Hoping to put more muscle behind his pitch for a baseball stadium at Broadway Commons, Councilman Todd Portune is now looking to improve the neighborhood around the site.
During council's weekly meeting Wednesday, Mr. Portune proposed a series of upgrades to the area, ranging from road and street improvements to job assistance. The 10-part proposal calls for amending the city's bid practices in order to hire contractors based on their hiring of people who live in Over-the-Rhine and nearby communities. The proposal, which has the support of council members Tyrone Yates and James Tarbell, a leader of the Broadway Commons ballpark campaign, will be studied before a final decision is reached.
United Way $6 million short on final day
Cincinnati's United Way & Community Chest was still $6 million short of its record $53.8 million goal going into the final day of the 1998 campaign.
Carol Aquino, vice president of communications for United Way, said Wednesday that $47,370,159 had been donated.
The campaign wraps up at 4:30 p.m. today with a finale at Cincinnati Music Hall ballroom. To contribute, call 762-7100.
Bus service studying new stop at hospital
Metro bus officials will conduct more research on proposed changes aimed at giving Mount Airy residents access to Franciscan Hospital's Mount Airy Campus.
Three proponents of having the Route 17 College Hill bus go to the hospital showed up for a Tuesdaynight meeting, and Metro wants to get more opinions before deciding what to do, said Metro spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers. Another option involves diverting some Route 19 trips to the hospital. The bus now runs on Colerain Avenue between Northgate Mall and Seven Hills.
Comments may be faxed to Metro at 632-7694 or sent by e-mail to infosorta.com
Ft. Washington Way to be closed overnight
Traffic will have to find a way around Fort Washington Way overnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as construction crews remove parts of the old roadway.
Fort Washington Way will be closed:
- From 10 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.
- From 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday.
- From 10 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday.
Signs will direct traffic on southbound Interstate 75 and eastbound U.S. 50 to use the Seventh Street exit to connect with Interstate 71 north, U.S. 50 (Columbia Parkway) east or Interstate 471 south. Eastbound U.S. 50 traffic can also take I-75 north to the Norwood Lateral (Ohio 562) to get to I-71 north. Traffic on eastbound U.S. 50 can also get to I-71, I-471 or U.S. 50 (Columbia Parkway) east by taking Mehring Way to eastbound Pete Rose Way, to Broadway north to Fifth Street.
Interstate 71 - 75 northbound traffic from the Brent Spence Bridge can use the Fifth Street exit to connect with I-71 north, U.S. 50 east or I-471 south.
Black College Fair Nov. 14 at Swifton
The CABUCA Black College Fair will be noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 in the old Stuarts location at Swifton Commons Mall, 7030 Reading Road. The event is free and open to the public.
Participating schools are Spelman College, Bennett College, Florida A&M University, Howard University, Tennessee State University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Xavier University in New Orleans, Tuskegee University, Kentucky State University, Philander Smith College, Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University. Graduates of black colleges and universities form the CABUCA organization.
Call Wendi West 772-0758.
Changes considered on city training money
Three months after Cincinnati City Council decided it would spend $45,200 to pay for training council members' staffs, elected officials are considering whether to restrict how the money is spent.
Councilwoman Jeanette Cissell and other council members suggested Wednesday the roughly $5,000 each allotted to members' offices for training also could be spent on "personnel or non-personnel." Councilwoman Jeanette Cissell introduced the proposal, which has the support of Mayor Roxanne Qualls, Phil Heimlich, Charlie Winburn and James Tarbell.
Councilman Dwight Tillery called the proposal "wrong" and "not fair," considering the work that went in to trying to fund staff training.
The measure will be referred to the administration for study.
Arrest in 15-year-long phone harassment case
Cincinnati police have arrested a woman they say has been harassing another woman for 15 years.
Jackie Larkins, 37, of North Avondale was charged Wednesday with two counts of telephone harassment.
A woman who says she has been receiving vulgar calls and hang-up calls from Ms. Larkins said the calls began 15 years ago after a church bowling party. The woman, who did not want her name published, said she changed her number and tried to avoid Ms. Larkins, but the calls keep coming.
"I am 70 years old, and I do not care to be bothered when I lay down at night," she said. "I'm not relieved that she's arrested. She's just going to get back out. I just want her to quit calling."
The charges are first-degree misdemeanors. A first-time conviction is punishable by up to six months in jail on each count.
Council rejects juvenile jail site in Bond Hill
Cincinnati City Council voted 8-1 to reject Hamilton County's request to convert an old psychiatric hospital in Bond Hill to a juvenile jail.
Councilman Phil Heimlich was the only one to support the proposal. Earlier this week, Mr. Heimlich said if there were another place in the county to put the facility -- he would support that.
County officials have hired attorneys, and the case is expected to end up in court.
