In the harried days of the fall lame-duck legislature, Republicans proposed making it harder for Ohioans to approve constitutional amendments by raising the vote threshold from 50% plus one to 60%. The push – led by Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose – was tied to an expected future campaign to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution. And state Rep. Derek Merrin, who won a Republican caucus leadership vote in November, set an aggressive House legislative calendar that could have seen it approved by Feb. 1 – in time for the proposal to make the May primary ballot. But Democrats sided with Stephens, surprising the legislature. -Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers: 1 p.m. Sunday, Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. TV: WOIO Channel 19. Radio: WKRK FM/92.3, WNCX FM/98.5, WKNR AM/850 Northeast Ohio weekend weather forecast: Colder with a slight chance for snow |
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The election of Republican Rep. Jason Stephens as Ohio House speaker could bring some changes in priorities with the legislature's agenda. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Constitutional change: The surprising development that saw minority Democrats voting with a block of Republicans to elect Republican state Rep. Jason Stephens as Ohio House speaker likely puts a pause on the push to raise the threshold of votes needed to pass a constitutional amendment. Andrew Tobias reports that could mean that those who want to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution, raise the state minimum wage and change the way Ohio draws legislative maps have an opening at least this year to pursue amendments under the existing rules. Stephens victory: State Rep. Jason Stephens’ upset victory over state Rep. Derek Merrin to become the next Ohio House speaker on Tuesday came after weeks of negotiations, lobbying, personal slights and missed opportunities, according to several lawmakers and others familiar with how the insurgency happened. Jeremy Pelzer reports Stephens, a Lawrence County Republican, won after he and his allies successfully lobbied House Democrats to join about one-third of House Republicans in supporting him. ARPA: Dozens of small governments throughout Ohio turned down their share of a combined $3.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, reports Lucas Daprile. Statewide, 53 townships and municipalities either failed to apply for the COVID-19 stimulus dollars or opted to return the dollars to the state. Today in Ohio: The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission believes Cleveland and surrounding suburbs would be smart to rezone transit corridors to encourage dense, walkable, transit-oriented development. We’re talking about investment on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Merrin vs. Stephens: State Rep. Derek Merrin accused state Rep. Jason Stephens and his supporters of stepping up their efforts to stop him from becoming Ohio House Speaker while he was in a hospice with his dying father. Jeremy Pelzer reports Merrin, a Toledo-area Republican, said he tried to reach out to Stephens and his fellow Republican supporters, only to get a noncommittal response. He also said he held discussions with House Democrats and agreed to many of their requests, though Democrats ended up uniting with Stephens’ GOP allies to elect Stephens speaker on Tuesday. Republican rebuke: One of the leading candidates to become the next head of the Ohio Republican Party is proposing to formally rebuke the 22 GOP state lawmakers who teamed up with Democrats to elect Republican Jason Stephens speaker of the Ohio House. Jeremy Pelzer reports the draft resolution being circulated by backers of Summit County Republican Party Chairman Bryan Williams would make the House members ineligible to receive a state party endorsement or any other party resources for at least the next four years. Subpoenas: The state attorney general and several former lawmakers have received word of government subpoenas compelling them to appear at the upcoming criminal trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, accused of controlling a nonprofit that received about $60 million from FirstEnergy Corp. through a spread of affiliated nonprofits. Jake Zuckerman reports that as attorney general, Dave Yost presided over a messy fight between proponents and opponents of repealing the legislation via referendum after it was signed into law. Tobacco laws: Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed legislation Thursday that would have stopped Ohio cities from strengthening their anti-tobacco laws. Jake Zuckerman reports that DeWine said Ohio is in the midst of an epidemic where a growing number of young people are starting to “vape” or smoke e-cigarettes at younger ages. Senate race: Candidates, their affiliates and outside political groups spent almost as much on the 2022 U.S. Senate race in Ohio than in the previous three elections combined, reports Andrew Tobias. The $198 million spent on last year’s race was fueled by record-busting personal fundraising by the Democratic nominee, a big tech cash infusion in the GOP primary for the eventual Republican candidate, and millions of dollars spent by outside groups. Blystone punishment: Joe Blystone, who unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Mike DeWine in the Republican primary election last May, will part with $180,000 in campaign funds and not run for office for five years as part of a settlement of a state elections complaint, Andrew Tobias reports. Under a deal Blystone reached Thursday with the Ohio Elections Commission, Blystone admitted to improperly documenting thousands of dollars in cash contributions to his campaign, among other campaign-finance violations. |
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Public Square: The plan to replace bulky concrete barriers along Superior Avenue on Public Square with stainless steel bollards is at long last ready for review and approval by the City of Cleveland. Steven Litt reports the vetting of the design in public meetings will mark the latest step in a saga that started in March 2017 when the city installed the concrete barriers in response to homeland security concerns. Emergency plans: When Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed after making a tackle during a game Monday against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bills medical staff knew the NFL’s emergency action plan for that stadium. Julie Washington reports that at the scholastic level, Ohio high schools and colleges are encouraged to have their own detailed emergency plans for each sport and venue in case an athlete is seriously injured. Plant hardiness: Several days of unusually warm weather across northern Ohio may have some people wondering if their plants and trees will suffer adverse consequences. Not likely, reports Peter Krouse. |
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COVID-19 numbers: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio rose slightly from 13,047 last week to 13,895 this week. Ohio has been over 10,000 cases per week every week, except for brief dips, since the beginning of May, reports Zachary Smith. Betting fines: Three more sportsbooks could face $150,000 fines after being accused of breaking advertising rules related to sports gambling. Sean McDonnell reports the Ohio Casino Control Commission said it will take administrative action against BetMGM Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook, all three accused of breaking two rules: not having a message about problem gambling and advertising “free” or “risk-free” bets. Record Revolution: Record Revolution, the independent record store and Coventry neighborhood mainstay for more than a half-century, will continue to revolve through Saturday, reports Malcolm X Abram. For partner and general manager Robert “Rob Love” Pryor, it’s the end of a 35-year journey that started when he was a teenage customer. Southwest troubles: Southwest Airlines did not provide the holiday travel experience anyone wanted. Susan Glaser tells the stories of plenty of Clevelanders who were caught up in the mess after a major winter storm triggered an operational meltdown at the airline. $1M homes: Eight Cuyahoga County homes sold for more than $1 million in December, including a $2.5 million home in Westlake. Westlake had a flurry of activity in December, home to half of the homes that sold for more than $1 million in the county, reports Zachary Smith. |
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Strip search: The mother of an eighth-grade student at Eastlake Middle School sued the school district last week, accusing school officials of conducting an illegal strip-search of her daughter. Adam Ferrise reports the principal ordered the search while trying to find a vape pen in the girl’s lockers. Dimora appeal: Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora is now trying his hand at another occupation from his prison cell: attorney. Adam Ferrise reports Dimora on Thursday filed an appeal to his 23-year prison sentence while acting as his own lawyer. Boogaloo Bois: A federal grand jury handed up an indictment late Wednesday against a Sandusky man whom authorities linked to the Boogaloo Bois extremist group. Adam Ferrise reports Aron McKillips, 29, is charged with five counts of sending interstate threats and one count of possessing a machine gun. Public power: A former Cleveland Public Power employee will spend the next two years on federal probation for trying to obtain sensitive information from computers that controlled the city’s power grid. Adam Ferrise reports John Pelton, 55, faced up to six months in prison on Thursday at his sentencing hearing, about four months after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempting to access a protected computer and a felony charge of lying to the FBI. |
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Country bar: Restaurateur and noted Cleveland chef Dante Boccuzzi is opening Dukes 'n Boots, a new country bar, in early March in downtown Willoughby. Paris Wolfe reports the bar marks the 10th establishment in a collection of restaurants that was previously focused around downtown Cleveland and Akron. Orchid show: The 17th annual Cleveland Botanical Garden orchid show – Orchids Forever – opens Saturday, Jan. 28, and runs through Sunday, March 12. Paris Wolfe reports it will include 100 different types of orchids from around the world. Things to do: The first full weekend of the new year means a new slate of entertaining, non-holiday-related events and activities to discover. So, if you’re looking to check out the latest expo in town, see a show or have some winter fun, Joey Morona has 15 options. |
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Peyton Hillis, former Cleveland Browns running back, in critical condition after saving children from drowning: reports Read more Mayor rejects University Heights council committee’s directive to maintain backyard garbage collection Read more Berea passes 2023 temporary budget for first quarter Read more Berea, Brook Park and Middleburg Heights mayors share 2023 priorities Read more Solon council hears concerns about parks master plan at public hearing Read more Developer pulls out of proposed mixed-use Rockside Road project in Seven Hills Read more Olmsted Community Center receives grant to restore gym windows Read more |
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