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| What you need to know Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021 WEATHER
Mostly cloudy skies are in the forecast today but it will be a bit warmer, with highs around 40 degrees. It will be breezy as gusts hit 25 mph. Strong gusts will continue overnight and temps will drop to the low 30s. Read more.
Local scores: Boston Celtics 111, Cavs 101 OVERNIGHT
COVID-19 surge: Low vaccination rates, the highly contagious COVID-19 omicron variant, pandemic fatigue and other factors are among the reasons cited by health experts to explain the coronavirus surge regionally that has landed Cuyahoga County near the top of list nationally for new cases. Julie Washington reports that a county health official says if COVID-19 cases regionally continue on this trend, there might not be hospital beds available for people who suffer a heart attack, are in a car accident or face other medical emergencies.
National Guard: Members of the Ohio National Guard have been deployed to seven hospitals this week and continue to man the drive-through testing site in Cleveland. Laura Hancock reports troops will go to five hospitals in the Northeast Ohio area, including Summa Health System’s Akron campus and Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center. Meanwhile, Seth Richardson reports state lawmakers are asking the Ohio Department of Medicaid for more resources for Summa Health to hire more nurses to help alleviate shortages in care caused by a surge in coronavirus cases from the omicron variant.
Jim Jordan: The chairman of the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot wants to meet with Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, who repeatedly communicated with President Donald Trump and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows as Trump’s supporters rampaged through the U.S. Capitol in a failed bid to keep Congress from tallying electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election, Sabrina Eaton reports. A letter from the chairman notes Jordan told a House Rules Committee hearing in October that he has “nothing to hide” when asked whether he’d be willing to provide the Select Committee with any information he has regarding the incursion at the U.S. Capitol and the events that led up to it.
'Born alive' bill: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a "born alive" abortion bill Wednesday that could close the last clinics in Dayton and Cincinnati, Laura Hancock reports. Senate Bill 157 would punish physicians who didn’t provide lifesaving treatment to a baby who survives an abortion with a first-degree felony criminal charge. STATEHOUSE & POLITICS Job recovery: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only four states had more people employed last month than they did two years ago. Six more states are within a percent of their November 2019 job numbers. Ohio had 5.39 million jobs in November, down from 5.6 million in November 2019, Sean McDonnell reports. That’s a job loss of 3.8% over two years, despite growing jobs 1.9% since November 2020.
Redistricting: To say Ohio’s redistricting process has been a bumpy ride this year would be an understatement. Redistricting -- the once-a-decade business of redrawing legislative district maps -- got off to a bad start, starting from behind after the U.S. Census Bureau announced in February that it would be as much as six months late in completing its work and sending its data to the states. Andrew Tobias reports the maps are now before the Ohio Supreme Court and face a new time crunch if justices side with voting-rights groups and Democrats who argue they violate the state’s anti-gerrymandering rules and should be thrown out.
METRO Jail deaths: A Cuyahoga County Jail officer and an inmate died from COVID-19 in a four-day span, Adam Ferrise reports. Veteran Cuyahoga County Jail officer William Haines, 64, died Friday, according to county officials and the officer’s union. Inmate Samuel Foster, 67, died Monday from the virus.
Fetal surgery: A multidisciplinary team of Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Children’s performed a rare and complex lifesaving fetal surgery to remove a tumor the size of a peach pit attached to the heart of a 26-week-old fetus. Julie Washington reports removing the malignant tumor required surgeons to operate while the fetus was still inside the womb.
Bibb's cabinet: Cleveland Mayor-elect Justin Bibb on Wednesday announced his first round of top-level hires for his cabinet as he prepares to take office on Jan. 3. Courtney Astolfi reports Bibb filled the positions of chief legal counsel, chief government affairs officer, chief communications officer and chief human resources officer.
Tax bills: If you are a property owner in Cuyahoga County, you have until the close of business on Jan. 27 to pay your property tax bill for the first half of 2021 or face a 10% penalty, Eric Heisig reports. That is the deadline to pay the bills tax bills that will be mailed no later than next week by the county Treasurer’s Office.
RTA closure: Beginning Monday, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s main office in downtown Cleveland will be closed to the public indefinitely, per public health advisories regarding COVID-19, Kaitlin Durbin reports.
Jackson portrait: Dozens of family members, friends, and community leaders were on hand Wednesday night at Cleveland City Hall as outgoing Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson unveiled his official portrait, a painting by Cleveland artist Robert E. Hartshorn. David Petkiewicz has photos of the unveiling.
COVID-19 Another record: The state of Ohio on Wednesday set a new single-day record in reporting 12,864 new cases of COVID-19. That number surpassed the previous single-day record, set just one day earlier on Tuesday when the Ohio Department of Health reported 12,502 cases, Julie Washington reports. Ohio’s death toll since the beginning of the pandemic early last year now stands at 28,277.
Testing: Due to a high demand at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site that opened this week at University Circle, appointments will be required beginning today, the Cleveland Clinic announced. Julie Washington reports on the new requirements.
Reporting results: The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is providing residents a new way to self-report their at-home test results, especially if they’re positive, to help give a more accurate picture of the area’s infection rate, Kaitlin Durbin reports.
BUSINESS Remote work: Trends show fewer people are working remotely, but Greater Cleveland’s largest employers are still deciding whether returning to the office will be required in 2022. Sean McDonnell reports Greater Cleveland’s largest employers appear to be reopening in some capacity, with many still finalizing details. The situation could change in January because of the latest coronavirus surge.
CRIME Shooting video: Officials released body camera video of two police officers who fatally shot a man in downtown Cleveland, Adam Ferrise reports. The video shows the moments leading up to Cleveland police officer Sean Grace and Matthew Gulak fatally shooting Patrick Horton, 39, on Dec. 12.
Pike County: A defense attorney argued Wednesday that prosecutors should remove the death penalty from charges against a Pike County resident accused in the slayings of eight people in 2016, an attack authorities described as one of the state’s most heinous crimes. Cleveland attorney John Parker said his client, George Wagner, did not shoot any of the Rhoden family members, who were killed execution-style in their rural, southern Ohio homes, John Caniglia reports.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COVID shutdown: Great Lakes Brewing Co. has shut down its brewpub until further notice for the safety of its staff and customers as a result of coronavirus concerns, Marc Bona reports. In addition to the brewpub, the brewery’s Brew Year’s Eve and tours have been canceled. The gift shop will remain open on its holiday schedule.
New rules: The trio of Italian restaurants in Northeast Ohio owned by Luca and Lola Sema have announced new Covid protocols for customers. All customers are now required to show proof of vaccination (except for pick-up orders) and will be required to wear a mask in the restaurant, except when seated while eating and drinking, Marc Bona reports. OTHER HEADLINES Passenger of SUV shot by Garfield Heights police officer after driver pulls out gun during pursuit, police say Read more
Akron man shot while driving on city street, police say Read more
Dayton man pleads guilty to role in deadly kidnapping Read more
Boys, ages 2 and 5, among 4 victims of suspected murder-suicide in central Ohio Read more
Northeast Ohio pet shelters still recovering from COVID-19 pandemic as demand peaks during holidays Read more
Medina County Office for Older Adults is not a COVID-19 testing site Read more
Orange Schools students collect over 100 coats in Coats for Kids campaign Read more
New Brook Park council representatives seek positive change Read more
Solon council approves $43.7 million budget for 2022 Read more
Belle Oaks construction trailer in place as plans unfold for large Richmond Heights development Read more
City ponders future of empty Brook Park Memorial School Read more
Parma City Council President Sean Brennan announces statehouse bid Read more
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