In a move opponents deemed “sneaky,” the Cuyahoga County Council met in a special meeting for 10 minutes Thursday about the controversial, 40-year tax increase to pay for a new jail. The Committee of the Whole – which, like it sounds, is made up of the entire council – approved the plan to extend the county’s .25% sales tax, which county commissioners enacted in 2007 to pay for the convention center and now-defunct medical mart. Later Thursday, the tax increase was officially approved with a vote of 6-5 in the last council meeting until Jan. 9. The jail, slated for Garfield Heights, is projected to cost $750 million. Council President Pernel Jones indicated the last-minute tax increase was Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne’s idea. Yet while campaigning, Ronayne questioned whether extending a quarter-percent sales tax was necessary and repeatedly suggested it shouldn’t be pushed through without public support. “It does not have to go to the people, because we represent the people,” Jones said during the meeting. At this last-minute, special meeting, how many members of the public got to voice their opinion? You guessed it, zero. -Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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A screen capture of an Aug. 19 community meeting shows Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne addressing a crowd of Garfield Heights residents about his plans to build a new county jail in their city. (Garfield Heights YouTube page) |
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Sales tax increase: The No New Jail campaign called the tax increase "an undemocratic dirty trick in the last few days before the holiday season," reports Lucas Daprile. Tobacco override: Business interests are backing an Ohio House plan to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a proposal that blocks cities from setting tobacco rules that are stricter than state law. Ohio Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Stivers said in a statement that, without the override, Ohio would have a “piecemeal approach” to tobacco regulation from 938 different municipal governments. Today in Ohio: A bill to prohibit minors from receiving gender-affirming care and transgender females from playing girls’ and women’s sports is on its way to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk. We’re talking about the anti-trans legislation -- and why Republicans are pushing it -- on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Jason Stephens: Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens has spent much of the past year embroiled in a continuous leadership battle, winning his job in January and then rolling over immediately into another one ahead of the 2024 elections. Andrew Tobias reports that Stephens said Thursday he thinks that the term limits voters approved in the 1990s for state officeholders are a major reason why, and said he would support a constitutional amendment to change them. Heartbeat ban: As promised, abortion providers who are challenging the “heartbeat” ban filed an amended complaint this week, asking a court to permanently block the state from enforcing the law now that a majority of Ohio voters passed the reproductive rights constitutional amendment. Since the 2019 heartbeat law prohibits abortion as soon as six weeks, when a fetal heart tone is detected, it would conflict with the constitution, reports Laura Hancock. Republican debates: The first of three planned debates between Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senate candidates has been set, reports Andrew Tobias. The debate among Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose and Bernie Moreno, coordinated by the Ohio Republican Party, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Jan. 22 at WJW Channel 8′s studios in Cleveland. Defense bill: Congress on Thursday signed off on a bipartisan defense bill that authorizes millions of dollars for Ohio defense facilities, reports Sabrina Eaton. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Camp Perry Joint Training Center, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, and Lima’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center all are among those that will see funding. |
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Cleveland Harbor: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed maintenance on the more than 100-year-old breakwater in Cleveland Harbor this past year, while also performing its annual dredging of the Cuyahoga River. The combined cost of the work totaled nearly $20 million, Peter Krouse reports. CAC: The embattled board of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, which distributes cigarette tax revenue for the arts, concluded a chaotic three-and-a-half-hour meeting Wednesday with rapid-fire votes approving financial matters, including a $12.5 million budget for 2024. Steven Litt reports most of the meeting centered on arguments over how CAC could heal widening rifts in Cleveland’s cultural community over how it manages tax revenues that have declined 50% since the tax began in 2007. Census estimates: What’s the makeup of Cuyahoga County? Unlike the actual census count every 10 years, the bureau’s American Community Survey allows for more questions to be asked and, in turn, for us to gain insight into topics like housing, education and income. Zachary Smith delves into details. |
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COVID-19 numbers: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio continued swinging upward for the ninth week in a row, from 13,215 last week to 14,395 this week, representing the highest weekly total since just ahead of Christmas last year. Julie Washington reports the numbers have been over 10,000 a week since late November. Before then, the last time they were above 10,000 was mid-January. Frontier flight: Frontier Airlines is adding nonstop service between Cleveland and Montego Bay, Jamaica, the carrier’s third international destination from Northeast Ohio. Susan Glaser reports it’s the first time Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will have scheduled service to the popular Caribbean destination in at least 20 years. Mortgage rates: Not long ago it looked like interest rates on mortgages would top 8%, but instead they’ve gone the other way. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.95% Thursday, reports Sean McDonnell. Malley’s: Malley’s Chocolates' store in Bay Village is staying open at its current location through Easter, but it will relocate next year as the property owner has started looking for a new tenant, reports Sean McDonnell. Holiday mail: If you plan on buying gifts online and want them to arrive before Christmas Day, time is running out, reports Sean McDonnell. You can, of course, pay for faster shipping in many cases. But the last day to send parcels using ground shipping is this weekend for the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS. Diabetes treatment: Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals have made a discovery that could potentially provide a new target to treat diabetes: an enzyme that regulates the effects of nitric oxide on insulin receptors. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports that exactly what goes wrong in diabetic patients has long been a mystery, but the researchers now think they have identified the source of the problem. |
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Haslam investigation: Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is being investigated by federal prosecutors over whether he gave illegal payments to Pilot executives to boost the value of the company before its sale to Berkshire Hathaway, reports Tim Bielik. The investigation stems from a civil suit over the sale of part of Pilot to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Escape conviction: A federal inmate authorities once called one of the most dangerous people in Akron was found guilty Thursday of bolting from custody after his 10-year-old daughter’s funeral. Adam Ferrise reports Joseph Fletcher III was found guilty of one count of escape following a two-day trial in federal court in Cleveland. |
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Ask Yadi: Is it OK to bring a lightly used item to a white elephant gift exchange? Who’s to say that the candle holder or candles that you found at your home wouldn’t be just the thing for one of your friends or co-workers? Yadi Rodriguez writes that this may be the gift that they all steal from each other. Peter Laughner: Singer-songwriter-guitarist Peter Laughner only lived for 24 years, but his legend as a central figure in the Cleveland protopunk, art and left-of-center-rock scene has only grown since his death in 1977. Malcolm X Abram reports the latest chapter in Laughner’s story isn’t a musical release at all. It’s the graphic novel/biography “Ain’t it Fun,” written and illustrated by Cleveland native Aaron Lange, out on his Stone Church Press. Kelce faves: Travis Kelce may be one of the biggest names in the NFL these days, partially thanks to his public relationship with Taylor Swift, but the tight end isn’t too big to remember his Cleveland roots. Travis and his brother/fellow NFL star Jason Kelce shed some love on their favorite Cleveland spots during a recent episode of the “New Heights” podcast, reports Alex Darus. MLK concert: If you’re a fan of the Cleveland Orchestra’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert, clear your calendars the morning of Jan. 6. At 10 a.m. that day, you’ll want to be right at the phone or online, ready to claim free tickets to the 2024 event, which will be released to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, Zachary Lewis reports. The event itself takes place at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Severance Music Center. Great Lakes Museum: The National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo is an entertaining and educational repository of artifacts and information about lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. Susan Glaser reports the museum, which opened in Toledo in 2014, will mark its 10th anniversary next year on the east bank of the Maumee Rive and plans to break ground next spring on a $5.5 million, 5,000-square-foot expansion. Joe Thomas: Browns legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas will be guest bartending at Barley House this December, reports Alex Darus. In partnership with Crown Royal, Thomas will be perched behind the bar before the Browns take on the New York Jets for a Thursday night game. Ski season: It’s opening day! Seven Springs, in Champion, Pennsylvania, will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, with 10 slopes and trails available, as well as four lifts. Susan Glaser reports Peek’n Peak in Clymer, New York, will open at 11 a.m. Saturday, with $35 lift tickets through Dec 21. The park is expected to have four slopes and trails open. Things to do: Greater Cleveland is full of activity and mid-December holiday buzz. Rink at Wade Oval offers ice skating and Hale Farm & Village hosts a lantern-lit holiday walk through the historic village. Paris Wolfe lists 23 activities to experience this weekend. |
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Boy, 13, threatens to shoot up, burn down synagogue in Canton, authorities say Read more Male, 15, wounded by shots fired into Akron home Read more Suspect in murder of Akron man arrested in North Dakota Read more Man arrested in fatal shooting in Cleveland’s Northshore-Collinwood neighborhood Read more Shaker Heights council sets special meeting on police K-9 Igor’s future Read more Akron Zoo welcomes Sumatran tiger, pair of cinereous vultures Read more Akron’s Lock 3 Park redevelopment project receives $1M gift Read more UH, Richmond Heights partner on new Community Paramedic Program Read more |
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