Democratic incumbent Greg Landsman has proposed legislation that would bar officials from signing nondisclosure agreements when negotiating data center deals a bill his Republican challenger Eric Conroy says he would support if he wins the seat.

WCPO 9 anchor Frank Marzullo spoke one-on-one with both men on data center regulations. Landsman said communities across the country are being shut out of data center negotiations conducted behind closed doors, and that federal guidelines are needed to protect both towns and ratepayers.

"We need to protect our towns and our ratepayers. And to say, well, this is a local decision is to say you're on your own, and I don't think that's fair to towns and ratepayers," Landsman said.

Landsman pushed back on the argument that federal protections would undercut local authority, saying they would in fact give communities more leverage including the ability to put data center decisions to a community vote.

WATCH: One-on-one with Democratic incumbent Greg Landsman on data centers

"Let's have it. If a community wants to go to the ballot. They can do that. Nothing about federal guidelines or federal protections precludes local control. In fact, it just gives them more leverage, and that, I think, is what people want, which is to say, yeah, maybe a data center is OK, but I want to say I don't want the data center to come in. Without me knowing any of the details, buy up a bunch of land, jack up my utility bill, and take all our water. That's they want to be protected," Landsman said.

When told his opponent had expressed support for the bill, Landsman reacted positively.

"Yes, yes, it's a great bill," Landsman said.

Marzullo spoke with Conroy, who told him he would support the legislation if he were in the House. Conroy said data centers are primarily a local matter, but agreed that all negotiations must be conducted openly and in public view.

WATCH: One-on-one with Republican challenger Eric Conroy on data centers

"First and foremost, I think it's a local issue. So if a local community decides that they want a data center, I'll help them with that. If they decide they don't want a data center, I'll also help them with that. But I think what's very important is that all the debates and discussions are above board and for the public to hear. We need big tech to foot most of the bill, whether that's with utilities or other facilities needed in a community, right? If we lost the battle for the internet 30 years ago as a country, we'd be in a very different spot. So I think we should keep an open mind on data centers, but at the same," Conroy said.

A deputy was injured, and another person was rescued from a building following an early morning fire in Silverton.

According to the Silverton fire chief, crews responded to Montgomery Road around 5 a.m. for reports of a fire at a commercial building.

The fire chief said the fire was contained to the barbershop, and crews rescued a resident from the apartment above.

According to the fire chief, crews knocked the fire out quickly, and fire investigators are on their way to the scene.

Montgomery Road has reopened, the fire chief said.

Two people were left injured following a shooting near Reading Road early Sunday morning, according to Cincinnati police.

Around 3:42 a.m., officers were sent to respond to a report of trespassers fighting at 2325 Reading Road. Cincinnati police say a shooting was then reported near Reading Road and Helen Street. A woman was found with a gunshot wound to her left wrist, while a man was found with a gunshot wound to his upper left thigh.

Cincinnati police say both the man and woman's injuries are non-life-threatening.

This incident remains under investigation.

President Donald Trump returned to Ohio Saturday night, campaigning for Republican candidates in key statewide races as both parties intensify efforts ahead of November's midterm election.

Trump appeared before a crowd at Butler High School in Vandalia, where he endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and U.S. Senate candidate John Husted. The rally comes as Ohio voters prepare to decide races that will decide the next Governor of Ohio and control of the U.S. Senate.

WATCH: Trump rallies in Ohio during 32-day midterm tour as Senate race tightens

The president urged supporters to hit the polls as if they were voting for him.

"We want to win the midterms," Trump told the crowd. "We have great people, so if you don't mind, please pretend that I'm on the ballot."

Supporters traveled from across Ohio to attend the event.

"It means a lot. I've always wanted to see him," said Cade Watson.

Outside the venue, demonstrators gathered along nearby streets to protest the president's visit and voice opposition to his policies.

"We're out here practicing our First Amendment. We're tired of what's happening in this country," said Theresa Clary, who attended the protest.

WATCH RELATED: New midterm polling gives Democrats an edge in battleground states

The rally highlighted several issues Republicans hope will resonate with voters in the final weeks before Election Day like immigration, gas prices and data centers. Trump said of Husted is elected he will automatically pass the Rate Payer Protection Act targeting Date Center electricity costs.

"Are we gonna show him by electing me that he's doing the right thing and that we're gonna get a victory in November?" Husted said.

The two said they work work closely with the president if elected.

"I think this state needs and deserves a governor who will actually collaborate with, work with and partner with the president of the United States of America to bring investment into Ohio," Ramaswamy said.

The appearance underscored Trump's continued influence within the Republican Party in Ohio. While supporters view the president as a key asset in motivating GOP voters, critics argue his involvement could energize Democratic turnout in competitive races.

The event concluded with Trump inviting Husted and Ramaswamy back to the stage and recognizing several Republican officials in attendance.

Trump is scheduled to continue campaigning in Nebraska before early voting begins next week.

Hughes football coach Jalen Engleman believes this undefeated football season is bigger than the sport itself for the program.

While Hughes has a 7-0 record for the first time in at least 26 years, there is also a significant perspective being taught to the student-athletes within the Big Red program.

We want our players to understand that theyre building something that can impact Hughes for years to come, Engleman wrote in a text message Saturday morning.

Im extremely proud of them, grateful for our coaching staff and thankful for everyone who has supported us along the way. Were going to continue to stay humble, stay hungry and take it one week at a time.

Hughes defeated Taft 38-6 on Friday night. The team has outscored its past two opponents 82-12. Hughes is ranked No. 7 in the Division III, Region 12 computer points standings, according to playoff projections analyst Joe Eitel.

I think the biggest key to our success has been the belief and commitment our players have shown, Engleman said. Theyve bought into our culture, theyve had each other accountable, and theyve continued to work even when things havent been easy. Our coaching staff has also done a tremendous job of putting these young men in position to be successful and keeping everybody focused on the bigger picture.

WATCH: Hughes football team has a 7-0 record

Engleman, a 2019 Winton Woods graduate, was named the Hughes coach in January. He said this past winter that accepting the Hughes head coaching position was like a dream come true.

Fast forward to this season and the Hughes school community has watched the Big Red succeed. The stands are filled. The staff, parents, alumni, student and community members consistently support the student-athletes.

One thing Im especially proud of is how our guys have handled adversity, Engleman said. Weve dealt with challenges throughout the season but instead of allowing those things to divide us theyve brought us closer together. Our players have continued to show up, compete and believe in one another.

Hughes athletic director Andrew Mueller said he is unable to find anything that says the team ever had a 7-0 start in school history. He is still researching other season records prior to the 1990s.

Mueller said this has been a special season.

We have a great group of young men who have been in our program for four-plus years, Mueller said. They are buying in to what Head Coach Jalen Engleman is teaching. Our coaching staff is a tight-knit group that goes above and beyond for our student-athletes. Coach Jalen was the head middle school football coach when these kids were coming through our program. He has the respect and trust of our athletes and has the ability to get the best effort from our players.

Hughes (7-0) plays Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy (7-0) Oct. 10. CCPA has a 7-0 record for the first time in program history. The Lions defeated Dayton Christian 26-21 on Friday night.

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The Moeller High School football team is the Greater Catholic League South division champion.

The Crusaders defeated visiting Elder 35-28 Friday night at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.

It is Moellers fourth GCL South title in the past five seasons. Moeller also recently won the GCL South championship in 2024, 2023 and 2022. Elder won the GCL South title in 2025.

Obviously our guys are really excited about the GCL championship and winning it outright especially how it happened last year where it was just a tough loss to Elder, Moeller coach Bert Bathiany said early Saturday morning.

So this was a date we definitely had circled for quite some time. Just really happy for our fans, happy for our players and more importantly our seniors. They get to be GCL champs. Thats a big deal as a senior to be able to say that. Really proud of them proud of our staff.

Moeller sophomore running back Juice Glover-Brown rushed 28 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns in the Crusaders fourth consecutive win. His 26-yard touchdown run with 50 seconds remaining broke a 28-all tie and proved to be the winning play. Moeller completed a six-play, 63-yard drive which proved to be the difference.

Sophomore quarterback Hunter McLaughlin was 15 of 23 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Phil Bailey II rushed nine times for 109 yards.

Moeller had 544 yards of total offense including 352 yards rushing.

Bathiany said he was basically speechless at the end of the game.

These GCL games they get so tight and so close, they can be emotionally draining on you sometimes, Bathiany said. And that was like a GCL classic as well.

Moeller (5-2) is No. 4 in the Division I, Region 4 computer points standings. Moeller plays at Cleveland St. Ignatius (4-3) Oct. 9.

Elder (5-2), ranked No. 3 in Region 4, travels to play Highlands (6-1) Oct. 9.

Thats a really good football team, Bathiany said of Elder. Theyre going to be really good in the playoffs. Theyre going to be really tough. Just like St. X, we expect to see them again. So were going to celebrate this one tonight and were going to soak it up but we know we have a big challenge ahead with Iggy (St. Ignatius) and (Lakewood St. Edward) and (Detroit) Martin Luther King and getting back to playoff football.

Bathiany told the Moeller team to be appreciate everything about the GCL championship on Friday night.

Soak it up take this moment in youre GCL champs and to enjoy this night because you dont get moments like this too often,' Bathiany said.

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A proposed prayer shrine, known as a grotto, at a Northern Kentucky church has become the center of a legal battle that could reshape how religious organizations use their property across the country.

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether federal religious liberty protections override local land-use restrictions in a case stemming from a proposed grotto a prayer site featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary that the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist want to build behind Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Park Hills. The nonprofit corporate board of the former Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist, Inc., owns the property.

WATCH:

"The implications are broad and far-reaching for people of all faiths across this country," Ryan Gardner said.

Gardner is an attorney with First Liberty, which is part of the legal team representing the Missionaries.

The city of Park Hills approved the project in 2021. Neighbors then sued, citing zoning rules and concerns about traffic and parking. Kentucky courts sided with the opposing neighbors.

The Diocese of Covington, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and the Catholic Church are not parties to the lawsuit.

The Missionaries argue federal law shields religious organizations from land-use rules that substantially burden their faith practices.

"When those zoning interests conflict with higher law, in this case a federal law specifically designed to protect religious land use, the zoning interests must give way to the federal law," Gardner said.

The opposing neighbors argue there is no undue burden and that the church knew the zoning restrictions existed and could build a shrine elsewhere on its property.

Not all neighbors share those concerns. Barb Huff said she does not see the project as a problem.

"The church has every right to have what they want on their property. I don't think it'll be a traffic issue. They've been an asset to the neighborhood," Huff said.

Gardner said the stakes extend well beyond the Park Hills dispute.

"Religious liberty doesn't really mean much if you are not able to gather with others to engage in acts of worship, acts of prayer, acts of charity, and all of these things are going to be affected by this ruling," Gardner said.

Oral arguments have not been scheduled.

WCPO has reached out to the attorneys representing the opposing neighbors and has not heard back.

Two people have been displaced after a car crashed into an apartment building near the University of Cincinnati Friday night, according to the Cincinnati Fire Department.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., crews responded to reports of a car into a building at the 30 block of West McMillan Street.

When crews arrived on scene they discovered a car had lost control and had crashed into the Melbourne Flat apartments, said the fire department.

Two residents of the building have been displaced as a result of the crash. No residents of the building were injured.

The fire department said there were two people inside of the car. The extent of their injuries are unknown.

Heavy rescue units were called to the scene to shore up the building and restore structural integrity following the "significant damage" caused to the building by the crash, according to crews on scene.

The Anderson football team is on a mission this season.

The Raptors, who have been the Division II state runners-up the past two seasons, are determined to prove their success again in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference.

That was evident Friday night as Anderson defeated visiting Turpin 66-21 in the renewal of the Forest Hills School District rivalry.

Anderson coach Evan Dreyer said the Raptors think about the Turpin game "365 (days a year) and 24/7."

"To have these seniors play the way they did - the seniors led us tonight," Dreyer said.

"With Antwoine (Higgins) two interceptions, Ace Alston played incredible. You talk about Owen Scalf's ability to run and toss the ball was special. It's meaningful for these guys to be able to leave here with a huge win in a community-based game."

Senior quarterback Owen Scalf threw for four touchdowns and rushed for three scores in the victory for the Raptors.

Higgins, a University of Kentucky verbal commit, had two interceptions including one returned for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

Alston, a Notre Dame commit who was named a Navy All-American, had a lengthy opening kickoff return that helped set up a touchdown run by senior Jordan Davis just 20 seconds into the game.

Anderson, rated No. 1 in the Division II, Region 8 computer points standings, has won six consecutive games against Turpin going back to 2021.

Anderson hasnt lost to Turpin since Oct. 18, 2019 (29-28 at Turpin). Anderson hasnt lost to Turpin at home since Oct. 14, 2016 (38-21).

Anderson, ranked No. 18 in Ohio by MaxPreps, has thrived at Charles L. Brown Stadium. The Raptors have just one loss at home the past four seasons. Louisville Trinity defeated Anderson 59-13 in the season opener in August.

Andersons most recent home loss to an ECC opponent was to Kings (41-26) on Oct. 21, 2022.

Anderson (6-1) has won six consecutive games this season overall. Entering Friday, Anderson outscored its opponents 293-152.

Anderson plays at Walnut Hills at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Turpin (3-4) entered Friday tied with Kings for No. 12 for the final playoff spot in Region 8. The top 12 teams in each region qualify for the postseason.

Friday marked the first time Turpin head coach Rob Stoll faced Anderson during his second stint with the program. Stoll, a Turpin Hall of Famer, is the schools all-time winningest football coach.

Turpin defeated Loveland and West Clermont in back-to-back weeks prior to Fridays game at Anderson.

Turpin plays host to Lebanon Oct. 9.

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What began as a student-led effort at Walnut Hills High School has grown into an international nonprofit that helps thousands of young people learn to use artificial intelligence responsibly.

Founded in 2024 by 16-year-old Walnut Hills senior Samarth Khandelwal, Students for AI Literacy, or SAIL, teaches students how AI works, how to identify misinformation and how to use AI tools safely and effectively.

WATCH THE STORY:

The organization has already reached more than 16,000 students and expanded to 13 chapters across multiple states and countries.

"We specifically focus on AI literacy, how to use AI safely, and also misinformation," Khandelwal said.

Khandelwal said he launched the organization after noticing students were rapidly adopting AI tools such as ChatGPT while schools struggled to keep pace with teaching students how to use them.

"When ChatGPT was released, people didn't really understand how it worked or how to use it properly," Khandelwal said. "There were also teachers and adults who didn't understand exactly how to do it. But there was no one responsible for actually teaching people how to use this."

His own experience mirrored what many students were facing.

He said that as a middle school student, he often used AI without fully understanding its capabilities or limitations. As the technology became more common, he realized students, teachers and parents needed guidance.

That need became even more apparent as Ohio moved to require schools to establish policies governing artificial intelligence use.

"Every high school was required to have an AI use policy by the start of this school year, and Ohio was the first state to do this," Khandelwal said. "So noticing this gap in the lack of an organization or someone being tasked with explaining to people what AI is and how to use it is why I really started this organization."

The nonprofit's lessons focus on three major areas: understanding how AI systems work, recognizing AI-generated misinformation, and developing effective prompting skills.

During workshops, students learn not only what AI can do, but also how to use it ethically.

Khandelwal often compares AI to a smartphone.

Like a phone, he said, AI can be a powerful tool when used responsibly but harmful if abused.

"You can be using it as a personal tutor to help you with assignments, but you can also be misusing it to cheat or essentially do assignments for you," he said.

The organization's growth has been rapid.

What began at Walnut Hills has expanded into chapters in Ohio, Massachusetts and Texas, with international chapters now being established in Uganda and Uzbekistan. Khandelwal said social media, personal connections and a strong online presence have helped spread the mission.

Recently, the organization was awarded a Google Ad Grant worth $120,000 annually in advertising credits, helping increase awareness of its programs.

SAIL has hosted workshops at Boys & Girls Club locations in West Chester and Liberty Township, as well as at schools and community organizations throughout the region. More workshops are planned in the coming months.

"We have an event in two weeks coming at the St. Jude School, and then we also did one at the Hyde Park School three weeks ago," Khandelwal said.

While Khandelwal focuses on growing the organization, Walnut Hills senior Jason Bronson Jr. helps manage the nonprofit's finances as treasurer.

Bronson joined SAIL earlier this year after wanting to better understand AI's impact on society.

"When Samarth posed me with the offer of joining his company, I really thought about my usage of AI," Bronson said. "Kids today, including myself, sometimes use AI loosely, and it would be beneficial if they had a way to learn about the positive effects and the negative effects of what AI has to offer."

As treasurer, Bronson oversees grant applications and the organization's financial planning. SAIL has received approximately $2,900 in grant funding and continues pursuing larger funding opportunities to support expansion efforts.

Among its current projects is a grant proposal seeking $22,000 from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

The organization is also working with Cincinnati Public Schools on a proposed initiative called CPS Research Scholars.

If funded, the program would provide approximately 150 students across the district with opportunities to conduct academic research, work alongside mentors, compete in science fairs and potentially publish their work.

Khandelwal said the program is designed to address inequities in access to research opportunities, which often require expensive resources and mentorship networks that are not available to every student.

For Bronson, helping students understand both the promise and risks of AI remains one of the organization's top priorities.

"As it evolves, our knowledge of its evolution is definitely vital for us to weigh the positive and negative effects," he said.

Bronson acknowledges concerns about AI replacing jobs but believes the conversation often overlooks the technology's potential benefits.

"I do agree there are really big negative aspects of AI in taking over jobs," he said. "But there are also many positive effects of AI in research, literacy, teaching, and it can be used for the betterment of society."

As both seniors prepare for life after graduation, they hope the organization will continue growing long after they leave Walnut Hills.

Khandelwal said maintaining quality while expanding remains his top priority.

"I think the main hope is that the organization keeps growing," he said. "Ensuring all these chapters are actually doing stuff and contributing to our mission is really important to me."

A man has pleaded not guilty after he allegedly assaulted a woman and was then struck by a vehicle in Batavia Township in August.

The Clermont County Sheriff's Office said deputies received multiple calls Aug. 27 regarding a scene along Wooded Ridge Drive in Batavia Township.

"There are cars speeding up and down the road trying to run this guy over," one 911 caller said.

"EMS needs to be here right away," another caller told dispatchers.

The sheriff's office said Steven Ballard, 38, and a woman got into an altercation just before 6 p.m. Aug. 27. The woman confronted Ballard over concerns about his conduct toward her child.

WATCH: The latest after a man was charged in an assault, then struck by a car in Batavia Township

A verbal, then physical fight ensued, and Ballard is accused of hitting the woman multiple times and keeping her from leaving the scene in her truck, the sheriff's office said. Ballard then allegedly pointed a gun at the woman after she was able to start leaving in her vehicle.

Deputies recovered the gun at the scene, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office said the woman was left with cuts and bruising to her face after the incident.

Minutes after the assault, a man, later identified as Jason Chadwick, allegedly drove into and struck Ballard with a vehicle, and the incident was caught on video.

Chadwick was charged with one count of felonious assault for allegedly striking Ballard.

Ballard has since been charged in the assault and indicted by a grand jury on one count of kidnapping, one count of felonious assault, one count of abduction and one count of assault.

Ballard was in court Friday and pleaded not guilty to Judge Kevin Miles for the three felonies and one misdemeanor.

Prosecuting attorney Carol Rowe provided more details about the alleged assault in court.

"He was repeatedly telling her that he would kill her," Rowe said.

Miles set Ballard's bond at $750,000.

Ready, set, blink! Cincinnati is just days away from the return of the annual BLINK Festival, and public safety officials are preparing for what they expect could be the event's biggest turnout yet.

City officials outlined their safety plans Friday, including launching a new emergency alert platform called Cincy Alert.

WATCH THE STORY:

Powered by the Smart911 app, the platform is the City of Cincinnati's official emergency and non-emergency alert system. Starting next Thursday, officials say Cincy Alert will provide updates about emergencies, weather conditions, municipal information and road closures.

Cincinnati Assistant Fire Chief Matt Flagler says the city's Emergency Operations Center will be activated throughout the festival.

Officials are also planning a significant public safety presence, with about 100 officers stationed throughout the city, along with fire and ambulance crews.

Flagler says the city is preparing for an estimated 2 million visitors.

I feel very good about where we are as a city and as a region. You know, this is an event that is in two states, three different municipalities, two different counties. Its a big event, and it has a big public safety response.With BLINK spanning multiple communities across the region, officials say coordination will be key to keeping visitors safe while they take in the festival's light displays and art installations.

Visitors and residents can opt in to receive Cincy Alert notifications by texting:

BLINK 2026 to 77295

Officials encourage festivalgoers to sign up to receive timely safety, weather, traffic and road closure information during BLINK.

BLINK 2026 is set to begin on Thursday, Oct. 8. The art festival combines murals with light shows, art pieces and installations across parts of downtown Cincinnati, Over-The-Rhine and Northern Kentucky.

WATCH: Here's what's new for BLINK 2026

RELATED: There's only 1 week until BLINK, the art festival that 'you literally cannot get anywhere but in Cincinnati'

Daniel Buford couldnt find the grave. He walks up a steep hill, gingerly using his walking stick. Then he walks down.

Where did you go?

He walks up again, this time breathing heavily. Hes looking for his dads grave.

I know hes here somewhere, Buford said. I did the funeral and watched him go into the hole.

WATCH: Why this artist is turning a tree into a memorial at historic Black cemetery

As Buford walks through the United Colored American Cemetery, he tells me hes embarrassed because he can't find his dad's marker. But it actually makes his point better than anything he can say. Because at this cemetery, thousands of people buried here don't have markers.

It's Ohio's oldest Black cemetery, and it was once declared a public nuisance. Because residents didn't want Black people buried in their town.

Buford comes here almost every day now, and he stays for as much as 4 hours if he can. He's turning an old tree near the front of the cemetery into a memorial.

You had so many people die who were never memorialized, never funeralized, Buford said. To me, each of these faces is a representation of one of those elders.

Buford taps on a face he's pinned onto the tree. This one came from the metal tin on the bottom of a tea canister. Another one from a pot pie. This one, he says, is a cookie tin.

"Old Bay spice," Buford said.

Then, he asks me to stand back.

I dont want this over-spray to get on you, Buford said.

He taps on the tree several times. Once for the nose, once for the mouth and once for the eyes. Because he's shaping the tree into a large face, with individual tins representing tears.

Its going to be called the 'wiping the tears' totem pole, Buford said. Were here to memorialize and preserve the memory of those people.

After I leave, a local historian helps look for Bufords father. They couldn't find him.

October football is here.

Greater Cincinnati high school football continues the stretch run of the regular season with several key Week 7 matchups to watch.

The WCPO 9 Friday Football Game of the Week featured Anderson's 66-21 win over visiting Turpin in the renewal of the Forest Hills School District rivalry.

Anderson (6-1), rated No. 1 in the Division II, Region 8 computer points standings, has won six consecutive games.

In Division I, Region 4, Moeller won the Greater Catholic League South division outright with a 35-28 win over Elder at Welcome Stadium in Dayton. Moeller improved to 5-2 this season. The Crusaders are No. 4 in the Region 4 standings.

The Greater Miami Conference had multiple games to watch including Lakota West's 35-0 win over Middletown at Barnitz Stadium. Lakota West, rated No. 2 in the Region 4 standings, improved to 6-1 this season.

Princeton defeated Mason 47-0 as the Vikings enjoyed their first true home game this season. It also marked the completion of the renovation of Jake Sweeney Automotive Stadium at Pat Mancuso Field. Princeton is ranked No. 1 in Region 4.

Talawanda defeated previously unbeaten Northwest 35-26. Northwest had a 6-0 record for the first time since the 2013 season.

North College Hill remained undefeated with a 43-3 win over host Summit Country Day. NCH is No. 2 in the Division IV, Region 16 standings.

In Northern Kentucky, Highlands defeated Covington Catholic 38-20. The Bluebirds have won six consecutive games. Highlands (6-1) plays host to Elder (5-2) Oct. 9.

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The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has officially ended its use of Flock Safety cameras after it initially suspended the partnership with the cameras in early September.

The sheriff's office announced the end of the cameras Friday, saying that since the time of the suspension and after further review, the program has been fully terminated.

Flock cameras are automated license plate readers that capture vehicle details and then store the information in the cloud for law enforcement use. The company said its technology is used by thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide.

"We took these actions after residents raised significant concerns about who outside of Hamilton County could access locally collected data, how that information could be shared and what level of control our office had over those processes," the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office reiterated that internal audits confirmed that there was no misuse of the system within Hamilton County.

Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey first announced the suspension of Flock cameras on Sept. 3. McGuffey said in September that she wanted several changes from Flock, including clear guidelines on who the information obtained from vehicles is shared with, where it goes when it's collected and more.

PREVIOUS: Hamilton County sheriff discusses pause of Flock Safety cameras

"I know what we personally do with it, but it connects, it connects to a lot of technology and so forth, and I want the company to be prepared to tell citizens what that is and where it's going," McGuffey said.

McGuffey initially said that she wanted to get the cameras back up soon because she believes they're integral in solving crimes, but that she first wanted citizens to be heard and guardrails to be put in place.

On Friday, the sheriff's office once again reiterated how the automatic license plate recognition cameras were useful.

RELATED | Interactive: The case for and against Flock cameras

"Although ALPR technology has contributed to important investigative outcomes, the sheriff's office will only use tools that meet our standards for privacy, transparency and full local control over sensitive information," the sheriff's office said.

Hamilton County had partnered with Flock since 2022 after a grant helped fund 25 cameras, according to Major Tony Orue. The county had 75 total Flock cameras after working with individual townships and municipalities within Hamilton County.

The sheriff's office said it will continue to keep residents informed about any future use of the technology.

Hamilton County is now one of many communities in the Tri-State who have ended their partnership with Flock Safety.

Fort Thomas Mayor Andy Ellison announced in August that the city will discontinue its use of Flock cameras, citing a shift in the network advantage that made the system valuable and acknowledging residents' privacy concerns. The city of Newport also removed the automated license plate reader technology in July.

Residents in Hamilton gathered to protest Flock cameras in August, and Milford residents have also called for the removal of the cameras despite the city's police chief defending them.

BLINK is returning to Covington this year with a new entertainment destination center, drawing visitors from as far as Boston and New York.

The new center allows attendees to purchase alcohol from a select list of businesses and walk around as they explore along Madison Avenue, West Pike Street, Park Place and more.

WATCH: What Covington's new Entertainment Destination Center means for your BLINK experience

Businesses like Smoke Justis are preparing for what could be their busiest weekend of the year.

"I'm doing the schedule right now, and trust me it is, it's, it's an obstacle," said Smoke Justis manager JR Bernasco. "But no, we've got everything nailed down so far."

Bernasco said they plan to take full advantage of the new open container rules during BLINK.

"We're going to have little set-up bars outside so people can come and get a drink, walk around, see all the sights," Bernasco said.

Corbin Copeland, a first-time BLINK attendee, said he's excited for how the new addition could elevate the event.

"I think that is a good way to get everybody to be able to get out of the bar ... go outside and see more of the art and be able to walk around, and participate more," Copeland said.

While bars and breweries are excited for the change, not every Covington store owner is convinced it is for the better.

"I think this is a family event and so sort of it seems a little bit out of place for people who need to be carrying their beer around," said Augur, owner of Hierophany & Hedge. "It's early in the evening, so we're optimistic that it will bring people out and kind of get them moving around, and we'll kind of play the alcohol by ear."

BLINK attendees in Covington will be able to explore the festival with their alcohol in specially labeled cups from the following businesses:

You can find a map of the streets you're able to walk around with alcohol on, as well as information about road closures, by clicking the link here.

With just over a month left until this year's election, some Hamilton County voters could see changes to which races they vote for.

That includes residents on the east side, like Madeira resident Jeff Taylor.

Taylor emailed me earlier this week after he found out Madeira residents will now vote in the 8th Congressional District. Taylor said that, for the past couple of elections, he's voted in the 1st Congressional District.

WATCH: See which areas in Hamilton County may see changes to who they can vote for

The new district lines don't take effect until next year. However, voters in those newly redrawn areas will vote this year for candidates who will represent their new district.

Theres still a lot of yard signs in Madeira for Greg Landsman and Eric Conroy," Taylor said. "A lot of them. And those people arent going to vote for those two candidates.

Taylor said he emailed me because he feels like this change wasn't clearly communicated to him and his neighbors.

Earlier this week, I thought I was still voting in the 1st Congressional District and simply through Facebook posts and word of mouth in the community, I found out that nope, were now in the 8th Congressional District," Taylor said.

Hamilton County's Board of Elections Director Sherry Poland said the state's redistricting commission made the changes last October.

Typically redistricting is conducted once every 10 years," Poland said.

She said that when the census was conducted in 2020, there was not a unanimous vote on the redistricting. She said because of that, the commission had to meet again to redraw the lines.

She said the new lines were unanimously approved, meaning they'll remain in effect through 2030.

Were only looking at about 23% of Hamilton Countys total number of registered voters that have had a change in their congressional district," Poland said.

Poland said the Board of Elections did notify voters about the new changes on social media and through the mail.

However, Taylor claims he never saw anything.

"I've talked to more than a dozen of my neighbors and no one has received that," Taylor said.

Poland said anyone who's unsure about changes to their ballot can go to the Board of Elections website and find their sample ballot, which will show you what your ballot will look like in November.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Ashley Holbrook has a story worth telling. The bride-to-be is getting married next Friday just months after a breast cancer diagnosis made her question whether that day would ever come.

"I'm getting married on next Friday, which I'm so excited for, and I literally cannot believe it," Holbrook said.

WATCH: Bride-to-be walks down the aisle after beating breast cancer diagnosis

Holbrook had been dreaming of her wedding day for years. When doctors told her she had breast cancer about six months ago, the future felt uncertain. When asked if she was terrified she wouldn't make it to her wedding day, Holbrook said yes.

"Your whole life kind of goes into perspective when you get that diagnosis, and you start thinking I'm not gonna be able to have kids, I'm not gonna be able to have my wedding, I'm not gonna be able to do all these things," Holbrook said.

Holbrook always knew there was a chance she could get breast cancer. Her mom and grandmother are both survivors, and genetic testing showed she carries a gene that predisposes her to the disease. That knowledge led her to Christ Hospital's High Risk Clinic, where routine testing found the cancer.

Dr. Jennifer Manders, who treated Holbrook, explained how her family history set the stage for the diagnosis.

"So in her case, she had a mother and grandmother who both carried this gene. She found out that she indeed carried that gene and then what, six months or so later, found out that there was something not good in her breast tissue," Manders said.

Manders gave Holbrook two treatment options. One would have made Holbrook infertile and she wants children so that was ruled out.

"In this situation she was diagnosed with noninvasive breast cancer and elected to have both breasts removed, and luckily there was no invasion, nothing found in her mastectomy specimens that would warrant any treatment for her whole body. And so essentially she's cured," Manders said.

Holbrook credits early detection for making her storybook ending possible.

"At least find out. Because you can do something with the information you have or you don't have to, but if you have the information, you can prevent something infinitely worse. Which is what happened with me," Holbrook said.

Anderson senior cornerback Ace Alston has been invited to the 2027 Navy All-American Bowl.

Alston, a four-star player by 247 Sports, is ranked the nations No. 10 cornerback in the 2027 class by the college recruiting evaluation website. Alston is verbally committed to Notre Dame.

WATCH: Anderson senior cornerback invited to 2027 Navy All-American Bowl

The Navy All-American Bowl will have a formal presentation ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 6 at Anderson High School. Alston is the only Ohio player listed on a roster (East or West) for the bowl game.

Alston, who participated in the Polynesian Bowl this past January, has 25 tackles (18 solo), two interceptions, two tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and four pass deflections this season for Anderson (5-1), which plays host to Turpin (3-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Alston also has seven punt returns for 125 yards and a touchdown. He also has a kickoff return and a reception on offense.

The Navy All-American Bowl is Jan. 9, 2027 in San Antonio, Texas. The game is scheduled to be televised on NBC.

Anderson, rated No. 1 in the Division II, Region 8 computer points standings, was the Division II state runner-up the past two seasons. Anderson hasnt lost at home to an Eastern Cincinnati Conference opponent since Oct. 21, 2022.

Anderson is ranked No. 17 this season in Ohio by MaxPreps.

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Campbell County Coroner Mark Schweitzer has passed away, the Kentucky Coroners Association announced on its Facebook.

Schweitzer has served as the Campbell County Coroner since being elected in 1998. He faced a Republican primary on May 19 and won. He did not have a Democratic challenger in the upcoming November General Election.

In Kentucky, the judge/executive appoints the positions replacement, which would be Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery.

According to the Kentucky Coroners Association, arrangements are pending at Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home at 241 Fairfield Ave. in Bellevue.

President Trump is heading to Vandalia this weekend to campaign for Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who is in a tightly contested race against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat.

The rally takes place this Saturday at the Butler-Vandalia Student Activity Center, 10 miles north of Dayton. Doors open at 4 p.m., with the event set to begin at 5:30 p.m. Trump is also expected to support Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during his visit. Ramaswamy faces Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton this November.

The latest polling shows Brown with a slight lead, though by slim margins, University of Cincinnati Political Science Professor David Niven said.

WATCH: What to know ahead of Trump's visit to the Tri-State this weekend

"We've had a couple of polls that have been good for Sherrod Brown. In one poll, he was just over 50 percent in the lead. The other poll, he was just under 50 percent in the lead," Niven said. "The fundamentals look really good for him in terms of an enthusiasm gap that favors Democratic voters."

Niven says having Trump campaign for Husted may hurt more than help, given the president's low approval rating.

"For Jon Husted, he doesn't need to just hold ground. He needs to grow his space. He needs to grow supporters. It's really hard to see how this helps him with that," Niven said.

We asked Niven why leaders may have chosen Vandalia for the event. He said it's more a logistical choice than a strategic one.

"Vandalia is really just about ease. You know, they have you know a track record of being able to get in and out, get a big crowd together," Niven said. "I don't think it's so much about hitting a particular media market or that kind of like political strategy.

Both parties are watching the race closely as November approaches, with control of Congress at stake. As of late September, Ohio's Senate race leads all midterm election contests in ad spending, at nearly $200 million, according to The Washington Post.

Ohio's 2024 Senate race, in which Sen. Bernie Moreno ousted Brown, became the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history.

Niven said the enormous spending that 2024 cycle likely canceled itself out, with the outcome ultimately determined by the broader political climate favoring Republicans.

"Although Ohio's been voting reliably Republican, Sherrod Brown, over his political history, has shown that he can succeed even when the state is voting red," he said. "The mood of the nation and the mood of Ohio more favors Democrats in this particular cycle. So it's shaping up to be very competitive."

Niven says Ohio's Senate race fits a broader national trend favoring Democrats this cycle.

"It's shaping up to be a good election for Democrats across the country. They are ahead in competitive states, and they're competitive in states that are really, really difficult for Democrats, like Texas," Niven said.

Trenton City Council is considering a package of proposed financial benefits for residents that would take effect if voters reject a November ballot issue aimed at banning new large-scale data centers in the city.

WATCH: Trenton council introduces legislation tied to November data center vote

The proposals received their first reading Thursday night.

Issue 17 would amend Trenton's charter to prohibit the construction of data centers requiring more than 25 megawatts of electricity within city limits. The issue is headed to voters Nov. 3 after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the city had improperly refused to certify the citizen-led charter amendment for the ballot.

The proposed legislation spells out what the city says would happen financially if Issue 17 fails and a proposed Amazon data center project moves forward.

One resolution would provide a one-year holiday from Trenton's general fund inside property tax millage for tax year 2026, which would be collected in 2027.

City Finance Director Matthew Mesisklis said the project would provide tax value equivalent to about seven mills. City documents estimate that without the data center revenue, residents could eventually face requests for up to seven mills in additional property taxes to maintain current service levels.

For a homeowner with a $300,000 home, the city has estimated that could represent roughly $735 a year in additional property taxes.

Other proposed resolutions would prevent the city from seeking certain new property tax levies for police, streets, and part-time fire and EMS services until at least 2035 if the data center development proceeds.

A separate proposal would give residents a 30% discount on standard YMCA memberships once data center construction begins.

Mayor Ryan Perry said the purpose of the legislation is not to tell voters how to vote, but to lay out the economic consequences of the decision before them.

We're taking these cards of what this would mean economically and laying them on the table so the voters can know this will happen, Perry said.

The proposals drew criticism during public comment, with some residents questioning why the benefits are being formally tied to the outcome of Issue 17.

One resident described the resolutions as five dangling political carrots.

Another called the measures a poorly veiled attempt to unduly influence the upcoming ballot issue in November.

The city has rejected that characterization.

Greg Lawson, a senior research fellow at the Buckeye Institute who studies Ohio state and local tax and government policy, said there is nothing unusual about a government explaining how a ballot measure could affect taxes or services.

He said the unusual part is directly putting those consequences into legislation tied to the election's outcome.

It's one thing to have a PR campaign of just the facts, ma'am. It is another thing to explicitly put it within a particular statute, Lawson said.

Lawson said the structure could potentially lead to litigation after the election if someone argued the legislation improperly affected the vote.

Seeing it quite that explicitly put in there, in that way, Lawson said, I think that there's a decent chance that somebody could litigate it.

Lawson did not say the proposed legislation is definitively illegal, and the Buckeye Institute has not issued a formal legal opinion on the Trenton measures.

The financial proposals are connected to a proposed data center development on roughly 600 acres in Madison and St. Clair townships.

The city has sought to annex the property so the project could become part of Trenton. An expedited annexation petition connected to the project was recently withdrawn.

The proposed tax benefits are conditioned on the defeat of Issue 17 and the project moving forward.

Trenton already has a separate data center under construction.

City officials say the proposed development would provide significant additional tax value and help offset the cost of maintaining city services.

The proposed legislation is not final. Thursday's meeting was the first reading, and council would have to take additional action before the measures become law.

WCPO 9 has also contacted the Ohio Secretary of State's Office and the Butler County Board of Elections for comment on the city's approach.

The Butler County Board of Elections had no comment on the legislation itself.

The Secretary of State's Office has not responded to our request for comment.

Dearborn County Planning Commission members considered an expanded clause designed to protect property values around large utility-scale solar farms at their hours-long special meeting on Monday.

The rules as written would establish a program where solar developers would be forced to engage with property owners within 1,500 feet of a solar array when a sale is pending. The developer would have to pay for an assessment and, if the property owner can prove the array directly led to a drop in property value, the developer would be responsible for making up the difference.

To qualify for the program, nearby properties would need to be owned at the time the developer gets approval to use the land for an array, a residential dwelling is located within 1,500 feet of the project boundary, and the property owner meets several verification requirements.

WATCH: We break down how Dearborn County could protect property values around solar farms

At the meeting, Commissioner Russell Beiersdorfer called for the entire provision to be removed from the proposed ordinance, saying the document was already much larger than any other ordinance in town and it wasn't the Planning Commission's job to regulate property values.

"Forget this. This is terrible," Beiersdorfer said. "I think we should completely eliminate this because we're not evaluating what the properties are worth."

When challenged by Bobby Rauen, who could live near a proposed 1,200-acre Linea Energy solar farm in Manchester, Beiersdorfer doubled down.

"Why is this board responsible for what property values are?" he asked Rauen.

"Because it's your job," Rauen responded.

Rauen has argued it's the Planning Commission's duty to protect the well-being of property owners in the county through Zoning codes and regulations.

Beiersdorfer's motion to cut the property value protections entirely failed in a 4-4-1 vote.

Dearborn County Planning and Zoning Director Nicole Daily will rework the rules before the commission's next special meeting on the solar rules Oct. 14, and she expressed concern about how they would work in practice if property owners and solar developers disagree.

"How am I going to enforce it if they start fighting?" she asked.

Commissioner Mark Lehmann also questioned the addition of a large section addressing potentially friendly property sales between family members if a solar farm happens to be nearby.

"If you're discounting for a family member so your family member can have the farm, is that because the solar farm is there, or because that's what you were going to do anyway?" he said, questioning how the rules would work in practice.

The Dearborn County Commission tasked the Planning Commission with building more robust solar codes in February when they voted unanimously for a one-year moratorium on the developments.

If you would like to read the property protection rules, they begin at the end of page 51 here: https://go.fliplink.me/view/31468551-BD01-4D94-B30C-D9AB0C3E0B5A

Thousands of Princeton City Schools students were left without their usual ride to school Thursday as bus drivers employed by First Student walked off the job after failed contract negotiations.

The strike affects transportation for approximately 5,900 students across the district and has forced Princeton City Schools to activate its contingency plan while negotiations remain stalled.

WATCH: Princeton bus drivers strike over pay, benefits concerns

Drivers represented by OAPSE/AFSCME Local 184 spent the day on picket lines, arguing they are seeking fair pay, better benefits and improved working conditions.

"We can't pay for fuel to even get to work. We can't pay for food for our families," Tarelle Harris, OAPSE Local 184 President, said. "What's the point of coming in and not being able to do anything?"

Union leaders say a major sticking point in negotiations is the lack of employer-paid health insurance benefits. According to lead negotiator Derryl Hall, many drivers rely on Medicaid, Medicare, or insurance plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act.

"The difficulty is they don't want to make up the wages for the lack of the benefit package," Hall said. "Most of our members qualify for Medicaid, and some are actually on Medicaid."

WATCH PREVIOUS: Princeton City Schools superintendent outlines contingency plans as bus driver strike looms

Drivers also point to what they describe as ongoing staffing shortages. Union representatives said Princeton began the school year with several unfilled routes, forcing some drivers to take on additional routes each day.

Veteran driver Bobby Cornett said better compensation and benefits would help attract and retain drivers.

"The reason why I want better benefits is I had surgery twice," Cornett said. "The first one, I still owe $146,000. The second surgery, they told me I had to pay $39,000 up front before I had the surgery."

Despite the strike, drivers repeatedly emphasized that they want to return to work and continue serving students.

Tarelle Harris, the union's president and a Princeton graduate, said his connection to the district is what initially kept him behind the wheel.

"I went to Princeton, and I had a love for Princeton, and I wanted to give back," Harris said.

Several drivers became emotional while discussing the students they transport.

"This is my 27th year," Cornett said. "I was crying all the way home. Kids asking, 'Are you gonna be here tomorrow?'"

First Student disputes the union's characterization of negotiations.

In a statement, the company said it is "deeply disappointed" by the strike and maintains it has bargained in good faith while making repeated efforts to avoid disruptions for students and families.

"The facts are clear: we came back to the table, and they did not," the company said.

First Student said its latest proposal included an average wage increase of approximately 27% over a four-year contract. The company also said it offered to pay for mediation and provided multiple opportunities to continue negotiations.

The company alleges union leadership canceled scheduled negotiations, declined to participate with a private mediator and ended talks despite progress being made.

Union leaders reject that claim.

Hall said negotiations continued late Tuesday night but resulted in "absolutely no progress."

"There was no agreement on anything," he said.

As the dispute continues, Princeton City Schools says students who miss school because of transportation issues will not be penalized. The district distributed instructional packets before the strike and has made online learning resources available.

Neither side announced a date for future negotiations Thursday.

First Student says it remains ready to return to the bargaining table, while union leaders say they will continue picketing each school day until a deal is reached.

Winton Woods senior right tackle Lual Aleu smiles when he reflects on the time he was asked to play football by Warriors coach Chad Murphy.

Every day me going home as an eighth grader he used to just stop me, Aleu said. I dont know about you, but when he talks, he kind of talks for a while, so then he just kind of like stopped me almost every day.

Aleus brother encouraged Lual to try the sport. Lual played basketball since kindergarten or first grade, but he was willing to try football that summer before his freshman year. The rest is history.

And he really just never looked back, Murphy said. Kind of fell in love with it. Kind of fell in love with the sport. Kind of fell in love with the grind.

Fast forward nearly four years, and Aleu is one of the top high school football players in Greater Cincinnati. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound right tackle is verbally committed to the University of Missouri. Aleu had an estimated 30 options for college football, but he ultimately liked the fit with the Tigers.

I think anybody recruiting in the Big Ten or SEC if youre going there they think you could be a starter, Murphy said. And if youre a starter in the SEC or Big Ten, they think you could be a pro. So obviously a lot of time between now and then got a lot of work to do but I think hes got as much potential as anybody in the country.

WATCH: A Winton Woods senior right tackle is excelling in a sport he just started to play as a freshman

Murphy said Aleu has a high ceiling for his potential with a "really bright future."

Football has taught Aleu a lot during his high school football journey. It wasnt always easy, though.

When I first started, it was hard, Aleu said. As you know, I was a hooper all my life. Didnt touch a pair of cleats until about eighth grade summer. Tried it out it was hard. Wanted to quit many times, but then I just persevered through it.

The countless days of early mornings and late evenings have paid off. Aleu has invested time on the field, in the weight room and elsewhere.

Its taught me that youre going to face adversity no matter what you do, Aleu said. Where youre from, all that. Youre going to go through adversity. You just got to push through it and see the light.

Aleu, one of five siblings, is grateful for his family, including both parents, along with the Winton Woods coaches and teammates.

When I think of Winton Woods football, its a great school if you want to get recruited, if you want to play high-level football I feel like this is the spot, Aleu said. Especially if you want to be coached hard and all the work paying off on Friday night.

Winton Woods (5-1) is No. 5 in the Division I, Region 4 computer points standings. The Warriors, who have won five consecutive games, play at Loveland (2-4) Friday night.

Aleu has enjoyed this win streak. Hes also trusted the process during his high school football career. Football continues to give so much each week.

I like the brotherhood that it builds, Aleu said. The bonds. I feel like it shows what a person can do on the talent, with their talents alone.

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Former reality TV personality Tony McCollister was found guilty Thursday of raping a 5-year-old child following a three-day bench trial in Warren County.

Judge Robert Peeler found McCollister guilty of one count of rape, three counts of gross sexual imposition and two counts of endangering children. McCollister had previously pleaded guilty to charges involving bestiality and child sexual abuse material.

WATCH: Former reality TV personality found guilty of rape, child sex-related charges in Warren County

The verdict came one week after McCollister's former girlfriend, Erica Grove, was found not guilty of raping the same child, though she was convicted on other charges.

Peeler, who presided over both bench trials, said he reviewed thousands of text messages exchanged between McCollister and Grove. In announcing his verdict, the judge said the key difference between the two cases was McCollister's confessions during interviews with prosecutors.

"The state has acknowledged that this was based in part on fantasy, so the challenge for the court was to separate the fact from the fantasy," Peeler said. "There were volumes of text messages which were repulsive and certainly create an urge to lash out."

Counts 14 through 16 were previously resolved by guilty pleas. Counts 27 through 30 also previously resulted in findings of guilt.

McCollister and Grove are scheduled to be sentenced together in November.

McCollister was a personality on an A&E show titled: Neighbors with Benefits. The show canceled after only airing two episodes, according to IMDB.

The Cincinnati night sky is just one week away from a special glow that only comes around once every two years.

BLINK 2026 is set to begin on Thursday, Oct. 8. The art festival combines murals with light shows, art pieces and installations across parts of downtown Cincinnati, Over-The-Rhine and Northern Kentucky.

Thursday morning, elected officials and organizers across the Tri-State gathered to preview all the festivities planned, some of which start well before BLINK's kickoff date.

We are once again set up for a magical weekend," Mayor Aftab Pureval said.

BLINK's executive director Leslie Mooney told the crowd that dozens of new pieces and features will be on display.

WATCH: Here's what's new for BLINK 2026

Different light-based installations, projection mapping pieces and activations, new murals all around the city. All the things that youve come to love about what BLINK is," Mooney said.

The event also has a massive kickoff event planned for the opening ceremony at TQL Stadium, which is new in 2026.

BLINK has continued its growth as a global event since its inception back in 2017.

Practically every continent has been represented," Mooney said.

More than 2 million visitors attended in 2024, and organizers expect similar attendance in 2026, according to Mooney.

Were expecting well over 2 million people," Mooney said.

Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reese said there will also be a special musician attending as a special guest.

Penny Ford, who will be coming in from Germany to experience BLINK and be the VIP guest for the entire weekend," Reese said.

But before BLINK gets going, there will be a full week of local art festivities, with the inaugural Cincinnati Art Week.

"We are opening up 10+ exhibitions, transforming empty storefronts, led by local artists, to turn them into art galleries," said Billy Thomas, one of the founders of the new art week event.

Artists are still working on the finishing touches before Saturday, and details were being raised along windows on Liberty Street.

I just want a chance to celebrate our creative community and show the world that we truly are an art city. I think we know it and I want the world to know it as well," Thomas said.

For visitors planning their BLINK visit, ArtsWave has an online app that can help connect your experience. You can view BLINK's official map here.

I cannot wait for us to show the world once again why BLINK is the kind of experience you literally cannot get anywhere but in Cincinnati," Pureval said.

The festival ends on Sunday, Oct. 11.

The West Clermont School District addressed the multiple safety incidents involving West Clermont Middle School in a message sent to families on Thursday.

In another message, the district notified families that an 11-year-old West Clermont Middle School student was charged Thursday after making a false report that a gun had been brought to school.

At about 8:35 a.m. Thursday, it was reported that a sixth-grade student told her class she had seen a student with a gun in the hallway. The claim was reported to the school resource officer, prompting an investigation and a response from the Clermont County Sheriff's Office.

The 11-year-old girl who made the report was interviewed by deputies and admitted she had lied, telling them she had "imagined this." After reviewing surveillance footage, investigators determined no weapon had been brought to the school. The Clermont County Prosecutor's Office reviewed the case and determined the student who made the false report would be charged.

This development comes as law enforcement responded to multiple online social media threats made against the school. Additionally, officers also dealt with a student bringing a gun to West Clermont Middle School.

"We are committed to strengthening our communication with families and staff. After consulting with our attorney regarding student privacy laws, we have adjusted our communication plan to share as much information as possible, as soon as possible, without jeopardizing law enforcements efforts," the school district said in their message to families.

The school district also said that administrators met with middle school students to discuss the difference between "reporting a concern and spreading a rumor."

The Citizens Advisory Commission previously reviewed research on the implementation of metal detectors or concealed carry in schools. These practices were not initially recommended, but the school district said they will review if additional safety measures should be adopted in light of these recent incidents.

The Radisson Hotel near the Covington riverfront is under a pending agreement to become a "REVERB by Hard Rock" hotel, backed by a $27 million investment.

The deal would fund upgrades to the hotel's rooms and lobby, bring professional boxing matches to the venue once or twice a month, and more.

For decades, the Radisson has been one of the most recognized buildings and historic hotels along the riverfront.

"In my opinion, it's the most iconic building in the entire city just because of where it's located at and the shape of it, and it's just, it's unbelievable," said Mike Morris, former night manager at the Radisson.

WATCH: What the Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Riverfront's transformation means for Northern Kentucky

Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of MeetNKY, said the transformation marks a brand elevation unlike anything currently available in the region.

"We love unique things when they open here," Kirkpatrick told WCPO 9 News Thursday. "It will be a luxury product that will give people another reason to stop and stay longer."

Morris said he is excited to see what the hotel will become.

"Over the last year, year and a half, there's been a decline in the hotel," Morris said Thursday. "So to hear that there's going to be a new company coming in and pouring some much-needed money into the hotel to get it up and running and make it stay here [is great.] I want it to stay here for another 50 years."

The project is also expected to strengthen the tourism connection between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, giving Cincinnati's Hard Rock Casino a Covington counterpart.

"It's a natural partnership to have the Hard Rock Casino in downtown, have the Hard Rock Hotel located on the riverbanks of Covington," Kirkpatrick said. "It's a great experience for people that are coming to an entire region."

The deal is expected to be set around Christmas of 2026, with renovations completed as soon as next summer.

You can find more information on Hard Rock's "REVERB" hotels on their website by clicking the link here.

In the wake of the Catholic Church abuse scandal in 2002, roughly 400 people in Southwest Ohio came forward to report being sexually molested by priests during their childhood.

Almost 200 of them filed lawsuits, mostly in Hamilton County, but judges dismissed them one by one, without anyone coming to the courthouse or any evidence being presented, because according to state law, they were simply too old to proceed.

But their resurrection may be coming.

Ohio Sen. Bill Blessing announced last week that he will sponsor legislation to remove the criminal and civil statute of limitations in childhood sexual abuse cases and open a lookback window for victims to revive cases from decades ago.

WATCH: How abuse survivors may get a day in court

Ive seen really small monetary settlements have a tremendous healing effect, said attorney Konrad Kircher, who filed 25 lawsuits on behalf of clergy abuse victims between 2002 and 2005, at the height of the scandal.

When asked if these survivors, who never got a day in court, would want to revive their old cases if the law were changed in Ohio, Kircher firmly responded, Yes.

Nearly 40 Catholic dioceses have sought bankruptcy protection from the costs of lawsuits and settlements triggered by states passing similar revival windows for abuse survivors.

And not a single one of them is out of business; its just a way to marshal their assets and insurance claims. They have insurance, Kircher said.

Blessing predicted that his bill would encounter strong resistance from the Catholic Church, because historically their lobby has been powerful and well-funded.

What are we saying here? That justice cannot be done because somebody might go bankrupt or might lose money? Blessing asked. Id like to think most people would view that as not the best reason to avoid reform.

The bill is currently being drafted, and Blessing, a Republican, is expected to introduce it this fall during the shortened lame duck session, and again in early 2027 if necessary.

The legislation faces an uncertain future, despite Blessings optimism. Many Democrats have introduced similar bills during the past decade, but they stalled.

The last serious attempt to create a lookback window in Ohio occurred in 2005 and 2006, a few years after the Archdiocese of Cincinnati became the first in the nation to be criminally convicted for failing to report abusive priests.

It unleashed fierce lobbying by the Catholic Church and a lawsuit over an alleged backroom deal at the statehouse to strip the lookback window from the bill before the vote.

I know they were targeting Catholic legislators and so I was an obvious target of the archbishop and the Catholic lobby, former Ohio Rep. Steve Driehaus said. There was a lot of pressure being placed on us.

Driehaus, a Democrat, was in the Ohio House of Representatives in 2006 when it took up that bill, which had unanimously passed the state Senate a year earlier. The most controversial aspect was a one-year lookback window that would have allowed survivors to revive their time-barred lawsuits against abusers and the church.

I remember this being a very heated debate in Columbus when it came forward, and there was a lot of lobbying certainly on behalf of the church trying to influence the outcome, Driehaus said. From the churchs standpoint, clearly, they were more concerned about bankrupting the church. They were concerned about financial settlements.

Driehaus, who is Catholic, represented the heavily Catholic District 31 on the west side of Cincinnati.

I got a call from the archbishop, and the archbishop wanted to meet me and share his perspective on this legislation, Driehaus said. I remember this because he wanted to meet me at the archdiocese in his office and I said, No thank you, Im not going to meet in your office.

Instead, Driehaus met then-Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, who died in 2020, at his alma mater, an all-boys Catholic high school on the west side.

I said we can meet there and we talk about who some of the perpetrators were and how you protected them, and I can talk about some of my classmates who were the victims, Driehaus said.

Driehaus remembered their conversation did not end well.

I said, you know my understanding of the church, my relationship with Jesus, is that if Jesus were here, if Jesus were embodied in the Catholic Church, he would fall on his knees and embrace the victims, and protect the victims, and what you the archbishop, are doing is exactly the opposite. Youre protecting the perpetrators. Youre protecting the abusers. Which is exactly the opposite of what I know Jesus would do, Driehaus said.

"And he said well agree to disagree, and Im like no, theres no agreement to disagree, we disagree, and we disagreed very strongly, Driehaus said. And it was very clear that the archbishop was protecting the financial interest of the church.

Other Catholic lawmakers who spoke at the Ohio House of Representatives on March 29, 2006, also said they had been contacted by Catholic leaders.

Meanwhile, survivors stood in the hallways of the statehouse holding photos of themselves as children.

Just before the vote, Republican lawmakers amended the bill and stripped out the lookback window and instead created a civil registry for sexual offenders. The bill overwhelmingly passed.

All of the survivors had been to the statehouse so many times to personally talk to their representatives, and we expected that bill to be passed that day in the form that passed the Senate, Kircher said. It was just a dirty trick that happened in the committee room right before the vote.

Kircher filed a lawsuit in 2006, on behalf of survivors, accusing some lawmakers, including then Speaker of the House Jon Husted and then Assistant Majority Whip Rep. Bill Seitz, of violating the Ohio Open Meetings Act by changing the bill in a closed-door meeting ahead of the vote. The lawsuit sought to stop the legislation from becoming law.

But a magistrate, and later the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals, sided with lawmakers, citing insufficient evidence.

Soon after it passed, a judge found the childhood sexual abuse civil registry unconstitutional. It was revised in 2024 but is still not being used. Advocates believe it isnt used because it usually requires victims to hire an attorney to sue their abuser, just to add their name to a list.

"That registry, Id be interested to know why it hasnt been used, Seitz said. Do you think its because these people really want money after all? I have to wonder if they have an avenue to out the sexual offender regardless of the passage of the statute of limitations; well, why wouldnt this registry work?

Seitz retired at the end of his 2024 term, after 24 years at the statehouse. He now works as a lobbyist and lawyer for Dinsmore & Shohl, which represented the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in cases of alleged sexual abuse by clergy.

However, Seitz, who is not Catholic, worked for the Taft law firm until the end of 2014, when Dinsmore did most of that work and when the statute of reform bill was being debated.

"I have never billed a tenth of an hour to the archdiocese, never done any work for them, never worked on any of their cases, Seitz said. But we do represent them, the firm does, but I dont.

Seitz blocked statute of limitations reform at the statehouse for years, believing strongly that it was unfair to force institutions to defend themselves 30 to 40 years after abuse happened.

Its a matter of fairness to the defense, and particularly in this context, because the institution that hired or failed to adequately supervise the offender. They did not commit any sexual abuse whatsoever, Seitz said.

But he did relent somewhat during his final years in office.

Seitz co-sponsored the Scouts Honor bill in 2023. It opened a five-year window for the limited purpose of allowing Ohioans to receive bigger payments from a national sex abuse settlement with the Boy Scouts of America.

Seitz and Rep. Cindy Abrams also sponsored a bill to criminalize the grooming of a child for sexual abuse, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in 2025.

Seitz is unsure how Blessings bill will do in the legislature, without him there. But retirement hasnt changed his views on statute of limitations reform.

Is there really a good purpose served by taking these venerable institutions that have done so much good in these communities and bankrupting them? I dont think so, Seitz said.

While Driehaus is happy that Blessing is introducing the statute of limitations reform, he is uncertain how it will fare at the statehouse.

It will be interesting to see the appetite in Columbus for this legislation, and whether or not it will even be brought forward, Driehaus said.

While the 2006 law increased the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases to age 30 in criminal cases, and to age 43 for lawsuits, advocates say Ohio is still one of the worst laws in the nation, because most states have abolished time limits for all or some of these crimes.

Kircher doesnt believe the Catholic Church lobby is as strong as it was 20 years ago, despite still being well-funded, so perhaps the bill will have a better chance of passing.

I dont think they have the credibility they used to have, Kircher said. Now I think people realize the Catholic Church has done a lot wrong and maybe they arent advocating in the best interest of everyone; theyre advocating in their own best interest, theyre still trying to protect the church.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Catholic Conference of Ohio, which lobbies for dioceses statewide, could not comment or take a position on Blessings proposed bill because it had not been introduced, but noted the church does not oppose all reform efforts on this issue.