STATEHOUSE & POLITICS
Ohio’s future: Ohio is one of the states expected to make abortion illegal under most circumstances. Laura Hancock and Andrew Tobias explain what comes next.
Heartbeat bill: Eight hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a federal judge dissolved a two-year-old block on Ohio’s “heartbeat” anti-abortion law, allowing it to go into effect. That means that Ohio women will no longer be allowed to have abortions in the state when fetal cardiac activity is detected. That’s around six weeks, or before many women know they are pregnant, reports Laura Hancock.
Rights rally: Hundreds of abortion rights supporters gathered at Willard Park on Saturday to rally against the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, reports Olivia Mitchell.
Gay rights: Jim Obergefell of Sandusky, a plaintiff in the 2015 landmark U.S. Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage, is concerned about the future of gay rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The court’s majority repeatedly referenced the Obergefell v. Hodges case, and Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the court should revisit gay marriage and other cases involving the Fourteenth Amendment, Laura Hancock reports.
Reaction: Many Democratic politicians seem repulsed by the Supreme Court decision, while Republicans are overjoyed. Alexis Oatman compiles reactions.
Effects: The loss of reproductive freedom could create a larger divide between women of means and those who are marginalized, especially hourly workers and the disabled, reports Julie Washington.
Abortion stats: For the time being, if you need to get an abortion in Ohio, you can. Six full-service abortion clinics are open in Ohio and another three offer only medication abortion services, reports Zachary Smith, among other facts and statistics.
Redistricting repercussions: The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday held that six Democratic candidates for various political offices can appear on the ballot in the rescheduled Aug. 2 primary election. Cory Shaffer reports the court voted 4-3 to reverse Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s decision to disqualify potential candidates who did not file to run for their respective offices until the beginning of May.
METRO
Cleveland Rising: Cleveland Rising, a more-than-600-person effort to affect change in Greater Cleveland, has petered out due to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulties of making systemic change, reports Sean McDonnell. The organization’s capstone project, published this month, called the project a “shared experience for hundreds of Greater Clevelanders determined to have their voice heard.”
COVID-19 & HEALTHCARE
Nose knows: Why do some patients have only mild symptoms and others fall seriously ill from COVID-19? Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports a team at Boston Children’s Hospital has uncovered important clues from the cells lining the inside of their patients' noses. Patients with mild symptoms mounted a strong early immune defense by activating a type of cytokine known as type I interferon, whereas people with severe illness had muted interferon responses.
COVID counties: For the second week, the CDC has rated almost all Ohio counties — including Cuyahoga — as green, or designated as having low COVID-19 transmission, reports Julie Washington.
BUSINESS
Top Workplaces: Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are honoring 220 companies, nonprofits, schools and organizations in the 2022 Top Workplaces rankings.
CRIME
Death row: A Cleveland man who shot and killed a Cleveland patrol officer in 2000 will remain on death row for another three years under a reprieve of execution issued Friday by Gov. Mike DeWine. Andrew Tobias reports Quisi Bryan, 51, now is scheduled to be executed on Jan. 7, 2026.
Mail theft: A federal grand jury handed up an indictment that accused four men of running two schemes that made $2.7 million, reports Olivia Mitchell. The men are accused of organizing and engaging in two conspiracies: The first involved the theft and sales of high-end cars, while the other focused on robbing carriers for the U.S. Postal Service and stealing mail.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
House of the Week: In 1917, Goodyear co-founder Frank Seiberling began developing Fairlawn Heights, a neighborhood intended for business leaders and Goodyear executives not far from his newly completed Stan Hywet estate. A 1983-built home with five bedrooms and six bathrooms in 8,000 square feet is in the neighborhood and is available for $1,199,000, Joey Morona reports.
