Bill Rinehart is Senior Correspondent for 700WLW News. Though despite his best efforts, no-one else will refer to him by that title.
He came to the Big One in August, 2004. His beat covers City Hall, Hamilton County Commissioners, breaking news, and anything else that comes along.
In his private life, he likes books, movies, television shows, and music. He is also a big fan of certain foods, and beverages. His hobbies include doing things, not doing other things, and blogging.
This blog takes an unflinching look, behind the scenes, in the newsroom. But mostly, it's just an excuse for you to not do any real work.
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As the garage opens, work continues on condos and apartments in OTR development.
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First, the Reds fans camping out, outside Great American Ballpark, waiting for a few Opening Day tickets to go on sale. Click Here for a photo gallery.
And, a look inside the new Yard House, opening this weekend, at the Banks. Click Here for photos.
A tour of someplace you'd probably rather not see: The Hamilton County Justice Center, a.k.a the grey bar hotel.
After a press conference to talk about his audit of the department, and the "revolving door no more" policy at the jail, Sheriff Jim Neil led us on an impromptu tour of the Hamilton County Lockup.
For pictures, Click Here.
Neil says it used to be that often, arrrestees would be booked, and released, often before the arresting officer had a chance to finish the paperwork. Now, he says, every arrestee is held until they are able to make bail, or they've gone before a judge.
He says that's going to be cheaper for the County in the long run, because often, a released suspect would not return for their court appearance, and the Sheriff's Office would spend time and money tracking that person down. (Neil says at a cost on average of about $600.)
The head jailor plans to present their operation to the Hamilton County Commissioners.
Are some streetcar backers getting anxious? Comments from Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune seem to suggest so:
Portune was responding to remarks from Jeff Cappel during the public hearing portion of Wednesday's commission meeting. Cappel suggested the $4 million be retracted and put to other projects.
**UPDATE**
Via e-mail, Commissioner Portune says "I have never voiced support for the streetcar and am, at best, ambivalent about it."
***
To clarify, when I said "streetcar backers", I was referring to OKI, since they did pledge some money for the project.
Whoa.
From Mother Russia-- This is video of a meteorite streaking across the sky, and according to local reports, it caused explosions, (sonic booms?), that injured hundreds. Read more from NBC.
This is not to be confused with another space rock expected to (just) miss the earth tonight. YahooNews has that.
