By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Retired federal appeals court judge Nathaniel Jones will introduce the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to the nation this morningduring a live television broadcast from New York City on the CBS Early Morning Show.

Judge Jones, co-chair of the Freedom Center, will appear about 8 a.m. with CBS weather reporter Mark McEwen. Judge Jones said he plans to make the most of his 10 minutes on-air by talking about the Freedom Center's role in Cincinnati's "Renaissance on the River."

Judge Jones told the Enquirer that if time permits, he would discuss Cincinnati's recent civil unrest and progress.

"I don't know a lot about meteorology but I'm going to offer a forecast for Cincinnati, and that is a bright future," Judge Jones said.

The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce won his slot through an Internet charity auction on eBay. The chamber split the cost of the winning bid, $1,577, with the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Judge Jones said he wants to clear up any misinformation about Cincinnati's racial climate. At a meeting of black judges in Houston two weeks ago, Judge Jones said colleagues were astounded to hear about Cincinnati's collaborative agreement with the Department of Justice and other programs to improve economic and social problems.

"These were all judges who came from cities with the same problems as Cincinnati, yet we got pinned with this label that we were somehow unique," he said.

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com