If you own a car manufactured before 2019 in Northeast Ohio, you have to get it E-Checked. Drivers hate the program, even though the state picks up the annual $11 million tab. It’s the No. 2 complaint U.S. Rep. Bill Roemer hears from his constituents. (No. 1, of course, is taxes.) So Roemer, a Summit County Republican, is spearheading a bipartisan coalition to eliminate the program, which falls under the U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Act. The Cleveland-Akron area was classified as “moderate” due to frequent violations of the federal health-based ozone standard. If ozone air quality does not improve, the U.S. EPA is likely to elevate its classification to “serious” non-attainment, which will require additional restrictions along with the E-Check program as soon as 2024. The federal law does not allow states to apply for waivers or alternate programs. Which means I’ll be headed to an E-Check station again next spring. – Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Cincinnati Reds: Guardians see the light, at least for a minute, in 3-0 victory over Reds Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunshine returns |
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E-Check is required for most vehicles registered in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. |
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E-Check: A bipartisan group of lawmakers has asked the Ohio EPA to work with Washington to end the E-Check requirement in seven Northeast Ohio counties that forces drivers to get the emissions checked on their vehicles every two years. Laura Hancock reports that Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel said that while air quality has vastly improved in Northeast Ohio in the 27 years the E-Check requirement has been in place, “the area does not meet the current health-based standard for ozone.” Rain: For two months running, Cleveland has been receiving far more than normal amounts of rain. Rich Exner reports that in July, the National Weather Service recorded 6.75 inches of rain at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, 3.08 inches above normal. Through Monday in August, Cleveland had 2.79 inches of rain, 1.17 inches above normal, with at least some rain on seven of the last nine days. Today in Ohio: Redistricting activists aim to eliminate gerrymandering in Ohio with a new constitutional amendment that creates a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of non-politician Republicans, Democrats, and independents. We’re talking about the effort and the momentum Ohioans have going for them after defeating Issue 1 on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Redistricting: Backers of a new gerrymandering constitutional amendment aim to collect hundreds of thousands of signatures to get on the ballot next year. Jeremy Pelzer reports none of the five Republican members of the current redistricting commission, which drew maps rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court, expressed their full support for the new proposal. But their initial thoughts about the plan varied from each other. |
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DeWine visit: Gov. Mike DeWine will visit Cleveland today to discuss initiatives to fight the city’s wave of violent crime. DeWine plans to discuss his Cleveland Violent Crime Initiative, which aims to bring greater state resources to the city to make streets safer, Olivia Mitchell reports. Deep pockets: New financial disclosures offer updated details on the personal fortunes that Matt Dolan and Bernie Moreno each could tap to fund their bids to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate next year. Dolan, a Republican state senator from Chagrin Falls, owns assets worth at least $14.5 million and as much as $41 million, while Moreno reported assets worth at least $25.5 million and as much as $105.7 million, Andrew Tobias reports. Invasive species: This summer saw the spread of invasive pests to Northeast Ohio: the spotted lanternfly and the Tree-of-Heaven, which can shed a prodigious 350,000 seeds in a year and send out a toxin through its root system that poisons nearby trees and plants, Susan Brownstein writes. Feast of the Assumption: Cleveland Bishop Edward Malesic delivered many blessings during the Feast of the Assumption procession Tuesday, including ones to a newly engaged couple and ... a roasting pig? John Kuntz has photos of the 124th annual celebration and religious holiday in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood. |
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Healthcare breaches: Ohio experienced 20 healthcare data breaches in 2022, which affected more than 275,000 Ohioans, reports Zachary Smith. Healthcare organizations are among the most targeted businesses for data due to how much sensitive patient information is available. GetGo: To celebrate back to school, GetGo gas stations are giving customers 50 cents off per gallon of fuel Thursday through Sunday, but there’s one catch. You’ll have to use either AdvantagePay or a newer program called myPerks Pay Direct, reports Sean McDonnell. Electricity debit cards: The Cleveland Better Business Bureau is spreading the word that recent mailings from Ohio Electricity Litigation and Tremendous are a rare example of a legitimate utility-related solicitation, reports Sean McDonnell. This all stems from a class-action lawsuit that started because of the House Bill 6 scandal. After the bribery scandal became public, plaintiffs sued FirstEnergy and Energy Harbor, saying that customers overpaid on their electricity bills to fund the $60 million racketeering scheme. |
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Firefighter death: The three daughters of slain Cleveland firefighter Johnny Tetrick told a judge on Tuesday that they wanted justice for the man who killed their father in a hit-skip crash last November. Leander Bissell's voice shook at times as he apologized to Tetrick’s daughters, reports Cory Shaffer. “A family hero, a community hero, is gone,” Bissell said. “My actions make my soul shake.” Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McCormick then sentenced Bissell, 41, of Cleveland, to life in prison. CIA: A former Cleveland Institute of Art student accused the school of failing to properly address her accusations of sexual assault against a fellow student, reports Adam Ferrise. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Cleveland on Tuesday, alleges the independent art school failed to punish the male student after the woman told administrators that he had sexually assaulted her six times in 2020. 1-year-old killed: U.S. marshals on Tuesday arrested a man accused of killing a 1-year-old boy, reports Olivia Mitchell. Ian Belcher, 19, of Akron, was wanted by the Akron Police Department on murder charges involving the death of Arteyon Cannon. Heartless felons: A co-founder of one of Cleveland’s most violent and widespread gangs was sentenced Tuesday to three years in federal prison on a gun charge. Adam Ferrise reports that Donte Ferguson, who helped create the Heartless Felons in the early 2000s, said he left the gangster lifestyle behind him years ago and apologized for shooting guns off at a Parma gun range. |
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Ask Yadi: If your adult child moves back home, should they contribute? Yadi Rodriguez says a resounding yes! Though “contributing” does not necessarily mean financially. Taco shame: Americans consume an estimated 4.5 billion tacos a year, helping the overall Mexican restaurant industry reach $79 billion in 2022. Cleveland is not a big contributor. The Land ranks as the “worst taco city in America,” at least according to Clever, a real estate data company in St. Louis, Paris Wolfe reports. Madonna: Madonna fans still lamenting the cancellation of her scheduled August show in Cleveland can rejoice as the Material Girl has rescheduled the concert. Joey Morona reports the Celebration Tour will stop at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Feb. 8. Tickets for the original August show will be honored on the new date. |
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Authorities raid Ravenna smoke shop after two-week drug investigation Read more Cleveland Heights plans timed, circular re-route of traffic at Noble Elementary: Council recap Read more Avon City Council approves hotel/motel moratorium Read more North Royalton to build new multipurpose trail in Memorial Park Read more Sewer district updates Shaker council on ‘detailed design’ for Doan Brook restoration Read more Akron celebrates opening of newly renovated Perkins Woods Pool Read more Chipotle Mexican Grill wins approval for new North Royalton restaurant Read more Cleveland Heights City Administrator-select Danny Williams makes his case for confirmation Read more |
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