Monday, Dec. 8: Cincinnati to Pay $8.1M + Mystery deaths of 72 Vultures + Recycling & Reuse Hub
Monday, Dec. 8
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.
Cincinnati to pay $8.1M over 2020 protest arrests
The City of Cincinnati has agreed to pay $8.1 million to settle a lawsuit brought by nearly 500 people arrested during the 2020 racial justice protests. Filed in 2022, the suit alleged police brutality, inhumane detention conditions, and unconstitutional curfew enforcement. City Manager Sheryl Long said the case led to new protest-response protocols. The police union criticized the settlement, while former Mayor John Cranley defended the curfew, saying it “saved our city when other cities were burning.” A City Council committee will review the deal tomorrow.
Mystery deaths of 72 vultures probed for avian flu
The deaths of 72 black vultures at a Clermont County elementary school have prompted concern and questions about potential avian flu. Staff at St. Bernadette School in Pierce Township discovered the birds sprawled across campus after Thanksgiving break. Though the cause is still unconfirmed, state officials say the vultures are presumed to have died from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources initially declined to investigate but reversed course after being contacted by the media. Two birds are being tested, with results expected soon.
UC’s Clifton Heights corridor transformed into billion-dollar student hub
What was once a fast-food-lined corridor near the University of Cincinnati is now a bustling hub of mid-rise apartments, retail, and student housing. The transformation of Clifton Heights and nearby Corryville began in the early 2000s with community-driven urban renewal plans and partnerships between UC, private developers, and the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation. Since 2000, more than $4 billion has been invested in the area, with another billion in the pipeline. A key turning point is UC’s $330 million dorm project now rising along Vine Street, scheduled to open in 2027.
Recycling & Reuse Hub to begin small drop-off membership fees
The Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub will begin charging a modest fee for drop-offs starting January 1. Since opening in Lower Price Hill in 2021, the Hub has accepted hard-to-recycle items like plastics, metals, and textiles at no cost. But with a 50% increase in materials this year, Executive Director Chad Planner says the fee is needed to sustain operations and focus on outreach and education. A $15 fee will cover unlimited visits for a month, or $120 for a year. The Hub also plans to offer scholarships and access via library Discovery Passes.
Newtown complex adding Cincinnati’s first dedicated padel courts
Cincinnati’s first dedicated padel facility is set to open in Newtown by spring 2026. Club Padel will feature four outdoor courts, a clubhouse, and host leagues, lessons, and events. Padel—pronounced like “paddle”—is a fast-growing racket sport that blends elements of tennis and squash and is typically played in doubles on an enclosed court. The facility is part of a larger redevelopment at Robert James Park, a $15 million distillery, dining, and dog park complex.
* Subscription required.
✉️ Do your neighbor a favor — forward this newsletter or send them to our signup page.