Cincinnati Businesses Volunteer for Extra Sales Tax

Twenty-eight Cincinnati restaurants and bars in the Downtown Fountain District have volunteered to charge an additional 1% sales tax to help fund a new hotel at the city’s convention center.

The program is scheduled to begin in March, with a projected $1 million annually going toward the planned $536 million, 700-room Marriott hotel.

J.W. Miller, general manager of Five Iron Golf, said the 2024 closure of Cincinnati’s convention center for renovations has had a negative impact, and the hotel tax could be a positive investment.

It would be a 30-year commitment for the businesses that opt in, unless the construction debt is paid off early.

Buckeyes, RedHawks Aim for Titles

No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana square off on Saturday in the Big Ten championship game, the Buckeyes’ first appearance in the conference title game since 2020.

Ohio State is a four-point favorite. The Buckeyes have not lost to the Hoosiers since 1988, and have lost just four times since the end of World War II. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is the current betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. He would be the first Buckeye to win the award since Troy Smith in 2006. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is close behind Sayin in the Heisman odds.

Other important college football games include Miami (Ohio) facing Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference championship game at noon on Saturday. It’s the RedHawks’ third straight title appearance.

Clooney Talks Reds Tryouts, Bengals Fandom

Actor George Clooney, known for the Ocean’s film series and other major roles, joined New Heights, the podcast hosted by Ohio natives Jason and Travis Kelce, to discuss growing up in the Cincinnati area.

Speaking to Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, Clooney said, “Travis, you broke me, man. I’m a Bengals fan, dude. I grew up in Cincinnati. You’ve broken me so many times… You know how many times I’ve thrown like a hoagie at my TV at your face?”

Clooney also recounted his scouting report from when he tried out for the Cincinnati Reds in high school: “It was like, ‘He’s got no arm, he’s got no speed, he can’t hit’.”

Born in Kentucky, Clooney attended schools in Worthington and Mason, Ohio, as a youth, before briefly attending the University of Cincinnati. You can watch the full New Heights episode here.

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➤ Statewide: The Ohio Department of Transportation has reported eight collisions with snowplows in the past week. There were 50 during all of last winter. (More)

➤ Warren County: Two Lebanon Correctional Institution employees were placed on leave after an inmate died following an altercation in which officials said pepper spray was used. (More)

➤ Cuyahoga County: County officials warned residents of a cybersecurity incident involving its OnSolve CodeRED emergency alert system, noting that ReadyNotify subscriber information could’ve been compromised. (More)

➤ Montgomery County: The county’s $1.1 billion 2026 budget plan—which focuses on homelessness, infrastructure, and food insecurity—was presented to county commissioners. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital plans to launch a helicopter transport service for pediatric patients, operated by Denver-based Air Methods, which will provide the aircraft and pilots. (More)

➤ Oxford: A Jewish organization at Miami University reported multiple incidents of racist and antisemitic graffiti targeting minority students in residence halls. (More)

➤ Ohio State became the first school to sweep the Big Ten’s individual defensive awards, with Caleb Downs, Kayden McDonald, and Arvell Reese earning top honors at their respective positions. (More)

➤ Jim Kelly, Tony Dorsett, Brian Bosworth, Lou Groza, Ozzie Newsome, and Greg Pruitt headline the National High School Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, announced in Brook Park. (More)

➤ Closer Emilio Pagán agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract to return to the Cincinnati Reds, with a player option for the 2027 season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer | PGA

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➤ Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed Senate Bill 50, which sought to let minors work until 9 p.m. on school nights, citing existing laws that already permit extended hours for older teens and school breaks. (More)

➤ Construction has begun on a next-generation Dick’s Sporting Goods store inside Eastwood Mall in Niles, with an expected opening in summer 2026. (More)

➤ Frontier Airlines announced nonstop service from John Glenn Columbus International Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, set to begin in March. (More)

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➤ OhioHealth hospitals are adopting a new visitor check-in process to protect patients, staff, and guests, requiring all visitors 18 and older to show government IDs. (More)

➤ The Cleveland International Film Festival has established formal archives at Case Western Reserve University, documenting film guides and programs from its first 49 festivals. (More)

➤ Holidays on the Farm—featuring carolers, reindeer, lights, and a vendor village—will run nightly through Dec. 23 at the Winton Woods Farm & Equestrian Center. (Details)

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What’s your favorite winter drink?

1. Hot chocolate
   
2. Eggnog
   
3. Mulled wine
   
4. Spiced apple cider
   
5. Other
   

Yesterday’s Results:

How often do you use Wikipedia?

1. Rarely: 22%
2. Sometimes: 20%
3. Never: 20%
4. Often: 19%
5. Daily: 19%

What is Ohio’s warmest December on record?

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