Netflix suit: A federal class-action lawsuit involving Maple Heights and 2,000 other U.S. communities against Netflix and Hulu took a detour Wednesday through the Ohio Supreme Court, with Maple Heights officials asking state justices to define the streaming giants as “video service providers.” If the Supreme Court agrees, the streaming services would be subject to the same video service provider fees paid by cable companies, reports Laura Hancock.
Warrants: The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously rejected an appeal by the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office to issue “material witness” warrants for a shooting victim and his mother to ensure they would testify at his alleged assailant’s trial. Jeremy Pelzer reports that judges said prosecutors failed to serve subpoenas on Miller or Ford or ensure they had knowledge of the subpoenas.
METRO
State of the City: Marking his 100th day in office on Wednesday, Mayor Justin Bibb delivered his first State of the City address to a filled auditorium, doubling down on pledges to modernize City Hall, invest in neighborhoods and make Cleveland “a national model” for police reform, Courtney Astolfi reports. Bibb gave the audience a snapshot of the work his administration has undertaken so far, including early steps toward police reform, a pledge of millions of dollars toward reducing lead poisoning, changes to West Side Market operations, and efforts to boost the city’s 48% vaccination rate, which he said was up three percentage points since January.
Holiday services: Some Greater Cleveland religious leaders say the first Easter and Passover since the pandemic eased could still draw few people to services as more congregations are streaming services. Others say they could see more people return. Alexis Oatman reports that two years after the coronavirus closed in-person services in many churches and synagogues, it is uncertain how many people will attend Passover and Easter in a house of worship this weekend.
Fish stocking: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife stocks more than 40 million fish each year throughout the state and Lake Erie with the goal of enhancing sport fishing in Ohio. Josh Gunter has photos.
I-90: Two videos from an Ohio Department of Transportation traffic camera show two cars drive off an Interstate 90 overpass almost three weeks apart, partly because of a snow embankment on the side of the road. Olivia Mitchell reports the embankment served as a ramp for both cars to hurtle off the interstate and flip over several times before they landed on West 98th Street.
Life expectancy: Ohio is among the lowest-ranked states in terms of life expectancy, reports Zachary Smith. The report ranked Ohio 41st for total life expectancy with an average age of 76.9, tied with Missouri and New Mexico.
County appointees: In his final months of office, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish has been nominating a series of appointees to various county boards for terms ranging from two to five years, reports Kaitlin Durbin.
BUSINESS
Clevo Books: Focusing on translated texts from around the world, Clevo Books offers something that’s both specific and far-reaching in Northeast Ohio’s literary scene. Annie Nickoloff reports the shop opened in downtown Cleveland’s Fifth Street Arcades on March 31, with a selection of books that were originally written in different languages and later translated into English, along with a small selection of local lit, puzzles and accessories.
PD building: The owner of The Plain Dealer building in downtown Cleveland has a deal to sell the property, which will result in the departure of the journalists and other staff that run cleveland.com and put out the newspaper, Eric Heisig reports.
COVID-19 & HEALTHCARE
No spike: Rising COVID-19 case rates are causing concern in parts of the United States, but not locally, Cuyahoga County health officials said Wednesday. Julie Washington reports no COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Cuyahoga County during the past three weeks, and the county has a low level of community transmission, averaging 50 new cases per day.
Data breach: About 1,700 MetroHealth System patients were affected by a privacy breach affecting patient records, Julie Washington reports. On Nov. 13, 2021, during an upgrade to the health system’s electronic medical record system, a limited number of patients’ records were unintentionally affected, MetroHealth said.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Jail death: A 39-year-old Cuyahoga County Jail inmate who died on Monday wasn’t checked on by guards for about 30 minutes and was found unconscious next to marijuana and a yet-to-be identified “white powdery substance,” reports Adam Ferrise. The medical examiner has not yet ruled on Shondo Moffitt’s cause of death.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Venues conference: The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) will invite members from around the country to Cleveland for its first-ever conference, set for July 11-12, reports Annie Nickoloff.
Progressive Field: Fans of the Guardians will see a few changes at Progressive Field this season, with new food offerings and ticket deals. Marc Bona has the details.
First pitch: When Tom Hanks throws out the ceremonial first pitch Friday at Progressive Field, it carries several historical connections between baseball, Hanks and Cleveland. He attended games in Municipal Stadium, and the fandom he developed for Cleveland baseball stayed with him over the years, reports Marc Bona.
Easter candy: Looking to find more elevated delicacies than the mass-produced Peeps, jelly beans and chocolate bunnies with which to fill your baskets? The Best of Cleveland team made the rounds to 16 local candy shops to scope out the most distinctive, delicious Easter candies you can find on the North Coast.
Donut Fest: Donut Fest Cleveland will celebrate the city’s best donuts and coffee. The event will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 at Red Space, 2400 Superior Ave., celebrating everything about the sugary treat, Annie Nickoloff reports.
