Nearly 1,000 Hamilton County residents have stepped up to tell officials what they think about hot-button topics facing the county. They participated in the county’s citizen survey that examines attitudes on various issues including the stadium fund deficit, the criminal justice system, mass transit and streamlining county government.

The Kentucky attorney general, Jack Conway, who is challenging Republican Rand Paul for the U.S. Senate seat this fall has more money in his campaign war chest than his better-known, Tea Party-loving rival. Democrat Conway has almost $4 million on hand, compared to Dr. Paul's $3.8 million. Meanwhile, Convergys doesn't want to pay the city of Cincinnati a penalty.

Federal transportation officials announced late last week that Cincinnati will receive a $24.9 million grant to help build a proposed streetcar system, while the NAACP's local chapter continues its strange disconnect from the organization’s national office.

Just when you thought Cincinnati's police chief couldn't get more unprofessional, he proves his knack for doing just that. As reported by WCPO's I-Team, Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. recently reassigned the top three highest-ranking female officers in the department against their wills to new positions that involve far less responsibility.

Known as "Wolfie" to his followers, local blogger Will Kohler operates the always provocative Back2Stonewall site. Besides keeping Queen City queers and their friends up to date on gay-related news from around the world, he also offers sharp commentary on what he sees as deficiencies in national gay leadership and more.

Although it sounds like a facility where mutant superheroes might train, X-Lab actually is Xavier University's economic development program. Operated by the Williams College of Business, the lab is holding a unique competition: 35 entrepreneurs submitting ideas in a bid to win consulting services from X-Lab to help start or expand their business.

It's about time that someone of note said it publicly. During a June 9 conference of progressive activists, ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero declared, "I'm disgusted with this president." No, Romero wasn't repeating any of the outlandish attacks that Tea Partiers and far right kooks have made about President Obama personally. Rather, he was referring to Obama's policies on civil liberties and national security issues, which have contradicted his campaign promises from 2008.

While it's true that some local Democrats dislike Tim Burke, calling him imperious and secretive, they're also aware the Hamilton County Democratic Party chairman knows the ins and outs of the political system like few others. That's what has kept him in power for 16 years.
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The pension fund for municipal workers is in trouble. The workers want City Council to pay for a one-time cash infusion, while council wants workers to accept benefit reductions. Qualls has proposed changing the Pension Board so two-thirds of its members would be independent and have no ties to City Hall, unlike now.

The local Contact Center hosted the marchers from the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign last week as they stopped in Cincinnati for a brief rest. With its 41-year history of community service and organizing, the center is focused on helping those most in need and deserves kudos for its tireless efforts.
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