  What you need to know Friday, July 2, 2021  WEATHER
Cooler temperatures are in the forecast today, although there are chances of showers. Skies will be mostly cloudy with a high around 70. Things improve Saturday, with sunny skies and highs in the mid-70s. Temps will jump into the mid-80s on the Fourth of July with plenty of sunshine. Read more.
Local scores: Houston Astros 7, Indians 2 OVERNIGHT
Budget vetoes: Republican Gov. Mike DeWine issued 14 line-item vetoes as he signed the two-year, $74 billion spending bill into law. Andrew Tobias reports the governor struck down a budget provision that would have given Ohio legislative leaders the right to intervene in lawsuits by the executive branch, which DeWine said “impinges on the separation of powers.” He also vetoed a section that would have waived about $100,000 in fines issued against bars that violated state coronavirus rules and one that would have favored a Toledo company that lost a major Medicaid managed-care contract.
Sherwin-Williams: Sherwin-Williams’ new downtown Cleveland headquarters will include a 36-story office tower, a parking garage, a pavilion and walkways that connect all three buildings. Most details are still being ironed out, but Eric Heisig reports the paint giant took a concrete step Thursday in the process, making public initial plans and starting the process to seek approvals from the city.
Bills signed: Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court and state appeals court will now appear on general-election ballots with their party affiliation under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Mike DeWine. Jeremy Pelzer reports the governor also signed a dozen other bills, including measures to overhaul the state’s school report card system, ban over-the-counter sales of cough syrup to minors, and prohibit local bans on natural gas use.
Neil Clark: Lobbyist Neil Clark, who died by suicide in March, has self-published an autobiography. According to the book, he told the FBI that no company “has ever owned as many politicians” as FirstEnergy Corp., reports John Caniglia. Clark also described how Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, longtime proponents of FirstEnergy, used money from political nonprofits to fill their campaign coffers and shield the donors.
This Week in the CLE: Republican Gov. Mike DeWine issued 14 line-item vetoes as he signed the two-year, $74 billion spending bill into law. That includes a slush fund Republicans wanted to fight gerrymandering lawsuits, which we’re talking about on This Week in the CLE.
Max Miller: GOP congressional candidate Max Miller may be seeking a congressional seat in Northeast Ohio, but property tax records show Miller claims an apartment he owns in Washington, D.C., is his principal residence. Washington records show that Miller gets a “homestead deduction” on a two-bedroom apartment he owns on Rhode Island Avenue, Sabrina Eaton reports. The city says any property that gets the homestead benefit “must be the principal residence (domicile) of the owner/applicant.”
JD Vance: The venture capitalist and author of “Hillbilly Elegy” officially joined the crowded Republican race for the Ohio U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Rob Portman. JD Vance, whose book was widely seen in 2016 as helping explain Republican Donald Trump’s appeal to struggling white, working-class voters, made the announcement Thursday night at the steel fabricator Middletown Tube Works in his Ohio hometown.
Body cam: Akron now requires its police department to release body camera footage to the public within seven days of an officer using deadly force or force that results in serious bodily injury. Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan heralded the move as an innovative step toward greater transparency the city hopes will help build greater trust between the community and its police force, reports Olivia Mitchell.
LGBTQ healthcare: Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that LGBTQ Ohioans can find other medical providers if the first ones they approach refuse to treat them, which is allowed under the newly signed budget bill. Laura Hancock reports DeWine said he respects medical providers’ rights to decide whom to treat.
Chief resigns: Sheffield Lake Police Chief Anthony Campo resigned Tuesday following an incident in which he left a “Ku Klux Klan” sign on a Black officer’s desk, Kaylee Remington reports. The incident in question, which happened last Friday, was captured on surveillance video inside the department’s booking area, as Campo walks to a desk and places the note on a yellow jacket laid out to resemble the infamous hood and robe synonymous with the American hate group.
Priest pornography: A Catholic priest who served in Strongsville intends to plead guilty to federal charges of child pornography and the exploitation of children, John Caniglia reports. The Rev. Robert McWilliams plans to admit that he committed the eight charges in an indictment handed down last July, which includes two charges of sex trafficking of youths under 18; three charges of sexual exploitation of children; and three charges involving child pornography.
Councilman indicted: A now former Streetsboro City councilman has been indicted on felony child pornography charges that accuse him of sending inappropriate photographs to a 13-year-old boy on Snapchat. Cory Shaffer reports a Cuyahoga County grand jury handed up a two-count indictment on Wednesday charging John Ruediger, 42.
Bitcoin haul: Federal prosecutors said Thursday that bitcoins seized in a fraud case netted authorities $19.2 million, the largest forfeiture case in northern Ohio. John Caniglia reports the seizure came in the case of Mark Simon, a Toledo-area man sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money and the transfer of false identification documents.
MetroHealth dental: MetroHealth on Thursday opened its family dental clinic in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, capping off a years-long transformation of a site where residents once fought to block the construction of a McDonald’s. The Ohio City Family Dentistry, located at the corner of Lorain Avenue and Fulton Road, will serve both adult and pediatric patients, Evan MacDonald reports.
WonderStruck: Just before WonderStruck Music Festival takes over Lakeland Community College on July 24-25, the festival will host a sneak preview event on Friday, July 23, at the festival grounds’ VIP tent. Anne Nickoloff reports the concert will also serve as a benefit, with all proceeds supporting the Rock Hall’s “Rockin’ The Schools” programs, particularly the ones which support and educate students in Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Origami: Cleveland.com’s sister site, Wired, challenged origami artist and physicist Robert J. Lang to explain origami to five different people; a child, teen, a college student, a grad student and an expert.
Urban Farmer: Sage Restaurant Concepts, operator of Urban Farmer in downtown Cleveland, confirmed the restaurant will not be reopening “in the immediate future.” Marc Bona reports the company has plans to reopen the farm-to-table steakhouse concept “when the time is right.”
Man dies of gunshot wound in flipped, burning car after short chase with plainclothes Cleveland police Read more
Shots fired in road-rage incident in Akron, police say Read more
Berea couple call police after finding strange man asleep on their couch Read more
Solon Schools’ diversity initiative elicits strong opinions on both sides Read more
Middleburg Heights sets future salaries for mayor, City Council Read more
Berea City Council denies request to rezone business ‘house’ residential Read more
Shaker Heights City Councilman Rob Zimmerman will not seek fifth term Read more
Middleburg Heights shakes paws on multi-city dog park Read more
Mayfield Heights objects to liquor license renewal for Golden Gate Chuck E. Cheese Read more
Summit County approves $2.5 million in grants for opioid addiction, recovery services Read more
North Olmsted City Schools receiving $7 million in ARPA funds; eyeing operating and facilities levy next spring Read more
Greater Cleveland YMCA partners with Akron law firm for free bike helmet giveaway Read more
Solon High School graduate named assistant principal at Solon Middle School Read more
To ensure receipt of our emails, please add newsletters@update.cleveland.com to your address book or safe sender list. You received this email because you opted-in to the newsletter. Was it forwarded to you? Sign up now! | ||||||||||||||||||
