Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine proposed major changes to child care in Ohio, including compressing the state’s five-star Step Up To Quality rating system and revamping how the state subsidizes centers. In his State of the State address Wednesday, DeWine announced a new voucher program to help low- and middle-income families pay for child care, plus $85 million in reallocated federal funding to create Childcare Access Grants to improve and expand child-care facilities. Currently, the income eligibility standard for publicly funded child care is 145% of the federal poverty level. DeWine tried to raise the bar to 160% in his budget in June, but the legislature shot the idea down. This time around, DeWine said the Childcare Choice Voucher Program will be available to families with incomes of up to 200% of the federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four. That would mean serving about 8,000 more Ohio children. While we don’t yet have specifics, a spokesman said the increase in support will conform with the changes announced last week. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce applauded the “efforts to both expand the eligibility status of working families and grow the number of available child-care options.” We can’t wait to hear the details. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Cavs recover from lousy first half, overwhelm undermanned Memphis Grizzlies, 110-98 Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox: Naylor brothers power Guardians to 7-6 win over White Sox in 10 innings Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Windy, rainy conditions expected |
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The Childcare Choice Voucher Program will be available to families with incomes of up to 200% of the federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four. (Jeff Chiu, Associated Press file photo) |
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Child care help: Gov. Mike DeWine is creating a new daycare voucher program to help low- and middle-income families pay for child care, he announced in his State of the State address. Laura Hancock reports the governor also announced $85 million in reallocated federal funding to create Childcare Access Grants that daycare providers can obtain to improve facilities. Tobacco lawsuit: Cleveland is one of 14 cities suing the state of Ohio over a ban that prohibits local tobacco regulations, reports Courtney Astolfi. The suit, filed Tuesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, argues the state ban is unconstitutional because it treads on home-rule powers granted to Ohio cities by the state constitution. Dark money: At the onset of what would become one of the biggest public corruption schemes in state history, FirstEnergy Corp. gave a $1 million “dark money” contribution to a nonprofit backing Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, reports Jake Zuckerman. The seven-figure payment was revealed in the 2022 deposition of a FirstEnergy executive testifying in a lawsuit brought by shareholders. The contribution came from the company in 2017 to Freedom Frontier, a political 501(c)(4) nonprofit that can accept unlimited funds from corporations without disclosing the source. Today in Ohio: Sam Randazzo, a former top state utility regulator accused of taking a $4.3 million bribe, was found dead Tuesday, months after he was federally charged in the wide-ranging House Bill 6 corruption scandal. We’re talking about Randazzo’s apparent suicide and what happens next in the prosecutions on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Dispensary date: State regulators could approve the first round of recreational marijuana dispensaries within days of receiving applications, allowing the businesses to open their doors in early to mid-June, reports Laura Hancock. The date affects roughly 130 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries that are allowed to apply for dual-use licenses to also serve Ohioans aged 21 and older under the initiated statute that Ohio voters passed in November. THC: In his State of the State address, Gov. Mike DeWine again called on the General Assembly to ban the sale of candy, gummies, cereals and other goods containing a form of hemp-derived THC at stores where teens can purchase it, reports Laura Hancock. Student cellphones: Gov. Mike DeWine says that Ohio K-12 schools should ban or at least limit in-school cellphone use by students and is throwing his support behind a legislative push aimed at the issue. DeWine said in his State of the State speech he supports a new law by Republican state Sen. Andrew Brenner that would require schools to develop policies aimed at limiting in-school phone use by students, reports Andrew Tobias. Biden ballot: Senate President Matt Huffman indicated Wednesday that Republican state lawmakers are unlikely to act to help President Joe Biden qualify for the ballot in Ohio after Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose flagged an obscure state law last Friday that could pose a legal hurdle for the Democratic president. Andrew Tobias reports that Huffman said, “I think it’s a Democratic problem. There has to be a Democratic solution.” |
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Greyhound station: Bus passengers displaced by the sale of Cleveland’s historic Greyhound bus station shouldn’t have to move too far, according to a deal under consideration by the bus company and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Susan Glaser reports Cleveland-based Barons Bus, which operates in partnership with Greyhound, is in discussions with RTA to lease a portion of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center at East 21st Street and Prospect Avenue, on the campus of Cleveland State University. Sustainability chief: Cuyahoga County has hired a familiar face in local government to lead efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote green initiatives. Peter Krouse reports Jenita McGowan, former chief of sustainability for the city of Cleveland and more recently director of global sustainability engagement and reporting for Eaton Corp., will become the county’s new deputy chief of staff for climate and sustainability. Eclipse sequence: Greater Cleveland was mesmerized Monday afternoon by a once-in-a-lifetime total eclipse of the sun, and this photo shows the sequence of the transit of the moon over the sun. Photos of the transit by Chris Quinn were taken with a solar filter, but the picture of totality was shot unfiltered and is shown here larger than the transit photos to highlight the reddish pink prominences in the corona. Human binding: Cleveland Public Library has a book in its collection that has long been rumored to be bound by human skin. Now it’s trying to find out for sure, testing via peptide mass fingerprinting. Zachary Smith reports an edition of the Koran that the library acquired in 1941 has a catalog description that says the book is bound by human skin, as well as an additional pencil notation stating so. Kindland: Veterans provide selfless service and sacrifice, protecting the freedoms we hold dear every day. There’s no way to ever repay such dedication, but Hank Kornblut and Mister Brisket of Cleveland Heights have found a way for their customers to show appreciation, reports Peter Chakerian in his Kindland series. |
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Parkinson’s treatment: An international trial co-led by a University of Cincinnati researcher suggests that Parkinson’s disease medication delivered through an infusion pump effectively reduces symptoms for longer periods of time, reports Julie Washington. Internet labels: If you find shopping for a new internet service provider frustrating, you may be in luck. The Federal Communication Commission has a new rule to make it easier: broadband consumer labels. These labels, which are modeled to look like the nutrition labels on a can of soup or box of macaroni and cheese, are supposed to make sure customers see the fine print before they sign up for an internet provider, reports Sean McDonnell. Kidney disease: Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic and Tufts University have uncovered a link between a certain set of gut microbes and Chronic Kidney Disease. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports researchers show that high blood levels of a byproduct formed by the gut bacteria from nutrients abundant in red meat, eggs and other animal source foods predicts future risk of developing chronic kidney disease. |
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Guard death: State authorities are investigating the shooting death of a prison guard during a training exercise Tuesday, an incident that authorities called a “tragic accident.” Molly Walsh reports Lt. Rodney Osborne died at the firing range at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, south of Columbus. He had been accidentally shot in the chest, according to 911 callers. Officials, however, would not discuss the circumstances. Priest abusers: National and statewide advocates on Wednesday called on the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to release the names of 145 current or former priests who were identified in a Cuyahoga County grand jury report as child sexual abusers but whose names have remained a secret for more than two decades, reports Cory Shaffer. Hate group: An Ohio hate group was sued Tuesday over the firebombing of a Geauga County church that organized drag queen story hour events last year, reports Adam Ferrise. The Community Church of Chesterland filed the lawsuit in federal court in Cleveland against White Lives Matter Ohio, a white nationalist group that has grown in popularity over the years. Officer shooting: Akron activists are urging city officials to fire an officer who shot a teenager holding a fake gun last week. Molly Walsh reports Akron police officer Ryan Westlake wounded 15-year-old Tavion Koonce-Williams on Brittain Road near Ottawa Avenue on April 1. Cleveland fires: Cleveland firefighters battled two fires minutes apart Wednesday morning, reports Olivia Mitchell. The first happened at 1:30 a.m. at the former Nunn Family Funeral Home at 4434 Lorain Ave. Just 10 minutes later, firefighters were called to the Luckman, a downtown apartment complex at 1801 East 12th St. |
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Ask Lucas: What can you do if Canada geese have camped out in your backyard? As a result of their annual migrations, all geese have developed at least some taste for free jazz, writes Lucas Daprile. This is well-known. RampUp fest: Once a spring delight of rural folks and earthy types, ramps are an ephemeral wild leek (Allium tricoccum) that have caught fire with foodies. Paris Wolfe reports the RampUp festival in Peninsula runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 27 on Main Street. Best tacos: Here at “Best of Cleveland HQ,” we’ve thrilled watching your nominations for best tacos pour in. We have now narrowed the field to the top 24 nominated taco joints. There are that many great places to get tacos in Northeast Ohio and you’ve identified them. Now it’s time to vote. Jamaican vacation: Jamaica is a vacation destination that doesn’t make you work too hard -- either to get there or once you’ve arrived, reports Susan Glaser. The island nation is home to stunning beaches, scenic waterfalls and terrific cuisine, all set to a soul-soothing Bob Marley soundtrack. |
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Natural gas odor causes concern in several NE Ohio towns Read more Medina Cars and Coffee planned for April 21 Read more Discover Ohio’s 2,000-year-old archeological wonder, now a World Heritage site Read more Humane Society of Summit County plans fall opening for new Cuyahoga Falls shelter, adoption center Read more Orange School District finalizing policy for Boosters regarding sponsorships, advertising Read more South Euclid seeks answers from Notre Dame College leaders about property’s future Read more Four more years: Orange school board extends superintendent’s contract Read more North Olmsted considering $650,000 update to Fire Station No. 1 Read more UH Parma Medical Center names new chief nursing officer Read more |
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