Kroger to buy rival Albertsons

Kroger is already the nation's largest operator of traditional supermarkets, dwarfed by Walmart, whose Supercenters offer additional varieties of merchandise. But the hometown grocery chain is set to get even bigger through an announced merger with Albertsons Companies , that would see Kroger buy all outstanding shares of Albertsons' stock for an estimated $34.10 per share, valuing that company at $24.6 billion.

Money quote: "We are bringing together two purpose-driven organizations to deliver superior value to customers, associates, communities and shareholders." – Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen .

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Business Courier launches podcast

After a year in the works, it's finally happening: the?Cincinnati Business Courier?is launching a podcast. "Above the Fold" comes from a bit of old newspaper lingo. Old broadsheet newspapers, the kind that you unfold and then unfurl to find the splashiest headlines at the top of the paper so they were on full display to passersby.

Here's what you can expect from "Above the Fold": the first half is Andy Brownfield and?Courier?Editor Robert Daumeyer talking about the biggest stories of the past week, the five things you need to know, if you will; and then in the second segment they have a conversation with one of the personalities behind the news. It's meant to be more informal and conversational, to introduce you to the people behind the news. You'll also hear from reporters at the?Courier?to take you deeper inside the stories they broke or to provide analysis.

The first episode: All things Blink, and an interview with Blink co-creator Josh Heuser .

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Jeff Bezos-backed real estate company enters Cincinnati

Arrived Homes is a real estate investing platform backed by 亚马逊 founder Jeff Bezos, where investors can invest anywhere from $100 to $20,0000 into rental properties with the goal of making passive income, and Arrived manages properties and taxes. Arrived just entered the Cincinnati market through the acquisition of at least two homes in the region.

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Ben Navarro finalizes deal to buy Cincinnati Open

The tournament, played annually at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, has been acquired by Charleston, S.C., businessman and philanthropist Benjamin Navarro’s family office, Beemok Capital . The Western & Southern Open is one of the world’s nine largest pro tennis tournaments featuring the top men and women players at one venue at the same time. Terms were not disclosed, but sources told the Sports Business Journal that the bid could be worth at least $250 million.

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This Weekly Edition was compiled by Andy Brownfield. Have any questions or comments??Send them his way.