After a decade of pushing a new, inclusive vision of healthcare, Akram Boutros was set to step down from MetroHealth System as a Cleveland hero. His tenure at a safety-net hospital was transformative, from struggling to balance the books to opening a new $759 million Glick Center acute care hospital and a $42 million, 112-bed Behavioral Health Hospital in Cleveland Heights. The news Monday night that Boutros was fired, accused of taking $1.9 million he hadn’t earned, was a shocker. On Tuesday, when he had planned to ask Cuyahoga County Council for another $7.6 million for MetroHealth’s budget, he spoke to reporter Julie Washington instead. - Laura |
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MetroHealth Board of Trustees fired Akram Boutros, who had led the hospital system for nearly 10 years, saying he had given himself more than $1.9 million in unauthorized bonuses. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Akram Boutros: Monday’s late-night firing of MetroHealth System CEO Dr. Akram Boutros — weeks before he was due to step down — has triggered a public feud, with accusations of improper payments and retaliation, Julie Washington reports. The MetroHealth Board of Trustees fired Boutros, who had led the hospital system for nearly 10 years, saying he had given himself more than $1.9 million in unauthorized bonuses. On Tuesday, Boutros struck back, saying that the bonuses were proper and the board was aware of the payments. MetroHealth budget: Former MetroHealth CEO Akram Boutros was seeking an additional $7.6 million for the public hospital that would “only be used to pay for providing behavioral health and addiction services to uninsured and under-insured Cuyahoga County residents.” Kaitlin Durbin reports MetroHealth currently provides about $220 million of free care to county residents every year, paid for from $32.4 million in Health and Human Services property taxes. But those dollars are spent in the first three months of the year. Boutros timeline: Former MetroHealth CEO Dr. Akram Boutros led the health system through the expansion of the hospital system, the COVID-19 pandemic and a health crisis at the Cuyahoga County jail. Julie Washington has a timeline of his tenure. Today in Ohio: MetroHealth fired CEO Akram Boutros late Monday over what the board said was Boutros giving himself more than $1.9 million in unauthorized bonuses. Boutros said through his attorney the board was telling “outright lies.” We’re talking about the news on Today in Ohio. |
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NASCAR taxes: The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the revenue NASCAR makes from selling the rights to broadcast stock car races and merchandise to Ohio fans is not subject to the state’s commercial activities tax. Laura Hancock reports the unanimous court waived a red flag at the Ohio Tax Commissioner, who had ordered NASCAR to pay the state nearly $550,000 for money it earned through broadcasting races, online marketing and sponsorship fees. Pandemic benefits: The Ohio Supreme Court dismissed an appeal Tuesday morning in a case challenging Gov. Mike DeWine’s authority to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits last year. Laura Hancock reports the justices said the appeal of a lower court’s ruling that a Franklin County judge improperly ruled against a motion for an injunction against DeWine was moot. Coal sludge: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Ohio’s largest coal-fired power plant to stop dumping a toxic byproduct into an unlined pond on site, one of the first significant crackdowns under a 2015 rule. Jake Zuckerman reports the agency gave operators of the Gen. James M. Gavin Power Plant in Cheshire, on the Ohio River, about 135 days to stop pouring “coal combustion residue” into a pond on site devoid of any concrete liner to seal it off. |
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School gift: Cleveland schools have received a $20 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Cameron Fields reports the private donation is the largest the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has received in at least two decades. CMSD plans to use it to create a Get More Opportunities Fund. Stimulus Watch: Cuyahoga County Council is considering spending $5 million of COVID-19 stimulus dollars remediating former commercial and industrial sites. Lucas Daprile reports remediating the 18 brownfields would be paid for by a portion of the county’s $240 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Browns stadium: The Cleveland Browns’ lease of FirstEnergy Stadium is set to expire in 2028, raising questions about future renovations, a possible new stadium, and whether it ought to remain where it stands today. A cleveland.com/Baldwin Wallace poll found that Greater Clevelanders are somewhat split on their preferences for the path forward, with 53.5% in favor of renovations to the current stadium, and 42.9% in favor of building new, reports Courtney Astolfi. Rain barrels: The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Climate Justice has about 50 rain barrels it wants to give away free to Cleveland residents. Rain barrel giveaway usually is in the summer, but there were delays this year because of supply chain issues, reports Peter Krouse. Museum purchase: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is buying a 14.5-acre parcel in Ashtabula County that features stunning waterfalls and a stream noted for its biodiversity. Peter Krouse reports the museum has acquired several dozen natural areas across northern Ohio with the primary purpose of protecting them from pollution and encroachment. Growing popcorn: Our understanding of American history is undergoing some overdue scrutiny, but one reason for the colonists’ gratitude at Thanksgiving is their success in growing corn with the help of their Native American friends. Susan Brownstein shares how to grow popcorn in your garden, with the help of a reader. |
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Family health: The holidays are a time for gathering with family and friends. There will be much to discuss around the table, but when conversations about politics or who is to blame for the most recent Browns loss get too heated, Gretchen Cuda Kroen writes that it might be time to shift the focus to a less contentious topic: the family health history. Holiday spending: Ohioans are expected to spend more than $31.3 billion this holiday season. While spending is predicted to be up compared to 2021, it’s lagging national forecasts and inflation. Sean McDonnell reports the holidays sales forecast predicts a 3.4% increase compared to 2021. |
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Hotel rape: A North Carolina businessman has been charged with raping a woman inside the Hilton Cleveland Downtown on Lakeside Avenue. John Tucker reports Milosz Majewski is accused of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old last Thursday in a hotel room while forcing his fingers into her mouth to keep her from screaming. Stadium vandalized: The Browns are scrambling to make repairs to the playing field at FirstEnergy Stadium after a vehicle was used to damage the surface with deep tire ruts, Cliff Pinckard reports. The Browns say the damage is “superficial” and believe the grounds crew can get the field ready for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. |
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Ski weekend: Holiday Valley in New York and Seven Springs in southwestern Pennsylvania plan to open the day after Thanksgiving. Susan Glaser reports the two resorts, both popular with Northeast Ohio skiers, have Mother Nature to thank for the early-season openings – abundant lake-effect snow in western New York and below-freezing temperatures in southwest Pennsylvania, where snow machines have been working overtime in recent days. 'Hamilton': “Hamilton” is coming to Cleveland and you can be in the room where it happens for as little as $10. There will be 40 tickets at each show available for $10 when Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece opens at the KeyBank State Theatre on Dec. 6 and runs through Jan. 15, reports Joey Morona. |
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Federal agents arrest suspect in deadly shooting at Cleveland convenience store Read more Elderly man in wheelchair assaulted, robbed outside Akron Circle K Read more Cleveland man dies three days after shooting in city’s Glenville neighborhood, police say Read more Two plead guilty to kidnapping, murdering woman in East Cleveland as part of revenge plot against her boyfriend Read more TownHall’s 10th annual Feed the Need serves up Thanksgiving joy with hundreds of traditional meals Read more Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools treasurer receives 17 percent raise; salary jumps by more than $23,000 Read more Joseph Natko named Akron Fire Department’s new chief Read more Brecksville, Broadview Heights to partner on traffic study of congested Mill Road Read more Beachwood council votes to seek identity of anonymous emailer who criticized police leadership Read more |
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