Bill Rinehart

Lyft and Uber are reportedly asking that Ohio keep license plates on the front of vehicles. The Associated Press reports the ride-hailing companies say it's a safety measure.

A petition drive challenging a Hamilton County sales tax will fall short of the signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot. The effort's chair, Andy Black, says they needed 33,369 signatures, but won't reach the goal by the Thursday deadline.

Voters head to the polls Tuesday in an off-year election. In Ohio, local offices and issues dominate the slates. Hamilton County Board of Elections Director Sherry Poland says for the 30% of registered voters expected to cast a ballot, there have been some changes since the last election.

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has started a campaign to increase voter turnout. The new "My Vote Counts" effort is in reaction to the region having some of the lowest participation in the state. But another program has been trying to make voting a habit for 19 years.

Updated: Oct. 16, 4:47 p.m.

The second Blink festival was bigger than the first, expanding into Kentucky with more murals, and more projection mapping. It also attracted more people, according to organizers. The Cincinnati Chamber says they estimate between 1.25 and 1.5 million people came out during the four nights of the art and light festival stretching from Covington to Over-the-Rhine.

Blink started Thursday night and one of the biggest, if not the biggest, event was the lighting of the Roebling Suspension Bridge. The historic span was bathed in lights that danced along to a specially composed soundtrack.

Correction 4:46 p.m.

The four-night light and art phenomenon known as Blink starts Thursday, with projection mapping, sculptures and murals on display from Findlay Market to Covington. Organizers say there's more to see this time around.

The hot, dry weather that dominated the region in late September and early October shouldn't have much of an effect on this year's Christmas tree crop. It could mean fewer trees in the future, though.

The fate of the Millennium Hotel should be a little more clear in 120 days. But local leaders will have more of a say in that fate. The Port and development company Vandercar have agreed to a contract on purchasing the convention center hotel.

The area has not had any line of duty fire department deaths in the last year, but, Cincinnati Fire Chief Roy Winston says 48 former firefighters have passed. He gave the keynote address at the Firefighter Memorial Service Thursday afternoon, and says technology and training have helped reduce the number of on-the-job fatalities.

Cincinnati Council members have approved a motion that will ask the Bengals to approve the construction of a music venue at The Banks without asking for new parking. Such a move would mean the relocation of a concrete plant wouldn't be necessary.

Organizers of Blink have already said it's best to plan on parking during the light and art festival and seeing the spectacle as a pedestrian. Julie Calvert with the Convention and Visitors Bureau says if you're coming Downtown, it's not a bad idea to get a hotel room.

Updated: Oct. 11

Organizers of this year's Blink festival are encouraging people to walk, take the bus, ride the streetcar, hop on a bike or rent a scooter to see the show. Anything but drive. That's because streets were gridlocked during 2017's inaugural event.

The Bengals are urging Cincinnati and Hamilton County leaders to settle their differences and work together on developing a music venue at The Banks. The team released a letter this afternoon after a Joint Banks Steering Committee meeting ended with arguments over the proposed facility.