Hamilton County Commission

Hamilton County officials say COVID-19 numbers are still plateauing but warn people should continue to be diligent about face coverings, hand washing and social distancing. Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman says the data shows declines following Ohio's mask mandate, which is seen as a positive result of the order.

Hamilton County Commission President Denise Driehaus is referring to the most recent setback with development of a music venue at The Banks as the "newest wrinkle." At issue is whether the county or Cincinnati should develop the park space on lot 23 next to the music venue site.

Hamilton County will have a new agency in charge of the dog warden function starting Saturday. The county commission awarded a $1.95 million contract for the work Thursday to the Cincinnati Animal CARE Humane Society. 

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Hamilton County Commissioner Victoria Parks are scheduled to meet Thursday concerning the latest city/county snag on building a music venue and park addition at The Banks.

Hamilton County officials said the number of new COVID-19 cases is starting to level off or slightly decrease.

Hamilton County's commission president and health commissioner are urging people to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and "double down" on safety precautions.

Hamilton County is negotiating with a Clermont County agency to provide dog warden services in the county.

Hamilton County commissioners are honoring Juneteenth with a proclamation and by recommitting "ourselves to defending the self-evident truth, boldly declared by our Founding Fathers, that all people are created equal."

Former Cincinnati council member and state representative Alicia Reece became the official Demcoratic candidate for the late Todd Portune's Hamilton County commission seat Thursday.

Right now, Hamilton County officials expect to lose $40 million in revenue this year because of the COVID-19 crisis. So, the county commission Thursday approved a measure essentially re-writing the budget to account for the shortfall. 

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to increase in Hamilton County. But County Commission President Denise Driehaus said Friday those numbers are below what had been projected, and the curve that state officials have been talking about is flattening.

The Hamilton County commissioners voted on $10.9 million in spending related to the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday. The largest piece was a nearly $7 million advance to the Cincinnati Museum Center. 

Three women are vying for the Democratic nomination in the race to win a Hamilton County Commission seat. The death of Todd Portune essentially leaves the seat vacant, because his named successor, Victoria Parks, opted not to run.

All three candidates appeared on Cincinnati Edition to talk about their histories and their visions for Hamilton County.

Hamilton County commissioners this week will officially accept a state grant to renovate space within the Justice Center, creating 92 treatment beds.

Former county commissioner Todd Portune got what he wanted from the Hamilton County Democratic Party's central committee Saturday morning – the appointment of his former chief of staff, Victoria Parks, to serve out the remainder of his term.

Hamilton County commissioners are outlining their goals for the upcoming year. That includes welcoming a new commissioner, who is expected to be named this weekend by the Democratic Party to replace Todd Portune, who resigned Dec. 31 because of his battle with cancer.  

There's clearly something in the DNA of Democrats in Hamilton County that makes them unable, or unwilling, to believe that they are sitting in the catbird seat.

Updated: 9:01 p.m.

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune has made a recommendation for his temporary successor. Victoria Parks has been Portune's chief of staff since 2016. She tells WVXU the honor is "bittersweet."