Thursday, October 2 2014

  • Blackwell’s First Year as CPD Chief

    Cincinnati’s newish Police Chief Harry Blackwell is marking his first anniversary with reports of a reduction in crime and an increase in public input. While Blackwell has been criticized by some for being too formal in his approach to running the department, his emphasis on disenfranchised youth and community outreach seems to have made his first year on the job a success.

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  • Lapse in Insurance Interrupts Police and Fire Service for Lincoln Heights Residents

    The latest anecdote for citizens of Lincoln Heights and it’s troubled public service departments: thanks to a lack of insurance, police and fire departments are no longer on around-the-clock duty. The revelation follows an earlier report by WCPO wherein some police officers were alleged to have been abusing their power.

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  • Health Insurance for Millions of Ohioans Hinges on Federal Case

    If Ohio doesn’t pony up and comply with federal law covering Medicaid eligibility for three Hamilton County couples, billions of dollars and health care coverage for more than 2 million Ohioans could be lost. Ohio has until Oct. 6 to show proof of compliance regarding the three couples. If the state fails to show coverage, the U.S. District Court of Southern Ohio would issue an order demanding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services withhold federal funding of Ohio’s Medicaid program.

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  • Historic Kentucky Brewery in Danger of Being Demolished

    Despite Cincinnati having somewhat of a brewing renaissance, our neighbors in the bluegrass are not seeing as many former breweries raising from their graves. In what looks to be another blow to Kentucky’s brewing heritage, the owners of the old Bavarian Brewery submitted a zoning application to tear the building down. The building recently housed the restaurant Jillian’s and has been vacant since 2006.

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  • Asian Food Fest Comes to OTR This Weekend

    Ok foodies… this coming Sunday marks the fifth installment of Asian Food Fest. The event this year, who’s mission is to bring Asian culture and culinary traditions to the tri-state, will be held in Washington Park. From Vietnam to the Philippines and everywhere in-between, the festival provides a tasty tour of the far-east palette via small plates, priced between $2 and $6.

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Tuesday, October 14 2014

  • Stink Bug Barrage Shows No Signs of Letting Up

    Without any natural enemies and an abundant source of food, expect to see even more stink bugs around your home next year. Fortunately the the bugs don’t bite, but do release a musk that has been likened to pungent cilantro when squashed. Their spray can also permanently stink-up furniture. The USDA estimated the bugs caused more than $35 million in damages to U.S. apple orchards in 2010. The Asian stink bugs most likely came our way aboard a container ship close to 10 years ago.

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  • City Short on Salt, Snow Equipment

    As winter weather looms on the horizon, Cincinnati officials are acknowledging only about half their fleet of snow plows are ready to roll. To make matters worse, the city’s salt reserves are about 30% of what they should be as we head into fall. The shortages come as a consequence to record usage last winter, driving up prices and forcing many Ohio municipalities to cut back.

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  • Kroger to Change Chicken Labeling

    Kroger will remove the phrase “raised in a humane environment” from Simple Truth chicken packaging after reaching a settlement. A customer filed a class-action suit in 2014 arguing that the claim was misleading.

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  • Flynn: Liz Rogers, Mahogany’s in Default

    Councilman Flynn is ready for City Manager Harry Black to declare Liz Rogers in default on her $300,000 loan from the City of Cincinnati. Rogers, the former chef and owner of now closed Mahogany’s restaurant has been at the center of the controversial case which involves misunderstandings, lots of money and frustration on both sides of the courtroom.

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  • Cincinnati’s Healthy Economy Passes Cleveland and Pittsburgh

    A healthy workforce and diverse industry have pushed Cincinnati’s economy above Cleveland and Pittsburgh, according to data released by the Cincinnati Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Cincinnati’s unemployment rate stands at 5.2%, which is one percent lower than the nation’s.

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Thursday, October 16 2014

  • Tracy Hunter Done Did It

    Judge Tracy Hunter has been found guilty of one of the nine felony counts she was charged with. Hunter has been the subject of much scrutiny in the wake of the allegations that landed her in court. Her lawyer states that she plans to appeal the conviction.

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  • City to Cleanup Composting Facility for Commercial Food Waste

    Winton Hills residents are rejoicing this week thanks to a council vote authorizing the cleanup of composting facility that has been creating a foul odor for months. The cleanup bill will run the city about $300,000 but I’m sure any residents down-wind are happy nonetheless.

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  • How Will City Council Spend the $18 Million Surplus?

    Due to $5.9 million in increased revenues for the City of Cincinnati and a $7.8 million savings from belt tightening, the city has an estimated $18 million surplus as of June 30. City Manager Harry Black has released a number of recommendations for where he would like to see the city spend the extra money: $4.25 million in emergency weather events; $4 million to repay neighborhoods so they can improve projects such as community centers and parks; $3.3 million in a police and fire department contingency fund. Black’s wish list totals just above $13 million and he said he would put the remainder into the city’s rainy day fund.

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  • Central Parkway YMCA Gets $27 Million for Renovations

    The YMCA located on Central Parkway will receive a $27 million renovation that will bring a state-of-the-art fitness center to the area. The YMCA will also add affordable housing for seniors on its top floors. The YMCA will close on Dec. 8 and hopes to have the renovations completed by 2016.

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  • Wasson Way Plan is Official

    The city department charged with creating a plan for Wasson Way has officially unveiled the results of its study. In a nutshell, it recommends that the corridor be used for rail transit and/or bicycle and pedestrian use. With this report in hand, the city can now go back to the Planning Commission and formalize the effort to acquire the land from Norfolk Southern.

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Tuesday, October 21 2014

  • Music Hall Seeks $25 Million Ohio Tax Credit

    Despite being pushed out of the November’s ballot for the Icon Tax, Music Hall is continuing to seek funds elsewhere to fund its rehabilitation plans. Music Hall is trying to capture $25 million from the Ohio Historic Tax Credit Program and is in competition with three other buildings in both Cleveland and Akron. The $25 million would help bridge the gap needed to raise the $123 million needed for the renovations.

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  • Parking Rate Increase Could Fund Streetcar Operation

    The Mayor’s office is currently mulling a plan that would increase parking rates in OTR and allow the city to offer residents parking permits for $300/year or $25/month. Any revenue generated would go to fund the operation of the streetcar which has been estimated around $4MM per year.

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  • McConnell and Grimes Neck and Neck in Senate Race

    Republican Senator Mitch McConnell is in a dead heat with Democratic challenger Alison Grimes as voting day approaches. A new poll shows McConnell slightly ahead of Grimes by 44-43 among likely voters. The 72-year-old McConnell was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984 and is currently the most powerful Republican in the senate as the Senate Minority Leader.

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  • Barcade Concept Coming to OTR Next Year

    In the first quarter of 2015, a new bar experience will be coming to Mercer Commons in OTR in the form a 16-bit arcade. The concept has already proven extremely popular with thriving locations in both Columbus and Cleveland. Patrons can expect adult beverages steeped in 80’s nostalgia. While you sip your cocktail, you can enjoy one of many old-timey arcade games, sure to whisk you back to your childhood.

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  • COAST Opposes Brent Spence Tolls

    In its latest transportation fight COAST is trying to stop the use of tolls to pay for the $2.6 billion Brent Spence bridge. The use of tolls was proposed to fast-track the development of the bridge, which has been stalled in the planning phases for 13 years. The 51-year-old bridge is part of the nation’s busiest freight corridor on I75.

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Tuesday, October 28 2014

  • Cincinnati-area’s Last Abortion Clinic Could Be Forced to Close

    Due to a controversial 2013 law, the region’s last abortion clinic could soon be closed. The law requires abortion clinics to form agreements with private hospitals to transfer patients in case of an emergency. If Planned Parenthood's Elizabeth Campbell Surgical Center doesn’t show proof of a partnership with a hospital it will bring Ohio’s total abortion clinic count down to 8 from 14 when the Republican-sponsored law went into effect.

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  • Kreuger’s Tavern to Move into Former Lavomatic Space

    Kreuger’s Tavern will take the place of Lavomatic on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine in December. The new restaurant and bar is owned by the Thunderdome Restaurant Group, which also owns Bakersfield and The Eagle. Kreuger’s will feature sausages made in-house, sloppy Joe’s and an assortment of tavern food. The restaurant will also offer a large selection of canned beer and is named after the first brewery to sell beer in cans.

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  • SCPA 2014 School Year Riddled with Problems

    The 1,500-student School for the Creative and Performing Arts is having a rough year. The latest chapter found troubled school in need of a takeover from the Cincinnati Public School District after SCPA’s fundraising was hit by a Ponzi scheme run by Glen Galemmo. The Ponzi scheme almost forced the school to cancel its fall performance schedule, but an anonymous donation of $265,000 prevented that from happening.

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  • City Council Decides how to Spend $18M Surplus

    City Council decided where the city’s $18 million surplus will go with little input from the public, claim three city council members. $3.25 million will go toward unanticipated weather events and another $4 million will help repay neighborhoods that the city borrowed money from in the past. The Cincinnati Enquirer has a detailed breakdown of how the city will allocate the remaining surplus.

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  • City Council Votes on Marijuana Expungement Ordinance

    A City Council Committee voted Monday 5-0 for marijuana offenders to expunge those offenses off of their permanent records. The impetus for the decision came from a 2006 city ordinance that criminalized even a small amount of the drug. The ordinance classified the offense as a fourth-degree misdemeanor punishable by 30 days in jail and a $250 fine, according to City Beat.

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Thursday, October 30 2014

  • Jessica Biel and Patrick Wilson Movie to be Filmed in Cincinnati

    The movie producers behind the Cincinnati-filmed Carol enjoyed their experience with the Queen City so much they decided to come back to film a new movie starring Jessica Biel and Patrick Wilson. The movie, The Blunderer, is based on a book by the same author as Carol and is a psychological thriller set in the 1950s. If you’re interested in being an extra, send a headshot and an email to blundererextrascasting@gmail.com.

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  • Rash of Sewer Grate Thefts Costs City Thousands

    It’s a good thing Cincinnati has an $18 million surplus because a slew of interesting thefts is eating in the city’s bottom line. Close to $10,000 worth of cast-iron sewer grates have been stolen throughout the city this year. The 150-pound grates are broken up to sell for scrap.

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  • Council Takes Lots of Votes This Week

    Cincinnati City Council took care of business this week. On Wednesday– they voted on what to do with an $18MM surplus, Mayor Cranley’s Hand Up anti-poverty program, gave cops a 1.5% raise and extended the FOP contract, regulated ride-sharing ventures like Uber and Lyft and made it easier to get misdemeanor pot charges expunged.

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  • Heroin’s bad, mmm’kay?

    In case you hadn’t heard, there’s been a heroin epidemic going on in Northern Kentucky and it’s getting worse. St. Elizabeth is reporting no less than 10 suspected OD’s in 48 hours– two of which the person has died.

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  • New Video Shows Bob Edwards Walking Into Traffic

    New video has surfaced that shows Bob Edwards, the founder of the Rubber Duck Regatta, walking into oncoming traffic a couple weeks ago. This is terrifying– according to the report, he must have been suffering some sort of mental lapse as stepped into traffic not once, but twice before we he was struck by a passing cement truck.

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