You've been paying a cigarette tax in Cuyahoga County since 2006, when it passed at the ballot with 56% of the vote. The tax once raised $20 million a year for the arts, from a 1.5-cent-per-cigarette rate. But as fewer people smoke, the collection has dropped nearly 50%. That’s why Cuyahoga Arts and Culture wants to increase the tax rate with a new 3.5-cent-per-cigarette tax. The change would increase taxes on each pack of cigarettes from 30 cents to 70 cents. Voters will get to decide in November.
— Laura
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Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals: Guardians score three unearned runs in seventh inning to beat Royals, 8-5 Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Storms, strong winds expected |
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Voters in November are expected to decide whether to replace the existing excise of 1.5 cents per cigarette to 3.5 cents, or from 30 cents for a pack of cigarettes to 70 cents. (Jeff Chiu, Associated Press file photo) |
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Tax increase: To support the arts, Cuyahoga County Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to send a proposed increase to the county’s cigarette tax to the November ballot. Kaitlin Durbin reports it will be up to voters to decide whether to replace the 1.5-cent-per-cigarette rate first approved in 2006 with a new 3.5-cent-per-cigarette tax. Redistricting reform: With a month to go until a pivotal state deadline, the campaign behind a proposed redistricting reform amendment says it expects to collect more than enough signatures that it needs to qualify for the ballot in November. A spokesperson for Citizens Not Politicians declined to say exactly how many signatures the group has collected. But he said this week the group is running ahead of schedule, reports Andrew Tobias. Giant Eagle stabbing: A Cleveland woman walked past a 3-year-old boy and his mom Monday in the aisle of a Giant Eagle in North Olmsted, barely making eye contact. The woman later followed the mother and toddler into the store's parking lot and began stabbing them with a steak knife she grabbed earlier from a thrift store, Molly Walsh reports. Today in Ohio: A sweeping new bill would put delta-8-THC products in recreational marijuana dispensaries and require Ohioans to sign affidavits that they won’t sell product if they grow marijuana at home, among several changes to state marijuana laws. We’re talking about thwarting the will of Ohio voters on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Congressional hearings: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday denied political impropriety allegations leveled by Ohio’s Jim Jordan, saying prosecutions of ex-President Donald Trump aren’t politically motivated. Garland dismissed allegations that the Justice Department had a role in New York’s prosecution of Trump as “a conspiracy theory” that amounts to an attack on the judicial process itself, Sabrina Eaton reports. Rare books: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is seeking a court order to prevent the sale of copies of the Talmud and other ancient books in the Klau Library at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, arguing that scholarship would cease if the materials fell into private hands. Laura Hancock reports the five-story Cincinnati Klau Library contains a rare book and manuscript collection that includes Biblical codices, illuminated manuscripts, communal records, legal documents, scientific tracts and incunabula, or printed books and pamphlets from before 1500. Feral swine: New legislation would take several steps toward curbing the spread of invasive feral swine in Ohio, both because of the damage they cause and the potential for them to spread disease. Jeremy Pelzer reports that the wild hogs breed rapidly and have no natural predators, and have wreaked havoc in many Southeastern Ohio counties by destroying crops and property, damaging farmland and wild terrain, and spreading disease. |
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Browns stadium: The future of where the Browns will play by the end of the decade is still up in the air. But Tim Bielik reports the city of Brook Park has passed a resolution to “strongly” encourage the Browns to leave downtown Cleveland and build a new domed stadium in the spot of the old Ford plant near Interstate 71. Delinquent: Sam tried to poison his grandfather because he wanted to move. But after interventions and therapy, he’s on the honor roll and golf team at school and works part-time at a pizza shop. He continues to meet with a therapist monthly. Next to his trophies, he keeps a letter from his coach, praising his sportsmanship, writes Kaitlin Durbin and John Tucker in their series Delinquent. Leadership change: Victor Ruiz is stepping down after 15 years of leading Esperanza Inc., the Cleveland nonprofit that focuses on education in the Hispanic/Latinx communities in Northeast Ohio, Megan Sims reports. Ruiz said in a prepared statement that it was time for new ideas from a new CEO and president. Tomato hack: Tired of watering your tomato seedlings every day? Susan Glaser has a reader hack: Bury a juice container with holes punched into it. Animal of the week: Freight has been waiting for eight months for his forever home and staff at Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter have no idea why. Hannah Drown reports the Great Dane mix is thought to be about 6 years old and is described as a well-trained and lovable companion. |
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Fortune 500: The 2024 Fortune 500 was released Tuesday morning and many of Greater Cleveland’s companies have made it onto the coveted list. Each year Fortune Magazine puts out this list of the country’s top 500 largest corporations, based on total revenue for the 2023 fiscal year, reports Sean McDonnell. Toxic emissions: After having the highest emissions in Greater Cleveland in 2020 and 2021, Lorain County has reduced emissions by over 1 million pounds in 2022, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Zachary Smith reports this is the lowest emissions since 2013, the year when records were first publicly available. MediCLE: This week in MediCLE, Gretchen Cuda Kroen and Julie Washington are talking about mindfulness in the metaverse, a blood test that can detect up to 50 different cancers, and an OSU study that finds there’s a simple way to cut back on drug overdoses: boost minority employment. CLE Charge: The Cleveland Charge is on the move yet again but is staying in Cleveland for the next several years, reports Ethan Sands. The G-League affiliate of the Cavs is moving from Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center to Cleveland Public Auditorium, driven by the impending demolition of the Wolstein Center. It will be the third time in four years the team has changed its home venue. |
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New Year’s shooting: A 17-year-old boy from Buffalo will be prosecuted as an adult in a deadly New Year’s Day shooting in a city park that police say was over a stolen dirt bike, reports Cory Shaffer. Felonious assault: A Cleveland man with an open arrest warrant is now accused of kidnapping a woman at gunpoint, raping her and shooting a person in the stomach when he tried to render aid. John Tucker reports QuaSan Rose was charged Monday with felonious assault in Cleveland Municipal Court. Drive-by shooting: Shots were fired at Cleveland police and residents on the city’s East Side early Tuesday. Olivia Mitchell reports police initially went to a home on Pratt Avenue and East 93rd Street after someone called police and reported someone drove by the home and fired gunshots at their home and cars. No one was injured by the gunfire and police have not made any arrests in the case. ‘Swatter’ sentenced: A Washington state man who targeted a 12-year-old Shaker Heights girl and WJW Channel 8 by sending in hoax bomb threats to solicit police SWAT team responses was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison. According to court records, Ashton Garcia of Bremerton singled out the 12-year-old girl because she was Black and the Cleveland TV station because he was bored, Adam Ferrise reports. Suspect arrested: U.S. marshals arrested a suspect in South Euclid who is accused of crimes in Puerto Rico and New York. Cesar Soto-Roman, 21, was wanted by authorities in Rochester, N.Y., on a murder charge. He also was wanted on weapons violations in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, reports Olivia Mitchell. |
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Top Thrill 2: Coaster fans who were hoping for a fast fix to the problems facing Cedar Point’s new Top Thrill 2 may want to check that optimism, Susan Glaser reports. The ride was seen testing in the park last week, which fueled some optimism that the coaster might be ready to reopen in the coming week or two. That doesn’t seem likely. Ask Yadi: Is it every OK to say something about someone’s excessive hair? Yadi Rodriguez writes that if it’s your spouse/partner, immediate family or extremely good friend and you are comfortable making a comment, then do it. CMNH party: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is throwing a party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery. Think & Drink with the Extinct: Get Groovy with Lucy is at 6 p.m. June 20. The event is open to ages 21 and over, Paris Wolfe reports. |
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Authorities ID body found in backyard of East Cleveland home Read more Lyndhurst police find gun, investigate incidents that forced early closing of St. Clare Church Festival Read more Car crashes into Lorain County home, killing 50-year-old driver Read more Mayfield Heights officially opens its $34 million Aquatic and Community Center Read more Amplify marijuana dispensary on Coventry readies for recreational use in Cleveland Heights Read more North Royalton school board appoints private sector finance director & CPA to vacancy Read more Tenants urge City Council to step in and give Coventry PEACE campus a chance -- again Read more Medina considers new hire to help with parking citations Read more Avon Lake council member says power plant is leaking hazardous heavy metals Read more Medina looks to purchase new equipment for recreation center Read more |
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