Imagine being the parent of a middle schooler and dealing with endless whining about when they’re going to be allowed to get a cellphone. All their friends — and every kid on the block — have one, after all. The moment they get a phone they will want to download TikTok, Snapchat and whatever new underground social media networks are popular in their circles. That’s a scary new world to think about exposing them to. Ohio’s government wants to make it easier for parents navigating this. They announced the Social Media Parental Notification Act last week, a law that would require platforms to get parents’ permission to establish accounts for children under 16. It was set to start Jan. 15 but now is murky and held up in courts. The lawsuit, filed by an association with members such as Meta and YouTube, say the regulations are unconstitutionally vague and violate free-speech protections. A federal judge issued a temporary hold on Tuesday. They head back to court early next month. — Kristen Davis |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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A federal judge in Columbus on Tuesday put a temporary hold on Ohio’s law requiring social media companies to get parental consent for children under age 16 to open social media accounts. (Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Associated Press file photo) |
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Social media suit: Ohio’s law that requires social media companies to get parental consent before children under 16 can open accounts is on hold following a ruling from a federal judge. The case is on hold until at least Feb. 7. Laura Hancock has the details. Transgender care: The Ohio House is likely to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls high school sports and from receiving gender-affirming care. A vote is expected to be held today, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Today in Ohio: A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Ohio’s voter ID law. Proponents argue the law makes elections more secure, while critics argue it disenfranchises seniors, veterans and those experiencing homelessness. On Today in Ohio, we discuss the ramifications of the case being dismissed and what comes next. |
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Pressure to resign: U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance is calling for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to either resign or be fired because he did not disclose immediately to the White House that he had been hospitalized on Jan. 1 following complications from a recent elective procedure, Sabrina Eaton reports. State parks drilling: Oil and gas companies are one step closer to being open for gas and oil drilling. Jake Zuckerman reports the mineral rights for beneath Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County, parts of Valley Run Wildlife Area in Carroll County and Zepernick Run Wildlife Area in Columbiana County have been put out to bid for the oil and gas industry. Transgender candidate: A transgender Ohio House candidate, who was disqualified from running because she did not also include her birth name on her campaign paperwork, lost an appeal to the bipartisan Stark County Board of Elections. Jeremy Pelzer has the story. School board: The Ohio State Board of Education, which lost most of its authority last year to a new education agency over which the legislature and governor have control, may soon be sent from its downtown Columbus building to the suburbs, Laura Hancock reports. |
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Poor roads: The Cleveland/Akron area has a higher percentage of poorly maintained roads and bridges than any major Ohio city, according to a new report. There is some good news, however ... Northeast Ohio motorists spend less time stuck in traffic than Columbus or Cincinnati, Lucas Daprile reports. Cleveland Broadband: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced $10 million in state funding for a nonprofit to provide affordable broadband in Cleveland. The money would go to DigitalC, which also has $20 million of COVID-19 stimulus dollars set aside for the citywide broadband expansion, Courtney Astolfi reports. Prosecutor retiring: Sherri Bevan Walsh announced Tuesday that she will retire effective Feb. 16, ending a career in which she served six terms as the Summit County prosecutor. Walsh, 63, is expected to undergo heart surgery later this month to combat the effects of heart failure related to contracting the COVID-19 virus, Molly Walsh reports. Severe weather: High winds on Tuesday resulted in thousands of people losing power, Zachary Smith reports. Another wind advisory has been issued today for Northeast Ohio, with 50 mph gusts expected, Cliff Pinckard reports. Loneliness: People living in the Cleveland metro area are more likely to live alone than all but four cities, leading chamberofcommerce.org to brand Cleveland as one of the country’s “loneliest” cities, Megan Sims reports. |
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Hospital lawsuit: A dispute over legal billing has led to the former head of University Hospitals’ fertility unit filing a suit against an attorney who previously represented him in the aftermath of a accident in which 4,000 eggs and embryos became unviable in 2018, Cory Shaffer reports. |
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Capitol attack: A Lake County man was sentenced Tuesday to more than four years in prison for temporarily blinding a police officer with pepper spray during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Adam Ferrise reports. Ryan Swoope, 29, of Perry twice fired the spray at a U.S. Capitol police sergeant who tried to block the mob from overrunning police at an entrance to the building. Rape accusation: Parma Heights police said Tuesday the investigation into the rape of a toddler at an in-home daycare is continuing following the arrest last week of 20-year-old man. Conner Walker of Rocky River was arrested Friday and accused of raping a then-2-year-old girl at a home on Big Creek Parkway in Parma Heights, Molly Walsh reports. Child porn charges: A former outreach director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland has pleaded not guilty to felony charges accusing her of possessing child pornography. Kelcie Dugger, 33, is charged in a 16-count indictment handed up in December that says she possessed the images from April to July of last year, Cory Shaffer reports. |
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Browns blackout: The corporations are fighting again and it’s you who could pay the price. Though WKYC Channel 3 will carry the Browns’ opening playoff game against the Houston Texans, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and AT&T U-verse will not broadcast the game for Northeast Ohio customers. Joey Morona lists some alternative ways to make sure you can cheer on the Kardiac Kids. Weinermobile: Oscar Mayer will bring its famous Weinermobile to Cleveland to three separate locations over the next week or so. Marc Bona has the details of where you can go to see the giant frankfurter and pick up hot dog-themed swag. Christian music: Cleveland again will be a destination for Winter Jam, a contemporary Christian music festival. The festival will feature, among other acts, singer-songwriter Crowder and rapper Lecrae. Malcom X Abram has the story. |
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Solon Middle School wrestling coaches resign following incident involving high school student Read more Schools get free cardiac defibrillators from UH and Cleveland Browns Read more John Carroll University announces new College of Health to address global, local needs Read more Brecksville wins $2 million grant for Valor Acres multipurpose trail Read more Diebold Nixdorf to leave Hudson HQ, consolidate employees in North Canton Read more Akron Public Schools board names new president, vice president Read more See all 2023 Cuyahoga County home sales, other property transfers (searchable database) Read more Shaker Heights council unlocks $840,000 in unclaimed forfeiture funds for police department Read more Summit Metro Parks buys downtown Akron property for central maintenance facility Read more |
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