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Covington Latin School recognized as one of the Best Schools in America for 2023

Covington Latin School, a co-educational, Catholic, accelerated, college preparatory middle and high school, was recognized as the top-ranked Catholic school in Kentucky, according to Niche.com.

They also claimed the “Best Private School” in Northern Kentucky, with a state-wide rank of fourth in Kentucky. These accolades come on the heels of awards in 2021 & 2022 from Cincinnati Family Magazine for “Best Private School from Cincinnati” and “Best School Spirit” from Best of NKY.

Scoring is tabulated through an algorithm mixing feedback from students and parents on topics ranging from cafeteria food to college prep work. These factors provide a glimpse as to what it is really like to attend Covington Latin School as a student and what it is like as a parent of a student.

See the school and meet the facility firsthand during Covington Latin’s annual Open House on Dec. 4, 2022, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Braxton charges in with their ‘Dark Charge Winter Party’ this December

Braxton Brewing Company is unveiling a celebration of Northern Kentucky uniqueness with a limited-edition Chocolate Pretzel and Bourbon Ball Dark Charge Imperial Stout during their “Dark Charge Winter Party.”

The batch offers hints of chocolate and pretzels after being aged for a year in bourbon barrels from three distillers along the B-Line: Old Pogue Distillery, New Riff Distilling and Boone County Distillery.

Only available for purchase during the expanded two-day Dark Charge Winter Party, the unique homage to Northern Kentucky will complement the new Bourbon Lounge in the loft portion of Braxton Brewery, where beer fanatics who are bourbon curious can learn more about these distillers and try bourbon pulled straight from the barrel while enjoying live music from local acts.

The special brew is only available Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.

Beshear appoints seven locals to boards, commissions

Gov. Andy Beshear appointed seven Northern Kentuckians to boards and commissions in November.

Beshear appointed Fr. Matthew Young, of Newport, as a member of the Kentucky Fire Commission; Regina Watts, of Covington, as a member of the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities; David

Sloan, of Fort Mitchell, as a member of the Public Advocacy Commission; Christopher John Fryer, of Independence, as a member of the Education Professional Standards Board; William St. Pierre, of Villa Hills, as a member of the Consumers’ Advisory Council; and John Scott, of Bracken County, as Magistrate for the 6th District.

Lawmakers suggest noncitizens could patch the state’s workforce problem

Gov. Andy Beshear often points to Kentucky’s low unemployment rate, which sits at 3.9%, as proof that the state’s economy is doing well.

Republicans, however, often cite the Commonwealth’s workforce participation rate – 56.8% in December 2021 – as proof that Kentuckians aren’t participating in the workforce as a reason to cut crucial benefits in order to get them back to work.

Rep. Nina Kulkarni (D-Louisville) is approaching employment from a different angle. She recently suggested reforming the state’s licensing requirements so non-citizen immigrants can participate in the workforce.

Kulkarni, Deputy Program Director for The Council of State Governments Carl Sims, and Utah State Representative Norm Thurston presented their arguments to the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations.

Kulkarni said that she thinks Kentucky would benefit from license reform that allows foreign-born workers to work here to meet the region’s economic and workforce needs, even if they are not citizens.

Republican Sen. Donald Douglas (R-Nicholasville) said he’s willing to have the conversation, but if it costs Kentuckians their jobs, he said it’s not worth it.

“I know there are workforce issues and are workforce gaps, but I’m not willing to fill those gaps if it’s gonna put our citizens in danger,” Douglas said.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients cannot obtain occupational licensure in Kentucky. They must prove their citizenship when applying for licensure; if they can’t, they can be disqualified from getting a license.

Northern Kentucky Rep. Adam Koening (R-Erlanger), who co-chairs the committee, asked Thurston what they did in Utah to ensure individuals met the right qualifications.

“I think it’s good policy,” Koenig said. “My concern, primarily, is every state has different licensing rules.”

Thurston said they’ve worked with their refugee communities to train them on competency-based tools, even if they’ve had some educational opportunities.

Republican Sen. Donald Douglas (R-Nicholasville) said he’s willing to have the conversation, but if it costs Kentuckians their jobs, he said it’s not worth it.

Legislators weigh creating Office of Gun Violence Prevention

A freshman lawmaker from Louisville is looking to improve gun safety in Kentucky by trying to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

Rep. Keturah Herron (D-Louisville) recently spoke about the idea to the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity and said she plans to introduce a bill in the 2023 session.

Herron said office would collect and disseminate data and make recommendations related to gun violence policy, community-based gun violence intervention and prevention programs.

Herron said that she has seen the impact of gun violence first-hand. Sabrina Brown, the core director and an investigator for the Kentucky Injury and Prevention Research Center, presented with Herron. She said that said six out of 10 deaths in the U.S. in 2019 were firearm-related suicides, and 109 people died a firearm-related death every day in 2019.

Herron told the commission that this bill is not seeking to ban guns or impose new restrictions on gun ownership.

“I know that when you say ‘gun violence,’ people get scared, they think that you’re talking about taking guns away,” Herron said. “For the record, I do fully support the Second Amendment, and I am a legal gun owner.”

Northern Kentucky Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge) introduced two gun-friendly bills during this year’s session, but both failed to make it to committee. One would have banned “gun-free” zones. The other would have lowered the age requirement for concealed carry from 21 to 18.

An outspoken advocate of gun rights, Maddox said she’s opposed to a gun violence prevention office.

“‘Gun Violence Prevention’ is nothing more than a euphemism for gun control, and I am strongly opposed to any proposal that would empower unelected bureaucrats to have influence over public policy in a way that would infringe upon our right to keep and bear arms,” Maddox said.

Please send any events, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding, or other special announcements to LINK nky via email, at news@linknky.com, with the subject line

“Town Crier.” Please note, meeting times and dates are subject to change. Contact organizers for the most up-to-date information.

Dec. 2-10, 2022

Boone County

Dec. 4: Boone County Holiday Tree Lighting, 4 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2951 Washington St., Burlington

Dec. 6: Boone County Fiscal Court Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2950 Washington St., Burlington

Florence

Dec. 6: Florence Holiday Tree Lighting, 5 to 8 p.m., North Lot, Florence Government Center, 811 Ewing Blvd.

Dec. 6: Florence City Council Caucus Meeting, 6 p.m., Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., (Note: The Florence tree lighting is also at this time, so the caucus meeting may be canceled. Check the Florence website for info)

Union

Dec. 3: Gift of Giving Food Drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Union City Building parking lot, 1843 Bristow Drive, Union

Dec. 5: Union City Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Union City Building, 1843 Bristow Drive, Union

Campbell County

Dec. 7: Campbell County Fiscal Court Meeting, 7 p.m., Alexandria Courthouse, 8352 E. Main St., Alexandria

Alexandria

Dec. 1: Alexandria City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Dec. 6: Alexandria Planning and Zoning Meeting, 7 p.m., 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Dec. 8: Alexandria Code Enforcement Board Meeting, 7 p.m., 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Bellevue

Dec. 2: First Friday Holiday Market, 5 p.m. to

9 p.m., Bellevue Business District, 200-700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue

Cold Spring

Dec. 1: City of Cold Spring Coat Drive, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cold Spring City Building, 5694 E. Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring (drive is ongoing through January, Monday to Friday)

Dec. 7: Light Up Cold Spring House Decorating Contest, after dark, throughout Cold Spring

Dec. 10: Cold Spring Winterfest, 2 p.m., 5686 E. Alexandria Pike Cold Spring

Dayton

Dec. 6: Dayton City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Dayton Community and Meeting Center, 625 Second Ave., Dayton

Fort Thomas

Dec. 4: Fort Thomas Holiday Walk, 3 to 6:30 p.m., Fort Thomas Central Business District, Fort Thomas

Dec. 7: Fort Thomas Holiday Market, 3 to 7 p.m., Mess Hall in Tower Park, 801 Cochran Ave., Fort Thomas

Highland Heights

Dec. 6: Highland Heights City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Highland Heights City Building, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights

Southgate

Dec. 7: Southgate City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Southgate City Building, 122 Electric Ave., Southgate

Kenton County

Dec. 1: Letters to Santa, all day, Santa Express Mailboxes will be located in Kenton County libraries, Kenton County Government Center in Covington, Historic Kenton County Courthouse in Independence, Kenton County Animal Shelter. (Mail letters to Santa, no postage needed, ongoing through Dec. 12.)

Covington

Dec. 1: Covington Economic Development Authority Meeting, 1:30 p.m, Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington

Dec. 1: Covington Human Rights Commission Meeting, 5:30 p.m, Covington City Hall,

20 W. Pike St., Covington

Dec. 7: Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority Board Meeting, 9 a.m., Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington

Edgewood

Dec. 2: Edgewood Home Decorating Contest, all day, throughout Edgewood (Exterior decorations only, runs through Dec. 4; see city website for neighborhoods)

Dec. 2: Edgewood Night at the Behringer-Crawford Museum, 6 to 8 p.m., Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Covington (Free admission to Edgewood residents, canned food donation requested)

Dec. 5: Edgewood City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Edgewood City Building, 385 Dudley Road, Edgewood

Elsmere

Dec. 6: Elsmere City Council Caucus Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Elsmere Community Center, 179 Dell St., Elsmere

Dec. 10: Elsmere Holiday Party, 3 to 5 p.m., Billy Bradford Park and Elsmere Fire Station, 401 Garvey Ave., Elsmere (Registration required)

Erlanger

Dec. 2-3: Erlanger Holiday Train Display, 1 to 8 p.m., Erlanger Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

Dec. 2: Erlanger Annual Tree Lighting, 6 to 8 p.m., Erlanger Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

Dec. 6: Erlanger City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Erlanger Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

Dec. 9: Erlanger Home Decorating Contest, after dark, throughout Erlanger (through Dec. 11, lights should be up entire weekend for judging)

Fort Mitchell

Dec. 1: LiveWell Fort Mitchell Produce Popup, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Fort Mitchell City Building, 2355 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell

Dec. 5: Fort Mitchell City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fort Mitchell City Building, 2355 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell

Dec. 9: 12 Houses of Christmas Lights Contest, after dark, throughout Fort Mitchell (through Dec. 11, lights should be up entire weekend for judging)