  What you need to know Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022  WEATHER
Colder weather has returned, with highs in the low 30s and mostly cloudy skies. It will be very chilly overnight as temps dip to around 20 degrees. There is a slight chance of snow showers. Read more. OVERNIGHT
Back to work: Following the Ohio Supreme Court’s threat to find them in contempt, Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission have resumed trying to create a state legislative map plan, Andrew Tobias reports. The commission previously said the work was impossible after the court rejected its previous two sets of legislative maps and one set of congressional maps as unconstitutionally slanted in favor of Republicans.
TODAY IN OHIO Members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission had until today to explain to the Ohio Supreme Court why they shouldn’t be held in contempt for blowing off last week’s deadline to fix their gerrymandered maps. Each day brings new plot twists in the state’s redistricting drama and we’re talking about them all on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
STATEHOUSE & POLITICS Invasion: Ohio members of Congress who co-chair the Ukraine Caucuses in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are outraged by Russia’s decision to send troops into Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk sections and are calling for immediate sanctions against Russia, Sabrina Eaton reports. President Joe Biden has already signed an executive order prohibiting Americans from making new investments in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that Russia has declared independent and from importing any of their good services or technology into the United States. Andrew Tobias reports candidates running for the U.S. Senate from Ohio have contrasting opinions on Ukraine.
Householder: Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that the tens of millions of dollars that fueled the House Bill 6 scandal were criminal bribes laundered through a nonprofit with the intent to pass legislation, rejecting former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder’s claims they were campaign contributions, John Caniglia reports. Endorsement: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb endorsed Rep. Shontel Brown, a Warrensville Heights Democrat, for the 2022 race for Congress. The announcement, Seth Richardson reports, marks a kind of alliance between the two young politicians who arguably hold the most influential political positions in Northeast Ohio after a year marred by ugly elections for both Congress and mayor.
Judge DeWine: Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine said Tuesday that he would recuse himself from hearing any contempt proceedings against individual members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, a panel of elected officials including his father, Gov. Mike DeWine, Andrew Tobias reports.
METRO City budget: Some Cleveland City Council members raised concerns Tuesday about Mayor Justin Bibb’s first budget plan, which anticipates spending millions of dollars from the general fund beyond the amount the city hopes to raise via taxes and other income sources. To fill that budget gap, Bibb’s plan would require tapping $56 million of $132 million in money carried over from 2021 -- an unusually high leftover balance, due to last year’s injection of federal aid, Courtney Astolfi reports.
Ruling: The chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court has denied a request to remove the Geauga County Common Pleas judge deciding the fate of a Cleveland attorney she accused of contempt of court in the University Hospitals fertility lab case. The ruling, as reported by John Caniglia, states that no one can reasonably conclude that the judge is now biased against the defendant after he re-filed sensitive documents hours after she ordered the initial records be removed.
Public spending: The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board has requested – and been paid -- $58,974 from 2016 through 2021 to reimburse employees primarily for physical fitness classes and equipment under a policy that Cuyahoga County says was meant to be for job-related training, seminars, conferences or tuition, Kaitlin Durbin reports.
Lake Erie: Warmer temperatures have decreased the percentage of ice coverage on Lake Erie from nearly 93.76% on Jan. 31 to 70.67% this week, Peter Krouse reports. While temperatures are expected to turn cold again, they won’t be cold enough to hit a new high for ice coverage, officials say.
Black History Month: Two of Cleveland’s exclusive suburbs, Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights, stand out as national models of diversity. Brenda Cain chronicles the violence and home-grown activism that shaped the communities.
COVID-19 COVID update: With COVID-19 cases falling, Cleveland Clinic has updated its visitation policy to allow two visitors per patient in all care settings, Julie Washington reports. But agencies are still pushing to increase vaccination rates. Greater Cleveland Congregations and the Centers for Families and Children are hosting “Dollars for Doses” vaccine clinics through Sept. 24, where residents can receive $100 cash for their first dose, $50 for their second and $25 for their booster.
BUSINESS Price check: Ashland County saw the highest average home sales price increase across Northeast Ohio in January, with a 44.4% jump from the year prior. Eleven other counties in the region also saw increases, Eric Heisig reports. Agents say there are signs the competitive housing market is stabilizing.
CRIME Death investigation: Two men were found dead in an Akron home after police officers fired shots at a suspect accused of pointing a gun at people, Kaylee Remington reports. Police and the Summit County Medical Examiner have not said how the two men died or if the men were struck by either of the firing officers, who are now on paid leave.
Death: A Cleveland man who had been missing for more than a month was found dead in the city’s Jefferson neighborhood, Olivia Mitchell reports. The cause of death is pending, but police said the 26-year-old died from an unknown trauma.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Local celebrity: Cleveland actress Alexis Floyd landed a role as Neff Davis in the new limited series “Inventing Anna,” currently streaming on Netflix. John Benson asks her about her character, working with producer Shonda Rhimes, and returning to Cleveland.
John Mulaney: Comedian John Mulaney will bring his “From Scratch” tour to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for a show on Friday, Sept. 23, Anne Nickoloff reports. Tickets to the show go on sale Friday.
Chris Rock: Comedian Chris Rock announced his first comedy tour in five years and he’s bringing his show to Playhouse Square on June 16 at the Connor Palace, Anne Nickoloff reports. Tickets go on sale Friday.
Viking: Cleveland will be one of 10 stops on a new itinerary for the Viking luxury cruise line, focusing on the Great Lakes region, Susan Glaser reports. The route will include ports of call on all five lakes between Toronto and Duluth, Minnesota, though Cleveland’s debut isn’t expected until 2023. OTHER HEADLINES Medical office buildings near Southwest General hospital in Middleburg Heights sell for $26.1 million Read more
Man beaten unconscious, robbed in downtown Cleveland, police say Read more
Former Bowling Green State University professor gets at least 25 years in prison for rape of child Read more
Female suspect hits Ohio deputy with vehicle, is shot while fleeing, reports say Read more
Stolen semi leads police in Ohio, Indiana on chase covering over 100 miles Read more
Encompass Health to build rehab hospital on Pearl Road in Strongsville Read more
Racial disparities in Cleveland Heights traffic stops appear to remain, but added monitoring on the way Read more
Kent State, Cleveland State partnership offers pathways to bachelor’s degree and law degree in 6 years Read more
Shaker braces for nearly $7 million Lynnfield-Lomond sewer overhaul in summer 2023 Read more
Broadview Heights to lease license plate-reading cameras and buy drones Read more
Presidents' Day Sale Cleveland.com Unlimited Digital Access. $49 for the first year. You can cancel any time.
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