As Ohio moves closer to the start of recreational marijuana sales, the city is preparing to ban dispensaries from locating close to schools, churches, parks and libraries. Medical dispensaries are expected to be the first establishments to sell recreational marijuana here. And existing state restrictions restrict those locations. Ohio law also allows communities to ban recreational marijuana businesses altogether. While dozens of cities, including Northeast Ohio suburbs, have voted to bar cannabis stores from their borders, there is an incentive. The Host Community Fund gets 36% of the special excise tax on marijuana sales under the law, which cities can use to pay for their own priorities.
— Laura
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Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and warmer |
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Cleveland seeks to limit locations of recreational marijuana dispensaries. (Brennan Linsley, Associated Press) |
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Marijuana dispensaries: Under changes to Cleveland’s zoning code -- proposed by Mayor Justin Bibb and poised for approval on Monday night by City Council -- recreational dispensaries would be limited to certain locations around Cleveland, reports Courtney Astolfi. Salk Fork fracking: An unidentified company asked the state to open more than 2,300 additional acres underneath Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County for oil and gas development, reports Jake Zuckerman. If the land nomination is granted by the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission, the state could lease drilling rights under the stretch of parkland to the “highest and best” bidder. Earlier this year, commissioners sold rights to drill under about 5,700 acres of Salt Fork to Infinity Natural Resources, a West Virginia company, for about $59 million plus a 20% royalty payment on gas produced. Today in Ohio: When Gov. Mike DeWine demanded the Ohio legislature meet in special session, they did their job. We’re talking about the pair of laws they passed banning non-U.S. citizens from contributing to statewide ballot-issue campaigns and allowing President Joe Biden on Ohio’s fall ballot on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Pandemic response: A congressional subcommittee led by Ohio’s Brad Wenstrup spent hours Monday grilling and occasionally insulting former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci over the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Sabrina Eaton reports Wenstrup, a Cincinnati Republican and physician, kicked off the hearing by accusing Fauci of overseeing “one of the most invasive regimes of domestic policy the U.S. has ever seen” in an effort to stop the spread of the disease that’s killed more than 1 million Americans, and of trying to sway public opinion against the lab leak theory of its origin. Hemp bill: A sweeping new bill would put delta-8-THC products in recreational marijuana dispensaries and require Ohioans to sign affidavits that they won’t sell product if they grow marijuana at home, among several changes to state marijuana laws, Laura Hancock reports. Marine honor: The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed legislation that would rename the U.S. Post Office in Chester Township for a local U.S. Marine who was killed in a 2020 training accident. Sabrina Eaton reports the bill sponsored by South Russell Republican Rep. Dave Joyce would rename the post office at 12804 Chillicothe Road the “Sgt. Wolfgang Kyle Weninger Post Office Building." Biden ballot: Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a pair of bills expanding the state’s ban on political contributions from foreigners and ensuring that President Joe Biden appears on the November ballot by relaxing a state candidate filing deadline. Andrew Tobias reports they will go into effect on Aug. 31. Tax break: Ohio’s newly expanded sales tax holiday, during which almost anything costing $500 or less will be tax-free, will run from July 30 through Aug. 8 this year, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The 10-day, $741 million sales tax holiday is a dramatic expansion from past Ohio summer sales tax holidays – both in terms of its length and the extensive number of products to which it applies. |
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Israel investment: For weeks, protesters have been packing Cuyahoga County Council meetings, calling for the county to divest from Israel amid the war in Gaza, and now two council members are joining in, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Council Vice President Cheryl Stephens and Councilman Patrick Kelly are introducing legislation today “urging” County Executive Chris Ronayne “to immediately cease any additional” investment in Israel bonds and to create a policy prohibiting future investments in any foreign securities, a copy of the resolution reads. Campaign caps: Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin on Monday offered inflation and larger wards among his justifications for backing a measure that will double campaign contribution caps for City Council races. But Courtney Astolfi reports other members said they have their own reasons for backing the change. Among them: The need to fill their war chests so they can quash progressive Democrats determined to unseat them. Delinquent: Tyson was charged with felonies for trying to steal a Little Caesar’s pizza, but the charges were dropped in exchange for community service, John Tucker and Kaitlin Durbin report in their Delinquent series. His case closed and a week later, his 19-year-old cousin was killed in a brutal shooting. Immediately, he considered retaliating. That’s what is expected when a family member is gunned down, he explains, otherwise you might look weak and become a target yourself. But instead, next year he’s expected to become the first male in four generations on his mother’s side to graduate from high school. Kids need mentors in their communities, he says. Diver remembered: Lakewood resident David VanZandt, 70, the founder and leader of the Cleveland Underwater Explorers, died Saturday while exploring an underwater wreck in Lake Erie, Olivia Mitchell reports. “He died doing what he loved,” said his wife, Toni VanZandt. “And we all would like to go that way. Right? We should all be so blessed.” |
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Clinic lawsuit: A woman who had surgery at the Cleveland Clinic’s Medina Hospital to treat her thyroid cancer was awake for a portion of the procedure because doctors failed to properly administer her anesthesia, according to a lawsuit filed last week. Cory Shaffer reports Paige Horton was in tears as she told doctors after the procedure that she heard and felt surgeons operating on her throat. Cancer screening: There is a new screening test that its developers say can detect the presence of cancerous cells in the body - up to 50 different kinds - sometimes long before any symptoms appear. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports that University Hospitals is helping to make the test accessible to some of the Northeast Ohioans who need it most: firefighters. Casino revenue: Gambling revenue at Ohio’s casinos and racinos was down in April, and so far it’s down year-over-year. Sean McDonnell reports the state’s 11 casinos and racinos reported a combined $200.1 million of gambling revenue in April, down from $204.6 million in April 2023. Stock prices: Nine large Ohio companies saw stock growth last week of over 1%, three of which were Cleveland-area companies, reports Zachary Smith. This was led by Columbus-based Bath & Body Works, which experienced 7.6% growth, or an added $3.66 a share. |
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Human remains: Officials say human remains were found in the backyard of an East Cleveland home Monday morning. Cuyahoga County sheriff’s deputies searched a home in the 14200 block of Potomac Avenue on Saturday in connection with a missing persons investigation involving a woman from Warrensville Heights, reports Molly Walsh. North Olmsted stabbing: A toddler and a woman were stabbed in the parking lot of a Giant Eagle grocery store on Lorain Road in North Olmsted at around 3 p.m. Monday. Hannah Drown reports the victims -- including a 2-year-old child -- were transported to St. John Medical Center in Westlake. Mass shooting: Authorities have identified the victim killed in a mass shooting in Akron that wounded two dozen people early Sunday morning, reports Molly Walsh. Akron resident Lateris Cook, 27, died in what appears to have been a drive-by shooting, according to police and the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office. The shooting happened at a birthday party just after midnight near Kelly and Eighth Avenues on the city’s East Side. Anti-vax doctor: A prominent Middleburgh Heights anti-vaccination doctor has failed to pay about $650,000 in federal taxes and late fees, Adam Ferrise reports. Sherri Tenpenny, who burst into the national spotlight by testifying in front of Ohio lawmakers that the COVID-19 vaccine caused people to become magnetized, is accused of failing to pay taxes in 2001, 2012 and 2013. Carjacking: A Cleveland teenager is accused of carjacking an SUV with a child in the backseat Friday in the city’s Edgewater neighborhood. John Tucker reports Dominic Warren, 18, appeared Monday in Cleveland Municipal Court on aggravated robbery charges. |
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Borderlight: The 2024 Borderlight Theatre Festival will showcase 43 self-produced fringe performances, five international productions and eight workshops during its four-day run July 24-27 at Playhouse Square, reports Joey Morona. Pride month: From Pride parades and parties to community events and charity fundraisers, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Pride and support the LGBTQ+ community, reports Alex Darus. For foodies, one simple way is by supporting LGBTQ+-owned bars and restaurants and spaces that are strong allies to the community. Writer’s Room: Cloak & Dagger in the city’s Tremont neighborhood is opening The Writer’s Room on the second floor of its 1800s Victorian building, reports Paris Wolfe. The members-only bar will have the dark, secretive mood of its downstairs sibling, but offer new experiences exclusive to members. Mustard revamp: Chef, television personality and author Michael Symon is joining forces with Cleveland Chef Michael Januska and revamping three Old Brooklyn Mustard products, Paris Wolfe reports. The mustards, which were founded by Januska in 2016, will get new names and new labels as the company prepares for national retail sales. |
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Solon resident tells council the city needs a cellular connectivity plan Read more Avon Lake joins Avon in banning marijuana dispensaries; North Ridgeville could follow suit Read more Brooklyn considering recreational marijuana options Read more North Royalton woman dies in crash in Northwest Ohio Read more Revving up hope: July 4 classic car show supports Westlake Community Services, St. Baldrick’s Foundation Read more Broadview Heights planners give final approval to University Hospitals urgent care, Chick-fil-A near I-77 Read more Shaker OKs limited overlay zoning for JCU off-campus student housing on Fairmount Circle Read more Two Solon Schools Science Olympiad teams earn national second-place finishes Read more Solon High School captures 2024 Nordson Academic Challenge championship Read more Solon Schools Treasurer Tim Pickana awarded five-year contract extension Read more |
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