My 10-year-old daughter bikes over railroad tracks to school every day. And every day, trains loaded with hazardous chemicals could be barreling down those same tracks – without notifying Northeast Ohio emergency officials. It’s not clear how much hazardous material comes through the Cleveland area on any given day, within 50 feet of homes in some places. The information is not public. But observers of the railroads say it’s a significant amount on the dozens of trains that pass through Cleveland each day on Norfolk-Southern and CSX Corp. tracks. “Every train carries hazardous material,” said Solon Fire Chief Mark Vedder, who also is a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee. “There’s not a train that comes through our area that doesn’t.” After the Norfolk-Southern train derailed and contaminated East Palestine, we’re digging into the potential for disaster elsewhere. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors: Donovan Mitchell responds to J.B. Bickerstaff’s challenge, helps Cavs defeat Raptors, 118-93 Northeast Ohio Monday weather forecast: Rain and strong winds |
|
|
A Norfolk Southern train heads east along the border of Bay Village and Westlake. )Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com) |
|
|
Hazardous trains: Cuyahoga County officials have tried for years to get more details about the toxic chemicals being transported on railroad tracks through the area, as well as justification for the routes. But Peter Krouse reports they have been stonewalled for years. City Council: At Cleveland City Council meetings, you’ll find a spectacle unique among local governments -- council members casting dozens of votes without seeming to utter a single word. In recent months, council members have increasingly voted “no” in secret, by privately conveying their dissent directly to the clerk, ahead of the vote. Council’s methods aren’t just a matter of transparency – they also appear to violate the city charter, reports Courtney Astolfi. Civil discourse: There’s a way out of the paralysis we’ve all been feeling because of political polarization, and Cleveland and Ohio already have taken steps to lead the movement, writes editor Chris Quinn. Today in Ohio: Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan led congressional Republicans, staffers and reporters into a desolate area of Arizona this week to try to catch illegal border crossers in action, but the group saw none. We’re talking about Jordan’s ridiculous immigration stunt and how it backfired on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
|
|
Householder trial: Attorneys for former GOP Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder made little headway Thursday undermining a major claim from a key government witness saying about $514,000 of FirstEnergy Corp.’s bribe money paid down Householder’s legal debts, credit card bills and home repairs, Jake Zuckerman reports. The final witness to testify on Friday at the Householder trial has broke the pattern of credentialed academics, criminal investigators and politicos, Andrew J. Tobias and Jake Zuckerman report. He is a contractor from Florida, though he also moonlit as a legal representative, thanks to Householder. The trial is expected to see prosecutors calling their final witness today as they wrap up their case against Householder. Jim Jordan: Ohio’s Jim Jordan was indignant that his Democratic counterparts on the House Judiciary Committee suggested his decision to conduct a field hearing in Yuma, Ariz., on the nation’s immigration problems amounted to empty political grandstanding and boycotted the hearing. Sabrina Eaton reports that Jordan, a Republican from Urbana, has vowed to use his powerful new post as chairman of the committee to open new investigations and to press forward on key issues, starting with immigration. Kris Jordan: State Rep. Kris Jordan, a Delaware County Republican, passed away Saturday at his home from natural causes, reports Kaylee Remington. He was 46. |
|
|
MetroHealth line: State transportation officials have proposed giving $12 million in funding toward improving Cleveland’s MetroHealth bus line along West 25th Street, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The Transportation Review Advisory Council’s draft list, released Thursday, also seeks more modest bumps in state funding for three other Northeast Ohio road projects along interstates 271, 77, and 76. Train derailment: “The Bachelor” reality TV star Michael Allio, an Ohio native, announced Thursday he has created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help East Palestine residents whose lives were upended Feb. 3 by a fiery train derailment, Robert Higgs reports. Tech excellence: An app that connects students with mentors, DJs using music to combat anxiety and a plan to address mental health in the Black community all have one thing in common: The pitches won funding at a contest Thursday night. Sean McDonnell reports on the annual Accelerate: Citizens Make Change civic pitch competition. |
|
|
Hotel development: Even as the region’s hospitality industry rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic, new developers are eyeing Cleveland for investment, building new hotels and renovating older ones. Susan Glaser reports one of the most highly anticipated projects is currently under way on East Sixth Street downtown, the conversion of the historic Baker Building, circa 1919, into a 97-room boutique property called the Fidelity Hotel. Science jobs: Investing in a science career may be the key to making more money. Zachary Smith reports on the top-paying science jobs in the Cleveland metro area. COVID-19 map: For the first time in months, Cuyahoga County is green on the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map, indicating a week of low COVID-19 spread, reports Julie Washington. Auto show: If you’re in the market for a new car, you’ll definitely want to hit the 2023 Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center, which continues through March 5. If you’re not in the market, there are still plenty of cool cars to see, report Paris Wolfe and Dave Petkiewicz. You can wander through Millionaire’s Row and check out a dozen pricy luxury cars, including a $1.5 million 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Base that looks brand new. |
|
|
Jail lawsuit: A potential class-action lawsuit accuses Cuyahoga County of keeping nearly 300 people in jail long after they were supposed to be released. Adam Ferrise reports the lawsuit filed in federal court said the county continued keeping people behind bars after judges ordered them released or after prosecutors declined to pursue charges. Fraud: An actress who worked on an Academy Award-nominated film and her boyfriend have filed lawsuits in Cleveland courts that accuse the actress’ parents of fraud and theft, Adam Ferrise reports. Drug trafficking: A suspect arrested this week in the vicious beating and robbery of a man with disabilities has also been hit with drug trafficking charges after police executed a search warrant at his Bellaire-Puritas home, reports John H. Tucker and Molly Walsh. |
|
|
Stadium name: A football stadium almost 700 miles from Cleveland, amid the central Iowa plains, bears a direct and tragic connection to the city: Jack Trice, a native Northeast Ohioan, died during a college football game 100 years ago. Eventually the stadium at Iowa State University would be named after Trice. Marc Bona reports it remains the only Division I stadium to be named after a Black man. Rock Off: The Tri-C High School Rock Off Final Exam featured a dozen bands over five hours with a soldout crowd of 1,200 friends, fans and family in the atrium of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Malcolm X Abram reports the winner of the $3,000 grand prize and $250 for their school music program was the nattily attired Subliners, featuring a quintet from University, Hudson, Lakewood, Bay and Revere high schools, who are also School of Rock students. Niagara Falls: It’s easy to forget that Niagara Falls is still open when the weather is freezing, reports Paris Wolfe. She recounts her recent trip to Canada in the off-season, including a visit to Niagara Parks Power Station. Fish frys: Northeast Ohio restaurants and bars also join in on the Lenten tradition with fish frys. Mike Rose has a list of 40 restaurants and bars in Greater Cleveland where you can satisfy your craving for a fish fry in 2023. Rock inductions: The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony won’t be held in Cleveland but in New York City, reports Joey Morona. House of the Week: A Cleveland Heights Tudor mansion at 2720 Fairmount Blvd. is on the market for $899,000, Joey Marona reports. |
|
|
Explosion at Wickliffe home leaves one dead Read more Swamp monkey born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Read more Police arrest assistant track coach at Ohio high school as part of child sex sting Read more Man shot to death in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, police say Read more Two men shot at Cleveland church Saturday morning, police say Read more |
|
|
NEW! POLICE BLOTTER NEWSLETTER |
Get the latest police blotter headlines from Northeast Ohio communities every weekday morning. Click here to 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. |
|
|
Special Offer Cleveland.com Unlimited Digital Access. |
|
|
$5 for the first month (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
$5 for the first month (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 |
|
|
|
