Jay Hanselman

Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. is recommending closing a $34 million general fund deficit with a series of cuts and a large chunk of one-time money from letting a private company manage the city's parking facilities.  

He sent his plan Monday to Mayor Mark Mallory, who'll review it and forward it to City Council.  

Dohoney said it wasn't possible to close the large gap with cuts alone.

Cincinnati will officially welcome the holiday season Friday evening with the Light Up the Square event. 

The holiday decorations and the tree on Fountain Square will be turned on for the first time.

Festivities will begin at 6PM, with live music from Eclipse and the Cincy Brass, and a special performance by SCPA’s musical theater group.

Revelers can also expect special appearances from the likes of Drew and Lea Lachey, as well as Santa Claus.

Fountain Square will also feature plenty of food, music, ice skating and a fireworks show.

WVXU's Jay Hanselman takes a look back at some of the week's top stories.

Cincinnati Police are continuing an investigation after an officer shot and killed a suspect Wednesday evening in Avondale. 

Channel 9 WCPO reported the incident happened around 5:30 p.m. at Reading Road and Burton Avenue.

Police were reportedly doing an undercover drug bust when they think the suspects caught on to the situation.  The suspects and the officer began to exchange gun fire.

Channel 9 reported officials said one suspect died and the other is recovering from non life-threatening injuries at University Hospital.

Could Cincinnati's massive general fund budget deficit be gone?  It could be, but it comes with a big if.

Earlier reports suggested City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. would have to close a $34 to $40 million deficit.  

But during council committee meeting last week at least a couple Council Members dropped hints his plan will again close the deficit with no layoffs for city workers.  

Reportedly the manager could close a large portion of the deficit with a sizeable up-front payment in a contract to lease the city's parking system to a private operator.