Fifty-one years before the Haslams mentioned an option in Brook Park, then-Browns owner Art Modell pushed for an overhaul of Municipal Stadium, including new plumbing, seats, concession stands, bathrooms and scoreboard. He also wanted more parking. Total cost: $10 million, or about $72.3 million in 2024 dollars. By that point, Modell – now reviled for moving the Browns to Baltimore – already had paid $800,000 for a parcel of Strongsville farmland. But he said he’d rather keep the team in downtown Cleveland. Direct quote Lucas Daprile found in a February 1973 interview with The Plain Dealer: “As God as my judge, my first preference is downtown Cleveland." — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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This rendering from the fall of 2023 shows a proposed development of the property around Cleveland Browns Stadium, including a land bridge to the mall area. |
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Strongsville land: When the Browns and Cleveland worked on the terms of a new Browns stadium lease in the early 1970s, team owner Art Modell scooped up 190 acres of land in Strongsville, causing fans and officials alike to panic that the stadium could be moved from downtown. While there are some key differences between Modell and the Haslams’ approaches, the similarities, at times, border on uncanny. Lucas Daprile digs through the Plain Dealer archives. Nikki Haley: Despite dropping out of the presidential race nearly two weeks ahead of Ohio’s primary election day, Nikki Haley claimed victory over Donald Trump in three Cuyahoga County towns, reports Zachary Smith. Without any formal opposition, Trump picked up nearly three-quarters of the vote overall in Cuyahoga County, but Haley won three towns. State of the City: Now in his third year in office, Mayor Justin Bibb’s vision for Cleveland’s next chapter is crystallizing at a faster clip and many of the initiatives that will no doubt define his first term in office are well underway. Courtney Astolfi reports that Bibb is focused on redeveloping downtown, connecting more Clevelanders to the Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River waterfronts, investing in the Southeast Side, fighting blight, modernizing City Hall, and boosting the size of Cleveland’s police department. Bibb also touted his public safety initiatives as a success, Olivia Mitchell reports. Today in Ohio: Voters passed term limits more than three decades ago. But legislators now want to get rid of them. We’re debating whether it’s a good idea on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Transgender candidates: After an Ohio transgender legislative hopeful was kept off the ballot for not listing her “deadname” on campaign paperwork, Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill that would prevent similar disqualifications from happening in the future. Jeremy Pelzer reports Ohio’s prior-name requirement has been on the books for decades, though it’s rarely been invoked to keep would-be candidates off the ballot until this election cycle, when the number of transgender Ohioans filing to run for state legislature surged. Overdose records: Newly adopted rules now require emergency departments to report non-fatal overdoses to the state, an effort to give health officials more visibility into a substance-use crisis killing thousands of Ohioans every year. Jake Zuckerman reports emergency rooms must report non-fatal overdoses within two days of their occurrence. Voter registration: Republican state legislators want to change Ohio’s voter registration forms to explicitly prompt voters to list their most recent previous address, reports Andrew Tobias. Bill sponsor Rep. Gary Click says the move will streamline elections officials’ work to keep voter roles current. Registration challenge: The Democratic congressional candidate challenging incumbent GOP U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce of South Russell has been charged in Painesville Municipal Court with filing a false voter registration. Sabrina Eaton reports the Lake County Sheriff’s Department filed the charge on Monday against Brian Bob Kenderes, the only Democrat who filed paperwork to seek the Republican-leaning seat in Ohio’s northeast corner that represents all of Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, and Trumbull counties, and all but a sliver of Portage County. |
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Prosecutor’s race: While Michael O’Malley successfully fended off Democratic primary challenger Matthew Ahn from his seat as Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Ahn carried the vote in small parts of the county. Zachary Smith reports that O’Malley carried the election with 59% of the county vote, winning 55 of the 59 cities, villages and townships. Church fire: At least 40 firefighters extinguished a fire Thursday at a vacant church in Cleveland’s Union-Miles neighborhood, reports Olivia Mitchell. The fire broke out shortly after 7 a.m. at the Pentecostal Determine Church of God at 9105 Miles Park Ave. Animal fundraiser: The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter has come up with a creative fundraising idea to raise money to cover medical care for stray dogs. Alex Darus reports the shelter is hosting its third-annual “Jail N Bail Fundraiser” on May 4. Road construction: Various road construction projects will bring changing driving conditions for commuters in Northeast Ohio over the next few weeks. Cliff Pinckard lists what drivers can expect. |
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Cheapskate gardening: Strictly from a financial perspective, would starting your own tomatoes, peppers and even flowers, rather than buying them at a nursery, save money? The answer is a work in progress. So far, it’s a conditional yes, writes Sean McDonnell in his weekly Saving You Money column. Rent prices: Asking rent is slowly climbing in Cleveland, whether people are seeking studios or apartments with one and two bedrooms. Megan Sims reports that according to rent.com, the median price for studios was $1,019 in February, a 7% increase compared to this time last year. For one-bedrooms, the median rent was $1,525, which was a 6% annual increase. COVID numbers: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio fell for the sixth consecutive week, decreasing from 2,729 last week to 2,291 this week, reports Julie Washington. The last time that new case numbers were nearly this low was late July when the count was 2,054. A year ago at this time, the new case count was 6,354. |
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Catholic Charities: Jordan Rodriguez’s mother and her boyfriend starved, beat and buried the 4-year-old boy’s body in their backyard in 2017, but Catholic Charities Corporation and its employees failed to catch warning signs that the boy’s life was in peril in the months before his death, a lawyer said in court Thursday. Catholic Charities lawyer Thomas Mannion countered that Jordan was not enrolled in any programming through the agency and that Catholic Charities did nothing wrong, Cory Shaffer reports. Antwoina Carter: Lawyers representing Antwoina Carter are requesting proof that Cleveland police officers were not responsible for her death, reports Olivia Mitchell. Attorney Isaac Tom Monah requested authorities preserve evidence from the March 17 shooting, particularly evidence about the bullets fired by two Cleveland police officers as Carter sped away from assailants. Vault theft: The former manager of a cash vault in Warrensville Heights who turned himself in to authorities after he stole nearly $2 million was sentenced Thursday to more than three years in prison. Adam Ferrise reports Raymond Betts, 49, of Parma, pilfered wads of cash from ATM Solution Inc.’s vault for more than seven years. |
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Ask Yadi: A grandmother pays for many things for her grandchildren, but she feels taken advantage of. Yadi Rodriguez writes that maybe if the grandma stops doing so much, her grandchildren will come to appreciate the things she does. Phoenix: Phoenix Theatres Great Northern Mall is set to open in early summer. Marc Bona reports the theater is billed as offering the largest cinema screens on Cleveland’s West Side, with 60-foot-tall screens. Eclipse MIX: The Cleveland Museum of Art launches eclipse weekend with MIX: Stargazer from 6 to 10 p.m. April 5 in the museum courtyard, with glow straws and bracelets. Paris Wolfe reports DJ Dubaku will spin an open-format dance set using popular songs that mention the sun, moon, and stars. From Lagos, Dubaku is known for blending Afro-house with multiple genres of music. Kulas Hall: The Cleveland Institute of Music unveiled architectural plans for a long-needed gut renovation of Kulas Hall, the school’s outdated and acoustically deficient main rehearsal, performance and teaching space Steven Litt reports the renovation will turn a bright, complicated, visually noisy 1960s interior into a simpler, darker and more elegant space that focuses the eye and the ear on what’s happening on stage. Spaces: What happens when a small, revolutionary, globally influential nonprofit gallery in Cleveland reaches solid middle age? Steven Litt reports Fanna Gebreyesus will get to help find the answers as the new director of Spaces, the experimental West Side gallery nearing its 50th anniversary year. Pink Floyd: How will you extend the eclipse experience or combat inevitable post-event blues when it’s over? Peter Chakerian reports the answer lies with “The Dark Side of the Moon,” Pink Floyd’s legendary album which just celebrated a 50th Anniversary. For the last several months, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has screened a stunning visual embodiment of this rock masterpiece in its Shafran Planetarium. Dine Drink CLE: On the latest episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus learn about the traditions surrounding Dyngus Day from an expert. Molly Walsh, who won the crown of Miss Dyngus Day 2023, graced the podcast with her royal presence. Things to do: Easter weekend brings a plethora of events and activities to Northeast Ohio, including concerts, stage shows, museum exhibitions, sporting events and more. Joey Morona has 15 things to do, including celebrating Beyonce. |
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Lorain man charged with murder in shooting death of woman Read more Aerozone Alliance expounds on regional efforts to spur economic growth Read more Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities grant will be used for support and services Read more Keep Akron Beautiful needs volunteers to clean up city in April Read more Berea City Schools recommits to district’s positive behavior program Read more Orange High School robotics team captures Buckeye Regional championship Read more Berea Municipal Court projected to be financially solvent for 2024 Read more Despite mayor’s objections, Pepper Pike council votes to move forward with city’s first charter review commission Read more Middleburg Heights secures funds for asbestos removal at Sears site Read more North Olmsted hires city’s first female firefighters Read more |
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