Mark Heyne

Ohio Governor John Kasich is reflective but short on policy details during his eighth and final "State of the State" speech. An Assistant Cincinnati Police Chief is forced off the force. This, in the same week an audit is revealed, questioning overtime spending by the Cincinnati Police Department, and as one CPD captain accuses top police officials of discrimination. And calls for new management of the Cincinnati Streetcar amid low ridership, breakdowns and time delays.

One of the main tenants of journalism is that reporters remain neutral, acting as unbiased chroniclers of events no matter their personal beliefs or opinions.

According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people in the United States age 65 and over increased from 35 million in 2000 to 49.2 million in 2016. By the year 2050, people over the age of 60 are expected to account for 25-percent or more of the U.S. population.

The Good Food Purchasing Program provides tools and resources to support public institutions in shifting to a food purchasing model that puts local economies, nutrition, workforce, environment and animal welfare front and center. Advocates and allies are working to spread the program across the country by encouraging cities, school districts and other public institutions to adopt local policies.

The switch to Daylight Saving Time (DST) this weekend means most of us will lose an hour of sleep Saturday night. While that doesn't seem like much more than an inconvenience, that slight change can affect our internal clocks, making it more difficult to fall asleep, and to wake up on time. It may take several days for some people to adjust and get their sleep routines back on track.

In his 2003 book, "Running from the Devil: A Memoir of a Boy Possessed," Steve Kissing tells the story of growing up believing he was possessed by the devil, and the steps he took to hide his condition– later discovered to be epilepsy. The book has just been converted into a graphic memoir.

With growing concerns about identity theft, cybersecurity and keeping your personal information safe from hackers, what’s a consumer to do?  If your personal information is compromised or you become a victim of a scam, where do you turn for help? This is National Consumer Protection Week, which aims to provide answers to questions like these.

With overcrowding at the Hamilton County Justice Center soon to reach what Sheriff Jim Neil calls a "breaking point," the county considers a pre-jail diversion program for addicts and those suffering from mental illness. As the city and FC Cincinnati wait for Major League Soccer to make its expansion announcement, discussions continue over the location of a new stadium for the soccer team. And a former Cincinnati employee accuses City Manager Harry Black of threatening her job.

After the school shooting tragedy in Florida President Trump says he is willing to look at tougher gun control measures, upsetting many in his base. The Russian probe becomes more intense as another former top Trump campaign official pleads guilty to fraud and to lying to investigators. The president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has his security clearance downgraded. And another Sanders is running for Congress.

Buying young plants from a greenhouse is a nice shortcut for home gardeners, but with the right selection, proper preparation and a little patience you can successfully start your garden from seeds. And there is a far greater variety of fruit, vegetable and flower seeds available locally and online than the plants you can typically find at your garden center.

Giving birth is becoming more complicated for millions of women in rural America. A recent study by the Rural Health Research Center at the University of Minnesota found 54 percent of rural counties in the U.S. had no hospitals with obstetric services in 2014. That's a jump from 45 percent in 2004.

The algorithms that operate our computers are used in many aspects of our lives, from online retailing to internet searches, and on stock exchanges around the world. Algorithms are used to decide who gets a job interview, who gets granted parole and who gets a loan. But since they’re written by people, there are concerns that algorithms can reinforce the prejudices of their creators, with serious consequences.

The bail reform movement has been around for decades but is taking on new life as proposals are being introduced in a growing number of states. Ohio is one of the latest states to consider the issue, in the form of House Bill 439. Supporters say bail reform will lead to fewer defendants being held in jail simply because they can’t afford to pay. Critics say the idea is good, but, as the movement has grown, there have been problems associated with it.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. While heart attacks, stroke, and other ailments strike both women and men, cardiovascular disease is under diagnosed among women.

As people across the country react to the recent Florida school shooting some Ohio lawmakers are pushing for a ban on assault weapons, while in Kentucky a debate on whether to arm teachers continues. Several local students are accused of making threats towards their schools. And Cincinnati's City Council and Retirement Board argue about using pension funds to invest in private prisons.

At the same time that thousands of college graduates are having trouble finding steady, well-paying jobs, U.S. employers say they are desperate to fill open positions with qualified workers in order to expand their businesses.

With new carriers and more flights, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) served 7.8 million passengers in 2017, its largest volume since 2010. The airport also handled more than one million tons of cargo last year.

Author and Institute for the Future Distinguished Fellow Dr. Bob Johansen predicts that leaders will face an increasingly “complex, messy and threatening” future.

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), was established in 1948 to control and abate pollution in the Ohio River Basin. ORSANCO sets pollution control standards for industrial and municipal waste water discharges to the Ohio River, and tracks certain dischargers that can seriously impact water quality.

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s 2018 Barrows Conservation Lecture Series begins March 7. Since 1993, the zoo has invited naturalists and scientists to speak on wildlife issues and global conservation efforts. As a preview of this year's series, Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard recently talked with each of this year's speakers. For information and tickets to the 2018 Barrows Conservation Lecture Series, click here. 

FC Cincinnati's plan to build a new stadium in the West End on the current site of Taft High School's Stargel football stadium worries local residents. Metro finds $8 million as Cincinnati Council rejects Mayor Cranley's SORTA Board nominee. Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil says the county jail is at a "breaking point" and wants to re-open the jail in Queensgate to relieve overcrowding. And Kentucky lawmakers propose a plan to overhaul the state's public pension system.

We see it on cable news shows and college campuses, in the workplace and even at family gatherings – what starts out as a simple conversation quickly devolves into a nasty confrontation, with people taking sides and everyone talking and no one listening.

This has been a week of apology and reflection at Elder High School. When the West Side school played St. Xavier on February 2, Elder's student cheering section hurled racist chants at two players on the opposing team and called St. X fans by a homophobic slur.

One of the oldest African-American women's organizations is the Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, established in 1904. The women supported their community by establishing daycares, feeding needy families and awarding scholarships. Then in 1925, the founders purchased a 17 room home in Walnut Hills, built by Cincinnati architect Samuel Hanaford, known for Music Hall and City Hall.

Kenton Keith served for thirty-two years in the U.S. Information Agency and Department of State, holding senior positions in public affairs in Brazil, Paris, and Cairo. In Washington, he served as both Deputy Area Director and Area Director for the United States Information Agency's North Africa, Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. He was named U.S. Ambassador to Qatar in 1992 and served in that position for three years. 

This spring, the Quaker Heritage Center at Wilmington College is holding a series of talks and musical performances to highlight the power of solidarity and resistance among African-Americans, abolitionists, and Quakers. The programs address the complicated dynamics of white and African-American abolitionists who were entangled in systems of privilege and oppression throughout the 19th century.

The ongoing opioid crisis has caused a dramatic increase in the number of children being removed from their homes due to one or both parents being addicted to drugs. And local agencies are struggling to find individuals and families willing to foster or adopt these children and provide them with the love, safety and stability they need.

When he retired from his position as senior paleontologist at the Natural History Museum in London, award-winning scientist Richard Fortey purchased four acres of ancient woodland in the Chiltern Hills of Oxfordshire, England. His latest book, "The Wood for the Trees: One Man's Long View of Nature," is the joyful portrait of what he found there. He spoke with Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard about the wonders of nature to be discovered close to home, if you just look for them. 

A former University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) professor is accused of sexual misconduct over two decades. Cincinnati City Council members engage in a Twitter dispute. The City Manager wants to delay responsible bidder regulations for city contractors. And Ohio voters are likely to see redistricting on the May ballot after a reform plan passes in the Ohio House.

Numerous studies show most of us would rather talk about death, politics or religion than talk about financial matters. And it can be an even touchier subject for couples to discuss.