The River City News: NKY Convention Center

Showing posts with label NKY Convention Center. Show all posts

Saturday, August 4, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 4 AUGUST

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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FOOD TRUCKS TOP CITY COMMISSION AGENDA FOR TUESDAY

Whether or not food trucks will be given the green light to operate in Covington is one of many items on Tuesday night's agenda for the Covington City Commission meeting. Eight days ago the mobile food vendors were given a celebrated trial run during an event called the Food Truck Invasion. Held at the parking lot adjacent to the Artisan Enterprise Center on West Seventh Street Downtown, the event was met with great fanfare by those who attended and some vocal opposition from those who did not (See The River City News editorial on the issue: Food Fight: Shut The Truck Up). The issue will be taken up as part of several zoning ordinances on the agenda. Here is a breakdown of what's on Tuesday's schedule:

Zoning Issues The City Commission will vote on the issues of allowing food trucks to operate inside the City, allowing community gardens in residential areas, permitting fences to be installed around vacant properties, permitting the operation of micro-distilleries, allowing retail operations in residential neighborhoods with certain conditions, and approving the operation of second-hand and vintage clothing stores in the central business district.
Another retirement from the Fire Department Battalion Chief Ronald Stolz will be the seventh member of the fire department to retire in the past two weeks. Additionally, the city commission will approve the salary for acting Fire Chief Dan Mathew.
Employment is expected to be approved for a new assistant city solicitor
There is a vague item titled "settlement agreement" with no further explanation
The City and Covington Independent Public Schools will co-present on the success of the Summer Youth Program

Many other items will be discussed and you will find the most comprehensive coverage of Covington City Hall, as always, right here at The River City News.

Don't forget: Today you are encouraged to spend some cash on West Pike Street, particularly at Bread & Spice Bakery & Cafe, Charley Maxwell's Malt Shop, and/or the Pike Street Lounge to show that Covington supports brick-&-mortar restaurants as well as popular urban amenities like food trucks. For details, click here.

EFFORT TO KEEP COVINGTON CLEAN HIGHLIGHTED IN VIDEO

At Thursday night's annual banquet for the Covington Business Council, this video premiered (see how many faces you recognize):

Great job!

BABY SAVED BY COVINGTON OFFICER DOING FINE AS ONE-YEAR OLD

Little Jase Mitchell was not breathing and had no pulse when Covington Police Officer Matt Hugenberg was dispatched to the baby's Latonia home. Hugenberg's heroism saved the premature baby's life and now the boy is celebrating his first birthday. Lots of photos that will surely brighten your day -- at the link!

Full story with more photos: The River City News

QUICKIES

Northern Kentucky is still a home buyer's market Business Courier

TANK bus involved in a crash with injuries in Downtown Cincinnati WXIX

July jobs report is a glimmer of hope for the economy NPR

Repairs should bring down gas prices WLWT

Our Chick-fil-A economy Salon

READ THIS: Lost driver in Kentucky asks for directions and is then arrested on a murder charge WKYT

SRSLY: A Kentucky woman is arrested, accused of stealing from a principal during her kid's school open house WKYT

Kentucky environmental attorney rejects award from federal government WFPL

Senator Rand Paul endorses a reindeer farmer in Michigan Congressional race (the candidate is also being supported by the Super PAC behind Republican NKY Congressional candidate Thomas Massie) Mother Jones

Bear near Kentucky hospital euthanized WKRC

Maysville store manager uses video cameras to finally catch his arch-nemesis vending machine thieves WKRC

DON'T MISS FRIDAY'S NEWS!

"I tell you why, it is because he never dropped her off in Covington." The mother of a missing teen continues to speak out at RCN; Plus, Covington Landing as an outdoor music venue? It's happening tonight. Those stories and more at the link.

The RC News: Friday Round-Up

TWO SENT TO PRISON FOR COVINGTON SHOOTING THAT FOLLOWED FIGHT

A fist fight between girls on the Eastside ended with a man shot last summer. Now two people are headed to prison. Full story at the link.

Full story: The River City News

CONVICTED: MUGSHOT ROUND-UP

Who else is going to prison? Who got probation? Who's still on the loose? All the highlights from a busy week in Kenton County Circuit Court are at the link!

The River City News

KENTON CO COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY SUMMONED TO JURY DUTY

Woops. Guess no one is immune from possibly serving on a jury around these parts, even the man responsible for arguing against accused criminals in front of one. Prosecutor Rob Sanders sent out this message via Twitter Friday:

Just got summonsed to jury duty in Kenton Circuit Court! This should make trials interesting... Or easier if I don't get struck!

It is certainly one way to help secure a conviction!

UFO ENTHUSIASTS LAND IN COVINGTON

Feast your eyes on the Northern Kentucky Convention Center this weekend and you'll see lots of people feasting their eyes on the sky:

“Oh, I absolutely believe there is something out there,” MacDonald said. “It would be seriously limiting to think we are the only ones.”

Most of the symposium attendees are mainly interested in checking things out. They think it is reasonable to investigate UFO sightings, knowing that most lights in the night sky will be explained fairly easily. There are T-shirts for sale, declaring: “MUFON: Doing the Air Force’s job since 1969.” Another says: “Others talk, we investigate.”

As a group, folks at the symposium Friday were more skeptical of the American government than of the idea of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. The notion of a widespread government cover-up was prevalent.

Full story with event details: Cincinnati Enquirer/John Faherty | OLD TIMERS REUNION KICKS OFF ON COVINGTON'S EASTSIDE The twenty-sixth annual Old Timers picnic & reunion kicked off in Covington's Eastside neighborhood Friday evening. Check out the photos and video of a street performance by the Kingsmen at the link below!

Photos & Video: The River City News

| SEE ALSO: There is a fun event scheduled there today. Michelle Williams of OASIS Inc, and also a candidate for city commission, has organized a race that will feature several other candidates running in high heels. Williams tells The River City News that both mayoral candidates, City Commissioners Sherry Carran and Steve Casper, City Commissioner Steve Frank, and city commission candidates Chuck Eilerman, Ed Faulkner, Greg Paeth, and Williams herself, will be participating. Check it out at 9:00AM on Robbins Street in the Eastside. The River City News will be there -- look for photos right here afterwards!

UPDATE: Tuns out none of the commission candidates participated in the high heel event (something about the potential for serious ankle injuries!), though a couple raced in the flip-flop event. Look for photos in The Sunday Edition tomorrow.

| BACK-TO-SCHOOL KICK-OFF TODAY AT HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL Don't miss this event:

Covington Independent School Public Schools is hosting its first "Back-to-School Kickoff," 9:00 am - 7:00 pm on Saturday, August 4, in the Holmes High School Campus. This event replaces the readi-fests that were held at each of our schools. By combining the readi-fests, our district will be able to offer families a one stop event to take care of all their children's back to school needs. Parents and their children will be able to enroll, pick up free school supplies and learn about community services. We are reaching out to Covington's neighborhood associations and other organizations because we need your help with school supplies. While many of us have fond memories of back to school shopping, choosing our supplies and new clothing for the year, this is not the reality for all children. Your donation helps ensure that all our children come back to school ready to learn. If your group would like to participate, the items listed are what we need most: 1) pencils 2) one subject notebooks 3) 2-pocket folders 4) crayons 5) pencil cases Of course, all supplies will happily be accepted. Please call Kay McConnell at 392-3182 to make arrangements for drop off or call Tricia Dorman at (859)912-4007 for further questions.

VISIT THE COVINGTON FARMERS MARKET TODAY

This message comes from the Covington Farmers Market (located near the Kenton County Building at the foot of the Suspension Bridge):

Did you know that the Covington Farmers Market Is helping NKY get healthy! Together with Health Dept. and the Department of Agriculture we are proud to boast that our Farmers Market WIC program has provided $400.00 worth of fresh produce to 25 different local families! This program is unique and the result of hard work and forward thinking, the likes of which our communities need. So spread the word! and come support our market as we enjoy peak produce season! We're growing!

MORE QUICKIES

Hooters undergoing makeover to attract women WLWT

NKU's Victor E. Viking is voted Most Valuable Mascot in the Atlantic Sun Conference

Kyle Wiltjer will be key to UK Basketball's success next season Bleacher Report

YOUR MOMENT OF AWWW...

Baby cheetah loving on a dog at the Cincinnati Zoo:

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

COVINGTON RAISES VOICE IN BRIDGE BATTLE

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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Additional seating was required to accommodate the
oversize crowd

The turnout Wednesday evening at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center dwarfed the crowd reports from the same presentation the night before at Longworth Hall in Cincinnati. The concern on the Kentucky side of the river has reason to be much higher as the preferred design for the Brent Spence Bridge corridor project favors its neighbors to the north. The presentation by transportation officials from both states demonstrates plans to make access to Covington and several of the city's features more difficult and leaders of Covington past and present pleaded for changes, promising catastrophe otherwise.

"Without access, Covington would be wounded a second time, maybe mortally," said City Commissioner Steve Casper, referencing the original Interstate 75 that divided West Covington (now Botany Hills) from the rest of the city. Casper's deadly prognosis for Covington without the city's desired changes to the bridge's plans was echoed multiple times by members of the 350-person crowd.

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"These are vital requests concerning the economic vitality of Northern Kentucky's largest city," said Brent Cooper, chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and owner of C-Forward on Madison Avenue.

"The best real estate location in the world doesn't mean a thing if you can't get to it," said Chris Penn, co-owner of Cock & Bull restaurant in Mainstrasse.

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"Cincinnati has raised objection to Covington's access to the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge," said City Commissioner Steve Frank of of that city's plans for its streetcar. "I don't care what they want with their toy train!"

Citizens check out the various aspects of the plans

The stakes really are that high, Covington leaders argue. Transportation officials recommend what is called Plan I for the new bridge which eliminates direct access to 5th Street when traveling northbound on the interstate. Drivers would be forced to exit at 12th Street and then travel on a city street with three stop lights before arriving at 5th. The City wants direct access to 5th from a collector distributor. While southbound travelers would have direct access to 5th and 9th Streets, those drivers would have to make their decision to exit in Covington one mile north of the river near the Cincinnati Museum Center. The City wants a direct ramp to 9th Street from the interstate.

Additionally, Plan I closes the connection from Pike Street to Lewis Street, eliminating important access to Devou Park and makes Goebel Park Pool in Mainstrasse unusable. The bridge's threat to Covington's vitality is concerning to those who lived through the first time that the interstate harmed the city. "We suffered a blow when Florence Mall was opened," said former City Commissioner Jerry Stricker. With this bridge plan, "more businesses will shut down, more residents will move out and Covington will become a ghost town. Covington will no longer be Northern Kentucky's largest city. It will set the city back and it will never recover."

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"The federal government, they view this as an interstate only but this affects us," said City Commissioner Sherry Carran. "Everything we ask for is feasible, it's not pie in the sky."

"Covington is special, it has a charm," said Mayor Chuck Scheper. "You don't see Covington's charm until you get to the bridge."

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One such charming landmark is the Carroll Chimes Bell Tower in Goebel Park adjacent to Designs Direct, a business that redeveloped and expanded the former Northern Kentucky Visitors and Convention Bureau building. "Businesses (in Mainstrasse) are fragile and any loss of income could put those businesses under," said Dave Meyer of Designs Direct.

"We know once they see the river, the church spires, the businesses, they're going to want to get off here but by then it will be too late," warned City Manager Larry Klein.

The bridge itself is only 4% of the entire length of the corridor project but the immediate area most impacted by it is almost entirely in Covington, which would create a ripple effect up and down Northern Kentucky's river cities. "Anything that disenfranchises Covington, disenfranchises every city on the riverfront," said Jack Moreland, President of Southbank Partners, an organization that spearheads development activities in the river cities.

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At least one speaker did not view the plan as all gloom and doom. Retired Covington police officer and 2012 city commission candidate Neil Gilreath suggested that the $2.5 billion price tag on the entire project could be narrowed down by spending some money on work on the I-471 bridge between Newport and Cincinnati and shifting some highway traffic flow for suburban drivers seeking access to I-275 that way, which, he says, would also increase east-to-west traffic in the cities.

That $2.5 billion price tag is still a long way from the $100 million currently on hand to fund the bridge project but while the actual completion could still be many years away, the fear for Covington's future is here now. "I am fearful that we are going to see this city die," said Candance Witte, a resident of the Riverside Plaza in Licking Riverside who referenced the Covington riverfront's recent history as a parking lot that now boasts of multiple small skyscrapers. "I have one question for the people from Frankfort. Did you get off at 5th Street (to get to the Convention Center) or did you come down 9th Street? And when you go back will you go to 5th Street or up 9th?"

LOTS OF PHOTOS FROM THE MEETING ARE BELOW, JUST CLICK THE LINK!

Click Here For More

Friday, March 2, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING 2 MAR

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News
@theRCnews on Twitter 

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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TORNADOES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

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TORNADOES, SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE TODAY

Friday is shaping up to be a potentially dangerous one:

The most dangerous tornado risk is expected to be from middle and eastern Tennessee north across Kentucky to the Ohio River this afternoon, where a few long-track destructive tornadoes will be possible along with damaging winds and large hail.

84 WHAS
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Governor Beshear spoke with President Obama Thursday about the tornadoes that ripped through parts of Kentucky, and today Beshear warns us to be prepared:

“We experienced some significant damage in our state yesterday, but I must say on the whole, we were lucky. No one was killed in these storms in Kentucky. However, we’re closely monitoring the storm outlook for tomorrow, and it looks like we are in for another very strong line of severe weather,” said. Gov. Beshear. “I appreciate President Obama’s interest in the safety and security of our citizens, and we will work with our partners at the local level as well as the federal level to make sure our citizens get whatever help they need to recover from these storms.”

“I strongly encourage all our citizens to review their safety plan with their families tonight,” said Gov. Beshear. “Make sure your flashlights are working, you have access to a radio for safety updates, and that you have a safe place to wait out the storm. Planning is key to safety.”

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SEE ALSO: Governor Beshear has declared March to be Severe Weather Awareness Month Press Release
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COVINGTON'S OLDEST HOME IS ON THE MARKET
If you have ever wanted to live in one of the historic mansions in Licking Riverside, now is your chance! The Carneal House is for sale. Click the link for details and a wonderful video tour.
The River City News
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Image via

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SENATOR MCCONNELL'S LEADERSHIP POST IS THREATENED IN DC
Kentucky's senior Senator drew the ire of a conservative group this week that called for his resignation as Minority Leader after he said there would be no repeal vote on health care reform until after the November elections:

In response, the conservative Restore America's Voice Foundation said it would “unleash” its 2.3 million activists to call for McConnell's resignation if he didn't retract his comments. “Leader McConnell not only is an unapologetic advocate for the complete repeal of Obamacare, he authored the repeal amendment and forced a vote on it at the beginning of this Congress,” McConnell spokesman Don Stewart told The Hill after the Restore America's Voice Foundation said he should resign his leadership post if he doesn't have “the will or the backbone to force a floor vote” on repeal.

The Hill
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FRANKFORT QUICKIES
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Kentucky and Florida plead for unity in fighting drug abuse Miami Herald
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Former Governor Paul Patton says Pikeville College plan is not feasible Business First
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Anti-meth bill is in limbo cn|2
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Electronic cigarettes are now under fire in state legislatures, including Kentucky Wall Street Journal
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Did Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes use public funds to thank her political contributors with Kentucky Colonel status? Courier-Journal
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FORMER COVINGTON SCHOOLS EMPLOYEE FORMS EDUCATION LOBBYING FIRM
Diane Brumback is taking her fight for better education to Frankfort. Click the link for details.

The River City News

SEE ALSO: Newport hires a new superintendent NKY Spot

COVINGTON POLICE DOG CREDITED WITH CATCHING GUNMAN

From the office of Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders via Facebook:

Job well done by Covington Police K9 Coen and his handler, Specialist Mark Richardson, for the tracking and apprehension of Matthew Valdez, who was charged with Assault 2nd Degree for allegedly shooting a woman in the foot yesterday. Coen was purchased for Covington by the Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Office using funds seized from convicted drug dealers!

OMNICARE BUYING BACK ITS STOCK

I don't know what any of these words mean, but if you're into business and stocks, click here to read the press release.

CHURCHILL DOWNS BUYS LEBANON RACEWAY

Even though expanded gambing failed in Kentucky again, our most storied race track's owners are acquiring a track in Ohio and will have video lottery terminals.

Business First

GOT ANY EXTRA TOWELS LYING AROUND?

From The Welcome House:

We are in need of new (unused) bath towels for clients. You can drop off your donation at 205 W. Pike Street, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Your donation will help people getting back on their feet!

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HISTORICAL MARKER TO BE PLACED AT MUHAMMAD ALI'S CHILDHOOD HOME
An appropriate honor for a great Kentuckian:

The bronze marker is currently on display at the Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage. It will be moved to the west Louisville home in the spring.

See a photo at the link.
WFPL
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FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY HOP IN COVINGTON TONIGHT

Please join Covington galleries, restaurants and other venues that are opening their doors on March 2 to welcome you to participate in the Covington First Friday Gallery Hop. This free event invites you to visit six separate venues and explore Art Exhibitions and Displays in a friendly downtown environment with doors open as late as 10pm.

For more details, click here.
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SEE ALSO: The current art exhibit at Covington's Artisan Enterprise Center is review by the Cincinnati Enquirer
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ART OF FOOD OPENS AT THE CARNEGIE TONIGHT

RV SHOW AT NKY CONVENTION CENTER IN COVINGTON THIS WEEKEND

It's only six bucks and kids under 14 years old get in free!

NKY Spot

KENTUCKY WALLOPS GEORGIA ON SENIOR NIGHT FOR MILLER, VARGAS

Kentucky 79, Georgia 49 Courier-Journal

UK fans can't find anything to worry about Herald-Leader

Be thankful that Darius Miller was not a 1-and-done Courier-Journal

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MARCH IS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Though, it is now being shared with Severe Weather Preparedness month (see above):

Kentucky's incidence of colon cancer is the second highest in the nation and more than 20 percent higher than the national average. Kentucky also has the third-highest colon and rectal cancer death rate in the United States.
“There is good news about this disease; it is highly preventable with screening,” Gov. Beshear said.
In his budget proposal that is before the General Assembly, Gov. Beshear is seeking to fund colon cancer screening for 4,000 uninsured Kentuckians. The $1 million investment is to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Kentucky Cancer Foundation, for a total of $2 million to be spent over the biennium.

In honor of the month, you are asked to dress in blue today.
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12 OFFBEAT HOLIDAYS TO CELEBRATE IN MARCH
For example, today is National Old Stuff Day:

Sorry hoarders, this holiday is not about celebrating how much old stuff you have. Instead, National Old Stuff Day is about taking a moment to recognize the same old stuff you do every day, and think about how you can break old routines. Seize the day, because tomorrow’s just more of the same old, same old.

Mental Floss
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HERE'S SOMETHING INTERESTING... A woman gave birth on Leap Day. Not interesting by itself, but this is the third child the woman has had on February 29 (2004, 2008, and now, 2012). NY Daily News

Sunday, February 12, 2012

WHAT COVINGTON WANTS FROM ITS REVITALIZATION PLAN

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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The Denver-based company charged with developing the Center City Action Plan which aims to revitalize Downtown Covington, as well as studying the feasibility of a Business Improvement District for our city, showed the results of a city-wide survey and what the people of Covington want from the plans. Progressive Urban Management Associates presented their findings at a public meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Artisan Enterprise Center.

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For the original reports from that presentation, see the two links below.

The RC News: Market Reality Will Drive Covington Revitalization

The RC News: Business Improvement District Explained...Sort Of

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PUMA created a survey to gauge the needs and wants of Covingtonians for their urban core. While the stories linked to above touch upon the findings, here are the complete results of the survey which saw participation from more than 750 stakeholders in Covington's future.

ASSESSMENT OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

The study found that in the study area, there are 8,000 residents with modest household incomes. One key strength to the area is affordable rent. The survey found that median apartment rent is just $480 per month and that commercial rents range from just $6 - $12 per square foot per month. More strengths include the proximity to Downtown Cincinnati, the historic ambiance of Covington, and the parts of town already in good shape to attract visitors: Mainstrasse, the Library, and the Convention Center all bring more than a half million people to Covington each year. PUMA predicts that the addition of an urban campus for Gateway College "would be a game-changer".

ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS

760 people responded to PUMA's online survey and the majority live, work, and/or own property in Covington's urban core. 34% are residents, 20% own a commercial property or business, and 16% are employees. The respondents skew older as 48% were in the age range of 50 - 69, 43% were 25 - 49. The most surprising finding is that the income of the respondents is attractive to plans for redevelopment and show people who likely have disposable income ready to be spent in Covington. 30% of respondents have incomes higher than $100,000 per year while another 37% range from $50,000 - $100,000.

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THERE IS MORE ON THIS STORY - AND YOU CAN FIND IT BY CLICKING BELOW!

Click Here For More

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

MARKET REALITY WILL DRIVE COVINGTON REVITALIZATION PLAN

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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EXCLUSIVE

More was learned today about Covington's Center City Action Plan, the latest effort to revitalize the city's urban core. Denver-based Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA) was back in town for the fifth time and this time brought results from a community survey about hopes and challenges in Downtown Covington as well as results from their own studies. "Covington has had a lot of plans out there but never have you looked at how the Center City can work together," said Brad Segal, President of PUMA. The CCAP is Covington's twentieth urban core-oriented plan since 2000.

This current plan promises to build on the work of the previous ones as sort of a "plan of plans". "This is a market-based look at how Covington can best attract and retain jobs," Segal said. Covington was one of forty-two cities nationally that qualified for a federal grant from the Department of Housing & Urban Development which is funding the CCAP study. "We've spent a lot of time trying to understand the community, the economics, and the demographics," Segal said. "We're trying to base everything in market reality."

The area included in the plan is Covington's urban core north of 13th Street which special emphasis on the Madison corridor, Mainstrasse, and the riverfront. "Now is the time to strengthen our strengths and attract more business to the areas that are working and work to connect them," Segal said.

Among PUMA's findings presented Wednesday afternoon include assets such as low rent costs and challenges like the low number of retail establishments. PUMA inventoried Covington's retail in the study area and found 168 total businesses, of which 74 were restaurants while only 17 were related to clothing & accessories. That stat correlates to results from the community survey commissioned by PUMA that garnered 760 responses. When asked what should be the top priority for Downtown, the top response was more shopping opportunities and more restaurants. Only 31% responded that they visit Downtown specifically to shop.

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Those who participated in the survey were also asked to choose three words that best describe Covington. Interestingly, despite the acknowledged lack of retail and shopping options, the top word was 'vibrant'. Other top words were diverse, safe, clean, and friendly. Additionally, while parking was cited as a concern by 33% of respondents, it was nearly last on the list of priorities by those same people.

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PUMA reports that the low rent and Covington's historic ambiance are great strengths as people return to cities and that the city could capitalize on the nearly half million people annually that visit Mainstrasse, the Convention Center, and the Kenton County Public Library. "A lot of this is in alignment with the mayor (and his 10-point plan for revitalization) so maybe there's a window of time where things can connect," Segal said.

PUMA will return to Covington in mid-March for further presentations and open house opportunities for the public.

MORE ON THE PUMA VISIT IS STILL TO COME, INCLUDING HOW A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WOULD WORK HERE, HOW MUCH MONEY IT COULD BRING IN, AND WHO PAYS FOR IT. PLUS, MORE FACTS ABOUT COVINGTON THAT MAY SURPRISE EVEN US!

Monday, January 30, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING 30 JAN

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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PARENT OF BULLIED COVINGTON TEEN PLEADS FOR RESPECT IN NEWSPAPER

Daryl Denham penned an op-ed for the Louisville Courier-Journal detailing the time leading up to his 13-year old son's suicide. Sam Denham was in the 8th grade at Woodland Middle School:

We had no indication that Sam was depressed or that anything was wrong. Things appeared perfectly ordinary to us. We bird-watched, coin-collected, and had hours of quality family time each week — all with Sam.
He had made plans with friends for that day and for the coming weekend. He had made a Christmas list, talked often about our next family vacation, and was test-driving sports cars. We dreamed of buying him one when he headed to college in just a few short years.
Our son had everything a kid could want — and more.

Read the whole thing.
Courier-Journal

From a candlelight vigil for Sam Denham

SEE ALSO: Gateway College: Learn effective ways to stop bullying: February 15, 3 – 4 p.m. at the Covington Campus, Room C101.
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PBS CREW IN COVINGTON TO FILM RON CLARK VISIT

Ron Clark is the celebrated educator whose innovative approach to reaching students inspired a TV movie in 2006 starring Matthew Perry in the title role. Today he visits Covington Independent Public Schools and PBS will be on hand to capture it. From the district:

Several teachers from Covington schools have attended the Ron Clark Academy Teacher Training, and the district also has a number of "Ron Clark” vividly painted classrooms – which models the classroom and teaching techniques of the Ron Clark Academy.

Clark will visit Holmes Middle & High Schools and Glenn O. Swing Elementary.

SEE ALSO: What can we give teachers to make them better teachers? Click here.

PREPARE TO BE CONFUSED BY NEW TEST FOR KY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

Scores will look different in the new K-Prep tests which replace the CATS test:

There will be many new measures, from student growth to gaps to graduation rates, that parents aren't used to seeing. Finally, the scoring system for the new test will be so different that state education officials say it won't be possible to compare the 2012 results with scores from previous years, something parents frequently do to see if their schools are improving. All this comes on top of demanding new common core content standards in math and English language arts, which also were required by SB 1. Under those standards, Kentucky students now are tackling concepts in, say, seventh or eighth grade that previously weren't taught until ninth grade. The standards themselves are expected to push some scores downward.

Herald-Leader/Jim Warren
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NO FUNDING IN SIGHT FOR CONVENTION CENTER
The RiverCenter building will have to wait:

Gov. Steve Beshear’s proposed budget for the next two years doesn’t include any funding for the $35 million expansion asked for by the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Lawmakers don’t appear optimistic the legislature will find funding this year, a year the governor described as Kentucky’s smallest capital improvement program since 1996.
“There are so many communities around the state asking for project funding,” said state Rep. Rick Rand, D-Bedford, who chairs the appropriations and revenue committee in the Kentucky House. “You do one, you have to do all of them.”

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman
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'THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY & YOU'
You have to drive out to Boone County, but it may be worth it for this panel discussion:

The public is encouraged to attend this free event to interact with our panel of insiders, who know the ins and outs of the Capitol’s ways and means as a kickoff to another great Northern Kentucky Forum year!

360 Fireworks Party