Once, Ohioans needed a reason to vote early. Since the state changed the rules in 2005 to allow any voter to cast a ballot by mail or early at a county Board of Elections building, more and more Ohioans have embraced the idea. Ohioans cast 1.9 million absentee ballots in 2016 and 3.5 million in 2020, the last two presidential elections. In order to vote absentee, you first have to request a ballot. This week, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose sent out nearly 8 million absentee ballot applications. Since 2012, Ohio has mailed absentee ballot application forms to registered voters in every even-year general election. (Fun fact: That was after a legal battle between then-Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and then-Secretary of State Jon Husted.) If you want to vote early, fill out the form and mail it back. Elections officials will mail the ballots Oct. 8, the day after the voter registration deadline. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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This is the outer envelope for the nearly 8 million absentee ballot applications that Secretary of State Frank LaRose mailed this week for the November election. (Ohio Secretary of State's Office) |
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Vote by mail: In Cuyahoga County, one-third of voters typically vote by mail, although increasingly people who vote early choose to do so by casting their ballot in person, reports Andrew Tobias. Today in Ohio: The U.S. Department of Justice told a federal appeals court Monday that ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder accepted millions of dollars in bribes from FirstEnergy Corp. and deserves every day of his 20-year prison sentence. But the prosecutors didn’t mention the executives who paid the bribes. We’re talking about the fact that FirstEnergy execs still aren’t charged federally on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Childless Americans: U.S. Sen. JD Vance, a Cincinnati Republican who has taken heat for dismissing several Democratic politicians as “childless cat ladies,” subsequently described many leaders on the left as “people without kids, trying to brainwash the minds of our children.” Sabrina Eaton reports that Vance singled out American Federation of Teachers Head Randi Weingarten, who calls herself “a mother by marriage,” for particular criticism, saying she “doesn’t have a single child.” Redistricting lawsuit: Ohio Democratic lawmakers are chastising Republican Attorney General Dave Yost for defending in court the Ohio Ballot Board’s controversial ballot summary to a proposed redistricting reform plan without allowing the board’s two Democrats their own legal counsel or at least input into the case, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Marijuana sales: Recreational marijuana sales ticked down for the third consecutive week since dispensaries began selling to adults age 21 and older. Laura Hancock reports that Ohio dispensaries rang up $10,493,636 for recreational marijuana customers during the third week of sales, according to new Ohio Division of Cannabis Control data. |
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Leaf blowers: An electric leaf blower can cost as little as $50. But in Shaker Heights, it might just score you a hundred bucks. The city announced this week that it will give away 20 rebates for $100 each to residents who show proof that they bought a new, electric or battery-powered leaf blower, reports Cory Shaffer. August heat: Tuesday was not the hottest day of the year in Cleveland. The temperature topped out at 95 degrees during the afternoon at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. That was just short of the 96-degree reading on June 17. State of the County: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne will deliver his second State of the County address next week, reflecting on what has been going right and his focus areas for the future – and apparently showing off how the county has been spending some of its money. But Wednesday, the City Club of Cleveland, which is hosting the address, moved the event to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, reports Kaitlin Durbin. |
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COVID tests: Americans once again will be able to get free COVID-19 test kits mailed to their homes starting in late September, the federal government has announced. Julie Washington reports households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the program reopens. Five Below: Five Below, a discount store where many items are under $5, has opened a new location in Parma, reports Sean McDonnell. |
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Barricade: A Coventry Township man barricaded himself inside of a home after he fired a gun during a domestic violence dispute Tuesday, reports Olivia Mitchell. Steven Haines, 23, is accused of discharging a firearm on or near prohibited premises and inducing panic. FB robberies: Akron police are investigating two separate robberies involving Facebook Marketplace sales that occurred just miles away from each other, reports Lucas Daprile. Toilet seat murder: A divided Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear the case of Lamont Clark of Cleveland, who says he was coerced by prosecutors into pleading guilty to killing his wife, Tanya Banks, a crime he says he didn't commit. Courtroom observers called the case “the Toilet Seat Murder” because the couple struggled for a gun while Clark was seated in the bathroom of their home when Banks was struck by a bullet on July 25, 1992. Metroparks shooting: A suspect wanted in a shooting incident at the Cleveland Metroparks was arrested Tuesday in St. Louis, reports Olivia Mitchell. Metroparks police had searched for Marcus Anderson, 29, on charges of attempted murder. Anderson is a suspect in the June 22 attack at the Red Oak Picnic Area in Garfield Heights. |
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Arts grants: The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded $37.5 million in grants for 240 humanities projects across the country. Paris Wolfe reports that three of these grants – almost $1.3 million – will support projects in Northeast Ohio. French market: The Judith Cafe is planning a French-inspired market as a sendoff to summer, reports Alex Darus. The cafe at 5222 Lorain Ave. in Cleveland is hosting its market in The Field, its outdoor space next to the restaurant, on Sept. 14. The Judith will be serving drinks and food to stick to the French theme. Cleveland Ballet: Cleveland Ballet dancers have returned to the studio after a summer hiatus and will open their 2024-25 season with “Encore in Vermilion.” The event takes place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 21 with a wine and appetizer reception and continues with an outdoor performance at 7 p.m., Paris Wolfe reports. Italian benefit: The 84-year-old Renaissance fountain in the Italian Cultural Garden is being restored. To raise the $34,000 needed for the work, garden supporters are hosting the second Pranzo Italiano, a benefit dinner at Valerio’s Restaurant in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood, reports Paris Wolfe. Summer songs: The Song of the Summer is dead. Long live the Songs of the Summer. Turns out, there’s one for every occasion, writes Joey Morona. Rockwell paintings: Norman Rockwell spent 64 years creating artwork for the Boy Scouts, completing more than 400 works, including paintings, calendars pages and magazine covers. Dozens of those works, spanning six decades, are on display in Northeast Ohio, at a small museum in Warren. Susan Glaser reports they are scheduled to be removed from the Medici Museum of Art starting next month and then sold as part of a bankruptcy settlement reached with the Boy Scouts of America over sexual abuse claims. |
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Cleveland police ID suspect in hit-and-run that killed 7-year-old boy Read more One South Euclid to celebrate 15 years with gift to city, two September events Read more WRUW’s ‘Studio-A-Rama’ music fest returns to Case campus after four-year hiatus Read more Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s family fun loop ride offers fall crafts and bingo for kids Read more Cleveland APL receives grant to improve pet care access in underserved areas Read more Cuyahoga County Public Library offers free English classes for speakers of other languages Read more Kent State Aeronautics & Engineering Expo to feature flights, simulator rides Read more Friendship APL’s first annual Crazy Cat Crawl to be held Oct. 26 Read more |
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