At my kids’ sporting events, I’ve watched moms threaten moms on the opposite team, referees kick dads out of games, parents scream at kids they’ve never met. And my kids aren’t even in high school. About 69 percent of officials believe sportsmanship in youth sports is growing worse, according to a 2023 survey by the National Association of Sports Officials. About 40% said parents are the worst culprits. Parents hit the nadir Saturday at the Ohio high school state gymnastics championships when Magnificat fans jeered the Brecksville Bees, believing the Bees finished second after two straight decades of state titles. The taunting was so disruptive that officials warned that hecklers would be removed from the gym. Hannah Drown covered the drama as part of our series on the Bees, who hold the nation’s longest state title streak. “We are defined by how we respond to the events that happen to us,” the Bees coach told the girls. If only parents got the same message. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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The Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees gymnastics team nervously watches as Magnificat completes their vaults during Saturday's state gymnastics team championship. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com) |
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Brecksville Bees: Although the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees stretched their record-breaking winning streak to 21 consecutive titles at the OHSAA Gymnastics State Tournament on Saturday, the victory was tarred by the poor behavior of rival parents, reports Hannah Drown. Income tax refunds: The Buckeye Institute sued the city of Cleveland on Wednesday on behalf of suburbanites who failed to get their income tax refunds within a 90-day period. Courtney Astolfi reports that at issue are city laws that require Cleveland to pay interest if refunds aren’t issued within 90 days of a taxpayer filing their return. Train fire: The deliberate burn of rail cars carrying hazardous chemicals after last year’s crash in East Palestine wasn’t needed to avoid an explosion because the rail cars were cooling off before they were set on fire, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board told U.S. Sen. JD Vance on Wednesday. Sabrina Eaton reports NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the Norfolk Southern contractors lacked a scientific basis to support their conclusion the burn was needed. Today in Ohio: An Ohio House bill would create educational savings accounts funded with taxpayer dollars for families of kids attending unchartered private schools, which are not allowed to receive Ohio’s EdChoice Expansion vouchers. We’re talking about the bill -- which could cost Ohio taxpayers $239 million a year -- sponsored by a Sandusky County pastor on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Closed primary: Ohio Republican lawmakers have introduced another “closed primary” bill in an attempt to stop Democratic and Republican voters from casting ballots in the other party’s primary elections. Jeremy Pelzer reports House Bill 437, introduced earlier this week, also has an additional twist: It would prohibit Ohioans affiliated with one party from running for office on another party’s ticket. OSU lawsuit: The Ohio Supreme Court sent a case back to a state appellate court Wednesday saying the lower court must decide whether Ohio State University gets immunity from a lawsuit over fees it charged students when its campus closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Laura Hancock reports the details of the decision are technical, although the decision was split 4-3 along partisan lines, with Democrats on the court dissenting and saying that the majority’s decision will delay resolution in this case and future cases against governmental agencies. Cable cancellations: The administration of President Joe Biden has targeted “junk fees” for ending cable subscriptions and has proposed administrative rules that would prohibit them, reports Jake Zuckerman. Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sheryl Maxfield wrote in a public comment to the Federal Communications Commission that Ohio’s cable providers over the past five years stopped prorating the bills of customers seeking to cancel. |
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Great Lakes poll: Do you have something to say about the health of the Great Lakes? If so, the International Joint Commission Great Lakes Water Quality Board wants to hear from you in its regional poll, reports Peter Krouse. Consent decree: The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Cleveland officials of violating the terms of the consent decree aimed at reforming policing, saying the city stopped providing the records needed to monitor officers. Adam Ferrise reports federal attorneys asked a judge to find the city broke the 2015 agreement that lays out steps it must take to ensure constitutional policing. Suburban battle: Mentor City Council has approved an ordinance aimed at preventing development of 215 acres it owns in Painesville. Megan Sims reports the council voted 5-2 over the objections of Painesville officials to establish a conservation area on land it has owned since 2019. Arts & Culture: Cuyahoga County announced Wednesday afternoon that Executive Chris Ronayne will nominate Leonard DiCosimo and Gina Vernaci and reappoint Karolyn Isenhart to serve on the five-member board of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC). Steven Litt reports the county agency distributes $12 million a year in cigarette taxes to arts and cultural organizations, individual artists and community-based projects. CAC trustees serve three-year terms. |
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First Crack: The idea of making roasting coffee more accessible is what fuels First Crack Coffee, a co-roasting coffee facility and education space in Cleveland’s Asiatown neighborhood, reports Alex Darus. Super loads: If you’re looking for signs of Ohio’s economic development, keep an eye out for a 900,000-pound “super load” on the highway. Sean McDonnell reports on large shipments traveling through Ohio to build Intel’s semiconductor plant in New Albany. Flagstar: New York Community Bancorp, the parent company of what was until recently called Ohio Savings Bank, announced Wednesday that it got a $1 billion lifeline from a group of investors after seeing its stock plunge by more than 80% this year. Sean McDonnell reports New York Community Bancorp is the parent company of Ohio Savings Bank — but recently rebranded branches in the Cleveland area as Flagstar. Obesity drugs: A Pew Research Survey finds about half of Americans who have heard about the new class of weight-loss drugs think they are good options for people with obesity or a weight-related health condition who want to lose excess pounds, reports Julie Washington. About 62% say these drugs are not good options for people without a weight-related health condition, while 26% weren’t sure. Long COVID: Ohio has the sixth-highest rate of residents reporting long COVID-19, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. The data comes from the U.S. Census Pulse Survey released in November. COVID tests: The government’s program making free at-home COVID-19 tests available to all Americans ends Friday, reports Julie Washington. |
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Elyria raid: A 12-year-old boy was in an Elyria classroom on the day police bulled into the wrong home looking for what authorities say were stolen guns, reports Molly Walsh. Police found nothing during the raid Jan. 10 as they shattered glass and a door frame and terrified the family living in the home at 331 Parmely Ave. Officer shot: A teenager who shot a Cleveland police officer four times as the teen ran from a stolen Kia was sentenced Wednesday to spend at least 20 years in prison. Cory Shaffer reports the judge handed down the sentence that will see Jayrion Church, 18, be nearly 40 years old before he emerges from behind bars. Capitol riot: A Cleveland Heights man who twice followed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to Washington, D.C., was arrested Wednesday on charges that he participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Adam Ferrise reports Patrick Duffy, 61, attended a November rally shortly after Donald Trump lost the presidential election and returned months later to shove his way into the Capitol. Traffic stop death: A Cleveland man died during a traffic stop Monday, reports Olivia Mitchell. Terry Douglas, 50, was stopped at 12:30 a.m., by deputies in the 700 block of Bolivar Road. When officers arrested Douglas, he experienced a medical emergency. County officials did not say why Douglas was pulled over. |
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Ask Lucas: How do you get your friend to enjoy a concert and put the phone away? Lucas Daprile reports the solution is simple. Run to the front of the standing room area and start shoving people. When they shove you back, smile and continue shoving other random people. Congrats, you’ve started your first mosh pit. Chizza: KFC introduced the “Chizza,” a portmanteau of chicken and pizza, in late February. The pepperoni topper morphs the chicken parmesan into ‘za. Paris Wolfe tried it so you don’t have to. Spring Break: With winter in the rear-view mirror and summer still too far off to anticipate, March and April are primed for some away time. Susan Glaser has seven ideas of where to go, including a new Titanic exhibit in Columbus, Hocking Hills State Park and peak cherry blossom viewing in the nation’s capital. |
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Sale makes native plants accessible to Medina County residents Read more $5 million gift will support Kulas Hall renovation, scholarships at Cleveland Institute of Music Read more Summit County Land Bank to raze former Akron foundry Read more Developer takes over operations of Life Storage at Belle Oaks Marketplace Read more Lakewood City Schools addressing post-pandemic absenteeism Read more Lakewood community relations commission seeks resident input Read more Cleveland Metroparks eyes late April ribbon cutting for all-purpose path in Fairview Park Read more Olmsted Falls teacher’s medical emergency brings out the best in her students Read more Lakewood Public Library turns page on new storybook trails in Kauffman and Madison parks Read more Parma plans to repave 40 streets in 2024 Read more Brooklyn City Council delays vote on creating Inclusion and Belonging Commission Read more Seven Hills Fire Department to purchase $419,000 ambulance Read more |
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