🌱 Area Hospitals At 102% + Cincinnati Art Museum Shuts Down

Happy Monday, people of Cincinnati! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

Sunny, but chilly. High: 35 Low: 21.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Cincinnati:

1. Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases attributed to the omicron variant, intensive care units in the greater Cincinnati area are at 102 percent capacity. Staffing shortages continue to bedevil area healthcare systems: more than 6,800 jobs are available at Cincinnati Children's, with another 2,200 at TriHealth and nearly 2,000 more at UC Health. Those shortages are why Governor Mike DeWine has deployed the Ohio National Guard to hospitals in the northern part of the state. (WXIX)
2. The reopening date of the John A. Roebling Bridge between Covington, KY, and Cincinnati has been pushed back to Jan. 24. The suspension bridge over the Ohio River has been closed since Feb. 15 and was originally scheduled to reopen in November. However, engineers determined that additional repairs were needed, including replacing the expansion joints on the northern approach. (WLKY Louisville)
3. The Cincinnati Art Museum is pausing operations starting today through Jan. 13. A news release stated that the museum wants employees to focus on healing and community service; reportedly, COVID-19 is only an indirect factor in the closing. Visitors can still see the museum's public installations, such as the Art Climb, as well as view its online collections during the closure. (WKRC TV Cincinnati)

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Today in Cincinnati:

• Board Organizational Meeting At Cincinnati City (6:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Fiona, the hippopotamus who was born six weeks premature at the Cincinnati Zoo, is celebrating her fifth birthday this year! For a $5 birthday gift, you can take part in her virtual celebration, featuring celebrities, cake, toys, and (of course) Fiona. (Instagram)
• Want to bring some furry friends into your home? Animal House Cincinnati announced the arrival of new Corgi/Yorkie mix puppies, now ready to join loving homes. (Facebook)
• Sports fans, rejoice: the Cincinnati Bengals had their first game of 2022 on Sunday. (Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.