(WKRC) - A wrong-way-driver-involved crash closed I-71/75 Monday on I-71/75 just before the Brent Spence Bridge in Covington two people were hospitalized after the crash when one driver on the northbound side was hit head-on by a vehicle going southbound from Ohio As Donald Trump has taken aim at Big Law in recent weeks some law firms have made deals with the president while others are refusing to throw in the towel The president's wide-reaching orders have prompted reviews of each firm's government contracts canceling security clearances for some employees and blocking them from entering federal buildings — including courthouses Trump has accused the Big Law firms — including Paul Weiss among others — of weaponizing the judicial system made it harder for the firms to continue conducting business as usual Several firms have alleged in lawsuits that the executive orders intended to chill free speech and deter clients from doing business with them Others have agreed to work with the administration to avoid punitive executive actions against them The president has singled out a string of law firms that he says have wronged him in some capacity or have had diversity initiatives that are counter to his anti-DEI efforts Whether they're on the ropes or down for the count and where the legal process stands for those who have challenged him in court Pomerantz previously left Paul Weiss to aid the Manhattan District Attorney's office as it probed Trump's finances When Pomerantz resigned as special district attorney in February 2022 he wrote in a departing letter that he believed Trump was "guilty of numerous felony violations." Trump sought to revoke security clearances and bar access to government buildings for attorneys of the firm Such a sweeping directive could also include federal courthouses a scenario that would be detrimental to the firm's work However, Trump just days later rescinded the executive order and announced an agreement with Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp Trump said the firm would provide $40 million in pro bono work for causes that the administration supports and end its DEI policies Karp received a heap of criticism, with many questioning why Paul Weiss didn't challenge Trump's order. In an email to the firm's attorneys he said there was a desire from the outset to challenge the directive Karp argued that even if Paul Weiss won in court it would become "persona non grata" with the Trump White House which could prompt a wave of clients to switch to other firms and subsequently threaten the viability of the firm "It was very likely that our firm would not be able to survive a protracted dispute with the administration," Karp wrote in the email On March 6, Trump targeted the law firm Perkins Coie issuing an executive order to suspend the security clearances of the firm's attorneys and criticizing its diversity and inclusion policies Trump called out what he said was the firm's "dishonest and dangerous activity." highlighted the firm's representation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — his rival in the 2016 presidential election — during that year's tumultuous campaign However, Perkins Coie struck back, filing a lawsuit against the administration for actions that it said "violates core constitutional rights including the rights to free speech and due process." "At the heart of the order is an unlawful attack on the freedom of all Americans to select counsel of their choice without fear of retribution or punishment from the government," Perkins Coie managing director Bill Malley said in a statement in March "We were compelled to take this action to protect our firm and our clients." a federal judge agreed to temporarily block part of the president's executive order said the ruling was "an important first step in ensuring this unconstitutional Executive Order is never enforced." a DC-based law firm known for its antitrust work The president in the memo said he was suspending the clearances of individuals who advised former special counsel Jack Smith Trump went after individuals whom he said were "involved in the weaponization of government" and named Peter Koski A Covington spokesperson in March said it was representing Smith in an "individual" capacity "We recently agreed to represent Jack Smith when it became apparent that he would become a subject of a government investigation," the spokesperson said in a statement Smith's interests and appreciate the trust he has placed in us to do so." Skadden made a deal with Trump acting before it was singled out in any executive orders The firm promised to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services "to causes that the President and Skadden both support," Trump announced on March 28 Skadden also affirmed its commitment to merit-based hiring and employee retention The firm also agreed that it would refrain from engaging in "illegal DEI discrimination," according to a copy of the agreement that Trump shared on Truth Social said the firm "engaged proactively" with the administration to reach the agreement "We firmly believe that this outcome is in the best interests of our clients Trump referred to the deal as "essentially a settlement." some associates and employees expressed frustration about the deal calling it the beginning of the end for Skadden After the deal was announced, another employee, Brenna Frey also resigned publicly in an announcement on LinkedIn The chair of Elias Law Group took a different approach after it was targeted by the administration Trump named the Elias Law Group in his "frivolous" lawsuits memo formally titled "Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court." It claimed that the law firm was "deeply involved in the creation of a false 'dossier' by a foreign national designed to provide a fraudulent basis for Federal law enforcement to investigate a Presidential candidate in order to alter the outcome of the Presidential election." The memo went on to say that the firm "intentionally sought to conceal the role of his client — failed Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton — in the dossier." the Democratic election lawyer who founded and chairs the group released a statement swinging back at Trump whose actions target "every attorney and law firm who dares to challenge his assault on the rule of law," he said "President Trump's goal is clear," Elias said in the statement "He wants lawyers and law firms to capitulate and cower until there is no one left to oppose his Administration in court." Adding that American democracy is in a state of "peril," Elias said his law firm would not cower "Elias Law Group will not be deterred from fighting for democracy in court," he said "There will be no negotiation with this White House about the clients we represent or the lawsuits we bring on their behalf." Trump's order singled out Andrew Weissmann a former Jenner attorney who Trump accused of building his career around "weaponized government and abuse of power." Weissmann was a lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller's Special Counsel's Office which investigated Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and its ties to Russia Jenner issued a statement calling the order an "unconstitutional executive order that has already been declared unlawful by a federal court." "We remain focused on serving and safeguarding our clients' interests with the dedication and expertise that has defined our firm for more than one hundred years and will pursue all appropriate remedies," the statement from Jenner said a liberal-leaning firm that has hired lawyers from Democratic administrations Bates of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a temporary restraining order that keeps the Trump administration from taking action against Jenner Bates extended this order until a final judgement has been made Both the Justice Department and Jenner consented to the extension Jenner said in a statement that the order holds "no legal weight." "We will continue to do what we have always done our job as lawyers and fearless advocates for our clients," the firm said The Trump administration has also targeted WilmerHale which employed Mueller and other lawyers who worked with the Justice Department to investigate ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign Trump signed an executive order that suspended security clearances for WilmerHale employees and limited their access to federal buildings The order also revoked WilmerHale's government contracts for engaging in "partisan representations to achieve political ends" and "efforts to discriminate on the basis of race." In contrast with other firms that have inked deals with the president The firm hired Paul Clement, the conservative legal superstar of the firm Clement & Murphy to fight back against the Trump administration "This lawsuit is absolutely critical to vindicating the First Amendment and the rule of law," Clement told Business Insider in a statement Leon of the US District Court for the District of Columbia approved a motion for a temporary restraining order to halt executive actions against WilmerHale "There is no doubt this retaliatory action chills speech and legal advocacy or that it qualifies as a constitutional harm," Leon wrote A spokesperson for WilmerHale called the executive order unconstitutional and praised the court's "swift action." On April 2, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had struck a preemptive deal with Milbank without targeting the firm for executive action include the firm's agreement to end any DEI-based hiring practices and to perform at least $100 million worth of pro bono legal work to advance causes supported by the Trump administration such as "assisting veterans" and "combatting antisemitism." Milbank's pro bono committee will ensure the firm takes on cases representing "the full political spectrum including Conservative ideals," and commits that it "will not deny representation to clients" based on the personal political views of individual lawyers "Milbank LLP approached President Donald J stating their resolve to help end the Weaponization of the Justice System and the Legal Profession," reads a statement from the White House included in Trump's post "The President continues to build an unrivaled network of Lawyers who will put a stop to Partisan Lawfare in America after a "constructive dialogue," the firm was "pleased we were so quickly able to find common ground" with the administration a spokesperson for the firm provided a letter sent by Edelman to Milbank's staff in which he said the agreement "is very much in Milbank's interest." "The Administration's expressed concerns about big law firms and in some cases its entry of Executive Orders against particular firms have created uncertainty for law firms like ours," Edelman's letter to staff reads we believe we have gone a long way to putting these issues behind us But we have done so in a way that allows us to continue to focus on the Firm's values and missions including with respect to pro bono and our hope to foster an inclusive non-discriminatory community where all of our members have an equal opportunity to succeed." Edelman added: "Having now reached an agreement with the Administration we can continue to do what we do best — focus on providing the best possible advice On April 9, Trump signed an executive memorandum targeting Susman Godfrey, a specialized litigation firm the White House accused Susman of spearheading "efforts to weaponize the American legal system and degrade the quality of American elections." Trump's order sought to immediately suspend any Susman security clearances held by the firm's employees "pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest." The federal government said it would also terminate any contracts with the firm The firm's hiring practices will also be reviewed "to ensure compliance with civil rights laws against racial bias." Susman filed a complaint against the Trump administration arguing that Trump's executive order was in violation of the Constitution "Unless the Judiciary acts with resolve—now—to repudiate this blatantly unconstitutional Executive Order and the others like it a dangerous and perhaps irreversible precedent will be set," the complaint reads "If President Trump's Executive Orders are allowed to stand future presidents will face no constraint when they seek to retaliate against a different set of perceived foes What for two centuries has been beyond the pale will become the new normal," it adds Willkie Farr & Gallagher husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris pledging at least $100 million in pro bono legal work for conservative causes Trump said in an April 1 social media post "Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP proactively reached out to President Trump and his Administration offering their decisive commitment to ending the Weaponization of the Justice System and the Legal Profession," the White House said The firm's ties to Trump go to the 1990s when it represented the then real estate developer in a bankruptcy case Heaphy was the former chief investigative counsel for the congressional committee that investigated the January 6 Trump said that Willkie Farr & Gallagher also committed to "Merit-Based Hiring and Retention," which touches on the Trump's efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives A representative for Willkie Farr & Gallagher did not respond to a request for comment Trump said in a Truth Social post April 11 that the administration had come to an agreement with Cadwalader saying the law firm agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services The services would go toward causes supported by Trump and the law firm including assisting veterans and law enforcement and "ensuring fairness in our justice system." The statement said the firm also agreed to "not engage in illegal DEI discrimination and preferences" or to deny legal representation "because of the personal political views of individual lawyers." "The substance of our agreement is consistent with the principles that have guided Cadwalader for over 230 years: We always put our client's interests first; We believe that Justice should be available to everyone; and We are committed to attracting retaining and nurturing the very best talent from all backgrounds," Patrick Quinn Cadwalader did not respond to a request for comment Trump also announced on April 11 the administration had come to an agreement with an additional four law firms The president said in a Truth Social post the firms agreed to provide a total of $500 million in pro bono legal services to go toward the same types of causes The firms also agreed to engage outside counsel to oversee their hiring practices and ensure they comply with antidiscrimination laws he would end an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into the law firms over their DEI practices the senior executives at the four law firms said: "We have resolved this matter while upholding long-held principles important to each of our Firms: Equal Employment Opportunity; providing pro bono assistance to a wide range of underserved populations and ensuring fairness in the Justice System; and representing a broad spectrum of clients on various matters." In a firm-wide internal memo obtained by BI the Kirkland & Ellis executive committee said the agreement "resolves the EEOC's investigation including its broad request for information about our people and our clients which we no longer will be required to provide and we will not be the target of an executive order." "We made the decision to pursue this solution because at our very core our mission is to protect and support our people and our clients and this agreement does both," the memo said A&O Shearman was among the law firms with which Trump said on April 11 that his administration had reached an agreement The firm agreed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services to causes supported by the administration It also agreed to engage outside counsel to oversee its hiring practices and the EEOC investigation into the firms has stopped A&O Shearman did not respond to a request for comment Simpson Thacher & Bartlett also reached an agreement with the White House to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services to causes supported by the firm and Trump as well as engage outside counsel to ensure its hiring practices comply with antidiscrimination laws the EEOC investigation into the firm's hiring practices was stopped Simpson Thacher & Bartlett did not respond to a request for comment Latham & Watkins was also among the four firms that reached an agreement with Trump The firm agreed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services as well as engage outside counsel to oversee its hiring the Trump administration ended the EEOC investigation into the firm Latham & Watkins did not respond to a request for comment A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County · May 5, 2025 · Leave a Comment · TACOMA, Wash. — MultiCare Covington Medical Center earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group a national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety D or F grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.   “Achieving an ‘A’ hospital safety grade reflects the enormous dedication and commitment of our staff to patient safety and quality care,” said June Altaras chief nursing officer and president of Covington Medical Center “Providing a safe health care environment is the cornerstone of what we do every day Covington Medical Center has worked to create a culture where we strive to ensure every patient and their families receive the best possible care I’m proud to be part of such a dedicated team.” The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States For full details on Covington Medical Center’s grade, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org DISCLAIMER: The above news, information, and opinions are the author’s own. If you have news, information or an opinion you’d like to share with 50,000+ monthly readers, click here to learn how FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION: Join 50,000+ readers each month and get the latest news and information from Western Pierce County direct to your inbox, daily, free of charge. Sign up here COMMENT POLICY: If you care to comment on the above story/announcement, feel free. Review our comment policy and please and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Copyright © 2025 · The Suburban Times · Log in – Due to forecasts of inclement weather this Saturday’s Austinburg Grand Reopening event at Austinburg Park is cancelled which will celebrate and showcase an array of upgrades at Austinburg Park Covington Parks and Recreation Manager Greg Stacy said the event has been rescheduled for next Saturday On Saturday, the South Carolina Forestry Commission collaborated with Horry County Fire Rescue and the Carolina Forest Civic Association to host a Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event The event at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center is one of three community events planned by the SCFC to promote fire safety practices READ MORE: Why is Covington Drive wildfire still smoldering? Soil scientist explains Despite visible and detectable smoke in the Carolina Forest area SC Upstate Firewise and Prevention Coordinator assured residents that there is no cause for alarm They advised that action is only necessary if a fire is spotted outside the containment lines As part of fire prevention efforts he emphasized the importance of having appropriate tools ready to put out a fire As a reminder, Horry County continues to enforce a burn ban NEWTON COUNTY – A Covington man has been arrested after a gun was pulled at the Salem Road Walmart on Sunday. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office arrested 29-year-old Jaylen Douglas on Monday after police say he pulled a gun on another customer during a verbal dispute the weapon was not discharged and no injuries were reported Douglas is booked on two counts of simple assault and one count of reckless conduct The Covington News has reached out to Walmart for comment but has received no response – Lots to celebrate and enjoy in The Cov this weekend Austinburg Park … cool art shows … a local take on World Labyrinth Day …  Kentucky Derby events … a bourbon bar turns 13 and is having a party … a musical and cocktail experience .. great live music … bingo … trivia … yoga … wine tasting … an art workshop … a Cinco de Mayo weekend celebration … and more Get ready for some really big fun in The Cov on Saturday at the Austinburg Park Grand Reopening The event will unveil an array of upgrades to the park like … new sidewalks … repaved basketball courts with new goals and lines … a driveway and parking facility … new playground equipment … a seating area for the FC Cincinnati soccer mini pitch … a new shelter house … an informational kiosk … a new dog park … pickleball courts … and a landscape makeover with new flower beds Special appearances by FC Cincinnati’s Gary the Lion and just all kinds of fun for the whole family Ever notice how much cool art there is in Covington Sweeping murals on buildings … bold designs inside an underpass (and you almost forget that you’re walking through an underpass at all) … an inviting bench illuminated with a prism of rich hues … an alien watching you stroll but the point is creativity flourishes in The Cov And what do you bet the talented artists who created all that cool art felt the first stirrings of creativity in their youth On Saturday, you can encourage young creatives to do the same when you attend the Covington Creative Youth Art Show & Market It takes place on the grassy patch of land across from Artmarkit and Olla Lots of young artists will be there with their handmade goods for you to appreciate – and perhaps purchase The Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar is a bona fide teenager and – even better – they get to celebrate their birthday on Derby Day Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar Turns 13 at OKBB will feature a fire pit and cornhole on the patio … hot dogs (rumors swirl about empanadas) … cake (of course maybe even candles) … once-a-year pour specials … dueling house-made mint juleps … and a Derby viewing with a split-the-pot winning to benefit Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank (because give back on your birthday is a good karma kind of thing to do) World Labyrinth Day on Saturday is an event that invites people from around the globe to walk in community along a labyrinth an ancient meandering path used for a variety of practices like mindfulness You can step in motion with the rest of the world at 1 p.m. at The Hellmann Creative Center parking lot, where they’ve installed a temporary labyrinth for the World Labyrinth Day Walk Plan to stick around for a special World Labyrinth Day Workshop where you’ll create your own finger labyrinth because the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby happens on Saturday In the event that you prefer to don your swank Derby duds and sip your mint juleps closer to home you’ll find plenty of Derby fun to be had in The Cov Here are some Derby Day celebrations that we found but please point out others we might have missed Cincinnati Rocktails: A Celebration of Music in The Queen City at The Carnegie on Saturday is a celebration of the famous founders of American popular music and their Cincinnati connections with a wild night of music Queen City Cabaret and The Carnegie join forces with mixologists and authors of "Cincinnati Rocktails: An Amped Up Spin on Mixology," Kristen Kreft and Mayalou Banatwala for a journey through the music of Queen City-connected artists such as James Brown Tonight: Alex Poteet at Smoke Justis Sunday: Stephen Stanley “Trustfall” Tour at Madison Live Tonight: Wine Tasting at Crafts & Vines … Disco Bingo at Galaxie … Music Bingo on The Rooftop at Braxton Brewing Co. … The DANCE Party at Galaxie Friday: Remus Repeal Series 8 Tasting at Smoke Justis Sunday: Trivia Sunday at West Sixth Covington Haus … Yoga with Cats at Purrfect Day Cat Café … Cinco de Mayo Weekend at Olla The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has identified a robbery suspect as 33-year-old Otis Rodregis White of Covington White allegedly robbed the Little Ceasars on Salem Road in Covington on April 27 at approximately 9:55 p.m He is believed to have “snatched” money from the cash register before fleeing the scene on a blue moped Warrants for robbery by sudden snatching remain active The NCSO asks that anyone with further information contact Investigator Hicks at 678-625-1455 of jhicks@newtonsheriffga.com A meeting of the Human Rights Commission will be held on May 1 KY 41011 for the purpose of conducting the business of the regular meeting — Education is a critical element of the conservation effort at the local Educating young people about the benefits of conservation helps to ensure the next generation will be wise stewards of America’s natural resources Upper Ocmulgee River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offered the Georgia Association of Conservation District’s (GACD) poster contest to public private and homeschooled students from sixth through eighth grade in the schools throughout the Upper Ocmulgee River SWCD the winning posters reflect GACD’s annual Stewardship theme and highlight the work of Conservation Districts to protect and enhance natural resources “Home is Where the Habitat is,” highlights the essential role of both natural and managed habitats in our conservation efforts There were three overall winners who were seventh grade students at Peachtree Academy The second place winner was Gracie Shacklock The first place poster entry will be submitted to the GACD State Poster Contest The awards were presented in Covington at the Upper Ocmulgee River SWCD meeting by Chairman Phillip Standard and GACD’s NE Regional Program Manager GACD and local Conservation Districts encourage Georgia’s youth to practice conservation efforts that benefit Georgia communities The Upper Ocmulgee River Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of state government that manages and directs natural resource management programs in Jasper and Newton Counties and with other units of government to educate and actively promote programs and practices that support the conservation More information can be found at www.gacd.us/upperocmulgeeriver Lack of lifeguards could impact pool hours – Covington Parks & Rec needs to hire 10 to 12 lifeguards to open its swimming facilities in early June  “If we’re not at full strength it could jeopardize the hours our pools are open,” said Parks & Rec Manager Greg Stacy.  at the Kenton County Public Library’s Covington Branch and are urging families to reach out to their daughters nieces – and those of friends and neighbors – who might need a job this summer Applicants should bring a valid ID photo to the hiring event If you’re not already certified as a lifeguard SwimSafe will certify you for free and pay you a salary during that training SwimSafe is looking to fill the positions by May 31 and the pools are scheduled to open June 7 If you can’t make it to next Thursday’s hiring event “Don’t let empty lifeguard chairs hold back the swim season,” said Stacy NKyTribune the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) received a letter from the U.S Secretary of Education stating that the time to spend all federal funds related to COVID relief was amended to end on March 28 The action came after Kentucky was notified by the U.S Department of Education (USED) in September 2024 that it could spend its remaining funds through March 2026 The March 28 letter said USED will consider an extension to the liquidation period on an individual project-specific basis KDE has collected that information from the districts and has submitted the request for the districts and the unspent funds KDE had remaining “While we still hope to have these projects approved so our districts can move forward they should not have to go through this extra step and the uncertainty because these projects had already been approved by USED,” Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher said “We expect the federal government to honor its commitments to our schools and districts “Compounding the problem is that in order to get the extension to spend this money from USED school districts and KDE have signed contracts that obligated how the money would be spent and some hard decisions have to be made about how to pay for these projects if USED does not honor its previous commitments.” Thirteen Kentucky school districts have been affected by the funding timeline change The following is how two Northern Kentucky districts and KDE are being impacted by the withdrawal of previously approved ESSER funding $1,270,748.85 in funding rescinded: Boone County had already paid $600,000 in upfront costs to purchase high-quality instructional resources in math and language arts for elementary school students The rest of the funds the district received were already encumbered for purchases similarly related to accelerating learning post-COVID While Boone County Superintendent Jeff Hauswald said the district’s reserve fund can help cushion the loss of the $600,000 they have already paid “going to reduce funding for future needs.” $567,357.58 in funding rescinded: Covington Independent was spending its COVID money to upgrade the main electrical component – switch gear – that will provide electricity to the newly installed uni-vents which significantly impacts the ventilation throughout Holmes Middle School and Holmes High School Enhanced ventilation reduces the risk of airborne illnesses creating a safer learning environment that can lead to increased attendance and participation the updated electrical system will enable all spaces to be fully operational allowing for extended summer educational programs to address the learning loss that occurred during COVID The district has been waiting more than a year to receive some of the necessary parts due to supply chain issues KDE had $18 million in unspent COVID relief money that had been approved for the extended liquidation Included in that amount were these projects: • More than $300,000 was to be used to help four districts enhance career and technical education for students with disabilities • More than $650,000 was earmarked for 10 school districts to turn a school bus into an Early Learning Bus classroom • Almost $1.7 million was to be used to expand the number of educators who could participate in the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional learning LETRS equips and empowers educators with the knowledge needed to build strong foundational literacy skills • $995,000 was earmarked to fund an adaptive kindergarten readiness pilot project required under House Bill 695 (2024) • Just over $1.4 million had been designated for projects at the Kentucky School for the Deaf furniture and almost $621,000 for a Makerspace Arts lab • Just over $407,000 was to be used to expand the reach of the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts program this summer by allowing for a second camp that expands the program’s reach to about 250 more students • $150,000 was to be used to expand the reach of the Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs program this summer with a second program • Almost $5 million was designated to help 15 districts designated for Targeted Support and Improvement and Comprehensive Support and Improvement provide before- and after-school initiatives for students • Almost $1.6 million was to be used to support summer learning for students in 13 districts designated for Targeted Support and Improvement and Comprehensive Support and Improvement • Almost $4.3 million was designated for the KDE Office of Education Technology to improve the security and efficiency of data systems offer online registration through Infinite Campus for districts and to pay for electronic transcripts to help students in their next steps after high school graduation How long did they expect the COVID Relief Fund to be available for Obviously didn’t need the money for any form of “relief” so instead of being greedy urging the school to be shut down temporarily The district plans to keep staff and students in the school That announcement was made at a Thursday news conference which can be watched at the bottom of this story the Virginia Department of Health reports a baseline level of carboxyhemoglobin in Covington itself but says it’s not associated with the middle school and it doesn’t appear to be a significant public health threat The Department of Environmental Quality is looking at potential sources and whether there’s an environmental source it doesn’t appear a nearby paper mill is an issue The news conference was in response to a gas leak in January that led to several weeks of virtual learning, plus checks of HVAC systems and installation of carbon monoxide detectors, followed by another detected odor in March Both instances led students to get medical checkups because of a variety of symptoms district officials said they continue working with experts on air quality concerns and continue working to ensure air quality is good at the school They say they are confident that after multiple rounds of testing and work with specialists They reported a ventilation issue that helped them notice they need to keep air flowing evenly on campus and that may have led to elevated CO2 levels in some classrooms some of which are the same in which odors have been reported They plan to upgrade the ventilation system and temporary window units District officials say Carbon dioxide levels are well below OSHA regulations and they still don’t know the source of the original odor School district officials say they recognize the critical importance of transparency Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) - Two people were killed Friday morning after law enforcement said a man fired shots inside a Covington Walmart and a nearby home Newton County deputies were called to the Walmart Supercenter on Salem Road at around 1:30 a.m and only employees were inside the building got a gun and went back inside to shoot and kill another employee Eduh allegedly ran into another employee outside the Walmart and shot him That person was taken to the hospital in critical condition >> STREAM FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ON ANF+: Eduh then reportedly went about two miles away to a house on Emerson Trail The sheriff’s office identified the deceased as Khalaf Barksdale was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition “This was not an active shooter situation,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement “The suspect specifically targeted individuals they knew.” South Carolina — about 150 miles east of Covington Eduh shot himself during a standoff with Aiken County deputies on I-20 He was taken to the hospital and died on Sunday Walmart said it is “heartbroken” by what happened “There’s no place for violence in our stores,” the statement said “We’re focused on taking care of our associates and supporting law enforcement with their investigation.” Deputies said the Walmart would be closed on Friday PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Walmart employees arrested after allegedly firing shots in store parking lot, Newton County deputies say This isn’t the first time the Covington Walmart has seen violence between employees two men were arrested after deputies said they fired shots at each other during an argument in the store’s parking lot Check back with Atlanta News First as we learn more — The powerhouse season for the Redskins ended in the Sweet 16 on Thursday as Social Circle was swept by the 20-seeded Vidalia Indians but Social Circle came out on the losing end of both contests One of the big reasons was the Vidalia pitching staff that kept the ‘Skins from mounting comebacks on both occasions the Indians found a way to get to pitcher Caden Richardson A pair of RBI groundouts in the second inning put the Indians ahead by two and they added one more in the third frame on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Brantley Social Circle managed a few singles and a walk through the opening innings but it was not until the fourth that the Redskins pushed their first run home After Richardson singled to open the inning Cooper Davis laced a line drive into the left-center gap but Davis was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double Lucas Langley sent a RBI single into right field for the team’s first run of the series After an RBI groundout from Barrett Bramlett Brayden Allen singled into right field to tie the game at 3-3 The two teams stayed neck-and-neck at 3-3 for the remainder of regulation which meant the fans at Burks Field were going to be treated to extra innings Brantley scored both on a two-run double to left-center Henry Adams scored Brantley on an RBI single Richardson managed to get the strike out to escape the inning but the Redskins were in need of a big rally if they wanted to win the series opener With starter Jackson Berry still on the mound for Vidalia in the bottom of the eighth he pitched a one-two-three frame to give the Indians the win in game one The Redskins out-hit Vidalia in the contest but were unable to capitalize with runners on base Richardson pitched the full eight innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits The senior struck out seven in what was the final pitching outing of his Redskins’ career Ian Miller came through with a three-hit performance in the loss Allen and Langley finished with two hits apiece In what was a do-or-die game for Social Circle Vidalia’s Veer Patel pitched a gem to close out the series Patel no-hit the Redskins through seven innings as he struck out 10 batters Gehrig Knapp started the game for Social Circle and only allowed two earned runs through five innings of work The senior allowed four walks but also struck out four batters The only runs of the game came early on for the Indians Berry singled to score Gabe Cleghon to make it a 2-0 lead Social Circle managed to get a pair of walks off Patel in the second and seventh innings but Redskins were unable to bring either run home Despite losing multiple key seniors from a year ago the Redskins still managed to produce a 30-win season in 2025 to accompany a Region 4A-Division I title Sophomore Ian Miller posted a .480 average on the year as he proved to be a welcomed addition to the Social Circle lineup as an everyday player Allen and Luke Cross followed with averages of .440 and .420 the Redskins will now enter the offseason as they will see the departure of seniors such as Cross Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of James Allen Covington who lovingly went by Jimmy and "Jimbo" relishing in the joys of hunting and fishing he could often be found enjoying melodies and sharing his love for the music he held an unwavering allegiance to UGA Football and his love for NASCAR and motorcycles was deeply ingrained in his identity Jimmy lived his life with enthusiasm and an adventurous spirit who was the life of the party His outgoing personality and jovial outlook on life left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who had the pleasure of knowing him Taylor Raines and Laura (Joseph) Robinson; grandchildren Launa Raines and Scarlett Raines; his mother The family will receive friends and loved ones at Clark Funeral Home on Monday A Private Graveside service will be held at Paulding Memorial Gardens with Doctor John Mark Covington Jr. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Must Ministries in Jimmy's memory Clark Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the services for Mr Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors BlairTech will reuse much of what is dropped off under new partnership – A special e-waste drop-off event April 5 at computer refurbisher BlairTech in Latonia will kick off a vibrant partnership that will give residents a year-round recycling opportunity at BlairTech’s Tech Castle retail location at 4314 Boron Drive – is in addition to the City’s annual e-waste drop-off event in June at Holmes High School’s parking lot The new event will be held in partnership with the City of Covington and Keep Covington Beautiful a program of The Center for Great Neighborhoods But it differs from the June event in significant ways: the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling manager said Covington was excited to have BlairTech as a partner given its ironclad commitment to sustainability “This partnership offers local and convenient accessibility for proper disposal of electronic waste for our community at no charge not only on April 5th but anytime during the year,” Fields said “Tech Castle and BlairTech are proud of their circular economy leadership that focuses on creating jobs and keeping material out of the landfill.” BlairTech will also be collecting gently used books to be featured in a “Little Free Library” on site and other Little Libraries around Covington in conjunction with the City’s Read Ready Covington early childhood literacy program 1937 to the late Bertha and Henry Teague and grew up there she moved to Wilson and raised her family there She was very active in the life of First United Methodist Church and served many roles including working in the library and working with the flowers Her favorite services were White Gift and Scout Sunday She was proud of her sons and grandsons for all attaining the rank of Eagle Scout She loved gardening and working in her yard and enjoyed playing bridge John Anderson Covington III (Lynda) of Raleigh and Thomas Gwynn Covington (Susan) of Wilmington; grandchildren In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church (252) 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. COVINGTON, Ky. — A Covington restaurant has announced it will be closing its doors this week. Zapata Cantina made the announcement on social media over the weekend. The restaurant's owner said in the post, "Is there really a 'good time' or a 'right time' to announce these decisions?" The owner went on to mention how it was a difficult decision to close the restaurant. The post thanked all the staff, including former and current staff and guests, who supported the restaurant even in tough times, such as the pandemic, several city bridges closing and labor shortages. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zapata Cantina (@zapata.cov) The restaurant offers a variety of Mexican-inspired foods Zapata Cantina has a walk-up window and a cocktail bar for brunch Zapata Cantina's last day will be Wednesday Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Covington has spent the last two years serving as Operations/Recruiting Assistant for the Bobcats earning two bowl rings as Ohio won the DXL Frisco Bowl and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl who had served in the Assistant AD for Football Operations role for the past six seasons Covington will monitor the program's budget facilitate the Ohio Football Alumni Golf Outing and direct the high school & youth camps Covington is a 2011 graduate of Wingate University in North Carolina where he was a member of the football team playing on the defensive line and special teams for the Bulldogs Covington served as the defensive coordinator assistant/recruiting assistant at Jireh Prep School in Matthews where he worked as the assistant defensive backs coach and handled recruiting and operations responsibilities before being promoted to director of football operations Covington's experience also includes working as a scouting combine assistant for the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers and serving as the head coach at East Union Middle School in Marshville Thanks for visiting Photo 1: This detail from a conceptual rendering from KZF Design and Hub+Weber Architects suggests how the public art installation (yet to be created) could fit into the space at Third and Russell streets Photo 2: Some of the “artifacts” saved from the IRS Flattop complex CGN kick off competition for privately funded sculpture engaging public art – especially when it’s commissioned for a specific space – gives communities identity and pride defies “blandness,” inspires creativity it’s what separates interesting cities from “Generica.” the City of Covington is taking the first bold step toward installing a landmark piece of art at a prominent location in the developing Covington Central Riverfront neighborhood But the City doesn’t want just any sculpture So it’s partnering with the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center Foundation to hold a national design competition A formal request for proposals (RFP) – or more informally, an “Open Call to All Artists” – has been issued by The Carnegie and CGN and can be seen at Public Art Competition we have acted strategically and thoughtfully to create a 23-acre neighborhood at CCR that we hope will one day take its place among Covington’s renowned historic districts,” Economic Development Director Tom West said “Public art will be a critical component of establishing the environment the people of Covington want and we are engaging with the creative experts who can make that happen.” Foundation will cover the costs of holding the competition organizers plan to select three to five finalists who will receive a stipend to create more detailed drawings or other material to make the case for their proposal a “winner” will be selected by Aug lighting can be incorporated into the design “Public Art is an exciting way to signal the intentions of a bold project like CCR,” said Matt Distel “The Carnegie itself has proudly stood for many generations in Covington and we intend for this project to serve future generations of this community.”  and a block south of the Ohio River floodwall one-story IRS paper processing facility that was Covington’s largest employer until being shuttered in 2019 created a conceptual design for a mixture of uses – including housing and an expanded convention center – subdivided the site and begin signing agreements with developers for various parcels and is finishing up phase one of installing utilities and public infrastructure At one time a fenced-off “island,” the site will be reintegrated into surrounding neighborhoods and business districts via a restored street grid complete with sidewalks The successful proposal for the public art installation – which will live near the corner of the extended Third and Russell streets – will do one or more of these things: In the grant proposal to the Haile Foundation The Center for Great Neighborhoods said the initiative “aligns with Covington’s redevelopment goals through its ability to transform underutilized spaces into more attractive and inviting meeting sites create civic engagement by sparking discussions and has the ability to promote cultural expression.” said the selection committee planned to incorporate community feedback into the selection to help foster or reflect community identify “It’s important to us that the selected project be something that resonates with the broader Covington community so that there’s a sense of ownership and connection to the piece and to the CCR neighborhood in general,” Ratterman said we’ll offer opportunities for the public to view the finalists’ submissions and offer feedback about which one they would like to see selected as the winner.” The selection committee will consist of representatives from The Carnegie as well as regional arts professionals and local community and business leaders Questions about the RFP should be directed to publicart@thecarnegie.com. More about the 23-acre site, including its history and the City’s work to date, can be found at Covington Central Riverfront Volunteers still needed to help with beautification in The Cov – If you enjoy the outdoors and take pride in your community then you’re the very person to help volunteer in The Cov for Saturday’s Great American Cleanup event Covington’s largest annual volunteer day of service This year, Keep Covington Beautiful (KCB), a program of The Center for Great Neighborhoods, partners with the City of Covington’s Solid Waste & Recycling and Urban Forestry Divisions to organize the local version of the Great American Cleanup inspiring hundreds of volunteers across 15 locations in Covington Depending upon the location – which can be a median park or wooded area – the job might include picking up trash and yard debris This year’s event takes place from 9 a.m Mayor Ron Washington will officially declare “Great American Cleanup Day,” in The Cov The City has long supported efforts to improve the quality of life for all who live work and play in Covington through litter prevention  "We’re grateful to see the community come together in support of keeping Covington beautiful The Great American Cleanup is one of our largest events each year both in terms of volunteer turnout and cleanup sites I’m continually amazed by what we’re able to accomplish together through this event." Jameela Saalah Director of Program Impact with the Center for Great Neighborhoods Locations registered for the event include: Holmes High School and Wallace Woods will hold their own cleanups although neither site is accepting outside volunteers Here’s the Covington Great American Cleanup webpage They are currently not excepting anymore sites, however, volunteers or volunteer groups can register here to be assigned to one of the cleanup sites Thanks to the City’s ongoing support and Rumpke Waste and Recycling’s sponsorship and participation in the cleanup The City has long supported efforts and initiatives to spread awareness and bring the community together to work toward the city’s beautification which includes sustaining its pollinator gardens in Covington Parks In 2017 Covington’s mayor signed a proclamation to participate in the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge local governments took action to help save the monarch butterfly the City committed to restoring its habitat and encouraging residents to do the same through education as to how they can make a difference Covington Parks and Recreation will host several Monarch Pledge events that educate and inform about the monarch butterfly as well as an opportunity to refresh the city’s pollinator gardens The creatures assist a vital life stage for all flowering plants which are essential for healthy ecosystems An ongoing way to enjoy pollinators and the work they do is to plant and maintain pollinator-friendly gardens Covington has 8  pollinator garden locations: Goebel Park Covington’s pollinator gardens need volunteers throughout the year to help support regular maintenance like weed removal and mulching. Contact Covington Parks and Recreation, Haley Snook at  Haley.snook@covingtonky.gov to sign up to help sustain a pollinator in your neighborhood William “Bill” Victor Covington He was preceded in death by his parents William and Ila Covington He graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning a degree in Economics His work career spanned many years including two employments He enjoyed 13 years workingat Cannon Mills followed with 30 years employment at UNCC retiring on August 1 Bill was well liked and became a lifetime friend to those he met and spent time with.He had a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh at 2 pm at United Wesleyan Church at 2601 Rocky River Road NC 28213 followed by a fellowship time to share stories about Bill Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.KepnerFH.com and maybe a tad longer than he felt he deserved to Christopher Columbus Covington and Eunice Freeman on August 4 He attended South Fremont High School there He married Mary Cecilia O'Reilly in 1971 They were together for 16 years and had three children in 1987 and he spent the last 37 years of his life with her Valeta's application for sainthood is currently under review avid ski-patroller and all-around adrenaline junkie Legend has it that John saved a number of individuals from certain death in the latter part of the 20th century thanks to breaking up knife fights while bouncing at biker bars like the 13th Street Tavern and Satan's Playpen He also did his fair share of hard work and life-saving during his service in the Army National Guard where he honorably served his country in the Vietnam War and working as a paramedic during Desert Storm He was also known for his diverse work experiences His resume includes artificially inseminating turkeys John never met a stranger he couldn't swap life stories with a B horror movie he didn't want to watch or an adrenaline-fueled hobby he wasn't interested in trying He hoped against all hope that Bigfoot was real and couldn't resist a good fart joke (hopefully While some of these things may have contributed to his recent passing they also made him one of the most relatable welcoming and interesting people you could meet.  John is more loved and will be more missed than he ever could have imagined Jacques Miranda and Leigh (Rob) Cascioli; and his many grandchildren great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren He is being greeted on the other side with love and affection by his son Brent Covington; his parents; and siblings Ted Spradling The attorney for the woman charged in Covington Drive wildfire has requested a jury trial Alexandra Anna Bialousow was arrested by the South Carolina Forestry Commission on charges for both allowing a fire to spread to lands of another and regulation of fires on certain lands She was expected to be in court on Tuesday morning SEE MORE: More patchy to dense smoke forecast around Covington Drive Fire Bialousow started a fire in her backyard in a fire pit on March 1 during Horry County's burn ban the grass around the Volpenhein Shelter in Devou Park will be strewn with thousands of plastic Easter eggs filled with goodies and they won’t be too difficult for Covington kiddos to find because the real fun about an Easter Egg Hunt is filling their baskets with lots of eggs Covington Parks & Recreation’s annual Easter Egg Hunt takes place Saturday games (like an egg toss and an egg spoon race) Be sure to bring your own basket to collect plenty of eggs “I enjoy this event because it brings people from all over Covington together to celebrate Spring,” said Covington Recreational Program Coordinator Alicia Chappell “I love seeing the joy that this event brings when a child pets a bunny for the first time at the petting zoo or the excitement on everyone’s faces when it is finally time for the big egg hunt.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Covington (Ky.) Catholic has long been a football powerhouse in the Bluegrass State The Northern Kentucky high school near Cincinnati has seen the University of Kentucky football staff on campus frequently in recent years to recruit some tight end prospects Covington (Ky.) Catholic tight end/linebacker Owen Pitzer received a scholarship offer from Vince Marrow on Thursday Blessed to receive my first offer from the University of Kentucky @vincemarrow @UKFootball @CovCathFootball @CovCathFBAlumni pic.twitter.com/9dqjhF9S8J Owen Pitzer looks like another Covington Catholic tight end headed towards power conference football. As a sophomore, Pitzer recorded 57 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four receptions for 45 yards, and rushed for 65 yards. The young player scored six total touchdowns and should be a top player for the Colonels in 2025. Top 101Shane BeamerPuts NCAA on blast Hot3Nebraska is backPat McAfee declares at WWE By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms and use of my personal information described therein The 2026 high school class will come into focus over the next couple of months as Kentucky hosts prospects for official visits and looks to add some commitments to the class. Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman offensive tackle Jarvis Strickland is currently the only commit in the class important relationship-building in the 2027 class is being done now UK could be set to host Pitzer on an official visit KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+ Now is the perfect time to join our online community our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe JOIN HERE Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board. "It's not personal, it's personnel." Applying Freddie Maggard's favorite turn of phrase to the 2025 Kentucky football team means you're going to see... Hello, friends. I don't know about you, but I'm still hurting. No hair of the dog can cure my post-Kentucky Derby Depression. Two weeks of excitement... Kentucky's frontcourt in 2025-26 is loaded with talent and positional versatility. Could it be the best group of forwards in the entire country?... Lamont Butler will showcase his skills in front of NBA scouts later this week. Butler was listed as one of 45 prospects who received invitations to... Kentucky took a tremendous leap under Kenny Brooks last season, and obviously, that's because of the talent he brought in. Georgia Amoore and Dazia... Now that the offseason is officially upon us, we're rolling out some new content on the KSR YouTube Channel. What better way to wrap up Monday than... Just like Otega Oweh, Kentucky guard Jaland Lowe continues to go through the NBA Draft process. But in the middle of his preparation, Lowe made... A Lexington native is coming back to the Bluegrass State. On Monday, 7-foot-1 Miami (OH) transfer center Reece Potter committed to the Kentucky... On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Alexandria Bialousow of Myrtle Beach did not appear in court today as expected.  Public records show that her hearing was rescheduled pending a request from her attorney for a jury trial Bialousow was arrested by the South Carolina Forestry Commission and accused of not taking the proper precautions while burning and allowing the fire to spread This led to the Covington Drive fire that happened back in March.  There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting Honorees include Jane Horvath of Gibson Dunn Jennifer Everett of Alston & Bird and Alex Berengaut of Covington We are honored to introduce The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers and the deals and lawsuits that revolve around all things Cyber Jane Horvath of Gibson Dunn has emerged as one of the gurus of the practice – no surprise given her roles in-house at Google and Apple as the Department of Justice’s first Chief Privacy Counsel and Civil Liberties Officer her early stint as Assistant General Counsel at AOL where she helped draft the company’s first privacy policies Jennifer Everett of Alston & Bird brings remarkable breadth to her practice advising on regulatory compliance enforcement and transactions in data privacy She exemplifies the range of regulations companies must navigate and parse federal and international privacy laws concerning data protection Covington’s Alexander Berengaut brings that panoply of knowledge to court of late he’s been out front for TikTok defending challenges to its ability to operate in the U.S That’s just one exercise of government power he’s helped clients including Microsoft and Xiaomi Corporation face in these complex he’s led Covington teams defending tech companies against state privacy and other litigation Those are just three of the remarkable lawyers featured here but their stories offer a prism of the practice that provides the framework to most of our daily lives They advise the leaders of companies and interface with government officials but the products are enmeshed in the daily lives of billions of people It’s an A through Z of issues that underscore our lives And these are the lawyers who protect the companies and consumers just trying to move ahead They inspire and defy the type of constructs the law typically provides finding the legal routes to create and build while still protecting some core of humanity To create this guide we weighed nominations, independent research and views of peers. Those noted by an asterisk are esteemed members of our Hall of Fame.  We want to hear from you! Find the right contact here Information displayed on Lawdragon is for general informational purposes only the information is not legal advice and is not an endorsement or recommendation of any law firm Lawdragon does not represent or warrant that the listings or other information found on Lawdragon will be correct Do not act upon information found on Lawdragon as a replacement for legal advice provided by a professional attorney in good standing and licensed to practice in your jurisdiction