Saturday, September 12, 2026

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Community

3D rendering of the Sawyer Point playground in Cincinnati featuring an orange slide tower and green lizard climbing structure.

Community Lifestyle News

Cincinnati unveils whimsical new playground design with giant lizard, ice cream cone

Cincinnati’s new playground plans will bring a giant lizard and oversized sock to Sawyer Point. It will also feature a 36-foot upside-down ice cream cone and a 20-foot slide. Cincinnati Parks released the latest design Sept. 10 for a new playground at Sawyer Point, nearly two years after a fire destroyed the former 1,000 Hands…

ByNina Oliverio1 day ago0Comments

Rows of colorful books neatly arranged on wooden library shelves under warm lighting.

Community Education News

New College Hill library branch moves toward construction in Cincinnati

Plans for a new College Hill library branch are advancing as the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library moves closer to construction on the project. The new facility will relocate the existing College Hill Branch into the neighborhood’s business district. Library officials have identified 1609 W. North Bend Road as the future site. The property…

ByNina Oliverio4 days ago0Comments

Waymo Cincinnati autonomous vehicle driving on a downtown Cincinnati street during mapping

Business Community News

Waymo Cincinnati Mapping Begins as Region Eyes Driverless Rideshare

Updated Sept. 6, 2026: This article has been substantially expanded with additional reporting on independent safety data, Northern Kentucky's autonomous-vehicle law and what would have to happen before driverless service could launch in the region. This update also explores the latest developments surrounding Waymo Cincinnati and its potential impact on local transportation. Waymo Cincinnati Mapping Is…

ByAdam KoehlerSeptember 6, 20260Comments

Covington Axon Contract: $6M Police Tech Deal Explained

Community News

Covington Axon Contract: Inside the $6 Million AI, Drone and Police-Tech Deal

Covington commissioners face a vote on Tuesday on a $6 million Axon Enterprise contract. The ten-year deal already stalled once after residents and commissioners raised pointed questions. The Covington Axon contract bundles body cameras, Tasers, and mobile license plate readers. It also adds a dock-based Drone as First Responder system and AI report-writing software. All…

ByAdam KoehlerSeptember 6, 20260Comments

A person holding a tall stack of colorful textbooks and notebooks over a wooden desk.

Education News

8 Greater Cincinnati schools under scrutiny after statewide review of test results

Eight Greater Cincinnati schools have been identified as having “significant testing anomalies” following a statewide review of Ohio’s spring 2026 standardized test results. In a media release, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce identified the local schools as part of a broader investigation involving dozens of schools statewide. State education officials have not said…

ByNina OliverioSeptember 4, 20260Comments

Students walking down a sidewalk at dusk with flashing emergency vehicle lights in the background.

Community Opinion

How safe are UC students after recent shootings near campus?

Student safety has become a growing concern after several recent shootings near the University of Cincinnati campus. The violence has prompted increased patrols and a coordinated response from university and Cincinnati police. The University of Cincinnati said the recent incidents occurred off campus in nearby neighborhoods. However, many students live, work, and spend time in…

ByNina OliverioSeptember 3, 20260Comments

Cincinnati Oktoberfest crowd gathering outside a German heritage clubhouse

Community Lifestyle

Cincinnati’s Oktoberfests Run on Three Very Different Models

The Oktoberfest pouring Sunday afternoon on West Kemper Road helped pay for the clubhouse behind it. Different institutions built Cincinnati's other Oktoberfests. Each major Cincinnati Oktoberfest runs on a different model, and that model determines who bears the losses. The Exchange traced who operates each festival, what their records show, and where the public record…

ByAdam KoehlerAugust 30, 20260Comments

Aerial view of the illuminated downtown Cincinnati skyline and Great American Tower at sunset.

Community News

Neighborhood plan for Downtown Cincinnati will guide growth after 40 years

Cincinnati officials launched the planning process Friday, Aug. 28, with city leaders, Downtown residents and business representatives. The effort will create a new long-term vision for Downtown Cincinnati as the area continues to undergo major development. The plan will examine how public spaces, streets, housing, offices and new projects fit together. Mayor Aftab Pureval said…

ByNina OliverioAugust 29, 20260Comments

OTR Crime Numbers and the Cincinnati Skyline at Dusk

Community News

OTR Crime Is Down. So Why Don’t the Numbers Add Up?

OTR Crime Is Down. The 2005 Comparison Has Problems Cincinnati Police Department’s Aug. 24 report puts Over-the-Rhine at 77 violent offenses this year, down from 83 last year. City Hall calls that proof Over-the-Rhine crime is falling. OTR crime numbers did fall this year. CPD’s Aug. 24 report confirms it. That is real progress, and nobody at…

ByAdam KoehlerAugust 28, 20260Comments

A Cincinnati-area Realtor walks prospective buyers through a home for sale as Cincinnati housing inventory grows in the Greater Cincinnati market.

Community

Cincinnati Housing Inventory Grows as Fed’s Hike Odds Fade

Greater Cincinnati had 3,271 homes actively listed for sale in July. This was 5.7% more than a year earlier, according to the REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. Three weeks later, Federal Reserve minutes showed several policymakers had favored a quarter-point rate increase at their July meeting. Even so, the committee held its benchmark rate steady.…

ByAdam KoehlerAugust 24, 20260Comments