About 35% of Cleveland residents smoke cigarettes, nearly double the 18% rate across Ohio, and nearly triple the 13% of all Americans.
To address the health risks that stem from smoking, Mayor Justin Bibb has proposed banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and flavored vape products.
City Council is still reviewing the proposal, but it's been moot thanks to a state law Republicans passed to ban cities from having tobacco restrictions stricter than what appears in state law. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the law, but his fellow Republicans overturned a veto from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine just as a law in Columbus was set to go into effect.
Now a Franklin County judge has ruled in favor of cities by issuing a permanent injunction blocking the law from taking effect in cities that sued.
“Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disease, and disability in the country,” Cleveland Public Health Department Director David Margolius said. “We look forward to continuing the conversation to develop a policy to help here in Cleveland.”
-Laura
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Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Menthol cigarettes on display in a store in San Francisco in 2018. Cleveland is in position to continue pursuing Mayor Justin Bibb's proposal to ban flavored tobacco products - at least for now - after a Franklin County judge struck down a new state law preempting cities from passing their own tobacco regulations. (AP) |
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Home rule: Cleveland can continue pursuing Mayor Justin Bibb’s proposal to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and to more heavily enforce an under-21 sales ban — at least for now — after a judge in Columbus on Friday blocked a new state law that preempts cities from setting their own tobacco regulations. Laura Hancock reports the judge said the law violates cities’ home rule powers granted in the state constitution. Hopkins bathrooms: Work is complete on the first of 13 restroom renovations at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The bathrooms across from the food court recently reopened – with new counters, flooring, wall tile, stall doors and fixtures, all designed to make them easier and quicker to clean. Susan Glaser reports the work is part of a two-year, $2.7-million project to renovate 13 of the highest-use restrooms at the airport. Today in Ohio: Ohio’s entry into recreational marijuana will launch in coming weeks with long lines, high prices and limited supply for customer. We’re expecting Ohio adults to flood the retail businesses on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Pot stance: Following years of voicing concerns about legalizing marijuana, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown changed his position this year, writing a Saturday social media post that said: “It’s time to legalize marijuana across the country.” After telling reporters as recently as 2022 that he did not back “wholesale legalization” of marijuana but wanted to decriminalize it to address the problem of people imprisoned for possessing small amounts, the Cleveland Democrat last year began moving towards legalization support, reports Sabrina Eaton. Election spending: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose got permission from a state spending panel on Monday to spend millions of dollars on the upcoming November election. Andrew Tobias reports that includes $2.5 million to send unsolicited absentee ballot applications to all 8 million of Ohio’s registered voters, plus a $1.8 million transfer, or change to previously approved money, to cover the costs of postage for the applications. Constitutional amendment: The campaign backing a constitutional amendment to make it easier to sue police for excessive use of force on Monday moved to dismiss its Ohio Supreme Court challenge against Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. That’s because the campaign, called Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights, has a parallel, similar lawsuit in federal court and was able to get the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati, to expedite the federal case, reports Laura Hancock. |
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Opioids alone: A staggering number of Cuyahoga County residents are dying from opioid overdoses while using drugs alone, without a companion to call for help if something goes wrong. But Hannah Drown reports a recently launched mobile app could bridge the gap between isolation and safety. Convention center: George Hillow has announced he will resign as executive director of the Cuyahoga County Convention Facilities Development Corporation, or CCCFDC, on Nov. 1. Kaitlin Durbin reports Hillow has headed the taxpayer-funded nonprofit, which oversees the county’s convention center and former Global Center for Health Innovation, since 2015. Memorial Day events: Memorial Day, the unofficial kick-off to summer, means it’s time for families to celebrate the three-day weekend with picnics and parties. Local communities have also scheduled various events from Friday, May 24, through Memorial Day on Monday, May 27, reminding residents about the meaning of the holiday, which honors those who died while serving in the military. John Benson has a list. Delinquent: Demetrius tried many interventions over the years, following low-level offenses, but his criminal behavior continued, reports Kaitlin Durbin and John Tucker in their series, Delinquent. The shooting, however, was the first time he’d been accused of serious violence. The outcome of that case brought any progress he was finally making to a dead stop. |
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Stock growth: Seven large Ohio companies saw stock growth of over 1% last week, including two Cleveland-area companies, reports Zachary Smith. This was led by Columbus-based Bath & Body Works, which experienced 5.5% growth, or an added $2.61 a share. It was followed by Toledo real estate investment company Welltower, which experienced 2.5% growth or $2.46. 7 Brew: Drive-through coffee brand 7 Brew literally dropped into Middleburg Heights and Parma last week. That’s when a crane placed the future coffee stand buildings onto their sites, reports Paris Wolfe. Shearer’s: Massillon-based potato chip maker Shearer’s Foods is expanding, and will open a new facility in Moraine, about five miles south of Dayton. Sean McDonnell reports that Shearer’s Foods won a state tax credit worth $1.4 million at Ohio’s Tax Credit Authority meeting Monday morning. Home sales: April median homes prices in Cuyahoga County show the second largest increase this year, reports Megan Sims. Data collected by cleveland.com showed that the median price for single-family homes closed in April was $177,500. This was an $13,600 from March, which saw home prices at $163,900. So far, the largest increase was between January and February, which was $15,000. Stroke risk: Are you at risk for a stroke, a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States? Find out by getting a free stroke risk assessment at various University Hospitals locations this month, reports Julie Washington. Hospice walk: Hospice of the Western Reserve will hold its annual Walk to Remember fundraiser on Sunday, June 9 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. |
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Murder charge: A teenager who shot a Cleveland police detective last March is now charged with aggravated murder in a slaying that took place two months earlier, reports Cory Shaffer. Jayrion Church is serving a 20-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges in the March 13, 2023, shooting of Det. Mark Bahrijczuk. Anti-abortion intimidation: The Justice Department on Monday filed suit against two anti-abortion organizations and several members who federal attorneys say intimidated patients at two reproductive clinics in Northeast Ohio. Prosecutors accused Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, Red Rose Rescue and seven people of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 law that prohibits people from interfering with patients and staff members at the facilities. Motorcycle crash: A 28-year-old man died after crashing his motorcycle into a utility pole in Parma early Monday morning, reports Molly Walsh. The man was driving a 2008 Honda Shadow northbound on State Road at about 1 a.m. Fatal shooting: Police are investigating the slaying of a 67-year-old man who was fatally shot Friday in the city’s Lee-Miles neighborhood, reports Olivia Mitchell. Body found: A badly decomposed body was found Sunday behind a vacant funeral home in East Cleveland, reports Olivia Mitchell. East Cleveland police received multiple calls that a dead body had been found behind a building located at 15357 Euclid Ave., according to Kenneth Lundy, the department’s acting chief. Police arrived at the scene about 8:35 a.m. and discovered the body of a partially clothed man. |
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Ask Lucas: If your neighbor keeps his lawn like Augusta National Golf Club, how can you avoid the negative stigma of not cutting your grass? Lucas Daprile writes that just because your neighbor has boring hobbies doesn’t mean you need to join him. Taylor in CLE? The Cleveland Browns’ home game against the Kansas City Chiefs is still seven months away, but already the chatter is alive on whether Taylor Swift will be in town for the Dec. 15 game. Robert Higgs reports that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a native of Cleveland Heights, will be making a homecoming. But will Taylor Swift, the second half of America’s favorite couple, be in town to cheer her boyfriend? In the Heights: “In the Heights,” Cleveland Play House’s season finale, might be the most unexpected show the regional theater has put on in years, reports Joey Morona. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s debut — CPH’s first main-stage musical since 2021 — is an elaborate and electrifying extravaganza with the look, feel and talent typically associated with the national touring Broadway productions next door at Playhouse Square. Art cinema: A not-so-hidden gem that has become a staple of the Rubber City’s arts scene, reports Malcolm X Abram. The downtown Nightlight Cinema at 30 N. High St, is currently a cozy 42-person single-screen movie arthouse that shows an impressive and carefully curated array of highfalutin’ arthouse films, future Oscar nominees and film festival winners, along with the occasional fun retro flick to tickle moviegoers’ nostalgia bones. Dog dive: Doodle Drive-In offers a casual, relaxed patio, a peaceful bubbling fountain and a calm setting to hang out, take in the sun and enjoy a specially made nosh in Cuyahoga Falls. And that’s for the dogs. Marc Bona reports that Laura and Mike Grguric bought Retro Dog, which was around for eight years before becoming a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic, and turned it into Doodle Drive-In. Jamaican Kitchen: Irie Jamaican Kitchen will open its anticipated Lakewood location this week. Alex Darus reports the fast-casual restaurant has several locations in Old Brooklyn, Akron, Euclid and Shaker Heights. Its customizable menu is set up with options for bowls, boxes, rasta pasta or mac & cheese. Summer concerts: The Cleveland Metroparks summer concert series is back, with locations in six of the park’s waterfronts, reports Zachary Smith. Beginning June 13, concerts will be held every Thursday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at places like Merwin’s Wharf, Edgewater Beach, and Euclid Beach. |
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Shaker council sets one more public hearing for JCU off-campus student housing on Fairmount Circle Read more Rocky River High School’s Jane Rathbun achieves perfect ACT score Read more Joseph Burke settling into new job as a Rocky River Municipal Court judge Read more |
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