Mayor Justin Bibb campaigned on change. After less than a year-and-a-half in office, he has announced big plans to attract jobs, prevent violence, and improve the waterfront and southeast neighborhoods. At his second State of the City address Wednesday, he spoke at East Tech High School in what he called the “storied” Central neighborhood, where Carl and Louis Stokes’ political success and Langston Hughes’ writing career began. Bibb started with public safety, which he called his top priority. The city is chipping away at crime, he said, citing a 10% reduction in gun-related homicides over the past year. The city has supplemented police with mental-health responders, added civilian analysts to each police district, and gave police officers raises. In the future, he plans strategies to get kids interested in police careers and efforts to improve the city’s oft-criticized civil-service testing. He pointed to Cleveland police’s failure to use deadly force in 2022 as one example of evidence that the “consent decree is working.” - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Detroit Tigers: José Ramírez goes deep as Guardians hang on for 3-2 win in Detroit Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and warmer |
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Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb delivers his State of the City address Wednesday at East Technical High School. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com) |
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State of the City: Mayor Justin Bibb spent much of his State of the City speech Wednesday describing economic opportunities he is bringing to Clevelanders, reports Courtney Astolfi. Many of those initiatives rely on $180 million in proposed spending from the city’s last large remaining portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funding from the federal government. Constitutional amendment: A split Ohio House committee passed a measure to ask voters to make it harder to pass state constitutional amendments after opponents repeatedly chanted “Shame!” and Democrats walked out of the committee room. The State Highway Patrol escorted at least one audience member from the room during the fracas, reports Laura Hancock. Later Wednesday, the Ohio Senate advanced legislation that could schedule an August election for the public to vote on whether to make it harder to amend the Ohio Constitution. Today in Ohio: Ohio House lawmakers have given up on plans to create a flat state income-tax, which would have cost schools, libraries, park districts and other local governments millions of dollars. We’re talking about a new plan that would eliminate a middle-class tax bracket on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
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Parents Bill of Rights: A bill in the Ohio House would require teachers to notify parents about sexually explicit instruction, as well as inform parents of children’s physical and mental health services received at school in what the bill describes as a “Parents Bill of Rights.” The Tuesday committee hearing was the second for House Bill 8, when proponents were supposed to show up and testify in favor of it. No one did, Laura Hancock reports, nor did anyone submit written testimony. Childcare: President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed an executive order that instructs federal agencies to take steps to expand access to affordable care, including directing federal agencies to identify “which of their grant programs can support childcare and long-term care for individuals working on federal projects, and consider requiring applicants seeking federal job-creating funds to expand access to care for their workers,” reports Sabrina Eaton. It also asks the Department of Health and Human Services to implement policies aimed at boosting pay and job quality for early educators. Trump indictment: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday won the first round of his legal battle with New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. over Jordan’s right to investigate Bragg’s indictment of ex-President Donald Trump, Sabrina Eaton reports. Ship damaged: A new U.S. Navy combat ship christened the USS Cleveland suffered minor damage when it slammed into a tugboat during its Saturday launch. Sabrina Eaton reports the Navy said that during the launch at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, “unintentional contact occurred between the ship and a supporting tug.” |
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Elected sheriff: The debate over who the Cuyahoga County sheriff should report to continues as more officials weigh in, including former Sheriff Bob Reid, who believes the position should be independent, and County Executive Chris Ronayne, who wants to maintain direct oversight. Kaitlin Durbin reports the answer largely hinges on which competing legislation will get the most votes from a split County Council: Either Councilman Martin J. Sweeney’s proposal codifying that the sheriff reports directly to the executive, or Councilman Patrick Kelly’s legislation, which would allow the sheriff to make decisions about jail operations without requiring permission from the executive. Akron protests: Police officers used tear gas Wednesday evening to disperse people who were protesting because of a grand jury’s decision to not charge eight officers in the shooting death of Jayland Walker last year, Molly Walsh reports. Demonstrators at the march said the event was peaceful, but police said “rocks and bottles” were thrown at officers. Energy upgrades: The Biden Administration will make investments in four federal buildings across Northeast Ohio, including the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse in Cleveland, that are expected to save $300,000 a year in energy costs and reduce carbon emissions by 1,600 metric tons annually. Peter Krouse reports another $20 million will spruce up the plaza and entrance at the Stokes courthouse using building materials produced with a minimum of carbon emissions. Cleveland’s Promise: Ms. Tiffany Mayhugh serves as an on-site nurse at Almira Elementary School, a critical part of Cleveland Schools’ overall integrated approach to health that focuses on the physical, social and mental well-being of students. Hannah Drown reports the role is vast, tasked with work such as community partner management, medical screenings, health referrals, vaccination reporting and emergency care. But Mayhugh's favorite part of the job continues to be directly helping other people. |
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FirstEnergy increase: Many FirstEnergy customers will see their electricity rates double this summer under new rates that have been submitted to Ohio regulators, reports Sean McDonnell. Customers served by Ohio Edison and the Illuminating Co. will start paying 12.4 cents per kilowatt hour this June, up from the 5.9 cents they’re currently paying. FirstEnergy said a typical customer will see a 47% increase in their monthly bill. Vaccine boosters: People age 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems have been cleared to get a new round of COVID-19 booster shots, Julie Washington reports. The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized additional updated booster shots for groups at risk for severe COVID-19. Then late Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the recommendation, clearing the way for additional shots this spring for those who qualify. |
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Prison drug ring: A Cleveland man serving an eight-year sentence for being the main supplier of heroin to Wayne County is now accused of running a drug ring from his prison cell. Charles Daniels, one of 17 people charged in an indictment unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Cleveland, called himself Joe Biden because he was “Mr. Get It Done,” reports Adam Ferrise. Discovery Tours: Federal prosecutors are seeking as much as seven years in prison for a former executive of Discovery Tours who embezzled money from his family’s company and caused the cancellation of dozens of school trips. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough asked U.S. District Judge Pamela Barker to sentence Joseph Cipolletti to between five years and 10 months and seven years in prison and pay $1.5 million in restitution, reports Adam Ferrise. Multiple shootings: Police say 17 people were shot, two fatally, last weekend in Cleveland and some fear the violence could foreshadow a summer of bloodshed, Olivia Mitchell reports. “Residents, businesses and other city leaders are really concerned about the months to come,” said Michael Polensek, the chairman of Cleveland City Council’s Public Safety Committee. Parent arrested: An Elyria City Schools parent was arrested Tuesday and accused of spraying two elementary school officials with mace, Molly Walsh reports. Jessica Houze, 27, yelled obscenities and sprayed the the principal and assistant principal at Hamilton Elementary School in the face with pepper spray before fleeing, police say. |
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West Side Market: With its transition to non-profit management and recent discussions around renovations and improvements, Cleveland’s iconic West Side Market has been in the spotlight. Paris Wolfe reports the third installment in the Community Speaker series is “In the Market for History,” a discussion about the architecture and history of Cleveland’s Public markets. Earth Day: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is offering three free Earth Day hikes at Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve on Saturday and Sunday. Paris Wolfe reports lucky hikers might spot the Marsh’s nesting pair of bald eagles. Prime rib: Where can you find the best prime-rib dinner in Northeast Ohio? How is your favorite restaurant doing? Have you been showing them support? Brenda Cain and Yadi Rodriguez review a recent poll on restaurants with the best prime rib. Wedding etiquette: Jane Morice researches common wedding etiquette questions and gives her totally unsolicited opinions. Like, how should you handle a wedding dress code and can you say no kids? |
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