In 2018 and 2019, 10 inmates died within nine months at the Cuyahoga County jail, where former Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and jail officials cut basic costs while cramming cells with of throngs new inmates. The county aimed to generate millions of dollars in revenue from Cleveland and surrounding cities. As a result, the jail was crowded and understaffed. Officers were accused of using force against inmates with mental illness or attacking inmates in handcuffs. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer investigated, prompting a U.S. Marshals Service report that found widespread civil rights abuses and “inhumane” conditions and called it the worst jail in America. The county has had to defend itself in more than 30 lawsuits over those conditions. So far, 23 have settled for a total of more than $8 million. This week, Cuyahoga County plans to finalize another payout. — Laura |
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A 2018 lawsuit over "deplorable" conditions at the Cuyahoga County Jail has settled. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Jail lawsuit: Cuyahoga County is set to finalize a settlement to a five-year-old lawsuit in which more than a dozen former inmates accused officials of running a jail with deplorable conditions that violated their civil rights. Adam Ferrise reports Cuyahoga County officials agreed to pay $175,000 to settle the lawsuit and agreed to make policy and procedural changes as part of the agreement. Credit skimming: Skimming devices designed to steal credit and debit card numbers have been found at Giant Eagle, Walmart and Marc’s stores across Greater Cleveland. And investigators believe the culprits are part of international crime groups traveling state-to-state, reports Sean McDonnell. Marcia Fudge: Former Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge announced Monday that she’ll step down as President Joe Biden’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development, effective March 22. Sabrina Eaton reports a statement from Biden described Fudge’s leadership at HUD as “transformational.” Today in Ohio: Republican candidates in Ohio have adopted a common attack in their appeals to GOP primary voters: painting their opponents as too sympathetic toward gay and transgender people. We’re talking about why candidates like Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose and Matt Dolan are fighting over past support rather than current issues on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Campaign finance: Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens’ political operation has spent about $2.9 million on advertising in the past couple of months to help at least 16 of his favored House candidates in the GOP primary, reports Jeremy Pelzer. That eyebrow-raising amount of money shows that Stephens and his allies are continuing to put up sharp resistance to withering criticism from within their own party over how Stephens won election as speaker last year, as well as resist an attempt by Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman to become speaker next year. Democratic spending: National Republicans already have pledged to spend tens of millions of dollars on TV ads this fall in an attempt to defeat Sen. Sherrod Brown in the November election. Senate Majority PAC, a group with close ties to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, has reserved $65 million of Ohio TV ads of its own, reports Andrew Tobias. Trump visit: Former President Donald Trump is coming to Ohio this weekend to try to help push his endorsed Senate candidate over the finish line. Trump will visit Dayton International Airport on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the Trump campaign Monday evening, Andrew Tobias reports. Dolan endorsement: Gov. Mike DeWine has endorsed state Sen. Matt Dolan for the GOP nomination to run for the U.S. Senate, saying he and Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine “believe this proven conservative is the strongest candidate to beat Sherrod Brown in the fall," Andrew Tobias reports. Drilling request: An unidentified driller filed an application to open the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Belmont County to oil and gas extraction, reports Jake Zuckerman. The request could add Egypt Valley to a list of other state-owned, protected lands whose subsurface mineral rights were sold last month to out-of-state oil and gas drillers. That list includes Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County, Valley Run Wildlife Area in Carroll County and Zepernick Run Wildlife Area in Columbiana County. Ibogaine: State Treasurer Robert Sprague hired a lawyer who recently led the state of Kentucky’s aborted effort to steer a $42 million investment into research into medicinal or therapeutic use of ibogaine, a powerful hallucinogen. Jake Zuckerman reports Sprague’s office hired Bryan Hubbard to author a report into potential projects related to treatment of traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and other “related and unrelated mental health and substance-use conditions.” Brown challengers: It’s not easy being a Republican candidate for Congress in Ohio’s most demographically Democratic district, but three would-be challengers to incumbent Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown hope they can beat the odds. Sabrina Eaton reports sheriff’s deputy Landry Simmons Jr., Cleveland Heights home remodeler James Hemphill, and former Cleveland Heights Mayor Alan Rapoport, an attorney, are seeking their party’s nomination to run in the district that includes Cleveland and most of its eastern suburbs. |
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Eclipse glasses: The total solar eclipse is almost upon us and some people are wondering if glasses left over from prior eclipses are still usable, reports Peter Krouse. As long as the glasses comply with ISO 12312-2 safety standards adopted in 2015 “and the filters aren’t scratched, punctured, or torn, you may reuse them indefinitely.” 'Science of reading': A recent survey done by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce shows that the majority of school districts in the state already are implementing the state’s mandated “science of reading” curriculum, which focuses reading instruction on vocabulary, phonics, fluency and comprehension, Hannah Drown reports. CWRU sergeant: Sgt. Sarah Shendy, a Case Western Reserve University police officer, is Ohio’s first Egyptian-Muslim woman police sergeant, reports Molly Walsh. She hopes to be a part of the change in policing in the United States by inspiring more women and diverse candidates to join law enforcement. Voting locations: Changes in voting locations for the 2024 primary election on March 19 will affect residents in Maple Heights, Mayfield Heights, North Randall, North Royalton and Walton Hills. Cliff Pinckard lists the changes. State of the City: Mayor Justin Bibb is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the City address on March 28. Courtney Astolfi reports it is scheduled for noon at the Mimi Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square. |
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Lion’s Share: With more than two decades in the restaurant industry, Phil Hockey already knew the hospitality business. He expanded his knowledge with distilling classes in Kentucky and Chicago. Now, Paris Wolfe reports, he founded Lion’s Share brand spirits, made with Hockey’s recipes at Western Reserve Distillers in Lakewood. Homebuyers: A recent study found that Ohio is among the best states for first-time homebuyers to save up for a deposit on a house, reports Megan Sims. A recent study by Agent Advice, a digital real estate resource company, analyzed median household incomes and median home prices from across the country. Colon cancer: As the rate of colorectal cancer increases in Americans under age 55, younger people need to be aware of the top warning signs, reports Julie Washington. In just two decades, colon cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second leading cause of cancer death for women. Oral cancer: Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine have come up with a better way to detect cancers of the lips, tongue, mouth and upper throat. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports that relative amounts of two different proteins found in cells gently brushed from the lining of the mouth or throat can be an effective, inexpensive and minimally invasive screening tool that could reduce the number of recommended biopsies. |
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East CLE chief: Investigators say former East Cleveland police chief Scott Gardner under-reported his private security business’ earnings by millions of dollars over five years, lowering his tax bill by $200,000, Cory Shaffer reports. Bank records showed that Gardner took money that should have gone to his East Cleveland officers and instead used it to pay off his American Express bills. He used the credit card for business expenses, as well as for a Caribbean vacation, a monthly wine subscription and expensive dinners, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Samantha Sohl said in court Monday. Fiancée killed: The man who shot and killed his former fiancée, Amanda Williams, inside the home they shared last fall was sentenced Monday to spend life in prison, reports Cory Shaffer. More than two dozen people wearing pins adorned with Williams’ photo and holding signs that read “Justice for Amanda” watched as Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Steve Gall told Tirrell Edwards that he must serve at least 24 years in prison before he can first be eligible for release on parole. Fatal shooting: A Cleveland man was killed at a downtown restaurant on Saturday, reports Olivia Mitchell. Antwon Jones, 38, was shot about 12:25 a.m. at Euphoria Restaurant & Oxygen Lounge on East 30th Street. |
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Eric Carmen: Eric Carmen, the Cleveland-born lead singer and songwriter who penned and performed multiple hits for the Raspberries, such as "Go All the Way," and as a solo artist, including "All By Myself," has died at the age of 74, Cliff Pinckard reports. Cain Park: Hit-makers from the 1990s The Gin Blossoms and Toad The Wet Sprocket are teaming up for a co-headlining summer tour that will stop at Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheater in Cleveland Heights on Aug. 1 with Vertical Horizon, reports Malcolm X Abram. Huntington shows: Playhouse Square is counting down to the big reveal of its 2024-25 KeyBank Broadway Series on April 16 by revealing the shows that make up its Huntington Featured Performances. Joey Morona reports the season includes “Les Miserables” and “Mean Girls.” Kenny Chesney: Stadium-filling country superstar Kenny Chesney will bring his “Sun Goes Down” Tour to Blossom Music Center on June 6 with opener and CMA song of the year and best new artist nominee Megan Moroney, reports Malcolm X Abram. Chesney will bring music from his upcoming 20th studio album, “Born.” Irish whiskey: If beer is not your passion for St. Patrick’s Day, try Irish whiskey. It’s considered some of the smoothest and most approachable of whiskeys, and it tastes good. Paris Wolfe explains that to qualify as Irish, grains must be grown in Ireland, distilling must be done in Ireland and aging must be done in Ireland. |
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Olmsted Township trustees demote fire chief after investigation Read more Police search for suspect in fatal hit-and-run involving bicyclist Read more Pit bull attack leaves neighbor’s dog dead in Mayfield Heights Read more Medina City Council OKs $30k donation to Main Street Medina Read more Women’s art on display in Creative Space Avon gallery show Read more Land bank could lead to more affordable housing options in Medina County Read more Bay Village seeks director of public service and properties Read more Rocky River ‘40 under 40′ music teacher hits global note with cultural diversity Read more North Ridgeville’s leadership to State of the City and schools Read more Solon High School Academic Challenge team captures first place with season-best score Read more North Olmsted Mayor’s Art Show returning to Old Town Hall Read more |
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