The state’s top voting official is refusing to discuss an apparent ally in his fight to restrict access to the state constitution. Photo: Official Portrait

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose sent out an email this week reminding Ohioans about the Aug. 2 election; too bad the election is actually on Aug. 8. In other news that sucks, West Nile virus continues to pop up among Cincinnati-area mosquitos. And the Starlite Drive-In theater in Amelia is staying silent after a customer spoke up about an alleged transphobic encounter with a staff member.

This is your Greater Cincinnati news roundup.

Frank LaRose’s Office Promotes Wrong Date for August Special Election in Official Email At 8:26 p.m. on Aug. 1, an email from Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office was sent to potential poll workers promoting the Aug. 8 special election. Except, the date for the high-stakes election that could cement abortion rights for Ohioans, was wrong. “Next Tuesday, August 2nd, is the election!” reads the subject line of an email informing subscribers there may be a need for poll workers in their county. The email also reminds recipients to vote, but the only reference to election day was the incorrect Aug. 2 date in the subject line. The email went uncorrected for approximately 45 minutes before the official info@ohiosos.com email issued a correction. A spokesperson for LaRose’s office told CityBeat the email was created using the wrong template. Read CityBeat‘s story about LaRose’s non-partisan campaign on Issue 1, and how early voter numbers are smashing expectations in Hamilton County.
Health Department: Second West Nile Case Found in Greater Cincinnati A second case of West Nile virus has been identified in the Cincinnati area, this time in Anderson Township. According to an Aug. 3 press release from the Hamilton County Health Department (HCHD), a “mosquito pool” in Anderson Township recently tested positive for the virus. “Not a human case, but a mosquito positively identified,” Mike Samet, a spokesperson for Hamilton County Public Health, told CityBeat. The Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) identified a case of West Nile earlier in July. Both the city and county health departments are cautioning people to protect themselves against mosquito bites and to reduce outdoor standing water. Read CityBeat‘s story about West Nile and how you can make your home less appealing for mosquitos.
Trans Starlite Drive-In Customer Alleges Employee Shamed Her Bathroom Use Over Loudspeaker Ariel didn’t expect to be called out when she wore her pinkest outfit to go see the Barbie movie at the Starlite Drive-In in Amelia. When she hurried off to use the women’s restroom during the movie, she told CityBeat she heard a voice over an intercom say, “If you’re not a woman, please don’t use the women’s restroom.” The experience was traumatizing for Ariel, who later reached out to management in search of an apology; what she got was silence. Read CityBeat‘s story with a screenshot of Starlite’s only known comment on the matter.
Sen. Sherrod Brown Visits Cincinnati to Promote Bill Reining in Large Investors Who Buy Up Single-Family Homes Those seeking to buy single-family, owner-occupied homes, especially first-time buyers, have struggled within the last few years. Large investors are impacting the market by swooping in to buy up these homes. A new bill from Ohio senator Sherrod Brown would prohibit an investor who owns 50 or more single-family rental homes from deducting interest or depreciation on those properties. The Stop Predatory Investing Act comes as the country faces a growing housing shortage, especially in terms of affordable housing. Read CityBeat‘s story to hear what Cincinnati leaders think of the bill.
New Music Venue Coming to FC Cincinnati Stadium Campus FC Cincinnati is exploring plans to build a brand new concert venue next to the existing TQL Stadium, FCC spokesperson Chad Munitz told CityBeat on July 31. The new space, set to be located just north of TQL Stadium near Bauer Avenue and John Street, would serve smaller crowds — about 1,500 to 2,000. “This is a venue size that is missing in Cincinnati,” Munitz, chief development officer for FC Cincinnati, told CityBeat. “The venue will have flexible seating for various uses including concerts, comedy shows, special events and private events.”The area around TQL Stadium will become a new district, complete with a hotel, apartment building, office space and 65,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space. Read CityBeat‘s story about the new 8.5-acre mixed-use district.


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This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 8, 2023.