Mark Heyne

Cincinnati's Party in the Park has expanded to 16 weeks and starts today at Yeatman's Cove along the banks of the Ohio River.  It'll run each Wednesday through August 14 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Here's the schedule, which includes country music for the first time:

An oft-repeated theme after the Boston Marathon bombing was that runners are a hardy lot, who wouldn't let the attack intimidate them.  Add to that, they're also a tight knit, determined group.  

Banding together

Runnings stores and groups across the country are holding events today to show solidarity with the victims of the Boston attack.

Bob Roncker's Running Spot stores will be participating in the national Runners for Boston fun runs (or walks if that's more your pace).

As Kermit the Frog so wisely noted, it's not easy being green, but in NASCAR's case, the stock car racing association is trying to drive more sustainable behavior with two programs that were launched this month.

Both programs aim to capture the carbon produced by on-track activity. 

Kentucky Speedway spokesman Tim Bray says the track in Sparta is taking part in the programs as it has in  previous years.

UPDATE:  UC released the following statement Monday evening:

Statement by C. Francis Barrett, Chair, University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees

A group advocating for changes to state and national gun laws rallied on Fountain Square today with several dozen people attending the event, which featured speakers from law enforcement, medicine, politics and faith communities, as well as survivors of gun violence.

"Our purpose today, primarily, is to bring greater attention to the issues related to gun legislation, to call and demand action with regard to gun legislation," said Karen Hillis-Skipper, the event organizer and leader of the Cincinnati chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.