Space Invaders!
In fall 1973, UFO hysteria gripped the Queen City
Lawsuit alleges Enquirer layoffs driven by age
Breeding Ground
Lack of dog auction regulation draws out-of-state dealers
What the Frack?
After tremors, lawmakers try to slow down ‘fracking’
Killing Them Softly
Animal advocates support resuming domestic horse slaughter
Working For the Underdogs
Seelbach focuses on social justice, development
Openness and Opportunity
Sittenfeld’s journey from journalism to City Hall
Intended Consequences
CoreChange uses systemic approach to address urban poverty
Miracle or Mirage?
ACT scores and a mysteriously ended cheating probe raise questions about Taft High School’s climb to the top
Forging His Own Path
Smitherman makes return to council
Miracle or Mirage?
ACT scores and a mysteriously ended cheating probe raise questions about Taft High School’s climb to the top
1 Comment · Tuesday, February 21, 2012
In a Cincinnati neighborhood plagued by
high rates of blight, poverty and crime, the new $18.4 million Robert A.
Taft Information Technology High School in the West End couldn’t offer a
more contrasting narrative. While city police book killers and other
suspected felons right next door, Taft students are enriching their
minds in nine computer labs and exploring the world through wall-to-wall
Wi-Fi.
Luck of the (Re)Draw
Three Democrats battle for the new 31st Ohio House District
1 Comment · Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fascinating, diverse, progressive — those
are just a handful of words that are being used to describe the new 31st
Ohio House District. Consisting of Amberley Village, Clifton,
Clifton Heights, Evanston, Madisonville, Hyde Park, Northside, Oakley,
Silverton, St. Bernard and Walnut Hills, the district contains many
walks of life, including a healthy liberal population.
Lawsuit alleges Enquirer layoffs driven by age
2 Comments · Wednesday, February 15, 2012
As The Enquirer staff braces for
another reduction in staff, the paper and its parent company might not
yet have seen the full fallout of its decision to cut staff last year.
Two of the newspaper’s former editors, Joe Fenton and Cathy Ruetter,
have filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the newspaper and The
Gannett Co.
Intended Consequences
CoreChange uses systemic approach to address urban poverty
1 Comment · Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Dr. Victor Garcia
delivers a quote from Jewish philosopher Abraham Heschel: “The opposite
of good is not evil, the opposite of good is indifference.” The diverse crowd of about 80 people
who’ve gathered to hear Garcia speak at a recent luncheon at a downtown
church nod their heads in approval.
Breeding Ground
Lack of dog auction regulation draws out-of-state dealers
3 Comments · Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A citizen-initiated statute has
reached the Ohio General Assembly after eight years of protests and a
two-year signature drive by an Ohio volunteer group called the Coalition
to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions (CBODA). The statute would ban the sale of
dogs through auctions or raffles, as well as all trafficking in dogs
from out-of-state auctions.
Forging His Own Path
Smitherman makes return to council
0 Comments · Tuesday, February 7, 2012
For some people, City Councilman
Christopher Smitherman is Cincinnati’s wakeup call for change.
Smitherman’s election to council in November proved not only that
independent candidates can get elected, but that city residents wanted
someone who is outspoken and didn’t pull his punches at City Hall.
Space Invaders!
In fall 1973, UFO hysteria gripped the Queen City
3 Comments · Tuesday, January 31, 2012
In mid- to late-October of 1973, just days
before tens of thousands of costumed kids were to hit the streets of
Cincinnati and surrounding communities for Halloween night, southwest
Ohio was under invasion — an invasion that seemingly came from the
heavens, and police and government officials across the region were on
edge.
Killing Them Softly
Animal advocates support resuming domestic horse slaughter
3 Comments · Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The good girl in the Tom Petty song loves
her mama, Jesus, America, horses and her boyfriend, too. Petty doesn’t
specify if the order is a ranked one, but does equate them all to
something centrally pure, something uniquely American. The horse is not
on the list by accident.
Openness and Opportunity
Sittenfeld’s journey from journalism to City Hall
0 Comments · Tuesday, January 31, 2012
In preparing to interview newly elected
Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, I was repeatedly visited by
the temptation to ask him, “Are you as squeaky-clean as you seem?”
What the Frack?
After tremors, lawmakers try to slow down ‘fracking’
1 Comment · Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A series
of 12 unusual earthquakes in northern Ohio reached a 4.0 magnitude on
New Year’s Eve, shaking homes in Youngstown and intensifying nationwide
opposition to fracking, a controversial natural gas extraction process.
Working For the Underdogs
Seelbach focuses on social justice, development
0 Comments · Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The phrase, ‘Cincinnati’s first openly
gay council member’ has been regularly linked to Chris Seelbach’s name
in media reports ever since his November election. In an interview last
week, Seelbach told CityBeat that this label helped him win his
seat on council and is an integral part of his identity as a man and a
city leader, but it’s far from a complete picture of who he is.
The Truth about ObamaCare
New HHS regional director dispels myths
2 Comments · Wednesday, January 18, 2012
It’s been nearly two years since the
embattled notion of universal healthcare was whittled down into
something that could make it onto President Obama’s desk for a
signature. And still, the public’s literacy about the law is lacking.
Women Helping Women
Bad Girl Ventures aids female-owned startup businesses
0 Comments · Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Weddings are magical events for many
people, and Stacey Shiring is adding her own dash of magic to the
proceedings of local brides. Shiring, the owner of Bridal Divas Ink, is
the newest graduate and recipient of a business loan of $25,000 from Bad
Girl Ventures, a local company focused on financially helping women
business owners.
Terminal Error
How county-provided data doomed the stadium tax economic impact study
2 Comments · Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Sixteen years ago,
proponents of the half-cent sales tax hike to fund construction of new
stadiums for the Reds and Bengals got a boost from an economic impact
study that foretold a prosperous future. Knowing now what lay ahead, with the
cash-strapped county mired in debt and cutting services to residents,
voters probably would balk at supporting the initiative
today.
City Hall Considers Domestic Partner Benefits
Proposal would benefit both gay, straight workers
0 Comments · Tuesday, January 10, 2012
In an effort to help attract the brightest
young professionals to Cincinnati, a city councilman is proposing that
domestic partners of city employees be granted health insurance
benefits. Councilman Chris Seelbach has introduced a motion requesting that city administrators research the issue.
