Rural or urban, Republican or Democrat, Ohioans agree: Property taxes have grown untenable. Voters approve tax rates for school districts, libraries and services. But when property values spike – like the 32% average across Cuyahoga County last year – bills climb, too. And homeowners want relief. Ohio Republican legislators approved a handful of measures, including capping schools’ cash reserves and giving county budget commissions the power to lower property taxes if a local government or school was collecting more than needed. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed nearly all of them, saying they would cause a “huge, huge problem.” That’s because the state didn’t provide any money for schools and other taxing bodies to be made whole. The state legislature plans to override DeWine’s veto. Meanwhile, a citizen-proposed constitutional amendment seeks to eliminate property taxes altogether. And a legislative-proposed amendment aims to cap property tax bills. All while the state is giving public schools their smallest funding increase in a decade, with private school voucher programs receiving proportionally larger increases. Schools could be devastated. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Ohio Republicans argue that property-tax reforms are necessary to help homeowners before the next round of reappraisals begin in January 2026. |
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Property taxes: The Ohio House will return to Columbus on July 21 for a rare summer session to try to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s vetoes on property tax reform, Anna Staver reports. The summer session is a sign of how high tensions are running over Ohio’s rising property taxes, which rank eighth highest in the nation as a share of home value. Today in Ohio: Today in Ohio will return Monday, July 14. |
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Education funding: Ohio's new state budget provides the smallest funding increase for public schools in a decade, with private school voucher programs receiving proportionally larger increases. Laura Hancock highlights the contrasts in educational funding allocations. Tobacco ban: An Ohio appeals court affirmed cities' right to ban flavored tobacco products, overturning a 2023 state law. Jeremy Pelzer reports the court ruled the prohibition unconstitutionally violated cities' home-rule authority. |
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Mental health: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne seeks $7 million in opioid settlement funds to create a behavioral health crisis center at the former St. Vincent campus. Kaitlin Durbin reports the center will provide mental health and addiction services starting in September 2026. Riverfront: Bedrock's $3.5 billion riverfront development in Cleveland is taking shape, with the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center reaching its topping-off milestone. Rich Exner reports the three-story, 230,000-square-foot center will serve as the Cavaliers' practice home and offer comprehensive sports medical care. Law attacks: American Bar Association President William “Bill” Bay warned of pervasive attacks on judges, lawyers and the rule of law during a speech Tuesday at the City Club of Cleveland. Systematic intimidation efforts that he has witnessed during his tenure as the association’s leader, Bay said, threaten the foundation of the American legal system, Mary Frances McGowan reports. Affordable housing: A vacant Dave's Market in Cleveland's Midtown neighborhood might be transformed into 120 affordable housing units, with the "Midtown Lofts" project planned by NRP Group and Midtown Cleveland. Sean McDonnell reports the project will include four-story apartment buildings and retain the existing pop-up park. Modular housing: Cleveland has named four finalists for a modular housing factory in Collinwood, including companies from Cleveland, Northeast Ohio and Pittsburgh. The companies will build test homes in the Clark-Fulton and Buckeye neighborhoods, with the goal of establishing a housing innovation hub. Sims Park: Euclid City Council has officially adopted the Sims Park Master Plan, providing a comprehensive vision to revamp the park connecting the city's lakefront to Lakeshore Boulevard. The plan focuses on nature restoration, improved recreation amenities and community input. Industrial fire: A massive electrical fire ravaged multiple buildings on Cleveland's East Side, causing $750,000 in damages. Olivia Mitchell reports that 28 units and 80 firefighters battled the blaze, which spread quickly through an industrial area with challenging conditions. Buck moon: The buck moon will peak Thursday, appearing unusually low on the horizon because of a rare lunar standstill phenomenon. Ryan Cohick reports the moon will be visible as an orange orb during moonrise, offering a unique viewing experience. Japanese beetles: Northeast Ohio gardeners face challenges from Japanese beetles and aphids this summer, with experts recommending hand-picking beetles and using water sprays to manage pests. Susan Brownstein highlights strategies for protecting plants without using broad-spectrum insecticides. Lorain interns: Lorain County Joint Vocational School's summer internship program has grown dramatically, connecting 150 students with 130 local businesses in 2025, up from 82 students and 65 companies in 2022. Hannah Drown highlights the program's success in addressing Ohio's talent pipeline challenges. |
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Airport security: Susan Glaser reports on good news for air travelers: You can now keep your boots buckled and your Nikes tied. The Transportation Security Administration’s nearly two-decade-old rule requiring travelers to remove their shoes during security screening has come to an end, in Cleveland and airports throughout the United States. Cath lab: University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center has opened a new cardiac catheterization laboratory offering minimally invasive heart treatments. Julie Washington reports the facility provides community-based alternatives to open heart surgery. |
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Road rage: A Westlake doctor, Feras Hamdan, was indicted on charges of threatening U.S. Rep. Max Miller during a road rage incident, including ethnic intimidation and menacing. Lucas Daprile reports Hamdan is accused of calling Miller antisemitic slurs and of threatening his family during a confrontation on Interstate 90. Body armor: A Stow businessman, Vall Iliev, was sentenced to over five years in prison for selling fake body armor to police and Ukrainian troops, with prosecutor Duncan Brown highlighting the potential risks to law enforcement. Adam Ferrise reports that Iliev imported defective armor from China, avoided federal regulations, and sold it as top-grade equipment. Stalking: An Eastlake man, Robert Hocevar, was sentenced to 22½ years in prison for stalking women through security cameras he installed in Northeast Ohio homes and businesses. David Gambino reports Hocevar pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts and must register as a sex offender for 15 years. Police misconduct: Cleveland police officer Steven Schmitz was fired after pleading no contest to drunken driving and mishandling his service weapon during a March traffic stop. Lucas Daprile reports Schmitz was caught driving 94 mph while under the influence and could potentially seek reinstatement through arbitration. Fatal overdoses: A Cleveland drug dealer was sentenced Tuesday to more than 14 years in prison for selling fentanyl-laced cocaine that led to three deadly overdoses, Adam Ferrise reports. Jarad Paster, 32, supplied the drugs to a street-level dealer, Matthew Jarrell, who sold the drugs to customers, according to court records. Shooting suspect: Akron authorities issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for a suspect accused of fatally shooting a man at a gas station. Olivia Mitchell reports Damario McCall, 41, of Akron, is wanted on charges of murder, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons under disability. |
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'Superman' review: James Gunn's new "Superman" film reimagines the iconic hero with heart, humor and hope. Joey Morona's review says the movie is a fresh take on the character, featuring David Corenswet as a more human and optimistic Superman, exploring his early years with a mix of action and emotional depth. Summer of Superman: If you came to the Son of Krypton-via-Cleveland solely through radio, television or film, it’s possible you have a blind spot on the comic book storylines. Peter Chakerian highlights stories every true Superman fan should know. Kyuu Juu: A new contemporary Japanese restaurant, Kyuu Juu, is opening in the Ohio City neighborhood, transforming from a pop-up to a brick-and-mortar establishment. Alex Darus writes about the restaurant's unique approach to Japanese cuisine and drinks. Ask Yadi: A woman in her early 30s has decided not to have children, causing distress for her mother. Yadi Rodriguez offers compassionate advice about personal choice and family dynamics. THC seltzer: Great Lakes Brewing introduces a new Strawberry Peach Elderflower Seltzer infused with 5 mg of hemp-derived THC. Paris Wolfe reports on this innovative beverage that marks the brewery's entry into alternative adult drinks. Rocking authors: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will discuss their new children's book at Cleveland Public Library. Malcolm X Abram writes about the free event featuring the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. |
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Garbage truck crashes into multiple vehicles, shuts down part of Ohio 2 for hours Read more EV charging station up and running outside Strongsville City Council chambers Read more Summit County Board of Elections relocates to better accommodate voters Read more Cleveland Heights’ mayoral recall vote will be on Sept. 9 ballot Read more Cleveland Heights City Council passes laws to check mayor Read more Global testing, inspection & certification firm eyes move to Valor Acres in Brecksville Read more Strongsville seeks $4.6 million from FEMA to hire 12 additional firefighters for new station Read more North Ridgeville secures funding for new roundabout Read more Brunswick Hills trustees approve township health insurance renewal Read more Supplies for success: Berea Schools ‘Stuff the Bus’ drive returns Aug. 2 Read more Solon Community Park renovations move forward with major upgrades and community support Read more |
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