Tuesday, Nov. 25: Development Dispute + Housing Recovery + Immigration Fight
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Development Dispute: City and county clash over final parcels at The Banks.
Cincinnati City Council and Hamilton County commissioners are at odds over the final parcels of The Banks riverfront development. Council favors high-rise residential buildings, while some county officials see the lots as low priority. Joint approval is required, with financing talks set to start this month.
Housing Recovery: Abandoned Vision and Beyond apartments show uneven tenant returns.
Tenants in Greater Cincinnati are still dealing with the fallout from Vision and Beyond, a real estate firm that abandoned 70+ apartment complexes amid a federal fraud investigation. Some properties, like Kirby Apartments, are improving under new ownership, but others face leaks, mold, and unsafe conditions.
Immigration Fight: Cambodian refugee in Cincinnati seeks to reunite family.
Cambodian refugee Socheath Phong in Cincinnati continues advocating for democracy in his home country while separated from his wife and four children. Policy changes under the Trump administration halted his family reunification program, though Phong remains committed to activism and bringing his loved ones to safety.
Urban Redevelopment: Toy Heritage mural building to house downtown apartments and retail.
A 19th-century downtown Cincinnati building with the “Cincinnati Toy Heritage” mural will be redeveloped into 12 apartments and 4,500 sq. ft. of commercial space. Yolo Investments aims to finish by early 2027, pursuing tax abatements and historic credits to support the project.
Press Freedom: Advocate criticizes Kenton County’s prosecution of journalists.
Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation criticizes Kenton County prosecutors for charging journalists arrested at a July protest. He says the case violated First Amendment rights, wasted taxpayer resources, and sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom.
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