FirstEnergy lawsuit: An Akron federal judge on Wednesday dismissed attorneys representing FirstEnergy Corp.’s shareholders in a lawsuit over the House Bill 6 bribery scandal, Adam Ferrise reports. U.S. District Judge John Adams wrote in an order that he believes the attorneys tried to evade his oversight of the case and that they refused to “offer a legitimate rationale” for a settlement in a companion case filed in federal court in Columbus.
METRO
Tax refunds: Columbus, Cincinnati and Akron are all beating Cleveland at refunding tax money to residents. Sean McDonnell reports that while Cleveland has paid out 1,260 of about 5,000 individual tax refund requests so far, both Cincinnati and Columbus have sent money back to more than 6,000 taxpayers who requested it. And Akron is almost finished with the 3,500 requests it received.
Project diversity: Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson met with community leaders Wednesday in Cleveland over their concerns for how to bring more diversity to massive construction projects underway by Sherwin-Williams in downtown Cleveland and in Brecksville, Megan Sims reports. Two groups have accused Sherwin-Williams of backing away from including a Black-owned firm as one of the key construction partners on the company’s $600 million in construction projects.
Brownfields: Four brownfield projects in and around the edge of Midtown Cleveland have received state funding. Peter Krouse reports that enhances their chances of coming to fruition and paving the way for a concentrated revitalization of a blighted area of the city. The highest profile project is the long-vacant Warner and Swasey building near the corner of Carnegie Avenue and East 55th Street.
Spicebushes: A spicebush looks pretty unremarkable in summer, with smooth gray bark and simple green leaves. But in April, long before most plants begin leafing out, the spicebush erupts in delicate yellow pompoms of flower, writes Susan Brownstein.
BUSINESS
Workplace falls: Occupational Safety and Health Administration data shows that workers at worksites across all industries are most at risk of falling on the job, reports Zachary Smith. The list is intended to alert employers about potential hazards at a worksite and address the issues before a workplace incident occurs.
CRIME
Excessive force: A Cleveland police officer sued her former partner and accused him of using excessive force when he shot her when the two responded to a call for a man with a gun. Jennifer Kilnapp accuses city and police officials of lying about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and wrongfully charging the man police arrested. Adam Ferrise reports she also accuses the city of failing to properly train its new officers and unfairly disciplining her, while her partner never faced discipline for the July 20, 2020, shooting.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Eagles lyrics: Who is Craig Inciardi, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator and director of acquisitions accused of plotting to possess and sell Don Henley’s handwritten lyrics from the 1970s? Troy Smith reports Inciardi is one of the Hall’s longest-working employees, based in New York for the past decade, paid $150,466 in salary and bonuses by the museum in 2020.
