Bill Rinehart

A Cincinnati tradition more than 160 years old will not continue this year. The steps Catholics and members of other faiths use to pray on the way to Good Friday services at Holy Cross-Immaculata will be closed.

A month ago, Bethany House was looking at consolidating services and launching a capital campaign. Now, CEO Susan Schiller says the family shelter is trying to figure out how it and partners can face increased need and dwindling resources.

Funeral services for Springdale Police Officer Kaia Grant are this Sunday. She was killed Saturday night when she was struck by a vehicle during a pursuit on I-275.

Ohio National Guard members are working at three Southwest Ohio food banks, stepping into the roles normally filled by volunteers. Governor Mike DeWine activated the Guard last week in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic and suggestions to isolate oneself can be a one-two punch -- causing anxiety and making it difficult to leave home to seek help for it. Like many health professionals, therapists are offering telehealth appointments. 

Ridership is down because of people sheltering or working at home, but Metro is still running and a spokeswoman says they're cleaning the buses thoroughly.

Updated 3-20-20 8:10 a.m.

The maker of Charmin toilet paper, Procter & Gamble, says they're making it as fast as they can, but people are still reporting empty shelves as others stockpile in case of quarantine. The run on toilet paper has the Metropolitan Sewer District trumpeting a longtime message. 

Spokeswoman Deb Leonard says only a few things should be flushed.

Updated Friday, 10:00 a.m.

On Tuesday, UC Health began offering drive-thru screening and testing for COVID-19, but only with a doctor's referral. On Wednesday, the hospital issued a statement announcing it would limit drive-thru testing to the "most urgent and critical needs."

While Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says the recommendation to delay in-person voting from March 17 until June 2 has the support of both the Republican and Democratic party chiefs, at least one local politician is opposed: Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley.

John Cranley says he never thought he'd see bars and restaurants closed for St. Patrick's Day. The Cincinnati mayor says he's a proud Irish-American, but supports the decision in light of the threat of coronavirus. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Sunday ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants in the state until further notice, as a way of limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Some grocery stores and supermarkets have made operational changes over COVID-19 concerns. Those changes include reduced hours to allow for restocking and cleaning.

Three women are vying for the Democratic nomination in the race to win a Hamilton County Commission seat. The death of Todd Portune essentially leaves the seat vacant, because his named successor, Victoria Parks, opted not to run.

All three candidates appeared on Cincinnati Edition to talk about their histories and their visions for Hamilton County.

Updated Thursday, March 19, 5:50 p.m.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County closed all of its facilities starting Friday evening, March 13 at 6 p.m. because of COVID-19 concerns. At first those locations were to remain shut for at least a week, but on Thursday, the library sent an email saying it would be closed through April 3.

The spread of coronavirus and COVID-19 is leading to another problem for some: anxiety. Caleb Adler is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and says all the news about the virus and the disease can lead to feelings of helplessness and confusion.