For decades, millions of Americans paid into Social Security with their wages but couldn’t collect the benefits when they retired. That’s because of laws passed in the 1970s and 1980s which reduced the benefits of individuals who also received a public pensions from their jobs as firefighters, teachers, bus drivers, corrections officers or government workers. Public service workers nationwide organized petitions, letter-writing campaigns, called representatives in Congress and visited Washington for face-to face meetings with their representatives. They won. The laws were repealed. And the bipartisan change will increase the Social Security payments of affected workers by an average of $360 per month. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Windy and cold with more snow |
|
|
President Joe Biden signs the Social Security Fairness Act during a ceremony on Jan. 5 in the East Room of the White House. (Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press file photo) |
|
|
Social Security: Sabrina Eaton reports the Social Security Fairness Act repeals two laws that affect around 2.5 million people whose earned Social Security benefits were cut because they also collected pensions from jobs where they hadn’t paid into Social Security. Law firm: Mayor Justin Bibb is firing a law firm that was helping Cleveland raise funds for waterfront development as well as ballpark and arena repairs because the firm is now representing Brook Park as it tries to attract the Browns. Sean McDonnell reports Cleveland Law Director Mark Griffin sent a letter to Bricker Graydon LLP on Wednesday saying he “was extremely disappointed” with the law firm’s decision to represent Brook Park on the Browns’ stadium issues. Provisional ballots: State data shows that election officials rejected more than 7,000 Ohioans' provisional ballots in the 2024 elections for lack of proper identification, new state data shows, a record number. Jake Zuckerman reports that the spike in rejections comes after Statehouse Republicans in 2023 enacted one of the strictest voter photo identification requirements in the nation. Unemployment overhaul: Ohio’s unemployment benefits office is resuming a long-anticipated overhaul of its 21-year-old computer system, more than two years after federal prosecutors indicted top officials with the company initially hired to do the work, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Today in Ohio: When Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was at Mar-a-Lago with Republican governors, DeWine said he planned to name a new U.S. senator this week. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about who might replace JD Vance. |
|
|
Republican threats: Republican state leaders have been receiving threatening letters, including with white powdery substances. Anna Staver reports the State Highway Patrol handles security for the Statehouse and directed cleveland.com to contact the “lead agency on this investigation," the FBI field office in Cincinnati. |
|
|
Council committees: Along with new leadership, Cuyahoga County’s 11 council members are getting new committee assignments for 2025 and 2026, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Council has nine specialized committees that work to vet proposed legislation relating to health and human services, education, public safety and other key topics. Toboggan injury: A 36-year-old man suffered a leg injury Friday when he struck a barrier at full speed on the toboggan chute at the Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville. Olivia Mitchell reports the barrier turned out to be a slowing mat for riders, which should have been rolled out. Avon Lake schools: The Avon Lake City School District Board of Education held a special meeting on Jan. 6 to explore solutions for the district’s school building and facilities needs, reports Hannah Drown. The discussion centered on new survey results and various construction options. Market closing: The West Side Market will be closed all day on Wednesday for proactive work on the refrigeration system, reports Paris Wolfe. It will reopen as usual at 8 a.m. Friday. |
|
|
Indiana hospital: The Cleveland Clinic will add a second member to its Cleveland Clinic Connected Program that allows the hospital systems to share best practices. Julie Washington reports the new member is Columbus Regional Health, which serves a 10-county region in southeastern Indiana. Trauma app: Matt Kalina, of Lakewood, was inspired to create a free app, TandemStride, that connects trauma survivors with volunteer peer counselors who have similar wounds or amputations. Julie Washington reports the app allows experienced trauma survivors to support those who are beginning their healing journey and help them navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. Sports betting: Ohio’s sports-betting companies in November smashed the 2024 record set in October as bets continued their month-over-month rise. Combined, the companies took in over $1 billion of bets in November, according to data compiled from the Ohio Casino Control and Ohio Lottery commissions, an increase from $903 million in October. After paying out winnings and voided wagers, the companies generated over $117 million in revenue, Zachary Smith reports. Akron development: Akron is a step closer to revitalizing the Downtown Akron Development Corp. after surpassing its funding goals, reports Megan Sims. The Knight Foundation, which supports various programs across 26 communities around the country, is providing a $1.5 million grant over three years to kick-start momentum for the organization. |
|
|
Force lawsuit: An Akron woman who was body-slammed by a police officer and later acquitted of all charges in connection with the incident sued the city and several police officers, reports Adam Ferrise. Dierra Fields accused the officers of using excessive force, the police department of carrying out a pattern of violence against Black residents and the city’s law department of wrongful prosecution. Teen shot: A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot Sunday on the city’s East Side. The shooting happened about 11:15 p.m. on Hoppensack Avenue, near East 65th Street, Olivia Mitchell reports. |
|
|
Ask Lucas: How do you deal with Ohio State football fans driving you nuts ahead of the national championship game? Lucas Daprile writes, “As annoying as the scarlet and gray mafia can be, it’s in your interest to see the team succeed. If your society was secretly run by any other cult, wouldn’t you want these highly motived, highly dangerous individuals to be happy?” The Voice: Local crooner and cleveland.com social media producer Hayden Grove will compete on season 27 of “The Voice,” reports Joey Morona. The 31-year-old Westlake resident taped his blind audition for NBC’s singing competition series this past summer, performing for judges Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé, John Legend and Adam Levine. Best steak: It’s time to help cleveland.com pick the Best Steak in Northeast Ohio. From now until 5 p.m. Jan. 20, your “Best of Cleveland” team is collecting your nominations. Chef’s Garden: Rachael Ray and Farmer Lee Jones are teaming up with some of America’s top chefs for an A+E cooking show set at The Chef’s Garden, reports Alex Darus. The Northeast Ohio Chef’s Garden is a hub for modern-day farming practices to grow a huge variety of produce, herbs and edible flowers that it distributes to restaurants all over the world. Holiday orchestra: The sounds of the season will fill Severance Music Center once again in December. The Cleveland Orchestra announced the schedule for its annual series of Holiday Concerts, reports Joey Morona. Malley’s: Malley’s Chocolates has launched a new candy experience, marshmallow crunch freeze-dried candy. Paris Wolfe reports the new sweet treat transforms Malley’s chocolate-covered gooey marshmallow and caramel candy into a chocolate-accented light, crunchy alternative. |
|
|
Snow belt braces for more lake-effect, up to 5 inches possible Read more Children jump from 2nd floor of apartment building to escape fire Read more Registered sex offender follows young girls at Mayfield Heights Target Read more Medina considers regulations for potential pedal bike Read more Medina receives good news on courthouse demolition costs Read more Orange Community Education & Recreation levy headed to May ballot Read more Strongsville to extend Foltz Industrial Parkway for $4.3 million Read more Avon Lake school board considers May ballot issues after voters rejected tax increase in November Read more |
|
|
NEW! Terry's Talkin' with Terry Pluto Newsletter |
Connect with Northeast Ohio’s favorite sports columnist as Terry shares his exclusive thoughts and insights on Cleveland sports teams, as well as issues on personal faith like in his popular weekly Faith & You column. There's one caveat, though. This is an exclusive newsletter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer loyal subscribers. Not a subscriber? That's ok. You can receive a few weeks of Terry’s newsletter as a free trial. In either case, click here sign up. |
|
|
Want the top headlines but don't have time to read? Listen to cleveland.com’s Today in Ohio podcast on Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts. |
|
|
WANT TO SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH A FRIEND? |
Did someone share this newsletter with you? Click here to never miss a day! |
|
|
To contact the newsrooms for any of our publications regarding technical support, news tips, classified ads and other inquiries, please click here. |
|
|
Unlimited Digital Access. |
|
|
Full year for $1 a week (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
Full year for $1 a week (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS? |
|
|
You received this email because you opted in to the newsletter. To ensure receipt of our emails, please add newsletters@update.cleveland.com to your address book or safe sender list. 4800 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn OH 44144 Contact us | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy |
|
|
|
