Rhodes Tower stands out on Cleveland’s skyline, blocks from downtown’s skyscraper core. At 21 stories and 363 feet tall, the Cleveland State University building is the fourth-tallest educational-purposed building in the United States. It was built in 1971 in the now unfashionable architectural style known as Brutalism and much of it has been mothballed for years. The university considered demolishing the tower but concluded that it would have made no financial sense. “It’s a critical piece of our identity,’’ one official said in 2022. “It’s still a workhorse. It’s on the skyline.’’ Instead, CSU decided to renovate the icon. The state on Wednesday announced a $5 million tax credit for a $91.6 million renovation to turn the tower into 500 new student residences, a new main library and classroom space. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Cold, windy conditions |
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Rhodes Tower has been an easily recognizable part of the Cleveland State University campus since 1971. (Lisa DeJong, Plain Dealer file photo) |
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Rhodes Tower: Gov. Mike DeWine announced $56 million in historic tax credits Wednesday to support 37 projects in 15 communities. DeWine’s office said the credits are paired with about $715 million in private investment. Today in Ohio: An Ohio Supreme Court ruling Tuesday all but cast a death knell over a $650 million judgment two Ohio counties won from chain pharmacy operators for their role in sparking an opioid epidemic. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about how the state’s Supreme Court could intervene in a federal case. |
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Sherrod Brown: In his last-ever hearing as chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown accused president-elect Donald Trump of “opening up our government to the highest bidder” and said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau needs to stay “the one place where ordinary Americans can go that will fight for them,” reports Sabrina Eaton. SLAPP: House lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday designed to prevent often-wealthy plaintiffs from using frivolous lawsuits to silence critics who fear expensive costs of litigation, reports Jake Zuckerman. House lawmakers passed Senate Bill 237 with protections against what’s known as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or SLAPP. Ivermectin: Senate Republicans on Wednesday passed legislation that would enable patients to force hospitals into administering drugs for off-label use if the hospital’s own physicians refuse. Jake Zuckerman reports the legislation comes after a COVID-19 pandemic when conservatives came to believe that drugs like hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin, neither of which have been proven to benefit COVID-19 patients, would cure, treat or prevent their infections. Fracking expansion: Oil and gas producers would be allowed to extend fracking operations on state parks and wildlife areas from a maximum of six years to eight under a bill passed Wednesday by the Ohio Senate, Laura Hancock reports. The chamber passed a separate bill Wednesday that would make it easier for the Ohio attorney general to reject a citizens' proposed initiated statue or constitutional amendment at the beginning stages of the process to qualify for the ballot. |
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Syria: Northeast Ohioans of Syrian descent have been responding in celebration to the news thousands of miles away that Syrian rebels stormed the capital city of Damascus and toppled Bashar al-Assad’s decades-long dictatorship. The Assad regime has been a significant contributor to the increase of Syrian refugees to Cleveland and the United States, reports Zachary Smith. More than 500 Syrian refugees have come to Cleveland in the past three years. Strano lawsuit: Former WKYC Channel 3 personality Hollie Strano, who was fired by the station earlier this year, claims in a lawsuit that she was let go unfairly. Strano claims that the reason given for her dismissal, which had to do with a social media post she made last summer, was “merely pretext for discrimination," Peter Krouse reports. BW theater: Baldwin Wallace University has named Jennifer Hemphill as professor of music theater and music theater director, reports Joey Morona. The university described the hire as the first step in assembling a new leadership team to replace program director Victoria Bussert. Fresh water: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has tapped the first program director for his flagship environmental sustainability initiative focused on the region’s water resources. Cory Shaffer reports that Emily Bacha, currently the vice president of public affairs at the Ohio Environmental Council, will join the Fresh Water Institute on Jan. 13. Cleveland fire: Fire investigators are looking to determine the cause of a fire that damaged two homes Tuesday on the city’s East Side, reports Olivia Mitchell. Firefighters were called about 1:40 p.m. to a home in the 2100 block of East 68th Street, south of Cedar Road. |
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Health survey: A new, comprehensive survey is underway to gather important data about the health of Cleveland residents, reports Julie Washington. Cleveland residents can help researchers gather data on chronic health conditions, preventative health and more by participating in the ongoing Cleveland Health Survey, a collaboration between the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Department of Public Health. |
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Brother, sister dead: A shooting in a parking lot outside a Euclid apartment complex has left two people dead, reports Lucas Daprile. Authorities identified the victims as Antwon Grier, 20, of Cleveland, and Mariana Grier, 21, of Euclid. The two were brother and sister. |
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Taylor Swift: Is Taylor Swift entering her “Cleveland Era” now that her two-year-long Eras Tour has ended? Buzz across the city is deafening and we’re finding it hard to “Shake it Off.” Peter Chakerian reports that with hometown hero-beau Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs arriving to battle the Browns this Sunday, Swifties all over Northeast Ohio hoping to catch a glimpse of the singer are wondering: Will she be hanging out in town? Motorcycling through Spain: Traveling by motorcycle gives you panoramic views and full access to the aromas of nature. Paris Wolfe covered 1,500 miles over two weeks in Spain and Portugal with a motorcycle tour. Read her nine highlights and must-try foods. MLK concert: The Cleveland Orchestra is hosting its 45th anniversary concert honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 19. While the concert is free, tickets become available on a first-come, first-served basis on Jan. 4, Paris Wolfe reports. Best popcorn: Yadi Rodriguez and Peter Chakerian tackle 24 different name brands of microwave butter-flavored popcorn so you don’t have to. We popped them, tried them and ranked them as only we can. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Cleveland hip-hop legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have two “homecoming” shows booked for Dec. 19-20 at House of Blues – part of that venue’s 20th anniversary, reports Peter Chakerian. |
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Seventh person sentenced to prison for murder of pregnant woman Read more Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education to host annual youth arts, writing contest Read more The sound of Christmas rings true: Churches mark the holiday with pealing of historic bells Read more Solon Schools plan for Kindergarten Information Night, registration for next fall Read more Solon Schools earns high marks in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 education rankings Read more |
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