Transgender sports: The most controversial part of Ohio bills banning transgender girls and women from playing ladies’ high school and college sports -- genital exams -- will be removed from the legislation, reports Laura Hancock. The bills require doctors to sign statements saying they’ve inspected a player’s internal and external reproductive anatomy. Veteran services: The U.S. Senate on Thursday adopted legislation that would make an estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances eligible for Veterans Affairs Department medical services, hospitalization, disability benefits and nursing home care. Sabrina Eaton reports the law establishes that 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers are traceable to smoke from military burn pits used for waste disposal and requires the VA to cover them. METRO Inflation: It’s hard to ignore the rising cost of necessities in Cleveland right now. Food, gas, and housing all cost more than they did the month before, never mind last year. Zachary Smith reports that for individuals or families on a fixed income, rapid inflation means a series of hard decisions just to purchase the necessities needed to run a house. Zoo improvement: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announced plans Thursday for a new Bear Hollow habitat, to encompass four separate but interconnected habitat areas with climbing structures, elevated resting areas and dig pits. Joey Morona reports the new home for Adean and sloth bears will be three times the size of the animals’ existing 50-year-old area. Brownouts: Cleveland Public Power customers are complaining of brownouts and low voltage as temperatures soared Thursday. Courtney Astolfi reports that nearly 1,000 customers were affected, primarily in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. Construction training: Building Great Futures is working to give inner-city youth marketable skills before graduation by training them in the construction trades. Alexis Oatman reports the endeavor is a joint effort between the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Ohio, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity and Youth Opportunities Unlimited. COVID-19 & HEALTHCARE Kid vaccines: Because federal approval of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines is expected soon, Ohio’s enrolled vaccine providers have begun placing orders for these vaccines and the first deliveries are expected on Monday, reports Julie Washington. The Pfizer vaccine for this age group is a three-shot series. Parents will have many ways to get the shots, including from pediatricians, family physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, local health departments and federally qualified health centers. Weekly cases: Ohio on Thursday reported 16,169 new cases of COVID-19 in its weekly dashboard update, about 2,000 fewer cases than last week’s report. This week’s case total averages to about 2,309 new cases per day over seven days, reports Julie Washington. Measles case: A Franklin County child is the state’s first confirmed cases of measles since 2019, state health officials said Thursday. The infected child recently traveled to a country with confirmed measles cases. Julie Washington reports state health officials are not disclosing additional information, such as the patient’s vaccination status. BUSINESS Business guide: Cleveland.com worked with Plexus LGBT and Allied Chamber of Commerce to create an easily accessible business directory for folks who wish to patronize LGBTQ+-owned businesses across Greater Cleveland. Brenda Cain has the list. Alaska Airlines: Northeast Ohio travelers were happy Thursday Alaska Airlines celebrated its first nonstop flight from Cleveland to Seattle with a launch party attended by Mayor Justin Bibb, Susan Glaser reports. It was a festive atmosphere at gate C4, with live music, cookies decorated with pictures of whales and cups of coffee, and speeches by airport and community leaders. CRIME Pornography sentence: A Lorain man who sexually assaulted a 4-year-old girl and recorded it, and amassed a cache of child pornography will spend the next 30 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Dan Polster on Thursday called Charles Nakoff’s actions “depraved and despicable,” reports Adam Ferrise. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Splice Cream: When the Splice-Cream Truck rolls into a neighborhood, it’s well-stocked with frozen sweet treats. But the goal is to collect and record stories, reports Anne Nickoloff. High School standouts: Hundreds of students and their families attended the High School Standouts Awards in recognition for their achievements on and off the field. Joshua Gunter has photos. Cedar Point: A solid wood fence hides the construction taking place on the former site of Cedar Point’s Wicked Twister roller coaster. But building permits offer a clue, describing the structure as a two-story “foods building,” with 25,700 square feet of space, valued at $12 million, reports Susan Glaser. Things to do: Get out and enjoy the sunshine this weekend, Clevelanders. Annie Nickoloff has 20 events to check out, including a variety of Juneteenth festivals, movie showings, concerts and more. | 