♪ >> Commercial airports are often that front door to the region.

And this one is making sure that first impression is a good one.

And they're greeted with a very friendly y'all and see approach.

We learned the story behind this northern Kentucky icon.

My great, great, great camp.

All started in 18.

76 coming.

We've been doing a whole lot it's got to be good.

And I really wouldn't be here.

And old world recipe that's become the true flavor of northern Kentucky.

You'll find it's a little funky.

Plus, and one northern Kentucky town part is everywhere.

You look.

Production of Kentucky edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening to you.

And welcome to this special edition of Kentucky EDITION.

I'm Renee Shaw, all we thank you for spending some of your evening with us.

>> We've hit the road again tonight.

We head to northern Kentucky visiting the Cincinnati northern Kentucky airport.

>> Newport on the levee and learning about the savory staple data.

But first, our Toby Gibbs looks back at the history of the region.

♪ >> Almost 400,000 people live in Kentucky's 3 northernmost counties, Boone, Campbell and Kenton.

It's home to about one out of every 11.

Kentuckians Boone County, of course, is name for legendary explorer.

Daniel Boone in 17.

29 before Boone arrived in Kentucky, a French captain discovered one of America's biggest collections of prehistoric fossils in an area where mastodons woolly mammoths and bison came for the salt along what's now called Big Bone creek.

It became a state park in 1960, settlers from Pennsylvania created Boone County's first prominent community in 17, 85.

The county is home to the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky Airport, which began as a for runway training facility for be 17 pilots during World War 2.

Today it employs 16,000 people and handled more than 8.7 million passengers in 2023, Daniel Boones friend Simon Kenton is the namesake for Kenton County.

It was first explored and 17.

51 by a party sent by the Ohio Land company.

The Ohio River Borders, all 3 counties, Covington in Kenton County became a major river port and brought streams of settlers to the area.

Many of them German Fort Mitchell in for right were both built in response to the Confederate invasion of Kentucky in 18.

62, the Civil war also delayed the completion of a suspension bridge between Covington and Cincinnati Bridge finally completed in 18, 67 Campbell County was named for a Revolutionary War veteran Colonel John Campbell.

The first permanent settlement was around 17 89 Newport attracted big numbers of Irish and German immigrants.

And at one point in the early 20th century was home to the South's largest brewery and one of its biggest steel mills, although the 3 counties are heavily urban, they still have rural areas to the south that produced tobacco corn, hey, cattle and vegetables.

One of the most memorable sights in northern Kentucky is the Florence, y'all water Tower.

It was built in 1974. and originally included the words Florence Mall, which was being built and wouldn't open until 1976, the state said the tower couldn't advertise something that didn't exist yet.

So it was altered to read Florence, y'all and plenty of people see it.

The water towers next to interstate.

75.

One of America's busiest for Kentucky edition.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you as always.

To be Gibbs from the architecture to the foods like get out, which will explain the German influence on northern Kentucky is still visible today.

But how did that come about?

We spoke with Doctor Patton Cody, a professor of history at Northern Kentucky University to learn how immigration has influenced the region.

♪ >> So buy about 18, 40.

We know that Catholic tournament immigrants were arriving in the city of Cincinnati, northern Kentucky by about 200 people a day.

And by the time they established the church where and now mother of God church.

>> As it specifically German-speaking congregation already there are say 30 or 40 families in 18, 41 when the church was established 12 years later, it was estimated that there were 1500 Catholic Families in Covington alone.

So that would have been phenomenal because covenants population was only about 10,000 at the time.

So we know that most of those immigrants were German immigrants.

Many were German where German Lutherans and many of them were Arash Catholics as well.

And so the way they set up their churches was to reflect what they saw when Germany.

So what you're seeing around you is the church that they constructed in 18, 70 71 and German American artists, very well-known artists from across the country and also from this region, pain at the beautiful murals pain at Seco work on the ceilings and walls that you see stained glass windows were imported from Germany from Myron Company.

So it showed the gifts and the talents that the German people in this instance had to offer to their city and felt that this was actually a civic achievement.

This was something that they were doing to beautify the city themselves and to show that they as immigrants had arrived in American society, they're proud of their heritage, but they're equally proud of the fact that they have become Americans in every sense of the word.

The reasons for immigration really are strongly consistent throughout history.

And most immigration historians will tell you that the main reason why people immigrate is for economic opportunity.

The second reason would be for political opportunities.

So much of it.

Our immigration is coming from Central America now currently and there's political unrest and Central America and also lack of economic opportunity.

So this is what Latinx people are seeking and the United States and they're finding and that's true of Asian population.

South Asian populations, people from India and likewise are also seeking those opportunities because this area is part of that great Golden Triangle of Cincinnati, Covington Newport.

On the one hand and then Louisville and Lexington right as well.

So you have this prosperity and the return.

>> Now to a major economic driver in northern Kentucky, the Cincinnati, northern Kentucky International Airport.

Better known as cvg Open for commercial service.

Back in the 1940's today, it serves nearly 9 million passengers a year.

Our Laura Rogers tells us more about its growth and how it's helping the region take flight.

>> Our airport is such a convenience and an asset to our community.

>> In that community comprises not just Cincinnati, Ohio, but northern Kentucky.

>> And people are surprised to learn good cvg is here in Kentucky, but we're very proud of that.

>> That pride is evident by the atmosphere reflective of the local flair and flavor that make the region special.

We want to make sure that the first taste their first sites.

>> Within the airport, a representative of the entire region.

>> That means local art and illustrations border and exhibits from the Cincinnati Museum center trying to bring that also into the airport to travelers.

Get a sense of what our community is like.

We're really proud to bring not only a sense of place in history, but also innovation.

A cvg airport has seen major improvements over the past 10 to 15 years to accommodate the 30,000 passengers arriving and departing Daily Park or service and making sure people get where they need to be.

Whether that's a stunning.

>> Family and friends, relatives or conducting even new business or new trips around the world.

>> It's also a big boost to business as the sixth-largest cargo airport in North America weighing a vital role in the global supply chain.

DHL has been a great partner over the years and they've expanded a great deal here at Cvg and then Amazon error came on board just a couple of years ago.

You can get one of your shipments on a plane and it can be halfway around the world in a matter of hours.

The passengers can also find themselves on a transatlantic journey on a new British Airways flight 2 and a supporting tourism and business travel that flights offered on a Boeing 7.87 Dreamliner.

So it's a great aircraft.

>> It leave here at Cvg at about 9, 30 10:00PM at night.

And the next morning he arrived in London.

>> Having a mix of carriers is very important to us.

Cvg has expanded its offerings to include 14 airline carriers to offer travelers more options at different price points that >> choice the customers have the variety of places they can go but also the ways they can get.

Their has helped make the travel more affordable.

>> And accessible and spy ring a sense of adventure.

Now serving more local travelers than ever.

People are getting out there and experiencing new things getting to see.

>> The world and getting to go to places they maybe never been before.

>> We want to make sure that everything you can think of whether it's something to eat, something to buy something to do.

Educate entertains and make sure experience at the airport.

A memorable one.

>> A memorable for more and more people Cdt says traffic at the airport is growing by a couple 100,000 passengers a year.

For Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

>> Thank you.

Laura Cvg, which is based in Covington to act Covington, Kentucky, which is the shorthand version of Cvg is also a major employer for the region.

With about 450 workers at the airport and 16,000 employees across the campus.

With its beautiful view of the Cincinnati skyline, the city of Newport, Kentucky in Campbell County draws in visitors from both sides of the Ohio River.

That's in part because of Newport on the levee and indoor or outdoor entertainment hub for the region with one of the best views of the Ohio River.

>> If you put on the Levy came to be in 2000 in 2018, late in December, North American properties acquired it.

So and that's when kind of all the revitalization took place.

The levees always been a place where people love to come and gather and celebrate, which has been really cool.

>> But since an AP took over, we've really focused on the experience for its guests.

So we like to talk about the 14 hour day, right?

Like you can work here.

You can play here.

You can go on dates.

You can bring your family and can never get bored.

So this renaissance at the Newport on the levee has been phenomenal.

>> You know that the current owners, North American properties, I think maybe minor seen as of recently sold it.

But we have 100% confidence that the new owners are going to continue this amazing development.

New restaurants, opening new experiences like the Par 3 golf that just opened Bridgeview Box Park and of course, anchored by the finest aquarium and the Midwest.

It brings in millions of visitors a year and leaves behind a big economic impact.

But it is something that everyone that lives here in northern Kentucky can take advantage of.

When you come in, you park.

And when you come upon this level, which is the main entrance, you're going to come up this area that we're on right now is called the RiverWalk and then the area back on the other side is kind of our Central Plaza, our lawn area.

And then you're also going to move into the gallery space, which is the interior.

And that's where, you know, we have a lot of our mix.

Retail and some of our restaurants as well.

We know that when visitors come and we have data that supports this, they're not just staying for the day.

They're staying overnight and often they're staying for the weekend.

So they're seeing the aquarium.

They're saying the Cincinnati Zoo, but they're choosing to stay over on this river because of this amenity here at the levee that offers them so much opportunity beyond aquarium visit or restaurant visit December of 2022.

Until around now it looks like we're looking at probably are close to 300 new jobs that have been created in.

I'm just a couple of years.

I would say as far as economic impact.

We're a vital part of northern Kentucky in the port in general because we're such a tourist destination that impacts all the businesses around us.

Right?

So it's a great community.

Be part of.

>> I think if you look at especially talent base, stays talent wants to go somewhere where there is a lot of activity.

So the great businesses that have located at the Newport on the levee have done that because of the quality of experience around it, the ability to walk down and walk across this beautiful purple people.

Bridge to have a great meal in the same place where they were.

They work and live in play and it is located directly next to some wonderful apartments.

So it is a target for economic development.

>> We have the best view in all of Northern Kentucky Derby.

The beautiful city behind us.

I just think it's a place where people feel like they're at home.

Right, northern Kentucky.

We kind of call it a northern Kentucky's living room.

Where everyone comes to playing.

Hang out.

>> That is a spectacular view, indeed.

During the professional football season, Newport on the levee serves Cincinnati Bengals fans who dine-in and stay in northern Kentucky.

>> St. Louis has its arch.

San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge.

Seattle even has the Space needle.

>> If you drive plat past Florence, Kentucky, you will not forget the Florence, y'all water Tower.

So what's the story behind this?

Not memorable.

Northern Kentucky icon.

What we did some digging to find out.

>> I was born and raised in the city of 4 when I turn 6 and was in the first grade.

My father was elected mayor and he served in that capacity for the next 20 years after that, it was another probably 19 years before I took office says they 1973.

74 deal was made to sell.

The land owner sold the land that is now on mall road and they were going to develop a regional mall there.

The fact that the mall was going to go there required that the city find a way to provide water to the west side of the expressway.

The water tower was built.

They painted the words Florence Mall on and that was to be their advertisement.

The Kentucky Department of Transportation and probably the federal Highway Department.

We're very pleased.

First off the mall didn't exist.

So they work happy.

They were advertising something that didn't actually happened yet.

Also, Lady Bird Johnson had a highway beautification act that literally for bade billboard advertising on interstate highways.

So there was a combination of a whole lot of things that came into play when the highway Department.

Gently threatened the city and told them they needed to remove that by either throwing a tarp over it, repainting it doing something with the city, had a fairly small budget at the time.

And there was only a certain amount of money that could be spent without council approval.

My father sitting at a meeting, very informal meeting with some people.

Was scribbling on a napkin, you know, different variations of what the tower could say.

And he literally took in marked out the legs of the M. Dropped in an apostrophe and turned into why and Florence was born.

People have come to know that that when they see that water tower there either on their way on vacation heading south or they're coming home and they're greeted with a very friendly y'all.

If they approach.

So I think that it has become an icon.

As you can see, we're standing in the team shop for the Florence Y'alls and they have embraced not only the all but the water tower as they mark it and just tell people where they are.

We began a campaign of what should be renamed the team.

And we had a lot of different ideas sent to us.

In fact, quite the community and that ultimately we settled on the office.

>> You honestly really came down to.

What embodies Florence.

We are Florence.

We are Florence's professional team.

We want to embody that and promote what Florence's and there was nothing better and there still is nothing better than the icon.

That system I-71 75, which is the farm, water tower truly.

That's roughly what I'm honestly exceeded our expectations when it came out in terms of how people wouldn't truly embrace it and body, that's not his only legacy, but it was the one that was the most fun and the most fun to tell.

He would be nothing but happy to see the way that it's been embraced.

>> And continue to share the story.

>> Now it cost $472 to change the word Malta.

Y'all on the water tower.

Back in 1974.

Pretty good investment overall.

As we continue our coverage of northern Kentucky, you can't leave out the culinary stapled called data.

According to Dan.

Well, arts research on the history of data.

The German-inspired sausage was likely sold first at Bill Franke and Sons, Quality Meats in Covington.

Way back in 18.

76, the store has been passed down through the generations and is still open today now and for it right or is still going strong.

>> We've got the best data and northern Kentuckyian Cincinnati area down there.

6 generation.

And my great, great, great camp all started in 18.

76 down and Covington on Main Street.

>> And I mean, you've been doing a whole lot.

I mean, it's got a big good and I wouldn't be here.

>> Beef, Haddad oatmeal and season and as soon all different stuff and then demand.

We some secrets to something.

I heard that the kids making it really mean we don't provide all the other get is sold around and they guards pig skins and sneaks in.

And they I mean, we used to do that back in 1800 is because that's why that's why they started get making the staff because back in 1800 that many stores on every corner and they cut a wheel cows and pigs and they got all those leftover stuff.

They said we're going to do it that way.

I throw it away and that's how get it came in.

Came came in.

But yeah, you know, morning when my dad took this storm, 62, he changed that he didn't use all that, you know, greasy year, pay cards, pigskin snooze.

He says, let's make it legal and and we'll be all greasy.

And that's why we change in my dad's all about called.

He's we heard the he always says you trade to changing customer.

Good.

So good stuff.

You will stay in business.

We got up.

I do have data over easy eggs.

And so my good toast on my mobile homemade.

We made Brad.

I know people put hot sauce catch him, but I I pursue guy.

It's so good.

But you got to buy the good may pursue.

Not that now the model stuff gets a homemade made for sale.

It's very good time.

And I believe in Gaza since I was a baby and my Guerra says there was a baby just like anybody.

Whatever you grow up with you.

You know what?

But I know people lived in California.

They that.

Now they move tale.

They tried and they loved my dad.

I mean, we sell 24 times that there are dead after their schools.

I think that's 48,000 pounds and we would sell more.

We close on Mondays now and we do may get on Monday.

And that's why I'm stuck on 24 Time to 45 this year where we were said.

>> I remember when I start working out and get paid enough, you know, it's a it's a family thing.

>> Right now it's a we're busy grown and grown and grown.

And I I there's no good stuff.

They will KET coming back.

He always says if you sell something bad.

He sold wants because they won't come back and you gotta so good stuff.

>> The thank you.

Family tradition continues as Billy's son, Cole one along with his nephew Stephen, all work alongside their dads at the shop.

Pretty good family business.

So what do an alien Colonel Sanders and graffiti have in common?

They're all part of the vibrant public art scene in Covington, this northern Kentucky River town has become a national model for the power of creative placemaking.

Our friends at Kentucky Life went to Covington to check it out.

♪ >> Covington, Kentucky, a sleepy river town in the shadow of Cincinnati or how about the best kept secret in public art since the Trojan Horse from internationally recognized murals to a friendly 30 foot alien to a flood wall.

Graffiti Park covington's public art scene is out of this world.

>> We had this amazing historic architecture.

We have these beautiful murals on top of some of these buildings.

It's something that gives us a sense of identity and a sense of community pride.

>> As you travel around and look at the different murals and installations and sculptures here in Covington, you'll find it's a little funky and maybe left of center.

This is place where people can express themselves in many, many different ways.

Be that through Murals street art sculpture, you name it and we've got it.

>> It seems like public art is everywhere in Covington.

And that's not by chance.

A combination of civic leaders and local artists have embraced the concept of creative placemaking.

>> Creative Placemaking is simple and its description.

It's taking a physical space.

>> And making art one of the identifier, something area.

>> When you see an art installation, whether year-old, whether it's something done with lighting the you know that people are paying attention to that environment and their eyes on that place and eyes on a place make a play safe.

One of the first public art installation site did.

>> Was to install the 6 chandelier years and then under past.

So I got a grant to put some art in an underpass and also elevate the lighting if she and Ali years are good for a dingy underpass.

How about a muffler shop?

Once the ball is rolling, it really picks up speed and one of the major effects of public art is economic development.

>> The impact of public art on economic development is kind of misunderstood.

It should not be underestimated as creative as we love living here because we live in a community that supports the arts.

>> And it's going to attract more creatives.

It's going to attract more entrepreneurs for business.

>> Jobs follow people now as opposed to in the past when people follow jobs.

So they want to go where the talent is.

And if we can attract that talent, then we can attract those jobs.

In addition to attracting jobs, public art can have a dramatic impact on tourism and amazing example of this is Blake, the largest white and public art festival in the country.

>> blink started in 2017 right here and the Cincinnati region attracting almost 2 million people.

And the economic impact is over 126 million in the last plane.

>> High profile public art is nothing new to Covington.

The London police created this magnificent work at the corner of 4th and Scott Streets and the Brooklyn Collective known us fail is responsible for an amazing trip tech that has become a centerpiece of downtown.

>> We also have local artists, too, are in the same gallery, if you will.

We have a 2 story.

Ailing and three-dimensional alien hanging out of a parking garage and we have a stain glass bench that represents on 19 neighborhoods of the City of Covington.

>> And then there's scribble park.

A graffiti park on the flood wall.

That's becoming a hot spot for Covington is up and coming artist.

It's a unique gallery that welcomes everyone.

These are folks that may never get an opportunity to be exhibited at the Cincinnati Art Museum that we're giving them an opportunity.

And it's great for the public to because when they come down, it's constantly changing.

I feel like I'm home in a community with public art.

>> I feel like I am in a place that accepts who I am and except to my creative friends are.

And that's a beautiful thing.

I mean, artist Candy Miss its in wildly creative in Corky.

The Covington is at also, we're creative in Corky and we have great ideas coming out of the city.

♪ >> Creative and Corky where that's us, too.

We thank you so much for joining us for this special edition of Kentucky.

Addition until I see you again.

Take really good care so long.

♪ ♪