICTED: WEEKLY MUGSHOT ROUND-UP

Take a look at who's headed to prison, who got probation, and who skipped town in your weekly mugshot round-up from Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders -- at the link. 

Convicted: Mugshot Round-Up 

 

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QUICKIES

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Man behind anti-immigrant flier in Florence is white supremacist Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Kentucky priest arrested for sexual abuse Herald-Leader 

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Sen. Rand Paul joins Democrat in pushing for legal hemp Herald-Leader 

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Richie Farmer's wife interviewed by Attorney General Courier-Journal 

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Court: Attorney General has limited jurisdiction Herald-Leader 

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School error leads to change in valedictorian after graduation in Campbell County Cincinnati Enquirer 

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           NO TRIPLE CROWN THIS YEAR

The hearts of racing fans were broken Friday afternoon when it was announced that Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another had suffered an injury and would be retired, eliminating him from Saturday's Belmont Stakes, and thus, his shot at becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. 

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I'll Have Another retired Herald-Leader 

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News devastates racing community WDRB 

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Video: I'll Have Another's injury explained Courier-Journal 

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Might as well have a laugh about it The Onion 

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GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN COVINGTON ON MONDAY

The Governor has a few events to attend in Northern Kentucky, including one in South Covington: 

After he tours the speedway improvements, Beshear will head to Kenton County to break ground on the Ky. 16 widening project. The project will finish the expansion of the road to five lanes – including the center turn lane – through Taylor Mill and Covington. 

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman 

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From the Covington Partners: 

The Health & Wellness Collaborative has great news to report! During the 2011-2012 school year, 30 after school Fitness Rocks clubs were offered weekly for students in kindergarten-12th grade. Over 1,200 students attended Fitness Rocks this year and it is paying off. There has been a 6% increase in the number of students who engage in 60 or more mintues of daily physical activity, a 12% increase in the number of students with age-appropriate upper body strength and endurance and a 6% increase in the number of students consuming more fruits and vegatables. The Collaborative also hosted Family Fitness Nights at all five elementary schools, as well as on the Holmes campus this school year. These events included educational booths sponsored by local organizations as well as fitness activities for the entire family. For more information about the Health & Wellness Collaborative please contact Natalie Westkamp at (859) 392-3177 or natalie.westkamp@covington.kyschools.us. 

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COVINGTON KIDS MASTER LITERACY

From Children, Inc: 

The “five point literacy program” which began in October, was a coordinated effort to help children in Covington become better readers. For the past seven months the children have been engaged in multiple literacy activities.
Beginning with “One on one” reading, students from Holmes High School began a tutoring/reading regiment by being paired with a child who was struggling. Several times a week the students would come to the After School program and help coach and mentor the children. On days when the students were unable to make it, our After School staff would fill in as tutors.  

Read more here.   
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DESTINATION: GRADUATION PROFILE

Another graduate of Holmes High School is profiled by Covington Independent Public Schools: 

For the past four years, Demarco Amison has traveled from his home in Boone County passing up his home school to attend Holmes High School in Covington. The daily 40-mile round trip was worth the drive, Demarco and his parents agree.
“I like the diversity at Holmes and this school offers so many programs and opportunities for students to be successful,’’ Demarco said. “And, the people here, they really care about you.’’
While at Holmes, Demarco played on the basketball team, was a member of PRIDE, a program for African American males, and took classes in the International Baccalaureate program. 

Read more about Demarco at the link above. 

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Holmes band releases teaser video for next season's program: 

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MMMM... Barbecue Sundae... 

That's pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw, and a pickle! You can get it at the Covington Farmers Market on Court Street. Go! Now! 

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WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON TODAY?

Tons!

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PET ADOPTION EVENT
(Click to enlarge)

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HAVE YOUR FUTURE TOLD TO YOU IN MAINSTRASSE

Don't miss the Tarot card readings at Ottoman Imports in Mainstrasse Village on Saturday. 

(click to enlarge)

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WEST LATONIA MEET AND GREET AT BARB COOK PARK

From the West Latonia Neighborhood Association: 

The WLNA is hosting a meet n greet on June 9th from 11am-2pm at the Barb Cook Park. Come on out bring your family and friends and enjoy a day of fellowship. We will have some activities for the kids, our community garden will be open, and there will be free ice cream from Mister Softee sponsored by our friends at CSI Waste Management and WLNA. 

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TWO NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALES
Check out the large neighborhood-wide yard sales in Austinburg and Wallace Woods Saturday! 
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CROSSFIT FOR HOPE
From CrossFit Covington, the Russell Street fitness center:

CrossFit for Hope is a new CrossFit Fundraiser. CrossFit for Hope will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We will perform a workout on Saturday, June 9th for this great cause. See workout details below. If you would like to try and raise money for this event, please click on the link below to register and be sure to choose CrossFit Covington as your affiliate.  

Click here for more details. 
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LIBRARY 5K RACE FOR CHILDREN'S LITERACY
The race starts at 9:00AM. Click here for information. 
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KENTUCKY TRIVIA NIGHT AT PIKE STREET LOUNGE
This event benefits Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. The trivia is Kentucky-themed. Click here. 
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DON'T FORGET TO COME SEE "FUDDY MEERS" ON WEST SEVENTH STREET

This hilarious play is at the Artisan Enterprise Center and performs tonight at 8:00PM and then next Friday and Saturday at 8:00PM. Tickets are just ten bucks. From the Cincinnati Enquirer: 

“Fuddy Meers” director and AEC board member Dan Doerger explained the dark comedy is the latest effort to expand the group’s arts outreach. “Last year we performed what we called a ‘paint dance’ – ballroom dancers dancing on a canvas covered with paint – that became part of the exhibit that was showing at that time.
“This time, around, I decided to direct a full-length play. In spring Doerger, exhibit curator Katie Rentzke and the artists met to discuss the concept. That was when I discovered that Billy Simms was also a scenic designer for theater...(and) the theme of the gallery show came about as a result of this meeting.
“(Simms) was very agreeable to using his art as part of the set. The other artists were also on board.”

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 6 JUNE

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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COVINGTON MURDER SUSPECT WAS FRAMED, SAYS NIECE

In a Kenton County Courtroom this morning, the niece of Timothy Henson who's accused of stabbing to death Jonathan Lowe in Downtown Covington, says her uncle was framed: 

But Judge Ann Ruttle found there was enough evidence against Henson to refer the case to a grand jury. The evidence includes statements from three people who claim they witnessed the killing. When Ruttle denied Henson bond, Thomas became more upset. She said while her uncle doesn’t have much money, the family owned a home they would be willing to use as collateral to bail Henson out of the county jail.
“They know he has a criminal record,” Thomas said. “They are using that against him.” 

Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah  
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Timothy Henson

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COVINGTON DEVELOPER'S PLANS FOR CINCINNATI WALGREENS NOT POPULAR

Covington-based Anchor Properties has plans for a new Walgreens in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood of Cincinnati, but because those plans would require the destruction of long-standing, popular established businesses, neighbors and Cincinnati politicians oppose the move: 

“Does City Council really want to put a dagger in the heart of the neighborhood?” he asked while sitting at the bar of the cafe. “You take away any of these places, you kill Pleasant Ridge.” 

Cincinnati Enquirer  
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DID YOU MISS THIS MORNING'S NEWS?
A truck full of lawnmowers stolen from a Cincinnati landscaping company and the contents are found in Covington -- but the suspects are still on the run and may be part of a larger crime ring; Plus, you (yes, you!) can be a UK basketball player if you pay for the "Coach Cal Experience". How much? Yikes. Those stories and much more at the link! 

The RC News: Wednesday Morning Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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Kentucky lawmakers speak out against EPA over coal permits cn|2 

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Kentucky Congressman's office occupied by protesters of mountaintop removal WFPL 

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State Auditor announces audit of special taxing districts press release (PDF) 

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Kentucky education commissioner gets 4-year contract extension WFPL 

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Profiles of the 8 NKY start-ups being launched at UpTech Cincinnati Enquirer 

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NEW BUSINESS ON PIKE STREET OFFERS SUSHI-ROLLING LESSONS

From the company's website: 

Rather than going out to dinner again at the same old restaurants, round up your friends and bring your favorite bottle of wine or ANY other beverage of choice to our fun 1 1/2 hour Sushi Rolling & Dining sessions. Our chef will instruct and help you assemble, roll and slice your own sushi. After you finish rolling and slicing the sushi you can open your drinks and enjoy the sushi you rolled yourself.
The price of $35 per person includes: training, your choice of 3 sushi rolls and a go box for anything you want to take home. You can roll extra rolls to take home for $4.00 each. Event size is limited to 20 people.

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LOTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALES IN COVINGTON IN THE COMING WEEKS

Wallace Woods hosts its yard sale on Saturday starting at 9:00AM. But don't forget about Austinburg's that day, too: 

Do you have some items in your house that you would like to get rid of? Join us this Saturday for a neighborhood yard sale. We will be at the corner of Thomas and Eastern from 8am to 2pm. It is $5.00 to set up a space. If you don't have anything to sell but are looking for items come on out as well. Hope to see you this weekend. 

Botany Hills hosts its neighborhood yard sale two weeks later on June 23.  
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TACO BELL TO BECOME MORE "UPSCALE"

After launching a taco wrapped in Doritos, naturally the Mexican fast food chain operated by Kentucky-based Yum! Brands attracted more upscale customers that it hopes to please: 

Introduction of the Cantina Burrito Bowl and Cantina Burrito is part of the Irvine, Calif.-based chain’s transformation as its customers increasingly look for more than a quick bite on the go, said Niccol, Taco Bell’s chief marketing and innovation officer. He credits Garcia, who will appear on Bravo’s ‘‘Top Chef Masters’’ show this summer, as the force behind the Cantina Bell menu that the chain expects to eventually expand. 

The products have been tested in Kentucky for months. 
The Boston Globe  
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HOLY CROSS BASEBALL COACH RETIRES
After 11 seasons, Mike Hotz is hanging it up. 
Cincinnati Enquirer 

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MORE QUICKIES

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I'll Have Another is favorite for this weekend's Belmont in which he'll run for the first Triple Crown since 1978 Courier-Journal 

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Online wagering errors results in credits for customers from Churchill Downs Courier-Journal 

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Where do nearby cities fall on the list of the "brainiest" American cities? The Atlantic Cities