In February 2023, 38 Norfolk Southern rail cars carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, spilling chemicals like vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether into the air, water and soil.
Three days later, afraid an explosion would exacerbate the disaster, officials set fire to five rail cars, sending toxic chemical plumes into the air.
The derailment rocked the city near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. About 2,000 people were evacuated, and Norfolk Southern spent $1.1 billion on clean-up.
This week, the company settled two lawsuits: $600 million in a suit brought by East Palestine residents and business owners and $310 million from the U.S. Department of Justice.
A separate lawsuit filed by the Ohio attorney general’s office over the derailment is ongoing.
We’ll be off Monday for the holiday. May we honor those who died while serving in the military and enjoy a relaxing kickoff to summer. Happy Memorial Day!
-Laura
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Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: A rainy Memorial Day weekend |
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The U.S. Department of Justice settled its lawsuit against Norfolk Southern over the Feb. 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine. (AP) |
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East Palestine settlement: Norfolk Southern agreed to pay $310 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice over the train derailment disaster in East Palestine that spilled hazardous chemicals into nearby creeks and waterways. Adam Ferrise reports the settlement includes a $15 million civil penalty and requires Norfolk Southern to pay for health monitoring and mental health services for residents and long-term environmental monitoring. Biden ballot issue: Gov. Mike DeWine has taken the rare step of calling a special legislative session, in effect summoning the General Assembly to make sure that President Joe Biden qualifies for the ballot this November, reports Andrew Tobias. FirstEnergy depositions: Investors who are suing Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. over the House Bill 6 scandal say they want to depose Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine as part of their case, reports Andrew Tobias. DeWine’s name appeared on a list of 10 other people and one company whom the investors’ lawyers say they want to depose, or interview under oath. Today in Ohio: The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a request from the state to narrow a lower court’s order temporarily blocking the enforcement of the law banning transgender youth from health care and girl’s and women’s sports. We’re talking about what the decision means on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Driver’s license: The Ohio Senate has passed a bipartisan bill that would reduce when and for how long Ohioans lose their driver’s licenses after getting convicted of a crime, a change backers say will help people straighten out their lives after getting involved in the criminal justice system, reports Andrew Tobias. Border security: U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday ordered a Senate floor vote on a border security bill that had been negotiated with Republicans earlier this year even though he knew it would fail. The reason? asks Sabrina Eaton. Election year politics. JD Vance: The Federal Elections Commission has dismissed a complaint filed by a good-government group against a political action committee that spent $19 million helping now-U.S. Sen. JD Vance get elected in 2022. Andrew Tobias reports the Washington D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center had filed the complaint in June 2022, a few months after Vance won that year’s Republican Senate primary election. Jim Jordan: To House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a deadly ATF raid that killed an Arkansas gun owner in March exemplifies the disturbing “weaponization of government trend” he’s crusaded against in Congress. Sabrina Eaton reports ATF Director Steve Dettelbach told Jordan’s committee and the gun owner’s widow that he and his agency are sorry about Bryan Malinowski’s March 19 death. |
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CSU: Cleveland State University is on track to rack up $153 million in losses over the next five years, which would completely deplete its reserves unless it makes big changes, according to a report released this week that outlines recommendations for a fix. Sean McDonnell reports the university’s steering committee, a group of Cleveland State trustees and executives tasked with finding solutions for the budget crisis, created a 144-page report that calls for cutting staff and changing university operations to bring expenses in line with declining enrollment. Double dipping: Cuyahoga’s first executive Ed FitzGerald banned double-dippers from his administration in 2011 to help restore trust and transparency in the wake of the widespread corruption that led to the charter form of government. Kaitlin Durbin reports current Executive Chris Ronayne, with county council’s approval, has codified double dipping – with guardrails for when and how it can occur. As of March, the county requires employees who get rehired to the same job, or one similar, to take a 10% pay cut. Delinquent: One of the last stops for a kid before juvenile prison or a transfer to the adult system is often the Community Based Intervention Center, an intensive education- and therapy-based program, report John Tucker and Kaitlin Durbin in their Delinquent series. The program isn’t always enough to overcome a child’s troubled home life and circumstances. But for Bryson, it was exactly the intervention he needed. Bird radar: An estimated 1,279,100 birds crossed into Cuyahoga County Monday night, reports Peter Krouse. While radar was originally developed to spot enemy planes and is now central to weather forecasts everywhere, it has more recently become the underpinnings of BirdCast, a go-to website for birders tracking migration patterns in the spring and fall. Universal basic employment: City Hall is giving $600,000 to United Way of Greater Cleveland to conduct research on how to set up a “universal basic employment” pilot program in Cleveland, reports Courtney Astolfi. |
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Breeze base: Breeze Airways is considering opening a new crew base at the Akron-Canton Airport, Breeze President Tom Doxey said Thursday. Susan Glaser reports Doxey was in town to celebrate the carrier’s 10th nonstop destination from CAK – and the airport’s longest-ever nonstop flight, 2,400 miles from Akron-Canton to Los Angeles International Airport. Saving You Money: Sean McDonnell is prone to looking for the best deal whenever he's out to eat. Often that means buying a bigger size, and the math bears out that bigger is usually a better deal. Top Nurses: Do you know a nurse who deserves some recognition? Someone who consistently goes above and beyond the expectations of their job? The 2024 Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Top Nurses Awards is your chance to shine a spotlight on the incredible nurses making a difference in Northeast Ohio. COVID cases: The 13-week streak of falling COVID-19 case numbers ended this week when the number of new cases in Ohio ticked upward from 839 last week to 953, reports Julie Washington. |
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Live Nation: The Justice Department filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America — squelching competition and driving up prices for fans. The AP reports the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, was being brought with 30 state and district attorneys general, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, and seeks to break up the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters and hurting artists. Police shooting: Euclid police shot a suspect who reached for a handgun moments after fleeing from another shooting, reports Molly Walsh. Police said Eric Deon Parham, 39, of Euclid was treated and released from a local hospital after the incident Wednesday afternoon. He was then taken to the Cuyahoga County Jail. Lewd photos: An appeals court Thursday upheld the conviction of a former member of Streetsboro City Council who sent lewd photographs to a 13-year-old boy and tried to sneak into his home. Cory Shaffer reports that John Ruediger, 45, was released from prison in February after finishing the one-year sentence he received for his April 2023 conviction of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony. Murder-suicide: Officials on Thursday identified the three people who died in a murder-suicide this week in Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Olivia Mitchell reports the victims are Regina Young-Fellows, 65, and Ritchie Welch, 51. They were shot by Norris Richardson, 57, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Tree fell: A 33-year-old man died after a tree fell on his home in Akron on Wednesday morning, reports Molly Walsh. Akron firefighters responded to the 400 block of Sumner Street at about 10:45 a.m. after violent storms damaged a tree, which struck the house. Erie drowning: Authorities say a man died Wednesday night after drowning in Lake Erie near Edgewater Park. Witnesses told Cleveland firefighters that the victim went into the water to cool off, but he could not make it back to shore. Police impersonation: A Cleveland man is facing new charges after he and others impersonated police officers as they carjacked a motorist in the Ohio City neighborhood earlier this year, reports John Tucker. Alex Ponce, 36, was charged Tuesday with aggravated robbery. A Cleveland Municipal Court judge on Wednesday ordered a $50,000 bond. 15-year-old shot: Police say a 15-year-old boy was shot Thursday near an elementary school on Cleveland’s East Side, reports Olivia Mitchell. Police were called for reports of gunshots about 10:40 a.m. near East 30th Street and Cedar Avenue. |
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Summer Camp: People can take grilling as seriously or casually as they want. Alex Darus wanted to learn to make rubs, sauces, marinades and side dishes alongside meat and seafood. As part of our Summer Camp for Grown-Ups series, she took the Barbecue and Grilling Boot Camp at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking. Classic CLE: Proof Barbeque’s fried green tomatoes are an instant classic. How is it possible to name a “Classic CLE” dish from a shiny-new hotspot that’s only been open for a minute? This summer, Peter Chakerian shines a light on some “New Classics,” nosh and tipple that deserves CLE culinary legend status. DineDrinkCLE: In the latest episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus talk about their favorite rooftop patios at bars and restaurants in Greater Cleveland to enjoy the nice weather. Whether the roof spaces offer views of downtown or Lake Erie, they’re all worth checking off your list. McFlurry: Joey Morona tried the new McDonald’s Grandma treat so you don’t have to. Fashion show: A new exhibit -- “Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman: Dazzling Day and Night”– opens May 31 at the Kent State University Museum, in Kent, reports Paris Wolfe. It continues until July 28, 2025, just over one year. Things to do: Memorial Day Weekend in Northeast Ohio means ribs, gyros, live music and, frankly, vibes. Joey Morona lists 17 fun things to do this weekend. Plus lots of cities are hosting Memorial Day ceremonies. |
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Three arrested on felony drug charges after area drug unit executes search warrant at home Read more Avon Lake play park takes giant step forward Read more Orange High School junior earns award for medical research, is featured on TV Read more |
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