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Falling COVID rates, dead dogs, parent punk rock and all the fish you can handle — dive into the biggest headlines in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Government, Entertainment Venues Drop Masking Regulations After CDC’s COVID-19 Guidance Changes
COVID-19 masking requirements are a thing of the past for Cincinnati — at least for now. The city has lifted masking and testing requirements for its employees as well as for members of the public who enter city facilities. Cincinnati Public Schools and Music Hall also updated their masking/testing policies this week. Read CityBeat‘s story to understand all the changes.

MLB Owners, Players’ Union Finally Agree to New Contract Terms, So Cincinnati Will See Baseball Soon
And just like that, baseball is back. A little more than a week after the MLB canceled the first few series of the 2022 season, team owners and players came to terms Thursday on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The season now will open on April 7 and will run for 162 games. Read CityBeat‘s story about the deal’s details and what this means for Cincinnati Reds ticketholders.

Cincinnati Police Officer Shoots Two Dogs, Killing One at the Bockfest 5K
Well this was not something anyone had on their bingo card for Bockfest. A scuffle broke out between two dogs near the racecourse, with one dog biting the other of the other pup. An officer shot the biting dog, but the other dog also was struck by the bullet. Read CityBeat‘s story about the incident.

Meet the Codfather, the Patron Saint of Greater Cincinnati’s Lenten Fish Frys
John Geisen, the CEO of Izzy’s and a member of Erlanger’s Mary, Queen of Heaven parish, is a staple of Fish Fry season. Each year, Geisen dresses up in mafioso gear, grabs a plush stuffed fish and heads to the fry to do meet-and-greets, take photos and emcee activities while fish fans eat. Read CityBeat‘s story about how Geisen became the don of cod, and check out our guide to Cincinnati’s amazing fish frys.

Discover the Cincinnati Roots of McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
Speaking of fish, Cincinnati played a major role in what has become a tradition on a national scale. The year was 1962, and Lou Groen owned and operated the first McDonald’s location in Ohio. Sensing a new market of hungry fans, Green had an idea about a springtime sandwich that would change everything. Read CityBeat‘s story about Groen’s invention and how his granddaughter is keeping his legacy alive in the Queen City.

Report: Cincinnati Has One of the Most Affordable Housing Markets in the World, but That’s Not Saying Much
The hot real estate and rental markets have caused issues in Cincinnati in recent years — especially during the pandemic — but a new report says that the Queen City still is one of the most affordable metros in the entire world. Still, that’s not great consolation when the price-to-income ratio is out of whack and many residents are maxed out on housing costs. Read CityBeat‘s story about Cincinnati’s ranking and why there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Kings Island Wants Your Family Photos from the 1970s-’90s for Its 50th Anniversary
Cincinnati’s favorite amusement park is turning 50 this summer and, like any big birthday, it’s commemorating the milestone with a party — but the park needs your help remembering its childhood. To help celebrate, share your photos and videos taken at Kings Island between the 1970s and the 1990s. Read CityBeat‘s story about how to submit your gloriously awkward family photos.

Husband-and-Wife Punk Duo The Dollyrots Talk New Album, Parenthood Ahead of Southgate House Revival Stop
When the husband-and-wife duo Luis Cabezas and Kelly Ogden began working on the follow-up to their 2019 album Daydream Explosion, they came to a rather startling conclusion: They didn’t have anything particularly interesting to say. Confronted with the same environment and kids for an extended period of time during the pandemic, the well of inspiration went dry. Luckily for fans — and for Cincinnati — they found a way to make it work. Read CityBeat‘s story about the Dollyrots’ album and how they kicked COVID ennui.

11 Cincinnati St. Patrick’s Day Parties for Green Beer or Kegs & Eggs
With the St. Patrick’s Day parade making a triumphant return after a two-year hiatus and COVID-19 cases on a downswing, Cincinnati is set for a major party. After all, Cincinnati was recently named the 16th best city in the nation to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and our many places to chug green beer help make that a reality. Read CityBeat‘s story about where to find the luck o’ the Irish.

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This article appears in Mar 9-22, 2022.