Cincinnati Public Schools will host the fourth annual “The Cincy Experience,” a two-day recruitment event designed to connect prospective educators with teaching opportunities across the district.

On March 6, school tours will be given from noon to 1 p.m. at Dater Montessori School, South Avondale Middle School and Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students.

On March 7, there will be a district-wide job fair, including on-the-spot interviews with recruiters, at the Woodward Career Technical High School on Reading Road in Bond Hill.

The district is searching for educators to fill high-need areas: middle and high school English, science and math, Spanish, intervention specialists, preschool disability and teachers with Montessori credentials. The district is also in need of educators licensed to teach middle childhood education, which is typically defined as grades four through nine.

Cincinnati Public Schools is the Tri-State’s largest public school district with more than 35,000 students across 66 schools.

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Two local business organizations are hosting their fifth annual business expo next week, bringing together dozens of area vendors under one roof.

The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance and the Milford Miami Township Chamber of Commerce will hold the Eastside Business Bash on March 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Oasis Conference Center, 902 Loveland-Miamiville Rd, in Loveland. Admission is free.

The event draws businesses from across Cincinnati’s east side, with this year’s lineup topping 30 vendors in sectors ranging from financial services and healthcare to marketing, technology, and food.

Participating businesses include Activate Brain & Body, All American Gutter Protection, Athletico Physical Therapy, Balance in Motion, By Golly’s, CertaPro Painters and Carpentry, Charmed Life Creative, Cincy SEO, COHatch Cincinnati, Evolution Creative Solutions, First Financial Bank, For Always Photos & Memories, Horter Financial, IntelliPoint Technologies, Kingsbury Productions, Linden Grove Agency, Loveland LIFE Food Pantry, Peoples Bank, Quintin Fleeing Insurance & Finance, Raptor INC, RDI, Ron Chambers Group, Seasons, Sharefax Credit Union, Signal Digital Marketing, SpeedPro Cincinnati East, TeamLogic IT, The Dennedy Home Group/Keller Williams, The Skin Clinic, The Works Pizza Co., Union Savings Bank, Valley View Nature Preserve, and Willow Marketing & Design.

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A reward is being offered for anyone with information that could lead to the identification and arrest of suspects involved in Sunday night’s shooting at Riverfront Live, where nine people were injured.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced Monday on Facebook that a $5,000 reward is being offered; anyone with information can call 1.888.283.8477 or email ATFTips@atf.gov.

“We are devastated by the violence that occurred in the early hours of March 1st at Riverfront Live,” read a Facebook post the venue, located at 4343 Kellogg Ave. in Cincinnati, posted Sunday. “Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We are profoundly grateful that, at this time, all of the victims are reportedly in a safe and stable condition.”

The post went on to thank staff, first responders and the community.

“The immediate reaction from CPD helped to prevent further casualties,” the post said. “To those brave men and women- THANK YOU. To the community that we are proud to be a part of, Thank You.”

UC Medical Center Director of Media Relations Heather Chura Smith said the hospital had received eight patients from the incident.

“As of this morning, six have been treated and released, and two remain in stable condition,” Chura Smith said in a statement to CityBeat. The other injured person was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital.

The incident occurred at a party featuring several DJs that started around 10 p.m., police said.

Cincinnati Police and local leaders held a press conference Sunday morning to give the community an update.

“This is a challenging day for our community, a challenging day for the region,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said at the press conference, “but we will fight together for public safety and continue to hold these violent aggressors accountable.”

Purveal was one of several people to express how grateful they were no one lost their lives.

“I can only thank God that no one was killed,” said Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long. “Our Cincinnati police, firefighters, and EMS, along with other first responders, are heroes of the highest order. Time and time again, they run towards chaotic and dangerous situations like this. Their work saves lives last night in an ultimate act of public service.”

Interim Police Chief Adam Henie assured the public that those responsible will be held accountable.

“This is a tragedy that is going to be investigated to our fullest abilities and I’m very confident we will find those responsible and bring them to justice,” Henie said.

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The City of Cincinnati and the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts have been selected to receive the Intergovernmental Cooperation Award from the Ohio City/County Management Association, recognizing their collaborative efforts to build a coordinated eviction prevention system serving residents across the community.

The partnership, which brings together the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Help Center, Clerk of Courts Pavan Parikh, the Cincinnati City Manager’s Office, Meeka Owens and United Way of Greater Cincinnati, began in late 2023 in response to a sharp increase in eviction filings. Following City Council’s passage of the Access to Counsel Ordinance, which guarantees legal representation for qualifying low-income tenants, partners worked to design a system that shares data, coordinates services, and delivers real-time support to residents facing eviction.

In September 2024, the collaboration launched same-day legal representation in eviction court, led by the Clerk of Courts Help Center. The program ensures eligible tenants can meet with an attorney the morning of their hearing. From September 2024 through September 2025, attorneys filed 890 appearances on behalf of more than 450 households. Of those cases, 93.7% resulted in positive outcomes for tenants, and 88.8% of completed cases were dismissed.

United Way 211 serves as the centralized intake and coordination hub, managing data sharing and administering rent assistance payments. With support from philanthropic partners, the initiative has expanded from operating two days per week to four days per week, increasing access for both City and County tenants facing eviction.

The OCMA award honors exemplary intergovernmental cooperation that strengthens public service delivery and improves outcomes for the community.

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Cincinnati Bengals’ Center Ted Karras has spent his NFL career protecting his ball carriers and guiding them forward.

Now Karras is looking out for a different community and helping to guide a path for the city to put a dent in the housing crisis.

Karras’ Cincy Hat Foundation broke ground on a five-unit apartment building for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sometimes referred to as I/DD, on Thursday.

“That is the main goal of our foundation,” Karras said at the groundbreaking, “to provide affordable infrastructure in a climate where housing and the rental market are very high and inaccessible to a lot of people, and it’s even exacerbated in the I/DD community.”

Matt Renie, executive director of the foundation, said Ted has always been a protector.

Part of the reason is that Karras has a personal connection to this community.

“I have two cousins with nonverbal autism, so I’ve known about families and what families face since I was a child,” Karras said. “Colleen Renie, Matt’s mother, founded the Village of Merici back when we were in high school in Indianapolis. I think no one does better work than the Village of Merici, and we are just going to try to emulate that. Emulate that and provide the same type of independence to this community.”

The Village of Merici is a Medicaid service provider that offers independent living opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. When Ted became an NFL athlete, he chose this organization as his charity of support from 2016 to 2022. In October 2024, the Cincy Hat Foundation was founded. Karas became the president of the organization and Colleen Renie serves as an advisor.

“It’s beyond my own comprehension how the Cincy hat has taken off, and that is because of the generosity and goodwill and spirit of the Cincinnati community, Whodey Nation, and everyone who’s donated and bought hats. It was really important for us to get something done in Cincinnati,” Karras said.

Working with the Port of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincy Hat Foundation purchased a plot of land in Madisonville. Renie said the project is about a $1.1 million endeavor.

The Madisonville development will include:

• Five total units
  • Two 2-bedroom / 2-bathroom apartments
  • Three 1-bedroom / 1-bathroom apartments
• Full kitchens
• In-unit laundry
• Fully functioning private living spaces

The move-in date is expected to be fall 2026.

“We’re aiming for fall 2026,” Karras said, “so this upcoming football season, we’d like to move our residents in.”

The project used the money provided by those who have purchased hats through The Cincy Hat Foundation. Additionally, the project is being funded by Ted Karras’ personal $500,000 gift. That investment allows rents to remain well below market rate, ranging from $700–$900 per bedroom.

Residents will bring their own service providers and retain full freedom of choice, an earlier press release said. The Foundation does not provide services — it creates housing that allows adults with disabilities to live autonomously while remaining close to family and community support systems.

A part-time, on-site community manager will also live in the building and serve as a resource and safety net to help integrate residents into the Madisonville neighborhood.

This, Karras said, is just the beginning.

“Hopefully, we’re getting everyone on the same page, and everyone works together to be the number one city in the country for these adults,” he said.

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Freestore Foodbank’s Board of Directors has appointed Kreg Keesee as the organization’s next president and CEO.  

Keesee brings extensive leadership experience in operations, strategy and organizational transformation. Most recently, he served as interim chief financial and operating officer at The Springer School and Center, with prior executive roles at Cold Jet, Michelman, Sun Chemical and Procter & Gamble. 

The Freestore Foodbank is located at 3401 Rosenthal Way.

Keesee also serves on the Cincinnati Regional Chamber Board of Directors and on committees for the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. He previously spent ten years on the board of trustees of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, including six as chair.

“Kreg brings a proven track record of building high‐performing teams and turning strategy into action,” said Chair of the Freestore Foodbank Board Dwinelva Zackery. “We are confident he is the right leader to guide Freestore into its next chapter.”

Keesee succeeds Kurt Reiber who served as president and CEO for 15 years. During Reiber’s tenure, Freestore expanded the number of annual meals provided to 47.2 million, supported nearly 12,000 volunteers, launched the LIFT the TriState and KIND programs, and grew its partnerships to 575 community organizations.

“Freestore Foodbank is an organization with a remarkable legacy and essential mission,” Keesee said. “I look forward to working with our team and partners to meet the evolving needs of our community.”

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Students at Cincinnati Public Schools will soon have access to a broader array of services that will allow them to earn college credit and gain industry experience while still in high school.

The application deadline for CPS’ College and Career Pathways, which provides tuition-free college coursework or industry recognized credentials, is approaching.

CPS students currently in grades 9 to 11 that are interested in the Automotive Undercar Technician Certificate must apply by Wednesday, Feb. 25, while applications for three additional pathways close March 9.

For the 2026-27 school year, CPS is offering four new or expanded programs:

• Automotive Undercar Technician Certificate at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
• Entrepreneurship at Woodward Career Technical High School
• Zoo Academy at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
• College Innovation Pathway, in partnership with the University of Cincinnati

These programs provide accelerated pathways to high-demand careers and college degrees through hands-on learning, real-world experience and College Credit Plus coursework.

Eligible students will be selected at random to fill districtwide seats. Students not selected will be placed on a waitlist. Transportation support, including Metro passes, is available.

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One local cancer fundraiser is returning for its 14th go-round.

Night for the Fight, the all-night fundraiser at Fifth Third Arena, will once again see over 1,000 local high school students stay up into the wee hours while they raise money for pediatric cancer research. The event is hosted by CancerFree KIDS and presented by the TQL Foundation.

From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., teenage participants will take part in games, challenges, listen to speakers and go through personal reflections. The overnight experience not only raises funding but also inspires the next generation to join the fight against childhood cancer, according to a release.

In its 14-year history, Night for the Fight has raised more than $3 million for pediatric cancer research. Fifteen research grants named in honor of the event at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital have gone on to receive more than $13.5 million in subsequent funding, leading to eight scientific publications, three patents and two clinical trials.

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A state agency went to the Ohio Supreme Court after the court said Duke Energy is passing a $14 million bill to its customers for a mistake the agency says Duke made. 

The issue began in 2022, when Duke Energy and 15 other state partners (including the City of Cincinnati and the Ohio Energy Group) agreed to a $23 million rate increase for customers.  This negotiated agreement allowed for a $23 million distribution rate increase to its nearly 700,000 Duke consumers.

In a separate, later “rider” case filed in 2023, a $14 million error from the rate case surfaced. The math error related to Duke not counting accumulated deferred taxes correctly in the rate case.  If a correction could be made, Duke would be able to collect an additional $14 million above and beyond the $23 million increase approved in the 2022 case.

In oral arguments to the state supreme court on Feb. 11, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Council presented an audit completed in 2023 that found Duke had essentially under-billed its customers $14 million due to a mathematical error.

Jon Blackwood of the Ohio Consumers’ Council said the state’s public utilities commission allowed Duke to tack the $14 million onto the already agreed upon rate hike in 2022, for a new total of $37 million. 

Duke made a correction to its quarterly rider filing on Nov. 29, 2023 where it placed the $14 million charge in rider rates, with a one-year collection period.  Duke’s rider rates took effect on January 2, 2024.

On January 8, 2025, PUCO approved Duke’s rider filing in its order.

That, Blackwood said, is illegal in Ohio.

“That’s what we consider to be retroactive ratemaking,” Blackwood said in documents filed with the supreme court. The rate hike agreement, Blackwood argued, was made in 2022. Duke should not then be allowed to increase that amount after the fact, especially for a mistake the company itself made, the consumers’ council argued to the supreme court. 

The Ohio Supreme Court is now working through a decision, which could take months. 

Duke Energy did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Public Utilities Commission said it cannot comment because the case is ongoing. 

Click here to watch the Ohio Consumers’ Council’s oral arguments to the Ohio Supreme Court.

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Head of The Seven Hills School, Matt Bolton, has announced that Kerryn Hinds has
been selected as the next Head of Lower School after a nationwide search.

Hinds comes from The Chestnut Hill School in Massachusetts, where she was most recently the Lower School Division Head. She also works as an instructor for Initiatives for Developing Equity & Achievement for Students and was previously the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Chestnut Hill.

“I am deeply honored and excited to be joining Seven Hills, especially at such a pivotal time,” Hinds said in a press release.

Hinds will start as the Head of Lotspeich Lower School at the start of the 2026-27 school year and will lead the combined Doherty Lotspeich Lower School in 2027-28 and beyond. Next school year, starting July 2026, Tracy Murch will step into the role of Head of Early Childhood, while she continues to serve as Head of Doherty Lower School through June 2027. She will continue to serve as Head of Early Childhood in 2027-28 and beyond.

Current Head of Lotspeich, Susan Miller, will conclude her role at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

“The committee and I were so impressed by Kerryn’s joyful approach to teaching and learning, her commitment to building a sense of community for all members of her school, and her deep knowledge of the developmental needs of Lower School students,” Bolton said in the release. “We are thrilled to welcome Kerryn to Seven Hills.”

Hinds has a B.A. in early childhood education with a minor in human resources management from Ashford University and an M.Ed. in early childhood education from Gordon College.

Before joining Chestnut Hill, Hinds was a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teacher and the director of equity and belonging at the Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, and was the founder, owner and director of a daycare center.

“I look forward to the exciting new chapter for Lotspeich and Doherty, and I am eager to listen, learn, and build strong relationships with students, families, faculty, and alumni. I continue to think about the stories and shared experiences that make Seven Hills so special and the privilege to be a part of such an incredible community,” Hinds said.

Seven Hills is in the process of combining its Lower School divisions into one division on the Hillsdale Campus in Madisonville. Construction begins on the Doherty Lotspeich Lower School on the Hillsdale Campus this spring.

The Doherty Campus, in East Walnut Hills, was sold to the Springer School and Center. Seven Hills will continue to occupy the Doherty Campus through June 2027, after which the students and teachers will join their peers on the Hillsdale Campus. In July 2027, the former Doherty Campus will become the new home to Springer High School.

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