By March 19, when Ohio votes on presidential candidates, there’s little question of who each party’s nominee will be. That’s because the longer you wait, the less impact your votes have, as candidates are winnowed out in earlier contests like Iowa and New Hampshire. Super Tuesday began as a plan by southern Democrats to cluster their primaries. Front loading took off in the 1990s, with state after state moving up their primaries to have more impact. Ohio already pushed up its election to March, potentially confusing to voters because in nonpresidential state election years, the primary is held in May. Does the timing really matter if Ohio already has lost its status as a swing state? One primary race Ohioans will get to decide this year: the Republican U.S. Senate candidate. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. New York Knicks: Donovan Mitchell-less Cavs fall to Knicks under the bright lights once again, 107-98 Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Temperatures in the 70s, sunshine |
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| Ohioans still will cast primary ballots for president on March 19, but they won’t mean much. (Paul Sancya, Associated Press file photo) |
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Primary politics: Every four years, presidential wannabes spend months chatting up voters in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan in hopes that winning the nation’s earliest primaries and caucuses will vault them into the White House come November. Each presidential nominee is often decided before states with later primaries like Ohio – which casts ballots on March 19 – have weighed in. Sabrina Eaton explores the system. School vouchers: The number of Cuyahoga County students receiving state-funded scholarships to attend private schools has skyrocketed this year after state lawmakers expanded a voucher program, but state data suggests that doesn’t necessarily mean more kids have opted out of public schools. Laura Hancock reports that across the county’s 31 districts, the number of students receiving tuition payments in the EdChoice-Expansion scholarship has increased nearly four-fold this year, from about 2,500 students last year to nearly 9,200 this year. Notre Dame closing: Notre Dame College, a South Euclid institution for more than 100 years, announced Thursday that it will close at the end of the spring semester because of rising costs and shrinking enrollments. The closing hit the campus of 1,400 students just days before the school’s spring break begins this weekend. On Friday, many were still struggling to decide what will happen next in their academic careers, Olivia Mitchell reports. Today in Ohio: The Ohio Attorney General’s office is warning the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that its investigations into FirstEnergy’s alleged bribery schemes could imperil the criminal investigations. We’re talking about Dave Yost’s great save on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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PUCO investigation: In a letter to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio attorney general’s office warned that the commission’s regulatory investigations into House Bill 6 could demolish the criminal cases. Jake Zuckerman reports that Carol Hamilton O’Brien, the deputy attorney general for law enforcement warned, subpoenas filed to ex-FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones, top company lobbyist Mike Dowling and former PUCO chairman and alleged bribee Sam Randazzo could have the perverse effect of shielding the men implicated in the biggest public corruption scheme in state history from criminal prosecution. State fair: Ohio lawmakers have already appropriated $190 million and are currently considering adding another $196 million toward a sweeping plan to dramatically change the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus. The “Expo 2050″ plan calls for demolishing a majority of existing fairground buildings and erecting 15 new facilities, among many other things. Jeremy Pelzer reports the price tag could easily end up in the billions. The ad hoc way in which Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been asking the legislature for hundreds of million of dollars to support the project doesn’t sit well with at least one prominent state lawmaker. Senate ads: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose entered the U.S. Senate race last year with the profile of a seasoned frontrunner. But Andrew Tobias reports that no pro-LaRose TV ads have aired since Feb. 13. |
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Leap Day family: Tiffany and Billy Turner, who share a Leap Day 1984 birthday, got the best present they could have asked for on Leap Day 2024: a healthy baby girl. The Akron couple, who married on Leap Day, welcomed Mya Marie Turner to the world at 6:36 p.m. on Feb. 29, Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports. CMSD money: Cleveland Metropolitan School Superintendent Warren Morgan has promised to relaunch the Get More Opportunities program, but key details on that remain elusive, Lucas Daprile reports. The program – which has funded music therapy, college visits, a calm space for students struggling with mental health – was founded in 2022 in response to the district receiving $20 million from Mackenzie Scott and was in jeopardy when Morgan previously stated he planned to use the unrestricted gift to help balance the district’s budget. Cleveland Institute of Music: Faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music issued a vote of “no confidence” on Thursday for both CIM President Paul Hogle and Provost Scott Harrison. Peter Chakerian reports they say recent turmoil is chasing talent, audiences, students and reaccreditation away. Brecksville Bees: The Brecksville Bees credit their enduring success to a force much deeper: the mental and emotional nurturing they receive at Gym World, where the Bees have trained for decades, reports Hannah Drown. The Ganim family has long believed in building confidence and teaching habits to ensure their gymnasts get as much training and support through self-esteem exercises, meditation, journaling, open discussion among teammates, and through a mental health curriculum, carefully curated through the years and affectionately known as “Psychobabble.” Maple sugaring: Cleveland Metroparks are kicking off March with something sweet as maple-sugar season returns to Northeast Ohio. Dozens gathered at the Rocky River Reservation on Sunday to experience maple sugaring, something that can be done only in certain regions, including Ohio, Megan Sims reports. Classic CLE: Peter Chakerian loves Blue Cosmo, Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream’s flavor and classic Cleveland Eats iconoclast. It’s one of those things you eat when you want to feel like a kid again. |
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Lordstown Motors: Lordstown Motors’ fate is pending in bankruptcy court. Sean McDonnell outlines the story of tangled web of overpromises for what was billed as a bright automotive future with the potential for lots of jobs on the site of a giant former General Motors plant along the Ohio Turnpike not far from Youngstown. Best hospitals: For the sixth year in a row, the Cleveland Clinic main campus was named as the second-best hospital in the world in Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Hospitals. Julie Washington reports the 2024 rankings highlighted two more Clinic locations as among the top 250 hospitals in the world. The health system’s Abu Dhabi location ranked No. 186 and its Fairview hospital ranked No. 232. Casino revenue: Ohio’s casinos and racinos had a slow January, starting off 2024 with a decline in revenue right after breaking a revenue record in 2023. The state’s 11 casinos and racinos brought in a combined $176.1 million of revenue in January, down from $196.8 million in January 2023, reports Sean McDonnell. Cruise industry: The nascent cruise industry in Cleveland will take a hit this summer as one of the major players in Great Lakes cruising is going out of business, reports Susan Glaser. American Queen Voyages announced last week that it was shutting down. Restaurant closing: Pearl Street Wine Market & Café in Ohio City is closing by April 4 when its lease runs out. That’s because the building’s landlord is raising the rent 175 percent, from $4,000 per month to $11,000 per month, reports Paris Wolfe. |
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Mail carrier shot: A Warren mail carrier was shot and killed Saturday afternoon and the suspects are still at-large, Megan Sims reports. Warren police say U.S. Postal Service employee Jonte Davis, 33, was found in his USPS vehicle with a gunshot wound. Authorities said he was shot in his work vehicle by a suspect in a separate vehicle. Hall of Fame shooting: One person was wounded in a shooting at Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Megan Sims reports. Officials said the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident stemming from a domestic dispute. No details were offered as to exactly where on the 100-acre campus the shooting occurred. Car thefts: Car thefts continued to climb across Northeast Ohio through much of last year, but investigators are seeing a hopeful sign: The numbers began dropping in September. In Cleveland, stolen cars rose from 4,718 in 2022 to 5,576 last year, an increase of 18%. Molly Walsh has a list of car thefts in every Cuyahoga County suburb. RTA charges: Federal prosecutors have dropped money laundering charges against a Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority employee once accused of laundering his brother’s drug money by gambling at a West Virginia casino. Adam Ferrise reports that Micah Atkinson, 27, was initially charged in the case in federal court in Wheeling, West Virginia, along with his brother, Robert Atkinson, 42. School bus crash: A Geauga County school bus was involved in a three-vehicle crash Friday, reports Olivia Mitchell. The accident happened about 7:40 a.m. on Ohio 87, east of Ohio 528, in Middlefield Township. A Cardinal Local Schools bus was picking up students in the eastbound lane. |
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Cedar Point: Cedar Point is closing down Snake River Expedition, an interactive boat ride that debuted just three years ago in celebration of the park’s 150th anniversary celebration. Susan Glaser reports the ride cruised the Cedar Point lagoon, near the back of the park, and featured live actors and special effects, along with an interactive story involving the delivery of gold, outlaws and a large snake. Caitlin Clark: The hottest name in sports might be coming to Cleveland. University of Iowa senior Caitlin Clark has captivated the sports landscape in a way no women’s college basketball player ever has before. And if Iowa makes its second straight Final Four when the event comes to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 5 and 7, it will be because its superstar player has continued to do superstar things, Tim Bielik reports. Rock Off: Saturday night, the Tri-C High School Rock Off held its final “Final Exam,” featuring 12 bands vying for the vaunted title of The Best (teen) Band In The Land. After five hours of live, energetically played and thoroughly performed music, the final winner of the final Final Exam was Inertia, the eclectic and tight quintet of west-side suburbanites who all skipped their winter formal to rock out for friends, family and perhaps some new fans, Malcolm X Abram reports. Five faves: Cleveland native Phyllis “Seven” Harris has nearly two decades of leadership experience in local nonprofits. For many years, she’s also played a strong role as advocate in Cleveland’s LGBT community — currently serving as the executive director of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Harris shared her five fab food favorites with Peter Chakerian. CLE Ballet: Cleveland Ballet performs “Sleeping Beauty” on April 25-27 as the final piece in its 2023-24 season at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace. Paris Wolfe reports that artistic director Timour Bourtasenkov promises a freshly interpreted, lavish production. Kacey Musgraves: Seven-time Grammy-award-winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves will kick off her “Deeper Well World Tour” at the end of April. Peter Chakerian reports that while no Cleveland date has been announced, Musgraves is scheduled to perform at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of the Ohio State University in Columbus on Nov. 13. Lean Cuisines: With so many options to choose from, your “Best of Cleveland” team decided to take a deep dive into one particular brand of frozen foods. Peter Chakerian and Yadi Rodriguez tried 29 different varieties of Lean Cuisine Protein Kicks that they found at Meijer’s for $2.50 a box. Distilling: Seven Brothers Distilling stands out not just for its production of high-quality spirits, but also for its lively tasting room with modern farmhouse charm in Geneva, reports Alex Darus. Kevin Suttman founded Seven Brothers officially in 2010, after leaving corporate America amidst the 2008 economic crash. Schnitz Ale: In a way, former President Ronald Reagan is responsible for Schnitz Ale Brewery opening in Strongsville, reports Marc Bona. The brewery, which opened less than three years ago in Parma, is expanding with a taproom, bar, dining room and merchandise area in an industrial park in Strongsville. House of the Week: Situated on a cul-de-sac in the peaceful gated community of Sterling Lakes, a colonial built in 2022 seemingly is straight out of a magazine or an HGTV show. Joey Morona reports the home at 4375 Renoir Way in Pepper Pike offers over 4,300 square feet of living space and is full of immaculate finishes and designer details. |
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Rocky River Chamber of Commerce creating 'Emerging Professionals Committee' Read more Falling Numbers and Older Buildings but Strong Academics and Finances for Avon Schools Read more Attention food truck operators: South Euclid offering one-stop inspections for nine communities Read more Middleburg Heights Councilman John Grech Jr. remembered for love of family, community Read more Westlake Community Services Center unveils new fitness room Read more Plans are under way for a new Beachwood Library building Read more Medina police to offer security seminar for churches Read more |
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