Gov. Mike DeWine last week resorted to ordering lawmakers back to Columbus after the two Republican-controlled chambers failed to pass a legislative fix to the deadline that would keep President Joe Biden off the November ballot. It could have been as simple as a deadline extension; that happened in several election years since 2010, when Democrats and Republicans unanimously voted to change the deadline to 90 days before an election as part of a broader bill that implemented changes to allow for military members to vote early. But politics has interfered. The Ohio House and Senate have been at loggerheads for months because House Speaker Jason Stephens and current Senate President Matt Huffman are jousting to lead the House next year. The Senate has passed legislation allowing Biden on the ballot, but the bill includes limits on foreign contributions to state ballot campaigns and power for the Ohio attorney general to prosecute statewide ballot-issue campaigns or candidate campaigns – something Democrats oppose. Republicans came up with it after they blamed an infusion of Swiss cash for their losses in Issue 1 last year. The national Democrats believe they’ve invented their own solution, so maybe they won’t need the power-squabbling House and Senate.
— Laura
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Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Colorado Rockies: Guardians belt four homers to beat Rockies, 13-7, in Mile High slugfest Northeast Ohio weather forecast: More rain and cooler weather |
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National Democrats plan to use a virtual roll call to ensure President Joe Biden is on the ballot in Ohio for the November election. (Alex Brandon, Associated Press) |
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Biden on ballot: National Democrats have a solution for getting around an Ohio law that has threatened to prevent President Joe Biden from appearing on the ballot here in November, report Jeremy Pelzer and Andrew Tobias. The party plans to meet sometime before the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 19, to take an official vote naming Biden as the party’s nominee. Special session: Ohio lawmakers’ special session this week faces an uncertain future now that the main reason for calling the session – ensuring President Joe Biden appears on the state’s fall ballot – will be addressed by Democrats themselves. Jeremy Pelzer reports it was already uncertain whether state lawmakers, who began their special session Tuesday, would get anything done anyway, given ongoing disputes between House and Senate Republican leaders over not just what policies to pass, but over basic rules of how to conduct the session itself. Gateway budget: The publicly funded entity that oversees Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field already is $25 million in the hole for promised repairs at the two facilities and the bills keep growing, but no one knows yet where that money will come from. Kaitlin Durbin reports that Gateway Economic Development Corp., which serves as landlord for the two facilities, is contractually obligated to pay for most, if not all, capital repairs to upkeep both facilities. Today in Ohio: Ohio lawmakers were back in Columbus on Tuesday for the first day of a special session Gov. Mike DeWine called to make sure Democratic President Joe Biden is on the November ballot. But it remains to be seen whether they’ll get anything done. We’re talking about the loggerheads on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Rec marijuana: A group of rules that will guide the operations of Ohio’s recreational marijuana program took effect Tuesday. Laura Hancock reports the Joint Committee on Agency Rule, a legislative panel, approved the rules on May 13. That puts Ohio adults aged 21 and older one step closer to being able to purchase marijuana from dispensaries, since another rule that went into effect Tuesday has to do with applications medical marijuana dispensaries will submit to become dual-use dispensaries, serving both medical and adult-use recreational customers. Energy lawsuit: The state Supreme Court sided with Endbridge Energy in a lawsuit filed after an 81-year-old Lakewood woman died at home of hypothermia in January 2022, about two weeks after the company cut off her gas service, reports Jake Zuckerman. The justices unanimously held that the woman’s estate should have brought the case as a complaint before state regulators and not as a lawsuit. Rosenberger investigation: Cliff Rosenberger, who resigned from his job as the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in 2018 after it went public that he was the target of a federal criminal investigation, said Tuesday that federal officials have told him they’ve closed the investigation without charging him. Andrew Tobias reports the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio told Rosenberger’s lawyer in a letter last week that “extremely unique facts and circumstances” led him to say in this case that Rosenberger is no longer the subject or target of an investigation. Spelling bee: One after the other, 245 local spelling champs, including 17 from Ohio, approached the microphone at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland, hoping to make it through the competition’s initial rounds. Sabrina Eaton reports that to succeed, they had to correctly spell a vocabulary word and pick the right definition for a different word, when given three possible choices. |
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CLE mood: Six years ago, Cleveland lawyer Jon Pinney shocked Northeast Ohioans with a City Club speech that outlined an exceedingly dark narrative about the city and its surrounding region, calling it “Dead last.” Cleveland’s mood seems to have lifted somewhat since 2018, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and violent protests that followed the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, reports Steven Litt. Baiju Shah, the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, spun a very different narrative about the city and the region in his May 15 keynote. Cigarette tax: Despite some reservations about extending the county’s cigarette tax for the arts, members of the Cuyahoga County Council Committee of the Whole voted unanimously to let voters decide the question in November, Steven Litt reports. If approved, the measure would replace the existing excise of 1.5 cents per cigarette to 3.5 cents, or from 30 cents for a pack of cigarettes to 70 cents. Rock Hall funding: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wants to borrow up to $50 million from investors through bonds issued by Cuyahoga County that would be repaid with pledged gifts from donors. Steven Litt reports bond proceeds would be used up front to pay for part of a $150 million expansion and renovation of Rock Hall’s building at North Coast Harbor, where construction of a new, 50,000-square-foot wing started in January. County offices: Cuyahoga County on Tuesday was expected to decide whether to lease the former Plain Dealer building as a new home for the Board of Elections headquarters and potentially Health and Human Services offices. Instead, council members sent it back to committee for additional discussion, Kaitlin Durbin reports. Solar energy: Five Cuyahoga County school districts will soon get a share of their energy needs from the sun, reports Peter Krouse. The county’s Solar for Schools program will provide $100,000 each to school systems in East Cleveland, Maple Heights, Euclid, Cuyahoga Heights and one other district yet to be named. Delinquent: Crimes have victims and the court is supposed to consider the harm they’ve suffered, too. Kaitlin Durbin and John Tucker in their Delinquent series bring you the story of one 16-year-old who went on a two-week robbery spree in 2019 that cost eight people their sense of safety and security on city streets. River channel: A section of the Cuyahoga River Old Channel is slated to be dredged starting next year to remove toxins that have been buried in sediment there for several decades, reports Peter Krouse. The project, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has been in planning stages for years, delayed in part by discussions over the scope of the work to be done, including whether a former graving dock connected to the channel should be part of the cleanup. RTA stations: The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority $16 million that it will use to rehabilitate eight stations to make the entire Blue Line accessible for people with disabilities, reports Sabrina Eaton. The Transportation Department’s Tuesday announcement said station upgrades will include replacing the 40-year-old platforms with new concrete platforms with tactile warning panels, installing redesigned ramps, elevating a platform section to access trains, and improving parking stalls with curb ramps to access the stations. Church fire: A fire Tuesday afternoon caused extensive damage to the roof of the historic St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral in the city’s Tremont neighborhood, Cliff Pinckard and Peter Krouse report. The church, located at 733 Starkweather Ave., is on the National Register of Historic Places and was featured in the movie “The Deer Hunter.” Grow Don’t Mow: Preparation, planting and maintenance for Grow Not Mow sites are guided by its impact on birds, bugs and water quality. Susan Brownstein reports the sites have far more non-native plants than native plants, so choosing your battles is important to make the best use of volunteer and monetary resources. |
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Health foundation: Akron's non-profit Summa Health will be sold to a venture capital firm. When the deal is done, General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Corp., known as HATCo, promises a new foundation will be funded with the remaining money from the sale once debts are settled up, reports Julie Washington. The sale price was not disclosed. MediCLE: As we head toward summer break, pool parties and beach vacations, Gretchen Cuda Kroen and Julie Washington are talking about skin cancer, specifically about the role of genetics in one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer: melanoma. Stock growth: Four large Ohio companies saw stock growth last week, half of which were Cleveland-area companies, reports Zachary Smith. This was led by Cleveland-based Transdigm Group, which experienced 4.5% growth, or an added $58.36 a share. It was followed by the Cleveland-area manufacturer Eaton Corp., which experienced 3.2% growth, or $10.65. Closure: Bistro on the Falls has permanently closed after nearly three years of business in Olmsted Falls, reports Paris Wolfe. Owner Marcelo Fadul confirmed to cleveland.com that he sold the building at 8134 Columbia Road to deal with some personal health issues. Perry shutdown: The Perry Nuclear Power Plant closed early Thursday so inspectors could find and repair a coolant leak, reports Sean McDonnell. The plant reopened Saturday and is now operating at full capacity. Parade of Homes: Potential homebuyers will have the chance to tour over a dozen new Northeast Ohio homes for the annual Parade of Homes starting Saturday, reports Megan Sims. The model homes are in Cleveland, Pepper Pike, Willoughby Hills, Aurora, Orange, Mentor, Bainbridge Township, Willoughby, Hinckley Township, Wadsworth, Columbia Township, Broadview Heights, Avon and Avon Lake. |
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Police documents: A federal judge late Friday ordered Cleveland officials to turn over documents they have withheld regarding police misconduct cases. Adam Ferrise reports U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver wrote in an order he was “disappointed” that city officials blew past a May 13 deadline Oliver previously set for the city to produce the records to the Community Police Commission. Game addiction: The mother of a 12-year-old Cuyahoga County boy has sued the companies that make popular video games, such as Fortnite and Madden, accusing them of intentionally designing games to make players addicted to them. Adam Ferrise reports that Sonya Foster said in the lawsuit that her son’s addiction caused him to suffer severe emotional distress, lose friends and exhibit bouts of extreme rage and anger. Club shooting: A man died and three others were injured Sunday in a shooting at a nightclub in downtown Cleveland. Olivia Mitchell reports the shooting happened shortly after 3 a.m. outside of Medusa Restaurant & Lounge, 1437 St. Clair Ave. Manslaughter: A Euclid man who shot and killed his sister’s boyfriend and wounded three other people last November in Richmond Heights was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison, reports Cory Shaffer. Raymond Melton Jr., 30, pleaded guilty on May 2 to charges of involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault and aggravated assault tied to the November shooting that left 26-year-old Joseph Garth dead. Playhouse Square stunts: Police say they are investigating a group of drivers who terrified people across Cleveland this weekend doing stunts on roads, including those who spun around a circle of fire under the chandelier on Playhouse Square. The incidents took place across the weekend as youths drove muscle cars and recorded the videos for online viewers. Akron chief: Brian Harding, Akron’s acting police chief since January, officially became the department’s leader Tuesday, reports Molly Walsh. Harding has led the force since Steve Mylett retired. He was named a finalist for the position in April. |
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Best burgers: While Clevelanders celebrate them every day throughout the impending summer season, International Burger Day is celebrated on May 28. We’d like to help you celebrate. You may recall that the “Best of Cleveland” team conducted a readers’ poll. Here are our favorites. 10-cent beer: Collision Bend Brewing Co. is holding 10 Cent Beer Night celebrations at its locations in Cleveland and Euclid, reports Marc Bona. The third annual 10 Cent Beer Night Re-Lived - 50th anniversary celebration is June 4. Needtobreathe: Needtobreathe, the South Carolina band originally made up of brothers William “Bear” Bryant and Nathanial “Bo” Bryant, is 20 years into its impressive career as purveyors of uplifting, anthemic Southern-flavored alt-rock with big choruses and catchy riffs. Malcolm X Abram reports the band will perform many of those anthems at Blossom Music Center on Saturday. Sia Nyorkor: WOIO Channel 19 news anchor-reporter Sia Nyorkor is leaving the station. The Indianapolis native announced this will be her last week at the local CBS affiliate, but she’s staying in Cleveland, Joey Morona reports. Ask Yadi: Can you let your kids run wild and unsupervised as long as they are in a restricted space? Yadi Rodriguez writes that while you can let your kids have a good time, you should be within eyesight. Skylight Nights: Tower City Center is staying open late Friday for the Skylight Nights shopping experience and dance party. The party starts at 8 p.m. It includes exclusive shopping deals, food and beverages, as well as music by Gumbo Dance Party featuring DJ Walk and DJ MYNameIsBravo, reports Paris Wolfe. |
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Bedford man shot to death on Cleveland’s East Side Read more Medina officials celebrate renovated workout room for city employees Read more Medina considering room tax for city hotels Read more South Euclid council honors life-saving firefighters; Mayfield Road gas line work to cause delays beginning June 3 Read more Fifteen applicants vie for vacant North Royalton school board seat Read more Water company crews will get the lead out on North Park Boulevard in Cleveland Heights Read more |
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