Ken Riley's in the Hall, and 6 Other Greater Cincinnati News Stories You May Have Missed This Week

Cincinnati Bengals Legend Ken Riley Finally Earns Pro Football Hall of Fame Acceptance
It only took three decades of lobbying, but the late Bengals cornerback Ken Riley finally got the big validation he both craved and deserved. Just three days before Super Bowl LVII, Riley was selected as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2023 induction class, to be forever enshrined in the Canton museum. Widely considered one of the sport's greatest cornerbacks, he'll be just the second Bengal to go into the hall. Read CityBeat's story about Riley's long road to the Hall of Fame and peep photos of Bengals players looking swanky at the NFL Honors ceremony.

Cincinnati City Council Passes New Gun Laws: 'Lock it Up or Get Locked Up'
In a unanimous vote, the council implemented two important pieces of legislation. The first ordinance is a safe storage law, which requires gun owners with children living in their home to lock up their weapons in a gun safe or storage box. The second ordinance places tighter restrictions for gun ownership on those who have been convicted of domestic violence or someone who is under a court order for harassment, stalking or threatening an intimate partner or child. Read CityBeat's story about the new laws and the court challenges they may face.

Bellevue City Council Outlaws Indoor Smoking (Yes, Including Bars)
Northern Kentucky is becoming progressively smoke-free with the passage of an indoor smoking ban in Bellevue. The city joins neighboring Dayton in banning smoking on Bellevue city property, at places of employment and in enclosed public spaces. Read CityBeat's story for what this means for bars and when the new law will go into effect.

Trans Ohioans are Still Being Denied Gender Marker Corrections to their Birth Certificates
In 2020, a federal district court ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny transgender people the ability to correct the gender markers on their birth certificates. Now, more than two years later, probate court judges in Ohio’s more rural and conservative counties are still denying the certificate corrections based on their individual interpretations of the ruling. Read CityBeat's story about how trans Ohioans are fighting for their right to correct their documents.

Abortion Fund of Ohio Launches Free Legal Access Program to Aid Patients and Health Care Providers
In Ohio, a minor can only get an abortion with parental permission or through a judicial bypass, a process where a judge grants permission. The Legal Access Program is Ohio’s first judicial bypass program, and it's accepting new intakes and inquiries from a wide variety of patients. Read CityBeat's story about how Abortion Fund of Ohio is providing free legal advice, case management and other services.

Surprise! Chris Rock Spends Birthday with Adam Sandler in Cincinnati, Sings About 69ing an Astronaut
When you're a comedy star and multi-millionaire, there's only one place to spend your birthday: Cincinnati. Comedian Chris Rock did just that when he surprised fans by joining fellow comic Adam Sandler at Heritage Bank Center. Along with fellow Saturday Night Live alum Rob Schneider, the trio traded quips, paid tribute to the late Chris Farley and sang about naughty, naughty people in space. Read CityBeat's story for clips and photos from the show.

Taste of Cincinnati and Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Announce 2023 Dates
Two of Downtown Cincinnati’s biggest festivals of the year are finally on the calendar. 2022 was the first time since 2019 that both Taste of Cincinnati and Oktoberfest were held in the same year, and that renewed tradition is continuing. Read CityBeat's story about when to hit the big food and beverage events.