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Cincinnati Zoo's farm protects Warren County’s natural beauty

Bowyer Farm is restoring wetlands, growing native plants and showing how development can leave room for wildlife.

Development

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cincinnati Zoo&#x27;s conservation " data-vars-click-url="https://cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/" data-vars-content-id="8c5189b1-2595-4d52-bdad-7d5d683a0758" data-vars-headline="Cincinnati Zoo&#x27;s farm protects Warren County’s natural beauty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/" target="_blank">Cincinnati Zoo&#x27;s conservation </a>work extends far beyond its urban gates, with a 600-acre working farm preserving native plants, wetlands and wildlife in Warren County.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bowyer Farm" data-vars-click-url="https://cincinnatizoo.org/gardens/bowyer-farm/" data-vars-content-id="8c5189b1-2595-4d52-bdad-7d5d683a0758" data-vars-headline="Cincinnati Zoo&#x27;s farm protects Warren County’s natural beauty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cincinnatizoo.org/gardens/bowyer-farm/" target="_blank">Bowyer Farm</a> isn&#x27;t a tourist destination, but remains important in testing how native habitat can survive alongside development.<ul><li>It&#x27;s showing businesses and homeowners how to make room for wildlife, too.</li></ul>

Museum-quality art minus the "shhhh" factor

60 sculptures, 470 acres and one giant outdoor adventure at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park.

Things to Do

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton packs more than 60 monumental sculptures across 470 acres of rolling hills, gardens, lakes and hiking trails — making it an easy place to get artsy with the fam.

Cleveland-Cliffs' Middletown steel plant getting a $1B upgrade

The steel manufacturer received a $500M grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to modernize the plant.

With considerable federal backing, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cleveland-Cliffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.clevelandcliffs.com" data-vars-content-id="5c75b621-17b2-4ef5-9a67-c8a0117211d4" data-vars-headline="Cleveland-Cliffs&#x27; Middletown steel plant getting a $1B upgrade" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.clevelandcliffs.com" target="_blank">Cleveland-Cliffs</a> is planning a $1 billion overhaul of its Middletown steel plant.Why it matters: Cleveland-Cliffs is one of the city&#x27;s biggest employers.<ul><li>The project is expected to preserve 2,300 jobs and make one of Ohio&#x27;s largest steelmaking operations more competitive with international steel manufacturers, company officials say.</li></ul>

Vance brings 2028 intrigue in hometown return to Middletown

Vance came home to speak at Cleveland-Cliffs, bringing speculation about what's next for him.

Politics

Vice President JD Vance&#x27;s trips home to Southwest Ohio are creating two kinds of congestion: traffic jams and electoral intrigue.Why it matters: Homecomings like Friday&#x27;s speech in Middletown give Greater Cincinnati a front-row seat to the vice presidency — and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="early maneuvering around 2028" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/02/vance-wsj-trump-rubio-2028" data-vars-content-id="200994a3-e5b2-401f-9015-cf0df9043554" data-vars-headline="Vance brings 2028 intrigue in hometown return to Middletown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/02/vance-wsj-trump-rubio-2028" target="_self">early maneuvering around 2028</a>.

Scoop: NASA talks about mission-critical role of Mason's Rocketdyne

Rocketdyne supports projects like Mars rovers, launch vehicles and NASA's Artemis Moon missions.

Aerospace

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Southwest Ohio helped put Americans" data-vars-click-url="https://ohiomemory.ohiohistory.org/archives/5764" data-vars-content-id="089efd78-06ba-48e7-bfc4-7b9004c9c5f3" data-vars-headline="Scoop: NASA talks about mission-critical role of Mason&#x27;s Rocketdyne" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ohiomemory.ohiohistory.org/archives/5764" target="_blank">Southwest Ohio helped put Americans</a> on the Moon. Now, technology developed by Mason-based Rocketdyne could help power humanity&#x27;s first nuclear-fueled journey toward Mars.Why it matters: NASA sees Rocketdyne and its roughly 350-person Mason workforce as important players in the next era of American space exploration.

Charm at the Farm returns to Lebanon this weekend

The seasonal event at the 56-acre farm includes a craft market featuring over 100 local vendors.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Charm at the Farm" data-vars-click-url="https://charmatthefarm.com/" data-vars-content-id="487a4bfe-1b88-44fb-8d60-40d4e01915b0" data-vars-headline="Charm at the Farm returns to Lebanon this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://charmatthefarm.com/" target="_blank">Charm at the Farm</a> returns this weekend, bringing thousands of shoppers to a 56-acre Lebanon farm for a fall-leaning weekend of good, old-fashioned fun.Why it matters: The market doubles as a showcase for small businesses and a form of agritourism that keeps farmland in use while giving back to local nonprofits.

Coming home easier now for tennis pro Peyton Stearns

Stearns discusses returning to Mason for the Cincy Open.

For Peyton Stearns, coming home for the Cincinnati Open means family, friends, familiar restaurants — and quality time with Peebles, her 2-year-old Maltipoo.Yes, but: The world No. 57 had to learn how to balance all that with the reason she&#x27;s home in the first place: tennis.

Mason's Gogineni prepares for Cincinnati Open debut

Vignesh Gogineni has played on these courts and attended the tournament since he was a kid.

Vignesh Gogineni spent past summers at the Cincinnati Open hitting balls as a practice partner with the likes of Novak Djokovic and reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz.Now the 22-year-old Mason native gets his own spot on the court.Why it matters: Gogineni will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="make his professional tour debut Tuesday" data-vars-click-url="https://cincinnatiopen.com/score-center/draws/" data-vars-content-id="8d57b668-bfee-4f95-a01f-f58f9e74fac6" data-vars-headline="Mason&#x27;s Gogineni prepares for Cincinnati Open debut" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cincinnatiopen.com/score-center/draws/" target="_blank">make his professional tour debut Tuesday</a>, chasing his pro tennis dream in the hometown where it started.

Mason's Rocketdyne blasts off on its own

"If you want to see data and images coming off Mars, you can thank the team here in Mason," CEO Kristin Houston told Axios.

Rocketdyne, formerly L3Harris&#x27; space propulsion business, is once again operating as an independent company and says its Mason campus will remain at the center of its future growth.Why it matters: The split isn&#x27;t expected to mean layoffs or a smaller local footprint, Rocketdyne&#x27;s new CEO Kristin Houston told Axios on Monday during her visit to Mason.

Tennis Center's basketball debut showcases year-round potential

Local leaders want to boost tourism and propose having the center host car shows and concerts.

Sports

The hardwood court arriving at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lindner Family Tennis Center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/north-of-cincy/2026/07/08/cincinnati-open-lindner-family-tennis-center-tournament-mason" data-vars-content-id="0f1c8309-a502-4a43-b515-83e1e3e2747a" data-vars-headline="Tennis Center&#x27;s basketball debut showcases year-round potential" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/north-of-cincy/2026/07/08/cincinnati-open-lindner-family-tennis-center-tournament-mason" target="_self">Lindner Family Tennis Center</a> this fall won&#x27;t be there for long, but Warren County leaders hope the message it sends lasts all year.Why it matters: October&#x27;s outdoor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CareSource Invitational" data-vars-click-url="https://goxavier.com/news/2026/7/9/mens-basketball-xavier-will-be-part-of-an-outdoor-college-basketball-doubleheader-at-the-lindner-family-tennis-center" data-vars-content-id="0f1c8309-a502-4a43-b515-83e1e3e2747a" data-vars-headline="Tennis Center&#x27;s basketball debut showcases year-round potential" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://goxavier.com/news/2026/7/9/mens-basketball-xavier-will-be-part-of-an-outdoor-college-basketball-doubleheader-at-the-lindner-family-tennis-center" target="_blank">CareSource Invitational</a> is the first proof the venue&#x27;s $260 million transformation can drive year-round tourism beyond the Cincinnati Open.

Warren County Fair returns to its roots

Teams spent the spring prepping the fairgrounds for the 176-year-old tradition.

The Warren County Fair returns this week with carnival rides, corn dogs and a full-on rodeo as new leadership tries to make the 176-year-old tradition feel like the &quot;Warren County Fair&quot; again.Why it matters: It&#x27;s been a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bumpy financial year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/commissioners-ok-warren-county-fair-beer-license-but-demand-financial-answers/article_1250bc71-57e1-58ef-9a05-dcf56909b974.html" data-vars-content-id="ec386963-a24b-45aa-b0af-c945f1c5fb0f" data-vars-headline="Warren County Fair returns to its roots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/commissioners-ok-warren-county-fair-beer-license-but-demand-financial-answers/article_1250bc71-57e1-58ef-9a05-dcf56909b974.html" target="_blank">bumpy financial year</a> for the nonprofit organizing board, which sees this fair as a chance to get back on track.

News 🗞

Cleveland-Cliffs' Middletown steel plant getting a $1B upgrade

Vance brings 2028 intrigue in hometown return to Middletown

Cincinnati Zoo's farm protects Warren County’s natural beauty

These bridges have an appetite for trucks

Why some Cincinnati power outages take longer to fix