From Kings Island to restaurants, here are today's top stories | Daily Briefing

Greetings, everyone. I'm Keith Pandolfi. I started out on The Enquirer's food and dining beat in 2020, just after the Ohio Department of Health ordered the closing of just about every restaurant and bar I was supposed to cover.

Good timing, right?

So instead of writing about, say, the quality of the succulent Scottish salmon at Boca or the hearty pastas at Losanti, I spent much of my time following the industry as it navigated its way through the new realities of outside dining, staff shortages, supply chain issues and all sorts of other challenges. 

This week, I decided to check in with several local restaurant owners, as well as a few restaurant industry experts, to see if things are finally getting back to normal.

The answer, in short, is ... “kind of?” Click or tap here to learn more.

What else you need to know Wednesday, April 12

⛅ Weather: High of 76. Warm with plenty of sunshine.

😷 COVID-19: Cincinnati health systems remove mask mandates for guests at hospitals.

🎵 'Let's dance!':  Black Music Walk of Fame includes county commissioners thoughts on music.

🚧 For subscribers: What to know about four big projects under development now in Kenwood.

🎢 Things to do: Kings Island opens this weekend, Monster Jam's in town and more.

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Today's top headlines:

⋅Evacuation ordered after fire breaks out in Richmond, Indiana industrial plant

⋅Luis Cessa hit around in Cincinnati Reds' loss to Atlanta Braves

⋅Former U.S. Sen. Robert Portman lands a new job on P&G's board

⋅Truck hauling 40K pounds of contaminated soil from East Palestine train derailment overturns on highway

⋅Why these NKY Republicans voted against a controversial transgender bill