House to Make Historic Vote on Whether to Federally Decriminalize Marijuana This Week
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on whether to federally decriminalize marijuana this week — an action that would be the biggest move toward marijuana legalization ever taken by Congress. According to a notice posted by the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, the vote for the Marijuana…
Here’s the First Scavenger Hunt Clue for Cincinnati’s City-Wide FOUND Holiday Event
The Queen City is getting in the festive spirit this season with the inaugural FOUND holiday celebration. The month-long event (from Nov. 30 through Dec. 24) will span from The Banks all the way to Findlay Market, transforming the city with ArtWorks-decorated store windows, dazzling Christmas trees to represent each Cincy neighborhood and weekly scavenger hunts. FOUND'S…
Interactive Holiday Celebration “FOUND” will Deck Out Downtown Cincinnati Storefronts This Month
The Queen City is getting in the festive spirit this season with the inaugural FOUND holiday celebration. The month-long event (from Nov. 30 through Dec. 24) will span from The Banks all the way to Findlay Market, transforming the city with ArtWorks-decorated store windows, dazzling Christmas trees to represent each Cincy neighborhood and weekly scavenger…
Loopholes Saddle Some Kentuckians with Surprise Bills for COVID Tests
With or without insurance, some residents are receiving surprise medical bills for fees related to COVID-19 testing. Legal experts say those bills should be contested and explain why loopholes in the law could result in expensive bills. Under the Families First Response Act and the CARES Act, along with Gov. Andy Beshear's executive orders, no Kentuckian should…
Ohio Anti-Vaxxers Shift Aim Toward COVID-19 Laws
When it comes to pandemic politics, Ohio’s anti-vaccine activists are everywhere. They’ve crowded legislative hearings on bills to strip the health department of its authority to issue public health orders to stave off infectious disease. Members have protested various coronavirus restrictions at the Capitol steps as well as the personal homes of both Gov. Mike…
NKU Students’ Hands-On Philanthropy Helps Boost Graduation Rates
College students at Northern Kentucky University are participating in a program that allows them to give away thousands of dollars in grants to local nonprofits, and a new study shows those students are more likely to graduate. Researchers found among 500 students who took the philanthropy class when they were sophomores, 58% went on to…
Groups Ramp Up Work on Budget Agenda to Protect Ohio Kids
More than a dozen groups are banding together to make sure Ohio does right by its kids in the next state budget cycle. The Ohio Children's Budget Coalition is ramping up efforts to maintain, protect and strengthen public resources that support children. The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio is among the organizations involved.Gina Wilt, advocacy director for…
Maslow’s Army Sending Buses to Fountain Square to Help Those Experiencing Homelessness as Freezing Weather Approaches
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Greater Cincinnati area until 7 a.m. Tuesday, with temperatures dropping below freezing today and tonight (per weather.com). To help those experiencing homelessness as the snow begins to fall, local nonprofit Maslow's Army is heading to Fountain Square at 5 p.m. They will be deploying their buses…
Snow Is Coming to Greater Cincinnati
For all you cold weather freaks (like me) out there, the first snow of the season is about to fall in Greater Cincinnati — if it isn't already. According to weather.com, we've got a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 7 a.m. Tuesday, with 1 to 3 inches of snow expected in East Central and…
Covington’s Libby’s Southern Comfort Closed Until Kentucky ‘Mandate is Lifted on Restaurants’
As the pandemic continues to surge throughout the country, small businesses have been forced to make difficult decisions in order to weather the storm. Covington eatery Libby's Southern Comfort announced on Nov. 29 that they are closing their doors until Kentucky's restriction on indoor dining is lifted. Gov. Andy Beshear implemented the new mandate on…
Taft Museum Streams Their Crackling, Historic Fireplaces Straight to Your TV
Downtown's Taft Museum of Art typically decks its halls in vintage fashion for the holiday season, but this year they're offering something more modern. As part of their "Home for the Holidays" line-up, they'll be creating livestreams of their historic fireplaces — cozy and flaming — which you can access via YouTube. It's a riff…
Ohio Foodbanks Call for More National Guard Assistance
Ohio foodbanks have seen unprecedented demand during the coronavirus pandemic — demand they say they couldn’t have met without the help of the Ohio National Guard. Now, as the pandemic enters its most dangerous phase that help is about to dry up and the foodbanks are calling on the Trump administration to do something. “As…
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Komodo Dragon Regains His Sight After Successful Double Cataract Surgery
The Cincinnati Zoo's Komodo dragon Hudo is able to see again after a recent double cataract surgery. A five-person squad of animal care and vet staff helped Hudo regain his sight after a procedure at MedVet on Nov. 19. “We noticed cloudiness in his left eye and less than two weeks later his right eye…
‘The Simpsons’ Features Iconic Cincinnati Destinations on New Episode
If you've spent any time on social media between Sunday and now, your feed has likely been flooded with scenes from FOX Network's The Simpson's episode "The Road to Cincinnati." The show (season 32, episode 8) debuted on Sunday, Nov. 29, and follows unlikely duo Principal Skinner and Superintendent Chalmers on their "800-mile" voyage to the…
Ohio Senators Urge Federal Funding for State Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine
More than a dozen U.S. Senate Democrats are urging congressional leaders to include “robust” funding in any coronavirus relief package for states to prepare for vaccine distribution. “Dedicated funding for COVID-19 vaccine distribution is especially critical now as jurisdictions are facing historic budget shortfalls amid the pandemic and funding for health departments had been inadequate…
Ohio TikToker Fired by Sherwin-Williams Over Viral Paint-Mixing Videos Lands a New Job in Florida
A 22-year old TikToker who became famous for his viral paint-mixing videos just landed a job in Florida. Ohio University student Tony Piloseno has amassed 1.4 million followers and 24.2 million likes on TikTok for his aesthetically pleasing paint videos. On Nov. 11, though, he released a video detailing how he was fired by Sherwin-Williams as…
Homelessness Already a Struggle, But Ohio Curfew Could Add Complications
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine emphasized the fact that a new curfew order seeking to stop the spread of COVID-19 would not be perfect. But advocates for the homeless say the order could complicate things for the unsheltered people without homes across the state. The order itself, signed by Ohio Department of Health director Stephanie McCloud…
Over-the-Rhine’s Please Will Reopen in December — But Things Will Be a Little Different
Over-the-Rhine eatery Please closed its doors at the beginning of the pandemic in March. They have held occasional wine sales since and done private dinner parties. But owner and chef Ryan Santos has announced he will partially reopen the restaurant this December — and there will be some big changes. Only Please's back bar space…
Ohio Slated to Get First Batch of Vaccine in December But COVID Spread is Still “Red Hot”
The long-awaited coronavirus vaccine is expected to begin flowing into Ohio in about three weeks, but state officials worry that the coming holidays will act as gasoline on a pandemic that is already burning out of control. For caregivers already stressed by the demands the virus has placed on them, the coming weeks are critical.…
Cincinnati Restaurateur Daniel Wright Announces Closure of All His Businesses Through February
The hospitality industry has struggled immensely throughout this pandemic, and as many predicted, we have found ourselves in another surge of COVID cases as we approach the winter. Cincinnati restaurateur Daniel Wright, like many others during this challenging year, has had to make a difficult decision about the immediate future of his businesses and staff.…
Ohio’s Coronavirus Healthcare Capacity by Hospital and City
This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join their free mailing list as this helps them provide more public service reporting. Ohio’s COVID-19 cases are surging for the third time, and social media channels have exploded with anecdotes describing how much space there is available at area hospitals. Some “undercover”…
Michigan Attorney General Investigating Threats Against Republican Canvassers
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel confirmed on Tuesday that her office is actively investigating threats made against Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers. A typically obscure body, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers found itself thrust into the national spotlight when its Republican members, Monica Palmer of Grosse Pointe Woods and William Hartmann of…
The National’s Aaron Dessner Nominated for Five Grammys as Co-Writer, Producer for Taylor Swift’s ‘folklore’
When Taylor Swift announced in July she would be surprise-dropping her eighth studio album folklore — "an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into," she said — people lost their shit. (Everyone loves a Pop artist surprise album! And Swifites love Swift.) folklore includes 16 tracks, one…
Italian Chef Helps Ludlow’s Bircus Brewing Launch New Bircus Grill Pizza Kitchen
Bircus Brewing Co. — a circus-themed brewery in Ludlow — is celebrating its third anniversary on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The brewery opens at 4 p.m. The outdoor beer garden at 322 Elm St. will feature fire pits, canned Bircus beers, growler fills and two special bottle releases: a wheat wine and an imperial stout. The…
‘Collective’ — a Riveting Investigation into the Aftermath of a Romanian Rock Club Fire — is This Year’s Best Documentary
Alexander Nanau's Collective, a riveting documentary about the aftermath of a fire at a rock club in Bucharest, Romania, is the best documentary I've seen in 2020. With intimate access to both a team of journalists who expose a multi-tiered scandal and an idealistic young health minister who arrives to reform a corrupt system, the film is…
A ‘Wear Your Goddamn Mask’-Themed Musical Playlist
I think we can trace the culture war that has erupted over the wearing of masks to help dampen the advance of COVID-19 to an early press conference from our outgoing super-spreader-in-chief, President Donald J. Gameshow. In the nascent stages of the pandemic, the Great Trumpkin announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
Northern Kentucky’s Beans Bakery & Cafe Defies Beshear’s COVID Restrictions
On Nov. 18, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued six new regulations to try to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. The restrictions went into effect on Nov. 20 and last until 11:59 p.m. Dec. 13. One of the six new orders was that restaurants and bars in the state must close to indoor service…
Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine Shares Her Favorite Homemade Roll Recipe
During a COVID press briefing, Gov. Mike DeWine said he and his wife, Ohio First Lady Fran, would be celebrating Thanksgiving differently this year, and urged everyone to do the same. He said Fran would still be cooking for the holiday, but instead of having friends and family over, they'd be preparing and delivering food to…
Ohio Gun Sales Reach Record Highs Amid COVID Pandemic, Social Unrest
Ohioans have loaded up on a record number of guns in 2020, a year marred by the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest. From January through October, the FBI conducted nearly 800,000 background checks for gun sales in the state, which is on pace to break the previous full-year record of 875,724 in 2016. The number…
Digital Divide Means Kentucky Kids Risk Falling Behind in School
More than 1 in 3 students of color in the Commonwealth, and 30% of all students, lacked adequate technology at home before the pandemic, putting them at higher risk of falling behind in school, according to a new KIDS COUNT County Data Book. Alicia Sells, director of innovation and communication at the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative,…
Consumer Watchdog Group Lists 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2020
Do you have a child — or perhaps you're just a child inside? Either way, take note. Consumer group World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) has released their annual top 10 list of the worst, most dangerous toys you can buy this season. (FYI: That's not an endorsement.) W.A.T.C.H. says: "Although intended for fun and…
Cincinnati City Council Hopeful Brian Garry Delivering Free Thanksgiving Meals to Families in Need with Maslow’s Army
Cincinnati City Council hopeful Brian Garry is teaming up with nonprofit Maslow's Army to deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need this holiday. On Wednesday and Thursday this week, the group will provide hot free meals to families, seniors and veterans and will deliver within the I-275 loop. The project will launch from 645 Linn St. in…
Annual Free Fall Feast at Duke Energy Convention Center Canceled This Thanksgiving
The 15th-annual Fall Feast at the Duke Energy Convention Center — a free community meal and health event to help those in need on Thanksgiving — has been canceled due to COVID-19. But organizers are still making sure Thanksgiving meals are delivered with the help of other local organizations. Launched by nonprofit Give Back Cincinnati…
Findlay Market’s Eckerlin Meats Named a Best Butcher in America by Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine magazine senior editor David Landsel has once against graced a Queen City business with a "best" in the nation designation. (Landsel also named Allez OTR as one of the best bakeries in America and did a full feature on Camp Washington's mom 'n 'em.) In his recent collection of the 100 Best…
Cincinnati’s Inaugural Seltzer Fest Has Been Postponed Until Spring
Cincinnati's very first festival devoted to hard seltzer was announced this fall, slated to take place on Nov. 28 at Oakley's Fowling Warehouse. But due to the rising COVID-19 cases, accompanied by Gov. Mike DeWine's gathering restrictions, the festival has been postponed until April 17, 2021. “We are obviously extremely disappointed to move this event,…
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Brings Drunk Santa Straight to Your TV
The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has canceled their annual winter show, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) — their hilarious send-up of “BHCs” or Beloved Holiday Classics (and pushed their mainstage productions to fall 2021). But you can still catch everyone's favorite Drunk Santa, streamed straight to your TV or via DVD. Yes, The Drunk Santa X-Mas…
Deadline Extended, Requirements Easier for City’s ‘Taste of Cincinnati All Winter Long’ Restaurant Grants
Taste of Cincinnati All Winter Long is a new program facilitated through the city and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation that will provide $4 million in grants to Cincinnati bars and restaurants to help them through the winter months of the pandemic. Specifically geared to those food and drink establishments within city limits, the…
Pandemic Worsens in Ohio as Thanksgiving Nears
If COVID-19 could devise a holiday to its liking, it’d be Thanksgiving. American families travel for a prolonged meal; congregate with extended family, neighbors and friends; and can’t wear masks when they eat and drink. In Ohio, the cold weather likely precludes any notion of eating outside, where the virus is less likely to spread.…
Special Black Friday Beer Releases at Greater Cincinnati Breweries
The brewery Black Friday hot list is here. These are the breweries, brewpubs, bottle shops and other small businesses that are offering craft beer-related deals on the holiday we’ve come to know as Black Friday. We're sure you’re tired of hearing about how different things are, blah blah; we're tired of writing about it, too.…
City of Middletown Issues Stay at Home Advisory Due to Spike in COVID Cases
The City of Middletown has issued a stay at home advisory for citizens, going into effect today (Nov. 23), due to the influx of COVID cases. The health advisory asks Middletown residents to do the following to help already taxed medical staff and hospital capacity limits: Stay at home to the greatest extent possible. Only…
Ohio Doctors Deliver Ominous Message About Hospital Capacity as State Explodes to 11,885 Daily COVID Cases
The State of Ohio reported a dizzying 11,885 new positive coronavirus cases Monday, surpassing the previous daily record by 3,000. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine attributed the explosion, in part, to a weekend backlog at two state testing laboratories, but noted that the extent of the virus' spread was now straining the state's capacity to timely…
Do P.G. Sittenfeld’s Charges Represent Prosecutorial Overreach by a Politicized Trump Justice Department?
On November 19, Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld became the third Cincinnati City Council member this year to be federally indicted on public corruption charges. What should Cincinnatians make of this string of indictments? Does Cincinnati’s City Council suffer from a “culture of corruption”? Or do these charges represent prosecutorial overreach by a politicized Trump Justice Department?…
President Trump Is Being Sued by Black Detroit Voters for Voting Rights Act Violations
Lawsuits on lawsuits on lawsuits. The tables have turned against President Donald Trump and his campaign's many failed legal attempts to toss out legal Detroit votes. The Trump team has filed lawsuits based on claims that Michigan's statewide election was riddled with fraudulent ballots and has attempted to delay Michigan's certification of President-elect Joe Biden's…
Behind the Lens with Three Greater Cincinnati Videographers
All the average viewer sees of a video project is the final cut. And yet any pro knows that video, whether creative or commercial, requires extensive thought, planning, and coordination — and that’s before the editing even begins. We found three local videographers who take that approach further still, bringing a serious ethical and academic…
Downtown’s Court Street Lobster Bar Closed Until Further Notice
Downtown's Court Street Lobster Bar announced on Monday, Nov. 23 that they have made the decision to temporarily close their doors due to the rise in COVID cases. The eatery, which opened in the spring of 2017, posted about the news on their Facebook page, explaining that "due to the pandemic’s exponential growth recently," they…
Santa Express Mailboxes Installed in Kenton County to Send Letters to Santa
Kenton County Parks & Recreation's elves have made it easier than ever to reach the man in red this year. Because COVID has put the kibosh on the tradition of sitting on Santa's lap this holiday, Kenton County has installed several "Santa Express Mailboxes" for kids to send — and receive — special Santa mail.…
Ohio Groups Applaud “Seismic Shift” in Clean-Energy Landscape
Cities around Ohio are creating a seismic shift in the state's energy landscape. Voters in Columbus and Grove City this month approved ballot measures (Issues 1 and 10) that enact Community Choice Aggregation, which allows for residents and businesses in the community to collectively bargain for bulk purchase energy rates from utilities. Cathy Bowan Becker,…
Here’s Why COVID-19 Vaccines Like Pfizer’s Have to Be Kept So Cold
Pfizer is racing to get approval for its COVID-19 vaccine, applying for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on November 20. But the pharmaceutical giant faces a huge challenge in distributing its vaccine, which has to be kept an ultrafrosty –70° Celsius, requiring special storage freezers and shipping containers. It “has some unique…
Oakley Kitchen Food Hall Culinary Incubator and Event Space Will Open Early 2021
Greater Cincinnati's culinary scene is ever-expanding, and with the opening of incubator kitchen and event space Oakley Kitchen Food Hall, area chefs and food entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to develop their ideas, skills and products even further. The food hall will be located at 3715 Madison Road in Oakley, and is slated to open…
Rob Portman on Bernstein’s List of Senators Who Have ‘Expressed Their Disdain’ for Trump but Won’t Speak Out
Journalist Carl Bernstein — of the iconic Woodward and Bernstein — has just tweeted a list of 21 Republican Senators he says have "privately expressed their disdain" for President Trump, or who even "despise" Trump. That list includes Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. I'm not violating any pledge of journalistic confidentially in reporting this: 21 Republican…
Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker Goes Virtual This Holiday, In-Person Performances Canceled
As COVID cases continue to increase across the country — and in Ohio — the Cincinnati Ballet has announced it is canceling its in-person holiday performances of the beloved The Nutcracker and moving to a virtual platform this holiday. Called "The Nutcracker at Home," the free digital experience will include a one-hour version of the…
Ohio Attorney General Seeks to Suspend Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced his intentions to seek the suspension of Cincinnati City Council member P.G. Sittenfeld. Sittenfeld was arrested by the FBI last week on a six-count federal indictment for bribery and extortion. Yost says he will be going to the Ohio Supreme Court today to seek the suspension, and that while "every…
President-Elect Biden Promises ‘No National Shutdown’ Despite Surge in COVID-19
President-elect Joe Biden pressed the urgent need for economic relief and a vaccine distribution plan for states and tribes after a video meeting Thursday with bipartisan leaders of the National Governors Association. But Biden in a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, also vowed there will be “no national shutdown” despite a surge in COVID-19 cases…
Ohio Lawmaker Plans Bill to Rescind Health Order on Retail Mask Enforcement
A Republican state senator says Ohio should strike down a recent order from the state health department requiring businesses to take a heavier hand in enforcing mask mandates for customers. Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville, told the Ohio Capital Journal a bill will soon be introduced to achieve just that, the latest in a string of…
Cincinnati Art Museum Temporarily Closes to the Public to Help Reduce Community COVID Spread
The Cincinnati Art Museum has announced it will temporarily be closing its doors to the public to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the community. From Nov. 21-Dec. 14, the CAM says it will be "suspending in-building visitation for a community health break in support of health care workers and Cincinnatians." “Community wellness, in…
Five Cincinnati Metro Drivers Test Positive for COVID This Week
This week, Cincinnati Metro has announced five separate operators have tested positive for COVID-19. Metro says, "If members of the public have concerns that they may have come into contact with the affected operator, we advise them to closely monitor their health and follow all CDC guidelines, including contacting a medical professional should they develop…
Price Hill’s ‘Holiday Glow Up’ Transforms the Dunham Recreation Area into a Drive-Thru Light Display
Price Hill is getting a "Holiday Glow Up" as the park at the Dunham Recreation Area transforms into a brand new drive-thru light display. "Glow Up was created out of a desire to host a fun, community-oriented, socially-distant, holiday event," says the Facebook event page. "If it is successful, Glow Up could become an annual…
Ohio Department of Health Delays Full Records Release of Hospital Beds, Ventilator Count Despite Court Order
This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join their free mailing list as this helps them provide more public service reporting. Despite an October 20 court order issued by the Ohio Court of Claims, the Ohio Department of Health still had not released complete records as of late Wednesday night,…
Grant Me Hope: Videos Help Ohio Foster Kids Find Homes
Today is National Adoption Day, which celebrates forever families and highlights those children still waiting to find homes. In Ohio, some kids are getting a chance to be in the limelight. Several Ohio children-services agencies are partnering with the organization Grant Me Hope to create personalized videos of foster children who want to be adopted.Sonya Russell, adoption…
Cincinnati’s Skyline Chili Presents a New DIY Recipe: Skyline Lasagna
In the Queen City, a Skyline Chili-infused recipe is as good as gold. And there are a lot of them… because us Cincinnati folks know how to party. In dips, on pizzas, as ramen, on fries — the list goes on. It's a favorite at tailgates and parties, and times when many people gather around a…
Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld Releases Statement After Arrest, Federal Bribery Charges
On Thursday morning (Nov. 19), FBI agents arrested council member P.G. Sittenfeld at his home. Now the presumptive front-runner for Cincinnati’s upcoming mayoral race is featured in a six-count federal indictment for bribery and extortion. Investigators say Sittenfeld arranged what amounted to campaign donations — though he circumvented election law by directing those payments to…
Over-the-Rhine’s Historic First Lutheran Church Slated to Tear Down Bell Tower
The beloved bell tower of Over-the-Rhine's First Lutheran Church is slated for demolition. The historic church, dedicated on May 12, 1895, 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 break off the façade. The folks at First Lutheran…
Get a Free Flu Shot During The Children’s Home’s Community Immunization Event in Madisonville
The Children's Home (5050 Madison Road) in Madisonville is hosting a free community immunization event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Children (ages 0-6) and adults can come and get a flu shot. There is also an opportunity to get caught up on other vaccines, according to a press release. “Immunizations can’t wait, especially…
Where to Find a COVID Testing Site in Hamilton County
As COVID cases continue to spike across the county and in Ohio — and with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching — many may be wondering where they can get a coronavirus test, whether they're showing symptoms, think they may have been exposed or just want to get tested before seeing family members this holiday. The Health…
“This is Not a Drill.” Ohio Health Officials Say They Might Have to Start Canceling Procedures
Coronavirus cases in Ohio continue to snowball and now health officials say the strain is so great that any day now they might have to start canceling medical procedures. They made that stark warning on a day when the state’s GOP lawmakers seemed to be living in another world, with House Republicans voting down a…
Looking Ahead: Old Farmer’s Almanac Predictions for Cincinnati This Winter
Well, we have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that global warming is ramping up to a terrifying degree and the world is screwed. The good news is that, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Cincinnati is going to have a mild-ish winter. On the winter 2020-2021 forecast map, the trusted…
This Time-Lapse Shows the Alarming Spread of COVID-19 Throughout Ohio
The spread of coronavirus is evident all throughout Ohio as the state heads into the winter months. All 88 counties have “high incidence” of spread, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state’s Public Health Advisory System map, which labels the 88 counties by various spread indicators, shows an alarming trend…
Braxton Brewing Co.’s Dark Charge Day Goes Online with Rare and Limited-Edition Variants
Dark Charge Day is back, here to help us drown our sorrows with tasty new variants of craft bourbon barrel-aged brews from Covington's Braxton Brewing Co. And like most events this year, the sixth-annual party is going virtual, offering an online platform to purchase the coveted beverages and some special releases and collabs. "This year’s…
Cincinnati’s IntubationPod Named One of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020
A Cincinnati creation has been named one of TIME magazine's best inventions of 2020. The IntubationPod was created by local company Under the Weather, which started out making portable and pop-up protective pods to keep out inclement weather at events like sporting games. Described by the company, the IntubationPod is a "lightweight, portable pop-up enclosure…
Transgender Day of Remembrance ‘Illumination Vigil’ to Be Held at St. Peter’s UCC in Pleasant Ridge
The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place every Nov. 20 to honor and remember those lost to acts of violence, as well as recommit to the battle for transgender rights. GLAAD says the day was created in 1999 by "transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a…
The CDC Says Avoid Travel This Thanksgiving, Celebrate at Home
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new guidance on the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year — and it's at home. With the people you live with. The CDC says, "More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days. As cases continue to…
14 States Now on Ohio’s Travel Advisory List
With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday looming on everyone's minds, the Ohio Department of Health has updated its travel advisory map. This map features states whose positivity rate is 15% or higher, and discourages Ohioans from going to/visiting them. If you do visit one of the yellow states on the map — or are traveling to…
Hamilton County Sheriff, Cincinnati Police Say They Will Enforce Ohio’s New Curfew Order
In a short but sweet tweet and media release, the Hamilton County Sheriff has announced it will be enforcing Gov. Mike DeWine's new statewide 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew. The curfew goes into effect today for all of Ohio and will last for 21 days. HCSO will enforce Statewide Curfew Order. Enclosed is our media release.…
City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld Charged with Corruption, Roiling Cincinnati
For the second time in two weeks, a Cincinnati City Council member has been arrested on charges of corruption related to a scheme that allegedly traded cash for votes relating to the development of the former Convention Place Mall. On Thursday morning, FBI agents arrested council member P.G. Sittenfeld at his home. Now the presumptive…
Charges Against 35 Cincinnati Black Lives Matter Protesters Dropped After Cranley Curfew Found Unconstitutional
A Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge has dismissed the charges against 35 Black Lives Matter protesters, who were arrested in Cincinnati between May 29 and June 1. Protests against the death of George Floyd and other Black citizens drew thousands in Cincinnati this summer — and a heavy police presence, with officers sometimes in riot…
Kentucky Nursing Homes Brace for Second Wave of COVID Cases
Coronavirus cases in Kentucky and across the nation are spiking at alarming rates, and new data from AARP shows nationwide nursing home infections are no longer declining. In fact, a report from The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living shows that new weekly COVID cases in nursing homes has reached a record number this month. "During…
Ohio’s Sexual-Assault Response Network Faces Massive Funding Cuts
In an already challenging year, advocates for sexual-assault survivors in Ohio are grappling with major funding cuts. The state's network of crime victim service programs and agencies relies almost exclusively on funding from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). In 2019, VOCA grants decreased by 25%, and for the new fiscal year, funding is cut nearly 40%…
What Does Ohio’s New COVID Curfew Accomplish? Not Much, Experts Say
As of Nov. 19, Ohioans will be breaking the law if they’re out past 10 p.m. — unless they’re shopping for groceries, going to work, or meet other exemptions. The porous curfew, which Gov. Mike DeWine described Tuesday as an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, came after he walked back a plan that…
Get Your Name Emblazoned on a Seat at the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall
The Aronoff Center for the Arts is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. And the Cincinnati Arts Association — the nonprofit that oversees the Aronoff, Music Hall and Weston Art Gallery — wants to take this opportunity to thank those who have been supporting the center for a quarter century with a Name-A-Seat drive. For a certain donation…
Cincinnati: Stop Partying. Airbnb Suspends 23 Local Listings for Violating Coronavirus Party Policies
Airbnb is not pleased with Cincinnati house partiers. The global rental firm is taking action against 23 local listings for violating their official policies on parties and events or for receiving complaints. Those listings have been suspended or removed from the Airbnb site. The company said they cannot "provide addresses for the suspended listings, out of…
Cincinnati is a Top 20 Best City in America for Dating During the Pandemic
It's cuffing season — and we're in a pandemic — so just how in the hell are singles supposed to date? Do they make sexy hazmat suits? Well, whether or not you're interested in barricading yourself in a full body condom or meeting strangers digitally, Cincinnati is apparently one of the best cities in America…
Pampas Argentine Gastropub to Open in Former Eighth & English Space in O’Bryonville
The dynamic team behind Cincinnati restaurant group Ignite Entertainment is breathing life into the former Eighth & English space in O'Bryonville this fall. Taking inspiration from his heritage, Ignite founder Juan Imeroni is opening Pampas Argentine Gastropub, a new eatery that offers an approachable taste of the Argentine countryside. The ambiance will reportedly blend the…
PETA to Dump ‘Big Fat Pile of Coconuts’ at Cincinnati’s Kroger Headquarters to Protest Use of Monkey Labor in Brands
Today, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is planning to dump a truckload of coconuts at the Cincinnati headquarters of grocery giant Kroger. The coconuts will arrive to 1014 Vine St., Downtown at noon. They have also sent coconuts to Kroger executives' homes. The "big, fat pile of coconuts" stands as a symbol…
Bill Allowing Arming of Teachers Passes the Ohio Senate
The Ohio Senate pushed forward a bill that will allow school personnel such as teachers to be armed while in school, if authorized by a local school board. In a 21 to 10 vote, Senate Bill 317 passed along party lines, with sponsor Sen. Bill Coley, R-Liberty Township, praising the work of the bill which…
Beshear Further Limits Gatherings, Closes Inside of Kentucky Bars and Restaurants to Slow COVID Spread
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has issued a handful of "significant and surgical steps" designed to combat the surging number of COVID cases in the state. As of 4 p.m. today, Kentucky reported 2,753 new cases and 15 new deaths in 24 hours. During a briefing this afternoon, Beshear said these six new steps have been designed to have…
Ohio Senator Rob Portman Participating in Cincinnati’s Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
This week, Ohio's Republican Senator Rob Portman announced on the senate floor that he is participating in a COVID vaccine trial, managed by CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services in Cincinnati. The vaccine candidate (JNJ-78436735) is being developed by Johnson & Johnson. Portman said, in part, that he enrolled in the study for three reasons: to…
Beshear to Issue New Restrictions in Kentucky to Slow COVID Spread After 33 Deaths Reported Tuesday
During Tuesday's COVID briefing, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear reported the state had hit a record number of coronavirus deaths: 33 in 24 hours. Those who died ranged in age from 36 to 99. This time last week, there were 14 new deaths. As of 4 p.m. Nov. 17, Kentucky was reporting 2,931 new cases, with 1,521…
Newport’s Purple People Bridge Will Illuminate During Winter Nights, River Lights
Despite the financial strain of the coronavirus impact, the holiday spirit will persevere on the Ohio River's Purple People Bridge this winter, thanks to some local generosity. Kicking off Friday, Nov. 20, Winter Nights, River Lights will illuminate the pedestrian bridge with 1,000 purple-and-white lights, a 25-foot christmas "wish" tree, projections and seasonal music played…
Ohio Hunger Stats Underscore Need for COVID Relief Bill
The latest estimates on the prevalence of hunger in Ohio are strengthening the case for a new COVID relief bill in Congress. The nonprofit group Feeding America has projected overall food insecurity in Ohio for 2020 tops 18%. Joree Novotny, director of external affairs for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said that's unprecedented. "Food-security estimates for 2020 are…
Cincinnati Zoo to Require Masks for Entry
Starting Nov. 21 — the same day the Festival of Lights opens — the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will be requiring guests to wear masks at the park. “Due to the recent surge in COVID cases, we are taking extra precautions to keep our guests, staff and animals safe this holiday season. Even Santa…
Bipartisan Governors Group including Beshear, DeWine Urges Pandemic Safety as Holidays Approach
Michigan Gov. Whitmer joined other Democratic governors for a virtual press conference to encourage everyone in the Midwest to stay safe during the holiday season as COVID-19 cases in the region are skyrocketing. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers were part of the event.…
Gov. DeWine’s New Statewide Curfew Greeted with Skepticism by Some
Desperate to slow the spread of coronavirus, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday announced a new curfew intended to decrease person-to-person contacts and new infections The move was greeted with skepticism in some quarters. DeWine said that starting at 10 p.m. on Thursday, there will be a 21-day statewide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5…
Two Cincinnati Metro Operators Test Positive for COVID-19
Two Cincinnati Metro operators have recently tested positive for COVID-19. Both are quarantining at home. Metro says, "If members of the public have concerns that they may have come into contact with the affected operator, we advise them to closely monitor their health and follow all CDC guidelines, including contacting a medical professional should they…
Support the Hurricane-Devastated Homeland of Northern Kentucky Honduran Cafe Unataza Coffee
Catastrophic storms have ravaged Central America and surrounding countries over the past several weeks, with Hurricane Eta developing into a Category 4 storm in early November. And as the battered countries have been attempting to recover, the same region is now being devastated with Hurricane Iota, which has passed through Nicaragua and Honduras and is…
Ohio Gov. DeWine Issues Statewide COVID Curfew for Next 21 Days
Citing Ohio's "deteriorating" coronavirus situation, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered a statewide curfew during remarks Tuesday. He said that beginning Thursday and for the following 21 days, a curfew would be in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in an effort to slow the spread of COVID. The curfew mainly applies to walk-in retail…
Moderna Says Its COVID Vaccine is Nearly 95% Effective
On the heels of the preliminary success of one COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, another leading vaccine candidate is showing promise. Preliminary results indicate that Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective in preventing sickness, including severe cases of the disease, the biotechnology company announced November 16. “This is a pivotal moment in the…
Ohio is One of the Top 10 Most Charitable States in America, According to Report
'Tis the season of giving and while the World Giving Index has shown the United States is the most generous country in the world (over the last decade), donating more than $449 billion to charity, Ohio has its own philanthropic claim. According to a report by WalletHub, Ohio is one of the top 10 most charitable…
Ohio House Bill Would Impose Harsh New Penalties on Protesters and Their Organizations
In the wake of this summer’s massive civil-rights protests, two Republicans in the Ohio House have filed a bill that imposes harsh new penalties on certain protest-related activities. The bill even goes so far as to allow people to kill protesters if they feel threatened by them. The sponsors of the legislation say it isn’t…
As COVID-19 Vaccines Near, Ohio’s Distribution Challenges Loom
Regulators could allow two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use as early as December, but getting the vaccines from out-of-state manufacturers to 11.7 million Ohioans poses a web of logistical challenges. One leading vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech requires two doses taken 21 days apart. Doses must be stored at -94 degrees Fahrenheit. Some hospitals have…
The Ohio Fairness Act Is Back in Committee. Supporters and Opposition Ready to Continue the Fight
With supporters and opponents ready to jump in, a bill regarding LGBTQ discrimination is once again in front of an Ohio House committee, but the passage of the bill is still unclear. The Ohio Fairness Act will be heard by the House Civil Justice Committee exactly one year since it was introduced in the committee.…
Cozy Up with These New Cheesy Holiday Romcoms, Streaming on Netflix
Made-for-TV holiday film fans: As November wanes and December approaches, you may be asking yourself, "Can anything top last year's Netflix film The Knight Before Christmas? Not only in name but also in content?" Starring Vanessa Hudgens, the film is completely saccharine, campy and bends the space time continuum… FOR LOVE AND CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. It…
Cincinnati Rockers Foxy Shazam Have Canceled Their Rescheduled January Show at the Taft Theatre
Near the beginning of 2020, which somehow simultaneously feels like both minutes and years ago, Cincinnati Rockers Foxy Shazam announced their comeback with a performance planned at the Taft Theatre in April, after a month of teasers. The show sold out in just one hour. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, the concert was eventually postponed to Jan.…
Know Theatre Pays Tribute to 1990s Teen Sitcoms with ‘Zack’
Whether you were a fan of the Miss Bliss or Mr. Belding years, or you think Zack Morris is trash, the Know Theatre is harnessing the nostalgia of the 1990s teen sitcom onstage with Zack, by Christian St. Croix. This pop culture satire is not directly related to Saved by the Bell, but it "lovingly skewers…
Graeter’s Introduces New Line of Vegan Ice Creams
Whether you're vegan for health reasons, personal choice or simply preference, Cincinnati's favorite ice cream chain will soon be offering a sweet treat just for you. Graeter's has partnered with California-based food technology company Perfect Day to introduce a brand new line of ice creams, "Perfect Indulgence," using animal-free dairy protein. The vegan series of ice…
Hamilton’s Stop at the Aronoff Center Has Been Postponed
According to an email from the Cincinnati Arts Association, the cult musical Hamilton's hotly anticipated second tour stop in Cincinnati has been postponed. Originally slated to run March 2-28, 2021, the CAA says they are "working to reschedule the engagement and will announce new dates as soon as we are able." Important schedule update: HAMILTON, originally…
Ohio Attorney General Files Request to Force Suspension of Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor
Yesterday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a request to suspend Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor, who was arrested and charged on 10 federal counts of bribery, extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other crimes. “When an elected official puts personal gain ahead of public service, he or she cannot be trusted to act for…
Merry Christmas: Gov. Beshear Says the Brent Spence Should Reopen by Dec. 23
The target date for reopening the Brent Spence Bridge is Dec. 23, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. "Based on our inspections and based on testing, the crash and fire early last Wednesday did not compromise the integrity of the bridge," Beshear said during a press briefing. "The bridge, as a structure, is still safe,…
Mike DeWine Draws Ire of President Trump for Acknowledging Reality
President Donald Trump was watching Fox News on his otherwise eventless Monday morning and likely saw the recent clip of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine telling Jake Tapper on CNN that former Vice President Joe Biden should be considered the President-elect. For this grave indiscretion, (i.e. acknowledging the results of the 2020 election, what has been called the most secure…
Newport’s New and Improved Dog Park Is Now Open — Just Down the Street from the Old One
Newport's popular dog park was forced to close earlier this year due to overcrowding and infrastructure issues, which lead to greener pastures. The community teamed up with the City of Newport to raise funds and resources to reopen the park even bigger and better than before — just 500 feet away behind the Campbell County Library's Newport…
After Months-Long Legal Battle, Ohio Department of Health Must Disclose Hospital Coronavirus Capacity Numbers
This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join their free mailing list as this helps them provide more public service reporting. As the ongoing pandemic continues to surge, the Ohio Court of Claims ruled last week that the Department of Health must share public records with Eye on Ohio,…
What Ohio’s New Retail Mask Order Means for You
Ohio's revised retail mask order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, and it basically says that due to the fact that every county in Ohio is now a COVID-19 high-incidence county, people must wear masks or some other facial covering while in a retail environment to help protect everyone and also keep the economy…
Ohio’s Revised Mass Gathering Order Goes Into Effect Tuesday. Here’s What’s New
As COVID cases in Ohio continue to hit record-breaking numbers, the Ohio Department of Health has updated its order regarding mass gatherings to help control the spread of the virus. “Despite the health order that limited mass gatherings to 10 people that was signed in April remaining in effect, we have seen rampant spread of…
Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman Introduces Five Reforms to Combat Corruption, Restore Public Trust
As Ohio politics has been under obvious public scrutiny for recent and repeated ethics violations, today during a press briefing Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman introduced five new reforms "aimed at restoring public trust not just in government but also the idea and potential of public service," he said. “Larry Householder’s $60 million corruption scheme in…
Nine New Must-See Horror Films Guaranteed to Make You Shudder
Halloween has passed, yet the daily horror that all Americans have been living with since February persists. And I only have one thought: "Dear world, please don’t end. There are too many good movies coming out soon." As a prolonged global pandemic keeps movie theaters shuttered and millions of people still sheltering in place, an…
Cincinnati Nature Center Gets Glowing with New ‘Light in the Forest’ Walk-Thru Trail Illumination Display
The Cincinnati Nature Center is adding a new illuminating experience this winter: Light in the Forest. The 1-mile walk-thru light display will "sparkle with gentle lights reflecting a theme of peace, tranquility, and inspiration," says the center. Walking trails and nature paths will be artistically lit and will feature three light installations by OBLSK, a creative…
CROWN Act Supporters Fight to End Racially Based Hair Discrimination
When Kent State University junior Tayjua Hines was in Catholic elementary school, she was often a target of discrimination because of her hair. "Around 8th grade, I started wearing my hair out," said Hines, now the president of Kent State University's Black United Students. "By then, my mom had stopped doing my hair, so it…
Detours Around the Brent Spence Bridge, Still Closed After Crash and Fire
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has released some reminders regarding detours round the Brent Spence Bridge as it remains closed following last week's semi-truck crash and fire. As we prepare for the work week to start tomorrow, here’s a reminder of the detours in place to help you cross the river while the Brent Spence Bridge…
School COVID Cases Grow in Ohio Counties
The state has ballooned with COVID-19 cases, and schools have reported their own increases in student cases, some hitting triple digits. Delaware County’s Olentangy Local Schools has seen the most total cases as of the most recent state schools report, released on Thursday, with 125 reported COVID-19 cases since reporting began. Franklin County had several…
Summerfair Cincinnati Art Fair Launches Virtual Holiday Shopping Event
Launched in Mount Adams in 1968, Summerfair is one of the country's oldest continuously running art fairs. But this year, the fest canceled its annual Coney Island event, slated for May 29-31, due to safety concerns around COVID-19. Typically, more than 300 artists from around the country are selected to participate in the juried art…
Vince Vaughn’s ‘Freaky’ Is a Better, Bloodier and Balls-Out Twist on the Body-Swap Fantasy Genre
It’s been exactly three years and one month since movie fans discovered Happy Death Day, a high-concept horror-comedy from (then) little-known writer/director Christopher Landon. That Landon is back, on Friday the 13th, no less, with another high-concept horror-comedy isn’t the takeaway here. The big news is that Happy Death Day was absolutely not a fluke (and…
Fountain Square Hosts Outdoor Menorah Lighting and Hanukkah Celebration with Mayerson JCC, Jewish Federation
Hanukkah runs Dec. 10-18 this year, and there are two outdoor menorah lightings to attend. First up, the Mayerson JCC and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati are heading to Fountain Square (520 Vine St., Downtown) on Dec. 13. From 4:30-5:30 p.m. there will be a celebration with a menorah lighting, ice skating, a dancing dreidel…
Cincinnati’s ‘Heat Islands’ Disproportionately Affect Lower-Income Neighborhoods and Areas with Larger Black Populations
Just as it’s getting colder in Cincinnati, a report analyzing the temperature of a summer day in August shows just how hot things become in the region’s “heat islands.” When mapped, these areas starkly overlap with lower-income neighborhoods and areas with larger Black populations. Conducted on August 10, the study relied on thermal sensors carried…
Wrongly Incarcerated Activist Gets Honorary Degree from Art Academy of Cincinnati
In 1994, Tyra Patterson was arrested and ultimately incarcerated for murder and robbery — both crimes she did not commit. She was wrongly imprisoned for 23 years and released in 2017. Now, Patterson is a social justice advocate who works as the Community Outreach Strategy Specialist at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, and is an…
Generations of Artists Respond to Injustice in Kennedy Heights Arts Center’s Open-Air Exhibit ‘UPRISING’
“I’m pretty long in the tooth,” says Jymi Bolden. “I’ve been around here for a little while.” He laughs, sitting outside his Main Street gallery, and continues on. We’re talking about the genesis of UPRISING, an exhibition he curated for Kennedy Heights Arts Center in collaboration with Art Beyond Boundaries, where he is director, in direct response to this…
Ohio Breweries and Restaurants Respond to Gov. DeWine COVID Shutdown Threats
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine gave a statewide address in which he basically called for Ohioans to really, truly, sincerely, for real, please mask up, socially distance and wash your hands…because the state keeps breaking its daily COVID case records, over and over and over again. On Friday, the Ohio Department of…
Ohio Once Again Smashes Daily COVID Case Record — This Time with 8,000 New Cases
The state of Ohio posted another record day of new coronavirus cases with more than 8,000 today. The previous record was 7,101. That record was set… yesterday. We are facing a monumental crisis in Ohio. Since yesterday, 8,071 new #COVID19 cases were reported. Nearly 300 more people were admitted to Ohio hospitals. 42 more people…
Fifty West Brewing Company Becomes ‘Winter Wonderland’ with New Ice Skating Rink
In quaint holiday news, Fifty West Brewing Company in Columbia Township is adding a new attraction to its stretch of Wooster Pike — which already features a brew pub, production works (with volleyball in non-COVID times), burger bar, bike rental, running clubs and more. This winter, they're adding an ice rink. Yes, you can head…
Pop-Up Market Art on Vine Returns to Washington Park This Weekend
Art on Vine's artisan pop-up market is taking over Washington Park this Sunday with arts, crafts and assorted other products from more than 80 vendors. Typically, Art on Vine would be hosting their winter market in Rhinegeist's taproom, but, for health and safety reasons, they're keeping things outdoors this month to kick-off holiday shopping. "Art…
COVID Cases are Skyrocketing. Here’s What It Will Take to Gain Control
November is beginning to feel a lot like March. In Europe, where the coronavirus was largely under control for much of the summer and fall, cases are skyrocketing nearly everywhere. Twenty countries, including the United Kingdom and France, have shuttered restaurants, introduced curfews or generally urged people to stay at home, though most schools and…
On Environmental Protection, Biden’s Election Will Mean 180-degree Turn From Trump Policies
The Trump administration has waged what I and many other legal experts view as an all-out assault on the nation’s environmental laws for the past four years. Decisions at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department and other agencies have weakened the guardrails that protect our nation’s air, water and public lands, and have sided with industry rather than advocating for…
You Can Now View Ohio COVID Cases by Zip Code
The State of Ohio this week debuted a dashboard with Zip Code level COVID infection totals, finally. Previously, information shared by the state and Ohio counties covered only broad ranges. Ohioans can now see a variety of COVID metrics, including confirmed and probable cases over two-week, one-month and cumulative timeframes. Gov. Mike DeWine said this week the…
Detours Around the Brent Spence and Roebling Suspension Bridges
UPDATE: The Roebling Bridge has reopened. The Roebling Bridge will reopen to passenger cars/non-truck traffic by 8PM. The 11-ton weight limit is being enforced by police. Heavier vehicles may use the routes below. Let’s protect the historic Roebling while we work to reopen the Brent Spence #BSBUpdates https://t.co/UDRgg1onZE pic.twitter.com/E0DG2v8cGL — KYTC District 6 (@KYTCDistrict6) November…
Hamilton County Says COVID Case Spike Is ‘Astounding. It’s Super Concerning’
As COVID cases continue to surge in Ohio and across the country, we're seeing a similar spike here in Hamilton County. "This is a dire time for the state of Ohio and, indeed, for Hamilton County," said Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus in a press briefing today. "The spread of the virus is accelerating. Our…
Ohio Breaks Daily COVID Record Again with More Than 7,000 New Cases in 24 Hours
Welp. One day after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vowed that if COVID cases continue to rise across the state he might have to take some real action, COVID cases continued to rise. Today’s daily numbers continue our growing trend topping 7,000 cases reported since yesterday. Another one-day record. We also have our second highest day of hospital…
Kroger Sets Purchase Limits on Certain Items as People Start Stockpiling Again for COVID Third Wave
Remember in March when we couldn't find any toilet paper or cleaning products because people were buying them in bulk and hoarding them? Prepare thy butt, because it may be happening again as the U.S. faces a surging third (or second, depending on your definition) wave of COVID cases. Per the CDC, there have been 846,956…
Ticketmaster Proposes Plan to Track Guests’ COVID Status
There's no doubt that the recent news of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has people flipping their lids with excitement with the hope that maybe the new normal may soon return to the old normal. But no one seems as excited as Ticketmaster, the same goons who put ticket-holders through the wringer this year when they quietly…
Militia Group Appears at Ohio Statehouse to ‘Protect People’ at Rallies for Trump, Biden
Two loosely defined cohorts showed up at the Statehouse on Saturday after news outlets projected Joe Biden won the presidential election: Biden fans came to gloat and Donald Trump fans came to allege voter fraud. There were heated arguments, hymns sung over a PA, and horns blaring. A car performed a burnout before the crowd,…
Kenton County Declares Regional State of Emergency Around Damaged, Closed Brent Spence Bridge
Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris A. Knochelmann has declared a regional state of emergency in the area around the damaged and currently closed Brent Spence Bridge. The executive order allows and orders Kenton County agencies to cooperate with the Office of Homeland Security Emergency Management and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, as well as waives "procedures and…
The Roebling Suspension Bridge Is Closed Until Further Notice
UPDATE: The Roebling Bridge will reopen to passenger cars/non-truck traffic by 8PM. The 11-ton weight limit is being enforced by police. Heavier vehicles may use the routes below. Let’s protect the historic Roebling while we work to reopen the Brent Spence #BSBUpdates https://t.co/UDRgg1onZE pic.twitter.com/E0DG2v8cGL — KYTC District 6 (@KYTCDistrict6) November 13, 2020 The Covington Police…
Downtown’s Fountain Square Now Has Socially Distant Bumper Cars… on Ice
The holidays are approaching and downtown's Fountain Square is getting in the festive spirit. The square has opened its annual ice skating rink, a seasonal favorite attraction for the community, and the Macy's Christmas Tree was delivered as well — and is in the process of one heck of a glow-up. But Fountain Square has…
Gov. DeWine Expands Statewide Mask Order, Threatens to Close Bars, Restaurants, Gyms if Virus Continues to Surge
In a statewide address Wednesday evening, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine expanded the statewide mask order issued July 23 and said that if COVID-19 cases continue to surge over the next week, he'll be forced to close bars, restaurants and fitness centers, where the virus is known to spread. Lasting just under 30 minutes, the remarks…
Newport’s Kon-Tiki at Bridgeview Box Park is Transforming into Fire Lounge This Winter and Adding Heated Igloos
Newport on the Levee's Kon-Tiki at Bridgeview Box Park is transforming into the Fire Lounge this winter, cozying up their space with heated igloos and winter tiki-themed cocktails. Beginning Friday, Nov. 20, the lounge will offer six reservable igloos that welcome up to eight guests and are rented for a two-hour period (three hours during…
Ohio State’s Saturday Game Against Maryland Canceled Due to COVID Outbreak
According to the University of Maryland's athletics program, Saturday's football game against The Ohio State University — and all other football activities — have been canceled for the time being due to a COVID outbreak among UMD players. Maryland football is referring to the cancellation of Saturday's game (to be held at UMD) as a…
Watch: Mike Oberst of Cincinnati Folk Greats The Tillers’ New Music Video ‘Flowers of Edinburgh’
Cincinnati Folk musician Mike Oberst of The Tillers released his first solo album, Six Feet of Earth, in October of last year via his Reggieville Records label. At the time, CityBeat Music Editor Mike Breen wrote: "Six Feet of Earth contains a mix of traditional Folk ballads from Scotland, England, Ireland and the U.S., as well as a couple of…
Sharon Woods’ Holiday in Lights Drive-Thru Display to Offer Additional Walk-Thru Option
Sharon Woods' Holiday in Lights drive-thru display has been a Cincinnati tradition for over 30 years. And this year, some changes have been made in light of COVID-19. The nostalgic mile-long holiday spectacle will go on, but Santaland is closed this year (for obvious health and safety reasons). Featuring more than 1 million lights decorating…
Hamilton Residents Can See Pyramid Hill’s New Holiday Light Show Journey BOREALIS for Free
Hamilton's Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is upping the wow factor of this year's drive-thru holiday light display. Transforming from Holiday Lights on the Hill to Journey BOREALIS, this year's illuminated spectacle will be a "visual art experience that showcases local and regional new media and light-based artists," says Pyramid Hill. Overseen by light…
Dr. Amy Acton Was Right About Ohio’s COVID Surge Numbers
“At our peak surge we may be as high as 6,000 to 8,000 new cases a day," Dr. Amy Acton said on March 26th during the state's then-daily coronavirus press conference. This was a shocking prediction to many at the time — Ohio had only 867 total cases as of that day — but the former Ohio Department of…
Cincinnati Metro Launches Discount Fare Program for Veterans and Active Duty Military
Cincinnati Metro honored Veterans Day today by launching a new Metro Veterans Program (or MVP). The discount program offers half-price fare to veterans and active-duty military, including those in the National Guard and Reserves. “The Metro Veterans Program is our small way of saying thank you to our region’s veterans and active-duty military for their sacrifice,…
Covington’s Purrfect Day Cat Cafe Sets Opening Date
Great news for feline lovers (and folks who enjoy coffee): A cat cafe will open its doors in Covington on Friday, Nov. 13. Purrfect Day Cafe will open next to Libby's Southern Comfort. According to Northern Kentucky native and cafe "purrprietor" Chuck Patton, the cafe will collaborate with local animal shelter Kenton County Animal Services…
‘We’re Just Kind of Drowning:’ Counties Say They’re Overwhelmed with New COVID-19 Cases
In Clark County, more COVID-19 infections are coming in than the health department can contact trace. Health Commissioner Charles Patterson said in a news release they’re simply “overwhelmed” with cases, and those in the backlog will receive a packet of information about their diagnosis and educational materials. Kyle Trout, a department public information officer, said…
‘The Misadventures of Mistress Maneater’ Leads a New Round of Horror Movies to Stream
Just in time for Friday the 13th, a new round of streaming horror… The Misadventures of Mistress Maneater 3 star(s), 111 minutes, Amazon Prime A throwback to the days when movie fans would spend hours wandering the local Blockbuster looking for a title they had never seen before, The Misadventures of Mistress Maneater owes a debt…
Do You Even Dew? Mountain Dew Is Releasing a Cookbook of Fan-Created Recipes
Mountain Dew, the neon-green carbonated soft drink that closely resembles antifreeze, is releasing a cookbook. Nope, we aren't shitting you about this. The forthcoming Big Bold Book of MTN DEW Recipes is a compilation of “fan-made, fan-inspired and fan-favorited creations” to celebrate the brand’s sticky-sweet 80th birthday. "Our fans have been creating delicious, outrageous and genuinely mind-blowing recipes…
Newport on the Levee’s Exchange Makers Market Opens This Weekend. Here’s What You Can Expect
The Exchange is a new artisan market taking over the space formerly held by Barnes & Noble at Newport on the Levee. The 11,000-square-foot Exchange will house a rotating roster of local craftspeople, makers and indie merchants. The concept will host its grand opening on Nov. 14 and has announced their first round of vendors,…
Coming Out While Stuck Inside: LGBTQ+ Youth Face Unique Mental Health Risks as Pandemic Rages On
When Tyler, a sophomore at Cleveland State University, started hormone replacement therapy two months before spring break, the last thing he expected was to spend the rest of the semester with his parents in Westbrook, New York. Tyler had been living with three other trans students he befriended through CSU’s LGBTQ+ Student Services before campus housing closed…
Former Cincinnati Symphony Clarinetist Anthony McGill’s Musical Activism Launches #TakeTwoKnees for Social Justice
In May, the New York Philharmonic’s principal clarinetist and former Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra member Anthony McGill posted a statement and video in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis. The statement read, in part: “We live alongside that reality all across America. What the news this week and most weeks of my life demonstrates,…
Farm Mentoring Boosts Business, Personal Growth in Ohio
One of the unspoken challenges among first-generation beginning farmers is the lack of social support and generational knowledge. An Ohio program is helping to address this by pairing new farmers with experienced sustainable farmers for insight and guidance. Minister Aaron Hopkins is an urban farmer at two sites in Columbus and a graduate of the Ohio…
Beshear: Both Levels of Brent Spence Bridge Will Be Closed for at Least Several Days After Semi Crash and Fire
UPDATE: Gov. Andy Beshear hosted a press briefing about the incident. He said current information indicates a truck jack-knifed on the Brent Spence Bridge around 2:45 a.m. and was struck by another truck, which was carrying potassium hydroxide — a caustic chemical. "A fire broke out and has caused visible damage to the bridge and…
The CDC Says You Can Still Celebrate Thanksgiving, but Maybe Take the Turkey Outside
If you've ever wanted to kick your in-laws out of the house on Thanksgiving, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's not only acceptable to do so this year, but preferred. Well, not exactly. But the CDC has updated its outlines for how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely. Of course, the safest way to…
Cincinnati Public Schools to Return to Full Distance Learning Model
Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education has determined that all students will return to a full-time distance learning model starting Nov. 23. The change is currently effective through Jan. 4, when schools might return to a blended learning model. That determination will be made based on public health data. "This decision was made primarily due…
Ohio Reports More Than 6,500 COVID Cases, Breaking One Day Record Once Again
Ohio has once again broken its daily COVID record, reporting 6,508 new cases in the past 24 hours. In addition, there's been a 24-hour spike in hospitalizations and ICU admissions: 386 and 39, respectively. Governor Mike DeWine announced via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon that he will be holding a statewide address to "discuss the critical…
Oakley’s Fowling Warehouse to Host Inaugural Cincy Hard Seltzer Fest
Hard seltzers have made their presence known over the past year or two: New brands like White Claw and Truly have emerged; companies like Corona and Smirnoff have created their own iterations; and even local breweries have tapped into the popular beverage, including Covington-based Braxton and its line of VIVE seltzers. So, it was only…
Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor Charged by Feds with Accepting $55,000 in Bribes
Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor was arrested at his home on Tuesday morning by the FBI. He is facing 10 federal counts of bribery, extortion, money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Ohio, the official indictment lists the charges as: “one count of conspiring to…
This is Ohio’s Most Popular Thanksgiving Side Dish, According to Google Searches
Turkey Day is right around the corner — Nov. 26 to be exact — and while this year's family feast may be a tad bit different than usual, folks are still whipping up their favorite Thanksgiving entrees, sides and desserts, just maybe on a smaller scale. Depending on the family and area, the spread of…
The Supreme Court Could Strike Down Obamacare. Here’s what’s at stake.
The fate of the sweeping 2010 health care law known as Obamacare is again in limbo, with the Supreme Court on Tuesday set to hear arguments over whether that statute should be overturned. States are at the heart of the case and nearly every one has made an argument about why Obamacare should be kept…
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Performs ‘You Have The Right To Remain Silent,’ a Concerto That Explores Social Justice
The opening words of what is known as the Miranda warning — what the police use to notify those being arrested of their rights — might seem a bizarre inspiration for a composer, but for Anthony Davis, it made perfect sense. Social justice and racial conflict are at the heart of many of Davis’ wide-ranging compositions…
Greater Cincinnati Restaurants Offering Family-Size Thanksgiving Take and Bake Meals
With COVID cases spiking in Ohio and across the country, Thanksgiving is definitely going to be different this year — whether or not you make it a masked-up, socially distant extended family affair or go with a turkey-and-stuffing feast with your core bubble. And local restaurants are trying to lessen the stress of an already…
Cincy Shirts Pokes Fun at Fountain Square Tree with Limited-Edition Charlie Brown Christmas Tee
It's the gift that keeps on giving. After arriving at downtown's Fountain Square over the weekend, Cincinnati's annual Christmas Tree has attracted a lot of attention. It has been called "wretched-looking" and described by many as sparse, prompting questions like "what's the deal?"; and jokes regarding the unique choice continue to flood social media. Looks like if there's…
Listen: Former Pinstripes Frontman Michael Sarason’s Soulful New Single ‘Let’s Make Room’
Michael Sarason, once a fixture in the Cincinnati music scene, just released a soulful new single, "Let's Make Room." The track, off Sarason's forthcoming solo effort, Reflections of Self — released by Dala Records — is a friendly reminder that modernity does not equal quality; there's so much of a vintage vibe emanating from the recording…
Ohio Ranks No. 14 Most Overweight and Obese State in America
It's no secret that Americans struggle with obesity. In fact, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that over 70% of American adults age 20 and older are either obese or overweight. Personal finance website WalletHub recently produced a study that evaluates which states throughout the U.S. are the most overweight and obese based…
Ohio Physicians Sound Alarm About COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Staffing Strain
Physicians and hospital administrators assisting Ohio’s COVID-19 response sought to sound the alarms Monday about a rising COVID-19 hospitalization load that’s showing no sign of letting up. Beds and ventilators aren’t running low for now. However, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the newly hired chief medical officer for the Ohio Department of Health, said hospitals are struggling…
Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine is 90% Effective, Preliminary Trial Data Show
The race to greenlight a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States has entered its final sprint, with one leading candidate becoming the first to release preliminary results showing its vaccine is more than 90 percent effective at preventing people from getting sick from the coronavirus. The long-awaited announcement came in a Nov. 9 news release detailing the…
University of Cincinnati Police Records of Sex Offender Not Protected Under Student Privacy Law, Court Says
The University of Cincinnati didn’t have the right to keep records of a student who was a convicted sex offender out of public view, according to the Ohio Court of Claims. After student William Houston was awarded an honor given to student who have had to overcome adversity, the university was criticized for the award,…
An Unusual Election for Rabbit Hash’s Newest Dog Mayor
Democracy was created in ancient Athens. It was perfected in Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, which in 1998 solved the trickiest part of our representative election system — the human at the center — by electing a dog as mayor. Five dog mayors have since held the position. The most recent and newly elected is a six-month-old…
The Annual Christmas Tree at Downtown’s Fountain Square Has Arrived, and It’s a Perfect Representation of 2020
Fountain Square's annual Christmas tree tradition, like most of 2020, looks a little bit different this year. Delivered over the weekend, the Macy's tree, a 65-foot Norway Spruce, apparently had a rough voyage to the Queen City and is looking slightly sparse, causing in influx of light-hearted buzz on the social media channels. And while…
Fort Mitchell’s Nearly Century-Old Greyhound Tavern Has Been Sold
After three decades in the Wainscott family, Fort Mitchell's beloved Southern-style restaurant the Greyhound Tavern has been sold to the Northern Kentucky-based One Holland Restaurant Group. The eatery, which is well-known for its family-style fried chicken, has become a staple in the area for both its mouthwatering food and great customer service. But the time has come…
It’s Looking Good for Secretary of State LaRose’s Bet with Michigan
Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s bet with the state up north is, like some elections throughout America, still too close to call. But it’s looking good for Ohio. A full year ago, LaRose and his counterpart in Michigan made a bet to see which state would have the higher voter turnout percentage in the 2020 General…
Ohio GOP Lawmakers, without Evidence, Cry Fraud on Biden Win
As a presidential election teetered toward Joe Biden, several House Republican lawmakers in Ohio took to their social media accounts to allege, without evidence, systemic voter fraud. The state lawmakers largely parroted President Donald Trump’s speech Thursday night and subsequent campaign messaging, which alleged a wide-ranging conspiracy essentially accusing several cities of pulling Democratic votes out of…
Ohio’s Porn-Watching Took a Dive on Election Day
Nothing kills a boner, or the desire to fap, quite like the words “key race alert” — though CNN's John King did get us worked up with his digital map work and Jake Tapper's frequent use of the word “spawn” to describe President Donald Trump's children got us hot and bothered. But on election day,…
AP Declares Joe Biden is the Next President
Democrat Joe Biden’s native state of Pennsylvania on Saturday secured his victory to become the next president of the United States when The Associated Press reported he had gained enough votes there to win the electoral college. The AP called Pennsylvania for Biden at 11:25 a.m., which gave the former vice president 284 electoral college…
Ohio Reports More Than 5,000 COVID Cases in the Last 24 Hours
Ohio has set another record for newly reported coronavirus cases in a day. That's been true more days than it hasn't recently. That's what experts would consider a bad trend. There were 5,008 new cases, 231 new hospitalizations and 33 newly reported deaths in the past 24 hours. More than 2,100 Ohioans are now in…
Venerable Cincinnati Scenester Ric Hickey Returns with His First New Album in a Decade
Since the mid 1980s, Ric Hickey has been a fixture of Cincinnati’s music community, as a counter jockey at local record stores and as the guitarist/vocalist for a variety of compelling bands — the Speed Hickeys, Telegram Sam, the Loose Wrecks and Sparrow Bellows among them — as well as through an ever-evolving and always…
Gold Star Is Giving Away Free 3-Ways to Active and Retired Military This Veterans Day
This Veterans Day, active duty and retired men and women who have served the country can head to any Gold Star location to receive a free meal. On Nov. 11, all 70-plus chili locations will be giving away a free 3-Way and a drink. Vegetarian 3-Ways will also be part of the deal. In order…
ArtWorks Focuses on Social Justice with its 200th Mural
It’s almost impossible to walk through downtown Cincinnati without noticing a mural. Thanks to ArtWorks, the Queen City is home to dozens upon dozens of them, as varied in location as they are in theme. ArtWorks dedicated its 200th mural in a ceremony on Oct. 24. That’s the 200th mural the nonprofit has created in…
Greater Cincinnati Bar Owners Look for Aid to Make it Through Pandemic Winter
Winter is coming and local bar owners are braced for one of their most challenging seasons in living history. (Except for perhaps the advent of Prohibition.) Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Cincinnati’s independent entrepreneurs have their backs up against the wall and, while grateful for any government assistance they can procure, some feel left…
Cincinnati Ultramarathon Runner and SCPA Teacher Harvey Lewis is Topic of New Athletic Documentary ‘Like Harvey Like Son’
Many Cincinnatians may know Harvey Lewis as a social studies teacher at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Over-the-Rhine. But outside the classroom, Lewis’ true talents shine. The 44-year-old, who runs to school every day, has had a 24-year-long career of competing in ultramarathons, races that are between two and 10 times the…
Reproductive Rights Battles Will Continue After Small Election Changes to Judiciary, Legislature
While anti-abortion groups claim victory in Ohio with little change to the majority conservative Ohio legislature, abortion-rights groups are ready for continued fights in the Statehouse and in the courts. The Ohio Supreme Court saw one seat flipped, with Judge Jennifer Brunner overtaking incumbent justice Judith French in unofficial results Tuesday. It doesn’t flip the…
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights Returns This November
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has announced the return of their annual PNC Festival of Lights, and this year, zoo employees, board members, volunteers (and some elves) are lending a hand to fill park with holiday spirit. “Hanging four million lights is a huge undertaking, and we needed a little extra manpower to get…
After Being Kicked-Out, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Pizza Reviews Returns to Goodfellas Pizzeria in Lexington
Barstool Sports founder Dave “El Presidente” Portnoy is well-known for his video series where he visits and reviews pizzerias using his infamous "one bite" rating system to decipher the quality of various slices from across the world (but he focuses primarily on the U.S.). In 2018, Portnoy paid a visit to Lexington-based pizzeria chain Goodfellas, which has three…
Northern Kentucky Health Department Reports Highest Daily COVID Cases Since Pandemic Began
The Northern Kentucky Health Department is reminding citizens to take precautions against COVID-19 as the area reports its highest number of new daily cases since the pandemic began. On Thursday, NKY Health saw 246 newly reported coronavirus cases, and 2,260 currently active cases. There was also one new COVID-related death reported Thursday, for a total…
Northside’s Urban Artifact Launches Beer Subscription Box
Northside brewery Urban Artifact — recently called out for having some of the best fruit beers in the nation by Forbes — has launched a subscription box. The beer delivery service offers three different Urban Artifact Midwest Fruit Tart four-packs, one seasonal gose six-pack and one Rare/Epicurean four-pack delivered to your door every three months.…
With Almost 5,000 New COVID Cases Thursday, Pandemic — and Trump — Hang Heavily Over Ohio
Despite what President Donald Trump says, Ohio seems far from rounding the bend on coronavirus. And his statements appear to be making it harder to fight the disease. During a Circleville campaign rally in late October, Trump said that as of Nov. 4, the media wouldn’t be talking about the pandemic anymore. But on Nov. 5…
DeWine Hires Attorney with Little Public Health Background to Lead Ohio Health Department
Gov. Mike DeWine hired an attorney to lead the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday, a position that has remained vacant for the past five months of the pandemic. Stephanie McCloud, who currently runs the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, will take over a position that has been filled on only an interim basis since…
The ‘World’s Hottest Pizza’ Returns to OTR’s Mikey’s Late Night Slice for a Spicy-Ass Weekend
Just as the weather begins to cool, Over-the-Rhine's Mikey's Late Night Slice is heatin' up. The pizzeria is welcoming back its Fiery Death with Hate Sausage pizza, which, according to the eatery, has been labeled "The World’s Hottest Pizza." By who? We aren't totally sure, but judging by the ingredient list, we certainly wouldn't doubt…
Mason’s Kitty Brew Cat Cafe Holding GoFundMe to Save the Adoption Agency
Southwest Ohio's first cat cafe opened its doors in 2017 in the suburban neighborhood of Mason. Over the past several years, Kitty Brew Cafe has helped find homes for over 2,000 cats. But due to the challenges of the pandemic, the cafe needs some help from the community to continue their mission. Shop owner Jenni…
A Quiet Election Night Winner? The Coronavirus, As Cases Hit a Record-Breaking High in Ohio
Even hours before polls closed Tuesday, it was clear the virus that causes COVID-19 was in for a good night in Ohio. COVID-19 is infecting, hospitalizing and killing record numbers of Ohioans at an accelerated clip, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. More new infections were reported Tuesday than any day during…
As Ohio Schools Turn to Educational Apps for Distance Learning, Parents and Teachers Struggle to Find Ones That Work
This article is provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join their free mailing list as this helps them provide more public service reporting. Educational apps aren’t new for the Brimfield family. Kristin Brimfield said she’s been using mobile learning games with her son, Logan, since he was two. But while…
Breaking the Box of ‘Other’: Cincinnati’s Asian Food Week Celebrates and Educates About Asian Cuisine
Cincinnati’s first Asian Food Week wraps up Sunday, but there’s still plenty of time to show love to the participating restaurants — this week and beyond. Expanded from Asian Food Fest, an annual weekend celebration of Asian foods (canceled this year by COVID-19), Asian Food Week features more than 35 participating restaurants offering three-course meals…
Ohio Sees Very Few Voting Issues During Historic 2020 Election
While there were some hiccups, voting-rights groups say overall the 2020 election in Ohio went relatively smoothly. Kayla Griffin, Ohio director of All Voting Is Local, said advocates worked tirelessly for months to prepare for the general election, and ensure a safe and secure process during the pandemic. She noted one area that could have…
Cincinnati’s Krohn Conservatory Celebrates the Season with ‘A Very Merry Garden Holiday’
The most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner, and Eden Park's Krohn Conservatory is gearing up for a festive transformation. The greenhouse's "A Very Merry Garden Holiday" opens Nov. 14 and welcomes guests through Jan. 10. The holiday show will be "laced with lush green foliage, beautiful red poinsettias, holiday trees…
‘New Yorker’ Parodies Trump Premature Victory Call with Bengals Super Bowl Joke
The New Yorker has released a parody of President Trump's premature victory call in the presidential election (votes still have to be counted in some battleground states) by mocking the Cincinnati Bengals. In a blurb titled "Cincinnati Bengals Announce That They Have Won Super Bowl," satire columnist Andy Borowitz writes: In an early-morning victory statement that…
As Trump Tweets About Voter Fraud, Experts Clear Up the Misinformation
Voter fraud is something you probably heard about in the months leading up to the election. President Donald Trump has claimed that this year’s election will be “the most corrupt election in the history of our country,” particularly attacking mail-in and absentee ballots that have increased in numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may be…
A 140-Year-Old Mayoral Scandal: Sketchy Citizenship, Rampant Corruption and Voter Fraud
It was like that birther thing with President Barack Obama, except that this scandal had a basis in reality. Charles Jacob, Jr. was elected Mayor of Cincinnati in 1879. Jacob was a Bavarian immigrant who came to the country penniless, worked hard as a butcher, rose to the status of pork baron, and gained the…
Cincinnati Socialist Organizations Hosting Rally to Protect Election from ‘Trump-Led Bureaucratic Coup’
The local branches of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Socialist Alternative are hosting a rally at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Piatt Park downtown to "resist any move by President Trump to win re-election based on anti-democratic tactics, and to call for a fighting alternative to our current electoral process," says a…
The Fight for the Presidency Comes Down to Millions of Uncounted Mail Ballots in Battleground States
President Donald Trump prematurely declared victory early Wednesday morning, but the outcome of a razor-thin presidential contest actually depends on key battleground states that are trying to finish tallying millions of remaining mail ballots. Here are some questions — and answers — about what’s going on in those states: Why is the counting process slow?…
The Reopened and Reinvigorated Postmark Offers Fine Dining in Clifton
As a Cliftonite of almost 25 years, I’ve followed with avid interest the fortunes of several restaurants on Telford Street in a building that once housed the neighborhood’s post office. The first one was Tink’s Café, in the mid-2000s, which started a welcome trend of using the space for the closest thing to fine dining…
Teak Thai’s Over-the-Rhine Reincarnation Is Spicy and Fresh
First impressions can make all the difference in how you feel about a place, and Teak OTR won us over with a series of opening moves. This new addition to Over-the-Rhine is almost entirely indoors — we’ve just about run out of outdoor weather anyway — but the dining room made us feel comfortable about eating…
It May or May Not Be a Good Day to Watch ‘537 Votes,’ the New Documentary on the 2000 Recount Fiasco in Florida
With the eyes of the nation once again on slim election margins, it's tempting to look back at the 2000 debacle that earned Florida the title of State Most Likely to Screw Up Democracy. The documentary 537 Votes does so in an entertaining, energetic fashion, although its focus is notably selective. In a tightly reported…
Key Takeaways From the 2020 Ohio Statehouse Elections
By all indications, the Ohio Republican Party appears to have maintained its supermajorities in both state legislative chambers as they head into a new term next year. The results from Tuesday night are unofficial and several races are too close to call. But Republicans were able to net at least a few seats in the…
Cincinnati Bars and Restaurants Can Now Apply for Grants from ‘Taste of Cincinnati All Winter Long’
Taste of Cincinnati All Winter Long is a new program facilitated through the city and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation that will provide $4 million in grants to Cincinnati bars and restaurants to help them through the winter months of the pandemic. Specifically geared to those food and drink establishments within city limits, the…
Cincinnati’s Pure Romance ‘Sharing Good Vibes’ with Vibrator Giveaway on National Sex Toy Day
Today is apparently National Sex Toy Day and in order to "share good vibes" and provide the "stimulus package you've been waiting for," Cincinnati-based relationship-enhancement company Pure Romance is giving away their Hot & Bothered vibrators, for free, via pureromanceopportunity.com/good-vibes-only. (You do have to pay shipping and handling.) The Hot & Bothered dual-action vibrator is cute,…
Despite Trump’s Big Win in Ohio, Democrats Pick Up Seat on Ohio Supreme Court
Ohio, as it turns out, wasn't much of a swing state in reality, with Donald Trump currently leading Joe Biden by about 8 points with 90% of all votes tallied as of early Wednesday morning. Republicans also will pick up two seats in the Ohio House and maintain their supermajority despite the lingering stench of the HB6…
NBC, Other Outlets Call Trump Winner in Ohio
Though there are still hundreds of thousands of votes left to be counted in Ohio, NBC and other news organizations have called the presidential race here for Republican President Donald Trump, who has amassed a nearly-insurmountable eight-point lead over his Democratic Party challenger former Vice President Joe Biden. And though Ohio has proven critical in…
Election Results: Hamilton County Democrats Win Big — But They Didn’t Win Everything
The Hamilton County Democratic Party furthered its grip on the increasingly-blue county in the 2020 elections, but a big prize remained just out of its grasp: the prosecutor's office. Republican Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters managed to beat back a challenge from Democrat attorney Fanon Rucker, who pledged reforms to the county's justice system. That…
Dems Pick Up a Seat and Lose Another in Battle for Control of the U.S. Senate
Democrats gained at least one Republican-held seat in the U.S. Senate, but also lost a seat of their own, which leaves control of the chamber unclear early Wednesday — with some contests unresolved. In Colorado, Democrats succeeded in flipping the seat held by GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, a first-term lawmaker seen as one of the most vulnerable…
Chabot Declares Victory Over Schroder in Battle for Greater Cincinnati Congressional Seat
Long-tenured U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot has likely prevailed against a tough challenge for his congressional seat by Democrat health care executive Kate Schroder. Chabot is serving his 24th year as representative in Ohio's 1st Congressional District, which encompasses the western part of Hamilton County and all of Warren County. In the latter, he ran up…
COVID-19’s Death Rate in the U.S. Could Spike as New Cases Soar
Christopher Petrilli, an internal medicine doctor in New York City, cared for hospitalized COVID-19 patients when the city was at the epicenter of the U.S. pandemic in the early spring. It was “all hands on deck,” he recalls. So many COVID-19 patients were admitted to his hospital system, NYU Langone Health, during that surge —…
How COVID-19 May Trigger Dangerous Blood Clots
Some of COVID-19’s dangerous blood clots may come from the immune system attacking a patient’s body rather than going after the virus, a new study suggests. It’s known that excessive inflammation from an overactive immune response can spur the clots’ formation in severely ill patients (SN: 6/23/20). Now researchers are teasing out how. Some of that clotting…
As Polls Close, Voter Numbers in Hamilton County Slightly Surpass 2016 Levels
Buoyed by record early and absentee voting, along with a steady stream of voters turning out to their polling locations today, Hamilton County's unofficial turnout results eked past 2016 numbers. It's too early to tell if the extra voters in increasingly Democratic-leaning Hamilton County will be enough to push former Vice President Joe Biden past…
Covington’s The People’s Pantry to Offer Free COVID Prevention Boxes to Residents in Need
Kentucky's Be Concerned: The People's Pantry has teamed up with the City of Covington to offer sanitizing supplies to residents in need with a new program called "Co³" or “Co-cubed," offering their "COVID boxes" to non-client Covingtonians this Saturday, Nov. 7. The program's name stands for "combatting COVID in Covington," which works to ensure low-income…
Cincinnati’s Ohayo Sumo Association to Host Third-Annual Cin City Sumo Camp
Unbeknownst to many, Greater Cincinnati is home to its very own sumo club, and this winter the organization is holding its third-annual camp to share the ins and outs of the over-thousand-year-old sport. Celebrating a year since its founding in September, Cincinnati's Ohayo Sumo Association (OSA) offers an opportunity for those interested in the ancient martial…
Ohio Shatters Daily COVID Case Numbers Again
On Oct. 9, the state of Ohio set a grim new record for the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed that day. At the time, the daily number 1,840. In what has been the largest and most sustained surge of the pandemic, Ohio then proceeded to set new daily records on Oct. 14, (when it…
Organizers Ready Potential Peaceful Protest for Wednesday on Fountain Square Should Trump Declare Premature Victory
A press release from The Thinking American Resistance, Bold New Democracy, Our Revolution, The American Party and "concerned citizens" says they are prepping to hold a peaceful protest and rally on Fountain Square if Donald Trump tries to declare a premature presidential victory and refuses "to accept the legitimate results of our 2020 election." "We…
Cincinnati’s Inaugural Wing Week Brings $5 Chicken Wing Baskets to Restaurants Across the City
From Taco Week and Pizza Week to Burger Week, you're likely no stranger to CityBeat's range of week-long devotions to America's favorite foods. But coming this winter, there's a new dish-centric celebration for you to sink your teeth into. Cincinnati Wing Week will take place Jan. 25-31, 2021, offering $5 6-piece wing baskets at your favorite…
Kentuckians Urged to Check Polling Locations, Know Rights
State leaders and voting-rights organizations say voters should be prepared before they head out to the polls today. Jennifer Jackson, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Lexington, said many Kentuckians, especially in rural areas, may have been voting at the same polling location for decades.But she noted this year will be different, as county…
Why There’s So Much Legal Uncertainty About Resolving a Disputed Presidential Election
As I’ve Zoom-traveled the country speaking about legal issues involving the election, I have found myself, as well as audiences, bewildered and frustrated by one underlying question: Why is there so much legal uncertainty about so many critical questions concerning the rules for resolving a disputed presidential election? If ever a need existed for clear…
Majority of American Voters Believe Election is Secure, But Fear Violence After Result, Survey Says
While Americans have many concerns this Election Day, researchers say most believe our elections are safe, secure and legitimate. Democracy for President is an initiative that encourages voters to have productive conversations around concerns about the election and possible outcomes. Nonpartisan organization "More in Common" developed the resource, which U.S. Director Dan Vallone explained includes…
We Might Not Know Who Won Ohio Tonight. Don’t Panic — That’s OK
Which presidential candidate is going to win Ohio? Donald Trump and Joe Biden both have a good chance. But it’s possible that we will all head to bed tonight not knowing which way the Buckeye State voted. If so, that’s OK. Here is a quick explanation of why that is, and what you can expect…
McDonald’s Is Bringing Back Its Cult Favorite McRib Sandwich (Made of Zero Ribs)
You read that right: McDonalds' cult favorite McRib sandwich is back. Somehow, it keeps coming back. This fall, the McRib — so named even though it contains no actual ribs — will make its first appearance in roughly a decade. And, as per previous reintroductions, the return will likely be met by fanatical squeals from fast-food…
DNC Chairman Says Party Ready to Fight Trump’s Voter Suppression
Democrats are prepared for the Trump administration's voter suppression attempts and will respond with "aggressive litigation," Democratic National Campaign Chairman Tom Perez said Monday in San Antonio. The promise from Perez, in town to stump for Democratic candidates, came as President Trump pledged to sue Pennsylvania to stop it from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, and…
Infected with the Coronavirus? You Can Still Vote
Ohioans recently infected with COVID-19 can still cast their ballots before polls close Tuesday, per guidance from Ohio’s elections authority. Maggie Sheehan, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office, said there is an emergency option in place for some people who have recently been ordered to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19. If…
Mission: Treasure Has Hidden $25,000 Somewhere in Cincinnati and Is Hosting a Hunt to Find It
Mission: Treasure is a literal local treasure hunt with a fake backstory inviting the public to solve a series of puzzles and clues to uncover $25,000 — hidden somewhere in Hamilton County. This is the fictitious tale that serves as the background of the hunt: Local researchers have discovered documents belonging to famed 19th-century Cincinnati…
Dr. Amy Acton Correctly Surmises She Could Take Conservative Ohio Talk-Radio Host Mike Trivisonno in a Fight
It's been a little more than four months since Dr. Amy Acton resigned as Director of the Ohio Department of Health after her sage and expert advice on masks and other coronavirus precautions led adult men and women to threaten her, protest at her house (occasionally with guns and anti-Semitic signs) and generally make her…
This Veteran’s Day, Frisch’s is Paying Tribute to Active and Retired Military with Free Meals
On Veteran's Day — Wednesday, Nov. 11 — Frisch's locations are paying tribute to both former and active-duty military by offering them free meals. Bring your military ID to any participating Frisch's location to receive a free meal, up to $10, for dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out. “Frisch’s Big Boy is proud to continue its tradition…
County-by-County COVID-19 Response ‘Will Not Work,’ Harvard Epidemiologist Says
A Harvard epidemiologist cast skepticism on Gov. Mike DeWine’s emphasis on forming “COVID defense teams” to respond to the pandemic on a county-by-county basis. Dr. Michael Mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said a “patchwork approach” of uneven policy applications is doomed to fail. “As long…
How Two Immune System Chemicals May Trigger COVID-19’s Deadly Cytokine Storms
Exactly how the coronavirus kills is a mystery. But part of the problem may be a partnership between just two immune system chemicals that triggers deadly organ damage. In mice, a combination of immune chemicals called TNF alpha and gamma interferon trips a domino chain of biochemical reactions that ultimately leads to three types of cell…
Ohioans Encouraged to Speak Up for Nature at the Ballot Box
From the bluffs of Lake Erie to banks of the Ohio River, Ohioans are encouraged to keep the protection of the Buckeye State's natural areas in mind this election and beyond. The Nature Conservancy has a "Speak Up for Nature" pledge, which asks voters to learn about important conservation issues and hold elected leaders accountable.…
Election 2020: Trump, Biden Hope for Buckeye State Victory
Joe Biden is hoping one last push on the penultimate day will break the deadlocked tie. Donald Trump, focusing his final days elsewhere, is hoping a favorable track record will be enough to give him another Buckeye State win. Ohio may not be the center of the political universe in 2020, but it remains a…
Get a Free 3-Way from Gold Star Today Because the Bengals Beat the Tennessee Titans
Because the Bengals beat the Tennessee Titans yesterday (31-20), Gold Star is giving away buy-one-get-one 3-, 4- and 5-Ways all day today, Nov. 2. SWEET VICTORY ‼#SeizeTheDEY pic.twitter.com/XhGaECPBZj — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 1, 2020 As the "Official Chili of the Cincinnati Bengals," Gold Star is offering a special deal every time the Bengals win…
