Bill Rinehart

When Ohio opened up COVID vaccinations to the general public in March, it was difficult to get an appointment. This weekend, some vaccine providers and clinics in Hamilton County still have openings. Kate Schroder with the Health Collaborative says it's not because of vaccine hesitancy.

Holocaust Remembrance events are largely virtual again this year, thanks to the pandemic. The local commemoration of Yom HaShoah expands to a week in 2021. Holocaust and Humanity Center CEO Sarah Weiss says it's to give everyone a chance to view what's planned.

Events and programming return to Fountain Square and Washington Park this week. 3CDC's Emily Stowe says after a year of pandemic-related cancellations, movies, live music, workout sessions and other activities are starting again, with some COVID adjustments. 

The Cincinnati Art Museum premieres a film about a groundbreaking local photographer later this week. Light on IOWA features Nancy Rexroth and her work with a toy camera. Filmmaker Ann Segal says Rexroth, who lives in Cincinnati, produced ethereal photographs with a Diana camera.

Updated March 26 at 9:45 a.m.

A Cincinnati Children's assistant professor says only 15 of 90 state-run websites with vaccine information are configured for use by visually impaired people. Kara Ayers, Ph.D., says that's just one hurdle facing people with disabilities who try to sign up for a vaccine appointment.

Xavier's Cintas Center is open through Saturday as a mass vaccination site. Semele Foundas went through in the first hour, Thursday morning, and says the process, from signing in to getting the shot, was seamless.

By mid-March last year, we all knew things were about to change. Some employers were setting up work-from-home arrangements for employees. Traffic patterns in downtown Cincinnati, where I've lived for the last 13 years, reflected that. Events big and small were getting canceled. People were giving each other more personal space in public.

More people will qualify for the coronavirus vaccine in Ohio as of Thursday. Gov. Mike DeWine says those with Type 2 diabetes or with end stage renal disease can get a shot, as well as those age 50 or older. He says there's also a new statewide portal for people to schedule an appointment.

The Ohio River is still out of its banks, and according to the National Weather Service, still climbing. The river is now expected to hit 57 feet at Cincinnati, five feet above flood stage, and half a foot higher than predicted Wednesday.

Updated 2-16-21

A lot of people around the area may need their sidewalks shoveled this week. Volunteers and snow removal professionals are willing and ready to help. A group calling themselves "Snow Angels" will match people up in at least three Cincinnati neighborhoods.

A Hamilton County Common Pleas judge has rejected an injunction request against Cincinnati Public Schools. The union representing teachers filed suit last week seeking to delay a return to in-person learning.

Updated: Jan. 28, 3 p.m.

Hamilton County commissioners Thursday gave final approval to taking over 911 dispatching for the city of Norwood. County Administrator Jeff Aluotto says they’ve been working to de-fragment the county's emergency communication system.

A Wilmington man has been charged in connection with the violent overrunning of the U.S. Capitol building last week. Forty-year-old Justin Stoll was arrested by the FBI and appeared in District Court in Cincinnati Friday.

Updated: 5:26 p.m.

Ohio's next phase of COVID vaccination starts Jan. 18. Senior citizens in the general public will be eligible to get the shot. But "eligible" and "able" are two different things, according to Cincinnati Health Commissioner Melba Moore.

Ohio hasn't seen a "dramatic surge" in new COVID-19 cases related to the holidays, according to the governor. But Mike DeWine says there has been an upswing. Hamilton County is now at "purple," the highest level on the state's color coded map tracking several different benchmarks. 

Updated: Jan. 8, 2021, 12:18 p.m.

The last man missing from the December collapse of the former Killen power plant in Adams County has been found. 

A community organizer with United We Stand-Cincinnati says there won't be a Women's March this year. Billie Mays says COVID took care of any plans they might have had. She says organizers are very sensitive to the fact that many people who would participate are high risk, or are caring for vulnerable people.

No fireworks and no large crowds on Fountain Square tonight to ring in the New Year. Instead, 3CDC will have a light show. Viewing it from the ice rink is by reservation only, and spokeswoman Emily Stowe says they're booked solid.

Update 12/30/20: Hamilton County commissioners unanimously approved the settlement terms Wednesday afternoon, with few comments. 

Hamilton County's sheriff-elect is dropping her federal discrimination suit against Hamilton County. Charmaine McGuffey was demoted from the head of the jail in 2017, under allegations she created a hostile work environment.

A Northern Kentucky utility company suspended penalties and disconnections earlier this year because of the pandemic. That grace period is about to end. Sanitation District 1 spokesman Chris Cole says Governor Andy Beshear ordered the statewide suspension as customers faced COVID-related hardships.

Through the pandemic, Hoxworth has been accepting plasma donations from recovered COVID patients to help others. The procedure uses antibodies to help those who are still suffering from the disease.

The Brent Spence Bridge reopened Tuesday ahead of schedule. The I-71/75 span has been closed since November 11. A crash between two semis triggered a fire damaging about 100 feet of the bridge. Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray says the repairs were done without cutting corners, and the bridge is safe.