The Enquirer

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said Friday that $700,000 has been received under a U.S. Department of Transportation grant for initial studies on possible replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge.

Congress has approved a total of $2 million to study replacement of the 40-year-old bridge, which spans the Ohio River and connects Northern Kentucky with Cincinnati. The cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $750 million but full funding has not yet been approved.

Studies now under way are focusing on engineering issues related to five options for replacing the bridge. In addition, state officials are trying to determine the remaining life of the Brent Spence. At least two of the options call for the bridge to remain and a new bridge to be built nearby to relieve traffic. The $700,000 grant was announced Friday by U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.

Bible college plans expansion

The board of Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary Thursday gave final approval for a major expansion and name change for the 80-year-old Christian school and seminary in Price Hill. The college will add the term "university" to its name. It will also add some new buildings to its 23-acre campus and expand its adult-education accelerated degree program. College officials said more details will be released Thursday. "The board strongly emphasized the school is not becoming a liberal arts university or changing its mission," wrote Fran W. Anderson, director of marketing, in a statement. The school is growing, said Larry Travis, campus minister. This year's freshman class (275 students) is the largest in school history. Now 976 students attend but the goal over two years is to increase that to 1,100 to 1,200 students.

Weekend brings Taste of Clermont

Downtown Batavia hosts a Taste of Clermont all day today and Sunday, part of the village's new downtown revitalization program.. The festival will show the old and the new of Clermont County. More than 100 bales of hay line the streets as benches to remind people of Clermont's rural roots, and Mexican and Asian cuisine will be among the fare of dozens of restaurants with booths at the event. Taste of Clermont will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday on Main Street. More information is available at www.tasteofclermont.com.

CORRECTION: Pepper is member of museum board

John E. Pepper, who received the National Conference for Community and Justice's highest honor Thursday, is a member of the board of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. His title was incorrect in a story published Thursday.