Put down the phone, Ohio. Ohio is joining a growing list of states cracking down on electronic devices in the hands of distracted drivers, who kill an estimated nine Americans each day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thursday ends the law’s grace period, in which more than 1,300 Ohio drivers received warnings rather than fines, according to data from the State Highway Patrol. Come Thursday, offenders will face up to a $150 fine for the first violation, $250 for the second, and $500 plus possible license suspension for the third. Under the new law, you can’t hold a phone, even between your shoulder and your ear. But there are plenty of exemptions, including for emergencies, stopped traffic, getting driving directions and changing a song, as long as you aren’t holding the phone with your body or typing. – Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and warmer |
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Ohio's new distracted-driving law broadens phone restrictions while driving and gives police new powers to initiate traffic stops of offenders. (Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press file photo) |
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Distracted driving: The state’s ramped-up enforcement of new distracted-driving laws begins in earnest Thursday, reports Jake Zuckerman. Besides phone-use limitations, the new regulations give law-enforcement officers newfound authority to initiate traffic stops if they see drivers swiping, tweeting, scrolling, or texting from behind the wheel. Redistricting language: A campaign pushing to overhaul Ohio’s system of drawing political maps has cleared an initial legal hurdle after Attorney General Dave Yost gave his OK to language that will appear on the petitions the group must circulate to qualify for the ballot. Andrew Tobias reports that Yost said the summary submitted by Citizens Not Politicians fairly and truthfully describes what the group’s proposed amendment to the state constitution would do if voters approve it. Today in Ohio: A last-minute funding compromise passed the U.S. Senate in a lopsided 88 to 9 vote, with all opposition coming from Republicans, including Ohio’s JD Vance. Ohio’s Jim Jordan and Warren Davidson were the only Ohioans among the 90 Republicans in the U.S. House who opposed it. We’re talking about why on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Redistricting campaign: The campaign backing an Ohio redistricting reform effort targeting the November 2024 ballot has hired a Democratic political consultant with highly relevant experience working on similar measures in Missouri. Andrew Tobias reports Sean Soendker Nicholson is directing the Citizens Not Politicians campaign after serving high-level roles with Clean Missouri, the campaign group that successfully passed a 2018 redistricting reform measure before losing it after Republican lawmakers put up a measure reversing it. Education overhaul: At least part of a Republican-backed overhaul of the Ohio’s K-12 education system will take effect as planned, despite a court order Monday delaying the changes after a lawsuit said they violate the constitution. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will replace the Ohio Department of Education, GOP Gov. Mike DeWine said in a news conference, assuring that operations like school funding, approval of voucher applications and other “essential functions of government” will continue. |
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Ronayne's budget: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne is seeking to reshuffle $574,537 of unspent money in the county budget to cover additional personnel costs and “other” expenses, Lucas Daprile reports. Ronayne’s overall budget, before the expenditures, is $2,885,908, said county spokeswoman Kelly Woodard. Ronayne’s request, if approved, would mean a 20% increase in his overall budget. Internet: Cleveland is preparing to strike an agreement with fiber developer SiFi Networks in pursuit of high-speed, citywide internet infrastructure that promises to serve every household and business that wants it, Courtney Astolfi reports. Creating the privately funded network, which includes laying 13 million feet of fiber, is expected to take seven years. Recycling plant: A new Waste Management plant off Interstate 271 in Oakwood is a supermarket-sized, shedlike building that takes in recyclable materials from all over the region. Its expansive conveyor system employs magnetics, optical scanners and other devices that will allow it to process 144,000 tons of material a year, reports Peter Krouse. It’s designed to do something new - capture plastic film, including those pesky single-use grocery bags. CLE neighborhoods: When you step into the neighborhoods of Jefferson and Puritas-Longmead, or to some, Bellaire-Puritas, you are immersed in community-oriented neighborhoods where everything is at your fingertips, Kaylee Remington writes in the Get to Know Cleveland’s Neighborhoods series. In middle-class, blue-collar neighborhoods, the residents pride themselves on being a close-knit community. |
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Maternal mortality: Seventy-two Ohioans died of illnesses or accidents related to pregnancy in 2017 and 2018, up from 38 deaths the previous two years, reports Laura Hancock. The surge is largely attributed to drug-overdose deaths, which the state now considers when classifying whether a death is related to pregnancy. About 94% of the overdose deaths were of non-Hispanic white women. Abortion numbers: The number of abortions in Ohio fell by 15% from 2021 to 2022 — the year that the state passed short-lived abortion restrictions that were put on hold by the courts, reports Julie Washington. The drop in abortions continued a generally downward slide that began in 2000, but dropped off sharply in 2022. Sports betting: Ohio’s sports-betting companies had another slower than usual month in August, which was the last month this year without professional football (unless you count the NFL preseason as “real” football), reports Sean McDonnell. Combined, the companies took in $380 million of bets. After paying out winnings and voided wagers, the companies ended up with $41 million in revenue. Issue 2: Three of Ohio’s largest business organizations are asking Ohioans to vote no on Issue 2, citing fears that recreational marijuana could lead to more workplace injuries and make the current labor shortage worse, reports Sean McDonnell. But proponents of legalization say those fears are unfounded. Money Talks: Darnell Mayberry doesn’t want to give his daughter, Parker, a car for her high school graduation. His goal is to give her $100,000 in an appreciable asset, along with a comprehensive understanding of money management and wealth building. That starts with the stock market. |
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Wrongful convictions: Dozens of people gathered Monday outside the courthouse in Cleveland that is home to the state’s largest number of wrongful convictions in an attempt to bring attention to those whose cases have been thrown out and those who are working to clear their names. Cory Shaffer reports the speakers included three men who spent a combined 71 years in prison for crimes for which they were later exonerated, as well as their family members. Homicides suspect: A man wanted in connection with two homicides, including the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old last week, has been arrested, police say. Devonte Parker, 28, is the latest person taken into custody in connection with the shooting death of 3-year-old Luis Diaz on Thursday in Cleveland’s Stockyards neighborhood, Cliff Pinckard reports. Meanwhile, a judge on Monday set bonds on two other suspects in child's shooting death, Olivia Mitchell reports. Officer struck: A police officer suffered minor injuries when he was struck by a vehicle Sunday while directing traffic after the Browns game, reports Molly Walsh. The officer was hit about 5 p.m. on West Sixth Street and Johnson Court. The driver did not stop after the incident, but police later found the person. 16-year-old killed: Euclid police have arrested a juvenile suspect after a 16-year-old boy was killed early Sunday, reports Molly Walsh. The victim, Keshaun Lamar of Euclid, was shot in the 27500 block of Brush Avenue. Human trafficking: The leader of a nonprofit that supports a network of charter schools in Cleveland was among 160 people arrested in a statewide crackdown on human trafficking last week. John Zitzner, the president of Friends of Breakthrough, was charged Thursday by Westlake police officers who are part of the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. He is accused of engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor, Molly Walsh reports. |
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Ask Lucas: With food, gas and other basic necessities growing in price, if you can’t keep up on student loan payments, what should you do? Lucas Daprile writes don’t think about kidnapping Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, and ransoming him in exchange. Commander has bitten Secret Service agents 11 times in the last year. Bill Watterson: Bill Watterson – the Northeast Ohio creator of one of the most iconic comic strips and whose legendary vanishing act will rival any public recluse who has ever shunned the societal spotlight – has penned a book called “The Mysteries.” Watterson wrote the book while caricaturist John Kascht created the illustrations, reports Marc Bona. Best chili: The readers have spoken and we’re proud to announce the top three in our “Best Chili in Greater Cleveland” readers’ poll. RV Rocking: Jeff and Patti Kinzbach share many of the natural splendors they witnessed in Montana, from Bozeman to Glacier National Park. |
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Man found dead of gunshot wounds in Akron home’s backyard Read more Beachwood awaits Shaker Heights’ council approval to continue deer culling program Read more Former Medina County auditor Kovack challenges Salzgeber in Medina Municipal Court clerk race Read more Helpful or harmful? Rocky River Schools Town Hall examines students’ social media use Read more You can check out the partial eclipse at the Westlake library Read more Community West Foundation awards over $1 million in grants Read more Latest Schmalz sculpture in Cleveland focuses on human trafficking Read more Six vie for three seats on North Royalton school board; veteran members don’t seek re-election Read more Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad North Pole Adventure tickets go on sale this month; seats sell out quickly Read more |
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