Road Closures, THC Lawsuit and Bearcats Heartbreak Lead Cincinnati Headlines

Cincinnati is heading into a busy mid-March stretch with major road closures, legal action from local breweries and a tough postseason loss for the Bearcats.

Heart Mini Marathon Set for Sunday

Drivers should plan ahead for significant street closures this weekend as the Heart Mini Marathon returns on Sunday, March 15. Roads in Downtown and along the riverfront will begin closing as early as 4:30 a.m., with some shutdowns lasting into the late afternoon.

Fifth, Sixth, Main, Sycamore and Broadway are among the impacted streets, along with portions of Columbia Parkway. Some closures will begin Saturday at noon to allow for race setup. City officials say access to certain garages will be maintained, but commuters and churchgoers should expect delays.

Breweries Sue Over THC Drink Ban

Two Cincinnati breweries have filed suit against the State of Ohio over a pending ban on THC-infused beverages. The products are scheduled to become illegal statewide on March 20.

The breweries argue the ban amounts to executive overreach and could significantly impact small businesses that have invested in the fast-growing hemp-derived beverage market. The legal challenge comes just days before the prohibition is set to take effect, adding uncertainty for retailers and customers alike.

Bearcats Fall in Big 12 Tournament

Cincinnati’s men’s basketball season took a hit Wednesday afternoon with a narrow 66-65 overtime loss to UCF in the Big 12 Tournament.

The Bearcats had built a late lead but were unable to close out the game, damaging their hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid. Despite strong individual performances, the one-point defeat leaves the team’s postseason future in question.

Pi Day Celebration Friday

Looking for something lighter? The Cincinnati Observatory is hosting a family-friendly Pi Day Bash on Friday evening at Clark Montessori High School. The event will feature inflatable planetarium shows, hands-on science activities and, of course, plenty of pie-themed fun.

Organizers say proceeds support local educational programming.

Sources

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityofcincinnati/traffic-alerts/heart-mini-marathon-street-closures3/
https://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-ohio/lawless-executive-overreach-2-cincinnati-breweries-sue-state-of-ohio-over-looming-thc-drink-ban
https://yournews.com/2026/03/11/6665026/ucf-erases-late-8-point-deficit-to-edge-cincinnati-in-big/
https://linknky.com/press-releases/2026/03/09/press-release-calculate-some-fun-cincinnati-observatorys-pi-day-bash-returns/