Child care in America is terribly broken and isn’t functionable for parents or the centers, two Ohio groups say based on new studies. They agree on the solution: a massive increase in public funding. We’ve seen endless numbers for years on the rising costs for families and, at the same time, the ensuing growing vacancies at childcare centers. The two groups — Starting Point, a nonprofit that helps parents find providers, and Policy Matters Ohio, a progressive think tank — included proposed solutions in their reports. The biggest ones call for policy changes for how and when Ohio awards public funding for child care and increasing reimbursement rates. One interesting wrinkle is providing free services for the children of child care employees to encourage people to join the field or stay in the jobs. — Kristen Davis |
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Seven out of every 10 child care providers report having low enrollment, only filling 75% of their capacity of less. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Child care: The existing child care business model isn’t working for anyone, suggests two new studies. Child care is too expensive for parents to afford and it’s so cheap that child care providers can’t pay enough to attract staff or, in some cases, keep their doors open, reports Sean McDonnell. 911 system: Ohio’s 911 system is about to be brought into the 21st century, joining a growing number of states across the country that have replaced decades-old emergency response systems with modern technology. Hannah Drown reports the shift to the internet-based Next Generation 911 program will create a centralized data system that will provide dispatchers with more accurate caller location information, additional communication avenues and other new features. Today in Ohio: The Today in Ohio podcast team took Wednesday off for a mini spring break. We’ll be back at it today, discussing all the latest headlines from Northeast Ohio and around the state. Until then, be sure to check out some of our past episodes. |
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Term limits: While Republican state legislative leaders say term limits should be loosened, Mike DeWine is skeptical. Andrew Tobias reports DeWine said “I think that people of the state of Ohio like term limits" and he hasn't seen a push to change them. Transgender candidates: Voters from opposing political parties could challenge candidacies across the aisle under a legislative proposal from two Ohio House Republicans facing transgender Democratic opponents who didn’t list their “deadname” on campaign paperwork, reports Jeremy Pelzer. U.S. Steel: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown has asked President Biden to examine Nippon Steel’s ties to China. Sabrina Eaton reports that Brown seeks an examination of the national security implications of Nippon Steel’s relationship with China’s steel industry as the Tokyo-based company seeks to buy U.S. Steel. Online porn: A House Republican is making a push for legislation that would require websites that share content that’s “obscene or harmful to juveniles” to verify that their viewers are legal adults. Rep. Steve Demetriou referred to the bill as a means of protecting children against pornography, reports Jake Zuckerman. |
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Stadium funding: While the future stadium location for the Browns remains unclear, voters in another state just gave their local teams a big, fat no. Sean McDonnell reports voters in the Kansas City metro area on Tuesday rejected a sales tax that would have funneled $500 million to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Royals baseball team. MetroHealth: A Cleveland skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility run by MetroHealth and its partner ProMedica will close this spring, according to layoff notice sent to the state. The facility stopped accepting new patients this week and will close by early summer after all current patients have been released or transferred, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. RTA grant: For the second year in a row, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit has won a major planning grant from the Federal Transit Administration to expand its budding regional bus rapid transit network. The $700,000 grant will pay for a plan to build a new bus rapid transit line on Lorain Road extending 15.7 miles from North Olmsted through neighboring Fairview Park to Ohio City on Cleveland’s West Side, Steven Litt reports. Former lawmaker dies: C.J. Prentiss, a trailblazing state lawmaker from Cleveland who was a fierce advocate for education and civil rights, died at age 82 Tuesday after a prolonged illness, Jeremy Pelzer reports. A racial and social justice activist since the 1960s, Prentiss served on the State Board of Education from 1985 until 1990, then served in the Ohio General Assembly as a Democrat from 1991 until 2006. Eclipse viewing: Will area residents get a view of the sun on April 8 when the eclipse reaches totality shortly after 3 p.m.? Cliff Pinckard reports that WKYC Channel 3 meteorologist Besty Kling says things are getting “interesting.” Cultural Gardens: Continuing his series exploring Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens, Zack Smith focuses on the Estonian garden. Originally dedicated in 1966, the garden was designed by Oberlin graduate Herk Visnapuu and featured an abstract sculpture from Clarence E. Van Duzer of the Cleveland Institute of Art. BW speaker: A Baldwin Wallace University alumnus who founded a high-performance footwear products company will address 615 undergraduate and graduate students at the school’s May 4 commencement. Glenn Barrett graduated from BW in 1971 and founded Ortholite, reports Laura Hancock. |
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FDA guidance: Are you OK to drive after taking medication? While many people know the dangers of drinking and driving, fewer people might realize that many over-the-counter and prescription medications have side-effects that can impair driving as well, reports Julie Washington. KeyBank: A fair-lending advocacy group and KeyBank announced Wednesday that they will start working together again — two years after the nonprofit cut ties with the bank. The agreement includes new $25 million in spending by KeyBank, reports Sean McDonnell. Business purchased: Ashland Bike Co., a full-service bike sales and service store in Ashland, has been acquired by Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, a sporting goods retailer that offers hunting, fishing, camping and other equipment. Megan Sims reports the sale would give the bike shop more access to customers, inventory and a support team. |
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Capitol riot: Andrew Miller, 37, of Dundee, Ohio, was arrested Tuesday on charges that he was part of the group that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Adam Ferrise reports that U.S. District Magistrate Judge Carmen Henderson ordered Miller remain in custody until a hearing next week. Elder scam: A 72-year-old Solon woman is out $70,000 when was fleeced after she clicked on a fraudulent text alert from her bank, Olivia Mitchell reports. Police say the incident occurred on March 25. Church sued: A woman is suing a North Olmsted church where the former youth pastor groomed and sexually abused her nearly a decade ago. Cory Shaffer reports the woman, now in her 20s, says the Columbia Road Baptist Church failed to ensure her safety as Brian Mitchell made repeated sexual remarks to her and inserted himself as a father figure in her life after her own father died. Driver indicted: A Cleveland woman was indicted Tuesday on charges stemming from last month’s chase and shooting of Antwoina Carter. According to a staff report, a Cuyahoga County grand jury charged Trinity Ford, 19, with murder, felonious assault and discharging a weapon on a public roadway. Imam sentenced: A former Parma imam was sentenced to prison for stealing $80,000 through public assistance programs. Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, former leader of the Islamic Center of Northeast Ohio, funneled food stamp and Medicaid money to dozens of bank accounts he controlled in the name of several businesses to help hide his theft, reports Adam Ferrise. |
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Monet exhibit: A Monet show at the Cleveland Museum of Art reveals the power of the artist's late work, writes Steven Litt. The free exhibition is on view through Aug. 11 and has been built around three beautiful late-period Monets on loan from the Musee Marmottan Monet in Paris. Cordelia chef: Cleveland chef Vinnie Cimino has been named as a finalist in the 2024 James Beard Chef and Restaurant Awards. Paris Wolfe reports Cimino is one of only two chefs in Ohio up for the award. PBS Show: Former Ohio Sen. Capri Cafaro has channeled her passion for all-things-food into a 13-episode food and travel series for public television. Paris Wolfe reports that “America the Bountiful” will premiere in the Cleveland market on Saturday. |
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