Covington Italian restaurant voted among best new restaurants in the U.S., report says

RIGHT NOW ON WLWT. SPRINGTIME SHOWERS IN THE START OF JANUARY AS TEMPERATURES HEAD TOWARD THE 60S, I’M TRACKING THE TODAY, AND THE WARMER, WETTER END TO THE WEEK. AND THE MAN ACCUSED OF USING A HAMMER TO DAMAGE VICE PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE HOME IS HEADED TO COURT. THE STATE AND FEDERAL CHARGES HE NOW FACES, AND WHAT WE’VE UNCOVERED ABOUT HIS PAST ARRESTS, PLUS A ROOF COLLAPSE AT ONE LOCAL SCHOOL, IS PUSHING THE ENTIRE DISTRICT ONLINE. WHY COVINGTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ARE MAKING CHANGES TO THE SCHEDULE AND WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW AS CLASSES RESUME. THIS IS WLWT NEWS 5 TODAY, LEADING THE WAY. THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS RETURNING TO CLASS TODAY. MANY OF YOU ARE HEADED BACK TO WORK AFTER THE HOLIDAYS AS WELL. WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED ON WHAT TO EXPECT. WEATHER-WISE. GOOD MORNING TO YOU, MEGAN MITCHELL STEVEN ALBRITTON. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. METEOROLOGIST RANDI RICO TRACKING THE VERY STRESSED OF SPRINKLES, BUT WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL TEMPERATURES TO GO AHEAD. YEAH, THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF DRIZZLE OUT THERE AND THAT’S KIND OF IT. AND REALLY YOU SHOULDN’T COMPLAIN BECAUSE IT’S THE WARMER AIR THAT’S PUSHING IN THIS MORNING. SO WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT THE RADAR RIGHT NOW. AND THERE’S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT TO SHOW YOU. IN FACT, LAST SPRINKLES WERE ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO AGO. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE START OF THE LOOP RIGHT INTO SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA AND KIND OF FALLING APART, BUT THAT IS RIGHT ALONG WHERE THE WARMER AIR HAS MOVED IN. SO OUR TEMPERATURES BOTTOMED OUT MIDNIGHT 1 OR 2:00 IN THE MORNING. BUT THEY’VE BEEN HEADING UP EVER SINCE. SO IT’S 6 A.M. AND MOST OF GREATER CINCINNATI IS SITTING WELL AT OR ABOVE THE AVERAGE HIGH FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, WHICH IS 40. SO RIGHT NOW, MIDDLETOWN COMING IN AT THE TOP OF THE 6:00 HOUR AT 39, BUT EVERY OTHER SPOT IS WARMER THAN THAT. OKAY. PEEBLES IS AT 39 AS WELL. 48 RIGHT NOW IN CINCINNATI, TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING AND WE ARE HEADED UP INTO THE MID 50S. THIS AFTERNOON. A SPRINKLE TODAY, BUT AS IT GETS WARMER IT DOES GET WETTER. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR SOME MORE SIGNIFICANT RAIN COMING UP, BUT LET’S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY ISSUES EVEN ON OUR DRY ROADS THIS MORNING. WHAT’S GOING ON TRAFFIC WISE. YEAH. SO FAR SO GOOD OUT THERE FOR YOUR MORNING COMMUTE. WE KNOW THAT TRAFFIC TYPICALLY PICKING UP RIGHT NOW. JUST SAW ONE EMERGENCY VEHICLE JUST QUICKLY THERE 75 SHARON ROADSIDE IS HEADING NORTHBOUND. THESE ARE SOUTHBOUND LANES HERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SO MIGHT CHECK OUT SOME CAMERAS HERE SOON. BUT 75 EZZARD CHARLES MOVING ALONG PRETTY WELL. AND THEN 275 EAST OF LOVELAND MADEIRA 71 PHIFER. SOME CARS STARTING TO PICK UP THERE AND THEN 471 A LITTLE BIT MORE TRAFFIC OUT THERE THIS MORNING AS YOU’RE HEADING TOWARDS DOWNTOWN, BUT ALSO HEADING NORTHBOUND ON TWO OR TOWARDS 275. SO ALL GREEN ON THE MAP THIS MORNING IF WE TRACK ANY TROUBLE SPOTS, WE’LL MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE GO THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. MEGAN. ALL RIGHT. ADAM, THANK YOU. THIS MORNING, THE MAN ACCUSED OF SMASHING WINDOWS AT VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE HOME IN EAST WALNUT HILLS WILL MAKE HIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE. 26 YEAR OLD WILLIAM DUFOUR FACES BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL CHARGES. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S NICOLE APONTE LIVE FOR US AT THE HAMILTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER. NIKOLE A LOT HAS UNFOLDED SINCE YOU FIRST BROKE THIS STORY YESTERDAY MORNING. MEGAN, GOOD MORNING TO YOU. WE’VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WILLIAM DUFOUR IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, INCLUDING HIS HISTORY OF ENCOUNTERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. TODAY, HE IS SET TO FACE A JUDGE ON THOSE STATE CHARGES. THOSE INCLUDE VANDALISM, CRIMINAL DAMAGING AND TRESPASSING. PROSECUTORS SAY HE USED A HAMMER TO SMASH WINDOWS AT VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE HOME EARLY ON MONDAY MORNING, AND ALSO TRIED TO BREAK THE WINDOW OF A FEDERAL AGENTS CAR. OUR CAMERAS WERE ROLLING AS POLICE AND SECRET SERVICE AGENTS INVESTIGATED. THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS NOT HOME AT THE TIME TO, FOR NOW, ALSO FACES MORE SERIOUS FEDERAL CHARGES, INCLUDING DAMAGING GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AND ASSAULTING, RESISTING OR IMPEDING FEDERAL OFFICERS. PROSECUTORS SAY HE REFUSED COMMANDS TO DROP THE HAMMER AND ALSO TRIED TO RUN AWAY. THEY SAY HE CAUSED AROUND $28,000 IN DAMAGE IF CONVICTED, THOSE FEDERAL CHARGES COULD LAND HIM DECADES IN PRISON. A POTENTIAL MOTIVE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, BUT COURT RECORDS SHOW HE HAS FACED CHARGES BEFORE. BACK IN 2023, A TRESPASSING CASE AGAINST A FOUR WAS DROPPED AFTER HE WAS FOUND NOT COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, AND IN 2024, HE WAS ORDERED TO RECEIVE TREATMENT AFTER POLICE SAY HE VANDALIZED A BUSINESS IN HYDE PARK. THE ARRAIGNMENT ON THOSE CHARGES IS SET FOR 9:00 THIS MORNING. A COURT DATE HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED JUST YET FOR THOSE FEDERAL CHARGES. REPORTING LIVE THIS MORNING, NICOLE APONTE WLWT NEWS FIVE. NOW, QUESTIONS ARE ALSO GROWING THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW THE FOUR WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO THE VICE PRESIDENT’S PROPERTY RIGHT UP TO THE WINDOW THERE. WE SPOKE WITH EXPERTS WHO SAY SECURITY AT THAT HOME IS COMPLICATED BECAUSE VANCE’S HOME ONE ISN’T A GATED COMPOUND. IT’S ALSO ON A VERY BUSY STREET THAT HAS CONSTANT TRAFFIC. UNLESS IT’S HOME, UNLESS HE IS AT HOME WHEN THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, GUARDS AND GATES UP. AND THEN THEY SAY PROTECTION DEPENDS ON FACTORS INCLUDING SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, PHYSICAL SECURITY AND CLOSE COORDINATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. ALL OF THOSE CAME INTO PLAY DURING YESTERDAY MORNING’S ENCOUNTER. AND WHILE SITUATIONS LIKE THESE ARE RARE, EXPERTS SAY RISING POLITICAL TENSIONS ARE MAKING SECURITY HARDER. OUR INDUSTRY IS CHANGING RAPIDLY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WITH ALL THAT WE’RE SEEING IN THE WORLD TODAY, IT’S HAVING IT DOESN’T HAVE A CHOICE. IT HAS TO CHANGE RAPIDLY. THE SECRET SERVICE HAS NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY YET. WE’LL LET YOU KNOW IF AND WHEN THEY DO. WLWT WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WE HAVE A FULL STATEMENT FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT AND REACTION FROM OTHER LAWMAKERS ON OUR WEBSITE, WLWT.COM. YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THE LATEST ON AIR AND ON THE FREE WLWT MOBILE APP. CINCINNATI POLICE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IDENTIFYING A SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING THAT FOLLOWED AN ARGUMENT ON A METRO BUS. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 3 A.M. SATURDAY ON GOVERNMENT SQUARE. OUR CREWS FOUND A METRO BUS TAPED OFF RIGHT INSIDE THAT CRIME SCENE, AND POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT FOLLOWED THE VICTIM OFF OF THE BUS AND SLAPPED HIM BEFORE OPENING FIRE. STILL TRYING TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT VICTIM’S CONDITION RIGHT NOW. BUT POLICE DO SAY IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE SUSPECT, GIVE THEM A CALL. PROSECUTORS ARE NO LONGER PURSUING THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE MAN CHARGED WITH INTENTIONALLY USING HIS CAR TO KILL HAMILTON COUNTY DEPUTY LARRY HENDERSON. PROSECUTORS, AND RODNEY HINTON, JUNIOR’S DEFENSE TEAM, AGREE THAT MULTIPLE EVALUATIONS SHOW HINTON HAS A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. HINTON’S DEFENSE HAS ARGUED THAT HE WAS NOT IN HIS RIGHT MIND DURING THE CRASH, BECAUSE HE HAD JUST WATCHED BODY CAMERA VIDEO SHOWING HIS SON BEING SHOT AND KILLED BY CINCINNATI POLICE DURING A STOLEN CAR INVESTIGATION. A JUDGE WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE THROWN OUT. THAT WILL HAPPEN ON JANUARY 14TH. HINTON JUNIOR’S TRIAL IS SET FOR APRIL. AS MOST STUDENTS RETURN AFTER WINTER BREAK. COVINGTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IS PREPARING TO MOVE EVERYONE VIRTUAL THIS WEEK. THIS IS OFFICIALS PLAN NEXT STEPS AFTER A PARTIAL ROOF COLLAPSE AT LEETONIA ELEMENTARY. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S GIACOMO LUCA LIVE FOR US THERE RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK. GIACOMO. YEAH, MEGAN. A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AS THE COVINGTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WORKS TO TRANSITION. WE KNOW LEETONIA SCHOOL STUDENTS. THEY WON’T BE RETURNING TO CLASS TO SHORE UP THOSE DAMAGES AND ALSO EXAMINE JUST HOW MUCH IT MIGHT TAKE TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS. ALL OTHER STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT, THEY ARE RETURNING TO THEIR SCHOOLS TODAY AS THE DISTRICT PREPARES THAT TRANSITION TO FULL VIRTUAL LEARNING STARTING TOMORROW. THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION SINCE THIS ALL STARTED LAST WEEK. OUR SKY FIVE DRONE CAPTURING THE DAMAGE TO THE ROOF HERE. IT’S STILL NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE COLLAPSE, BUT OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO SORT THROUGH IT. WE DID TAKE THE QUESTION TO THE DISTRICT AS TO WHY THAT MOVED. FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT TO MOVE ONLINE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO THIS ONE SCHOOL. THEY SAY IT’S REQUIRED UNDER THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S ALL OR NOTHING POLICY THAT ALLOWS NONTRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION ONLY WHEN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT CLOSES DUE TO HEALTH OR SAFETY CONCERNS. SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY TODAY’S IN-PERSON CLASSES WILL GIVE TEACHERS TIME TO SEND STUDENTS HOME WITH THE MATERIALS THAT THEY’RE GOING TO NEED FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. STUDENTS AT LATONIA, MEANWHILE, ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS DIRECTLY FROM THE SCHOOL AND SHOULD RESUME THAT ONLINE WORK TOMORROW. MEANWHILE, DISTRICT LEADERS STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE ENGINEERS AS TO HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO MAKE IT SAFE AGAIN. WHEN THEY GET MORE INFORMATION, THEY’LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE FAMILIES, AND WE’LL MAKE SURE TO BRING THAT TO Y

Updated: 11:39 AM EST Jan 6, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A new restaurant in northern Kentucky is getting some national recognition.Carmelo’s in Covington was just named the #2 best new restaurant in the country, according to a USA Today 10Bets poll.See WLWT morning headlines in video player above”Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, share, and support us along the way. This truly belongs to our entire community, our team, our guests, our partners, and everyone who believed in what we were building from day one,” the restaurant shared in a post.In first place was Koast, a new restaurant in Wailea, Hawaii.”Being included on a national list alongside so many talented chefs, passionate teams, and outstanding restaurants is something we don’t take lightly. Congratulations to all of the restaurants recognized, it’s an honor to be in such great company,” the restaurant shared.See the full list here.

COVINGTON, Ky. —

A new restaurant in northern Kentucky is getting some national recognition.

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Carmelo’s in Covington was just named the #2 best new restaurant in the country, according to a USA Today 10Bets poll.

See WLWT morning headlines in video player above

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, share, and support us along the way. This truly belongs to our entire community, our team, our guests, our partners, and everyone who believed in what we were building from day one,” the restaurant shared in a post.

In first place was Koast, a new restaurant in Wailea, Hawaii.

“Being included on a national list alongside so many talented chefs, passionate teams, and outstanding restaurants is something we don’t take lightly. Congratulations to all of the restaurants recognized, it’s an honor to be in such great company,” the restaurant shared.

See the full list here.