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The Wake Up

FRIDAY, AUG. 25, 2023

 

Most Americans say they want politicians to compromise for the good of the country. But when it comes to moral issues they hold sacred – like abortion or climate change – they might not budge. 

 

That’s what respondents said in a poll conducted by Baldwin Wallace, partnering with Braver Angels and cleveland.com as part of our civil discourse series.  

 

In practice, political compromise is rare. Once identity groups have formed, people within them tend to express hostility to outsiders, even when doing so is not in their best interest.  

 

Still, Americans could collaborate on common goals. 

 

For example, Lucas Daprile writes, abortion-rights proponents and opponents – both of whom say they care about women and babies – could work together to reduce Cuyahoga Couny’s appalling infant mortality rate, which, for Black women in Cuyahoga County is worse than in Venezuela. Those on opposite sides of the gun control debate – all of whom want to prevent gun deaths – could unite behind the goal of increasing access to gun safety education. 

 

We could work together to make life better.

 

– Laura

 

 

Overnight Scores and Weather

Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Gavin Williams, Guardians can’t stop Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman in 9-3 loss to Dodgers

 

Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Flooding still possible

 

 

Compromise is part of life, but it’s something that seems missing from national American politics.

Top Stories

Civil discourse: If policy were all that mattered, compromise on healthcare reform should have been an easy win for both parties, since individual mandates were a Republican idea. Instead, reports Lucas Daprile, Obamacare became a firestorm that illustrates how it is more beneficial for politicians to fight than to solve problems. One reason is that the polarization of America has sorted us into political identity groups.

 

Abortion language: Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board have decided on language to be printed on Nov. 7 ballots to explain the proposed abortion rights amendment – including phrases the measure’s backers say amount to propaganda. Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights is considering filing a lawsuit at the Ohio Supreme Court to compel the board to use more accurate language, reports Laura Hancock.

 

Safe drone flying: The Northeast Ohio Flight Information Exchange (NEOFIX) is supposed to help people navigate the skies with their drones, the same way highways and street signs help people navigate the roads. Sean McDonnell reports the new program from Baldwin Wallace University is essentially a place where drone operators can look through a map and see a host of information about where they’re flying, like weather conditions or ordinances that govern where they can and can’t fly.

 

Today in Ohio: Backers of a proposal to overhaul Ohio’s system of drawing political maps must rewrite language after Attorney General Dave Yost rejected the group’s summary of the proposed measure’s effects. We’re talking about the problems with the wording and how the step could make the idea easier for voters to understand on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.

 

 

Statehouse and Politics

National forest: Native American tribes whom Gen. Anthony Wayne helped remove from Ohio more than 200 years ago now want to remove his name from the Southeast Ohio’s Wayne National Forest. The Forest Service on Monday formally proposed changing the name of the 244,000-acre forest in the Appalachian foothills to the Buckeye National Forest “in response to requests from American Indian Tribes and local community members,” reports Sabrina Eaton. U.S. Sen. JD Vance on Thursday asked top Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials to oppose the change.

 

Redistricting: The Ohio Redistricting Commission is set to hold its first meeting on Sept. 13 to begin drawing new state legislative district boundaries for the 2024 election, reports Jeremy Pelzer. It’s the first time the seven-member redistricting commission has planned to meet since May 2022, when Republicans on the commission voted to re-approve a state legislative plan that the Ohio Supreme Court rejected as illegally gerrymandered.

 

Jordan inquiry: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan on Thursday announced he’s launching an inquiry into whether the Georgia district attorney who indicted ex-President Donald Trump on conspiracy charges coordinated her work with federal law enforcement. The House Judiciary Committee chairman sent a letter demanding that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis provide Jordan's committee with information on Willis' office’s communications with U.S. Department of Justice and executive branch officials and information on federal funding that the office receives, Sabrina Eaton reports.

 

 

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Northeast Ohio News

Judge 4 Yourself: Local legal associations gave high marks and recommendations to five of 11 candidates running for Cleveland Municipal judge in November, as part of Judge4Yourself.com. Molly Walsh reports the candidates include Jeff Johnson, a former state senator and Cleveland councilman; TJ Dow, also a former Cleveland councilman; Mark Majer, who served on the bench of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court; and Timothy Clary, an assistant county prosecutor.

 

Garage collapse: The Willowick parking garage that partially collapsed during Wednesday night’s storms is part of an apartment complex that has been under investigation previously involving maintenance code violations, reports John Tucker. At least two people were reportedly hospitalized after a portion of a parking deck at Shoregate Towers collapsed onto the level below it.

 

Severe weather: Another round of severe thunderstorms moved through Northeast Ohio on Thursday night and early this morning, sparking tornado warnings and wind gusts up to 70 mph while dumping more rain on an area already saturated from the previous day, Cliff Pinckard reports. More than 61,000 power outages were reported in Cuyahoga County early this morning.

 

Storm damage: From Amherst to Willowick, many residents across Northeast Ohio are bailing out of their basements, cleaning trees off roofs and taking debris off cars after storms tore through the region Wednesday and caused extensive flooding and buildings to collapse. Molly Walsh reports one Lakewood resident said this is the third time this summer his basement has flooded, when rain comes from the street and has nowhere else to go.

 

Ridge runner: While it is unusual for Lorain County to get more than 6 inches of rain from a round of thunderstorms in a short period of time, it’s common this time of year for the Great Lakes regions to experience what some call “ridge runner” storms, that pop up on the periphery of hot, high-pressure systems, reports Peter Krouse.

 

Weather facts: Through Wednesday, rain for the month in Cleveland totaled 5.81 inches, more than double the normal August amount of 2.62 inches by Aug. 23, as measured at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Zachary Smith has more facts from the storm. He also has the rain amounts for several cities in Northeast Ohio.

 

Rain totals: The 2.82 inches of rain recorded at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport over a 24-hour period ending just after dawn on Thursday was the second most of any major reporting station across Ohio. Yet in Greater Cleveland, spotters reported more rain in some locations, with the weather service saying there was up to 4.5 inches in some areas, Rich Exner reports.

 

Edgewater sewage: The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is warning swimmers to stay away from Edgewater Beach after rain overwhelmed the combined sewer system, causing sewage as well as stormwater to be discharged into Lake Erie. Peter Krouse reports it’s the third time this summer.

 

Roof collapse: The roof of the Pinball Shoppe in North Olmsted collapsed overnight as heavy rains hit Northeast Ohio, reports Sean McDonnell. The walls of the building, near the corner of Butternut Ridge and Lorain roads, were still standing Thursday morning. But the entire roof appears to have caved in.

 

 

Healthcare and Business

COVID numbers: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio rose yet again, from 4,226 last week to 5,361 this week, marking the seventh consecutive week of rising cases, reports Julie Washington.

 

Airlines we hate: Spirit Frontier, Allegiant, Breeze and other low-cost airlines. We travelers love to gripe about them. But Susan Glaser reports we clearly love to fly them, too – that’s why they’re some of the fastest-growing airlines, not only in Northeast Ohio but all over the United States.

 

$20 snowblower: Sean McDonnell bought a broken snowblower for $20, which is cheaper than a sturdy snow shovel. After some legwork and trial and error, it seems to be working. Is it worth buying and fixing used machines, like lawn mowers or washing machines? It can be, but it’s more of a gamble than an investment. 

 

 

Crime and Courts

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

'MasterChef': Jonida Preka Morelli’s journey has taken her from her native Albania to Cleveland to an appearance on an audition episode of the current season of hit foodie TV series “MasterChef.” Cooking was a side thing for Morelli, a musician. Marc Bona reports her passion and support of family and friends led her to the Fox show.

 

Tennis in the Land: For three years some of the best women’s tennis pros in the world have faced off on the West Bank of the Flats at Tennis in the Land. As a ballperson, Laura Johnston writes, you get to play a part.

 

Bash postponed: The second day of Bash on the Bay, Put-in-Bay’s annual music festival, has been postponed because of storm damage and flooding at the Put-in-Bay Airport.  Susan Glaser reports Tuesday’s show featured country music star Luke Bryan. 

 

 

You’re all caught up.

Don't forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.

 

— Curated by Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard

 

 

OTHER TOP STORIES

 

 

Inaugural Akron City Fest celebrating youth set for Sept. 3 Read more

 

Solon council looks to facilitate Hawthorn housing development Read more

 

Cleveland ranks No. 1 travel spot for most bang for your buck Read more

 

Council votes to move forward with design for Solon Community Park improvements Read more

 

Richmond Heights considers curbside recycling Read more

 

Westlake City Schools ramping up security Read more

 

North Olmsted and Illuminating Company team up for LED streetlight conversion Read more

 

OFCC plans visit to Parma Board of Education meeting to discuss waiver issue Read more

 

 

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