Ohio used to be a swing state, a purple heart-shaped piece of heartland, where candidates of either stripe visited to court votes. But in recent years, the colors have separated. Cities have been reliably blue bubbles in the map of our red rural state. Could the cities sway the rest of Ohio in November if Kamala Harris energizes the urban core? Our politics and data journalists examined the turnout for Barack Obama, who mobilized minority and younger voters in 2008 and 2012, and for Donald Trump, who took the state handily in 2016 and 2020. We can’t predict the polls. But it’s worth making sense of the math. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Even if Democrats can set up an unprecedented voter-registration effort, a return to Obama-era turnout in Ohio’s largest cities wouldn’t be enough to help Kamala Harris, above, overcome Donald Trump’s victory margins in the state in 2016 and 2020. (Associated Press file photo) |
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Urban voters: Even if Kamala Harris can generate the same voter enthusiasm that got Barack Obama elected here, few think she has a shot of winning Ohio in November, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Data breaks: Stadium-sized data centers that consume huge amounts of electricity are popping up all over central Ohio, getting hundreds of millions in state and local tax breaks every year, even as grid operators worry the facilities may soon overburden the available power supply. Jake Zuckerman reports that data centers are estimated to claim nearly $123 million in state sales tax exemptions this year and $127 million next year. But the state has refused to share a full scope of how much it’s paying in tax breaks, who is claiming them and what local tax abatements state officials have approved. Tax windfalls: Local governments in Summit, Geauga and Ashtabula counties saw significant increases in property tax revenues beginning last year after state-mandated adjustments that led to a spike in property values. As property owners in Cuyahoga County brace for similar hikes next year, following the county’s recent sexennial reappraisal, Cory Shaffer and Zachary Smith researched neighboring counties and how their communities used the additional money. Today in Ohio: We were off again Friday because of illness. We hope to record a new half-hour news podcast today. |
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Law signings: Gov. Mike DeWine has signed more than 20 bills in the past two days dealing with a wide range of topics, from toughening penalties for stunt driving to changing how statewide ballot issues are numbered. Jeremy Pelzer reports the bills, which become law in late October after the state’s usual 90-day waiting period, were the product of a flurry of activity by state lawmakers late last month before leaving for summer break. |
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Bedrock subsidies: Mayor Justin Bibb proposes more than $1 billion in public subsidies over the next 45 years for Bedrock’s sweeping long-term plan to remake Tower City Center and the eastern bank of the Cuyahoga River. Courtney Astolfi reports that Cleveland’s contribution would enable Bedrock’s $3 billion private spending plan to transform the southwestern corner of downtown Cleveland from a sea of parking lots and underdeveloped dead space into a lively neighborhood with 2,000 new residential units, more than 1 million square feet of office space, retail and entertainment, and 12 acres of riverside parks, promenades and other public space. Pro-Palestine protest: Following months of demonstrations at Cuyahoga County Council meetings over the county’s investments in Israel amid the war in Gaza, the Cleveland Palestine Advocacy Community took its fight right to Executive Chris Ronayne’s door, reports Kaitlin Durbin. The group protested outside his home last week with chants, chalk and signs claiming he “enables a genocide.” They were referring to the $16 million the county has invested in Israel bonds, much of that funding being renewed during Ronayne’s administration. Small businesses: Following the launch of the new Office of Small Business, Cuyahoga County is taking extra steps to support women- and minority-owned shops, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Executive Chris Ronayne has proposed spending up to $3.4 million over the next two years to create a small-business program focusing on helping more women or minority entrepreneurs start or grow their businesses. ADA: Whether they have hearing, vision, cognitive or ambulatory difficulties, disabled Ohioans are protected through the Americans with Disabilities Act. In Ohio, 14.4% of the state’s total population has some sort of disability, or nearly 1-out-of-7 people, reports Zachary Smith. Olympics: When the javelins slice through the air during the Summer Olympics in Paris, a few Clevelanders at Stade de France might get a bit emotional as the crowd cheers. Marc Bona reports that they have a bond that goes back 100 years. Gene Oberst won a bronze medal in Paris in 1924 in javelin. Marijuana sommelier: A new breed of experts is emerging within the world of cannabis, reports Hannah Drown. Ganjiers, the sommeliers of their industry, are cannabis experts who have completed a rigorous certification program to assess the quality of cannabis products. Ohio is home to one of the first. Our Best Life: Intimidated by the ingredients in skincare products, Laura Johnston avoided them – until her fifth-grader got hooked on the trend. If a fifth-grader could spend a half-hour cleansing and toning and moisturizing her face, maybe at 44 Johnston could spend two minutes to help lighten the jowls she saw in video calls, or fade the red patch on her forehead. Fish scandal: A boat used to help perpetrate one of the most sensational crimes on Lake Erie in recent memory has been sold, reports Peter Krouse. The 22-foot Ranger bass boat seized from its owner, Chase Cominsky of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, after he and his fishing partner were caught cheating in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship in Cleveland in 2022 sold in an online auction earlier this week for $82,000, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Cops Ride: Hundreds of motorcycles honoring fallen police officers flooded downtown Cleveland streets Sunday. The 16th annual Cops Ride was organized to raise money to honor the memory and families of fallen police officers, Megan Sims reports. |
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MetroHealth CEO: A MetroHealth System physician has been tapped to serve as acting CEO of the county public hospital system during CEO Airica Steed’s medical leave, reports Julie Washington. The board chose Dr. Christine Alexander-Rager, who is currently chief medical officer, during an emergency meeting. Zika virus: Contracting the Zika virus during pregnancy can lead to permanent changes in the immune system of the baby, found a study from the Cleveland Clinic. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports that although 95% of babies born of Zika-infected pregnancies do not exhibit the telltale symptoms of microcephaly and brain abnormalities, that does not necessarily mean that the children are unaffected as previously thought. Mammograms: MetroHealth System and Discount Drug Mart are making it easier for women to get a mammogram or breast cancer screening, reports Julie Washington. Women who are 40 to 74 years old and at average risk for breast cancer should get a mammogram every two years. Fridrich Bicycle: After 141 years, Fridrich Bicycle in Ohio City is closing its doors for good on Aug. 31. Sean McDonnell reports that Chuck Fridrich announced earlier in the year that he was looking to sell the shop. |
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Pit bulls: A man and a woman are facing charges after police say they discovered 14 pit bulls abandoned in a Euclid home, covered in feces. John Tucker reports Montee and Ashley Ann Roberts appeared before a judge on Monday after they were indicted on 28 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to companion animals. Both pleaded not guilty. New probe: Prosecutors say Ru-El Sailor, who spent 15 years in prison before he was cleared of wrongdoing, knew who fatally shot Omar Clark in 2002 and lied about it for years, reports Adam Ferrise. Backed up by recordings of prison calls, Cleveland attorneys said the lie undercuts arguments Sailor has made in decades of court proceedings. Fire safety: After a woman died in a fire earlier this week, Lorain officials are urging residents to make sure they are up to date on safety issues in their homes, reports Lucas Daprile. Sherri Bennett, 53, died in her apartment while apparently trying to escape Wednesday's fire. |
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Olympic cupcakes: Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes has created specialty baked goods inspired by the Olympics in honor of the opening ceremony in Paris this week, reports Alex Darus. Carter's BBQ: Watch the story of Darren and Theresa Carter of Carter’s BBQ unfold on a GoDaddy’s “Made in America” fifth season. The Carters are featured in the second episode, “Former Steel Work Ignites BBQ Business,” and the fourth episode, “Hard Work Pays Off for Ohio Entrepreneurs.” The documentary series follows entrepreneurs like the Carters as they start and build businesses, reports Paris Wolfe. Collectors Convention: About 100,000 people attended the 44th National Sports Collectors Convention over the weekend at the IX-Center in Cleveland. Baseball cards, autographed jerseys, autographed baseballs, team banners, autographed helmets and more were on sale, Kaylee Remington reports. DANCE: Tickets are on sale for DANCECleveland’s 2024-25 Performance Series, reports Paris Wolfe. The upcoming season will include well-known companies -- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Twyla Tharp Dance -- as well as emerging artists making their Ohio debut. DineDrink: In the latest episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus discuss where the “Superman” team ate in Greater Cleveland during filming. Duke explains his first-hand experience of reporting on the filming. Plus they chat about the director's particular shout-outs to restaurants like Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar, Mabel’s BBQ and Lionheart Coffee. House of the Week: Spanning 17 acres across two counties, the Hunting Valley estate features a breathtaking Cotswolds-inspired residence at the end of a secluded private dive through lush woods and cascading waterfalls. Joey Morona reports the enchanting exterior combines stone, detailed woodwork and a curved cedar shake roof for $3.25 million. |
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24-year-old woman dead, 31-year-old man injured in separate shootings in Akron Read more Elyria man accused of damaging Little League park by performing car stunts, police say Read more Avon Lake bike riders remember fallen comrades abroad with senior veterans Read more Firefighters rescue man stuck in chimney of Cleveland school Read more After months of discussion, Pepper Pike council chooses Charter Review Commission members Read more |
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