Kudos to Channel 9, which performed a valuable public service this election season by sponsoring and airing debates featuring candidates in several noteworthy races. On the downside, Rep. Jean Schmidt showed poor judgment again by discussing abortion with Catholic school kids, prompting an apology from the school principal.  

The race between State Rep. Denise Driehaus (D-Price Hill) and Republican challenger Mike Robison took a bizarre turn in early September when the Hamilton County Democratic Party chairman lodged a complaint that Robison falsely claimed in appearances that Driehaus wanted to change her last name on the ballot to that of her husband's.  

Cincinnati's only daily newspaper recently performed a valuable public service by shining a spotlight on how some little-watched government boards spent money. At a time when most county workers must forego pay raises and take unpaid furlough days to help balance the budget, employees at some independent county agencies quietly got nearly $941,000 in bonuses.  

Procter & Gamble has long been a fine corporate citizen here in its hometown, whether it's by donating to charities or bringing fresh, creative young talent to live in the Queen City. The latest example is P&G's support for the city's expanded recycling program.  

Common Cause Ohio is urging its members and other people concerned about the influence of Big Money on elections to call Congress and ask that they support passage of the Fair Elections Now Act. If approved, the act — known as Senate Bill 752 and House Resolution 1826 — would would allow federal candidates to choose to run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers or donations from lobbyists.  

Preservationists and neighborhood activists are upset about the Greenacres Foundation's plan to raze the historic Gamble Mansion in Westwood. As the foundation sues to obtain a demolition permit, some say the organization is busy gutting the interior to bolster its claims that it's dilapidated.  

When a group of Westwood residents decided to form Westwood Works (WW) last winter, they envisioned it as a more positive, productive counterpart to the Westwood Civic Association, which is known for its strident rhetoric. One of WW's first actions was to invite the nonprofit ArtWorks to paint a public mural in the neighborhood.  

Vine is the symbolic heart of the city, stretching like its namesake across the middle of downtown and separating East Side from West Side. So it's fitting that city planners chose Vine Street over West Clifton Avenue for the route of the streetcar system that will connect downtown to uptown.   

When four people were injured as the result of a gay bashing on Aug. 14 at a gasoline station in Covington, police and city officials there took the situation seriously. The City Commission held a news conference reaffirming its commitment to the local human rights ordinance, while police increased patrols near the six gay-oriented businesses in and near the MainStrasse district.  

The bicycling advocacy group received a $10,000 grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to help launch a new program to get more people riding bicycles to more places throughout the region. The Bicycle Friendly Destinations Program will work with area employers, retailers, government agencies and arts and cultural organizations.  

On Aug. 18, after three years of construction, Cincinnati’s School for Creative & Performing Arts (SCPA) welcomed 1,400 students to its new $72 million building. The first public K-12 performing arts school in the nation, the new SPCA was designed to accommodate the unique needs of its creative students.  

With temperatures in the 90s, even sitting in a car with the windows rolled down and the air conditioning turned off is a sweaty proposition. So whether Cincinnati Police Officer Brian Trotta last week had an alleged "family medical emergency" or not, it would've taken just a few minutes to leave his police dog with a colleague or a few seconds to at least roll down the windows. Trotta did neither, and the dog died.  

The city of Cincinnati recently used $88,000 in grant money to buy 20 solar-powered trash compactors that have been placed in locations around town. Although critics allege the $4,400 per compactor cost is high, we agree with supporters who noted that fewer trips by garbage trucks emitting fumes will lead to cleaner air.  

The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky recently bought a 2.5-acre parcel on Mall Road in Florence, just off I-75, where it will build a new Park & Ride hub. Construction will begin in the fall and, when completed, the site will feature a shelter for riders and 200 parking spaces. Meanwhile, John Boehner sells his soul.  

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.