Museum holding freshART auction

        COVINGTON — The Behringer-Crawford Museum will hold its ninth annual freshART auction on Sept. 8 at the Devou Park Memorial Building.

        On the morning of Sept. 8, about 40 Greater Cincinnati artists will scatter throughout Devou Park to create works of art.

        That night, the artwork will be auctioned at 7:30. The work can be previewed during a 6:30 p.m. reception.Local artists' works are on display at the museum through Sept. 9 and will be available for purchase at a silent auction.

        The artists will split the proceeds with the museum, which will use its half for Behringer-Crawford's art education programs.

        Admission to the auction and cocktail/dinner reception is $25 per person. Reservations are available by calling the museum at (859) 491-4003.

Ky. gets $462K grant for tech programs

        Kentucky has received nearly a half-million dollars to boost enrollment in its community and technical colleges' technology programs.

        The National Science Foundation awarded Kentucky a three-year grant totaling $462,276 to develop an advanced technology program modeled after the foundation's. With some state matching funds, the $750,000 statewide project is aimed at attracting a more diverse range of students to technology courses and reducing students' time in remediation courses.

        The state will start the project next fall at sites in Ashland, Jefferson County, Maysville and Hopkinsville. It will later be put in place at Northern Kentucky Technical College.
       

Police fund-raiser golf outing Sunday

        The Independence Police Department's first golf outing, planned to be an annual event, will be held at the Kenton County golf courses off Richardson Road on Sunday.

        More than 100 golfers and 30 sponsors have signed up. It is a best-ball tournament, and there will be a barbecue for the golfers afterward. Money raised will go toward the department's DARE program and other community projects.

        Information: (859) 356-2697.
       

Dance, silent auction to benefit police

        The Independence Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association is sponsoring a benefit family dance and silent auction 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday at the Beechgrove Clubhouse, 4214 Beechgrove Drive. Soft drinks and snacks will be available. There is a playground, but the pool will be closed.

        Admission for the dance is $5, or $15 per family. Proceeds will go to the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association to help purchase special equipment for the department.

        Information: Jim Bushong at (859) 282-8478.
       

Club's chili cook-off, car show in Newport

        The Boys & Girls Club of Campbell County will hold its 12th annual car show and chili cook-off 10 a.m-6 p.m. Sunday at a new location this year. The event will be on Newport's Riverboat Row. Hundreds of cars will be on hand and more than 20 chili cookers will compete for the title of Best of Show.
       

Unions to vote on joining advisory panel

        FRANKFORT — Health-service workers in state institutions Wednesday got approval to have a union election. They would choose whether to be represented on a council advising Gov. Paul Patton.

        Labor Secretary Joe Norsworthy said Health Care Workers United, a group affiliated with two public-employee unions, succeeded in getting a required “showing of interest” from 30 percent of the 1,831 eligible employees in health services.

        The Labor Cabinet's general counsel, Kembra Taylor, said ballots will be mailed to workers Oct. 1. They must be returned by Oct. 22. If no other group qualifies for inclusion, the ballot will list two choices: representation on the Governor's Employee Advisory Council by Health Care Workers United or no representation at all.

        The workers group is affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — the nation's largest public employee union — and the Service Employees International Union.
       

Lexington paper hires new editor

        LEXINGTON — Amanda Bennett, editor of a Pulitzer prize-winning series at the Oregonian, was announced Wednesday as the new editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

        Ms. Bennett, managing editor/projects at the Portland, Ore., newspaper since 1998, succeeds Pam Luecke in Lexington as editor and senior vice president. Ms. Luecke, the first woman to hold the top editor's job at the Herald-Leader, left her position this spring to teach journalism at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.

        Ms. Bennett worked for the Wall Street Journal for more than two decades, including a stint as Atlanta bureau chief, before becoming managing editor in Portland.

        “Amanda is a superb journalist with extraordinary credentials,” Herald-Leader publisher Timothy M. Kelly said in a statement.

Welfare reformers point to victories
Lebanon, Mason strap it on tonight
New boss, new address for Ambassador Reynolds
'01 game could be last Classic
Couple gives United Way $1M to help new moms, kids
Media join to face race issues
News execs put rivalries aside for greater cause
PULFER: Can you help?
Riot issue gets Luken riled at foe Fuller
Takeya's mother tries to be strong
Urban circus touches, inspires
Boaters beat crowds to best Riverfest spots
County awards oft-debated bid
Fernald study group ended over some members' protests
Sun hidden; fun apparent
Tristate A.M. Report
Truck driver dies in crash in Loveland
Hamilton police, fire divisions reach deals
Death-penalty foes appeal to governor
Covington hopes to widen downtown historic district
Kentucky News Briefs
Ky. gets $2M for DUI change
Official: retirees push up insurance costs
Tailpipe tests again challenged
2 towns pick new top cops