Cincinnati railroad sale and a Joey Votto update: Today's top stories | Daily Briefing

Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·2 min read
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A Norfolk Southern train passes through the Queensgate neighborhood of Cincinnati on Monday, April 3, 2023.
A Norfolk Southern train passes through the Queensgate neighborhood of Cincinnati on Monday, April 3, 2023.
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Hello! I'm Sherry Coolidge, and I'm the Cincinnati city government reporter for The Enquirer.

When I started covering Cincinnati City Hall in 2014, a lot of readers knew me from my coverage of courts, police and Hamilton County. Since then, I have chronicled the city’s budget, changing neighborhoods and a spate of corruption.

Much of my recent coverage has focused on the proposal to sell the city-owned Cincinnati Southern Railway for $1.6 billion – a deal that would affect the city’s budget forever. Much of the deal was cut in secret, but records being released now are shedding light on how it came together.

Among the things we learned: There was a dinner at a downtown steakhouse where the deal was discussed. Officials were also forced to tweak a planned payment to Cincinnati to comply with the city's charter.

To learn more about this and how Cincinnati taxpayers lost out on $500,000 in the sale, click here.

Voters still have to approve the sale, so please keep reading the many stories yet to come.

What else you need to know today

⛅ Weather: High of 50. Windy and chilly with periods of clouds and sunshine.

⚾ Joey Votto: On pause from rehab assignment: 'My swing is not there yet'

☎️ 988: Ohio's suicide hotline is seeing a spike in calls. How is the state handling it?

📚 Calling all bookworms: Check out the most interesting Cincinnati history books found in The Enquirer archives.

📜 Today in history: The Reds’ Palace of the Fans opened on April 17, 1902.

— Unlock At the Table with Keith Pandolfi and Charlie's Chalkboard newsletters with a Cincinnati.com subscription —

Today's top headlines:

Reds starting pitcher Luis Cessa, left, talks with catcher Luke Maile after walking a batter during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
Reds starting pitcher Luis Cessa, left, talks with catcher Luke Maile after walking a batter during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

⋅ Disastrous first inning hands Luis Cessa, Cincinnati Reds a blowout loss to Phillies

Baklava from LEYLA Mediterranean
Baklava from LEYLA Mediterranean

⋅ Knafeh, qatayef, baklava, more: Best desserts in Cincinnati for Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr

Usha Kaushik received care at the Christ Hospital's South Asian Comprehensive Cardiovascular Clinic. She detailed her story about dealing with heart issues and why south Asian community is at such high risk.
Usha Kaushik received care at the Christ Hospital's South Asian Comprehensive Cardiovascular Clinic. She detailed her story about dealing with heart issues and why south Asian community is at such high risk.

⋅ 'It has to be tailored to them:' Doctors spread awareness for South Asian heart risks

An Amazon Air jet is loaded at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Ky., on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
An Amazon Air jet is loaded at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Ky., on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.

⋅ CVG to open aircraft mechanic school as industry experiences candidate shortage

⋅ UC football loses Jaheim Thomas to transfer portal post-spring practice

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Railroad sale, Joey Votto comeback update | Daily Briefing