Monday, Dec. 29: Fire Displacement + Road Closures + Open Meetings Ruling
Monday, Dec. 29
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
🎧 Prefer to listen to the news?
Find Wake Up, Cincinnati! on
Spotify,
Apple Podcasts,
YouTube,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Harrison Township apartment fire displaces 30; four pets die.
More than 30 residents are displaced following a weekend apartment fire in Harrison Township. Fire crews responded Saturday evening to reports of a blaze at the Tall Oaks Circle complex. While the fire was contained to a single unit and no human injuries were reported, four pets died in the incident. The Red Cross is providing support to the 30 to 35 people affected. The Hamilton County Fire Investigation Unit will assist the local fire department in determining the cause.
East Walnut Hills roads closed near Vance home through Jan. 4.
Several roads in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood will be closed through January 4 due to heightened security near Vice President JD Vance’s residence. Starting today, closures include stretches of William Howard Taft Road, Collins Avenue, and several nearby sidewalks. Residents within the restricted area can access their homes through designated security checkpoints. Detour routes are available via Torrence Parkway, Madison Road, and Woodburn Avenue. City officials advise travelers to allow extra time during this period due to expected delays.
Cleves resident wins open-meetings lawsuit; village plans appeal.
A Hamilton County resident has won a lawsuit against the Village of Cleves for violating Ohio’s Open Meetings Act. Kyle Smith argued the village, which is west of Cincinnati, near the tri-state intersection, improperly held a closed executive session during an August meeting. A judge agreed, ordering the council to follow state laws limiting such sessions to specific legal or personnel matters. Mayor Stephen Birkholtz says the village will appeal, maintaining their transparency efforts include public recordings and notices. The case follows prior lawsuits over similar violations.
RelaDyne moves headquarters to Houston; Hebron expansion grows jobs.
One of Greater Cincinnati’s largest private companies is relocating its corporate headquarters to Houston. RelaDyne, a $5 billion industrial lubricants distributor, will make the move official in January 2026. While the company’s Montgomery Road office in Sycamore Township will close, few local jobs are expected to be lost. Instead, RelaDyne is expanding operations at its Hebron, Kentucky facility, with plans to grow its corporate staff there to 80. The move comes with a Kentucky tax incentive package and reflects a broader realignment under new executive leadership.
Pyramid Hill’s “Cincinnati Story” sculpture heads to Virginia restoration.
A beloved metal sculpture inspired by Cincinnati’s waterways is undergoing a major restoration. “Cincinnati Story,” by artist George Sugarman, has been temporarily relocated from Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton to a conservation facility in Virginia. Originally commissioned in 1982 for downtown Cincinnati, the piece features 46 multicolored, lace-like metal forms. Years of weather exposure have faded its vibrant hues, prompting a full repaint and protective finish. Pyramid Hill officials hope to reinstall the sculpture by April 15, 2026, coinciding with International Sculpture Day.
* Subscription required.
✉️ Do your neighbor a favor — forward this newsletter or send them to our signup page.