News at the start of the year is often sleepy, as new officials settle in and businesses emerge from holiday hibernation. But not this year. As chaos reigned in Washington, Ohio Republicans saw their own House rife with dysfunction. And Gov. Mike DeWine signed dozens of bills into law, including one that defined natural gas as green energy. What comes next in Columbus after Jason Stephens’ surprise win as speaker? Will we see bipartisan compromise or more kowtowing to ultraconservatives? Stephens is already reaching out, but we see no sign of making up after hard party-liners voted to censure their colleagues. -Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers: Browns lose 28-14 to Steelers to finish 7-10 and last place in the AFC North Cavs at Phoenix Suns: Cavaliers dominate fourth quarter, beat shorthanded Phoenix Suns, 112-98 Northeast Ohio Monday weather forecast: Cloudy start, then sunshine |
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| New Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Jason Stephens: New House Speaker Jason Stephens is no moderate, evidenced by past endorsements from key socially conservative groups. But his rise to speaker likely will deliver a key win for Democrats and other advocates for abortion rights. Andrew Tobias analyzes what Stephens’ leadership could signal for the rest of the two-year session. Jail stay: For years, veteran Cuyahoga County Judge John Sutula has consistently lagged far behind his peers in reducing his docket and the number of days his defendants are incarcerated pretrial, contributing to crowding issues in the jail. Kaitlin Durbin and Zachary Smith report that of the court’s 34 judges, Sutula has routinely kept the greatest number of defendants in jail since at least 2004 and has also ranked at the top for most pending cases, most lengthy cases and longest jail stays. Green energy: Since passage of a 2019 law now embroiled in criminal scandal, Ohio has had the least-stringent clean-energy requirements of any U.S. state with a renewable standard, reports Jake Zuckerman. While most states over the past two decades have increased the percentage of energy their utilities distribute that must come from renewable sources, Ohio has rolled back its requirement. Today in Ohio: State Rep. Jason Stephens’ upset over state Rep. Derek Merrin to become the next Ohio House speaker on Tuesday came after weeks of negotiations, lobbying, personal slights, and missed opportunities. We’re talking about what his leadership will mean on Today in Ohio. |
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'Green' energy: Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation Friday that broadly expands the ability to drill for oil and gas in state parks and also refers to natural gas as a source of “green energy.” Jake Zuckerman reports the term green energy typically refers to energy derived from the sun and wind, not fossil fuels. Voter ID: Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday signed a bill that will require Ohio voters to show a photo ID when voting in person, either early or on Election Day. Andrew Tobias and Jeremy Pelzer report that the law also includes a slew of other measures, including largely ending special elections in August, specifying that county boards of election can offer only a single drop box for completed absentee ballots, and eliminating the day of early, in-person voting the day before Election Day. GOP leader: Alex Triantafilou, the longtime leader of the Hamilton County Republican Party, has been named as the next chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, reports Andrew Tobias. Triantafilou will replace Bob Paduchik, who had led the state party since February 2021, following a vote Friday in suburban Columbus by the Ohio Republican Party’s central committee. Stephens support: During the past two years, new Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens raised nearly $616,000, with top supporters including nursing homes, building-trade unions, and some of Ohio’s most powerful lobbyists. Jeremy Pelzer analyzes Ohio secretary of state records of contributions made between the start of 2021 and early last month. Republican censure: The Ohio Republican Party has voted to condemn newly elected Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens and the other 21 Republican House members who joined with minority Democrats to elect him to his position earlier this week. Andrew Tobias reports the Ohio Republican Party’s central committee overwhelmingly approved a censure resolution but removed language that would have made the group ineligible for endorsements or future party support. Affordable housing: Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation Friday that could raise taxes on affordable housing developments and block their owners from claiming certain tax credits, reports Jake Zuckerman. But he offered some hope to advocates as well with a promise to address affordable housing in his forthcoming two-year budget proposal. High school lessons: The public high-stakes inter-party bickering in the U.S. Congress has shown students a real-life history lesson. The controversy began on the same day students’ semesters started. Sabrina Eaton reports that some students are flustered watching what is supposed to be most powerful legislative body in the world struggling to do something as “simple as pick who the leader is going to be.” 'Hamilton' reaction: The hit show “Hamilton” managed to do what seemed impossible: turn the mundane wheeling and dealing of politics into entertaining drama. Not that it could match the drama of what happened in Washington D.C., during the effort to elect a speaker for the U.S. House. Cliff Pinckard talks to fans about their view on the “room where it happens.” |
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DCFS: As many as 10 children roamed the halls of the Cuyahoga County children services office building this week, months after a multimillion-dollar contract was promised to provide safer housing for them. But county officials said Thursday the wait will only be a couple of weeks more, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Defeating cancer: Cleveland police officer Vicki Przybylski is back on the job after defeating her most dangerous foe: stage four ovarian cancer. Przybylski went back to her beat in the city’s Fourth District on Dec. 29 in a heartwarming return that has inspired her co-workers, reports Olivia Mitchell. EPA: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to strengthen the country’s primary ambient air quality standard for fine particulates, also known as soot, in an effort to save lives and mitigate health disparities in disadvantaged communities, reports Peter Krouse. Forest restoration: The Holden Arboretum will receive $335,000 through the U.S. Forest Service that will help the nonprofit operate a seed bank and promote forest restoration across the lower Great Lakes region, Peter Krouse reports. Climate action: The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency is working on a climate action plan to set guidelines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Peter Krouse reports the planning organization has completed an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to local sources. Now it’s time to devise strategies for how to respond. Strike averted: The teachers union has reached a tentative deal with the Akron Board of Education, averting a strike that was set to begin Monday. Cliff Pinckard reports the deal is for three years, but no other details were released Sunday night. Food bank: Food insecurity among Northeast Ohioans is surging again, reports Molly Walsh. As part of the City Club’s “Local Heroes” series, Kristin Warzocha, the chief executive officer of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, spoke about challenges the nonprofit faced during the coronavirus pandemic and the plan set for recovery following the opening of its new food distribution hub. Finished product: What was once a cold, dusty depository of off-season clothes, castoff furniture and suitcases is now a warm, inviting bedroom and bathroom suite. After eight months of construction, Laura Johnston moved into her home remodel, a respite above the kids’ rooms and the go-go-go of their busy lives. |
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Metro CEO: A third-party organization is looking through MetroHealth System’s people, policies and procedures “with a fine-tooth comb” to ensure that unauthorized payments, like those the board has accused CEO Dr. Akram Boutros of taking, can’t happen again. Julie Washington interviews incoming CEO Airica Steed, who promises to “take some very swift action to put those safeguards and guardrails in place." COVID-19 map: Lorain County flipped to red for high COVID-19 spread, while Cuyahoga and other Northeast Ohio counties remained yellow on the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map, reports Julie Washington. Bedrock buy: Three acres of downtown Cleveland that mostly consists of parking, but once had plans for a 54-story tower, may get new life after being sold from one real estate developer to another. Sean McDonnell reports that Bedrock, the real-estate arm of Dan Gilbert’s Rock companies, bought the site of the former nuCLEus project from Stark Enterprises. Vacancy rate: The Greater Cleveland office real estate market had a tough year overall in 2022 and the industry’s fourth quarter shows that challenges may not be letting up anytime soon. Megan Sims reports the vacancy rate regionwide grew to 19.8% for the final three months of 2022, up from 18.2% in the third quarter and from 18.9% from the fourth quarter of 2021. Betting big: Gambling apps were heavily used when legal sports betting launched on New Year's Day, but the amount of money bet in Ohio is still a mystery — and will be for some time because of a lag in official reporting. Sean McDonnell reports that one company says Ohio was the busiest state in the U.S. in terms of people using sports betting apps at the start of the year. Fear’s confections: Cassandra Fear announced that she is closing Fear’s Confections, Gourmet Brownies & Sweets at 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. Workers will continue to fill orders until then, reports Paris Wolfe. |
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Attempted murder-suicide: Authorities are investigating what appears to be an attempted murder-suicide that left a man dead and 21-year-old woman with critical injuries, Megan Sims reports. |
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Meet the music expert: Malcolm X Abram has been out of the music journalism game for a few years, but he’s back in, baby, ready to rip it and write it. Charity elevation: Elevation Festivals, producers of music festivals including Wonderstruck in Cleveland and Wonderbus in Columbus, donated more than $250,000 to charitable organizations in their markets in 2022, reports Malcolm X Abram. Rock off: Live Nation and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced the schedule for the 26th edition of the annual Tri-C High School Rock Off, with 31 bands of high school-aged musicians competing in three performance rounds, reports Malcolm X Abram. Cedar Point: Cedar Point is adding a day to its popular Winter Chill Out event and instituting a new lottery system to distribute tickets. Susan Glaser reports the fundraiser for A Kid Again charity will run two days instead of one, on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. House of the Week: Built in 1974 next to a picturesque creek on a cul-de-sac, the home at 23 Pepper Creek Drive in Pepper Pike has been renovated to showcase a contemporary open-floor plan while retaining its midcentury modern vibes, reports Joey Morona. Offering four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms in more than 4,600 square feet, the home is priced at $1,295,000. |
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Retention basin plan tied to $1.5 million county grant spurs Brook Park debate Read more Brook Park mayor, council remove police chief Read more Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones has a major supporting role in new Tom Hanks film ‘A Man Called Otto’ Read more |
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