Sam Randazzo, the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, died by suicide shortly after he was charged with accepting a $4.3 million bribe from FirstEnergy Corp. But his former companies continued to be prosecuted as part of the biggest bribery investigation in the history of Ohio, which sent former House Speaker Larry Householder to prison. Prosecutors say Randazzo used two companies to accept and conceal millions in bribes. One, the Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio, was solely owned by Randazzo, had no other employees, and its income flowed to him and his wife. The other was IEU-Ohio Administration Company. Both companies, prosecutors say, were paper-only instruments used to execute and conceal the scheme. They allowed Randazzo to play “all sides” of a case – representing interests of his clients, FirstEnergy and himself. On Tuesday, a Summit County judge approved a plea deal between the state and the companies. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. Washington Wizards: Cavs beat Wizards, but lose Darius Garland to injury in second half of 118-87 rout Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Snowy and windy |
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A Summit County judge on Tuesday approved a deal between the state and the Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio and the Industrial Energy Users of Ohio Administration Co., companies once owned and operated by Sam Randazzo, above, former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Randazzo companies: Two companies that prosecutors say a former utility regulator used to secretly accept a $4.3 million bribe from power company FirstEnergy Corp. will pay as much as $2.26 million in penalties and restitution in a deal struck with prosecutors, reports Jake Zuckerman. Gateway pay: Cuyahoga County is planning to go into debt to pay off Gateway’s debts for repairs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field, and the county doesn’t yet have a solution for how to keep up with millions in funding requests to come. The day after Cleveland City Council voted to pay its share, County Council was scheduled to vote on whether to pull $2.85 million from the county’s general fund, which pays for basic county services, and borrow another $14.5 million, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Today in Ohio: Cleveland City Council voted Monday to pay $20 million to Gateway for improvements to Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about how the city is borrowing millions to pay millionaires. |
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Police pensions: The Ohio House is set to vote Wednesday on legislation that would require Cleveland and other cities and villages to kick in more money to police pensions for the first time in decades, reports Jeremy Pelzer. House Bill 296, which was teed up for a full floor vote by the House Rules and Reference Committee on Tuesday, would make public employers of police officers pay an additional $70.1 million in total in 2027 and even more in future years based on inflation, according to estimates from the non-partisan Legislative Service Commission. Immigration check: An Ohio House committee on Tuesday passed legislation that would compel property managers in apartments and other recipients of state affordable housing tax credits to verify the immigration status of their tenants, Jake Zuckerman reports. Last year, Ohio enacted for the first time a $150 million state version of the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit, heralded by Republicans, affordable housing developers and advocates, and the business community as a meaningful step toward solving a well-documented housing shortage. Sykes’ residency: Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes can continue voting in Akron after GOP Secretary of State Frank LaRose ruled against Republicans who challenged her residency. In a ruling late last week, LaRose said the Republicans did not provide “clear and convincing” proof that the longtime state legislator had relocated to her husband’s residence in Columbus, reports Sabrina Eaton. Free speech: Legislation pending in the Ohio General Assembly takes aim at the use of the courts by deep-pocketed plaintiffs to silence critics from exercising free speech for fear of expensive litigation, Robert Higgs reports. Senate Bill 237 would combat a civil action known as a “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation,” or more simply a SLAPP, a suit that makes claims such as defamation and invasion of privacy to intimidate people exercising their rights to free speech. STEM scholarships: The state has made nearly $32.5 million available for the next five years for students pursuing degrees and certificates in science, technology, engineering and math, and education degrees and certificates with a STEM focus, reports Laura Hancock. |
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Gateway: Despite initial hesitation, Cleveland City Council on Monday passed a $20 million payment for repairs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and Progressive Field. Heading into Monday’s council meeting, President Blaine Griffin had expected it to be a tight vote. But council ultimately passed the measure, 13-3, reports Courtney Astolfi. Weather emergency: In response to lake-effect snow accumulations as deep as 5 feet and with more on the way, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, Sabrina Eaton reports. Euclid Beach: The famed Euclid Beach Park Arch may be moved after 100 years in the same location.The city of Cleveland has proposed relocating the arch to a new city park, Megan Sims reports. Train accident: A person was injured after being struck by a Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority train early Tuesday morning, Lucas Daprile reports. The incident happened about 12:40 a.m. at the Buckeye-Woodhill Rapid Station when the train hit a pedestrian who was on the tracks, said Robert Fleig, a spokesman for RTA. School spaces: Lakewood City Council this month is expected to approve a package of tax incentives for the developer turning a pair of historic former school buildings on Warren Road into office spaces. Cory Shaffer reports the city agreed earlier this year to grant Liberty Development Company a 75% commercial-tax abatement and 100% residential-tax abatement, as well as create a tax increment financing district at the property to reimburse the company for energy-efficient renovations of the 130-year-old elementary school buildings. Houseplants: There’s a subset of plants so hardy, so low-maintenance and so forgiving they practically thrive on benign neglect, writes Shayna Sharpe. |
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First class: Frontier Airlines, the low-cost carrier known for its cheap fares and cramped seating, is going upscale. Susan Glaser reports the carrier, which operates a crew base at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, will retrofit its airplanes to add a first-class seating section. Healthcare grants: Programs supporting school-based counseling, substance-use disorder recovery, free health screenings and more are among the local initiatives that recently received a total of $2 million in grants from the Three Arches Foundation. Three Arches, a community-focused grant-making foundation, distributed grants to 22 local nonprofit organizations working to address barriers to health care, reports Julie Washington. |
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Food bank crash: A stolen car rammed through the front entrance of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank early Tuesday, an incident police suspect was intentionally done. Officers responded to the agency at 5 a.m., reports Olivia Mitchell. Guilty pleas: Three men have admitted to taking part in a pair of slayings in Cleveland in 2020 when they were youths. Lucas Daprile reports Jihada Aaron, 21, Brian Cox Jr., 20, and Deric Thomas, 20, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges for their role in the fatal shooting of Anzaiyeh Brooks, 19, in November 2020. Parma shooting: A judge issued a $1 million bond Monday for a man accused of shooting two teens in an unprovoked incident in Parma, reports Olivia Mitchell. 9-year-old shot: A 9-year-old was shot in the back Tuesday by a 7-year-old after the two children found a gun in an apartment, reports Olivia Mitchell. When officers arrived, they learned that the 9-year-old was taken to a hospital in a private vehicle. Street takeovers: Cleveland police continue their hunt for those involved in street takeovers, as they have accused two more people and seized a Chevrolet Camaro stemming from the chaos of late September. Elicia Dix, 21, and Reuben Vazquez, 21 were arrested Saturday, Olivia Mitchell reports. ATM robbery: The FBI says a Richmond Heights man robbed an ATM service employee outside a South Euclid bank and stole $126,000, reports Adam Ferrise. Joel Travis, 20, carried out the October robbery in broad daylight a month after a judge sentenced him to wear a GPS-monitored ankle bracelet stemming from an attempted robbery conviction. |
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Ask Yadi: Who has control over the window shade on a flight? Yadi Rodriguez writes if you sit by the window, this does give you control over the window shade. Bagels: JB Bagelry is bringing new bagel and cream cheese flavors to Mayfield Heights. Paris Wolfe reports the shop is offering asiago onion, garlic bread, fruity pebbles and cheez-it bagels, among other new combinations. Blossom show: Turn-of-the-century hard rock bands Breaking Benjamin and Staind are teaming up for the “Awaken the Fallen” tour, promising a night of headbanging naughty aughties fun that includes a stop at Blossom Music Center on May 19. Malcolm X Abram reports Wage War and Lakeview will open. Ski resorts: Thanks to cold temperatures and a blast of lake-effect snow, several regional ski resorts plan to open this week, including Holiday Valley and Peek’n Peak in western New York. Susan Glaser reports Snow Trails near Mansfield also is opening. Ugly sweaters: Your “Best of Cleveland” team is celebrating the frigid temperatures, windswept lakefront and the magic of the holidays with cleveland.com’s “Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest.” We want you (and that loud, gaudy, tacky, garish pullover of yours) to be a part of it! |
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Authorities ID body found in Bay Village as missing Rocky River man Read more Another attempt is under way to recall University Heights’ Mayor Brennan Read more Man shot to death at gas station on Cleveland’s East Side Read more Slavic Full Gospel Church will expand under legal settlement with Broadview Heights Read more Shaker council considers slight addition for transformational projects in 2025 budget Read more Strongsville buys more than 3 acres of land next to Volunteer Park Read more Like the finance department, Cleveland Heights’ 2025 budget remains a work in progress Read more Brunswick highway interchange repeal heads to Ohio House vote Read more Broadview Heights extends moratorium on small-box stores, adds big-box businesses to the mix Read more Strongsville borrows $2.4 million to renovate recreation & senior center Read more Solon beefs up security at council meeting as concerns about antisemitism continue Read more Solon council approves funding for Phase 2 of improvements to Community Park Read more |
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