A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Boone County’s Lassing Point set to open March 29; renovations are complete

Renovations are complete at Lassing Pointe, and the golf course is set to open on Saturday, March 29. The recent renovations were part of the complete redesign of the course bunkers and par three tee boxes. Boone County’s Lassing Pointe Golf Course (Photo provided) The architect for the project was Bill Boswell, who was also the lead architect for the initial Lassing Pointe course design under...

Kenton Mayor’s group discusses still-changing rules on medical marijuana — in anticipation the new law

By Patricia Scheyer NKyTribune reporter Kenton County mayors gathered Saturday morning to discuss the latest news in state requirements for medical marijuana. The state has mandated application of the new medical marijuana law in January of 2025 and Planning and Development Services of Kenton County are doing their best to help cities acquire legislation prior to the law. Sharmili Reddy, executive...

City briefs: Park Hills honors Meyers, Lakeside Park ok’s new zoning map, Taylor Mill’s firehouse

By Patricia A. Scheyer NKyTribune reporter Highlights of meetings held this week: Mayor Zembrodt and retiring Charles Meyers. (Photo to Patricia Scheyer/NKyTribune) PARK HILLS Park Hills Mayor Kathy Zembrodt read a proclamation at their regular meeting honoring Charles Lee Meyers for his service throughout his life. Meyers grew up on the campus of Holmes High School and graduated from Holmes. He worked...

In wake of stunning announcement, City of Covington poised to realize dream of transforming city’s future

Four years ago — during the throes of COVID – the City of Covington bought a closed IRS facility on 23 acres just south of the Ohio River with a dream of transforming the City’s future. On Wednesday, a stunning announcement from Frankfort validated both that investment and leaders’ vision. A conceptual rendering showing ‘Block G’ where the law school and medical schools would...

Florence Police Chief Tom Grau is retiring, after 29 years of service and an exemplary career

By Patricia Scheyer NKyTribune reporter Florence Police Chief Tom Grau has made the decision to retire after 29 years totally spent at the Florence Police Department. Grau was the last police officer sworn in at the city under former Mayor Evelyn Kalb, and former police chief Charlie Callen on May 1, 1995. He will leave the job on May 1. “I grew up on the west side of Cincinnati and was a 1990 graduate...

Cov Commission: Ft. Wright resident suggests name for new bridge, ‘Black Brigade’; smart kiosk approved

By Ryan Clark NKyTribune reporter During the Civil War, when the residents of Cincinnati feared they would be attacked by the South, the “Black Brigade” — a group of African-Americans who are known as some of the first to be employed to defend the Union — built a series of forts and military roads to protect the area. Their efforts did much to hold back the Confederate Army, and now, one Fort...

Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet releases Commonwealth’s January unemployment report

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary January 2024 unemployment rate was 4.3%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS). The preliminary January 2024 jobless rate was unchanged from December 2023 and was up 0.2 percentage point from one year ago. The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for January 2024 was 3.7%, which was also unchanged from December 2023, according to the...

Government briefs: Highlights of meetings of Independence, Erlanger, Fort Wright, Boone County

By Patricia A. Scheyer NKyTribune reporter Here are the highlights of what happened in Independence, Erlanger, Fort Wright, and Boone County at recent meetings: INDEPENDENCE Independence Mayor Christopher Reinersman presented awards to two dispatchers, six officers and three detectives in regard to a serious domestic incident on January 7. All of the people were applauded because the dispatchers,...

Two from NKY among 25 graduates of DOCJT’s Public Safety Dispatch Academy Class 155

The Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) has announced 25 dispatchers from across the state graduated from the Public Safety Dispatch Academy and are now ready to begin answering the call to aid both citizens and law enforcement officers of the Commonwealth. “Thank you for answering the call of service,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “Your mission is an important one, as you are...

State has removed 212K dead voters from voter roles; ‘protecting election integrity’ says Adams

Secretary of State Michael Adams announced that Kentucky has removed more than 212,000 dead voters from the voter rolls during his time in office. Notwithstanding a recent, sustained increase in voter registration, in February more voters were removed from the rolls (15,982) than added (7,494). “Removing over 200,000 dead voters from our rolls shows we are serious about election integrity in the...

KYTC reminding St. Patrick’s Day revelers to ‘Shamrock and roll with a sober driver’ March 17

St. Patrick’s Day is one of our nation’s most popular holidays, celebrated with festivals, parades and parties. The amount of alcohol consumed is higher than average, which is why Kentuckians are reminded to designate a sober driver before the festivities begin. “If your St. Patrick’s Day celebration involves alcohol, make the responsible choice to designate a sober driver ahead of time,”...

Edgewood council approves new storage building for city’s first firetruck, Christmas decorations

Edgewood city council voted Monday night to not only go ahead with a new storage building, but they also added another $10,000 to extend the original building. Jeff Schreiver, acting mayor. (Photo by Patricia Scheyer) The vote was 4 to 1 with one abstention. Councilmember Dr. Scott Spille, the single no vote, asked to read an email that he received from Councilmember Darla Kettenacker who had to be...

Covington commission hears news of very real budget cuts — no ‘fantasy,’ says Mayor

By Ryan Clark NKyTribune reporter It’s real, Covington Mayor Joseph U. Meyer told his constituents. “Any allegations about the fantasy of these budget cuts not being real should be put to rest,” he said during the Covington Commission’s regularly scheduled caucus meeting Tuesday night. During the city manager’s report at the beginning of the meeting, Ken Smith recalled how he’d sent an...

State releases 2023 unemployment satistics; jobless rate increased to 4.2 percent from 4 percent in 2022

Kentucky’s annual unemployment rate for 2023 was 4.2% according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS). This is an increase from 4% in 2022. The U.S. annual unemployment rate was 3.6% in 2023, unchanged from 2022. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ estimate of the number of employed Kentuckians for 2023 was 1,941,994. This figure was down 6,318 from the 1,948,312 employed in 2022. The...

Road report: KYTC District 6 reports on roadwork in the region this week — beware delays, closures

KYTC District 6 reports the following work on the region’s roadways this week and urges caution. Be aware of delays and closings — and mindful of the safety of road crews. This schedule is subject to change without notice — and is weather sensitive. I-471 RESURFACING WEEKLY UPDATE No work scheduled for the week of March 3.
Major work on this large-scale resurfacing project has...