Remember Megabus and the bewilderment of getting from Cleveland to Chicago for just one buck? As a frequent traveler to visit family in Chicago, I debated taking Megabus easily a dozen times over the years but I never went ahead and made a reservation. I heard stories of stinky buses and unreliable scheduling. The comfort and familiarity of making the six-hour drive always won out. Another form of transportation is in its early stages — the expansion of passenger-rail service in Ohio. Four proposed Amtrak train routes have earned initial funding for planning. But being able to ride a train to Columbus or Detroit, among other cities, is nowhere near reality. You’d have to wait several years. Could it be popular, or would it fade away like Megabus? A big deterrent is time. Amtrak estimated a trip between Cleveland and Cincinnati would take 5 hours and 40 minutes. Would you be enticed to try the train, or make the drive yourself in about four hours? — Kristen Davis |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Browns at Cincinnati Bengals: 1 p.m. Sunday, Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati. TV: WOIO Channel 19. Radio: WKRK FM/92.3, WNCX FM/98.5, WKNR AM/850. Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunshine, then snow this weekend |
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Amtrak has long targeted Ohio for expansion, arguing that the state is one of the most underserved in the nation by passenger rail. (Susan Glaser, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Train travel: Ohio was a big winner last month when the Federal Railroad Administration announced the first 69 grant recipients in a new program that is designed to expand passenger-rail service throughout the United States, Susan Glaser reports. Four proposed routes in Ohio received initial funding, including new service linking Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, as well as new service from Cleveland to Detroit via Toledo. Parental permission: TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media platforms will have to obtain parents’ permission to establish accounts for children under age 16 beginning Jan. 15 under a new state law, Laura Hancock reports. Today in Ohio: At least one transgender candidate for public office has been disqualified from the ballot, because they failed to follow a state law requiring them to list any other names they’ve used in the past five years. On the Today in Ohio podcast, we’re discussing whether that requirement — which, oddly, does not apply to candidates who changed their name because of marriage — discriminates against trans candidates. |
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Epstein list: Ohio billionaire Les Wexner – whose money helped disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein build a fortune that he used to pay underaged girls for sex – is among dozens of public figures cited in a court documents released Wednesday as part of a lawsuit seeking sex-abuse damages, Sabrina Eaton reports. Representative resigns: State Rep. Mary Lightbody, a Democrat from the Columbus suburb of Westerville, has announced she’s leaving the Statehouse earlier than anticipated, citing family issues, Jeremy Pelzer reports. LGBTQ candidates: A transgender Ohioan who was disqualified from running for the state legislature for not listing her prior name on campaign paperwork has appealed the ruling, arguing the requirement is a “discriminatory barrier” to LGBT residents looking to run for public office, Jeremy Pelzer reports. |
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County decisions: As 2024 kicks off, Cuyahoga County is preparing for a busy year. Lucas Daprile shares three major decisions to expect from Cuyahoga County leaders in 2024. People's budget: Courtney Astolfi reports that Cleveland won’t challenge a state law barring cities from using participatory budgeting because city officials say they can’t. Avoiding gangs: Laron Douglas, who ran an East Cleveland gang three decades ago, was imprisoned for murder in 1992. He continued calling shots for the gang behind bars. Now, he is using that identity to help others avoid the same fate, John Tucker reports. Michael Schwartz: Michael Schwartz, whose decades of leadership in higher education in Northeast Ohio included overseeing the creation of the May 4 Memorial at Kent State University and later restoring student and faculty pride at Cleveland State University, died Tuesday, Hannah Drown reports. Lorain County: A new set of data released by the Census Bureau last month offers updates of details on a variety of topics for every place in the United States. Zachary Smith looks at those details for Lorain County, drawn from surveys spanning 2018 to 2022. Judge suspended: Last week’s suspension of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Daniel Gaul left open a key role the longtime jurist held: He helped appoint members of the board of trustees of MetroHealth Medical Center, Cory Shaffer reports. Teacher fired: A teacher at Lake Catholic High School in Mentor was fired for “inappropriate behavior,” according to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Molly Walsh reports. The diocese placed Andrew Piczer on administrative leave after learning of the allegations and it contacted law enforcement. |
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Research grant: Nearly $6 million in grant money has been awarded to Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic and a Clinic partner for research aimed at helping patients with cancer and Crohn’s disease, Julie Washington reports. Mortgage rates: The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.62% Thursday, according to Freddie Mac, a government-sponsored home-loan agency. It had gotten as high as 7.79% in October, which was the highest rate since 2000, Sean McDonnell reports. Mental health: A national tour designed to bring awareness to the mental health needs of Black men is coming to Cleveland next month, Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports. The free event for men will be at the Tri-C Eastern Campus in Highland Hills and will feature a panel of experts specializing in various aspects of the Black mental health experience. |
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Permitless carry: Researchers say the crime rates in Cleveland and Parma, as well as four other large Ohio cities, dropped after state legislators passed a law that allowed the concealed carry of firearms. Only Dayton and Cincinnati saw an increase in the rate of crimes involving a firearm. Violent crimes: In the span of a month, authorities in Cleveland arrested 56 people accused of violent crimes, Olivia Mitchell reports. Running guns: A Chester Township man who helped illegally run guns to the Ivory Coast was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation, Adam Ferrise reports. Orin France, 61, bought at least 12 guns at a Valley View gun store and immediately gave them to two people who shipped the weapons to the West African country. RTA incident: A Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority bus struck a pedestrian during rush hour Wednesday, Molly Walsh reports. |
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CLE Eats: Swenson's Galley Boy hamburger is legendary in Northeast Ohio, especially in the Akron area. Peter Chakerian writes that the burger is a saucy dichotomy that polarizes regional burger fans into camps of “love it” or “leave it.” Ask Yadi: Is it OK to wear a mask in public? Yadi Rodriguez writes that if wearing a mask in public spaces gives you a sense of security, then you should go for it. Cooking classes: Reporter Paris Wolfe lists 14 places to get cooking with culinary classes in Northeast Ohio. Free BBQ: A few lucky fans of smoked meats might be able to win free barbecue for a year thanks to City Barbeque, Alex Darus reports. Things to do: If your New Year’s resolution is to get out and do more things, Joey Morona lists 17 options for this weekend, whether it's something outdoorsy or a show in the heated comfort of a theater or concert venue. |
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Shooting at Pizza Hut in Garfield Heights critically wounds man Read more After sale of Pepper Pike property, Beech Brook finds a new home in Garfield Heights Read more Brent Silver elected president of Orange council; Staci Vincent is president pro tempore Read more Cleveland Heights City Council turns gavel over to Cuda, with Russell as vice president Read more Cleveland Heights councilman questions if new president can work with all members Read more Akron announces preliminary plans for bicentennial celebration; festivities to begin in December Read more Orange council names pavilion after Kathy Mulcahy, honors her with resolution Read more Cuyahoga Community College celebrates 45 years of helping women find careers Read more South Euclid City Council elects Gray to second term as president Read more University Heights council asks mayor to negotiate a better deal, leaving the city without an engineer Read more |
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