Who Wants to Build the New Brent Spence Bridge?
Ohio and Kentucky are officially accepting design and construction proposals for the new $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge corridor project. On Feb. 21, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced they will be accepting proposals to provide construction and design services on the project through the end of March.…
Rock Duo Air Supply Floats into Cincinnati’s Hard Rock Casino on March 4
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 22 print issue. Early in their partnership in Air Supply, guitarist Graham Russell and singer Russell Hitchcock got a harsh lesson in how fleeting success can be in the world of music. The two met in Sydney, Australia when they landed gigs in the chorus for a touring production…
Sound Advice: Dawes’ Earnest Tunes Head to Taft Theatre on March 8
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 22 print issue. Dawes just can’t stop, never going more than two years without releasing new material. The Los Angeles-based quartet’s eighth studio album, the evocatively titled Misadventures of Doomscroller, dropped last summer. Sure enough, it’s another tuneful set in the Jackson Browne realm of self-reflection and cultural…
Review: Cristian Pietoso Provides Delightful Wine-and-Dine Pairings at Nicola’s in Over-the-Rhine
I’ve had a soft spot for Nicola’s since I met the original owner and restaurant’s namesake Nic Pietoso a few years ago. Aside from the fact that the Over-the-Rhine place is beautiful, with one of the loveliest dining rooms in the city, I was charmed by the man’s kind attention at a time when my…
Sound Advice: Innovative Harpist Brandee Younger to Perform at Northern Kentucky University
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 22 print issue. Contemporary harpist Brandee Younger’s major-label debut Somewhere Different features her composition “Beautiful is Black,” which earned her a nomination for Best Instrumental Composition at the 2022 Grammys and made her the first Black woman nominated in this category. The album also received a nomination for…
Frogman Festival Celebrates the Four-Foot-Tall Cryptid Allegedly Roaming Loveland
Ohio is weird. Several books have been published on topics that explore Ohio’s hauntings, myths, legends and lore. Weird Ohio details abandoned places like “Hell Town” in Summit County, local connections to the famed Mothman, ghosts in the woods of Old Xenia, random Bigfoot sightings, origin stories of the “Hollow Earth Theory” and its founder…
Cincinnati Prepares for the Return of One of the World’s Biggest Ceramics Conferences
A major ceramics conference soon will return to Cincinnati for the first time since the 1990s, and it’s already attracting thousands of artists to the Queen City. The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts’ (NCECA) 57th conference, Current, will take place at the Duke Energy Convention Center and throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky…
Sound Advice: Crash Test Dummies to Celebrate New Album, 30-Year Career at Ludlow Garage
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 22 print issue. With one of the most distinctive voices in pop music, Brad Roberts brings his band Crash Test Dummies to Cincinnati for a career retrospective show. After a 17-year touring hiatus due to Roberts’ back problems and several members leaving the band, this veteran Canadian group…
Local Theaters to Stage Battle(s) of the Sexes This Spring
The battle of the sexes has often been fought theatrically with men and women vying for the upper hand. Perhaps the purest example of this classic contest is to be found in Shakespeare’s 1590 comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, one of his earliest plays. It’s the story of a hot-tempered woman, Katherine, whose need…
Police Chief Teresa Theetge Embraces the City’s Anti-Slur Policy, but Police Union May Not be on Board
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 22 print edition. Teresa Theetge is just starting to move into an office that’s been hers for almost a year. “I didn’t want to jinx it,” she tells CityBeat while shuffling around papers to clear her desk. The office at the Cincinnati Police Department’s district one headquarters was…
Sound Advice: Dayton-Based Brainiac Finally Hitting Stages Again, Including at Woodward Theater
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 22 print issue. Has it really been more than a quarter century since Brainiac infiltrated the ear canals of adventurous listeners across the Midwest and beyond? The Dayton-based quartet existed for only five years, but what a run it was, delivering three full-length albums (1993’s Smack Bunny Baby,…
Here’s What Cincinnati Water, Fire Departments Would Do During a Crisis like East Palestine’s
Leaders from Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) and the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD) spoke during Cincinnati City Council’s special Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting on Feb. 21 to go over how the city would handle a toxic explosion disaster as seen recently in East Palestine. “I also want to remind us that rail safety…
Court Street Kitchen to Bring Upscale American Fare With a Neighborhood Feel to Downtown
Court Street is adding another player to its culinary roster as 3CDC announces the arrival of an upscale American restaurant. Court Street Kitchen will open at 9 E. Court St. in the Moore Flats alongside Avril Bleh Meat Market, Pilar and the recently James Beard-nominated Mid-City. Related “We believe Court Street Plaza is on its…
Hungry, Bengals Fans? PayCor Stadium Is Top-10 for Concessions, Study Says
Most people don’t go to Paycor Stadium specifically for dinner, but according to one study, they might want to consider it. Paycor Stadium, home to the Cincinnati Bengals, is one of the top NFL stadiums for people who are fans of football as well as food. At No. 10 of 30 stadiums, the Jungle has…
Newport Aquarium’s Hatchling Harbor Exhibit Features Baby Sea Animals in Immersive Experience
Oh, baby! The Newport Aquarium is opening a new exhibit to introduce you to some of its youngest residents. At 25 feet, Hatchling Harbor will be among the longest tanks in the aquarium and will serve as a new ecosystem for hundreds of colorful animals, many of them babies. The aquarium says this Caribbean seagrass…
Have Your Say in Cincinnati Metro’s Plan for New BRT Routes
Cincinnati Metro is asking for feedback from citizens on the corridor design for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Four BRT workshops will be held for residents to give feedback on station locations, station features, map out connections and more. The workshops will feature a presentation with activities, and residents that attend will receive a meal and…
Pete Buttigieg Promises New Rail Safety Regulations, Criticizes Norfolk Southern for Stock Buybacks
Officials in both Ohio and Washington D.C. are putting pressure on Norfolk Southern to do right by the residents of East Palestine. In a handful of letters, they criticize the company’s response thus far and insist that it do more. Attorney General Dave Yost A letter from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost notifies Norfolk CEO…
Greater Cincinnati Water Works Reopens River Intake, Finds No Contaminants from East Palestine
Greater Cincinnati Water Works still has not found contaminants of concern in local water after the chemical explosion in East Palestine. In a Feb. 20 update, GCWW said that after “extensive sampling,” the agency did not detect toxins from the derailment and explosion of the Norfolk Southern train that had been carrying a variety of…
Study: The COVID-19 Pandemic Prematurely Aged Teens’ Brains
The COVID-19 pandemic may have aged teens’ brains beyond their years. The past few years have been rough on students. They’ve endured online schooling, social isolation, family hardships and news of a mounting global death toll. For teens, the virus and its many social side effects arrived during a crucial window in their brain’s maturation.…
Guest Commentary: Environmental Engineer Assesses Toxins from East Palestine Train
Headaches and lingering chemical smells from a fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, have left residents worried about their air and water – and misinformation on social media hasn’t helped. State officials offered more details of the cleanup process and a timeline of the environmental disaster during a news conference on Feb. 14, 2023. Nearly a…
Teen Cannabis Use Continues to Decline, According to Study
Opponents of cannabis have long claimed that legalizing it for adults would lead to an increase in teen use. They were wrong, according to a new federal report. Cannabis use among teenagers dropped from 2019 to 2021, hitting the lowest number in at least a decade. That’s despite more states legalizing its use for medical…
Jelly Roll’s ‘Backyard Baptism’ Tour Coming to Riverbend in September
Born and raised in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, Jelly Roll, a former addict and drug dealer, released his latest chart-topping album, Ballads of the Broken, in 2021. Now, in advance of a forthcoming new album, the singer/songwriter/rapper has just announced the dates of his “Backroad Baptism” tour. It lands at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center on Sept.…
Nonprofit Black Art Speaks Hosting Interactive Social Justice and Art Event at 21c Museum Hotel
Black Art Speaks, a membership-based nonprofit and art collective dedicated to promoting Black culture, social justice and uplifting Black artists, will host a night of conversation, live art and more at the 21c Museum Hotel in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday, Feb. 23. Art and Social Justice: An Interactive Experience will feature a panel of local Black…
Watch Out: Coyotes in Kentucky Are Mating Like Crazy
During coyote mating season Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials say there are more sightings both in cities and the country. The winter mating season is in its peak this month and will continue through March. “Coyote sightings typically increase this time of year when they are mating, and through July when they are raising pups,”…
Residents, Elected Officials, Railroad Company Have Differing Responses to East Palestine Train Disaster
Angela Hacker’s East Palestine home backs up to the train tracks. “Literally, my fence goes up against the railroad tracks,” she explained. “And when this happened, the train was stopped by my house for three days until they backed it out.” “That was the safe part of the train, but still — when you see…
Meet the Trans Psych Nurse Providing Care in Butler County He Never Received
Daniel Hardy wishes he could have had role models and mental health support when he was growing up in conservative Butler County. Looking back, he said his childhood would have been vastly improved if he had had someone like, well, Daniel Hardy, to talk to. “I’m autistic, ADHD, physically disabled and trans,” he said. “If…
Can the Bengals Win a Super Bowl Soon? Hell Yeah, NFL Writer Says
Do the Cincinnati Bengals have a legitimate shot at winning a Super Bowl soon? According to one NFL analyst, absolutely. NFL.com writer Bucky Brooks assessed the league’s teams with the largest window for Super Bowl going into the 2023-2024 season, and the Bengals are in the thick of things at No. 3. Brooks said he…
Sorry, Cincinnati: Scott Rolen Definitely Won’t Enter the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Red
Deep down, Cincinnati fans probably knew this would happen. That doesn’t make it sting any less, though. Just over three weeks ago, former Reds third baseman Scott Rolen finally got his call-up to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In his sixth year of eligibility, Rolen punched his Cooperstown ticket on Jan. 24 with 297 votes,…
Charges Against Reporter Arrested at East Palestine News Conference Are Dismissed
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Feb. 15 that the criminal charges filed against NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert after he was arrested during a news conference in East Palestine have been dismissed. The Ohio Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Section was appointed by the Columbiana County Prosecuting Attorney to handle the charges filed in Columbiana County…
Cincinnati’s Jewish Cemeteries to be Highlighted in Episode of PBS’ World’s Greatest Cemeteries
Several of Cincinnati’s Jewish cemeteries and the stories that lie within them will be highlighted in an upcoming episode of PBS series World’s Greatest Cemeteries. According to a press release from the organization Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati, World’s Greatest Cemeteries producer and host Roberto Mighty and videographer Ed Koziarski spent two days in Cincinnati…
The Cincinnati-East Palestine Connection, and 8 Other Greater Cincinnati News Stories You May Have Missed This Week
Normally, a derailed train near the Pennsylvania border would be of no concern to the people of Cincinnati, but then East Palestine happened. After an explosion, a connection developed between the small town of 5,000 people and the health and financial future of Cincinnati. But plenty of other news happened this week, too, including updates…
Cincinnati Closes Water Intake ‘Out of Abundance of Caution’ for Possible East Palestine Toxins
Cincinnati officials don’t expect much harm from the chemicals flowing down the Ohio River from East Palestine this weekend, but the city will shut off water intake from the river nonetheless. According to a Feb. 17 update from the city manager’s office, Greater Cincinnati Water Works is closing the intake to avoid chemicals that have…
Cincinnati Breaks 150-Year-Old Rainfall Record Because Thursday Was Wet AF
Cincinnati, you were wet. Really, really wet. Feb. 16 was a stormy day, which meant wrestling with umbrellas and dealing with people who apparently had never driven in rain. But it also was a record-breaking day, with all that precipitation setting a new high for the first time in 150 years. As of 5:03 p.m.…
Kentucky Supreme Court Keeps Abortion Ban in Place
The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled against an ACLU request to uphold an injunction that had briefly reinstated access to abortion in Kentucky. That means the commonwealth’s six-week abortion ban will remain intact as the case is litigated. The high court decision came down Thursday more than three months after arguments on the issue were heard on Nov.…
Ohio Abortion Rights Groups Merge, Aim for Constitutional Amendment on November Ballot
Two groups who had already committed to separate efforts to get reproductive rights in the hands of Ohio voters have now merged and set an end goal: abortion access on the November ballot. Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom and Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights announced Thursday that they are joining together to “file language with the…
Ohio House Republicans Introduce First Batch of Anti-LGBTQ Bills of 2023
The Ohio House Republicans have unveiled their priorities for the 135th General Assembly and filed their first series of bills for consideration. Included are HB 6, which would ban trans women and girls from playing sports, and HB 8, which would force teachers and school staff to out LGBTQ+ youth to parents. These bills are…
Cincinnati Black Theatre Company to Perform New Play Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting at the Freedom Center
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will host the premiere of the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company’s new play “Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting.” According to a press release, the play imagines a meeting in 1947 between famous baseball player Jackie Robinson, boxer Joe Louis, performer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey to…
Ohio Democrats Meet with Environmental Groups to Discuss Next Steps for East Palestine
Ohio Statehouse Democrats have been in discussions with environmental groups and first responders to talk about how to help East Palestine recover from the toxic chemicals leaked as a result of a Norfolk Southern train derailment. Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, joined with Assistant Minority Whip Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson, D-Toledo, and state Rep. Lauren…
PearlStar and Royce Permanently Close Without Warning
Two popular restaurants closed without warning on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Royce and PearlStar, both owned by Nashville restaurateur Terry Raley, are now permanently closed. The news of their closure is confirmed by Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), the company that leased the properties to Raley. “It’s unfortunate things didn’t work out with Royce and…
Indigenous Filmmaker and Photographer Sky Hopinka Named FotoFocus’ Spring Lecture Speaker
FotoFocus, a local nonprofit photography and arts organization, has announced filmmaker, video artist and photographer Sky Hopinka as its next speaker for its Lecture and Visiting Artist series. Hopinka will be speaking about his creative practice at the Cincinnati Art Museum on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to…
Officials: Water from East Palestine Explosion to Reach Cincinnati by Sunday, But Not Enough to Harm
Water containing a hazardous chemical from the disastrous Norfolk Southern train explosion in East Palestine, Ohio is expected to reach the Greater Cincinnati Area in a matter of days, according to an announcement from Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), but officials tell CityBeat it won’t be enough to be harmful. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, GCWW…
See FC Cincinnati’s New 2023 Kit That Pays Tribute to the Ohio River
As FC Cincinnati’s 2023 season opener nears, the team is debuting a new look. The Ohio River takes center stage in FC Cincinnati’s latest kit, which was unveiled during a special event at the team’s store at TQL Stadium on Feb. 15. Dubbed the “river kit,” the gear features watery imagery and local landmarks. The…
Deadly Batches of “Flesh-Eating” Drugs Reported in Downtown Cincinnati
Deadly batches of drugs continue to sweep the state of Ohio, but harm reduction advocates tell CityBeat that life-saving steps might not be enough in some recent cases in Cincinnati. The SOAR Initiative (SOAR stands for Safety, Outreach, Autonomy, Respect) alerts subscribers via text or app about deadly batches of drugs, often laced with unknown…
Cincinnati Home Chef to be a Contestant on All-New Cooking Competition Show Top Vegan
Calling all fans of cooking competition drama à la Hell’s Kitchen and Chopped: There’s an all-new competitive vegan cooking series coming to YouTube, and it’s being filmed right here in Ohio. Not only that, but a Cincinnati home chef will be part of its first season. Top Vegan features eight contestants cooking all-vegan dishes in…
Erin Brockovich Is Dragging J.D. Vance for Ignoring Hazardous East Palestine Train Derailment for a Week
Erin Brockovich has begun her Ohio investigation, but she’s already finding certain government officials in the Buckeye State to be completely useless. Brockovich, a consumer advocate who had built her reputation by winning a case against a company that contaminated water in a California village, recently said she’s been looking into the environmental affects of the…
Snoop Dogg, Al Green and More to Headline 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival
At least a few hip-hop and R&B legends will be rolling through Cincinnati as a part of the 2023 Cincinnati Music Festival. From July 20-22, around 80,000 people from around the country will flock to Cincinnati to attend one of the largest music festivals in the nation. Not only does the music festival boost Cincinnati’s role…
Drink Unlimited Wine for a Good Cause at the Cincinnati International Wine Festival
The Cincinnati International Wine Festival is back this March with a weekend full of tastings, fine dining, auctions and more wine than you can imagine. The festival will be held Thursday through Saturday, March 9-11 and will feature 700 wines from 100 wineries across the world. Each wine festival ticket purchased will benefit over 30…
Kentucky Lawmakers Have Filed 8 Cannabis Bills So Far This Year — Here’s What They Say
Cannabis legislation has been hard to pass in Kentucky, which remains one of just 13 states with a total prohibition on marijuana on the books. Last year, a medical marijuana bill so restrictive it allowed non-smokable cannabis for only a handful of medical conditions passed in the House, but it did not receive a hearing…
Lacking Answers, East Palestine Residents Consider Testing Soil and Water
East Palestine, Ohio, residents have been given the green light to return home, but many believe it is not safe to do so. They’re experiencing skin rashes, nausea, burning eyes and other symptoms after a Norfolk Southern train derailed there two weeks ago, spewing toxic chemicals. A controlled burn of the highly combustible chemical cocktail…
Norfolk Southern Executives Tell Cincinnati City Council East Palestine Explosion Won’t Hurt Sale of Cincinnati Southern Railway
After a derailed train full of toxic chemicals sent a plume of smoke above the homes in East Palestine, Ohio, Cincinnati City Council has started asking questions of Norfolk Southern, the rail operator responsible for the crash. During a Budget and Finance Committee meeting on Monday, Feb. 13, Cincinnati City Council members discussed the financial…
Which Sex Position do Ohioans Love the Most? The Answer is … Depressing
Valentine’s Day is a sexy holiday for switching up your love-making routine with your partner, and it looks like Ohioans could really use some variety. The sex experts at Delicto.com analyzed Google trends data on 17 sex positions to reveal which ones are the most popular in each state. While there’s no shame in how…
Charlie Puth Bringing “The Charlie Live Experience” Tour to Riverbend This Summer
Grammy-nominated singer Charlie Puth will be making a stop in Cincinnati this summer on his “The Charlie Live Experience” tour. Riverbend Music Center’s PNC Pavilion will host Puth on Monday, June 19. Having amassed eight multi-platinum singles, four Grammy nominations, three Billboard Music Awards and more, Puth has proven to be one of the music…
Rhinegeist Brewery Launches New Brew and Charitable Program Beer for Humans
Rhinegeist is bringing some extra humanity into its newest brew and charitable efforts. Beer for Humans, described as an “easy hop ale,” will be available on tap starting Feb. 26. Rhinegeist says this new craft beer is easy to fall in love with, with its “satisfyingly crisp, crackery malt bill” and just the right amount…
Head of Ohio Homeschooling Parents Group Condemns Couple Teaching Neo-Nazi Curriculum
The leader of an Ohio homeschooling group that once included an Upper Sandusky couple reportedly using a neo-Nazi curriculum has now condemned it and said homeschooling shouldn’t be judged by one “sick parenting issue.” The couple, who use the aliases “Mr. and Mrs. Saxon,” was reported to the Ohio Department of Education, which said it…
Ohioans Bet Big on the Super Bowl, but Governor Wants Stiffer Restrictions
Sports betting is now legal in Ohio. But if you’ve watched television, listened to the radio, or scrolled through the internet anytime in the last six weeks you already heard that. Perhaps you’ve already heard that a couple hundred times. Data from geolocation firm GeoComply suggests that message got through. The company verifies bettors’ locations…
UC Medical Staff, Damar Hamlin Enjoy Major Hugfest During Super Bowl LVII
The Cincinnati Bengals may not have played in this year’s Super Bowl, but the city still was a big part of the festivities. During a pre-game ceremony on the field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the NFL recognized the medical teams who helped save Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s life after he collapsed…
Nonprofit LADD to be Honored at UN for ‘Smart Living’ Model That Empowers Adults With Disabilities
Cincinnati nonprofit LADD, which provides services like housing, employment and community engagement programs to adults with developmental disabilities, will be traveling abroad to be honored for their efforts in helping those they serve live more independently. LADD is one of 71 awardees from around the world that was invited by Zero Project to the United…
These Three Cincinnati Restaurants Made it Onto OpenTable’s ‘Top 100 Romantic Restaurants’ List
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, OpenTable has released their top “100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America” list for 2023, and three Cincinnati restaurants are on it. OpenTable is an online restaurant reservation and review service that offers up city guides, news, tips and tricks, awards and more throughout the restaurant world. The unranked list…
Is Hamilton County Ready for Major Disasters? How to Give Input on Emergency Plans
Within the past ten days, the military shot down a UFO over Lake Huron and a toxic train explosion rocked East Palestine, Ohio, threatening part of the state’s water supply. Without pointing to these situations directly, Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (EMHSA) has decided that now is a good time to revisit its Hazard…
Hey, Horndogs: Northside Yacht Club is Making Corn Dogs Sexy (Again?)
Since early January, an anonymous Instagram user going by the name of please.get.corndogs.nsyc has been advocating for the addition of corn dogs to Northside Yacht Club’s menu. Over a dozen posts later (containing a variety of corn dog-themed memes — including a depiction of Jesus Christ on a cross made out of corn dogs), Northside…
Will Erin Brockovich Save Cincinnati from Chemical Fallout After Ohio Train Derailment?
The legal clerk whose investigation into a chemical leak in California spawned an Oscar-winning film is now eyeing Ohio with suspicion, and her focus could spell trouble for a railway sale in Cincinnati. On Feb. 3, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, a village in a relatively rural area that is…
Military Shoots Down UFO over Michigan
These are words we never imagined we’d be reporting at Detroit Metro Times: According to officials, a U.S. F-16 jet shot down an unidentified flying object over Lake Huron on Sunday, Feb. 12. The object is the fourth “high-altitude object” decommissioned by Air Force jets in North America in recent days, following incidents in airspace…
CityBeat Streets: Three Cincinnatians Share Heated Opinions About the City’s New Gun Laws
What Cincinnati restaurant makes a great margarita? How will the big sports teams do this year? What issues should local government focus on? Nobody has more opinions on these and other pressing questions than Cincinnatians themselves. In our column CityBeat Streets, CityBeat reporters are asking local residents about a different topic each week, highlighting the…
Former flow Coffee Shop Employee Claims Owner Altered Documents, Shortchanged Wages
Editor’s note: After confirmation of flow’s payment and satisfaction of the underpaid employee compensation, the state and federal investigations were resolved without sanctions or penalties against flow. A former employee of a local coffee shop is raising questions about the business owner’s ethics. In a CityBeat interview and in a recent Reddit post, Kay Ratliff,…
Ken Riley’s in the Hall, and 6 Other Greater Cincinnati News Stories You May Have Missed This Week
This week saw a legend’s wish realized, a move against gun violence and a spicy space song. Scroll down for the big headlines. Cincinnati Bengals Legend Ken Riley Finally Earns Pro Football Hall of Fame Acceptance It only took three decades of lobbying, but the late Bengals cornerback Ken Riley finally got the big validation…
Gov. Mike DeWine Gives Thumbs Up to Ohio Passenger Rail Expansion Study
On the campaign trail before his election in 2010, John Kasich vowed to pass on a $400 million federal grant Ohio was set to receive for a possible 250-mile long passenger rail corridor linking Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, commonly nicknamed the 3C Line. It would have been the first time the three cities were linked…
Taste of Cincinnati and Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Announce 2023 Dates
The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber has released the 2023 dates for two of Downtown Cincinnati’s biggest festivals of the year. Taste of Cincinnati will return Memorial Day weekend from Saturday-Monday, May 27-29, and Oktoberfest will happen Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 14-17. “These beloved festivals, powered by so many attendees, really tell the Cincinnati story in unique ways.…
Guest Commentary: We Shouldn’t Have to Fight This Hard to do Something as Selfless as Giving Blood
I founded Pride and Plasma to fight for queer men and our right to give blood. It was personal. While blood centers were crying out for donations, facing a national “blood crisis,” the FDA was continuing to defer healthy donors rather than update decades old policies. Medical professionals, LGBTQ+ advocates, and politicians had been telling…
Let’s Just Look at All the Hot Bengals in Formalwear at the NFL Honors Ceremony
Ken Riley’s election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after more than 30 years of eligibility may have grabbed the headlines, but there were plenty of additional Cincinnati highlights during the NFL Honors program on Feb. 9. That included Joe Burrow, the man who repeatedly has been dubbed a fashion icon, handsome face and…
Time is Running Out to Cast Your Votes in CityBeat’s 27th Annual Best of Cincinnati® Readers Poll
You still have time to cast your ballot to determine the best of the best Cincinnati has to offer, but you better hurry. Voting in CityBeat’s 27th annual Best of Cincinnati® Readers Poll only runs through midnight Feb. 12. Your votes will determine the area’s best Eats, Shops & Services, Music & Nightlife, Arts &…
Bellevue City Council Outlaws Indoor Smoking (Yes, Including Bars)
Northern Kentucky is becoming progressively smoke-free with the passage of an indoor smoking ban in Bellevue. During a Feb. 8 Bellevue city council meeting, members voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that bars people from smoking on Bellevue city property, at places of employment and in enclosed public spaces. “Some businesses and talent considering a…
Cincinnati Bengals Legend Ken Riley Finally Earns Pro Football Hall of Fame Acceptance
It only took three decades, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton has finally decided that yes, the late Cincinnati Bengals legend Ken Riley was HOF material. The Hall of Fame announced its class of 2023 inductees during the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 9, just three days before Super Bowl LVII. Riley…
Jewish Arts Organization Ish Hosting Dinner and Art Pop-Up for Valentine’s Day
A one-night-only Valentine’s Day dinner and art pop-up in Northside will feature two chefs, seven courses and a whole lot of “abundance” in flavors. Abundance, which is being put on by ish, a community engagement organization that focuses on connections through art and Jewish culture, will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at…
Cincinnati City Council Passes New Gun Laws: ‘Lock it Up or Get Locked Up’
Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved an emergency ordinance to amend two city gun laws in the city on Feb. 8, but the city could face legal challenges. “This is just common sense, and it’s something that research has shown, time and time again, to have a significant impact on preventing tragedies,” Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval…
Kentucky Republican: ‘Biden Filled with More Hot Air than China Spy Balloon’
President Joe Biden began his State of the Union address Feb. 7 — his first to a divided Congress — with an appeal to bipartisan priorities, but later criticized parts of the GOP agenda and got a sense of Republicans’ appetite for conflict during one combative stretch. Biden opened the 72-minute speech with an olive…
Report: The National to Finally Stage Homecoming in Cincinnati Again This Fall
Have the National gods finally smiled upon Cincinnati? Homecoming is back on the table, at least according to fans. Locally bred band The National has not yet formally announced the return of the Cincinnati festival it curates, but members of the band’s subreddit said they’ve received a Feb. 8 email alluding to just that. “We’ve had an…
Dress Your Pup in Bengals Gear for the Cincinnati BengalDog Parade in Over-the-Rhine
Chants of “Who Dey!” and “Who Dog!” will fill the streets around Washington Park this weekend for the Over-the-Rhine Kennel Club’s second annual, unofficial Cincinnati BengalDog Parade. “While the Bengals did not make the Super Bowl this year, they certainly came close. And, as the old saying goes, ‘close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades…
Want Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Tickets? There’s Only One Way to Get Them (For Now)
Sure, people are thinking about the Super Bowl, but baseball is just around the corner. The Cincinnati Reds will open the 2023 season at home with a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 30. Single tickets for this game aren’t available at the moment, but fans can enter for an opportunity to purchase opening…
On Newsstands Now: Here’s Everything You’ll Find in CityBeat’s Pet Issue
For many people in Cincinnati and beyond, pets are an integral part of life. According to a 2021-2022 report from the American Pet Products Association, pets live in 90.5 million homes in the United States. That means a whopping 70% of U.S. households have a Fido, Garfield or Goldie keeping them company. With all of…
Here’s What the Cincinnati Cyclones’ Hippo Jersey and Fiona Bobblehead Look Like (Hint: Adorable)
There is no team named the Hippos in the ECHL or NHL, but the Cincinnati Cyclones soon will rectify that. The Cyclones will become the Cincinnati Hippos for one night only when the team battles the Indy Fuel at Heritage Bank Center on March 4. The ‘Clones are partnering with the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical…
Former Ohio Chief Justice Wants to Stop the Unconstitutional Redistricting Nonsense
Last week, in one of her first public appearances since leaving the Ohio Supreme Court, former chief justice Maureen O’Connor maintained her pledge to help reform redistricting. As the head of a court who rejected seven different Ohio redistricting maps, including five statehouse and two U.S. Congressional maps, O’Connor is moving forward with her next…
Cincinnati Brewery Urban Artifact Again Releasing World’s Most Expensive Beer, This Time in Peach
Northside brewery Urban Artifact is again releasing “the world’s most expensive beer to brew,” in 2023, but this time in a whole new flavor. The freeze-dried fruit tart Astronaut Food will launch into orbit Monday, Feb. 13, this time in peach. In 2022, Urban Artifact released a blueberry-blackberry edition of Astronaut Food that used over…
Trans Ohioans are Still Being Denied Gender Marker Corrections to their Birth Certificates
On December 16, 2020, a Federal District Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny transgender people the ability to correct the gender markers on their birth certificates. At the time, Ohio was one of just two states that still refused to grant trans people those corrections. Now, more than two years later, probate court…
