Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director Victoria Morgan to Retire After 2021-22 Season
As the Cincinnati Ballet prepares to move into its new headquarters at the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance in Walnut Hills, more changes are afoot. Longtime Artistic Director Victoria Morgan has announced she'll be stepping down at the end of the 2021-22 season — her 25th year with the Cincinnati Ballet. Morgan said it…
New Ohio Bill Wants to Let College Athletes Make Money on Name, Likeness
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was still a backup quarterback for Ohio State University when he started speaking out against what he viewed as a fundamental unfairness. The Buckeyes program was worth more than $1.5 billion. The coach made north of $5 million per season, with a host of bonus incentives for postseason success. Yet a…
50% of Ohio’s Food Insecure Shut Out of Federal Food Assistance
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is often called 'the first line of defense against hunger,' and it's out of reach for half of Ohioans who need it. Food insecurity impacted 1.5 million Ohioans before the pandemic, which means 13% of the population struggled at times to access food due to a lack of money or resources.…
Heading for a National Park? The ‘Biggest Season in the History of the Park Service’ Predicted
Leaders of a U.S. Senate panel last week extolled national parks for providing a respite during the COVID-19 pandemic, but cautioned that enthusiasm for outdoors recreation will create its own problems in this summer’s tourism wave. Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent and the chairman of a subcommittee that oversees the U.S. National Park Service,…
Cincinnati’s Fawn Candy Co. Offering Real Cicada-Topped Chocolates
Folks are buzzing over one local candy company's newest creation. Cincinnati-based Fawn Candy Co. is celebrating the invasion of the 17-year cicada Brood X by giving chocolate lovers a taste of sweet revenge. The shop announced on May 26 that they are selling roasted-cicada-topped chocolates. The new menu item has been slightly controversial on social…
Cincinnati Reds ‘Re-Opening Day’ Promises to Make Up for the Fun You Missed in April
Cincinnati's slow march toward post-pandemic "normalcy" will take a big step when the Reds celebrate "Re-Opening Day" on June 2. Opening Day typically is a day of celebration, with a parade, a block party and general merriment throughout the city. But celebratory activities largely were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus…
New Timothée Chalamet Film from Luca Guadagnino to Start Production in Cincinnati This Week
Academy Award-nominated dream team Luca Guadagnino and Timothée Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name) are reuniting in Cincinnati for a new feature film. Production for Guadagnino's Bones and All will begin in the Tri-State this week. “Our local crews are back to work in Cincinnati on feature films and we couldn’t be happier,” says Kristen Schlotman,…
You Can Ride 24-7 on Some Metro Routes Starting May 30
Metro is rolling out phase one of its Reinventing Metro service improvements this weekend, and hardcore riders may be in for a treat. Beginning Sunday, May 30, the transit agency will add around-the-clock bus service on the following seven routes: Rt. 4 serving Kenwood-Blue Ash Rt. 11 serving Madison Road Rt. 17 serving Mt. Healthy…
Crazy Jumping Spiders, and 8 Other Cincinnati Stories You May Have Missed This Week
Too busy enjoying the nice weather this week to stay on top of the latest news? No worries, just check out this week's most important stories below. From stalled police reform to jumping spiders to saving a historic bell tower, here’s everything that you need to know. One Year After Murder of George Floyd, Police…
Cincinnati Burger Week Announces This Summer’s Restaurant Line-Up
Cincinnati Burger Week is back for its seventh year and it’s bigger and better than ever. The week-long burger celebration has again teamed up with the Ohio Beef Council and will be joining several other cities to celebrate the statewide Ohio Burger Week. Five cities from across the Buckeye State will celebrate Ohio Burger Week…
Jackpot! One of Ohio’s First Vax-a-Million Winners Is from Cincinnati
When Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the Buckeye State would give millions of dollars and full-ride university scholarships to a few residents who had gotten a COVID-19 vaccine, some were understandably skeptical. But when the state announced its first two winners Wednesday, the Vax-a-Million drawing became infinitely more real — especially for one winner…
Hamilton’s 50th Current Art Exhibition Offers a Monumental Art & Light Experience
Hamilton, Ohio's Fitton Center is getting a literal glow up from May 28 through June 4. To celebrate and display the winners of the 50th-annual Hamilton Current regional art competition, the Fitton Center is projecting 131 pieces of original art from 72 different local artists onto the outside of their building. "Like many projects this…
Yelp Just Made it Easier to Find LGBTQ-Owned Businesses in Cincinnati With New Search Filter
LGBTQ-owned businesses in Cincinnati now have another way to raise their profiles, thanks to a new feature on online review platform Yelp. Citing an increase in searches for LGBTQ-owned businesses, Yelp on Monday introduced a new business attribute that will allow owners to self-identify as LGBTQ-owned and Open to All walks of life. Open to…
Cincinnati’s Parks System Ranks No. 8 in America, According to New Report
During the pandemic, parks and other public outdoor spaces became a refuge as folks looked to escape the confines of their homes while still maintaining social distance. Luckily, we live in a city with some of the best parks in the nation, according to the Trust for Public Land's Annual ParkScore Index Report. This year,…
John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ is a Solid-Ass Sequel
Rakish heartthrob Cillian Murphy is in many ways an anti-John Krasinski. In physical size, off-screen persona and on-screen energy, the two are practically opposites. One is Irish, lean, private to the point of reclusivity and morally ambiguous. The other is American, brawny, sentimental to the point of mawkishness and heroic by personal preference. One of…
Coney Island Delays 2021 Season Opening Due to Water Main Leak
Those gearing up to splash in Coney Island's Sunlite Water Adventure this weekend are going to have to wait a little longer. While the park was originally slated to open May 29, the season has been delayed 10 days because a water main in the pool area is leaking. Coney had to "significantly" drain Sunlite…
Kentucky’s Bellevue-Dayton Memorial Day Parade Returns for 2021
After a year’s pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Bellevue-Dayton Memorial Day Parade will make its triumphant return this Monday at 10:30 a.m. The parade, now celebrating its 92nd occasion, will begin on Sixth Avenue in Dayton and finish at the Bellevue Veterans Club on Fairfield Avenue. Since the parade is a joint effort…
Covington’s Rose&Mary Bakery to Close After Three Years in Business
A locally loved Northern Kentucky pastry shop has announced its closure via a heartfelt post on social media early Thursday morning. The popular farmers market pop-up Rose&Mary Bakery opened its first brick-and-mortar shop this past December, and quickly became a foodie fave throughout the region. The bakery boasts extravagant baked creations with weekly updated menus,…
Ohio and Kentucky Are Kind of Gross, According to Zippia
Yeah, we know. That headline, right? "Gross" sure is subjective. But we also know that driving through certain states makes us shudder, frown or constantly ask, "Dear god, what's that smell?" And, yeah, Ohio sometimes does that. We're not the only ones to notice. In a new report, career resource Zippia rounds up the grossest…
Rewrite of Ohio Laws Would Remove Stigma Against those with Disabilities, Advocates Say
Growing up as a person who is gay and deaf, Joe Osborne-Payne knows how it feels to be stigmatized. He doesn’t want the language of state laws to stigmatize him, too. Osborne-Payne, the chief information officer for the Ohio Association of the Deaf, is among those advocating for legislators to rewrite certain sections of the…
Touring Roundup: See St. Vincent, Ben Folds, Lady A in Cincinnati Soon
As we make our way into the warm months, more artists are releasing dates for their summer tours, with plenty of top-name performers scheduling stops in the region. Below, read about John Legend, Modest Mouse and others who are slated to make an appearance in Greater Cincinnati soon. The Beach Boys, July 18, Rose Music…
Newport Aquarium Kicks Off ‘Shark Summer’ with Arrival of Two New Sandbar Sharks
Newport Aquarium is ready to celebrate its annual "Shark Summer" series of events, and its kicking things off with the arrival of two new sandbar sharks — the first time this species has been at the aquarium in eight years. “It’s exciting to present these new sharks to our guests,” says Kelly Sowers, Newport Aquarium’s…
African American Chamber of Commerce Launches Program to Help Small-Business Owners Navigate Post-Pandemic Nuances
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eases coronavirus pandemic guidelines for the first time in nearly 15 months, business owners around the nation are trying to get their bearings as they reopen to wider audiences, including those in Greater Cincinnati. The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC)…
Cincinnati COVID-19 Vaccine Drive on Thursday Targets Construction Workers, General Public
Organizers of a new coronavirus vaccination drive are targeting construction workers — and making it easy for other Cincinnatians to get theirs, too. Allied Construction Industries (ACI) and TriHealth will offer Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines 7:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 27 at Allied Construction Industries, 3 Kovach Drive, Lockland. All individuals ages 12 and up are invited,…
Live Out Your ‘Oregon Trail’ Camping Fantasy in This Vintage Conestoga Wagon in Hocking Hills
Now that iconic 1980s video game Oregon Trail is back, you and your party can avoid contracting dysentery while you cosplay in a vintage Conestoga Wagon. Hocking Hills' Hilltop Resorts and Campground has just introduced a new, old way to camp with this wagon. "Originally used in the 18th and 19th centuries for moving freight, this 18-foot covered…
St. Vincent Touring New Album ‘Daddy’s Home’ with Stop at Cincinnati’s ICON Music Center
Eclectic and innovative singer/guitarist St. Vincent — aka Annie Clark — is hitting the road in support of her latest album, Daddy's Home. She'll be stopping by Cincinnati's Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. June 3 at ticketmaster.com and iconmusiccenter.com. The sixth release from…
Fifty West Brewing Co. Launches Summer Cornhole Leagues
Columbia Township's Fifty West Brewing Co. is expanding its arsenal of outdoor activities with a Cincinnati favorite: cornhole. This summer, the brewery is launching cornhole leagues, starting June 20. It also hosts a dodgeball tournament, a pickleball league, volleyball, running clubs and more. "We've got burgers on the grill and plenty of beer, so grab…
‘American Idiot’ Returns to The Carnegie Stage for One Night Only to Benefit Local Performers Affected by COVID-19
The Carnegie is bringing its 2019 cast of Green Day musical American Idiot back to the stage for one night only — and for a good cause. Proceeds from reunion show, which will feature songs from the original production as well as other Green Day tunes, will benefit local performers and crew affected by COVID-19…
Cincinnati Public Schools Announces Interim Superintendent Following Laura Mitchell’s Departure
Cincinnati Public Schools continue to move forward, despite the announced departure of its longtime superintendent. During a CPS Board of Education meeting earlier this week, Deputy Superintendent Tianay Amat was tapped to become the district's interim superintendent beginning June 12. Amat's appointment follows the announcement that Laura Mitchell, the current superintendent, will resign at the…
The 54th-Annual Summerfair Cincinnati Brings Hundreds of Artists to Coney Island This Weekend
Summerfair Cincinnati is making a comeback after transitioning to a virtual platform last year due to the pandemic. Returning to Coney Island, Summerfair Cincinnati will take place June 4-6. This will be the 54th-annual festival. Launched in Mount Adams in 1968, the nonprofit aims to support young artists and community-based art programs through exhibitions, scholarships and awards.…
Esquire Magazine Names Walnut Hills Bar One of the ‘Best Bars in America’
Each year, Esquire magazine compiles a list of the best bars in America. And after the hell of 2020, the 2021 list was special — almost a "return to normal." "Bars are simultaneously a place to be by oneself and a place of community. An escape and a home away from home. That vanished as many were…
Ohio Housing Advocate: Worker Crunch Is Due to a Lot More than Federal Supplements
Federal unemployment supplements are not the sole reason Ohio employers are having a hard time finding workers, an Ohio housing advocate said Monday. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine earlier this month announced that on June 26 he would end Ohio’s participation in a federal program that provided $300 a week in additional unemployment pay. The money was intended…
New Exhibits Kick Off Taft Museum of Art’s Bicentennial Celebration
The Taft Museum of Art's historic house may be celebrating its 200-year anniversary this year but its two newest exhibits, In a New Light | Treasures from the Taft and Borrowed Gems from the Taft Museum of Art, are all about having a 21st-century perspective. Premiering in July, the temporary exhibits will display select pieces…
Cicadas Take Over Ohio’s LEGOLAND Discovery Center
After 17 years underground, billions of Brood X cicadas have emerged in Ohio and surrounding states. These chirping, red-eyed insects truly are everywhere now — including at LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Columbus, where a swarm has overtaken MINILAND. Master Model Builder Maxx Davidson has created more than 50 LEGO cicadas and placed them all over mini…
To Save Historic Over-the-Rhine Bell Tower, First Lutheran Church Needs to Raise $1.6 million by June 5
The beloved 126-year-old bell tower of Over-the-Rhine's historic First Lutheran Church (FLC) is slated for demolition — unless the church can raise $1.6 million by June 5 to save it. The church is located on Race Street, across from Washington Park, and underwent significant restoration work (completed in 2018) after falling pieces of red limestone had started to…
University of Cincinnati Relocating Community Vaccination Site Tuesday
Ohioans wanting COVID-19 vaccines from the University of Cincinnati are heading to a new location beginning Tuesday. UC Health's community vaccinations are moving from the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute on Bellevue Avenue to the UC Health West Professional Building at 3120 Burnet Avenue on May 25. The Community Vaccination Center originally opened in January to…
West Side Brewing to Host Vegan Comfort Food Pop-Up
After this challenging past year, we all deserve a little comfort food. And traveling vegetarian/vegan eatery Vulture Foods is headed to Cincinnati's West Side Brewing to satisfy that need. On Tuesday, May 25, the restaurant is hosting a "plant-based junk food" pop-up for the meat-free eaters — or folks who simply enjoy a healthy dose of…
Commentary: Ohio’s Black Environmental Leaders Association Advocates to Move the Lincoln Heights Gun Range
What is environmental justice? This seems to be a concept that has been trending in recent years as society continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, racial violence and the toxic partisanship that has deeply divided our country. To some, environmentalism represents an abstract issue, such as saving endangered species or conserving rainforests…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ‘Respectfully Disagrees’ with Legislative Attempt to Block State’s Vax-A-Million Program
A proposal to halt Ohio’s Vax-A-Million program has not yet been formally introduced, but Gov. Mike DeWine said Monday he hopes it will make no progress over the coming weeks. And, should the bill somehow reach his desk, DeWine said he would surely veto it. Just as DeWine’s vaccine lottery program has received plenty of…
One Year After Murder of George Floyd, Police Reform Is Stalled in Ohio
About a month after a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd during an arrest last summer, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a package of proposals he said would impose accountability on police. As of Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of Floyd’s death, none of those proposals became law or even went up for a vote. In…
University of Cincinnati Ranked a Top 10 ‘Best Value College’ in Ohio
If you're looking to get a higher education with a good return on investment, look no further than the University of Cincinnati. The local college just ranked in the top 10 on SmartAsset’s list of Ohio's "Best Value Colleges." The recent study compared "schools based on a variety of data sources, including starting salary, tuition, living…
Cincinnati Art Museum Ranked Top 10 Free Museum in America, Says USA Today Readers
Need an escape from the pollen-filled air or the millions of cicadas in your neighborhood? Pay a visit to the nation’s fourth-best free museum, right here in Cincinnati. “10 Best,” USA Today’s travel information hub that frequently relies on reader input, ranked the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) among the country’s top ten free museums. Readers…
These Tiny Jumping Spiders Might Be Able to Recognize Faces, Says Cincinnati Lab
They say love is blind, but that might not be the case for paradise jumping spiders. Researchers at the Morehouse Lab, located on the University of Cincinnati’s campus, are trying to further understand the way jumping spiders see the world, literally. Ph.D. candidate Jenny Sung is leading the team exploring how the colorful face designs…
Tickets For June Dave Chappelle & Friends Shows in Yellow Springs Go On Sale Wednesday
On June 12, comedian Dave Chappelle released 8:46, a stand-up special filmed just days before in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Since filming the special, Chappelle began hosting intimate, socially distanced comedy shows at that same location, Wirrig Pavilion, a private outdoor event space amid corn fields and Christmas tree farms in the idyllic village of…
Modest Mouse Coming to Cincinnati’s ICON Music Center This Fall
Indie Rock icons Modest Mouse are gearing up to release their seventh studio album — The Golden Casket — on June 25. And to support the new material, the band is hitting the road. Modest Mouse will be playing the new ICON Music Center at The Banks on Oct. 5 with special guests Future Islands.…
John Krasinski Surprised Fans in Ohio at a Preview Screening of ‘A Quiet Place Part II’
Some lucky Ohioans who scooped advance preview tickets to see A Quiet Place 2 at a Cinemark theater in Cleveland Friday night not only got to see the highly anticipated action sequel that had sat on the shelf through the pandemic ahead of its official May 28th opening but were welcomed by Jim Halpert himself.…
Graeter’s Ice Cream Releases Second of Six Secret Summer Bonus Flavors
Graeter's Ice Cream has a secret this summer — six of them. The company is introducing six limited-time Bonus Flavors and each will be kept a total secret until the day it's released. Each Bonus Flavor will be available for a short time and once it's gone from Graeter's shops and online, it will be…
Cincinnati Public Schools Offering COVID-19 Vaccine to Eligible Students May 24-25
Now that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for teenagers, more and more Cincinnati-area schools and health facilities are organizing vaccination sites for students. Cincinnati Public Schools is offering the Pfizer vaccine to eligible district students ages 12 and up. The vaccine drive will occur Monday, May 24, and Tuesday, May 25, at CPS high schools.…
Legislation Seeks to Stop Ohio’s Vax-A-Million Program With Drawing Just Days Away
Five Ohioans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are about to win $1 million through a new vaccine lottery program, but a Republican lawmaker wants to call the whole thing off. State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) is drafting legislation that would prevent the state from administering any vaccine lottery program. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans…
For Hundreds of Thousands of Immunocompromised Ohioans, the COVID-19 Pandemic Isn’t Over
For many of us, getting vaccinated means freedom from the tyranny of the coronavirus. We now can go hang indoors with our vaccinated friends and not bother with masks in most settings. We can even touch each other without a panicked search for the nearest bottle of hand sanitizer. Getting vaccinated also seemed a liberation…
Metropole at 21c Offering Memorial Day Picnic Baskets with Rosé and Charcuterie
Graze while you laze this Memorial Day weekend with a special Feast by Metropole picnic pack. Chef Vanessa Miller and team at downtown's Metropole at 21c have crafted a special snack pack featuring a bottle of screw-top rosé, cheese, charcuterie, hummus, tabbouleh, crackers and a melon and berry salad — all nestled in a cute…
Jason Mraz’s ‘Look for the Good Live!’ Tour Coming to ICON Music Center in August
Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz today just announced his first U.S. tour dates since the onset of the pandemic. His Look for the Good Live! kicks off in July. The tour includes a stop Friday, Aug. 6 at the ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park. Tickets to Jason Mraz’s Cincinnati show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday,…
A Third of Ohioans Get Their Only History Info from Netflix, Other Streaming Services
Ohioans may need a history refresher, suggests one recent study. Buckeye State residents and people throughout the United States are admitting that they get most of their information about real-world history from Netflix and other streaming services. That information comes from an unlikely source — soap opera-focused Soap Hub, which recently surveyed 3,000 people about…
University of Cincinnati Has One of the Top Online Public Health Programs in the Country for 2021, Rankings Show
With coronavirus still here, public health is on a lot of people's minds. Luckily, a top-ranked degree program at the University of Cincinnati is training more medical personnel who can help take care of communities. In its rankings released earlier this week, Bachelor's Degree Center counts UC's online public health degree among the top 15…
Hamilton’s Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park to Host Outdoor Yoga Classes
Put some art in your om during Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park's five-week outdoor Yoga in Nature workshop this summer. Every Thursday from June 10-July 8, instructor Cassie Wilson will lead an all-levels yoga class for those ages 12 and up that "balance(s) stretching, strength training, breathing and relaxation," says a release. Expect classes to include hatha,…
New York Pastry Chef to Head Giminetti Baking Company’s New Cafe, The Bread Bar
Giminetti Baking Company in Walnut Hills is expanding with a new cafe and bread store — and a new pasty chef. Chef Cory Colton is leaving New York City to launch The Bread Bar at Giminetti Baking Company. The breakfast, brunch and lunch destination is expected to open this June. Colton, a native of Maine…
Ohio-Based White Castle Is Testing $15 Per Hour Wage
Much has been made lately of the current labor shortage for restaurant workers. Some business owners and conservative lawmakers have taken to the media to blame the welfare state — the pandemic relief packages' enhanced unemployment payments and the $2,000 stimulus checks were too generous, they claim, causing lazy workers to decide to just stay…
Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham Reconnect for Uber-Violent ‘Wrath of Man’
It has been 23 years since writer-director Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham first combined forces for the wonderfully twisty take on tough-guy bravado, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Two years later they recaptured lightning in a bottle with Snatch. A lot has changed in the two decades since. Ritchie married Madonna and found the…
Charm at the Farm Open-Air Vintage Market Pops Up at Former Lebanon Horse Farm This Summer
Open-air vintage market Charm at the Farm is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, and they are kicking things off with 2021's first event June 11-13. Held on the grounds of a 56-acre former horse farm in Lebanon, Ohio, the weekend pop-up features everything from vintage furniture and farmhouse-style gifts to clothing and jewelry. There…
10-Acre Field of Flags to Be Installed at Cincinnati’s Arlington Memorial Gardens Over Memorial Day Weekend
Arlington Memorial Gardens in Springfield Township is honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces by installing a 10-acre field of American flags this Memorial Day weekend. The "Field of Memories" will act as "a special area of tribute and to foster appreciation," says the cemetery and memorial park in a press…
Owe Ohio? You Might be Eligible for a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Overpayment Waiver
When Matthew Bishop started getting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance a year ago, it pulled him out of a tight spot. Bishop, who runs a small company called Gutenberg Author Services, lost all his customers when the economy imploded in March, and had moved out of his group house and in with his parents because he couldn’t…
New ‘Little Pantry’ at Cincinnati’s Carson School Shares Food With Neighbors
Students at Carson School are supporting community members who need a helping hand. Members of Stacey Jones' K-3 multi-disability class recently built a "little pantry" in front of the school in West Price Hill, a release from Cincinnati Public Schools says. Students were concerned that there weren't many grocery stores within the neighborhood. According to…
Bite into a Sweet Cicada at These Five Cincinnati Bakeries
Cicadas themselves are, in fact, edible. But if you aren't interested in crunching your teeth into a plump exoskeleton, perhaps you'd enjoy taking a bite out of a cicada confection instead? Local bakeries are jumping on the Brood X bandwagon and celebrating the emergence of these every-17-year insects with themed treats. From cicada-shaped cookies and cakes…
Get a Free COVID-19 Vaccine at Cincinnati Museum Center or Freedom Center, Get Free Admission
There are plenty of ways to get your COVID-19 vaccine, but two Cincinnati attractions are making it even easier this month. The Cincinnati Museum Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center have announced that they will be offering free one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines on May 22 and May 29. Folks who come in…
Rockin’ the Roebling Concert Series Returns for 2021, Beginning Thursday
The wave of concert news this week has been absolutely glorious after a year without live music, and we're excited to see local performers getting in on the fun. The "Rockin' the Roebling" concert series returns this year after taking 2020 off due to the coronavirus pandemic. A partnership among Moerlein Lager House, Cincinnati Parks…
Touring Roundup: The Black Crowes, Jason Aldean, Jim Gaffigan Coming Soon to Cincinnati
The opening of new concert venues in Greater Cincinnati — such as the Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center in downtown and The Ovation Music Pavilion in Newport — as well as the multitude of historic music centers around the area have made the Queen City a hot spot for many big-name musicians and comedians.…
Graeter’s Ice Cream Opens New Scoop Shop in Kenwood
Graeter's Ice Cream has opened a new scoop shop in Kenwood. The fresh storefront is located at 8167 Montgomery Road and includes a drive-thru, play area and a party room — plus ice cream, baked goods and candy. This Graeter's replaces the old Kenwood shop, which had been located around the corner on Kenwood Road.…
Alice Cooper, ‘Godfather of Shock Rock,’ Heads to Cincinnati in September
Classic rock fans get ready, because the 1970s hard rocker Alice Cooper and his shiny black eyeliner are coming to town. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer recently released his fall 2021 tour dates, which include a trip to the Greater Cincinnati concert venue Rose Music Center at the Heights. The show, scheduled for…
Cluck Norris ‘Ass-Kickin’ Chicken’ Delivery-Only Eatery Opens in Cincinnati
Ready for a roundhouse kick to the mouth? Well, Cluck Norris "Ass-Kickin’ Chicken" wants to give it to you. This "virtual restaurant concept" is now open in Cincinnati and operating as a delivery-only concept out of the Liberty Center Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern's kitchen. “Ever feel like you have an alter-ego? We do,” says Jim Sauter, vice president…
Lawmakers, Faith Leaders Unite to End Ohio’s Death Penalty
Lawmakers and faith leaders are among Ohioans uniting behind legislation to end capital punishment in the state. On Tuesday, groups expressed hope to reporters that the political climate may be right for Ohio to join the 23 other states without capital punishment. Sen. Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus, is among nine cosponsors of Senate Bill 103, which, like House…
Hundreds of Thousands Register for Vax-a-Million on First Day, Ohio Department of Health Says
OK, so maybe the odds of winning $1 million in Ohio's vaccine lottery aren't as great as we had assumed. But that's probably a good thing, as more people are vaccinated from COVID-19 within the state. On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Lottery said in a joint news release that ohiovaxamillion.com,…
The Jonas Brothers Are Coming to Riverbend Music Center This Summer with Country Star Kelsea Ballerini
From Disney Channel sweethearts to bona fide global superstars, the Jonas Brothers are hitting the road once again for their "Remember This" tour with Country star Kelsea Ballerini. “We couldn’t be more excited to officially announce we are going on tour THIS summer and bringing our friend Kelsea Ballerini," say the brothers in a press…
Kentucky Attorney General Wants Facebook to Scrap Kids’ Instagram
Kentucky's attorney general is part of a group that wants Facebook to stop its plans to create a kids' version of Instagram. The group contended that using social media can be detrimental to children's health, and that kids aren't equipped to navigate the challenges. Attorney General Daniel Cameron signed the letter, along with more than 40…
Gas Prices in Cincinnati Are Still Rising Since Last Week
Gas prices in Cincinnati and the nation remain high as the upcoming holiday weekend inches closer and closer, but experts say payment at the pump could stabilize soon. In the Queen City, the average price per gallon of regular unleaded gas is $2.888 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to auto association AAA. That's up from…
Ohio Creates New Program to Fund Broadband Internet Expansion Projects
A student being able to finish a school project at home with the help of online research. A farmer selling goods using an online marketplace. A busy parent receiving telehealth services from their own living room. An estimated 1 million Ohioans lack access to high-speed internet at home. These are the types of opportunities a…
Cincinnati Ranked One of America’s Top 50 Beer Cities
Another day, another random website conducting a study that doesn't have anything to do with its actual purpose. This time, it's about beer. Real estate website Real Estate Witch just conducted a study to determine the 50 "Best Beer Cities" in America, and Cincinnati fared pretty well, just missing a top 10 spot. The Queen…
Alt Rock Legend Bob Mould To Play Memorial Hall in October
Veteran singer-guitarist Bob Mould has just announced a series of Solo Distortion electric shows, and he'll perform on Oct. 22 at Memorial Hall. Tickets to Bob Mould's tour are on sale now. [Read CityBeat's March 2020 interview with Mould] The jaunt supports Mould's forthcoming vinyl box, Distortion: Live. The eight-LP set includes live recordings from Mould’s solo…
Northside’s Fourth of July Celebration Returns with ‘House Float’ Walking Routes and Mini Block Parties
It may not be the Northside Fourth of July Parade we know and love, but event organizers have announced a pretty stellar celebration adaptation to look forward to this summer. While last year's event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year, the fest is shifting from the traditional parade and carnival format to a…
The O.F.F. Market Returns with a New Location at Summit Park
The O.F.F Market (aka the Oakley Fancy Flea Market) has been a staple in Cincinnati since its premiere in 2013. After six years of summer and winter markets at both Oakley Square and MadTree Brewing Company, the O.F.F. Market was canceled in 2020 due to COVID — a decision that directors and husband-and-wife duo Leah…
New Ohio Bill That Adds Barriers to SNAP Actually Would Be Expensive to Implement, Opponents Say
A bill that would make it more difficult to obtain food assistance in Ohio faces an uncertain future. More than 60 people have testified in opposition to Senate Bill 17, which would end procedures that streamline the application process for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Claire Gysegem, public relations manager for Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, said…
Here’s How to Register for Ohio’s Vax-a-Million Program and Possibly Win $1 Million
Vaccinated adult Ohioans who want a chance to win $1 million in a series of five consecutive drawings beginning on May 26 will now have to register for entry, the state's Director of Health, Stephanie McCloud, announced Monday. People will be able to register online at the state's new website for the vaccine lottery, ohiovaxamillion.com. The…
Interview for a Job at Donatos This Wednesday, Get a Free Pizza
Need a job? Need pizza? "Why not both," as the little meme girl says. Ohio-based pizza chain Donatos is tempting potential employees with the promise of free pizza. In an email to Donatos fans on Monday, the thin-crust pizza purveyor announced that it would conduct "Dinnerviews" — or dinner interviews — this Wednesday, May 19.…
Alt Rockers Kings of Leon to Stop at Riverbend Music Center This Summer
After a bizarre year of empty concert venues and prohibitions on large gatherings, live music is finally back, and big names are already slated to make an appearance in the Queen City. Following the March 5 release of When You See Yourself, the Grammy Award-winning band Kings of Leon is scheduled to embark on a North…
Glier’s Goettafest Returns to Newport This Summer With Eight Days of Goetta-Infused Fun
Glier's Goettafest returns this summer, bringing with it all of the goetta-infused creations you never knew you needed to Newport's Festival Park on the Levee for two weekends worth of fun and flavor. The event will span eight days — July 29- Aug. 1 and Aug. 5-8 — offering plenty of opportunities for folks to…
After 16 Months, the Children’s Museum in the Cincinnati Museum Center Will Reopen to the Public
Kids in the Cincinnati area (and their parents) can rejoice: For the first time in nearly a year and a half, the Children’s Museum in the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) will open to the public on July 1. As a result of the pandemic — and due to the attraction's interactive presentation with many high-touch…
Bicycle Commuters Get Free Metro and TANK Bus Rides on National Bike to Work Day
May is National Bike Month — a celebration of two-wheeled transportation established by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956 to encourage cycling and exalt its benefits. And May 21, specifically, is National Bike to Work Day. As can be inferred by the name, this date (always the third Friday in May) is set aside for both…
Fifty West Brewing Co. Hosts Walk-In COVID Vaccine Clinic — With Free French Fries
Need to cure your craving for carbs while receiving your COVID-19 vaccine? Stop by Fifty West Brewing Co.'s beer garden from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 18 to receive a free side of fries after you get your vaccine. The local brewery, located along the Little Miami River in Columbia Township, is partnering with the township…
Cincinnati Reds, Zoo, Kings Island Change Protocols after Ohio Gov. DeWine Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions
Ohio is on its way to a new version of "normal" in the age of coronavirus, and Cincinnati institutions are eager to change course, as well. The Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Kings Island all announced over the weekend that they'd be amending their current practices to reflect Ohio's further easing of…
Tickets For Dave Chappelle & Friends Show in Yellow Springs Available Today at Noon
On June 12, comedian Dave Chappelle released 8:46, a stand-up special filmed just days before in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Since filming the special, Chappelle began hosting intimate, socially distanced comedy shows at that same location, Wirrig Pavilion, a private outdoor event space amid corn fields and Christmas tree farms in the idyllic village of…
Chris Rock’s ‘Spiral’ Expands the ‘Saw’ Horror Universe While Showing Its Limits
Fans of the torture-porn horror franchise Saw will no doubt be confused to hear that Spiral, the latest installment, has opened in theaters. Isn’t it May? Each of the eight prior Saw films debuted on the Friday before Halloween, and from 2004-2010, they arrived like clockwork each year, almost ritualistically, constructing with each new episode the flimsy mythology of Jigsaw, the…
Fast and Furr-ious Hello Kitty Cafe Truck Returns to Cincinnati, Proof That Nature is Healing
The CDC says you can now take your mask off to bite the head off of a giant cookie made to look like the world's most famous Japanese cat character. OK — so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not weighed in on the super cuteness of the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, but the perfectly…
Brick Gardens Turns Vacant Lots into Urban Farms That Feed Cincinnati Communities
Domonique Peebles walks along a mulched path hemmed in by raised plant beds at a garden site in Madisonville. The founder of local urban farming nonprofit Brick Gardens points out what’s growing in each container. “Right now, we already have some (produce) like swiss chard, mustard greens, broccoli. In those far beds over there is…
‘Vax-A-Million’ Seen as Unorthodox but Legal Way to Promote COVID-19 Vaccines in Ohio
New Jersey is offering free beer and New York is offering tickets to Yankee stadium. Ohio, meanwhile, is offering a much bigger incentive to getting the COVID-19 vaccine: $1 million in cold, hard cash. Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement of a “Vax-A-Million” lottery turned heads last week, with Ohioans debating the merits of the program and whether…
New Bill from Ohio Republican Would Ban Discussions of Race from Public Schools
A bill in the works in the Ohio legislature would prohibit “teaching or advocating divisive concepts” on race, color, nationality, or sex, according to the sponsor of the bill. In an email request for cosponsors, state Rep. Diane Grendell, R-Chesterland, mentioned critical race theory as one of the “divisive concepts” she’d like to see kept…
Health-Care Subsidy Savings Help Female Heads of Households in Kentucky
Changes outlined in President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan are lowering health-insurance costs for many Kentuckians enrolled in marketplace plans, and experts say the savings could be game-changing for women heads of household and single moms. Cheryl Caskey, Franklin County resident who works for a small nonprofit, said she started using healthcare.gov in 2019 when she switched jobs. Caskey…
Ohio Bill Prohibits Strangulation by Police
A new bill introduced in the Ohio legislature targets strangulation by law enforcement, opening officers up to felony charges. The bill comes as police actions in Ohio and elsewhere are being analyzed. “If we remember the actual history of policing, we haven’t really come to terms with how it needs to change and how you can…
Survey: Ohioans Are Working from Their Cars Because Everything Is Weird During a Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic seems to be getting a little better (maybe?), but many people continue to work from home. For some folks, it's not anything new. For others, it's been something to learn, along with updated job expectations and crowded family life. With everything going on, it's no wonder that people apparently have been retreating…
Bingo! CityBeat’s 2021 Summer Guide Is Here
Summer is here, and it’s finally time to shake off that COVID-19 ennui and safely mingle with your pals outside. Greater Cincinnati has an abundance of activities for all interests and ages, but there are a few that every resident needs to try. So why not make a game of it? Read on for CityBeat's…
A Guide to Kings Island’s Many Famous Friends
Cincinnati residents and visitors know all about Kings Island’s picturesque setting and iconic place in history. But the amusement park in Mason also has its share of celebrity fans. Kings Island has appeared in many iconic television and film moments through the years, some of which are included in longtime park employee Evan Ponstingle’s new…
2021 Summer Guide: Scoop an Ice Ball to Mark Greater Cincinnati’s Official Start of Summer
As summer approaches, a seasonal favorite is making its way back to Northern Kentucky sweet shops — ice balls. A combination of finely ground ice with rich, flavored syrup generously poured on top, this dessert has become a seasonal staple in Northern Kentucky. Local food etymologist and historian Dann Woellert writes on his blog that…
2021 Summer Guide: Get Away from It All While Staying Close to Cincinnati
If you’re looking for the chance to escape the bustle of the city this summer, there are plenty of peaceful getaways within a three-hour drive of Cincinnati. Recharge your batteries by exploring the backwoods of Ohio and Kentucky, basking in the sun and listening to the birds. Don’t forget to grab a board game, dig…
2021 Summer Guide: Explore Kings Island’s Cincinnati Roots
Evan Ponstingle might know more about Kings Island than anyone else on the planet right now. What’s novel about that is he’s a teenager. Ponstingle, 18, has worked at the Emporium gift shop at the popular amusement park for four summers now, and one of the questions customers ask him most often is if Kings…
2021 Summer Guide: Chill Out at Cincinnati’s Best Rooftop Bars
Sweet, sweet summertime is upon us, which means it’s time to figure out which local rooftop bars you should plan to visit for all your breezy sunshine and sipping needs. And this year, we’re taking the guesswork out of the equation. CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati® for more…
2021 Summer Guide: Devour the Meat Cone at Great American Ball Park
With its leisurely pace, foam-fingered cheers and Hammond organ interludes, baseball is the quintessential summer sport. There’s just something special about singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and root, root, rooting for the home team with 40,000 other rabid fans. But honestly? Sometimes we just want the food. Ballpark fare can make anyone salivate.…
2021 Summer Guide: Celebrate Summer in Cincinnati with This Checklist
Summer is here, and it’s finally time to shake off that COVID-19 ennui and safely mingle with your pals outside. Greater Cincinnati has an abundance of activities for all interests and ages, but there are a few that every resident needs to try. So why not make a game of it? Read on for CityBeat's favorite…
Downtown’s Khora Restaurant Serves Up Supreme Pasta Dishes, But Desserts Shine Brightest
Post-vaccine life keeps getting better. My first indoor restaurant outing after vaccination was with a former work colleague at a casual neighborhood place. We had good drinks and mediocre food and felt liberated from the worry that a deadly, invisible killer might be lurking close by. A couple of weeks later, four of us tried…
Ohio Gov. DeWine Announces End to $300 Federal Unemployment Supplement
Citing fears that a $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement was keeping Ohioans from returning to the workforce, Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday announced that he would end it. However, the governor was unable to cite any data showing that businesses’ trouble finding workers was due to the supplement and not other dislocations caused by the coronavirus…
CDC: Fully Vaccinated Folks Can Ditch the Mask in Most Places, Inside and Out
Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to wear a mask in most situations, indoors and outdoors, federal health officials said in an updated set of recommendations Thursday that marks a major turning point in the pandemic. The announcement is a shift from earlier federal guidance, which had urged people who are vaccinated to continue wearing…
Over-the-Rhine’s Washington Park to Host Cicada Fest this Month
2021 is the year of the cicadas (at least in our region of the world). The 17-year Brood-X will soon emerge from the earth by the trillions to sing us sweet scream songs and furiously flutter through our lives before their mortal departure. And to celebrate the roughly month-long phenomenon (or nightmare, depending on who…
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Announces its 2021-2022 Season
After a year of dark stages, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is ready to return to the business of live, onstage theater for 2021 and 2022. The productions announced on May 13 will sound familiar to Playhouse fans, since all but one were initially put forth as the 2020-2021 season that didn't happen due…
Coalition Urges Ohio Senate to Invest in Child Wellbeing
As the Ohio Senate continues hearings on the biennial state budget, there are calls for lawmakers to move the needle on investments in child wellbeing. While the House version of a $74 billion two-year budget would increase funding for K-12 education and invests in student wellness, the Ohio Children's Budget Coalition contended it rejected proposals to address…
7 Lingering Questions (and Answers) about COVID-19 Vaccines
It’s now open season for COVID-19 vaccines across the United States. After months of having to scramble to find a shot, the tables have turned and most people who want one can get one. Everyone 16 years and older is eligible for a vaccine, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 10 extended emergency…
Cincinnati’s Live Music Venues Consider Paths to Reopening As COVID Vaccines Increase
"In a year like 2020, it’s imperative that we build community, because if we don’t, we will have no communities left. It’s the communal aspect of people getting together in a room to have this shared experience where everybody is there because they love live music. There’s nothing like live music. That’s what we all…
Cincinnati Bengals to Face Steelers, Chiefs in First-Ever 17-Game Season
After a wacky 2020 season (thanks, coronavirus), the Cincinnati Bengals will roar back into action for the 2021 season with a slate of matchups against some heavy hitters. There are 17 games on the Bengals' upcoming schedule, which was released Wednesday. NFL seasons typically have been 16 games, but league owners voted in March to…
FC Cincinnati and Rookwood Pottery Celebrate 513 Day with a Sweet Collab
May 13 is known locally as "513 Day," a day to celebrate our love for the Queen City (which happens to be located in area code 513). In honor of the holiday, Cincinnati's Rookwood Pottery has partnered with FC Cincinnati (which plays its first game in the new TQL stadium on May 16) to release…
Ohio Residents Vaccinated from COVID-19 Could Win $1 Million or Full-Ride University Scholarships
All Coronavirus health orders except those that pertain to nursing homes and assisted living facilities will be lifted on June 2, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced in a special press event Wednesday evening. That includes statewide mask mandates. DeWine made the decision to lift the orders under immense political pressure. He can expect a vicious primary…
Cincinnati’s Coney Island Announces New Attractions This Year — Like a Giant Floating Obstacle Course
Cincinnati's beloved amusement park Coney Island is kicking off the summer season with some new additions to its line-up of attractions. The over-a-century-old park already is home to the nation's largest recirculating pool, water slides, Cannonball Cove, Typhoon Tower Splashpark and paddle boats, but 2021 welcomes some new thrills to the mix, like the recently…
Ohio Gov. DeWine Removes State Health Orders Amid Legislative Pressure
Since passing a bill in March to give themselves power to rescind public health orders, Republican lawmakers in Ohio have been counting the days until that power went into effect. They may not need to use it. In a Wednesday evening address outlining Ohio’s next steps in handling the pandemic, Gov. Mike DeWine announced “it…
CDC Joins FDA in Endorsing Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Teens Ages 12-15
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has endorsed administering Pfizer's two-shot COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as 12 years old. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met Wednesday to discuss and approve the practice, putting the agency's recommendation in line with Monday's decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to give emergency…
Domestic Violence Survivors in Ohio Can’t Get the Help They Need, Report Says
During a single 24-hour period last September, more than 250 survivors of domestic violence in Ohio couldn't get help when they needed it. According to the 15th annual National Census of Domestic Violence Services released Tuesday, those unmet requests included emergency shelter, transportation, childcare and legal representation, and 57% of the requests were for housing. Micaela Deming,…
Ohio’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Reveals 2021 Inductees, Including Tina Turner, Foo Fighters
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland revealed its 2021 class of inductees Wednesday. The latest class includes R&B/Pop-Rock icon Tina Turner, Hip-Hop leader Jay-Z, Rock act Foo Fighters, new-wave Rock band The Go-Go's, multi-instrumentalist and producer Todd Rundgren, and Singer-Songwriter Carole King. To be eligible for induction, artists must have released their…
Cincinnati’s Sonder Brewing Introduces Blue Ice Cream Ale Collab with Kings Island
Mason's Sonder Brewing has once again teamed up with Kings Island for a boozy collab, this time featuring one of Cincy's most nostalgic sweet treats. Blue Ice Cream Ale, inspired by the amusement park's signature blueberry- and vanilla-flavored "blue ice cream," will be available starting May 15 at Kings Island and May 17 at the…
Hotel Covington Is One of the Nation’s Top 25 Hotels, Tripadvisor Travelers Say
Northern Kentucky's Hotel Covington received some much-deserved national recognition by way of online travel site Tripadvisor's Top 25 Hotels in the United States round-up. The rankings were based on travelers' experiences for Tripadvisor's 2021 Travelers' Choice Awards. Hotel Covington, which opened in the fall of 2016, is housed in a historic building along Covington's Madison…
Facebook Deplatforms Ohio-Based Anti-Vaccine Group
Facebook booted a prominent, Ohio-based anti-vaccine advocacy group from its platform Monday, part of the company’s attempt to purge disproven health information that proliferates on its site. The Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom said in a newsletter that Facebook deplatformed the group, which had 40,000 followers, around noon Monday. The newsletter didn’t offer an explanation…
Commemorate Brood X with Charley Harper’s Cicada Shirt
Any day now, trillions – yes, trillions — of cicadas will emerge from the earth to scream loudly for several weeks in celebration of their 17-year return. And in honor of the phenomenon, Charley Harper's 1960s cicada design has made a comeback on a commemorative t-shirt. The shirt comes in four different colors: white, blue, green…
Ohio Gas Prices Steadily Rising; National Average Hits Above $3/Gallon
If you've noticed a price increase at the gas station this year — and especially this week — you're not alone. Nationally, the price per gallon of regular unleaded gas has risen in 2021 from about $2.25 in January to $3.008 on Wednesday, says auto association AAA. It's the most expensive national average since 2014.…
Newport’s 28th-Annual Italianfest Returns This July
After a long, festival-less year, events are slowly emerging on the horizon, ready to satiate our longing for great food, live music and plenty of booze. The City of Newport has announced the return of the beloved Italianfest, which will take place at the Festival Park between Taylor Southgate Bridge and the Purple People Bridge…
Kentucky’s Bar and Restaurant Curfew Goes Away May 28
The end is nigh for the COVID-induced curfew on restaurants and bars in Kentucky. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday that due to the state's robust vaccination rate and its decrease in COVID-19 cases, restaurants and bars can return to their normal hours on May 28, just in time for a potentially lucrative Memorial Day…
Ohio’s Dave Yost Joins More Than 40 Attorneys General to Cancel ‘Instagram for Kids’
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined 43 other state AGs urging Facebook to abandon plans to develop a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. The AGs signed a letter addressed to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. "With research rating Instagram as the worst social media platform for youth mental health, it's hard to imagine…
99.75% of Hospitalized Covid Patients in Ohio This Year Were Unvaccinated
In unsurprising science news today, the Cleveland Clinic found that 99.75% of patients hospitalized with Covid since January of this year were either not vaccinated from coronavirus or had not gotten both of their Pfizer or Moderna shots (or the single-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen). As coronavirus stats continue to dip, the news is…
MadTree Brewing Expanding to Over-the-Rhine with The Alcove in Former Kaze Space
A Greater Cincinnati staple is growing roots in Over-the-Rhine this fall, taking over a familiar destination on Vine Street. Oakley-based MadTree Brewing, which opened in 2013, has announced its partnership with 3CDC to create The Alcove, a taproom, bar and restaurant boasting MadTree brews, craft cocktails. The establishment also will feature farm-to-table bites by chef…
CPS Superintendent Laura Mitchell Announces Resignation, New Job Within 24 Hours
Laura Mitchell, the superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools, is resigning after the academic year ends, she announced Monday. She won't have much downtime, though, as a press release on Tuesday shows that Mitchell soon will lead Beech Acres Parenting Center. During a May 10 school board meeting, Mitchell shared her resignation from the position she's…
FDA Approves COVID-19 Vaccine for Young Teens; Ohio to Immediately Expand Eligibility
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday signed off on expanding the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12 to 15, clearing one key hurdle before that age group can begin receiving the two-shot vaccine. But another step is needed before tweens and teens can line up for shots. The Centers for…
What Changes Ohio Elections Officials Do — and Don’t — Want to See
The organization representing elections officials throughout Ohio sees a bill proposing numerous elections changes as a mixed bag. There are some provisions in House Bill 294 the Ohio Association of Elections Officials would like to see adjusted, executive director Aaron Ockerman said Monday, while there are others it supports. One item in particular, to eliminate early in-person…
Ohio Republicans Propose Restrictive Election Reforms
The 2020 election in Ohio, Republicans will tell you, was perhaps the most successful in state history. Ohio recorded its highest turnout ever, despite a pandemic that saw COVID-19 cases rising in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Secretary of State Frank LaRose led a major poll worker recruitment drive and coordinated safety protocols…
Ohio Group Aims to Stem Surge of Marijuana Vaping Among Teens
Groups working to prevent substance misuse said immediate action is needed to stem the surge of young people vaping marijuana. In a 2020 federal drug survey, one in five 10th and 12th graders said they had vaped marijuana in the past-year. While that's about the same as 2019, it's still nearly double the rate from 2017.…
Graeter’s Has Announced Its First Bonus Flavor of 2021, Which Means Summer Is Officially Here
Graeter's Ice Cream is back on the bonus flavors train for 2021, and we can't wait to take a ride. Cincinnati's favorite hand-crafted ice cream chain is kicking off its annual tradition with Black Raspberry Cookies & Cream, a delicious twist on the shop's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream. The new flavor is available…
Community Health Workers Urge Kentuckians with Diabetes to Consider COVID-19 Vaccine
People with Type 2 diabetes face an increased risk of severe illness if they become sick with the coronavirus, and in eastern Kentucky, community health workers urged people with the condition to consider getting their shots. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moved to prioritize all Americans living with diabetes for COVID-19 vaccination.…
These Moderators Are Fighting Disinformation on Reddit’s Largest Coronavirus Forum
Combating misinformation online is an ongoing challenge for big tech, and it’s especially difficult when it’s on a discussion board with millions of people during a pandemic. One such place is the r/Coronavirus community on the website Reddit. In January 2020, it had around 1,000 members. That number spiked to 1.5 million by March of 2020, partly…
Northern Kentucky’s Colonial Cottage Restaurant Temporarily Closes After Fire
Northern Kentucky culinary staple Colonial Cottage suffered "heavy damage" from a fire on Friday morning. Erlanger Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at the restaurant, a May 7 Facebook post by the department explains. A cause for the fire has not been identified yet. Colonial Cottage announced via a Facebook post that…
Tuba Baking Co. to Open ‘Brezelgarten’ in Dayton, Kentucky This Summer
Northern Kentucky-based Tuba Baking Co. is growing, uprooting from its first brick-and-mortar location in Covington to a storefront in Dayton, Kentucky which offers a little more room to branch out. The eatery, owned by lifelong Campbell County resident Drew Rath, launched in 2018, focusing primarily on Swabian-style pretzels. The bakery offered them wholesale for buyers…
Baby, Baby, Baby: Justin Bieber Is Coming to Cincinnati in 2022
Cincinnati's post-pandemic (or at least safer-pandemic) concert card is rapidly filling up, and Justin Bieber wants to be part of it. The Grammy-winning former teen heartthrob has added Cincinnati to his newly rescheduled Justice world tour and is slated to perform at Heritage Bank Center on April 19 next year. Tickets are on sale now.…
Hourly Workers Are Left Behind in COVID-19 Vaccination Push, Researcher Says
In Woodland Hills, an east Cleveland neighborhood, about 15% of the population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to about 41% statewide. More than 81% of workers in the neighborhood work part-time, seasonal or low wage (below $35,0000 annually) jobs. After comparing vaccine uptake data in Cuyahoga County with the percentage of the population in…
Ohio Senator Zooms from Car the Same Day Republicans Introduce Distracted Driving Bill
A state senator from Ohio seems to be uninterested in setting a good example for attentive driving. Andrew Brenner, a Republican who serves Ohio Senate district 19 (Knox, Delaware and part of Franklin counties), took part in a May 3 virtual meeting for the Ohio Controlling Board, which handles state budget considerations. Board members met…
This Year’s 4/20 Set a Record for Single-Day Cannabis Sales in North America, Data Shows
This year's 4/20 was the biggest yet. That's according to Headset, a cannabis industry data-tracking firm. The company says that the annual stoner holiday saw the largest single-day cannabis sales on record in both the U.S. and Canada, including a $10.3 million day in Ohio's neighbor Michigan, which has legal weed. Headset says the massive…
Cincinnati City Council Member Betsy Sundermann Files to Suspend Wendell Young
Cincinnati voters approved anti-corruption measures this week, and one city council member is ready to implement them. Cincinnati City Council member Betsy Sundermann has filed paperwork to begin the process of suspending Councilman Wendell Young, who was indicted in April for tampering with records. Voters passed Issue 2 during the primary election on Tuesday, approving…
Artist Zora J Murff Discusses the Intersection of Art and Blackness in America Ahead of FotoFocus Event
An Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Arkansas, Zora J Murff received his MFA from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and holds a BS in Psychology from Iowa State University. Merging his educational experiences, Murff uses his practice to highlight intersections between various social systems and art. Murff joins incoming Aperture Foundation Director Sarah Meister and FotoFocus Artistic…
Does Freedom of the Press Extend to Covering Police in Ohio?
This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism in partnership with the nonprofit Matter News. Please join Eye on Ohio’s free mailing list and follow Matter News as this helps them provide more public service reporting. Who is this person? Nearly a year after Columbus police officers pepper sprayed journalists covering protests against police brutality, The Columbus…
Long-Term, ICU COVID-19 Cases Are On the Rise in Younger Adults
After spending much of the past year tending to elderly patients, doctors are seeing a clear demographic shift: young and middle-aged adults make up a growing share of the patients in COVID-19 hospital wards. It’s both a sign of the country’s success in protecting the elderly through vaccination and an urgent reminder that younger generations…
Kroger Delivery Drones Could Be in Your Backyard Soon
Need s'mores supplies for your backyard fire-pit session? A Kroger drone might drop them off — literally. This week, Cincinnati-based Kroger is launching an automated drone delivery program in Centerville, about 48 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati. The company is partnering with Drone Express for the pilot, initially testing flights near the Centerville Kroger store…
Local Women-Owned Businesses Hosting Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl with Let’s Talk Womxn of Cincinnati Passport
Julia Petiprin, co-owner of HomeMakers Bar, and Louisa Reckman, owner of Maize OTR and Americano, are hosting a special Cinco de Mayo event as part of the Let’s Talk Womxn Cincinnati initiative. Founded during the pandemic, Let’s Talk Womxn is "a network of women that own businesses in (food and beverage) all over the country," says…
Should Dog Walking Be a Law? Some Ohioans and Kentuckians Think So
Most of us have muttered, "There ought to be a law…" at some point during our lives. But how often do we say it in regards to our pets? MyPetNeedsThat.com, an advice and resource website dedicated to furry and scaly friends, recently surveyed users in the United States to find out if good pet ownership…
The City Flea Returns to Washington Park Just in Time for Mother’s Day
The City Flea pop-up market is back at Washington Park this weekend — just in time for Mother's Day. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The City Flea (@thecityflea) Held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 8, it will be the first City Flea of 2021 and COVID precautions — including masking and social…
Skyline Chili Voted One of the Top 10 Regional Fast Food Chains in America
While fast food giants like McDonald's and Burger King are available just about everywhere you go, some cult-favorite chains are restricted to certain regions, making them all the more special when traveling through or to a destination. Ever wondered which regional fast food chains are the top in the nation? The folks at USA Today…
Former Cincinnati Bengals Star Chad Johnson is a Boxer Now, It Seems
The Cincinnati Bengals may be getting new stripes, but a former player is getting a new ring. Former Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson will head to the boxing ring this summer for an exhibition bout against a still-unnamed opponent. The clash will be the undercard to the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Logan Paul fight on June…
5 Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Cincinnati This Year
Cinco de Mayo is here, bringing plenty of margaritas, taco parties and live music with it. Last year’s festivities were — for the most part — put on hold due to the rising pandemic, but as more and more folks are becoming vaccinated against COVID-19 and warmer weather returns, events are making their way back into…
As Pandemic Asks More of Nurses, Ohio Bill Barring Mandatory Overtime Returns to Legislature
As medical professionals continue to work through the pandemic, now including mass vaccination efforts, a bipartisan bill that would bar mandatory overtime for nurses has returned to the Ohio legislature. The bill originated pre-pandemic, with its initial version (House Bill 144) passing the House with an 80-13 vote. The bill did not make it through the Senate…
Ohio-Based Jam Legends Ekoostik Hookah Release NFT in Advance of 30th Anniversary Concert
In advance of its upcoming 30th anniversary concert, the Ohio-based jam band ekoostik hookah has released its first official NFT. The unique NFT collection marks the release of the band's new album 31 West, and each NFT purchased will unlock the unreleased single "Gray Sky Blue." The band recorded 31 West live, and it features a mixture of…
Aftab Pureval, David Mann Take 2021 Cincinnati Mayoral Primary
And then there were two. It appears that Aftab Pureval and David Mann will duke it out in November as their quest to become Cincinnati's next mayor continues. During the May 4 primary election, Pureval earned about 39% of eligible Cincinnati votes, while Mann scooped up about 29% as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, with all 250…
Nominate a Service Member for the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame
The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame is taking nominations for its 2021 class of inductees. Created in 1992, the organization recognizes citizens who had served in the U.S. military "with honor and distinction," the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation website states. Nominees must be current or past Ohio residents, must have received honorable discharges…
Taqueria Nogal Food Truck Opens Brick-and-Mortar in Dayton, Kentucky
Northern Kentucky food truck Taqueria Nogal has become a fast favorite around the region for its scratch-made Mexican eats since opening in 2019. The truck moved from its original location in Newport to Dayton, Kentucky in July of 2020, and after a successful jaunt in the neighborhood's business district parking lot, the eatery is getting…
Cincinnati Is the Best City for College Grads in 2021, Study Shows
College isn't a guarantee for a great job or livable wage anymore, but some cities offer graduates a better shot at surviving — especially in the Midwest. Cincinnati is the best of those cities, a recent study from financial resources company SmartAsset finds. The Queen City comes in at No. 1 on SmartAsset's 2021 list…
Adopt — and Name — Your Very Own Bee at the Cincinnati Art Museum’s New Beehives
Are you sweet on honeybees? Ever wanted to help the pollinators thrive but don't want to commit to a whole hive? The Cincinnati Art Museum has a fun new program for you. At the end of April, the CAM installed two beehives — named Pablo Bee-casso and Reigning Queen (from an Andy Warhol work) — on its grounds with…
Here’s How to Vote in Cincinnati’s 2021 Mayoral Primary and Other Hamilton County Elections Today
Hamilton County residents are on their way to the polls to vote on a number of people and issues in the May 4 primary election. Of note, residents of Cincinnati are voting among six candidates to head to the general election in November to become the city's next mayor. But if you want to vote,…
College Hill’s Hollywood Drive-In Theatre Returns This Summer
College Hill's super popular pop-up drive-in theater returns this summer. After a very successful first year, the Hollywood Drive-In Theatre is back, screening family-friendly and cult-favorite films from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Organized by the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC), movies are projected onto the back of the historic Hollywood Theatre, with…
Ohio Democrats Want to Extend Statute of Limitations on Rape Cases
Two Democrats want to expand the statute of limitations on rape cases, legislation that has entered the Statehouse several times before, to no avail. State Reps. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) re-introduced legislation regarding the statute of limitations for criminal and civil and sex crimes, with their bill eliminating any time limit…
WATCH: Kings Island Packs New Orion Giga-Coaster Full of Bob Ross Plushies for a Test Ride
Cincinnati's Kings Island opens to the public on May 15, and ahead of their much-anticipated season return, the amusement park had some fun with the nation's beloved bushy-haired and big-hearted painting teacher. Well, at least a couple dozen of them, actually. During a test run of the park's new Orion giga coaster — the seventh…
Ohio’s COVID-19 Vaccination Has Slowed ‘Dramatically,’ Data Shows
One month ago, nearly 475,000 Ohioans over seven days marched into small pharmacies and mass clinics alike around the state to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Each week since, the number of newly “vaccine-started” Ohioans has tumbled. Just 152,000 Ohioans were vaccinated during the week ending April 25, according to data from the Ohio Department of…
The Flaming Lips Are Headed to Cincinnati’s ICON Music Center
Get ready to follow the bouncing (inflatable, ginormous) ball, Cincinnati, because the Flaming Lips are coming to town. The psychedelic Rock band is celebrating the long, extremely slow march toward COVID-19 eradication with the return of its always-whimsical live shows beginning this fall. The "American Head" tour — named for the album that the Lips released…
Stock up on Tampons and Diapers — Cincinnati-Based Procter & Gamble Will Raise Prices in September
Consumers will see an increase in prices for some everyday goods from Procter & Gamble this fall, the Cincinnati-based corporation recently announced. In its most recent quarterly earnings report, P&G said it would raise prices on baby care, feminine care and adult incontinence products in September. P&G brands in those categories include Pampers diapers, Luvs diapers, Always…
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati Is Rewarding Guests Who Are Vaccinated from COVID-19
The coronavirus vaccine incentives in Greater Cincinnati keep piling up. Visitors to the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati can flash their vaccination cards for freebies this month. Throughout May, guests will receive $5 in free play at the Wild Card Club when they show their COVID-19 vaccination proof. The offer is good for a single use…
Vote for Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden as USA Today’s Best Zoo
You love the Cincinnati Zoo. We love the Cincinnati Zoo (exhibit A, exhibit B, exhibit C). Now the nation needs to love the Cincinnati Zoo. “10 Best,” USA Today’s travel information hub that frequently relies on reader input, has included the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden among its nominees for best zoo in its readers’…
Cincinnati Pride to Host Ziegler Pool Takeover This June
Cincinnati's annual Pride fest and parade may be cancelled (again) this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there will be plenty of ways to celebrate on a smaller — and safer — scale this summer, including a pool party. Cincinnati Pride has designated June 12 and June 13 for a Pride Pool Takeover at…
Ohio Republicans, Democrats Race to Draw New District Maps
Ohio’s redistricting process is in a state of turmoil, with a delay in Census data leading the state to worry about there not being enough time to adequately draw new legislative maps. Republicans and Democrats have both presented plans for how Ohio can deal with these delays. In essence, legislative leaders from both parties want…
Ohio State University Study: Hispanic COVID-19 Deaths Disproportionately High
A study done by Ohio State University researchers showed the COVID-19 pandemic had a particularly fatal impact on the Hispanic community. Using CDC death counts separated by racial/ethnic group, the study showed that Hispanics constituted 40%, but only represented 19% of the population in 2020. Deaths among the Hispanic population were disproportionately high in every…
Local Rockers Foxy Shazam Announce Show at Cincinnati’s New ICON Music Center
Last February, beloved Cincinnati Rockers Foxy Shazam announced its hometown comeback show at Cincinnati's Taft Theatre, after a six-year hiatus. The show sold out within four hours. And, of course, due the pandemic, the show was rescheduled for January 2021, but was eventually cancelled. But for all the broken-hearted Foxy fans, hope is on the…
