Gov. Mike DeWine has not often pushed back on Ohio’s Republican supermajority legislature. Shortly after taking office in 2019, he did persuade Republican lawmakers to hike the state’s gas tax, but his other calls on issues like guns, transgender children, marijuana, tobacco products and even seatbelts have been kicked off the field by powerful House and Senate leaders. But in his waning days in office, DeWine is doubling down on his plan to fund pro stadium projects by doubling the state’s tax on sports-betting companies — even as state lawmakers are moving toward authorizing $600 million in state-backed bonds to help pay for a covered Browns stadium in Brook Park. DeWine wants to use additional sports-betting tax revenue — an estimated $288 million over the next two years — to create a permanent source of funding for not just the Browns stadium, but future pro sports stadiums and youth sports. “To me, this is a simple one,” the governor said Wednesday at a Columbus Metropolitan Club event, “and we’re crazy if we don’t do this.” So far, the legislature does not agree. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says his sports-betting tax is paid by gambling companies, not bettors, so his proposed tax hike would “not change the gaming experience” for Ohioans wagering on sports. (Samantha Madar, Columbus Dispatch file photo via AP) |
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Stadium funding: Sports gambling companies oppose Gov. Mike DeWine’s plan, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Ohio’s current 20% tax rate ranked sixth highest in the nation last year among the 38 states that allowed some sort of legalized gambling on sports. Fair housing: A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s intended cuts to fair housing grants as part of a lawsuit filed by Cleveland’s Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and three similar organizations after they abruptly lost funding last month. Megan Sims reports a federal judge with the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts granted the temporary restraining order. Today in Ohio: Two Ohio House Republicans want a law that would allow sentences of up to six months for people who “harass” police officers. We’re talking about trampling citizens’ basic First Amendment rights on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Ghost guns: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Biden Administration restrictions on “ghost guns” Wednesday that Ohio Republicans, including Attorney General Dave Yost, argued were overreach. Sabrina Eaton reports that at issue was a rule that former President Joe Biden announced at the same time he nominated former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steve Dettelbach to head the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. SB1: The Ohio Senate sent Gov. Mike DeWine a 76-page higher-education overhaul bill Wednesday that Republicans say will end liberal “indoctrination” of students on Ohio’s college campuses, reports Laura Hancock. Energy overhaul: In a vote that split House Republicans, a bipartisan majority on a legislative committee rejected a last-ditch effort to delay the death of a coal subsidy that cost Ohio electric customers $174 million last year alone. Jake Zuckerman reports the sweeping energy legislation passed on a near unanimous basis through both the committee and on the House floor. Building for sale: U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown filed a formal objection Wednesday to the federal government’s plans to sell the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building, reports Sabrina Eaton. Brown said the government plans to get rid of the building within three years and instead rent office space for the more than 4,000 federal workers it houses. STRS: Pension reform is coming and Ohio’s State Teachers Retirement System wants a 4% increase in contributions to meet lawmaker demands for a healthier, more stable system. But Anna Staver reports that the sides don’t agree who should foot the bill—teachers or schools? |
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Menstrual products: In Ohio, one in six girls and women aged 12 to 44 live below the federal poverty level, where they struggle to afford not just food, but essential menstrual products. Kaitlin Durbin reports that a 2019 survey by Reuter’s Health found that two-thirds of low-income women either go without the supplies or craft less-hygienic alternatives. African Town Plaza: A former YMCA branch — built at a time when some of the organization’s facilities were still segregated — will be redeveloped into “African Town Plaza,” a mixed-use project with apartments and office space. Cleveland City Council took the first steps Monday night to set up a tax-increment financing deal that will give the developer a $2.2 million property tax break over 30 years, report Kaitlin Durbin and Sean McDonnell. Basheer Jones: Federal prosecutors on Wednesday called for former Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones to serve prison time for a series of schemes in involving nonprofits and real-estate ventures. Jones’ romantic partner also was charged Wednesday, accused of lining her pockets with money from several schemes authorities say the two carried out on nonprofits and through real-estate deals, reports Adam Ferrise. Transportation funding: Interstate highway projects in Cleveland and Akron together account for more than a third of the spending placed on a draft funding list Wednesday by a statewide committee overseeing major new road construction projects. Rich Exner reports Ohio’s Transportation Review Advisory Council, often referred to as TRAC, proposes $41 million for downtown Cleveland and $66 million in downtown Akron as part of eight construction projects statewide totaling $295.2 million. Helicopter crash: The National Transportation Safety Board says a helicopter struck power lines moments before it crashed into the Mogadore Reservoir in Portage County this month, reports Olivia Mitchell. Airport parking: Plan ahead, spring break travelers: The parking lots at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are full, reports Susan Glaser. |
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Measles outbreak: A total of 10 confirmed cases of measles have been found in Ashtabula County, state health officials said Wednesday. Julie Washington reports nine of the 10 Ashtabula County cases are linked to an adult male measles patient, who was reported last week as the first measles case of 2025. None of the patients were vaccinated, Ohio health officials said. Pharma trials: A study found that clinical trials funded by pharmaceutical companies resulted in $2.4 billion in economic impact in Ohio in 2023, reports Julie Washington. That figure put Ohio among the top five highest U.S. states in terms of economic impact from industry-funded clinical trials. |
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COVID fraud: A jury Wednesday found an Akron tax preparer guilty of using clients’ information to siphon $700,000 in fraudulent coronavirus relief funds meant to help struggling businesses and the unemployed during the pandemic, reports Adam Ferrise. Mustafa Diab was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of bank fraud, 12 counts of theft of government funds and six counts of aggravated identity theft. Cold case: A Cleveland man was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for kidnapping and raping two women nearly 25 years ago, reports David Gambino. Kenneth Edmond was found guilty by a Cuyahoga County jury on March 14 of sexually assaulting a 72-year-old woman in 2000 and a 21-year-old woman in 2001. River officer: Prosecutors say a former Rocky River police officer illegally searched law-enforcement databases to gain information about women and high school students, reports David Gambino. The officer, who worked as a school resource officer at Rocky River High School, previously was accused of an inappropriate relationship with a student. Nurse charged: A Cuyahoga County grand jury on Wednesday indicted a nurse for involuntary manslaughter after an elderly patient in her care died of hypothermia at a Warrensville Heights rehab center, David Gambino reports. Amber Henderson, 32, also faces misdemeanor charges of patient neglect and tampering with records in the December 2024 death of 84-year-old Alvera Meuri. |
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Guardians games: Armstrong customers in Northeast Ohio will once again be able to watch live Guardians games this season, reports Joey Morona. The cable operator announced it has reached a multi-year deal with Major League Baseball to carry approximately 150 games this season. Wayback: Wayback Burgers is opening a location in Stow. The 1,880 square-foot restaurant – the company’s sixth in Ohio - is at Fishcreek Plaza, reports Marc Bona. Closures: Bar Louie has permanently closed its locations in Northeast Ohio, reports Alex Darus. The Texas-based chain operated restaurants in Legacy Village in Lyndhurst and at Crocker Park in Westlake. Maxwell: Neo-soul crooner Maxwell will be serenading audiences across the country this year with his 2025 “The Serenade Tour,” including a stop at Rocket Arena on Aug. 16 with opener Lucky Daye, reports Malcolm X Abram. CIFF: The 49th Cleveland International Film Festival’s lineup of 104 feature-length films offers an exciting and diverse collection of stories from 60 countries. But there’s only one movie that “couldn’t be more Cleveland,” reports Joey Morona. “Lost & Found in Cleveland” is set in the city and was filmed entirely on location. Avengers assemble: The next “Avengers” movie is coming into focus. Marvel has announced the collection of superheroes being assembled for “Avengers: Doomsday.” The film, directed by Cleveland natives Joe and Anthony Russo, is due to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, reports Joey Morona. Hoi An: Scenic Hoi An has been a major trading center for centuries and it’s a trading center still – although much of the commerce these days relates to tourism. Susan Glasser made Hoi An her base for exploring the central coast during a second week in Vietnam, after spending her first week up north, touring Hanoi and Halong Bay. |
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Mayfield Village Recreation’s schedule of warm-weather events is jam-packed with activities for those of all ages Read more South Euclid Councilwoman at-large Chanell Elston says she’ll run for Ward 1 seat in the fall Read more Akron police recover guns, fentanyl, meth from house near elementary school Read more From burnout to balance? Lorain County 911 dispatchers get a drastic reboot Read more Akron Zoo’s Egg-stra Wild Egg Hunt returns for several days in April Read more Brecksville-Broadview Heights robotics team wins fourth straight state championship Read more Lakewood parents push back against potential school closures Read more Olmsted Falls seeks grant for Fortier Park bridge project Read more |
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