The Ohio State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the country, held on the same site near Ohio State University since the 1880s. Last year, more than 1 million people attended, setting a record. This year, when Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted cut the ribbon for the 12-day extravaganza of rides, food and the vaunted butter sculpture, several areas were under construction as part of the fair’s $386 million makeover. That money is enough to complete only a fraction of DeWine’s “Expo 2050″ plan, which calls for demolishing a majority of existing fairground buildings and erecting 15 new facilities, among many other things. Some fair features, like the Taste of Ohio Pavilion and horticultural exhibits, have been relocated during construction. New exhibits include the Wheels of Agriculture Game Show, the enhanced multi-species OVMA Animal Care Center and New Food Avenue. “What we wanted to do really is to have this (state) fair reflect not just the past, but also our future,” DeWine told reporters at the fair’s opening. “And the buildings that we’re building and the changes that we’re doing will reflect that.” That might mean asking for more money next year or in 2026, DeWine’s final year in office. — Laura |
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Gov. Mike DeWine, fourth from left, joins Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, third from left, first lady Fran DeWine, center, and other DeWine family members Wednesday in cutting a ceremonial ribbon to open the 2024 Ohio State Fair in Columbus. (Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com) |
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Fair opening: Ohio State Fair fan Gov. Mike DeWine was the center of attention during the opening Wednesday – cutting a ceremonial ribbon with family members and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, then touring the grounds with a cluster of aides, administration officials, and reporters in tow, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Kept animal: The state Supreme Court must soon decide whether to reinstate a conviction against a Cleveland man convicted of using bleach to soak an apparently stray kitten that had taken shelter in his apartment stairwell. Jake Zuckerman reports the case hinges on what is a companion animal. The legal definition, like the cats and dogs it seeks to protect, is a bit fuzzy. State grants: The Ohio Third Frontier Commission announced Tuesday that it would give out nearly $1.8 million in grants to nine startups across the state. Sean McDonnell reports the money comes from the Technology Validation and Start-up fund and is meant to help accelerate the commercialization of health, science and military technologies. Today in Ohio: There was no Today in Ohio podcast Wednesday because of illness. |
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FOP endorsement: The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown each time he’s run for reelection. But they are passing on doing so this year, citing comments the longtime Democrat made about a controversial police shooting in Columbus three years ago, reports Andrew Tobias. Assassination attempt: The day he registered to attend Donald Trump’s July 13 campaign rally, the Pennsylvania man who tried to kill the former president searched Google for how far assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was from President John F. Kennedy when he shot him in 1963, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s director told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Sabrina Eaton reports from the committee hearing chaired by Ohio’s Jim Jordan. |
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Toxic chemicals: In 2022, 33 toxic-release facilities were tracked in Ashtabula County by the EPA, Zachary Smith reports. These facilities released 9,276,691 pounds of 33 separate toxic chemicals into the environment, more than 344,000 pounds than what was released in 2021. Juvenile volunteers: Cleveland youth accused of serious crimes can spend days to months in the detention center as their cases move through juvenile court, but while they await potential punishment, officials want to use that time to rehabilitate and divert them from future involvement. Much of that reform work, though, depends on volunteers, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Bike ride: Cuyahoga Greenways started the Bike-with-a-Mayor event to connect residents with their elected officials and to experience what it’s like to bike through their city, reports Cory Shaffer. Cleveland Heights Mayor Khalil Seren said last year’s ride made him realize something he already knew -- cities are largely developed around cars and not people. Summer camp: As part of cleveland.com’s Summer Camp for Grown-ups, Peter Krouse decided to learn about sailing. It may look simple but it’s not. It takes concentration, dexterity and loads of practice to master. For $10, he took a Cleveland Metroparks “Try-It: Sailing – Keelboats” session. |
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MetroHealth leave: MetroHealth System CEO Airica Steed has announced she is taking a temporary leave of absence for medical reasons, reports Julie Washington. Separately on Wednesday, the hospital system said a special meeting of the MetroHealth Board of Trustees Special Committee for Ethics Complaint Investigations has been called for today. Medina hotel: A new hotel will soon overlook Medina’s historic square for the first time in 70 years, reports Megan Sims. Construction on the Legacy Hotel will soon be underway, with an opening by the end of 2025, officials announced this week. Dave’s Market: Cleveland recently signed off on a $250,000 forgivable loan to improve the Dave’s Market in Shaker Square, reports Courtney Astolfi. The money is going to the square’s nonprofit owners – Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. – to help pay for $700,000 in improvements that were negotiated as part of a five-year-plus lease extension for Dave’s 26,000-square-foot space. West Side Market: Minority food entrepreneurs feel they must work harder to bring products to any retail market, according to some attendees at a discussion about retail opportunities at the West Side Market. Paris Wolfe reports these opinions were shared after a panel of business advisers talked about local tools for minority entrepreneurs who want to start food businesses. Pregnant COVID: Almost 1-in-10 women who get COVID-19 while pregnant will develop long COVID, reports Julie Washington. Prior research showed that pregnant women infected with the virus were more likely to suffer hospitalization and death, and that COVID-19 in pregnancy also carries a higher risk of stillbirth and preterm birth. Spine screening: Akron Children’s Hospital will be at Edgewater Park on Sunday launching SpineScreen, an initiative to protect kids from the sun and screen for scoliosis simultaneously, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. Along with a free scoliosis screening from an Akron Children’s provider, the hospital system will give away beach towels and bottles of sunscreen with spine screening tips. |
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Cat shot: Animal welfare advocates are seeking information on a neighborhood cat who lost his leg after being wounded with a shotgun earlier this year. Lucas Daprile reports that in April, George, a 3-year-old neighborhood cat living in Henrietta Township in Lorain County, was found with a badly wounded back leg that was later amputated. Clinic threat: An Ohio man was sentenced Wednesday to serve 66 months in prison for threatening to burn down an abortion clinic in Columbus and laundering money in an email scheme. Olivia Mitchell reports that U.S. District Judge Michael Watson also placed Mohamed Waes, 33, on three years of supervised release after he leaves prison. Waes, of Columbus, was ordered to pay $273,982 in restitution in the email scam. Hardy bond: A judge on Wednesday revoked the bond of De’Lawnte Hardy, who faces aggravated murder charges in the slaying of his grandmother and a Cleveland police officer six days apart. John Tucker reports that Hardy’s defense attorneys did not object, but the judge gave them permission to do so later. '90 Day Fiancé': A former star of the reality TV show “90 Day Fiancé” was found guilty Wednesday of two child-pornography counts, Adam Ferrise reports. Michael Eloshway faces a sentencing range of 17 years and 5 months to 20 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of receiving and distributing and possessing child pornography. Slaying suspect: A suspect wanted in the slaying of a man in front of his children was arrested by U.S. marshals Wednesday in South Euclid. Olivia Mitchell reports Trevonne Clemons, 31, is accused of fatally shooting Terry Ferguson on July 16, 2022, in Cleveland. |
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Def Leppard: Part of the last installment of the fabled “World Series of Rock” at the Stadium, Def Leppard warmed up for Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, J. Geils Band and Eddie Money. In that moment, they’d be crowned the kings of the new wave of British heavy metal in the U.S. Peter Chakerian reports that a little over 44 years later, the band is heading back to town with Journey and Cheap Trick to deliver another stadium gig on Tuesday at Progressive Field. Things are a lot different this time around. Wine Dive: Wine Dive will hold its official grand opening in Lakewood this week, bringing an affordable wine bar and restaurant menu to town, reports Alex Darus. Steak: You will know what you’re in for when you walk up to the front door at Steak in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, reports Marc Bona. A pair of heavy-duty, definitely-mean-business cleavers are embedded as the handle. |
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Mobile changing unit available at Medina County Fair Read more Orange Police Chief Chris Kostura says he’s looking forward to retirement Read more Avon Sheetz store set for grand opening today Read more Olmsted Falls City Schools superintendent tapped for national award Read more Brooklyn School special education paraprofessional receives award Read more Cox Charities awards grants to Parma’s gifted student program and Spice Field Kitchen Read more Cleveland Water plans two more Parma water main replacement projects Read more North Olmsted City Schools enters next phase for new PreK-5 building, pushes opening to possibly 2027 Read more |
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