Cincinnati’s 10 biggest stories of 2016

It was a busy year in Cincinnati.
As 2016 winds down, WLWT is taking stock of some of the biggest stories of the year.
From a mass murder that remains unsolved, to a big weekend for baseball’s Hit King, here is a short look back at some of this year’s big stories.
Watch a year in review: Part 1 // Part 2
Pike County family massacre
It’s one of the largest investigations in Ohio history.
Seven adults and a 16-year-old boy from the Rhoden family were found dead April 22 at four properties near Piketon. A newborn, another baby and a young child weren’t harmed. A coroner determined all but one of the victims had been shot repeatedly, and some had bruising.
Eight months later, the case remains unsolved an no arrests have been made. Read the latest on the investigation here.
Cincinnati gets a new streetcar
The Cincinnati Bell Connector rolled into town in 2016.
The streetcar operates on a 3.6-mile loop, stretching from north of Findlay Market down to The Banks along the Ohio River.
The project faced fierce opposition following its proposal in 2007, but has proved to be popular in the first few months after its September launch.
However, since its launch, many have voiced frustrations regarding the Connector’s reliability. Accidents and mechanical issues have been reported in recent months. Read the latest on the streetcar’s issues here.
Harambe shot dead by zoo officials
In May, a 17-year-old western Lowland gorilla was shot dead at the Cincinnati Zoo.
A 3-year-old child fell into the zoo’s gorilla enclosure on May 28, prompting zoo officials to kill Harambe for the child’s safety.
The Hamilton County prosecutor ruled that there was no cause for charges, and the zoo reopened its gorilla exhibit with a reinforced barrier.
The gorilla’s death sparked worldwide outrage, with many people criticizing Zoo Director Thane Maynard and the child’s mother.
And the gorilla’s legacy lives on long after his death. Harambe is now an internet phenomenon.
Tongue-in-cheek petitions have sprung up across the country, including renaming the Bengals the Cincinnati Harambes, and adding the gorilla’s face to Mount Rushmore or the Lincoln Memorial.
He has grown the angel wings and halo of a deity in social media memorials. Read the latest in the Harambe legacy.

Pete Rose enshrined in Cincinnati
During a less-than-stellar season for the Cincinnati Reds, an unlikely hero gave Cincinnati something to cheer about.
Baseball’s Hit King is still barred from Cooperstown, but Pete Rose was enshrined in the Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame during a massive celebration in June.
Cincinnati celebrated with three days of Big Red Machine nostalgia.
The 1976 World Series team reunited at Great American Ball Park on Friday, kicking off a massive weekend celebration at the ballpark. He was officially inducted into the Reds’ HOF Saturday during a large on-field ceremony.
On Saturday, Rose’s No. 14 was formally retired , joining nine other Reds’ numbers displayed behind home plate at Great American Ball Park.
A statue of the Reds Hall of Famer will be unveiled and dedicated outside the ballpark on June 17. The statue will be the fourth at the ballpark honoring the Big Red Machine – a team that dominated the National League throughout the ’70s. Read the latest on the plans.

Narcan combats heroin, fentanyl overdoses
The heroin epidemic hit the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area hard in 2016.
The battle to overcome the heroin crisis continues into a new year with a mix of sad reality and stories of success. There has been no stop to the surge in heroin and fentanyl overdoses in Ohio in 2016.
In September in particular, the Cincinnati area was hit hard. In just two days, around 60 overdoses were reported across the city.
Similar spikes were reported across Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana, likely due to a potent batch, officials said.
The overdose issues gave rise to the popularity of the heroin-reversal drug naloxone — often sold under the brand name Narcan.
The drug can reverse the breath-suppression effects of opioids such as heroin, reviving overdose victims who might otherwise die.
By the end of 2016, it became commonplace for Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky businesses to carry the drug.
It’s currently being sold at southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky Kroger stores without a prescription. Read the latest on the heroin battle.

Ray Tensing case
The trial of former University of Cincinnati police Officer Ray Tensing dominated Cincinnati headlines in 2016.
Tensing shot and killed Sam DuBose during a traffic stop in July 2015. The officer was charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter in DuBose’s death.
His November 2016 trial ended with a hung jury and the Hamilton County prosecutor said a week later that he wants to retry the former officer.
The second trial has been scheduled for May 25 in Hamilton County.
Earlier this month, a gag order was issued in Tensing’s retrial. The order prohibits attorneys and parties involved in the case from discussing it with the media until a verdict is reached or the case is resolved.
Jurors expressed concern during the first trial that their identities would be revealed by media, and one alternate asked to be excused for the same reason. Read the latest on the retrial.

FC Cincinnati makes debut
Cincinnati got a kick out of soccer in 2016. FC Cincinnati saw unprecedented success in its inaugural season.
The team played at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, drawing record crowds. The team shattered United Soccer League attendance records in 2016, gaining recognition from Major League Soccer officials.
FCC finished the regular season with a 16-6-8 record, which was third in the Eastern Conference behind the New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City FC.
Earlier this month, University of Cincinnati officials said Nippert Stadium will undergo extensive renovations to accommodate Cincinnati’s booming soccer team.
The project, which is expected to be completed in March, will move the existing field wall back to increase the available space on the football sidelines, create a safety buffer in the south end zone corners and expand the soccer playing surface to FIFA regulation size. Read more on the renovations.

Kentucky’s Ark Encounter opens
A massive crowd flocked to Williamstown, Kentucky, for a spectacle of biblical proportions.
The controversial Ark Encounter opened in July. The 510-foot-long, $100 million Noah’s ark attraction was built by Christians who say the biblical story really happened.
Since its announcement in 2010, the ark project has rankled opponents who say the attraction will be detrimental to science education and shouldn’t have won state tax incentives.
Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, the ministry that built the ark, said the massive ark, based on the tale of a man who got an end-of-the-world warning from God about a massive flood, stands as proof that the stories of the Bible are true.
Ham’s group has estimated it will draw 2 million visitors in its first year, putting it on par with some of the big-ticket attractions in nearby Cincinnati. The latest on the attraction.
Norwood flooding
In August, heavy rains flooded several Cincinnati neighborhoods. The hardest hit was the city of Norwood.
Homes and businesses were destroyed, but Norwood’s strength and resilience shined as volunteers pitched in to help.
“We’re going to leave no Norwood residents behind and that’s our goal and that’s been our goal from the start. But now, truly by canvassing, going door to door that’s how we’re going to make it happen,” said #NorwoodStrong organizer James Bonsall.
The #NorwoodStrong movement began in the wake of the flooding, shining light in what was a dark time for many residents.
Numerous claims were submitted by residents who suffered property damage or personal injuries.
Earlier this month, The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners approved an additional $16 million to pay damage claims from August’s flooding. Read the latest updates from commissioners.

Madison High School shooting
In late February, a 14-year-old took a gun to Madison Jr/Sr High School.
Officials said James Austin Hancock opened fire in the school’s cafeteria. Two students were shot and two others were injured by shrapnel. All of the students survived.
Hancock pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder, and he will be locked up until he is 21 years old.
In addition, two teens who reportedly knew Hancock was bringing in the gun were charged for failing to report what they knew.
The students had to serve 30 days in jail unless they completed community service and a county intervention program.
In the wake of February’s shooting, the school made several safety enhancements. Read more on the safety enhancements here.

It was a busy year in Cincinnati.

As 2016 winds down, WLWT is taking stock of some of the biggest stories of the year.

From a mass murder that remains unsolved, to a big weekend for baseball’s Hit King, here is a short look back at some of this year’s big stories.

Watch a year in review: Part 1 // Part 2

Pike County family massacre

It’s one of the largest investigations in Ohio history.

Seven adults and a 16-year-old boy from the Rhoden family were found dead April 22 at four properties near Piketon. A newborn, another baby and a young child weren’t harmed.
A coroner determined all but one of the victims had been shot repeatedly, and some had bruising.

Eight months later, the case remains unsolved an no arrests have been made. Read the latest on the investigation here.

Cincinnati gets a new streetcar

The Cincinnati Bell Connector rolled into town in 2016.

The streetcar operates on a 3.6-mile loop, stretching from north of Findlay Market down to The Banks along the Ohio River.

The project faced fierce opposition following its proposal in 2007, but has proved to be popular in the first few months after its September launch.

However, since its launch, many have voiced frustrations regarding the Connector’s reliability. Accidents and mechanical issues have been reported in recent months. Read the latest on the streetcar’s issues here.

Harambe shot dead by zoo officials

In May, a 17-year-old western Lowland gorilla was shot dead at the Cincinnati Zoo.

A 3-year-old child fell into the zoo’s gorilla enclosure on May 28, prompting zoo officials to kill Harambe for the child’s safety.

The Hamilton County prosecutor ruled that there was no cause for charges, and the zoo reopened its gorilla exhibit with a reinforced barrier.

The gorilla’s death sparked worldwide outrage, with many people criticizing Zoo Director Thane Maynard and the child’s mother.

And the gorilla’s legacy lives on long after his death. Harambe is now an internet phenomenon.

Tongue-in-cheek petitions have sprung up across the country, including renaming the Bengals the Cincinnati Harambes, and adding the gorilla’s face to Mount Rushmore or the Lincoln Memorial.

He has grown the angel wings and halo of a deity in social media memorials. Read the latest in the Harambe legacy.

Pete Rose enshrined in Cincinnati

During a less-than-stellar season for the Cincinnati Reds, an unlikely hero gave Cincinnati something to cheer about.

Baseball’s Hit King is still barred from Cooperstown, but Pete Rose was enshrined in the Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame during a massive celebration in June.

Cincinnati celebrated with three days of Big Red Machine nostalgia.

The 1976 World Series team reunited at Great American Ball Park on Friday, kicking off a massive weekend celebration at the ballpark. He was officially inducted into the Reds’ HOF Saturday during a large on-field ceremony.

On Saturday, Rose’s No. 14 was formally retired , joining nine other Reds’ numbers displayed behind home plate at Great American Ball Park.

A statue of the Reds Hall of Famer will be unveiled and dedicated outside the ballpark on June 17. The statue will be the fourth at the ballpark honoring the Big Red Machine – a team that dominated the National League throughout the ’70s. Read the latest on the plans.

Narcan combats heroin, fentanyl overdoses

The heroin epidemic hit the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area hard in 2016.

The battle to overcome the heroin crisis continues into a new year with a mix of sad reality and stories of success. There has been no stop to the surge in heroin and fentanyl overdoses in Ohio in 2016.

In September in particular, the Cincinnati area was hit hard. In just two days, around 60 overdoses were reported across the city.

Similar spikes were reported across Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana, likely due to a potent batch, officials said.

The overdose issues gave rise to the popularity of the heroin-reversal drug naloxone — often sold under the brand name Narcan.

The drug can reverse the breath-suppression effects of opioids such as heroin, reviving overdose victims who might otherwise die.

By the end of 2016, it became commonplace for Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky businesses to carry the drug.

It’s currently being sold at southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky Kroger stores without a prescription. Read the latest on the heroin battle.

Ray Tensing case

The trial of former University of Cincinnati police Officer Ray Tensing dominated Cincinnati headlines in 2016.

Tensing shot and killed Sam DuBose during a traffic stop in July 2015. The officer was charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter in DuBose’s death.

His November 2016 trial ended with a hung jury and the Hamilton County prosecutor said a week later that he wants to retry the former officer.

The second trial has been scheduled for May 25 in Hamilton County.

Earlier this month, a gag order was issued in Tensing’s retrial. The order prohibits attorneys and parties involved in the case from discussing it with the media until a verdict is reached or the case is resolved.

Jurors expressed concern during the first trial that their identities would be revealed by media, and one alternate asked to be excused for the same reason. Read the latest on the retrial.

FC Cincinnati makes debut

Cincinnati got a kick out of soccer in 2016. FC Cincinnati saw unprecedented success in its inaugural season.

The team played at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, drawing record crowds. The team shattered United Soccer League attendance records in 2016, gaining recognition from Major League Soccer officials.

FCC finished the regular season with a 16-6-8 record, which was third in the Eastern Conference behind the New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City FC.

Earlier this month, University of Cincinnati officials said Nippert Stadium will undergo extensive renovations to accommodate Cincinnati’s booming soccer team.

The project, which is expected to be completed in March, will move the existing field wall back to increase the available space on the football sidelines, create a safety buffer in the south end zone corners and expand the soccer playing surface to FIFA regulation size. Read more on the renovations.

Kentucky’s Ark Encounter opens

A massive crowd flocked to Williamstown, Kentucky, for a spectacle of biblical proportions.

The controversial Ark Encounter opened in July. The 510-foot-long, $100 million Noah’s ark attraction was built by Christians who say the biblical story really happened.

Since its announcement in 2010, the ark project has rankled opponents who say the attraction will be detrimental to science education and shouldn’t have won state tax incentives.

Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, the ministry that built the ark, said the massive ark, based on the tale of a man who got an end-of-the-world warning from God about a massive flood, stands as proof that the stories of the Bible are true.

Ham’s group has estimated it will draw 2 million visitors in its first year, putting it on par with some of the big-ticket attractions in nearby Cincinnati. The latest on the attraction.

Norwood flooding

In August, heavy rains flooded several Cincinnati neighborhoods. The hardest hit was the city of Norwood.

Homes and businesses were destroyed, but Norwood’s strength and resilience shined as volunteers pitched in to help.

“We’re going to leave no Norwood residents behind and that’s our goal and that’s been our goal from the start. But now, truly by canvassing, going door to door that’s how we’re going to make it happen,” said #NorwoodStrong organizer James Bonsall.

The #NorwoodStrong movement began in the wake of the flooding, shining light in what was a dark time for many residents.

Numerous claims were submitted by residents who suffered property damage or personal injuries.

Earlier this month, The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners approved an additional $16 million to pay damage claims from August’s flooding. Read the latest updates from commissioners.

Madison High School shooting

In late February, a 14-year-old took a gun to Madison Jr/Sr High School.

Officials said James Austin Hancock opened fire in the school’s cafeteria. Two students were shot and two others were injured by shrapnel. All of the students survived.

Hancock pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder, and he will be locked up until he is 21 years old.

In addition, two teens who reportedly knew Hancock was bringing in the gun were charged for failing to report what they knew.

The students had to serve 30 days in jail unless they completed community service and a county intervention program.

In the wake of February’s shooting, the school made several safety enhancements. Read more on the safety enhancements here.

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