News

Washington Park holds its first Cincinnati AVP Open this Labor Day Weekend. This year, Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh will join other Olympians as they compete to make it to the championship in Santa Barbara, CA next week.

Sports insiders are interested to find out if this tournament will reveal Walsh’s new partner. Nicole Banagh is the current favorite to take the place of Misty May-Treanor.

AAA is predicting the national average price of gasoline for Labor Day this year will be the highest ever for the holiday. Spokeswoman Cheryl Parker says we're looking at a high for local gas prices as well:

 "The highest for us locally was$3.75 last year on Labor Day; and, as you can see, we're already at the average of $3.93.  So it's already the highest that we're seeing pretty much across the country."

 Other average prices from the Cincinnati AAA office:  Ohio, $3.90; Kentucky, $3.87; and Covington, $3.96.

If you're heading to Riverfest on Sunday, local officials say their advice is to arrive early to get the best parking and stake out a prime viewing spot for the fireworks.  Cincinnati Police Captain Kim Frey says most downtown streets will be open throughout the day, but there won't be any on-street parking throughout the downtown area south of Court Street:

"We have so many people that come down to Riverfest--probably on our side 200- to 250,000--and afterwards we like all those streets free and clear of everything so we can get people out as soon as possible."

After three years of work, Cincinnati officials are ready to hear from you about the city's new comprehensive plan. 

Its focus is on what the city will look like the in the future. 

Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls has been involved in the plans development.

The Ohio Department of Health reports a Hamilton County man has died from West Nile Virus.

The 76 year old man had been hospitalized with encephalitis and is the first person in Ohio to die from West Nile Virus this year. It's unclear if he was one of two cases Hamilton County Public Health reported last week from the western side of town.

Cincinnati's police chief reports the department's new Taser policy should be released in a couple of weeks. 

But James Craig said there's no discussion about of not using them.

“You discontinue use of the Taser, what’s the alternative?” Craig said.  “We don’t want officers hurt, they need to overcome resistance of an aggressive suspect, so that means side handle batons or straight sticks and again they create and cause more injury to suspects.”

Artist Annie Ruth and CPS students unveiled the Global Canvas Quilt Tuesday afternoon at the Cincinnati Art Museum.  The mural was created by more than 500 World Choir Games participants and spectators July 4-14 using mixed media to design colorful  four-by-four-inch canvases. 

It was a collaborative project involving the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Art Museum and Arts on the Corner, a program created by Ruth.

Ruth said she was inspired to launch the  project so the community could embrace the Games through art.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters is asking Xavier University to revisit the situation that prompted it to expel basketball player Dez Wells.

A grand jury has decided not to indict Wells over allegations of sexual assault. Deters says an independent review was presented to the grand jury yesterday.

As a freshman, Wells started in 32 games last season and was the fourth leading scorer. He would have been Xavier's only returning starter. 

Here is a copy of the news release from Joe Deters:

One week after President Gregory Williams' abrupt departure, the University of Cincinnati is moving forward with a search for its next leader.

The school's board of trustees voted Tuesday to begin the process of finding a new president.

Interim president Santa Ono is getting a raise to go with his new title. His salary is increasing to $369,000 with a $100,000 bonus. The university is also retiring the remainder of the mortgage on Ono's house ($172,963) in Atlanta.

Cincinnati's City Manager said in a memo a disagreement with Duke Energy concerning the streetcar threatens to increase the cost and potentially delay the project. 

The dispute could lead to a lawsuit.

The city and the company are at an impasse about who should pay to relocate the utility lines and pipes near the streetcar tracks.

Anna Louise Inn attorney Tim Burke says the Historic Conservation Board voted unanimously this afternoon to approve the Inn as a conditional use. He said the use will not change.

The request is the latest plan to allow renovation for the 103 year old building. Months ago Western and Southern filed suit blocking any fix up. The company offered to buy the Lytle Park building and wants to turn it into luxury condominiums.

The historic downtown building houses low-income women.