Three years ago, I thought the coronavirus would blow over: a frenzy of concern followed by a reality check. Like ebola. Then I watched with my colleagues in the newsroom as Gov. Mike DeWine canceled school for a “three-week spring break.” We all went home. The world went eerily quiet. But somehow, I thought life would all return to normal by summer. Our world has fundamentally changed since March 2020. By some recent research, at least half of us have been infected with COVID-19, probably more and increasing by the day. The severity of the virus is a fraction of what it once was, thanks largely to vaccines and new medical treatments. It’s a mind trip to think about all we’ve experienced in the last three years. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: Cavs rally late to stun shorthanded Boston Celtics in overtime, 118-114 Northeast Ohio Tuesday weather forecast: Windy and colder |
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Ohio's large metro areas of Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati have had among the lowest deaths rates from COVID-19 and among the highest vaccination rates. (Rich Exner, cleveland.com) |
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COVID anniversary: The impact has been staggering since the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Ohio three years ago this week: 41,242 Ohio deaths, more than 100,000 hospitalizations and 3 million-plus known cases. Rich Exner reports on the scope of the pandemic. CLE etiquette: Is it polite to FaceTime in public? Should you tip when you pick up pizza? Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are putting together a modern etiquette guide, where reporters will compile their takes on societal questions, as well as include questions – and answers – from you, our readers. Today in Ohio: An independent audit has found that former MetroHealth CEO Dr. Akram Boutros circumvented rules to pay himself $1.9 million in unauthorized bonuses and took deliberate steps to keep the board from finding out. We’re talking about the audit’s claim that Boutros failed multiple times to disclose his supplemental bonuses to the board, compensation consultants and other parties on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Energy Harbor: Energy Harbor, the owner of two nuclear power plants at the center of the House Bill 6 scandal, has been purchased for more than $3.4 billion by Texas-based Vistra Corp., reports Jeremy Pelzer. The sale of the one-time FirstEnergy subsidiary fulfills a key goal of HB6 backers – to be able to sell the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear plants in Northern Ohio. Householder trial: Federal prosecutors and attorneys for ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges are set for closing arguments today, the last salvo in the trial of what prosecutors have called the largest public corruption case in state history. Jake Zuckerman reports jurors will decide the fate of two men, both of whom were once at the helm of Ohio Republican politics. Voter fraud: Secretary of State Frank LaRose is threatening to withdraw Ohio from a multi-state voter information database unless changes are made to appease conservative critics of the organization, Jeremy Pelzer reports. |
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Juvenile murders: Cuyahoga County saw a surge last year in the number of children who succumbed to fatal violence — both those killed by it and those accused of perpetrating it. Cory Shaffer reports that prosecutors charged 35 youths with murder or aggravated murder, a 52% jump from 2021′s total of 23. There were also 19 children slain, up from 13 in 2021. The numbers suggest that the county is in the midst of an epidemic of youth gun violence not seen since the 1990s. Benefits agreements: Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin and Majority Whip Jasmin Santana are proposing stronger community benefits agreements from developers who receive financial assistance from the city and changes to the charter related to how the city administers construction projects, reports Courtney Astolfi. Golf course: Cleveland City Council signed off on Mayor Justin Bibb’s plan to hand over management of the city-owned Highland Park Golf Course to a new nonprofit, Courtney Astolfi reports. Council’s approval comes after some members of the body were initially skeptical of giving long-term control of the property to a newly formed group that hasn’t proven whether it will be a good manager. Cleveland’s Promise: At Almira Elementary School, where many fathers are engaged in their children’s education, the Fathers Walk is a way to celebrate their dedication. The annual Fathers Walk, an initiative that started in Cuyahoga County during 2006, encourages dads to engage in their children’s education and to support them in the best ways possible, Cameron Fields reports. Community development: Mayor Justin Bibb wants to use federal block grants to push Cleveland’s community development corporations toward more substantial home repair work, but several City Council members are calling for a complete overhaul of the CDC funding system that’s been in place for decades. Courtney Astolfi reports the debate hit a crescendo last week during the city’s annual community development block grant hearings, as council members almost universally questioned the wisdom of continuing to pay for CDC staff using money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, rather than from the city’s general fund. 'Dead Man Walking': Sister Helen Prejean, author of the 1993 book “Dead Man Walking” and internationally known advocate for the abolishment of the death penalty, issued a “call to action” to Ohio’s faith leaders to work to end capital punishment. She credited the activism of Virginia’s “amazing faith community,” pushing legislation through to sign a ban on executions, Brenda Cain reports. |
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Flu season: During the last few winters, flu seasons have been mild. But this season, the flu rebounded to levels not seen since well before the COVID-19 pandemic. The current influenza season began earlier than usual, peaked early and was responsible for high hospitalization rates among children, reports Julie Washington. Monitoring MetroHealth: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said he has stepped up monitoring of the MetroHealth System in the wake of the bonus controversy at the county-supported hospital and plans to sit down with hospital leadership to discuss a critical audit released Friday. Ronayne also has taken other steps in response to the controversy regarding ousted MetroHealth CEO Dr. Akram Boutros taking $1.9 million in what the health system said were improper bonuses, Julie Washington reports. Charter House: Entrepreneur Chris King has taken over the space formerly occupied by Bistro 185 at 991 E. 185th St., renaming the space Charter House restaurant. Paris Wolfe reports the restaurant closed in 2018. King bought the unoccupied building last year. Home sales: The cleveland.com database of home sales and other property transfer details has been updated with transactions for February 2023. Spring break: There’s a new spring break destination in the mix and it’s an unexpected one: Cleveland. Susan Glaser reports the city ranks ninth on a list of emerging spring break destinations, as defined by year-over-year growth in Airbnb and Vrbo bookings for March 2023 compared to March 2022. |
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Judge Newman: He made headlines for presiding over the televised trial of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, whom he sentenced last week to life in prison without parole. But before Judge Clifton Newman earned a seat on the South Carolina Circuit Court bench, he roamed the academic halls of Cleveland State University and its College of Law, reports John Tucker. Ghost guns: Two Cleveland men sold some 90 guns, including some so-called ghost guns, to undercover agents investigating gun-smuggling to the Dominican Republic and to Mexican drug cartels, reports Adam Ferrise. Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario and Saleh Yusuf Saleh sold the guns, including at least one automatic gun, after a suspected gun smuggler in the Dominican Republic hooked the two up with undercover agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to court records. Jail pummeling: Cuyahoga County agreed to pay $239,000 to a U.S. Army veteran diagnosed with schizophrenia who needed facial reconstruction surgery after a pummeling by a jail officer, reports Adam Ferrise. The county settled the lawsuit with Joshua Castleberry more than four years after a corrections officers beat Castleberry, strapped him to a restraint chair and failed to give him medical attention for four hours while he bled profusely in an isolated Cuyahoga County Jail cell. |
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Mac and Cheese: Competition was tight at the 2023 Mac ‘N’ Cheese Throwdown in Cleveland, Paris Wolfe reports. Winners were chosen in three categories from among 17 participating area restaurants. RV Rocking: While Jeff and Patti Kinzbach are currently in Palm Springs, California, their minds are still on Las Vegas. On this week’s episode of “Rocking the RV Life,” the Kinzbachs share a couple of more memories from their time in Vegas, including of a star-studded event they attended at the MGM Grand. |
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Woman stops car to remove table from highway, is struck and killed by another vehicle Read more Judge sentences Euclid man to life in prison for 2022 fatal shooting in Akron Read more Kayaker found dead after going missing on Cuyahoga River in Summit County Read more Shaker officials address concerns about handling of September eviction ‘stand-off’ at Larchmere home Read more Solon’s service department union seeks council’s support in contract negotiations Read more Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities launches leadership academy Read more Bay hopes to create sense of community with village green Read more About 50 people turn out for first North Ridgeville master plan feedback session Read more Akron receives $960,000 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program grant to transform Innerbelt Read more Avon Lake shares drawing of proposed play space renovations Read more |
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