On the first day of school last year, a bus in Springfield carrying 52 kids was struck by a minivan. The bus flipped. An 11-year-old boy, Aiden Clark, died and 23 kids were injured. Aiden’s death sparked calls for seat belts on buses and prompted Gov. Mike DeWine to convene a statewide bus safety task force that months later issued 17 recommendations, including school zone and bus route safety audits, and enhanced penalties for drivers who violate traffic laws in school zones or around school buses. Now Aiden’s death is at the center of a political maelstrom over immigration because the driver who hit the bus was a Haitian immigrant. As baseless rumors swirled about dogs being eaten and chaos being caused by refugees in Springfield, and as former President Trump repeated the false claims, Aiden’s dad called for politicians to stop using his son as a “political tool.” — Laura |
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during Tuesday's presidential debate in Philadelphia. (Alex Brandon, Associated Press) |
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Haitian immigrants: The father of an 11-year-old boy who was killed in a 2023 school bus crash denounced “morally bankrupt” politicians for using his son’s death for political gain, reports Sabrina Eaton. Nathan Clark said he wished the crash that killed his son, Aiden, had been caused by a 60-year-old white man instead of a Haitian immigrant because then “the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone." Sales tax: Last year, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and most of the County Council agreed to extend a 0.25% sales tax to build a new jail and possibly new courthouse. Kaitlin Durbin reports that council voted Tuesday to put all collections from the sales tax into a special Justice Center Capital Projects Fund that can only be spent on property for or building, rehabilitating, remodeling, renovating, enlarging, improving, furnishing and equipping a jail and courthouse facility – nothing more. Today in Ohio: During Tuesday’s debate, former President Donald Trump repeated false claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets. Only in Ohio. We’re talking about the debate on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Debate googling: Ohio stood apart from the pack when it comes to what voters searched for during Tuesday night’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, reports Andrew Tobias. In a post-debate bulletin, Google Trends’ data team said “abortion” was the top-searched political issue in 49 of 50 states during the 90-minute debate. In Ohio, the top-searched issue was “immigration.” Internet gambling: Ohio would become the ninth U.S. state to legalize online poker or other internet casino gambling under new legislation in the state Senate, reports Jeremy Pelzer. |
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Police commission: Cleveland’s Community Police Commission received an initial OK to hire the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland to help manage its $1 million annual grantmaking process. The agreement with the United Black Fund is intended to ease administrative demands on the everyday Clevelanders who comprise the commission and don’t necessarily have experience in vetting grant proposals, writing contracts and related management work, Courtney Astolfi reports. Changing leaves: Dry conditions throughout Ohio are expected to yield an early season for fall color, according to the state’s top fall color forecaster, reports Susan Glaser. Northeast Ohio – which is less dry than the rest of the state – may have the most vibrant color this autumn. Food inspections: A restaurant in Summit County was cited for 41 critical health violations during the 2023-24 inspection year, leading the way among at least 15 restaurants and retailers in Greater Cleveland with 20 or more critical violations. Zachary Smith wraps up food inspection violations, based on electronic records available from the state. Building collapse: The front of a building at 3952 Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights partially collapsed on Wednesday, reports say. It’s the second time in less than a month that a portion of a building’s facade has crumbled to the sidewalk in the city, Peter Krouse reports. Bunts Road: Lakewood City Council has set aside $21 million to pay for a major rehabilitation of Bunts Road that is expected to begin in 2026, reports Cory Shaffer. Council passed the resolution appropriating the money at its Sept. 3 meeting, allowing the city to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation to carry out the project. Gas stoves: Cleveland and six East Side suburbs are among cities that will benefit from a $17 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant designed to reduce in-home pollution in disadvantaged communities, reports Peter Krouse. Kayaker rescued: A kayaker who was stranded on Lake Erie for 11 hours is alive thanks to the help of a fisherman, Lucas Daprile reports. A recreational fisherman on Lake Erie found the 45-year-old man just west of the Cleveland Water 5-mile Crib. |
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Home price: The median selling price of Cuyahoga County homes cooled in August after two months at $200,000, reports Megan Sims. The August median price for a single-family home was $193,000, according to data collected by cleveland.com. This was a $7,000 decrease compared to June and July. Chopt Salad: Chopt Creative Salad Co., a fast-casual eatery, is slated to go into Eton Chagrin Boulevard next year, reports Marc Bona. It will be the company’s first location in Ohio. Care Response: A Care Response pilot program, which sends teams of licensed social workers and peer counselors without police to nonviolent behavioral health situations, is launching this month in Cleveland’s 44102 and 44105 ZIP codes. Julie Washington reports applications are being accepted from community members willing to serve on the Care Response Committee to help shape the future of the pilot program. |
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Deshaun Watson: Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said Wednesday he knew nothing about the new sexual-assault allegations against him until a civil suit was filed Monday in Texas and confirmed his lawyer's statement that he strongly denies them, reports Mary Kay Cabot. Lorain threats: A Lorain County school canceled in-person classes Wednesday because of threats of violence against students, reports Olivia Mitchell. The Lorain County Joint Vocational School, located in Oberlin, is for students grades nine-12. According to the school’s Facebook page, Lorain County sheriff’s deputies informed the school about a threat related to a student over the social media app Snapchat. Fentanyl bust: Federal prosecutors intend to charge two Cleveland-area men in connection with a drug bust of some $9.5 million worth of fentanyl, reports Adam Ferrise. Prosecutors on Tuesday say they will seek a new indictment against Kevin Lanier and Chantez Moore over their May 14 arrests. Arson: Two men have admitted to setting a house on fire over a rental disagreement, a move that forced a family to flee from a second-story window and killed a dog, reports Lucas Daprile. Tyric Green, 21, of Euclid, pleaded guilty Tuesday to 21 charges in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, including aggravated arson and cruelty toward a companion animal. D’Andre Morris, 22, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty last week to six similar charges. |
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Jason Isbell: If you were one of the 4,000 or so in attendance at Jacobs Pavilion on Tuesday night, you witnessed a roots-rock masterclass. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit took an enthusiastic crowd on a journey into the soul of Americana, Peter Chakerian reports. B&B Theatres: B&B Theatres is ready to show the region what the company is all about, Joey Morona reports. The Missouri-based cinema chain opens its first location in Ohio on Thursday at Macedonia Commons. Bad Medicine: Bad Medicine Hi-Fi listening bar is hosting its official grand opening today in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood, reports Alex Darus. LBM: LBM cocktail bar and restaurant in Lakewood is transforming into a Chinese BBQ restaurant for just one night on Sept. 22 to celebrate the end of the summer season, reports Alex Darus. |
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Richmond Heights looks to do sewer work in 2025 to stop flooding on its streets, and those in Highland Heights Read more Northeast Ohioans gather to solemnly recognize the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 (photos) Read more Akron’s Morgan Park opens following redesign, upgrades (photos) Read more Come down to the ‘farm’: Medina County’s Allardale Park has new playscape Read more Brooklyn awarded $61,000 tree canopy grant Read more North Olmsted moving ahead with flood-mitigation project Read more Olmsted Falls City Schools eyeing new Board of Education site Read more Cuyahoga County Public Library announces October groundbreaking for new Parma Heights branch Read more |
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