Don’t say gay: Ohio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Stivers said Wednesday that the organization has concerns about a new bill in the Ohio House that blends parts of Florida’s so-called “don’t-say-gay” law with an Ohio measure that attempts to control how teachers can talk to students about racism in history and current events. Laura Hancock reports the organization represents some of the state’s largest companies and employers.
Intel funding: The Ohio legislature has voted to set aside $85 million for development costs associated with a massive planned Intel factory in the Columbus area. State officials said the $85 million is an early installment of the more than $2 billion state officials pledged to help lure the plant, Andrew Tobias reports.
METRO
Deshaun Watson: The 22 lawsuits filed against Deshaun Watson contain detailed allegations that, if substantiated, indicate clear violations of Texas and Ohio sexual-misconduct laws. But the public may never know exactly what amount of evidence police investigators collected and prosecutors presented to grand jurors. Cory Shaffer reports the bulk of what Watson is accused of doing would be considered misdemeanors.
Whistleblower policy: In what is expected to be the final revision, Cuyahoga County Council members compromised Tuesday on a whistleblower policy that limits mandatory reporting only to elected officials, employees and board members with “actual knowledge” of county ethics violations. Kaitlin Durbin reports the policy takes employees off the hook for having to speak up if they know the violation has already been reported by someone else, a copy of the new proposed legislation shows.
Stimulus spending: Cuyahoga County hasn’t approved – or even officially announced – setting aside $66 million in American Rescue Plan money to create discretionary funds for each of the councilmembers to dispense on projects of their choosing, but some of it is already being pledged. Kaitlin Durbin reports Councilwoman Cheryl Stephens has promised city officials in her district that she would try to use $120,000 out of her expected $6 million share to revive a long-discussed Cedar Road repaving project that University Heights Council recently voted down for being too expensive.
Asian Ohioans: One out of every five residents of the Columbus suburb of Dublin is Asian, representing the highest concentration for any Ohio city, according to the U.S. Census. Zachary Smith reports that in Greater Cleveland, Pepper Pike (15.6%), Solon (15.2%), Beachwood (13.2%), and Middleburg Heights (10.3%) have the highest Asian populations.
Marijuana misdemeanors: Cleveland officials on Wednesday filed motions to expunge more than 4,000 convictions involving misdemeanor marijuana cases. The filings would wipe out 4,077 cases that date back to 2017 for possession of 20 grams or less under the city’s ordinance, reports Olivia Mitchell.
BUSINESS
MKHSTRY: Jeff Charney, the former Progressive Insurance chief marketing officer behind characters like Flo, the Aflac Duck and Dr. Rick, launched MKHSTRY, his new marketing collective that makes potential customers take a 75-question test as a “bravery barometer” before they’re invited to hire his new company. Sean McDonnell reports that the agency is built around accelerating ideas and getting brands and agencies to do things in new ways.
NBA trophy: The NBA unveiled the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy on Sunday, and while it depicts the NBA legend holding a basketball, three Clevelanders had a hand in designing the new award. Sean McDonnell reports the trophy will be awarded each year to the league’s Social Justice Champion.
CRIME
Homicide investigation: Reports say Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s brother was found dead Tuesday inside a burned residence in Hampton, Virginia, and police are investigating it as a homicide, Mary Kay Cabot reports. Joshua Emmanuel Owusu-Koramoah, 23, a former linebacker for William and Mary, is one year older than the Browns second-year linebacker.
Guilty plea: An Aurora woman who struck and killed a man after a night of drinking at a popular Chagrin Falls dive bar will serve prison time, Cory Shaffer reports. Brooke Marie Jarvis, 30, whose family owns an Aurora-based international insurance agency that insures horses and farms in more than 30 countries, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to reckless homicide in the March 26, 2021, death of Chadwick McIntosh.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
CLE Rocks: “CLE Rocks Presents… No Sleep Till Cleveland” will revisit the legacies of The Agora, Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland Stadium, Public Auditorium, Leo’s Casino, Musicarninval and more during a free event at Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland’s Flats. Troy Smith celebrates the area’s lineage of premier concert halls, arenas and clubs.
