[WINNER]
BENGALS FANS: It’s not often Bengals fans have reason to celebrate, but they got one last week when the team’s owners agreed to settle a five-year-old lawsuit filed by a group of season ticketholders. When disappointed fans tried to cancel their expensive club seats, the team sent threatening letters that they must continue to pay through 2009 — which would have cost fans plenty. The Bengals finally relented and agreed to pay $225,700 to 129 fans and their attorneys to end the case.
[LOSER]
ROB PORTMAN: One day after the owners of the Golden Lamb restaurant asked the city of Lebanon for tax credits, they suddenly dropped the request. That’s because the eatery is owned by the family of Rob Portman, a Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and is a critic of government stimulus funding. Once Democrats called Portman on his hypocrisy, the request was withdrawn. But the conservative Right Ohio blog sputtered, “Businesses are amoral and shouldn’t be faulted for trying to become more profitable.”
[WINNER]
JIM TARBELL: Cincinnati’s one-time vice mayor, exbar owner and longtime arts supporter is being honored with a four-story mural depicting him on a building at Central Parkway and Vine Street. The mural, sponsored by ArtWorks, was planned due to Tarbell’s unfailing support for the city (and despite his reluctance), say program officials. It’s one of 27 public art projects painted by teenagers since 2007 that help brighten the urban core. We tip our top hat to you, Mr. Tarbell.
[LOSER]
THE UNINSURED: The U.S. Senate decided to take a month-long vacation before acting on any health care reform legislation. While the well-heeled senators enjoy their summer break, more than 400,000 people likely will lose their health insurance coverage, according to a study by the Center for American Progress — or about 14,000 people each day. Another 17,000 citizens file for bankruptcy each week because they can’t pay their medical bills. As an incentive until a bill is passed, senators should lose their taxpayer-funded health care coverage.
