NORTHERN KENTUCKY NEWS | NewsNKY.com NOTE: Headlines are deleted after two days Northern Kentucky FB > | OLD PHOTOS > | NKY ROADWORK > TOP HEADLINE Covington schools says it is now getting threats because of 'beating' video Covington schools says it is now getting threats because of 'beating' video GO TO > VIDEO AT X Covington Independent Schools has responded with regard to an unverified 'beating' video that is circulating on social media, first and only reported by NKY News Network this morning. Its response: "Covington Independent Public Schools is aware of the unauthenticated video, which appears to have been taken by individuals on school-owned property who were not authorized to be there. It is the district's understanding that this video depicts events that occurred on or about Sunday, August 31, 2025. None of the images depicted in the video occurred during a school-sponsored event or during school hours. Please note, not all individuals shown on the video are students of Covington Schools. Last month, when this event was brought to the administration's attention, Covington Schools conducted an internal investigation and followed the processes and procedures housed in our Student Code of Conduct, including but not limited to notifying law enforcement and initiating student disciplinary actions. While this video is not new information, the circulation of the video has gone viral on social media and now has interrupted regular school operations, as there have been unwarranted threats of violence directed at the school, staff and students. Covington Schools asks that members of the public please respect the privacy of our students and staff, and refrain from causing further disruption to the educational environment. Lastly, and perhaps most important -- any threats will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further action." Video of teen gang 'beating' two girls at Holmes gains massive online audience Video shows girls being beaten by gang at Holmes. Probably fake GO TO > VIDEO AT X On September 5, 2025, an unverified video recorded after hours at Holmes High School in Covington, Kentucky, shows five to six male freshmen surrounding and and beating two white female students, urging them to shout phrases like 'LT9' and profanities while filming their distress. The footage, initially shared on Threads and resurfaced on X in October, has garnered over 3 milion views (and growing) amid online outrage, with no statements or actions from Covington Independent Public Schools or local police. However, we believe it was kids acting, and therefore a fake. Here's why: The high school was called "Holmes and Woodland High School, Covington KY". The girls "under attack" had a very clear chance to run away but voluntarily stayed at the scene. No action has been taken by Holmes nor the police. Online views of the video are rapidly growing. On Monday, October 13, 2025, at approximately 9:54 a.m., officers from the Taylor Mill Police Department responded to a two-vehicle collision on Taylor Mill Road near Red Bud Drive. The crash involved a dump truck and a pickup truck. Upon arrival, officers found the driver of the pickup truck unresponsive. The driver of the 2020 Ford Ranger, Jeffrey M. Smith, age 66, of Taylor Mill, was transported by the Fort Wright Fire Department to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, where he was pronounced deceased. The driver of the 2001 International dump truck, Russell J. Warren, age 18, of Hamilton, Ohio, was also transported to the hospital for minor injuries and has since been released. The dump truck, operated by Smith Corp., Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, was carrying a load of sand at the time of the collision. NKY woman was in court following anniversary of cooking mother The woman accused of killing her mother and cooking her remains GO TO > BACKGROUND The Kentucky woman accused of killing her mother and cooking her remains in a pot is due back in a Robertson County courtroom on Monday. Between Oct. 8 and 9, 2024, Torilena Fields, 33, allegedly killed her mother, Trudy, before treating her corpse "in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities," according to a grand jury indictment. She was arrested by Kentucky State Police troopers on Oct. 14 and charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and torture of a dog, as well as being indicted for obstructing government operations by allegedly threatening to use force against first responders. Northern Kentucky's bus system is getting a revamp Northern Kentucky's bus system is getting a revamp. You can weigh in this week GO TO > BACKGROUND Northern Kentucky's bus service is looking at a revamp, and the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky wants rider input. TANK is a few months into a new transit development plan as it faces declining ridership and funding challenges. The transit authority has come up with three new potential network designs and wants public feedback on them. River festival got emergency funds to keep it going Commission Vice President Stephanie Summerow Dumas says the festival asked the county for additional funds GO TO > BACKGROUND Hamilton County is giving more money to the America's River Roots Festival to "to help offset additional costs for the event." The commissioners approved an additional $150,000 of grant funding Thursday. The county awarded America's River Roots a $350,000 grant earlier this year through the 2025 Large Tourism Event Grant Program. Once again, Cincinnatians have to rely on New York media to get their Bengals news. What is even the point of having local sports reporters? Ian Rapoport says, "#Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase, who missed practice time this week with an illness and is listed as questionable, is slated to play on Sunday with new QB Joe Flacco." NFC powerhouse 49ers expected to make trade offer for Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson. Should the Bengals not win another game before the deadline and be all but eliminated from the playoff picture, a trade for Hendrickson would make sense, considering he will be a free agent in 2026. Rolling roadblocks on I-75 in Kenton County begin on Monday It measures friction between a tire and the road surface to determine its resistance to slipping GO TO > BACKGROUND Beginning at 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13, crews will have 15 minute rolling roadblocks on I75 from the I275 interchange to the Brent Spence Bridge. Northbound first. Then southbound. Crews will be conducting skid testing. What's skid testing? This type of testing measures friction between a tire and the road surface to determine its resistance to slipping. Greenup Street in Covington goes both ways Scott Street work to switch to two-way is also underway. GO TO > BACKGROUND Greenup Street has been officially converted to two-way traffic between 12th and 20th Streets. Scott Street work to switch to two-way is also underway. Why is this tree at The Banks blooming in October? They say this happens especially when we have unseasonably warm falls. GO TO > BACKGROUND Rather than preparing to drop its leaves for winter, it was showing off small white flowers. "Essentially that tree is confused," says Garrett Dienno, supervisor in Urban Forestry with the Cincinnati Park Board. Fall Clean-Up Week Starts in Florence Y'all: The City of Florence's annual event runs October 13-19 at the Public Services Maintenance Facility. Residents can drop off bulk waste for free—perfect timing for pre-Halloween yard prep. Check city guidelines for accepted items. Hamilton County just gave river festival more money. The commissioners approved an additional $150,000 of grant funding Thursday. The county awarded America's River Roots a $350,000 grant earlier this year through the 2025 Large Tourism Event Grant Program. Commission Vice President Stephanie Summerow Dumas says the festival asked the county for additional funds. NKY man's Halloween display aims for Guinness World Record The tradition started as a tribute to his mother GO TO > BACKGROUND The Cold Spring resident, who dubbed himself Halloween Herm, has been decorating his Village Green Drive home for Halloween for decades, and in recent years he has dubbed the display "Deadsprings Cemetery." He said his tradition started as a tribute to his mother, whose Halloween displays were always the talk of the town when he was a child. This year's display, which doubles as a fundraiser for the Northern Kentucky Children's Advocacy Center, features new additions including a Taylor Swift skeleton and a tribute to the Cincinnati Reds' playoff run. 14-year-old hit by vehicle in Crescent Springs. 14-year-old hit by vehicle in Crescent Springs. Kenton County Police said he was hit late in the afternoon at 550 Clock Tower Way, near Buttermilk Towne Center. Covington restaurant shutsdown:Kealoha's Kitchen, located on Main Street in Covington, announced it will close at the end of the week. Savannah Bananas will return to Cincinnati to take on 'Indianapolis Clowns': At Great American Ball on June 19, 20 and 21. Man who prompted NKY school lockdowns had guns, drugs : The suspicious man who prompted lockdowns at three Boone County schools had an AR-15, two handguns, ammunition, and drugs on him. Landen Strong was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, disorderly conduct and drug trafficking and possession. Southwest relaunches flight to key US city from CVG : Southwest Airlines will launch a new flight from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Austin, Texas, next summer, the airline announced Oct. 9. Kentucky governor demands NKY sheriff resign after third incident Kentucky governor demands NKY sheriff resign GO TO > BACKGROUND On Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear requested that the Robertson County sheriff resign after he was arrested on Tuesday on his third DUI charge in two years. According to court documents, Robertson County Sheriff Terry Gray was arrested after allegedly driving drunk with his emergency lights on and in uniform. Pope tells bishops to fight Trump on immigration Northern Kentucky Catholic Bishop Iffert GO TO > BACKGROUND His Holiness, Pope Leo, has escalated his growing feud with the Trump administration, instructing U.S. bishops to take a stronger public stand against the president's hardline immigration policies. Thet includes Covington Diocese Bishop John C. Iffert (photo), who presides over all of Northern Kentucky, and the Cincinnati Archbishop. It is an edict for all Roman Catholics to fight Trump on his immigration policies. Publix to allow open carry of guns, but not in Kentucky Publix to allow open carry of guns, but not in Kentucky GO TO > BACKGROUND Publix will now follow Florida's procedures with its open carry policy. "As of Sept. 25, 2025, Florida law allows the open carry of firearms. Publix follows all federal, state and local laws," a Publix spokesperson says. The change in policy will not affect Publix stores in Kentucky, weapons are still banned. Domino's blames short attention spans for change Domino's blames people's short attention span for change GO TO > BACKGROUND The chain unveiled Wednesday its first refresh in 13 years, encompassing a bolder logo with brighter colors, new employee uniforms and pizza boxes, and redesigned restaurant signage. Also, for the first time in its 65-year-old history, the restaurant is releasing a jingle mimicking its name performed by country star Shaboozey. The goal is to capture people's shortening attention spans amid a fractured media landscape, said Kate Trumbull, Domino's chief marketing officer. Man accused of shooting at landscapers, officers during standoff in court GO TO > BACKGROUND The man accused of opening fire at people from a Union, Kentucky home is set to make his first court appearance Wednesday in the county where it all took place. Bader Jibrini has been in jail since June. Before he was ready to appear in court, Jibrini had to recover in the hospital after he was shot by deputies during the incident. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued urgent flash flood warnings for nearly 1 million people in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, and surrounding areas on Tuesday after the region saw more than a month's worth of rain in only a few hours. Kentucky man arrested after displaying 'Halloween decorations' of local officials being hanged. Stephan Marcum, 58, of Stanton, was charged with intimidating a witness and third-degree terroristic threatening after police responded just after 2 p.m. to a call about a "potential witness,terroristic threat" at his home. Plane that took off from Kentucky crashes in Florida, killing all on board, report says. Three people are dead after a plane that departed from Kentucky crashed in Florida. According to Flight Aware, the plane took off from the Lebanon-Springfield Airport at 1:19 p.m. on Sunday and was expected to arrive at 4:10 p.m. at the Williston Regional Airport in Williston, Florida. Reports of a suspicious person on school property prompted a shelter-in-place at the Walton campuses early Wednesday, the Walton-Verona Independent School District explained on Facebook. The district said all students and staff are safe and inside the building. Campbell County Solid Waste Program Applications Open: The 2025 Trash for Cash voucher program is live through October 17, offering free disposal vouchers for household waste at approved sites. This ties into broader Northern Kentucky Solid Waste Management Area efforts to reduce illegal dumping, perfect timing as fall cleanups ramp up. Kroger Marketplace Project Advances in Alexandria (Campbell County): While full approvals aren't dated exactly to today, city planning docs from early 2025 confirm the green light for the 122,912 sq ft store on US 27, including a fuel center. Expect construction updates soon via Campbell County's fiscal court site. It's projected to add jobs and shopping options east of the highway. KYTC Work Zone Safety Push: Starting today, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is installing automated speed cameras in active zones, including potential I-75 spots in Kenton County. Enforcement ramps up in October, no fines yet, but a heads-up for NKY drivers. Full rollout details on their safety page. Site selected for Center for Biomedical Excellence GO TO > BACKGROUND Covington's riverfront will soon be the launchpad for the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence. Representatives from Northern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky unanimously selected 11 East Rivercenter Blvd. to house both NKU's Chase College of Law and UK College of Medicine's Northern Kentucky campus. The selected site provides the Center direct access to parking at the 1,500-space Kenton County Parking Garage. At 1.89 acres, the site also offers ample opportunity for future expansion by both universities and its current use as a surface-level parking lot shortens the timeline to commencing construction. Under-promoted event now dropping some cruises on Ohio River GO TO > BACKGROUND Last month, the America's River Roots event announced t all ticketed headliner concerts were canceled. National acts Weezer, Mt. Joy, Maren Morris, Janelle Monae and several other bands were set to perform. Now, late night river cruises have also been removed from the itinerary. The reason for all the cancellations comes down to one issue: poor ticket sales. Northern Kentucky. Adults are ordering off the kids' menu at McDonald's more than ever GO TO > BACKGROUND 44% of American adults have purchased kids' meals for themselves at restaurants. The main motivators? Lower prices, smaller portions, and simpler choices. With "food away from home" costs up nearly 3.9% year over year, dining out has become more expensive. Road reconfiguration on 12th Street (Girl Scout) Bridge in Covington/Newport in Northern Kentucky starts Wednesday. Crews will begin the process to re-stripe/reconfigure 12th Street in Covington from west of Wheeler Avenue to Brighton Street in Newport. CVG thought it could update its trains; instead, it may need new ones GO TO > BACKGROUND Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport had plans to modify and update the trains that run between the main terminal and concourses A and B as a part of its massive $220 million Elevate CVG overhaul, but because of the potential cost, it may need to replace them instead. Northern Kentucky news. Super harvest moon to dazzle the night sky early this week Super harvest moon will start Monday night GO TO > BACKGROUND For those in North America, the super harvest moon will start Monday night and go into early Tuesday, just ahead of next week’s peak of the Draconid meteor shower and a few weeks ahead of the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. Even if viewers are in a big city with lots of lights, they can still see the moon's brilliance overnight Monday into Tuesday. Dixie Highway being resurfaced down the hill toward Covington GO TO > BACKGROUND They're resurfacing a 1.82 mile stretch of Dixie Highway from Kyles Lane down the hill to Lewis Street (near I-71/75). Expect single lane closures between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. One lane will remain opens in each direction at all times. The project is expected to be completed Nov. 24, 2025. Covington KY news. The Bark Park and Patio at 7544 Burlington Pike in Florence announced on Facebook Oct. 6 that it will be closing its doors at the end of the month. Its last day in operation will be Friday, Oct. 31. The Bark Park & Patio first opened in the spring of 2022. Statewide, the 2024 Crime in Kentucky report shows an overall 7.66% drop in serious crimes compared to 2023, with notable decreases in homicides (down 12.7% to 536 offenses), drug offenses, and sex offenses. We asked Ai, why are so many reporters leaving the Cincinnati TV stations? Cincinnati seems to be hitting a rough patch NO LINK There's been a noticeable wave of reporters and anchors leaving Cincinnati's local TV newsrooms in 2025. And artificial intelligence has noticed. This isn't isolated to one station, says Ai. It's affecting multiple outlets like WKRC (Local 12), WCPO (Channel 9), WXIX (Fox 19), and WLWT (Channel 5). Based on announcements and coverage, at least a dozen high-profile exits have been reported since January, with more in the pipeline. It's part of a broader trend in local TV news, but Cincinnati seems to be hitting a rough patch. It's not all doom and gloom, most departures aren't framed as "unhappy" exits driven by burnout or toxicity, but rather career advancement, personal life changes, and industry shifts. That said, TVKiese (John Kiesewetter, a veteran Cincinnati media watcher) notes in his WVXU coverage that these changes reflect "shrinking audiences and business realities," echoing what newspapers faced decades ago. Reporters aren't "not happy" in a dramatic sense but the grind of local news (low pay relative to hours, high turnover) pushes talent toward stability or passion projects. TV news demands long hours, odd shifts (e.g., morning anchors start pre-dawn), and intense deadlines. Low pay relative to the workload is a known issue in local markets like Cincinnati. This grind pushes reporters like Olivia Ray (WLWT), who cited family priorities post-maternity, or Courtney King (WXIX), returning to Chicago, toward less demanding or more personally fulfilling roles. The 2025 wave of departures from Cincinnati stations like WCPO, WXIX, WKRC, and WLWT hasn't led to a dramatic, publicly documented plunge in ratings, likely because stations are backfilling roles quickly and the local TV news market was already in a multi-year decline. Posted with the assist of Grok Ai for Northern Kentucky News. Pedestrian Safety Emphasis: Pedestrian Safety Emphasis: October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, with reminders for drivers and walkers to prioritize safety amid ongoing road projects and urban growth in NKY. Food Drive Launch: First Financial Bank is hosting a food drive from October 6-31 at NKY branches (e.g., Covington, Edgewood, Burlington) to support local pantries. Last year, similar efforts collected over 5,700 items; donations of canned and nonperishable goods are encouraged. Airport Milestone: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) opened a new 80,000 sq ft cargo facility by F&F LLC, enhancing logistics and job opportunities in the region. Healthcare Phone Outage: Healthcare Phone Outage: A local NKY healthcare organization experienced a phone system failure on October 3, leading to temporary closures of all health centers. Services are being restored, but patients should check updates. Three Rivers District Health Department serves people in Carroll, Gallatin, Owen and Pendleton counties. Animal rescue faces scrutiny after 2 dogs found malnourished, one dies Kenton County Animal Services GO TO > BACKGROUND A recent issue involving Kenton County Animal Services (KCAS) centers on criticism from Miami Valley Pit Rescue, a Dayton based organization, regarding KCAS's handling of two malnourished dogs found in poor conditions in late September 2025. According to the rescue, KCAS contacted them on September 26 to arrange foster care after officers responded to a report, but only one dog was delivered, by its owner, not KCAS staff, and the second dog later died from starvation despite care instructions provided to the owners. The rescue accused KCAS of insufficient direct intervention, lack of resources, and poor planning given the dogs' severe state, arguing professional help was needed beyond owner coordination. In response to social media backlash, KCAS issued a statement emphasizing they assisted in creating a rehoming plan, expressed confidence in their officers' professionalism, and noted animal welfare as their top priority, while hinting at additional unreleased context; they directed further inquiries to the county's public records process. Posted with the assist of Grok Ai and WXIX, the latter repeating posted info The next full moon will be visible Monday, Oct. 6. The October full moon, also known as the "Harvest Moon," will soon be visible in the U.S., according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, and it will be the first supermoon of the year. The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) is seeking public input on plans to overhaul its bus services, including potential new routes, micro-transit options for less dense areas, and adjustments to address funding challenges and declining ridership. A journalism student from Cincinnati news outlet CityBeat, arrested while covering an ICE protest on the Roebling Bridge in Northern Kentucky earlier this year, is facing reduced criminal charges; the ACLU of Kentucky is defending the case to protect press freedoms. Bus crashed in Boone County, some students had minor injuries a dozen students were taken to a hospital with minor injuries after a school bus crash in Boone County Thursday morning,bu are OK. Major Philip Ridgell said the crash happened on Hicks Pike near Harrison Way; the bus ran off the road, according to Ridgell. Kentucky has kicked people off food benefits using data that doesn't tell the full story "It is draconian to take away SNAP benefits from a single mother without clear and convincing evidence that intentional trafficking was occurring during a time when food scarcity is so prevalent," Franklin County Judge Thomas Wingate said in his 2023 decision. Medical cannabis could be available next month in Kentucky Medical marijuana became legal in Kentucky at the beginning of this year. As of now, 14,530 Medical Cannabis cards have been issues across the state. Patients are still waiting on the product to go on sale. The Executive Director of the Office of Medical Cannabis says the wait is nearly over. Past times in Northern Kentucky The day the Lookout House entertainment complex in Fort Wright caught fire, next to the Dixie Gardens Drive-In along I-75. Someone started a grease fire by accident on a day in 1973 and that was the end of the Lookout House. Sheriff Les K. Hill reports a fatal collision that occurred last night on I-275: A 18-year-old from West Chester is dead following a motorcycle crash that shut down a highway in Northern Kentucky overnight. Maxwell Trentman, 18, of West Chester, died at the scene of the wreck on westbound Interstate 275 near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport exit around 10:50 p.m. Licking River Link: KYTC is announcing a partnership to improve connectivity during construction of a bridge replacement project between Newport and Covington. The multi-stop shuttle service "Licking River Link" will begin operation, at no cost to riders, in January 2026. Slide Repair on Madison Pike (KY 17) in Kenton County: You may have noticed a single right lane closure on Madison Pike going northbound near Kyles Lane over the past two days. A crew is working on stabilizing a portion of road that has slipped. That lane closure will be in place 24/7 through Monday, Oct. 13. Here's the timeline for changing leaves this autumn NO LINK It's influenced by weather conditions like temperature and rainfall. Based on 2025 predictions from sources such as The Old Farmer's Almanac, minimal color changes often begin in late September to early October, around September 25 to October 7, particularly in higher elevations or northern suburbs, where you might see scattered yellows and oranges in places like wooded parks. By mid-October, roughly October 8 to 21, the region transitions to partial or near-peak color, with 50 to 75 percent of leaves showcasing vibrant reds, golds, and purples, especially in spots like Ault Park or along the Ohio River Valley. The peak color window typically arrives in late October, around October 22 to 31, offering a stunning display for Halloween weekend outings, with northern Indiana and Kentucky areas possibly peaking slightly earlier. By early November, from about November 1 to 10, colors begin to fade, with many leaves dropping and southern parts of the region holding onto hues the longest before turning mostly brown. NORTHERN KENTUCKY NEWS, also known as NewsNKY and NKY News Network, is the largest news source in Northern Kentucky based on the number of subscribers on social media, totally 164,000 as of late 2025. As of late 2025, covering Kenton County, Campbell County, Boone County, Grant County and sometimes other nearly counties, and takes an interest in Cincinnati because the NKY is part of Greater Cincinnati. Northern Kentucky News is updated daily, unfiltered. NewsNKY or Northern Kentucky News or NKY News Network is decentralized, with less emphasis on the landing page and more emphasis on social media, following the current trends. It has numerous social media pages for numerous communities in Northern Kentucky. NKY | NKY-one | Joe Burrow | Larry Flynt | Winter Storm Warning | Tom Cruise | indexfeb18-2022 | Amazon Air | Shannon Gilday