We’ve joked on our Today in Ohio podcast recently about the musical chairs of Ohio state government. All the current Republican office-holders are term-limited, so they’re all looking for new jobs. Attorney General Dave Yost is running for governor; Auditor Keith Faber is running for attorney general; Secretary of State Frank LaRose is running for auditor; and Treasurer Robert Sprague is running for secretary of state. We’ll have to wait until 2026 to see how the game shakes out. Meanwhile, on Monday, two familiar Ohio state leaders officially took new posts. Jim Tressel, the beloved former coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, was nominated for lieutenant governor by Gov. Mike DeWine (since Jon Husted is now out of the running as a U.S. senator). And former Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (the only member of the Democratic team of this bunch) was named president of Baldwin Wallace University. We may need a diagram to keep it all straight. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Cavs celebrate De’Andre Hunter’s debut with stifling 128-107 wire-to-wire win over Timberwolves Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Cloudy and chilly |
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Jim Tressel, a 72-year-old Medina resident who retired as president of Youngstown State University in 2023, will — if confirmed by the Ohio General Assembly — finish the final 22 months of Jon Husted’s term as lieutenant governor. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com) |
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Jim Tressel: Gov. Mike DeWine stunned Ohio on Monday as he nominated former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel as his lieutenant governor, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Tressel, 72, is best known as the national championship-winning head football coach of the Buckeyes, but his post-football career has mostly focused on higher education. Turnpike enforcement: It’s not just speeding that could get you nabbed by troopers on the Ohio Turnpike this year; you better keep your eyes on the road. Rich Exner reports that the State Highway Patrol and the Turnpike, citing hundreds of accidents over the past few years because of distracted driving, say watching for such habits will be a focus for the patrol throughout 2025. CLE banking: For the first time in more than 10 years, Cleveland has gotten local banks to commit on paper to doing more banking in Cleveland’s underserved neighborhoods, reports Sean McDonnell. KeyBank and JPMorgan Chase have signed agreements with city officials that spell out specific actions the banks plan on taking in Cleveland — like selling more mortgages to residents in low-income neighborhoods and financing more affordable housing projects. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine wants to send more help to parents and sports teams. But that would come at the cost to smokers and gamblers. We’re talking about DeWine’s push to raise sin taxes in order to pay for public programs on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Political signs: A new bill could shake up suburbia by creating a right to plant political yard signs — even if your homeowner’s association says you can’t, reports Anna Staver. House Bill 16 would let HOAs and local governments keep “reasonable restrictions” about where, when, how big and how many signs people displayed. But outright bans would be prohibited. School hours: The Ohio House is considering a bill that would allow Lakeside High School seniors in Ashtabula County to graduate despite not having the required class hours because of the weather this winter. Laura Hancock reports the shortage occurred after heavy, wet snow from a Thanksgiving weekend storm caused Lakeside’s roof to partially collapse, making the building uninhabitable. Fish stocks: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources last year stocked rivers, lakes and other bodies of water in the state with more than 46 million fish, including 11 different species. Peter Krouse reports the most stocked fish in Ohio last year was saugeye, a cross between sauger, primarily found in rivers, and walleye, mostly found in Lake Erie. |
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Heights fire: The state agency leading the investigation into the massive fire at the planned Marquee at Cedar Lee apartment complex has not found any evidence that the building was tampered with before the Jan. 24 fire, reports Cory Shaffer. Melody Stewart: Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart is joining the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections board, reports Kaitlin Durbin. She won the seat Saturday with 64% of the vote from members of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party’s executive committee. BW president: Baldwin Wallace University has announced the appointment of former Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher as its 10th president. Fisher, the current dean of the Cleveland State University College of Law, will assume his new role on July 1, reports Molly Walsh. Resistance Fair: More than 1,000 came together Saturday to push back at the political issues facing the country. They gathered Saturday at the Cleveland Heights- University Heights High School for the Resistance Fair, a chance to learn and talk about issues that have raised concerns among residents, Olivia Mitchell reports. Tax increases: Public school districts in Parma and Bay Village are asking voters this May to raise property taxes for operations and building improvements. They are the only tax increases on the ballot in Cuyahoga County, reports Cliff Pinckard. Providence House: Providence House is opening a new crisis nursery in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood this month, unlocking services for up to 300 more families every year. Kaitlin Durbin reports that over 99% of the children who come to Providence House’s crisis nursery are able to reunite with their families, avoiding foster care and adoption. School starts: Lorain City Schools is considering adjusting school start and end times for the 2025-26 academic year. The proposed changes, which address attendance, safety and instruction time, impact every grade level within the district. |
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St. Vincent: A new chapter in healthcare is taking shape at the partially shuttered St. Vincent medical campus in downtown Cleveland, in what leaders say is a first-of-its-kind receiving center to provide immediate care to people in behavioral or addiction-related crises. Julie Washington reports the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County is partnering with The Centers and Cuyahoga County to create a new $28 million behavioral health crisis receiving center at a three-story medical building. Medical help: Volunteer medical, dental and vision professionals, along with general support volunteers, will be needed for a free pop-up medical clinic coming to Ashtabula, reports Julie Washington. Sports betting: Ohio’s sportsbooks took in nearly $8.9 billion worth of bets during the state’s second year of legal sports gambling, an increase from $7.7 million in 2023. Zachary Smith reports online and in-person betting operations brought in less revenue than the previous year at $901.4 million, compared to $935 million in 2023. |
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Fugitive task force: A man who was previously deported and recently accused of violating his federal parole was arrested Friday by U.S. marshals, reports Olivia Mitchell. The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Hector Linares, 46, in the 24000 block of Lakeland Boulevard in Euclid during a traffic stop. 10-year-old shot: Authorities on Monday released the identity of a 10-year-old boy who was fatally shot on Cleveland’s East Side, reports Olivia Mitchell. Kaden Coleman of Cleveland died after he was wounded in the head Friday in the 3900 block of East 147th Street, near Glendale Avenue. Woman found dead: A woman was found shot to death in a car Sunday in the city’s Corlett neighborhood. Olivia Mitchell reports the victim was identified as Briekethia L. Pruitt, 39, of Cleveland. Drug smuggling: A Maumee man is accused of smuggling drugs into an Ohio prison by spraying Vice President JD Vance’s book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” with a synthetic marijuana compound, reports Adam Ferrise. Austin Siebert tried smuggling other drug-sprayed books into the Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County and attempted to recruit prisoners in two other state prisons to grow his operation, according to court records. |
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'The Voice': Cleveland.com social media producer Hayden Grove advanced through the first round of "The Voice," the long-running NBC singing competition, with a performance of "Mack the Knife," Joey Morona reports. Ask Lucas: If your husband lost a bunch of money gambling on the Super Bowl, has he learned his lesson? Lucas Daprile writes that you could start a money laundering ring. Working a criminal enterprise will also bring you closer together as a couple. Monster trucks: Bari Musawwir is a Cleveland Heights high school graduate who will show off his talent in the monster truck Zombie at Monster Jam Friday through Sunday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, reports Paris Wolfe. Drag race: Onya Nurve highlighted the Greater Cleveland art scene on a recent episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” by wearing an outfit from local designer FRISKMEGOOD. Alex Darus reports the brand is developed by designer Cierra Boyd, who designed an outfit Nurve showcased on the main stage during Episode 5 of Season 17 of the Emmy Award-winning show. JazzFest: Cuyahoga Community College has announced the lineup for the 46th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, happening from June 26 through June 28 at Playhouse Square, reports Malcolm X Abram. Doobie Brothers: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Doobie Brothers will hit the road in the U.K. and the United States this summer for their “Walk This Road Tour” and they will bring The Coral Reefer Band along for the jaunt. The duo of Boomer icons will stop at Blossom Music Center on Sept. 17, reports Malcolm X Abram. BNL: Canadian alt-rockers Barenaked Ladies have revealed a 38-date “Last Summer on Earth Tour” for 2025. Peter Chakerian reports their itinerary brings them to Blossom Music Center on Aug. 1, with fellow 1990s favorites Sugar Ray and Fastball opening. Doug Katz: Doug Katz, who was raised in Shaker Heights, has been cultivating his culinary career for the better part of 50 years. Marc Bona reports he was one of several Greater Cleveland chefs to garner nods as semifinalists in the annual James Beard Foundation Awards. |
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Elyria police say handcuffed suspect who escaped likely is with girlfriend Read more Lorain police arrest Grafton woman in connection to fatal hit-and-run Read more Cuyahoga County grand jury indicts four on rape charges Read more Former Garfield Memorial Church site in South Euclid to become home of Mt. Zion Fellowship Church Read more Rocky River Senior Center will see major renovations in 2025 Read more Plan for 17 homes on former school site moves forward in North Royalton Read more Ohio college launches new pathway program for nurse anesthesia students Read more |
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