News

Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus, the New Richmond Republican who is in his waning days as Ohio Senate president, was honored Tuesday night with the unveiling of an official portrait in the Senate Chamber where he has served the past eight years.

The Clermont County Republican's portrait was done by artist Leslie Adams, who has painted the state's official portraits of Bill Harris, Niehaus' predecessor as Senate president; and former governors Bob Taft and Ted Strickland.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich was among those attending the official unveiling.

Sewer rates in Hamilton County will likely go up again next year, though not quite as much as expected.

The Metropolitan Sewer District is recommending County Commissioners  approve a five percent increase for each of the next five years. That's less than the eight percent rates went up in 2012. Sewer District Director Tony Parrott says the smaller projected increases are possible because of reduced costs related to changes in a project along the Lower Mill Creek.

Angry employees and people who regularly use the Hamilton County Recorder's office packed Commission chambers Wednesday. They want funding restored to the Recorder's budget so he won't go through with closing the office on Friday's.

Earlier this month Wayne Coates announced the four-day work week is needed to manage the nearly 25 percent cut to his 2013 budget.

Paul Berlage with the Southwestern Ohio Land Title Association says avoiding filing delays is paramount.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission says Horseshoe Cincinnati has been granted a public opening date of March Fourth next year.  

The casino will be the last of four voter-approved casinos to open in the state in less than one year.  Construction at the site started in February 2011 and is now in its final stages.  

Casino General Manager Kevin Kline says in a statement efforts to hire and train about 1,700 new workers are on schedule and several hundred slot machines have already been placed on the gaming floor.