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The Wake Up

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025

 

In August 2024, Donald Trump stood at a news conference at Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey, surrounded by boxes of cereal, bowls of fruit and jugs of milk.

 

"Grocery prices have skyrocketed,” Trump said. He pledged “day one” to bring prices down.

 

Four months later, at the New York Stock Exchange, he doubled down. “They’re going to be affording their groceries very soon.”

 

Now three months later, with bird flu driving up the price of eggs, Trump has enacted tariffs on North American allies that experts say will quickly force grocery prices higher.

 

On what exactly? Big Canadian imports include canola vegetable oil, cookies, beef, cocoa and cocoa preparations, frozen potatoes, pork and greenhouse vegetables. Major Mexican products include fruit and vegetables and beverages. 

 

— Laura 

 

 

Overnight Scores and Weather

Cavs at Chicago Bulls: Cavs rally from behind for third straight game, overwhelm Bulls in fourth quarter with 139-117 win

 

Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Windy conditions expected

 

 

An Ohio State University agricultural economist believes increased grocery costs are likely to pinch low-income consumers the hardest, as well as households that spend a high proportion of their money on food. (Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press file photo)

Top Stories

Tariffs: The new tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed on products from Mexico and Canada will affect your grocery bills, reports Sabrina Eaton. Many of the foods and beverages sold in the United States come from our closest neighbors.

 

Cuyahoga law: For the past 15 years, the county prosecutor’s civil division has been splitting legal duties with the county law director, a position created by the charter to help advise and represent the executive and council. But Prosecutor Michael O’Malley is asking Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to weigh in on the current arrangement in hopes Yost will find it illegal and void the agreement, restoring full powers and duties to his office, Kaitlin Durbin reports.

 

Today in Ohio: Cleveland City Council wants to tap into the city’s rainy day funds to give themselves slush funds for their wards. We’re talking about whether they want to be kings on Today in Ohio. 

 

 

Statehouse and Politics

License plates: Ohio lawmakers are advancing a proposal to allow a private company to take over the state’s specialty license plate program, reports Jeremy Pelzer. It’s a move that, if passed, could open the door to a lot more plate designs and styles. But it could also lead to higher prices, judging by the experience of a similar program in Texas.

 

Gym breaks: An Ohio Senator wants to lift weights and lower taxes, reports Jake Zuckerman. State Sen. Al Cutrona, a Mahoning County Republican, proposed legislation Tuesday to the Ohio Senate Ways and Means Committee that would allow Ohioans to deduct up to $1,500 per year from their reportable income for dollars spent on gym membership and personal training.

 

Hemp products: Ohio CBD users could have fewer places to buy hemp products if a bill restricting sales of most ingestible and intoxicating varieties to marijuana dispensaries becomes law. Senate Bill 86 would require most products with 0.3% or more of any tetrahydrocannabinol (the psychoactive chemical known as THC) be sold at dispensaries, reports Anna Staver.

 

School meals: A coalition of anti-hunger advocates and students is calling for the Ohio General Assembly to pay for universal free school meals in the budget, reports Laura Hancock. Hunger-Free Schools Ohio began organizing two years ago during the last state budget cycle for the legislature to better fund school breakfasts and lunches. 

 

 

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Northeast Ohio News

City fees: Cleveland’s vision for a more vibrant, accessible lakefront — funded by parking, dining and hotel fees — moved closer to reality with City Council’s latest approval. Sean McDonnell reports council members voted, 14-2, Monday night to form what’s called a “new community authority” or “NCA,” an organization that can levee additional fees in a set geographic area. It can only charge these fees if property owners and businesses leasing space agree to them.

 

Cyberattack: Cleveland Municipal Court remains closed, even after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine sent the state’s National Guard to help with a cyberattack investigation. Last week, DeWine authorized the guard’s Cyber Reserve Force to assist in the probe, Olivia Mitchell reports. The team is made up of trained members who assist communities with cyberattacks.

 

Market days: Learn more about vendors at the West Side Market on Merchant Demo Wednesdays, reports Paris Wolfe. The demonstrations, which take place at the vendors’ stands, include how-tos, recipes and question-and-answer sessions.

 

Euclid building: A long-vacant office building next to an elementary school and a daycare could meet its demise later this year, reports Cory Shaffer. Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail will ask the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in April to release about $100,000 from the city’s Community Development Block Grant to knock down the Brush Building.

 

Lorain fire: A fire has destroyed a Lorain building formerly owned by the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. Early Tuesday morning, the Lorain Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 6111 S. Broadway Ave., reports Lucas Daprile. 

 

Spring chores: Getting your garden ready for the season? Let’s take a month-by-month look at all the things you need to do. 

 

 

Business and Health

Child abuse: Pediatrician Dr. Kristen Iniguez, 53, is one of the few child-abuse pediatricians in Cuyahoga County doing this critical job full-time, reports Julie Washington. Working with abused children is tough, but it’s something that Iniguez is committed to.

 

 

Crime and Courts

Nurse sentenced: A licensed practical nurse was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation for taking bribes to smuggle items to a gang member while she worked at a private prison in Youngstown, reports Adam Ferrise. Alexis Schneider, 26, of Cleveland, made $45,000 in less than three months of sneaking tobacco and other items into the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, a CoreCivic-owned prison that houses federal pretrial detainees and state prisoners.

 

Heights robberies: Four men — including two accused of aggravated murder — pleaded not guilty Tuesday to luring victims via social media and robbing them, reports David Gambino.

 

Stolen Jeep: Police are seeking information on a Jeep suspected to have been stolen and used in a possible kidnapping Monday on Cleveland’s East Side. Fifth District officers received a call at 3 p.m. in which a person reported two men wearing dark clothing standing next to a black Jeep Cherokee SRT near East 166th Street and St. Clair Avenue, reports Olivia Mitchell. 

 

 

Arts and Entertainment

Ask Yadi: What do you do if your neighbors have dogs they let out to bark for an hour at 10:30 every night? Yadi Rodriguez writes you should try to introduce yourself to your neighbor and meet the little barkers. Then you can bring up in the conversation your work hours and about them barking for so long at night.

 

'Wicked': “Wicked,” a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, kicks off the Great Lakes Science Center’s new DOME Movies After Dark series at 6 p.m. March 20, Joey Morona reports.

 

Rudy’s Strudel: Fat Tuesday started early at Rudy’s Strudel & Bakery in Parma, Northeast Ohio’s ground zero for celebratory paczki. Paris Wolfe reports nearly two dozen people were in line at 4 a.m., waiting for the ethnic bakery to open. Dozens more joined the line by the 5 a.m. opening.

 

'King James': Rajiv Joseph’s love letter to LeBron James and Cleveland has been staged across North America, from its world premiere in Chicago three years ago to Los Angeles, Off-Broadway and beyond. But “King James” has never been performed in the city that inspired it— until now, reports Joey Morona. Cleveland Play House raises the curtain on its production of the acclaimed play Friday at the Outcalt Theatre in Playhouse Square. 

 

 
 

You’re all caught up

 

Don't forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.

 

— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard.

 

 

OTHER TOP STORIES

 

 

Lyndhurst police arrest suspect who showed gun at Giant Eagle employees when caught stealing Read more

 

Developers seek to transform historic Cleveland Heights synagogue into mixed-use campus Read more

 

Broadview Heights will ask voters to guarantee at least 2 fire stations in the city Read more

 

Parma Heights mayor joins RTA board Read more

 

Bay Village residents to vote on levy for school district upgrades Read more

 

‘It’s an important part of our city’s past and future': Shaker Heights residents rally for new ice rink Read more

 

Broadview Heights planners vote down proposed Sheetz at Broadview & Wallings roads Read more

 

Cleveland Heights-University Heights driver hailed as hero for saving students from school bus fire Read more

 

Beachwood council approves $3 million Chagrin Highlands purchase Read more

 

 

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