As one of the world’s biggest public health crises, COVID-19 has both killed millions of people since early 2020 and exposed government shortcomings when dealing with major medical emergencies. In the United States, the Biden administration pushed through a program in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service that would deliver free COVID-19 home test kits upon request to residents — something that especially has helped vulnerable populations like low-income families, people without private health insurance and people without adequate transportation to get to local testing centers. The program had been renewed and paused repeatedly throughout 2022, depending on funding from Congress. But in December, the White House shifted budget items around to fund one final round of tests. It’s been a huge success, with USPS delivering a total of more than 737 million tests as of February 2023, enabling more people to discern if they’re infectious or should gather in public. But as with nearly all pandemic-related government initiatives, the program is scheduled to expire in May, leaving people to fend for themselves once again. special.usps.com/testkits.

Here are the 2023 Best Of Cincinnati® Reader and Staff Pick winners for City Life.

1. Arlinghaus Builders
2. 3D Renovations
3. Make Her Mark

1. Eden Park TIE
2. Devou Park TIE
3. Ault Park
4. Mt. Echo Park
5. Smale Riverfront Park
6. Bellevue Park
7. Mt. Storm Park
8. Alms Park
9. Shawnee Lookout
10. Fairview Park
11. Mt. Adams

1. Mariemont
2. Wyoming
3. Liberty Township

1. The Hub OTR
2. Cincinnati City Council
3. 3CDC

1. Sheree Paolello (WLWT)
2. Megan Mitchell (formerly WLWT)
3. Jessica Schmidt (FOX19)

1. WLWT (Channel 5)
2. WXIX (FOX19)
3. WCPO (Channel 9)

1. Steve Horstmeyer (FOX19)
2. Randi Rico (WLWT)
3. Kevin Robinson (WLWT)

1. Dan Hoard (Bengals, Bearcats)
2. Joe Danneman (FOX19)
3. George Vogel (WLWT)

1. Chuck Mingo (Crossroads)
2. Fr. Al Bischoff (Xavier University)
3. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr (Archdiocese of Cincinnati)

1. Walnut Hills High School
2. School for Creative and Performing Arts
3. Wyoming High School

1. “Jeff & Jenn” (Q102)
2. “All Things Considered” (WVXU)
3. “Cincinnati Edition” (WVXU)
4. “Married with Microphones” (WGRR)
5. Bill Cunningham show (700WLW)
6. “Eddie & Rocky” (700WLW)
7. “The Big Dave Show” (B105) TIE
8. “JonJon & Friends” (KISS1071) TIE
9. “Around Cincinnati” (WVXU)
10. Kidd Chris with Allie Martin (WEBN)
11. “The Mo Egger Radio Show” (ESPN 1530)

1. 91.7 WVXU
2. 101.9 WKRQ (Q102)
3. 700WLW

1. Jeff and Jenn (Q102)
2. Maryanne Zeleznik (WVXU)
3. Lucy May (WVXU)

1. Union Terminal
2. Music Hall
3. Cincinnati Art Museum

1. Mike Moroski
2. Triiibe
3. Al Gerhardstein
4. Mass Action for Black Liberation TIE
5. Cam Hardy TIE
6. Michelle Dillingham
7. Brian Garry
8. Missy Spears
9. Billie Mays
10. Josh Spring

1. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio
2. Freestore Foodbank
3. The Friends of the Public Library
4. Matthew 25: Ministries
5. Cincinnati Public Radio
6. SPCA Cincinnati
7. ArtWorks
8. Cincinnati Animal CARE
9. Maslow's Army
9. ArtsWave

1. George Clooney
2. Jean-Robert de Cavel (Posthumous)
3. Nick Clooney

1. Bootsy Collins
2. Anthony Muñoz
3. Jeff Ruby

1. Findlay Market
2. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
3. Jungle Jim's International Market
4. Over-the-Rhine
5. Smale Riverfront Park
6. The Banks
7. Cincinnati Reds game TIE
8. Cincinnati Museum Center TIE
9. Cincinnati Art Museum
10. Newport on the Levee
11. Friends of the Public Library Book Store at the Warehouse