Monday, Jan. 5: Health Deal + Safety Watch + Waste Management
Monday, Jan. 5
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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TriHealth, UnitedHealthcare deal keeps 80,000 patients in-network.
Just hours before a potential lapse in coverage, TriHealth and UnitedHealthcare reached a deal to keep the Cincinnati health system in-network for 2026. The agreement came late on New Year’s Eve, avoiding disruption for around 80,000 patients. TriHealth had sought higher reimbursements and fewer administrative hurdles, while UnitedHealthcare warned of steep cost increases. The exact contract terms remain undisclosed, but both parties expressed relief and a renewed commitment to care access. TriHealth operates five major hospitals in the region, including Good Samaritan and Bethesda North.
Vigil for 11-year-old renews calls for Laurel Park cameras.
A candlelight vigil at Cincinnati’s Laurel Park drew more than 200 mourners Friday night after the fatal shooting of 11-year-old QueenEr’Re Reed. The Columbus girl was visiting family in the West End when she was killed. Community members, grieving and frustrated, questioned why the park lacks security cameras—especially given its proximity to new stadium development. Residents recalled the 2023 killing of another 11-year-old nearby, saying urgent investment in safety is overdue. The ATF is offering a $5,000 reward for information. No arrests have been made.
Don’t Dump the ’Nati hauls million pounds, expands drop-offs.
Keep Cincinnati Beautiful collected over one million pounds of waste in 2023 through its “Don’t Dump the ‘Nati” program, a community effort aimed at curbing illegal dumping. The initiative hosts drop-off events for bulky items like furniture and now accepts e-waste, construction debris, scrap metal, and yard waste. In total, nine events were held at a new Northside site, including the collection of over 4,200 tires and 33,000 pounds of scrap metal. Organizers hope to expand regionally and begin accepting hazardous materials.
Stord adds Hebron center, 539 jobs, invests in robotics.
Global logistics firm Stord is undertaking a major expansion in Northern Kentucky, expected to add 539 new jobs and bring its local headcount to over 1,100. The Atlanta-based company has leased a second 525,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Hebron, directly next to its current site, and will invest $41 million in automation and robotics upgrades. Stord projects it will hire nearly 300 employees this year and grow to 1,000 in the region by the end of the decade. The company cited the region’s workforce and proximity to global shipping hubs as key advantages.
Cincinnati water wins taste award, heads to national finals.
Greater Cincinnati Water Works is gaining national attention for producing Ohio’s best-tasting drinking water. The utility won a statewide competition hosted by the American Water Works Association and will compete nationally this June. At the heart of its success is a retiring superintendent who helped pioneer advanced treatment methods, including activated carbon filtration and UV disinfection to eliminate chemical contaminants and parasites. The century-old facility on Kellogg Avenue still serves over one million residents. Water utilities across the country now visit Cincinnati to learn from its model.
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