The percentage of women who make up Ohio’s legislature is at an all-time high, due mostly to an increase in Republican women in the House and Senate. Women on both sides of the aisle are being recruited to run, experts say. And research has shown that when female candidates run for political office, they generally are as successful as male candidates. Still, while Ohio has slightly more women than men, the 46 women representatives and senators take up only about 35% of seats. “I think more women are questioning, pushing, advocating for safety measures, for things that are important to them — good schools, healthy (and) safe communities,” Democratic state Sen. Nickie Antonio told Jeremy Pelzer. “And when they go and find the folks who are responsible for that right now, they’re finding that ‘maybe I could do a better job,’ and then they’re acting on it.” That could be why so many child-care bills currently under discussion are sponsored by women. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Kansas City Royals: Tanner Bibee makes up for lost time in Guardians’ 6-2 victory over Kansas City Cavs vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Cavs hit 60-win mark for third time ever with 127-122 triumph over Clippers Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Windy, falling temperatures |
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| Ohio Senate minority leader Nickie Antonio, left, at the 2024 State of the State address in Columbus. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com) |
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Women in the legislature: The Ohio General Assembly has 46 women serving in its two chambers – more than at any other time in the state’s 222-year history. Jeremy Pelzer reports that many of the women who are serving in the legislature say they still encounter sexism – whether intentional or not – that makes it more difficult to do their jobs. Canadian tourism: Tourism leaders in Ohio are growing increasingly concerned about a decline in visits from Canadians. Already, destinations and attractions are seeing a drop in visitors from Canada, reports Susan Glaser. Agent retires: FBI agent Raymond Michael Massie led a career case that put some 60 people in prison in the biggest corruption investigation in Cuyahoga County history. This month, he walked out of the FBI building in downtown Cleveland as an agent for the last time, retiring after nearly 23 years. But Massie isn’t done, reports Adam Ferrise. He started two weeks ago as a Lorain County sheriff’s inspector, leading a public corruption unit. Today in Ohio: The Canadian government is advertising directly to its American neighbors, warning that tariffs will raise grocery and gas prices. We’re talking about the billboard messaging, plus tourism and auto tariffs, on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Fracking: State officials on Friday selected Houston-based Encino Energy as the winning bidder to frack for oil and gas beneath 62.5 acres of Leesville Wildlife Area, reports Jake Zuckerman. Encino will pay a $219,000 signing bonus and 18% of its revenue from the project to tap into the riches under the preserved space. By law, 30% of the money must be spent on capital improvements at Leesville. Campaign ads: More than 19 months before the 2026 general election, political ads for the 2026 Ohio governor’s race have already popped up on television – earlier than at any time in recent memory. Jeremy Pelzer reports the $2.2 million TV ad buy from a super PAC backing Republican gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy illustrates how unusually early the governor’s race has leaped into full gear. Energy bill: The state could be on the cusp of reshaping its marketplace for energy, with major implications for customer power bills and developers interested in expanding Ohio’s grid. Jake Zuckerman reports the House and Senate have passed dueling legislation – House Bill 15 and Senate Bill 2 – to change the way Ohio regulates and taxes the companies that generate power and distribute it to people’s homes and businesses. Education bill: Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday signed into law a Republican-backed overhaul of Ohio’s higher education system over the objection of Democrats, university professors and student protesters. Jake Zuckerman reports the bill bans faculty strikes, ends diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses, and forces responses to student complaints of “intellectual diversity” offenses, among other provisions in a sweeping overhaul of the climate of higher education. Amtrak: Gov. Mike DeWine and his administration have taken some initial steps toward expanding Amtrak service in Ohio for the first time in decades. But Jeremy Pelzer reports that DeWine says the final decision about whether to authorize new passenger rail routes in the state likely will be up to his successor, not him. Smithsonian ideology: President Donald Trump on Thursday tasked Vice President JD Vance with removing “improper ideology” from the Smithsonian Museums. Sabrina Eaton reports Trump signed an executive order prohibiting federal spending on “exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy.” |
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DEI: Case Western Reserve University has closed its office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Engagement, citing the need to comply with presidential executive orders affecting institutions that receive federal funding, reports Molly Walsh. Case is one of many universities across the country making changes to diversity, equity and inclusion programs in response to executive orders issued by President Donald Trump in January. Construction begins: Several new construction projects are scheduled to start today on highways and major roads in Northeast Ohio, causing potential driving delays. Among the most disruptive will likely be the closing of the Ohio 176 exit ramp used to access West 14th Street, Steelyard Commons and Interstate 71 south, Rich Exner reports. Mail changes: The United States Postal Service is implementing refinements to its service standards and launching new online tools to help customers prepare for the changes, the federal agency said. The first phase of refinements begins Tuesday, Kaylee Remington reports. The enhancements are estimated to save the Postal Service at least $36 billion over the next 10 years through reductions in transportation, mail processing and real estate costs. Heroic neighbor: Two families are safe from a house fire, thanks to firefighters, police and a particularly heroic neighbor. At 11 a.m. Friday, Cleveland firefighters were dispatched to Sacramento Avenue near West 139th Street after a neighbor saw smoke at nearby home and called 911, reports Lucas Daprile. As firefighters were on the way, neighbor Tyler Sowden, 16, jumped into action. Bus fire: The bus carrying the Medina High School girls lacrosse team caught fire Thursday as the team traveled home from a spring break trip. None of the team’s 18 members and three coaches was hurt. Our Best Life: Laura Johnston’s kids are getting their first jobs. About 38% of 16-to-19-year-olds had a job or were looking for one in May 2024, the highest in decades. The reason for the decline between 2000 – when Laura was lifeguarding at her college rec center and interning for the now defunct Northern Ohio Live magazine – and now? Higher summer school attendance, increased pressure on education and competition from other demographic sectors. |
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Measles vaccine: As measles cases rise in Ashtabula County, local drug stores are stocked and ready to vaccinate both children and adults, reports Julie Washington. |
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Homicides: Cleveland police have investigated 15 homicides through the first quarter of the year, the lowest number in that time period since 2016. This year’s total is a 48% decrease from the same time last year, when 29 were recorded, reports Olivia Mitchell. Deadly crash: A 45-year-old man was killed and a woman was seriously injured in a fiery crash Friday night on Cleveland’s East Side after the man fled from Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s deputies, Kaylee Remington reports. Angelo’s: A vandal smashed six windows at Angelo’s Pizza in Lakewood early Friday morning, reports Lucas Daprile. Employees have no idea why someone would break the windows to the pizza shop. The vandals didn’t leave a message or an obvious motive. Arson: An early morning fire at an auto body shop in South Collinwood has been ruled an arson, reports Olivia Mitchell. Fire investigators found marks that “look like somebody poured an accelerant, most likely gasoline, on the exterior of the building." |
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Happy Hour Project: 17 River Grille is the kind of place you sweep into looking chic behind big, dark sunglasses and, perhaps, a floppy summer hat. Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus report that the extended “social hour” – 3:30 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday – is both interesting and comfortable. Bar stools are cushy, and both eats and drinks go beyond tavern food. Blasian Fusian: Blasian Fusion has established a permanent home at the Ariel LaSalle Theater in Cleveland’s North Collinwood neighborhood after building its reputation in the city’s food truck scene. Blasian Fusion is located on the border of Euclid in the former kitchen for the LaSalle Theater, reports Alex Darus. Outstanding: Cordelia and Chef Vinnie Cimino will once again team up with Thaxton’s Organic Garlic farm for a luxury outdoor dining event celebrating quality, local ingredients. Alex Darus reports this year’s Outstanding in the Field in Hudson is set for 4 p.m. April 12. Whiskey Bar: A second version of The Whiskey Bar opened downtown at 2123 E. Second St. late last year. Paris Wolfe reports the new downtown bar is dark and moody with a date-night ambiance. Guardians game: If you had trouble watching the Guardians’ season opener against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday because of technical issues, the team wants to make it up to you. Joey Morona reports the Guardians apologized to Guardians TV subscribers “for the inconvenience to your first game-viewing experience,” offering them four free upper reserved tickets to a game of their choice in April or May. Yа́gody: The seeds of the Ukrainian band Yа́gody stretch back to 2010, when actor Mykola Huseynov proposed the idea of creating a band based on authentic Ukrainian music to Zoryana Dybovska in Donetsk, a city now under Russian occupation. Peter Chakerian reports that the charismatic band takes the Gartner Auditorium stage at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Cleveland Museum of Art. House of the Week: Ohio City is one of Cleveland’s liveliest neighborhoods and the modern townhouse at 2702 Bridge Ave. brings modern conveniences to an old area. Built in 2018, the home features four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms in 3,000-square feet of living space, reports Joey Morona. The price is $725,000 and has nine years remaining on its tax abatement. |
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Emails from Cleveland Heights city administrator Dan Horrigan shed more light on resignation Read more Berea extends Browns training facility lease, OKs District 46 tax abatements Read more Elderly Cleveland man killed in two-vehicle crash in Huron County Read more Cleveland Museum of Art tours showcase women in art during Women’s History Month Read more See Cuyahoga County home sales, other property transfer details for February (searchable database) Read more Berea passes budget despite municipal court judge’s stance Read more Chagrin Falls’ Popcorn Shop to have sale this weekend before two-week closure Read more Popeyes drive-thru no longer in the plans for Mayfield Heights Read more Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off & Beer Fest returning for 2025 Read more Kent State to remember May 4, 1970 shootings in 2025 with 3 days of events Read more Final vote looms on divisive Circle K proposal in Brook Park Read more |
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