“Only in Ohio” is the internet meme that launched the Gen Alpha slang “Ohio,” which teens have weaponized as an insult to mean “weird” or “cringey.” But only in Ohio do you have a onetime bellwether, the purplest state possible, that most political pundits believe now has solidified into a lock for Republican Donald Trump. So much for as Ohio goes, so goes the nation. Trump won here by 8 points in 2016 and 2020. Candidates visited regularly during those campaigns. Currently, neither Trump nor Democrat Kamala Harris have plans to visit the seventh most populous state. They’re not planning big ad buys either. Democrats are doubling down, though, investing in the most staff they’ve had since Barack Obama won in 2012. Ohio DNC delegate Morgan Harper, a Columbus attorney, sees Harris’ campaign as a chance to bring different Americans together. “I think people are really hungry for that, especially in Ohio." — Laura |
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Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is shown during a campaign event in 2020 in Cleveland. (David Dermer, Associated Press file photo) |
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Democratic campaigns: Democrats hope that Ohio voters will swing away from former President Donald Trump -- who has won the last two presidential races here by about 8 points -- and embrace Vice President Kamala Harris. But their conviction is on par with a Cleveland sports fan asked if the Browns will win the Super Bowl this year. They’re more focused on keeping existing Democratics officeholders in office, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Candidate presence: Ohio wasn’t a top-tier swing state in the 2020 presidential election. But both major parties’ presidential nominees still booked tens of millions of dollars of TV ads here and visited the state regularly. This year, Andrew Tobias reports, Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump’s campaigns essentially have no presence here. And they have no current plans to visit. Private vs. public: Parents debating whether to send their child to the local public school or use vouchers for private school might be baffled by the state’s system to compare academic performance. Comparisons are difficult. Laura Hancock analyzes the data to compare each Cuyahoga County school district – as well as a handful of large-enrollment districts across the state – with private school students on vouchers in 2022-23. Private schools are required to only test students on vouchers, so data for those schools is not comprehensive. Stadium help: The Browns are looking for funds from local and state taxpayers. The Bengals will likely want the same, reports Sean McDonnell. It isn’t just the NFL, either. State lawmakers have eight major league teams on their radar. Today in Ohio: The chief ethics officer at FirstEnergy, plus another lawyer and the company’s most senior accountant, helped process a $4.3 million payment that the company later said was a bribe. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about the newly unearthed memorandum and deposition showing what the company knew. |
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Issue 1: Mike DeWine said multiple times during his last campaign for governor that politicians should be removed from the process of redistricting, the redrawing of state legislative and congressional maps. But Andrew Tobias reports DeWine’s coming to Cleveland on Tuesday to help defeat Issue 1, an amendment that will appear on the November ballot to do exactly that. Abortion: A Franklin County judge on Friday blocked enforcement of Ohio’s laws that mandate a 24-hour waiting period before abortions. Julie Washington reports this was the first ruling on the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment to the Ohio Constitution, which was approved by voters and took effect in December 2023. Republican lawsuit: A company linked to a political strategist who pleaded guilty to racketeering in the House Bill 6 scandal sued the Ohio Republican Party on Thursday, accusing them of failing to pay for nearly $600,000 in campaign flyers and mailers during the 2020 election cycle. Sabrina Eaton reports the company is run by Jeffrey Longstreth, a longtime campaign and political strategist for former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who pleaded guilty to racketeering in a deal with prosecutors. FirstEnergy bribe: Two top lawyers at FirstEnergy, plus the company’s most senior accountant, knew about and helped process a $4.3 million payment that the company later said was a bribe to a top state regulator, according to a newly unearthed memorandum and deposition, Jake Zuckerman reports. Dennis Chack: A former FirstEnergy Corp. executive who was fired amid the House Bill 6 bribery scandal was sent a $44,000 per month contract proposal by his daughter for billboard advertisements, report Adam Ferrise and Jake Zuckerman. Newly released records shed light on the firing of Dennis Chack, the former senior vice president of product development, marketing and branding, in October 2020. |
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Electric workers: Many line workers sprang into action when a storm that included five tornadoes hit Northeast Ohio on Aug. 6. As many as 34,000 Cleveland Public Power customers and 420,000 FirstEnergy customers lost power at some point after the storm, reports Sean McDonnell. Line workers had to splice and install new power lines. They had to replace utility poles and all of their fixings, like cross arms, insulators and jumpers. With tree damage spread across the city, they needed to drive and scan for issues — while working safely around high voltage. West 29th Street: The city of Cleveland announced the closing of West 29th Street now through Sept. 8 to expand space for pedestrians and create a “safe, enjoyable area for community use” in the city’s Hingetown neighborhood, Kaylee Remington reports. During this time, the community will host free events and vendors on the open street while the city explores “the influence of a permanent expansion." Police openings: Lakewood is opening up spots on the list it will use to fill future openings on its police force. The Civil Service Commission announced that online testing opened Thursday for applicants to join the civil service eligibility list, reports Cory Shaffer. USO lounge: The USO lounge at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will close next month as the organization works “to optimize our operations and better meet the needs of the military,” reports Susan Glaser. Youth sports: Often, youth coaches are volunteering their time to oversee and develop kids while also trying to ensure they have as much fun as possible. Jonathan Simmons posed questions to two youth sports authorities about best practices for parents when it comes to talking to their kids’ coaches. Viral cheese: Ever wonder what cheese would pair best with a Mountain Dew? Or a marshmallow Peep? With skills as sharp as the cheddar she makes and sells, Madelyn Varela is a cheese monger at Heinen’s who has amassed thousands of followers online from sharing “unhinged cheese pairings” and educating people about the dairy industry, Molly Walsh reports. Our Best Life: Midlife is a wedding lull. So while Laura Johnston’s kids really want to go to a wedding, she’s aiming to celebrate everything else instead. |
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PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder and symptoms of depression are higher in law-enforcement officers who have experienced one or more head injuries, reports Julie Washington. A study led by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center examined the high prevalence of head injuries and related mental health symptoms in law-enforcement officers. |
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Child-porn sentencing: A Cleveland police officer on Friday was sentenced to just over nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography, reports John Tucker. Brandon Crites, 33, had admitted to downloading more than 1,000 videos and photos of exploited children, including 23 videos over 40 minutes long, according to prosecutors. Road rage: A jury on Friday acquitted a Cleveland man who said he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot a motorist after a road rage incident, reports John Tucker. Amarion Sanders, 22, was found not guilty of all five charges in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court: aggravated murder, two counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault. Increased incidents: The road rage incident that killed Christopher Andexler in Valley View on Thursday is the latest in a fast-growing trend on roadways across Ohio and the nation. The State Highway Patrol says that road rage incidents that troopers investigated have increased 23 percent across the state since 2019, when there were 1,755 incidents. Last year, there were 2,157. Hit-skip: A driver was arrested and accused of running over a pedestrian with his car and taking off Thursday, reports Olivia Mitchell. Police say a vehicle struck a 40-year-old man on West 25th Street near the West Side Market. The car left the scene, but police found it with the assistance of the city’s Real-Time Crime Center, which uses different forms of technology to help police solve crimes quickly. |
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DineDrink: In the latest episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus chat with Paris Wolfe about a few new bars in Greater Cleveland providing niche vibes outside of downtown. Avett Brothers: If there’s one thing Scott and Seth Avett know well - and I’m sure there’s more than one - it’s how to lead singalongs at concerts. The namesakes of The Avett Brothers implored and led a packed Jacobs Pavilion crowd on Friday night in belting out one song after another. Eric Heisig reports it worked every time. Taste of Black Cleveland: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse became a food fest Thursday night, with creative flavors ranging from vegan offerings to spicy, savory treats at A Taste of Black Cleveland: The Food Showcase 6.0, reports Marc Bona. One World Day: The naturalization ceremony that kicked off the Cleveland Cultural Gardens’ One World Day on Sunday summed up the spirit of the festivities. The ceremony was the first major event of this year’s One World Day, the annual festival now in its 78th consecutive year, Zachary Smith reports. Riverfest: Riverfest was back in The Flats Sunday for the second year in a row, this time featuring a Cleveland Browns-themed charity boat parade. Megan Sims reports the second annual Riverfest offered Northeast Ohio visitors a reprieve from Sunday afternoon’s overcast skies. House of the Week: Built in 1900 and reminiscent of a Painted Lady in San Francisco, the Victorian at 6309 W. Clinton Ave. in Cleveland combines classic charm with a modern sensibility, reports Joey Morona. Notable for a classic front porch, the colorful facade of the home reveals a sophisticated yet welcoming interior that boasts four bedrooms and four (full) bathrooms across 2,500 square feet. The list price is $899,000. |
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Golf cart crashes on Kelleys Island, seriously injuring 3 women Read more Woman escapes from vehicle moments before it’s hit by train Read more Jewish teens who like to sing encouraged to join HaZamir Cleveland Read more |
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