CINCINNATI - Nothing provokes a football fan like a good "gay" taunt. When Steelers' fans yelled "gay," "homo," and "faggoty fag fag fag" at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday, Bengals' fans fought back.

"There is no 'gay' or 'not gay'," Guy Oglesme said. "Sexuality is a spectrum. Most people are somewhere in the middle."

A group of fans gathered Monday for a fashion show to protest the remarks. Bam Holl of West Chester sported a "Who Gay!" towel.

Councilman John Cranley was arrested yesterday for aggressive panhandling.  “He obviously took his ‘fighting for change’ campaign slogan a little too far,” said Sgt. William Gunther.  “It’s things like this that scares people away from downtown.”

“The problem is that people keep on giving them money,” says young republican Steve Fritsch.  “The more people do this, the more it encourages them to continue begging instead of working in the private sector.”

With over $139,800 in campaign contributions raised, there really doesn’t appear to be any reason to stop.

When asked for comment Cranley said “’scuse me.  Do you have 59 cent?”

According to a recent Enquirer article, an increasing number of local high school seniors plan to take a year's break after graduation, also known as a "gap year."

But while the Enquirer's report consisted of interviewing 3 ambitious students, each planning to spend their gap year either enriching their cultural background or providing community service, most Tri-State students have very different plans for gap year.

CINCINNATI - Mayoral candidate David Pepper has some explaining to do. This week, Rodney Ronkoff, an outspoken David Pepper supporter, admitted that he experimented with LSD in college. David Pepper has said that he's never done illegal drugs, but why is one of his biggest supporters a former acid-head?

WINTON PLACE - Mayoral candidates David Pepper and Mark Mallory duked it out in one of the few televised debates of the mayoral campaign last night at the Este Conference Center. By the end of the night, the victor was clear: Sandra Ali.

An informal poll conducted at the end asked the audience who they would be most likely to vote for today.

1. 44% for Sandra Ali
2. 29% for Mark Mallory
3. 25% for David Pepper
4. 2% for John London

Audience member Tony Stuart said, "Frankly, I couldn't tell you a single word either candidate said. But I'd like to see the delightful moderator run for office."

Paneling the debate was (again) Tiana Rollinson of the Cincinnati Herald, John London of WLWT Channel 5, and Maryanne Zeleznik of 91.7 FM WVXU radio.

Rollinson managed to avoid the type of mind-numbing questions that she asked at a previous debate.

London, when informed that he got a few votes for mayor in the poll, scratched his chin and said, "Hmmm, mayor London... I like the sound of that."

Dave Wagner, also of WLWT, was fielding audience questions. When informed that he received no votes for mayor, he stormed out of the conference center mumbling something about how "freakin London will get his someday."

CRESTVIEW HILLS - Another fake urban shopping center will open soon in Northern Kentucky. The Crestview Hills Town Center is the latest in so-called "lifestyle centers" to open in the area.

Developer VP Mark Fallon lauded the image of old downtown without the safety concerns or parking issues, allowing customers to "zip in and out."

"If it's one thing Americans need more of, it's the ability to get in somewhere, spend money, and get out as fast as possible. What kind of idiot would want to go to a real downtown, pay $1 to park underground and still have to walk a few blocks? That's craziness."

So while real downtowns decay and crumble, obnoxiously named eateries like The Pub thrive in giant model kit villages.

For me to get to the Dealer offices in downtown Cincinnati I have to pass over the beautiful and majestic Roebling Bridge.  This distinct icon of the Cincinnati skyline was a precursor for it’s much beloved and more famous sibling, the Brooklyn Bridge.

Every morning I revel in the beautiful view and my breath is taken completely away, only not by the view.  I gasp and hold my breath as long as possible because of the numerous piles of shit that are sporadically dropped along the walkway.

The House of Crack, the area's first haunted crack house, returns for its fourth season this week. Billed as a "fright or flight" experience for children between the ages of 5-12, HOC weaves realistic crack themes into each of the seven rooms within a decrepit inner-city setting.

Entering HOC, you are greeted by a muscular dealer holding a semi-automatic weapon. He motions you cheerfully upstairs. The crisp, chemical smell of free-basing fills the air. Crack 'hos wander throughout the house like zombies. Walking up the stairs to your left, a once-normal man grabs at your ankles and offers to suck your dick for $5. You could be anywhere in Cracktown, USA.

Northern Kentucky has been kicked around, ignored and under appreciated for far too long.  That is why Dennis Hetzel, Kentucky General Manager for the Enquirer is proud to introduce NKY.com. 

“And that’s pronounced Nookie Dot Com,” says Hetzel.  “Northern Kentukians, or as I like to call them Nookies, have been complaining that they feel marginalized in the news and media.  They have watched jealously as the West side received national attention for finding a legal way to say cornhole on broadcast television while not be fined by the FCC.  Well I say today is now their day!  I am proud to be a Nookie!”

Nookie Dot Com is set to focus local news from the three Kentucky counties of Boone, Campbell and Kenton.  This area has a rich history of prostitution, drugs, gambling and mafia that they can really tap into.  Jerry Springer can vouch for that!