Here are 10 Northern Kentucky people, places or events to watch in 2002:

        Newport's riverfront. The transformation from Sin City to Fun City has been amazing.

        Newport on the Levee and the Oceanic Adventures Newport Aquarium are exciting attractions. But can the developments sustain their early momentum? Tourism is down everywhere. The Levee is awaiting more attractions and stores. Greater Cincinnatians are fickle and stubborn when it comes to supporting new attractions or venues — remember Covington Landing? And the aquarium has seen some of its top people leave their posts.

        Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. A new runway is coming as long as the money comes through. But the public still screams for lower fares. And people tired of low-flying planes continue to make noise about noise.

        Covington City Hall. We've got experience with Mayor Butch Callery, Commissioner Jerry Bamberger and City Manager Greg Jarvis; top young talent in Commissioner Alex Edmondson and Solicitor Jay Fossett; and exciting plans for development downtown.

        But watch for two ambitious candidates — Jerry Stricker and Diane Brumback — to run hard for city commission seats.

        Campbell County Fiscal Court. To nearly everyone's surprise, this group consisting of Republican Judge-executive Steve Pendery and three Democrats, commissioners Roland Vories, Dave Otto and Bill Verst, has gotten along for three years.

        The Frankfort crowd. Northern Kentucky's Legislative Caucus is notorious for not working together. But if the region wants an NKU arena, more money for roads and schools, and more legitimacy from their statehouse colleagues, the group is going to have to come togeth er.

        Northern Kentucky University. The president, James Votruba, is classy and smart. Enrollment is growing. Sport teams contend nationally. The new science building is going to be incredible. Frankfort is noticing.

        Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Bill Crockett. A year into the job as the county's top prosecutor, judges say his office has done a less-than-stellar job, often rebuking assistant prosecutors from the bench about case backlog and their lack of preparation. Will things change or is this, as Mr. Crockett has argued, actually a legacy from his predecessor?

        U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas.Even though he votes like a Republican, the GOP plans to come hard at this Boone County Democrat with lots of money but an untested candidate in Geoff Davis.

        Suburban sprawl. People living in the southern and rural areas of all three Northern Kentucky counties — Boone, Kenton and Campbell — are getting tired of subdivisions, strip malls, sewer plants and new roads. But in a lot of cases, it's too late to close the gate.

        7 come 11: One of the hottest topics in Frankfort this year could be a call to allow thoroughbred tracks like Florence's Turfway Park to have casino-style gambling. But lawmakers probably won't back the issue.

        And don't be shocked to see a full-blown proposal for riverboat gambling in Covington and/or Newport just like they have over in Indiana.

        E-mail at pcrowley@enquirer.com. Past columns at Enquirer.com/columns/crowley.

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