What you need to know on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 WEATHER
After a cool, dry start, Northeast Ohio can expect to see some warmer weather - and rain - for the remainder of the weekend. The forecast calls for highs only around 50 on Friday and Saturday with increasing clouds and colder overnight conditions. Things will warm up a bit on Sunday with rain possible and highs closer to 60. Read more.
OVERNIGHT
Restaurant closures: Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that the state has evidence the coronavirus is spread in bars and restaurants, but gave no data and no barometer for what could trigger a shutdown, Marc Bona reports. “We’re not trying to pick on bars and restaurants,” he said, noting that they’re dangerous because patrons spend a large chunk of time without wearing masks. The Ohio Restaurant Association weighed in before DeWine spoke, saying a second closure would be “devastating.” Meanwhile, if DeWine follows through on his threat to close bars, restaurants and gyms due to the coronavirus next week, it’s likely he will be met with another wave of legal challenges, Andrew Tobias reports. Maurice Thompson, an activist lawyer who’s led several past legal challenges to DeWine’s coronavirus restrictions, said he plans to advise gyms they can continue to operate legally regardless, based on a May lawsuit.
Legal challenges: If Gov. Mike DeWine follows through on his threat to close bars, restaurants and gyms due to the coronavirus next week, it’s likely he will be met with another wave of legal challenges, Andrew Tobias reports. Maurice Thompson, an activist lawyer who’s led several past legal challenges to DeWine’s coronavirus restrictions, said he plans to advise gyms they can continue to operate legally regardless, based on a May lawsuit.
Hospital response: As COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise across the state, some Northeast Ohio health systems are implementing additional measures to preserve bed capacity and protect their patients. The Cleveland Clinic is postponing certain nonessential surgeries scheduled today and Monday and left open the possibility of delaying more procedures in the future, Evan MacDonald reports.
This Week in the CLE: Gov. Mike DeWine has reissued his mask mandate with more enforcement and threatened to close restaurants and gyms, in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. We’re talking about DeWine’s speech to Ohioans on This Week in the CLE, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
New cases: Ohio set a new record, with 7,101 new cases added Thursday, Laura Hancock reports. That beats Tuesday’s record of 6,508 set Tuesday.
Red counties: A record 68 Ohio counties are now on red alert over heightened coronavirus concerns, including every county in Northeast Ohio, Rich Exner reports. The number of red alert counties is up from 56 last week and from 11 at the beginning of October as the fall surge in cases began. Cuyahoga County this week met four of the seven criteria for warnings.
School cases: The weekly increase in Ohio’s K-12 case numbers climbed again, to 1,627 new student cases and 1,096 new staff cases, Emily Bamforth reports. With this week’s reported cases, totals since the state mandated reporting beginning on Sept. 7 rose to 6,030 student cases and 3,486 total staff cases.
Coronavirus aid: The state of Ohio will use $30 million in federal coronavirus aid to offer $200,000 to each local health department and hire more contact tracers, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Each of the 113 local health departments can use the additional money however they see fit. The governor said contact tracers will be hired by the state “as fast as we can” to “surge in” to different counties as needed.
Coronavirus statistics: The Ohio Department of Health on Thursday launched two new online features: one allowing users to access coronavirus statistics by ZIP code, the other an expanded interactive website with data about flu cases and hospitalizations in the state. Jeremy Pelzer reports the ZIP code feature allows Ohioans to see a variety of coronavirus statistics from each of the state’s nearly 1,200 ZIP codes, including the number of probable and confirmed cases over various time periods.
COVID nursing homes: At least 3,434 patients of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have died with coronavirus, accounting for 61% of the known COVID-19 deaths this year in Ohio, according to the state’s weekly update released Thursday night. Rich Exner reports patient deaths for long-term care facilities are declining as a share of all known coronavirus deaths in Ohio.
Justice Center: The committee studying what to do about the antiquated Cuyahoga County Justice Center agreed Thursday that a new jail should be built separately beyond downtown Cleveland. Peter Krouse reports the committee also agreed that if the courthouse section of the complex is replaced rather than renovated, the new courthouse should remain downtown.
Committee heads: Republicans from Ohio could end up calling the shots for their party on as many as five U.S. House of Representatives committees next year if their months of internal campaigning pay off. Sabrina Eaton reports Rep. Bob Latta of Bowling Green is running to be top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Marietta’s Bill Johnson wants to lead the GOP contingent on the House Budget Committee and Rep. Mike Turner of Dayton is seeking his party’s top spot on the House Armed Services Committee.
COVID pollworkers: Two poll workers at a North Olmsted polling location and one worker at an Olmsted Falls polling location tested positive for COVID-19 early this week, Courtney Astolfi reports. That makes four toal poll workers who tested positive for the coronavirus in the days after the Nov. 3 election.
Biden win: For the first time since a winner was projected, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine acknowledged Democratic President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the election. Seth Richardson reports that until now DeWine has resisted calling Biden the winner as Republican President Donald Trump continues to challenge the election results, largely with conspiracy theories.
Amy Acton: Former Ohio health director Dr. Amy Acton said a soaring number of COVID-19 infections suggests “the toughest time of this virus” is ahead,Evan MacDonald reports. Speaking Wednesday night at a virtual event hosted by the National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland, Acton opted for a determined and hopeful tone, in a throwback to the steady leadership she displayed during the first several months of the coronavirus pandemic with Gov. Mike DeWine’s daily coronavirus briefings.
Medical marijuana: Ohio officials are examining the distance of medical marijuana dispensaries from patients' homes to determine whether more retailers are needed. Laura Hancock reports that 43% of Ohio patients in a recent state survey said that they travel 10 to 30 miles to shop at a dispensary. Another 38.25% are traveling only up to 10 miles.
Medicaid fraud: The owner of a Cleveland nonprofit that counseled mental-health patients was charged Thursday with billing Medicaid for services that his office never performed. John Caniglia reports a federal grand jury indicted Alfonzo Bailey and eight employees of Eye For Change Youth & Family Services on conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
Aniya Day-Garrett: An appeals court on Thursday upheld the aggravated murder convictions of a Euclid couple serving life sentences in the 2018 killing of 4-year-old Aniya Day-Garrett. A three-judge panel at the 8th District Court of Appeals rejected arguments from lawyers representing Sierra Day, the girl’s mother, and Day’s boyfriend, Deonte Lewis, that the two should have had separate trials, Cory Shaffer reports.
Shooting: A 30-year-old man shot his girlfriend in the head before fatally shooting himself Wednesday evening on Akron’s East Side, Robin Goist reports. The woman was conscious and breathing when paramedics arrived, police said. The man, who has also not been publicly identified, shot himself in the head when confronted by officers and died at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.
That’s Rich: Do you like the idea of tuition-free college and no grade pressure? Rich Exner writes that Ohioans 60 and older can audit classes for free at public universities and colleges, or in some cases even private schools.
Year-round Chautauqua: Lakeside Chautauqua, the Victorian-era summer resort community on Lake Erie, is making a pitch for winter visitors. Susan Glaser writes the Fountain Inn, one of two hotels on the Lakeside grounds, will be open year-round this year, along with the Slack House, offering specialty burgers, fries and milkshakes.
Veterans basketball: The Cleveland Cavaliers invited local veterans and their families to participate in a basketball clinic Wednesday night on the main court at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to commemorate Veterans Day. John Kuntz has photos.
SeatGeek: SeatGeek is the new ticketing provider for the Cavaliers, Joey Morona reports. SeatGeek replaces Flash Seats and StubHub, handling all ticketing for events at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse including Cavs and Monsters games, concerts and other events.
Radio layoffs: Cleveland radio has been impacted once again by layoffs at iHeartMedia. Joey Morona reports the nation’s largest owner of radio stations began notifying affected employees, including on- and off-air staffers at stations in Cleveland, Akron and Canton.
State specialties: Cleveland.com’s sister site, Conde Nast Traveler,asked a representative from each state, 50 people in total, to tell us what their state is best known for.
Things to do: Chow down on some pierogi, celebrate the music of Devo, or watch a virtual theatrical production. Anne Nickoloff reports on 11 things to do this weekend in Greater Cleveland.
Other headlines:
Ohio releases latest travel advisory, adds Pennsylvania to the list. Read more.
Grace period to renew expired driver’s license in Ohio ending soon. Read more. Faces of COVID: Lakewood veteran & VA employee is now a coronavirus survivor. Read more.
COVID-19 pen pals: Westlake restaurant connects kids with nursing home residents. Read more.
LCCAA rent assistance application program suspended due to community need. Read more.
Applications open for Michelle Hung’s seat on North Ridgeville Council. Read more.
Max & Erma’s to sell everything online from closed Mentor location. Read more.
Man gets 12 years in prison for trying to kidnap 2 women in Brookside Reservation. Read more.
Cleveland Clinic doctor accused of taking research to China while accepting funds from U.S. taxpayers. Read more.
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