METRO
All-male PTSA: Shaw High School is reviving its Parent Teacher Student Association after 40 years and for the first time it will be run by men – a rarity in education, reports Alexis Oatman.
Little Italy police: Cleveland City Council is poised to approve an expansion of the jurisdictions of University Circle police and Case Western Reserve University police that would increase police coverage in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood and in a small slice of the Glenville neighborhood. Courtney Astolfi reports the proposed expansion won approval Wednesday from council’s Safety Committee and could be approved by the full council as soon as Monday.
Tall ships: What would it have been like to sail with Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on his famous expedition that resulted in the first circumnavigation of the globe 500 years ago? One of the attractions at the July Tall Ships Festival, which last came to Cleveland in 2019, will be the Nao Trinidad, the flagship of Magellan’s small armada. Peter Krouse has photos of all the ships.
Gas prices: Gas prices fluctuate in Northeast Ohio, sometimes reaching over $4 per gallon. Typically, the most expensive gas prices can be found in Summit or Geauga counties, and the least expensive in Portage or Lorain counties. Zachary Smith tracks the price.
Job markets: The COVID-19 pandemic shifted job markets in Cleveland and across the country. So where have Clevelanders gone? Zachary Smith lists metros where the most people from the Cleveland-Elyria metropolitan area (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties) found new jobs during the first quarter of 2021.
COVID-19 & HEALTH
Weekly cases: The state of Ohio on Thursday reported 8,731 new cases of COVID-19 in its weekly dashboard update, the most since the state switched to weekly updates of COVID-19 case numbers in March. Julie Washington reports that averages to about 1,247 new cases per day.
Space research: Microgravity can damage cells during long space flights. In order to investigate, the Cleveland Clinic conducted two research projects dealing with the brain and spine, in conjunction with Axiom Mission 1′s recent privately funded flight to the International Space Station, reports Julie Washington. Thanks to the work, people on future space missions could be prescribed specialized exercise and nutrition regimes during spaceflight to stay healthy.
BUSINESS
Meijer openings: Meijer opened supercenters Thursday in Brunswick in Medina County and Jackson Township in Stark County. Marc Bona reports the 155,000-square-foot stores stores feature digital shopping platforms and offer home delivery and pickup services.
Racket sports: People have become much more fond of tennis, pickleball and other racket sports over the past two years. Just under 5 million people flocked to tennis since the COVID-19 pandemic began. And while an older sport grows, Sean McDonnell reports that new racket sports like paddle and pickleball are making their own waves in Greater Cleveland as well.
CRIME
Sex sting: A jury on Thursday found an 81-year-old art appraiser and attorney guilty of charges that accused him of trying to meet an agent posing online as a 15-year-old boy for sex last year. James I.W. Corcoran, of Cleveland, was convicted of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, importuning and possession of criminal tools, reports Cory Shaffer.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Film fest: The Cleveland International Film Festival reported an attendance of 77,531 for the 46th edition of the event, including 48,964 people who watched online, Joey Morona and Annie Nickoloff report.
Cedar Point: The amusement park season is officially under way in Ohio and for the first time in three years, the pandemic is not expected to dominate operations. Regional amusement parks -- including Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio, and Kennywood, Waldameer and Idlewild in Pennsylvania -- are hoping for a robust season in 2022, thanks to pent-up travel demand and a renewed interest in nearby destinations due to high gas prices, reports Susan Glaser.
Lionel Richie: Lionel Richie’s career can be divided into two parts. First, as part of the Commodores. Second, as a solo star who crafted some of the biggest hits of the 1980s. Troy Smith explores the case for Richie's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
'Price is Right': If you’re a fan of “The Price is Right,” come on down to the West Side Market next Friday. The classic CBS game show will be there to celebrate the program’s 50th anniversary tour, offering fans an opportunity to play Plinko, Spin the Wheel and possibly compete in a locally themed Showcase Showdown and a chance to win $50,000, reports Joey Morona.
Things to do: Unleash your inner nerd at Fan Expo Cleveland, where you can meet the captain of USS Enterprise or dress up as your favorite anime character. Plus Joey Morona has 15 other things to do this weekend.
