It was July 2008 when the FBI stunned Cuyahoga County, raiding government buildings and businesses across the area. Month after month, the investigation into county government snowballed as nearly 60 politicians, government officials and contractors were convicted after the investigation by the FBI and IRS. The scandal gave rise to a reform county government, as voters overwhelmingly approved replacing three commissioners and a host of independently elected offices with a county executive and council. Longtime county commissioner and county Democratic Party chairman Jimmy Dimora was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Prosecutors said Dimora made about $450,000 off bribes, including trips to Las Vegas, prostitutes and an infamous outdoor stone-fired pizza oven installed in the backyard of his Independence home. But he was released in 2023 because of COVID-19 and on Thursday, President Joe Biden commuted his sentence. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. Sunday, Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland. TV: WOIO Channel 19. Radio: WKRK FM/92.3, WNCX FM/98.5, WKNR AM/850. Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Gradual warming this weekend |
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Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, shown here during his 2010 arrest on widespread corruption charges, was granted clemency on Thursday by President Joe Biden. (Marvin Fong, Plain Dealer file photo) |
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Dimora clemency: President Joe Biden on Thursday commuted the sentence of disgraced former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, ending the former Democrat’s punishment for widespread corruption that landed him in prison for more than a decade and caused a complete overhaul of the county’s government. Adam Ferrise reports Biden granted Dimora’s request as part of the largest single granting of clemency in modern history. Today in Ohio: Ohio Senate Republicans on Wednesday passed legislation that would enable patients to force hospitals into administering drugs like ivermectin for off-label use if the hospital’s own physicians refuse. We’re talking about junk science on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Religion during school: Gov. Mike DeWine said a single statewide policy allowing students to leave school midday for religious instruction is necessary, indicating support for a bill advancing in the Ohio legislature that would mandate districts adopt policies for “released time.” Laura Hancock reports that as LifeWise Academy, a suburban Columbus Christian organization, rapidly expands programs across Ohio and the country, GOP lawmakers have pushed to require all districts to create a policy accommodating such groups. Browns stadium: Gov. Mike DeWine is becoming personally involved in the Browns stadium issue, holding meetings with team owners and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted tells Jeremy Pelzer that the governor wants to get both sides on the same page about a stadium deal. AirTags: State lawmakers on Wednesday voted to close a legal loophole and prohibit a person from using an AirTag or similar device to track a person’s whereabouts without their consent, reports Jake Zuckerman. The bill creates a new first-degree misdemeanor offense for the illegal use of a tracking device or application. However, that bumps up to a fourth-degree felony for a repeat offender, if the victim is under a protective order, if the offender has been deemed to pose a substantial risk of harm, or if the offender has a history of violence toward the victim. Presidential pardons: President Joe Biden on Thursday pardoned four Ohio veterans who were convicted of non-violent federal crimes when they were in their teens or early 20s. Two — Duran Brown and Jamal King — are from Northeast Ohio, reports Adam Ferrise. DeWine pardons: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday pardoned two Cuyahoga County women, Stacey Howard and Valerie Thomas. Lucas Daprile reports Howard was convicted in 2006 for aggravated assault, something that followed two cases for drug charges and grand theft. Thomas was last convicted in 2009 for unauthorized use of a vehicle, theft, carrying a concealed weapon and making false alarms. |
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Lead safety: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s October decision to impose stricter lead safety inspections on rental homes was abrupt, leaving the city unprepared to implement the changes, members of the city’s Lead Safe Advisory Board said Thursday. Sean McDonnell reports the executive order, which mandates more rigorous testing before homes can be deemed safe, followed troubling data showing that Cleveland’s lead-safe law has failed to protect young children from lead paint exposure. RTA: The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has purchased all of the new railcars it needs to replace the aging Red, Green and Blue Line fleets and is planning to bring them into service starting in 2027, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Drought: After two consecutive weeks of significant improvements, Ohio’s drought conditions have reached a standstill with little change in the last seven days. While Ohio’s historic drought levels have subsided, 66.3% of the state remains dry or in drought conditions, according to weekly data released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Zachary Smith explains what drought looks like in winter. Cold weather: John Kuntz has photos as Northeast Ohio residents bundled up to deal with very cold weather that has settled into the region. Dog licenses: Cuyahoga County pet owners have until Jan. 31 to renew their dog licenses, but those who pay early can save a couple of dollars, reports Kaitlin Durbin. |
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Community benefits: Two of Cleveland’s major hospitals say they collectively spent nearly $1 billion to address health disparities in Northeast Ohio in 2023, reports Julie Washington. The Cleveland Clinic reported an additional $1.46 billion in community impact spending, although that figure includes benefits tied to its operations in Ohio, Florida and Nevada. The nonprofit hospitals have been listed high in rankings of hospitals not doing enough to directly benefit their communities. COVID numbers: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio rose for the second week in a row, increasing from 3,081 last week to 3,812 this week, reports Julie Washington. Looking back at this same time last year, the state reported just over 14,000 cases. In early November 2023, Ohio’s weekly COVID-19 numbers began an upward curve that lasted through the holidays. |
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Poaching deer: A Southwest Ohio man was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in jail for poaching an 18-point buck, an animal that authorities described as a trophy deer, reports Lucas Daprile. Clinton County Common Pleas Judge John Rudduck also ordered Christopher “CJ” Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, to pay $43,000 in fines and penalties and spend five years on probation. Alexander also lost his hunting license for 10 years. Illegal gambling: Akron police arrested three men Wednesday and accused them of running an illegal gambling ring. Investigators executed a search warrant at 5 p.m. at a home in the 2200 block of East Avenue, reports Olivia Mitchell. Facebook robbery: Police say a suspect robbed two victims Wednesday after he arranged a sale on Facebook Marketplace, reports Olivia Mitchell. The robbery happened at 6:35 p.m. in the 1100 block of Morningview Avenue. |
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Ask Yadi: A woman was surprised to find her partner was taking Viagra. Should she say something? Yadi Rodriguez says no. Whatever the reason, he chose not to confide in you. Let him bring it up (no pun intended) when he’s ready. The Dugout: A seasonal bar called “The Dugout” is planned with a DORA for East Fourth Street in downtown Cleveland next year. Marc Bona reports the outdoor sports bar and ice cream concept is set to go in the current valet area off East Fourth Street next summer. Cleveland carol: The Philly Specials, which features Cleveland Heights native and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, released a third (and presumably final) holiday record. That “final” part might not hold, given that it’s officially a “chart-topper,” reports Peter Chakerian. Lost luggage: What Paris Wolfe learned about getting luggage back after her bag stayed behind in Spain. Things to do: The region is teeming with festive events and fun activities over the next few days, from wondrous holiday light displays, enchanting theater productions, charming Christmas markets, a possible Taylor Swift appearance and more. Joey Morona has a list of 28 things to do this weekend. |
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Port of Cleveland helps generate over $7 billion in economic impact, report shows Read more Multiple people wounded after shooting outside South Euclid home Read more While other private colleges struggle with finances, John Carroll University sees good times ahead Read more Middleburg Heights' 2025 budget continues infrastructure focus Read more Shaker Heights looks for savings by nixing some amenities from Doan Brook restoration plans Read more Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa: There are lots of fun ways to celebrate Read more Hudson Christkindlmarkt, with free admission, returns this week Read more Residential project at Pinecrest to be discussed at public information session Dec. 23 Read more Berea plans to sell city-owned site on The Mall for future home Read more |
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