STATEHOUSE & POLITICS
Legislative maps: We’ve heard from readers who, while trying to make plans to vote in the Aug. 2 special primary election in Ohio, can’t figure out which state legislative district they live in. Andrew Tobias has larger maps of the Ohio House and Senate maps in Cuyahoga County that were created by redistricting.
Backlash: Critics are blasting Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick Fischer, a Republican seeking re-election, for comparing abortion to slavery and segregation in recent remarks in front of a group of Republicans outside Columbus. Laura Hancock reports that Fischer spoke at the Delaware City Republican Club on July 14 in which he compared Roe v. Wade to a pair of U.S. Supreme Court decisions that upheld slavery and segregation.
METRO
Horseshoe Lake: Opponents of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s decision to remove the Horseshoe Lake dam haven’t stopped trying to save the lake. But Steven Litt reports that peace over Horseshoe Lake’s demise may come starting in late August when the sewer district launches the eight-month public phase of a “pre-design” planning process aimed at envisioning the future of the 60-acre Horseshoe Lake Park after the dam is removed.
Jail planning: For some, questions linger about the possibility of renovating the Cuyahoga County jail, but those with final say over its fate seem set on building a new facility outside of downtown. Resolutions being introduced to council on Tuesday will start the countdown to finalizing where the county plans to locate a new jail and how it will pay for it, reports Kaitlin Durbin.
CMA breach: The Cleveland Museum of Art on Thursday notified email subscribers that its service may have been compromised by a ransomware attack on its external email distribution provider, WordFly. Steven Litt reports the breach involved names and email addresses, but no sensitive personal information, such as credit card numbers.
Bathroom remodel: Laura Johnston currently has one full bathroom in her family’s century farmhouse. She writes how her last home improvement transformed it from inefficient, moldy bubblegum pink to cool blue coastal.
Deadly crash: Two young males are dead and a teen girl was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning in Strongsville, police say. Cliff Pinckard reports Davion Flanagan, 19, and Dominic Russo, 20, both were pronounced dead at the scene after the crash at the intersection of Progress and Alameda drives. A 17-year-old girl was flown by helicopter to MetroHealth Medical Center.
COVID-19 & HEALTHCARE
Medical board: Gov. Mike DeWine intends to reappoint the president of Ohio Right to Life to the state medical board, even though concerns about the appointment were raised by rights activists. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports the groups include the Ohio chapter of Doctors for America, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, Doctors Organized for Healthcare Solutions, Physician Action Network, and Cincinnati Physicians for Change.
CDC map: The CDC map designates more than half of Ohio’s 88 counties — including Cuyahoga, Lorain and Portage — as red, or as having high COVID-19 transmission, reports Julie Washington. Ohio has been steadily worsening in terms of COVID-19 community spread since mid-July.
Mask mandates: Masks are going on again. Cuyahoga County announced Friday that anyone entering a government building will be required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, beginning today. Kaitlin Durbin reports the executive order kicks in anytime the county turns red on the CDC COVID-19 map tracking community spread. Megan Sims reports Cleveland State University is now requiring students and faculty to wear masks on all indoor facilities on campus.
COVID roundup: Two studies suggest the animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan is the likely epicenter of SARS-CoV-2, millions of COVID-19 sufferers are still without taste or smell months after recovery, and Blacks and Hispanics in rural areas have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Gretchen Cuda Koen rounds up the latest COVID-19 news.
BUSINESS
Football hall: After eight years of debate and delays, the sports-themed entertainment zone surrounding the Pro Football Hall of Fame is starting to take shape. Workers are hurrying to ready for enshrinement festivities, which start Thursday. Susan Glaser reports that major financial questions remain.
Below $4: For the first time in almost two months, the average gas price in Cuyahoga County is below $4 a gallon, the sixth county in Greater Cleveland to do so. Average gas in Cuyahoga County was $3.98 a gallon on Friday, reports Zachary Smith.
CRIME
Police shooting: A 48-year-old man is dead after being shot by Lorain police attempting to serve a warrant Saturday. Elyria police, who are investigating the shooting, say it occurred after the man was found hiding in a basement and then began to stab a police dog.
Akron shooting: An unidentified Akron police officer shot a woman after she was involved in a shooting that killed another woman Friday morning at a bar, reports Kaylee Remington. The victim of the shooting died on Saturday, Cliff Pinckard reports, while the suspect was still in a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officer guilty: A jury found Euclid police officer Michael Amiott guilty of assaulting a Black motorist during a violent 2017 traffic stop that garnered international attention and thrusted Euclid into the national conversation about police brutality. Kaylee Remington reports Amiott was convicted Friday in Euclid Municipal Court of one count each of assault and interfering with civil rights of Richard Hubbard III during the August 2017 traffic stop that was captured on cellphone video that went viral.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Elton John: Elton John knows how to milk it. The 75-year-old music legend has amassed more than 250 performances on his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” since it began in 2018. Saturday night’s performance at Progressive Field was his third time playing Cleveland for the “final” time. But Troy Smith reports the 40,000 or so people inside the ballpark didn’t care how many times they’ve been told this is it for Sir Elton.
Tanaka leaving: WOIO Channel 19 anchor Chris Tanaka is leaving the station for a new opportunity at WBZ Channel 4, the CBS-owned and operated station in Boston, reports Joey Morona. Tanaka, who anchors the 5 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts on WOIO and WUAB Channel 43, made his final local on-air appearances Friday.
Choolaah: Choolaah opened its Ohio City location on Friday, reports Annie Nickoloff. The restaurant chain started in 2014 with a location in Orange, then expanded to spots in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Now, it’s found its way into a prime spot in one of Cleveland’s most renowned dining neighborhoods.
