Since 2021, Northeast Ohio has received hundreds of millions in federal COVID-19 stimulus money through the American Rescue Plan Act. As part of our Stimulus Watch project, Lucas Daprile is tracking 474 projects or contracts that are fully or partially funded using ARPA dollars. This is an ongoing project, which we'll continue to follow as new contracts are awarded. He looked closely at 176 contracts, including 50 for construction, architecture, brownfield remediation, demolition and road work. These types of projects include some of the highest-ticket items, such as $5 million in ARPA money toward a new food distribution center in Collinwood and $9.4 million toward bonds to upgrade the county’s convention center. Who’s benefiting from the projects? We’ll be tracking. - Laura |
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The relatively small amount of ARPA dollars that, so far, has been allocated to MBEs is out of step with Cuyahoga County demographics, in which 31% of residents are Black, 7% are Hispanic and 4% are Asian, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Shutterstock) |
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ARPA spending: Northeast Ohio businesses owned by women or minorities have so far received a disproportionately small share of public dollars to oversee projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. Lucas Daprile reports that of 176 contracts issued to for-profit businesses included in a Stimulus Watch sample of Northeast Ohio local governments, only three went to companies certified as Women Business Enterprises (WBE) and only nine went to companies certified as Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). Straw guns: A new report by the U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shows more people are legally buying guns and handing them off to those who are barred from owning them, sales known as straw purchases. Adam Ferrise reports the focus on straw-purchasing cases comes amid a surge in gun violence in Cleveland, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. Tax burden: Ohio House Republicans’ high-priority bill to flatten the state income tax and slash $1.2 billion from local governments would mean a slight tax cut for the middle class but much bigger savings for wealthier taxpayers. Jeremy Pelzer reports an Ohio taxpayer making $75,000 per year in federal adjusted income would pay $140 less in annual state income tax, while residents making $500,000 annually would pay $5,209 less. Today in Ohio: Two previously competing groups of activists are teaming up and now are focused on getting an abortion-rights measure on the statewide Ohio ballot in November 2023. We’re talking about competing amendment campaigns on Today in Ohio. |
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Redistricting: Gov. Mike DeWine this week endorsed the idea of dumping the elected officials in charge of setting Ohio’s political districts in favor of a nonpartisan commission, reports Andrew Tobias. A spokesman said the “devil’s in the details” when it comes to his possible support of how to do it. Train derailment: As the National Transportation Safety Board probes the cause of a Feb. 3 rail accident that led to toxic chemical discharges in East Palestine, legislators on Friday weren’t waiting for its results to promise action they believe would prevent future disasters. Sabrina Eaton reports U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said legislative efforts could include better labeling of train cars that contain hazardous material, setting staffing minimums for trains, requiring adequate inspections of train equipment, and establishing safety requirements for brakes and couplings. Water worries: The city of Cincinnati announced Friday it will stop taking in water from the Ohio River for now as chemicals from the East Palestine train derailment head downstream. Jeremy Pelzer reports the announcement came as Gov. Mike DeWine said testing has shown the plume of contaminants has “completely dissipated” by now. Medical concerns: State and federal officials will open a medical clinic for East Palestine residents early next week to “answer questions, evaluate symptoms and provide medical expertise” following a massive chemical spill from a derailed train. Jeremy Pelzer reports that officials have said that air and drinking-water testing in the area around the derailment so far haven’t shown any contamination, but the governor said it’s “understandable” that residents have health concerns. Householder trial: The trial of former Ohio Speaker of the House Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges is delayed until Tuesday, after Presidents Day, reports Jake Zuckerman. Warren County GOP Rep. Scott Lipps received a subpoena to appear as a government witness. |
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NASA: NASA's heady goal to return to the moon with Artemis bodes well for NASA Glenn Research Center, reports Peter Krouse. More than half of the 3,200 scientists, engineers and others working there are devoted to space, and that includes Artemis and what lies beyond - a manned mission to Mars. Riverfront expansion: Members of Cleveland’s City Planning Commission loved seeing a presentation Friday of the Bedrock vision for a huge expansion of Tower City Center that would include a new, 12-acre park on the Cuyahoga River. Steven Litt reports major challenges include making improvements to public infrastructure, including a dramatic reconfiguration of Huron Road at the western edge of Tower City Center, a reconstruction of the Eagle Avenue Ramp, re-routing a section of Canal Road, and reconfiguring riverfront bulkheads. RTA: None of a dozen leaders who participated in Clevelanders for Public Transit’s challenge last week were able to rely exclusively on Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s buses, rail lines, trolleys and paratransit services to get around, reports Kaitlin Durbin. The experiment highlights some of the deficiencies in services that advocates have long implored city and county officials to fix. What are the officials going to do about it? Census progress: A lot of progress has been made by Black Ohioans in the last 50 years. But Census data shows that compared to white contemporaries, there are still tremendous shortfalls in critical measures of success like income, education and employment, reports Zachary Smith. Currently, 1.7 million Black Ohioans represent 14.3% of the state’s population - a growing share of the state. Jail firings: Two top administrators at a state juvenile correctional facility were fired Friday involving allegations of an “unsafe environment for youth,” Molly Walsh reports. Superintendent James Darnell and gang intervention specialist Shawn Anders both were fired from the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility in Massillon after an investigation into attacks and misconduct from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Cleveland’s Promise: This school year has brought a new set of obstacles for Leah. Her battles with depression have caused her to question her self-worth, which has worsened because of the bullying she’s endured at school, both racism and colorism. Almira Elementary School’s support specialist helps her cope, reports Hannah Drown. Apartment fire: A large fire Friday in Willoughby destroyed an apartment complex near downtown, reports Molly Walsh. Chagrin Riverwalk was under construction and no one was inside. Willoughby Fire Chief Todd Ungar says the damage was in the "tens of millions of dollars." Presidents Day: What’s open and closed today? Here's the holiday list. |
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MetroHealth: MetroHealth reiterated in a new court filing Friday its position that former CEO Akram Boutros acted improperly in awarding himself $1.98 million in bonuses over several years before being dismissed in November. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports the filing came in response to the second of multiple lawsuits Boutros has filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, claiming he was improperly fired just weeks ahead of his planned departure as head of the county’s public hospital system. Instacart: Heinen’s will no longer be available through the Instacart app, starting Wednesday. The grocer has created its own mobile app and shopping platform at shop.heinens.com, reports Sean McDonnell. Mortgage rates: Interest rates have come down over the last few months, but homebuyers are still seeing much more expensive mortgages than they did this time last year. Sean McDonnell reports that on Thursday the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage in the U.S. was 6.32%. COVID-19 map: Three Greater Cleveland counties are yellow this week, indicating a week of moderate COVID-19 spread on the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map, reports Julie Washington. |
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Indian River: Two top administrators at a state juvenile correctional facility were fired Friday involving allegations of an “unsafe environment for youth,” reports Molly Walsh. The Ohio Department of Youth Services began an investigation at the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility in Massillon stemming from attacks and misconduct from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Trafficking: The owner of a Detroit-Shoreway smoke shop is accused of trafficking a 20-year-old woman for sex. Jesse Madey, owner of High Society Boutique on Detroit Avenue near West 114th street, is charged in a 10-count indictment with human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, compelling prostitution, robbery and assault, reports Cory Shaffer. 1-year-old killed: A man has been arrested and charged in the August 2020 shooting that killed a 1-year-old boy and injured two adults in Akron, reports Molly Walsh. Akron police arrested Phillip Mendoza Jr., 61, who has been charged with murder and four counts of felonious assault. |
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Kelce on 'SNL': Live from New York, it’s Travis Kelce? The two-time Super Bowl-winning tight end from the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Heights native will host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on March 4, reports Joey Morona. He’ll be joined on the episode by musical guest Kelsea Ballerini. JazzFest: Samara Joy, Herbie Hancock, Angélique Kidjo, Richard Bona and Trombone Shorty headline the list of artists scheduled to perform at the 44th annual Tri-C JazzFest this summer at Playhouse Square. Joey Morona reports the three-day festival features an eclectic lineup of nearly 500 artists from all over the world performing on indoor and outdoor stages. House of the Week: Former Cleveland Browns tackle Paul Farren once lived in this lakefront colonial at 26908 Lake Road in Bay Village. Joey Morona reports the house is now on the market for $1,095,000. |
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Mark Majer replaces suspended Pinkey Carr as judge for Cleveland Municipal Court Read more Barberton man gets at least 21 years in prison for slaying of Akron teen Read more Parma police arrest 4 males after chase of vehicle reported stolen from dealership Read more Customer rescues trapped worker after car crashes into Elyria bakery Read more Body pulled from Lake Erie at Euclid Beach Park Read more Cleveland Heights landlord fined $3,000 over monthlong lack of heat for 40 apartments Read more Middleburg Heights to buy emergency vehicle cardiac gear with $181,000 federal grant Read more |
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