http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/ Harris was a standout on Cincinnati City Council last year for bravely challenging wasteful spending in the city’s police and fire departments. Unfortunately, the powerful police and firefighter unions then waged a highly misleading disinformation campaign against him, leading to Harris’ defeat at the polls in November.]]> WINNER: Thanks to the vigilance of Pierce Township resident Barbara Hartman, the public now knows that township trustees there have violated Ohio's Open Meeting Act 18 times in the past two years.]]> WINNER: The NAACP's Cincinnati chapter and the Baptist Ministers Conference recently called out Cincinnati Public Schools for not hiring enough minority contractors as part of the district's $1.07 billion plan to renovate and rebuild many schools. It's odd the CPS contract errors were found only after the NAACP did the research.]]> CINCINNATI REDS: With the Bengals blowing their playoff game against the Jets, local sports fans thought they'd spend the long, cold months of winter grumbling over their Hudepohls. Instead, Reds management gave them something to be happy about with the signing of Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman.]]> ALAN KALMANOFF: Local political junkies will remember Kalmanoff as the city of Cincinnati's first federally-appointed police monitor, hired in 2002 to oversee the implementation of dozens of reforms to the Cincinnati Police Department.]]> BOB BEDINGHAUS: The New York Times published an article Christmas Day outlining the $14 million deficit Hamilton County has in its stadium account and the lousy, lopsided lease the county cut with the Bengals for the facility.]]> CINTAS WORKERS: Maybe Scott Farmer and the Cintas board of directors took their tips on how to run a business from old Charles Dickens novels. It would help explain why the Mason-based firm keeps getting multiple federal fines for workplace safety violations.]]> WINNER: Thanks to the vigilance of Pierce Township resident Barbara Hartman, the public now knows that township trustees there have violated Ohio's Open Meeting Act 18 times in the past two years.]]> Some local Democrats are upset with Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher over his demands for attending an upcoming political event in Oakley and believe he's disrespected Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. They're squaring off in the May 4 Democratic primary to get the party's U.S. Senate nomination, and the Hamilton County Democratic Women's Caucus invited them to participate in a debate here Jan. 20. Brunner accepted almost immediately, caucus members say, but their experience with Fisher was far different.]]> It's only the first week in January, but already political campaigns are gearing up for what likely will be the most high-profile local race this year. Cincinnati City Council colleagues Leslie Ghiz and Chris Monzel are running in the GOP primary for the Hamilton County commission, setting up a fight for the local Republican Party's soul between moderates and hardcore conservatives. ]]> Some people think The Banks, a sprawling $800 million residential and shopping district being built along the Ohio River, is Cincinnati’s best hope for increasing tourism and luring more people to live downtown; others call it a waste of money and an unnecessary gamble during tough economic times.]]> Rumpke: Ex-employees unqualified for same jobs they held before Little more than six months after helping a group of temporary workers claim better wages and put an end to bizarre fees that ate into their already meager incomes, local activists are suddenly less sublime about the battles they won last year. Of the 50 workers they represented in legal tussles with their employers, less than half are still working at Rumpke's St. Bernard recycling center.]]> Ohio law hampers ex-felon's job search Jasen Burwinkel, 27, could be like any number of job seekers in the Tristate, except for one thing: His record includes a theft conviction, a crime for which he served about three months in jail. "It hurts every time I come back from an interview, because they say, 'You have a theft? No job.'" About 650,000 people are released from prison each year in the U.S., and many advocacy groups are pushing for more lenient expungement laws for non-violent offenders as a way to help them gain employment and avoid becoming repeat offenders.]]> Critics: Patients deserve to know all options Pregnancy Center East sees hundreds of women each year, all facing what's likely the toughest question of their young lives: I'm pregnant. Now what? And in this tough economy, for women who typically visit the center that question isn't getting any easier to navigate. That's among the reasons Pregnancy Center East, which bills itself as a "Pro-Life, Pro-Women, Pro-Children" organization, has expanded and relocated.]]> Local Tea Party leader angry over change The honeymoon might be over between Tea Party followers and Ohio Republicans. Although the Cincinnati Tea Party has long said it’s a non-partisan group, its largest rallies and protests have featured a predominantly GOP slant. But for all of the Tea Party’s deference to Republican officials, the effort hasn’t been reciprocated.]]> Latest casualties of WAIF turmoil Ideologically speaking, the local radio programs 'Every Woman' and 'Alternating Currents' are cornerstones of independent media. The movements they give voice to (women's music and LGBT news and issues, respectively) were foundational to WAIF-FM, which both shows have called home for more than 30 years. Last month both jumped ship to Media Bridges' emerging low-power FM station, WVQC.]]> Annual LGBT event expands, moves downtown Big changes are on the horizon for this year's LGBT Pride Parade and Festival including new organizers, more events and a change in location. As with many things that evolve, however, the changes bring with them a fair amount of growing pains.]]> Fake DNA prompts change in criminal forensics During the past two decades, advances in forensics — the use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in courts of law — have led to a seismic change in how police work is conducted and what jurors expect when hearing a case. ]]> City's new environmental law faces uncertain future Cincinnati’s Environmental Justice Ordinance, a first-of-its-kind law, which was slated to go into effect Dec. 21, was touted by backers such as former councilman David Crowley as a way to ensure the city’s poorest residents are protected from heavily-polluting businesses.]]> The decade’s final year in local news was nothing to celebrate By anyone’s account, 2008 was one for the history books with a bitterly fought presidential campaign, the election of an African-American president and the biggest financial collapse since the Great Depression. What about this year? Meh, not so much. Although President Barack Obama promised change once he took office, 2009 held little progress on the same set of problems that has plagued a truly dismal decade.]]> Local Tea Party leader angry over change The honeymoon might be over between Tea Party followers and Ohio Republicans. Although the Cincinnati Tea Party has long said it’s a non-partisan group, its largest rallies and protests have featured a predominantly GOP slant. But for all of the Tea Party’s deference to Republican officials, the effort hasn’t been reciprocated.]]> Harris was a standout on Cincinnati City Council last year for bravely challenging wasteful spending in the city’s police and fire departments. Unfortunately, the powerful police and firefighter unions then waged a highly misleading disinformation campaign against him, leading to Harris’ defeat at the polls in November.]]> Ohio law hampers ex-felon's job search Jasen Burwinkel, 27, could be like any number of job seekers in the Tristate, except for one thing: His record includes a theft conviction, a crime for which he served about three months in jail. "It hurts every time I come back from an interview, because they say, 'You have a theft? No job.'" About 650,000 people are released from prison each year in the U.S., and many advocacy groups are pushing for more lenient expungement laws for non-violent offenders as a way to help them gain employment and avoid becoming repeat offenders.]]> Rumpke: Ex-employees unqualified for same jobs they held before Little more than six months after helping a group of temporary workers claim better wages and put an end to bizarre fees that ate into their already meager incomes, local activists are suddenly less sublime about the battles they won last year. Of the 50 workers they represented in legal tussles with their employers, less than half are still working at Rumpke's St. Bernard recycling center.]]> But incumbents keep their Hamilton County Commission seats Democratic incumbent Todd Portune and Republican Greg Hartmann, endorsed candidates who received money and volunteer help from their respective parties, easily won in their separate Hamilton County Commission races. Still, Ed Rothenberg, an unendorsed Republican who challenged Portune, and Chris Dole, an unendorsed Democrat who vied against Hartmann, each nabbed more than one-third of the votes cast in the races.]]> Obama’s landslide victory even includes Hamilton County Change is in the air across the United States, but some things remain constant: for example, the slow pace of tabulating ballots in Hamilton County. But given the dramatic finish to the nearly two-year-long race for the White House, the local problems were just an annoying delay.]]> Voters are heard on city and state ballot issues Cincinnati voters sent a mixed message on the two ballot issues before them, both placed on the ballot by a group of local activists and political organizations. Issue 8 failed, meaning City Council won't be elected via proportional representation, with Issue 7 passed, prohibiting the use of "red light" cameras.]]> Driehaus unseats Chabot, Schmidt hangs on Ohio might have turned Democratic blue Tuesday night, but Hamilton County and the southwestern part of the state sent mixed signals about whether it embraced the tides of change. State Rep. Steve Driehaus unseated seven-term U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot in the 1st District, while U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Miami Township) claimed victory in the 2nd Congressional District.]]> Seattle PsychPop band The Purrs stays on the D.I.Y. path ... for now Chances are, if you went out to see live original music in Cincinnati in the late '80s/early '90s, you've likely seen Jim Antonio on stage. Antonio was one of the best frontmen in town when he led Lizard 99, an Art Punk band in the vein of early Jane's Addiction. ]]> President-elect Barack Obama chooses unity over division By 11 p.m. on Election Day, about 25 people were at Integrity Hall in Bond Hill talking or dancing to the music of a DJ. Just 25 people in a room with that DJ, a TV and a snack table with corn chips and sheet cake with red, white and blue frosting, watching in amazement as the first biracial person was elected president of the United States. "His life is the perfect example of inclusion," said Ken Ghee, a psychology professor at the University of Cincinnati. "His color is a merging of Caucasian, African, Hawaiian."]]> Getting schooled by Ohio mixmaster Ruckus Roboticus Before the public adoration of narcotics. Before the high-profile relationships with B-list actresses. Before his festive, ornithological stage apparel. Manson was described as being well mannered and easy to talk to. He and the rest of the band were respectful and courteous. ]]> Palin mistakes Nutcracker performance with Russian threat, alerts Homeland Security PROVIDENIYA, RUSSIA — An annual outdoor concert and celebration here was mistaken by Alaskan authorities as a military operation, causing Gov. Sarah Palin to alert the Department of Homeland Security to "a well-organized collection of giant wooden warriors fiercely practicing formation changes and fighting."]]> Discussing the effectiveness of housing as a tool to end poverty Reduce crime, preserve architecturally significant buildings, support social diversity and create a beautiful community in which everyone is welcome — these appear to be the goals of development efforts in dilapidated urban neighborhoods such as Over-the-Rhine.]]> Obama is a father figure, a responsible boyfriend and a cool doctor all rolled into one I don't need to be the one to tell you that it's been a pretty rough week for a lot of people. This whole "getting a candidate we actually wanted and voted for" elected as the next president of the United States has left millions upon millions of us — except the rich assholes who voted for John McCain — without things to complain about.]]> Helping Barack Obama and his kids choose the best pet for the White House I know that change starts with me, and so I've been wracking my brain trying since Election Day to figure out how to become a better American. Then I thought of a quote Barack Obama said to his daughters during his victory speech: "You have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House." That's it! Take one of mine. ]]> Two-year schools offer economical options for starting your college career When Jennifer Reinhart graduated high school in 2006, she thought she had her future all figured out. She would volunteer for one year in the AmeriCorps and then begin her four-year college education at the University of Cincinnati. She had everything in the bag: her high school diploma, a spot at her first-choice school, a secure position in the volunteer program. But when she sat down and put her finances together one year later, things changed.]]> You should make a record sometime with Dallas and Travis Good of The Sadies Asking guitarist Travis Good what The Sadies have been up to lately is like asking Bill Gates to count his money, you'll run out of time before he finishes. With The Sadies' notoriously double-booked recording schedule and frenetic touring calendar, it's obvious that they've likely had more irons than fire, and so it is. ]]> Cincinnati Natives Why? come home for MidPoint Why`s kaleidoscopic musical output conjures a host of descriptors, the most accurate of which might be the Oakland-based band's own genre-spliced classification: "Pop-inflected Psychedelic Folk Hop." The brainchild of Cincinnati native/former cLOUDDEAD member Yoni Wolf, Why? started as a one-man bedroom project (2003's Oaklandazulasylum). ]]> It's only been a week since Barack Obama was elected, and most of our problems are already solved! Anyone who drove down I-75 last week near St. Bernard probably thought to themselves, You know what? The air smells really great now that Barack Obama has been elected president. It just goes to show you the power of a liberal, progressive black man being elected to our nation's highest office. ]]> The 2008 MidPoint Music Festival is upon us, so get ready for three nights of sublime entertainment from the best local, regional and international musicians ever to congregate in this region during one weekend. ]]> That's just one of many important decisions facing incoming freshmen College is a time of decisions: Where are you going to go to school? What are you going to major in? What organizations are you going to join? While considering these long-term scenarios, another eminent decision to make is whether or not to live on or off campus. ]]> Five areas of study with growth in mind Don't pick it because it's the easy way out. Don't pick it because it sounds fun or because your dad picked it. There's probably no "right" reason to choose a particular college major. Although it's possible to breeze your way through the first year or so of college without declaring a field of study, the decision looms above every student's head: What are those gold-leafed, fancy cursive words on your diploma going to spell out?]]> Knoxville's The Rockwells have learned from the best There are plenty of interesting topics on which to quiz The Rockwells: their fantastic experience playing Bonnaroo in 2006 or the fact that the Knoxville-based band is made up of two sets of brothers. ]]>