With Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on pace to welcome more passengers this year than any year since 2008, this July 4 week could test the airport’s capacity. AAA anticipates the holiday week will be the busiest ever, with 5.74 million people flying, a 12% increase over pre-pandemic 2019. Hopkins is bracing for an 11% increase in passengers over the July 4 holiday travel period compared to last year. Since city-owned airport parking lots are often full, the airport recently announced a new plan that allows travelers to reserve a spot. TSA lines can sometimes be too long, so the airport is encouraging passengers to arrive two hours early. And since the bathrooms are often dirty, the airport launched a $2.7 million, two-year plan to renovate 13 of the highest-use restrooms. That’s why the airport is planning an ambitious $3 billion terminal rebuild. Until then, airport director Bryant Francis hopes passengers will help keep Hopkins clean. The airport plans to launch a video campaign soon to encourage travelers to throw away their trash.
— Laura
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Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Bryant Francis, director of port control for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Burke Lakefront Airport, talks in his office at Hopkins in September 2023. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com) |
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Airport director: Bryant Francis recently completed his first full year as the city’s director of port control, overseeing all aspects of Cleveland Hopkins and Burke Lakefront airports. Among his top accomplishment so far: Getting the airlines that do business at Hopkins to agree to fund the first $175 million for a new terminal, a downpayment, of sorts, on a larger commitment. He sat down with Susan Glaser to review his first year on the job – what he’s accomplished, what’s frustrated him and the importance of keeping the bathrooms clean. Superman tour: Superman has been tied to Cleveland for more than 90 years, thanks to a pair of teens — writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster — who created the legendary comic-book hero in the 1930s. You’ll have to wait until July 11, 2025, to see director James Gunn’s "Superman" movie, which is being filmed now in downtown Cleveland, but if you’re geeking out to take in Superman-related sites, Marc Bona has a few places throughout the city with ties to the character. Today in Ohio: June is ending without any marijuana dispensaries open for recreational consumers as the state continues to process applications. We’re talking about the holdup on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Energy efficiency: House Bill 6 gutted a policy designed to reduce net electricity demand statewide by offering rebates in exchange for energy-efficient upgrades. But the “energy efficiency” concept cleared the Ohio House last week, proposed to be optional for utilities to administer and optional for customers to pay, reports Jake Zuckerman. Monthly charges to residential customers can’t exceed $1.50 under the legislation, though customers can opt out. And proponents say the program will lower energy costs for all consumers. Homeless encampments: A U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday upholding local laws that make it illegal for homeless people to camp and sleep on public property is unlikely to trigger a crackdown on homeless encampments in Ohio, state advocates for the homeless say. Sabrina Eaton reports Ohio advocates for the homeless were nonetheless highly critical of the decision. Campaign contributions: A progressive advocacy organization filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging a new Ohio law that prohibits lawful permanent residents, visa-holders and others from contributing to statewide ballot issue campaigns. Jake Zuckerman reports the plaintiffs – the Ohio Progressive Asian Women’s Leadership, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, and foreign nationals and lawful permanent residents living in the U.S. – say the new law infringes on their constitutional rights to free speech, association, and equal protection under the law. Capital budget: Gov. Mike DeWine has signed the bill lawmakers passed earlier this week funding $4.2 billion in state capital projects, including hundreds of millions of dollars for Cuyahoga County and the surrounding area. Andrew Tobias reports that DeWine touted the bill’s funding for community jails and mental health projects, while Lt. Gov. Jon Husted touted its funding for a program that offers cybersecurity training. State education: Ohio lawmakers passed dozens of bills on Wednesday before leaving the Statehouse until after the November election, including numerous changes to Ohio education – from pouring millions into new school construction to changing the message kids get in health class about out-of-wedlock pregnancies, Laura Hancock reports. Gay marriage: Even as the Republican-led Ohio General Assembly moves ahead with legislation restricting transgender access to public bathrooms, some Democratic lawmakers are again trying to change a state law to recognize same-sex marriages, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Transgender bathrooms: Gov. Mike DeWine said Friday that he would sign a bill Republican lawmakers passed earlier this week that bans K-12 schools and public universities from allowing transgender students to use bathrooms that align with their gender identities – if he’s given the opportunity. DeWine described his position as being “for children being able to go to a bathroom that has that gender assignment.” Andrew Tobias reports DeWine also said his position only applies to the current version of the bill. |
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Drought: A week after a heatwave broke records, much of Northeast Ohio and other parts of Ohio are experiencing a moderate drought. Due to the hotter-than-normal temperatures, 21% of Ohio entered moderate drought conditions, reports Zachary Smith. Shaker Heights: Shaker Heights is inviting residents to share their thoughts on policing in the city through an online survey that is part of a monthslong project to improve the public’s interactions with and perception of police. Cory Shaffer reports the survey takes most people less than 10 minutes to complete and users can remain anonymous. Kennel dog: Cheerful, loving Roxanna arrived at City Dogs in early March 2023. But while she’s stolen the hearts of staff and volunteers with her big smile, eagerness to please and playful personality, she has yet to be adopted, reports Hannah Drown. |
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Youth sports: Adults who continuously played organized sports through childhood have fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression than those who never played or those who dropped out, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. However, dropping out of sports is worse for one’s mental health than never playing at all.
Gas rates: The East Ohio Gas Co. wants state regulators to approve charging natural gas customers another $13 each month. But regulators, in response, are instead recommending that rates become about $12 cheaper. Sean McDonnell reports the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio issued a 180-page report Wednesday recommending that the utility company collect anywhere from $251 million to $225 million less from ratepayers each year. Accelerated doctors: The first group of students in an accelerated physician training program, a collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic and Ohio University, celebrated graduation from their residencies late this month. Julie Washington reports the program, Transformative Care Continuum, addresses the national shortage of primary care physicians by providing an accelerated pathway for students to become doctors. |
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Edgewater shooting: More than three dozen bullets flew through the air during a shootout at Edgewater Park on June 22 that left an 18-year-old man shot in the back and sent parkgoers diving for cover. Olivia Mitchell reports police collected 38 shell casings around the Beach House, found a stolen gun tossed in the parking lot and detained several people amid the chaos. Timothy Loehmann: Former Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann, who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice in one of the most controversial police shootings in the city’s history, has been hired to work as an officer in a tiny West Virginia town. Adam Ferrise reports Loehmann, who was a rookie officer when he shot Tamir on Nov. 22, 2014, was hired to work as a patrolman in White Sulfur Springs, a town of about 2,200 people in southern West Virginia, about 370 miles from Cleveland. Mail theft: A Kent man prosecutors described as a “kingpin” of a crew mail-theft and check-fraud ring was sentenced Friday to just shy of three years in prison. John Tucker reports Nathaniel Sturdivant, 24, led a group of six other people who stole $265,000 worth of checks from the U.S. Postal Service’s blue mailboxes, forged new checks and cashed them at Cleveland-area banks. |
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DineDrinkCLE: In the latest episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus talk all things barbecue. Darus talks about what it was like attending an eight-hour barbecue boot camp class at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking in Chester Township. She learned tons of tips about grilling at home and provided some insight for those heading into the holiday weekend. Rock series: The World Series of Rock concerts, which ran from 1974 through 1980, are the stuff of local legend. Malcolm X Abram reports the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, located at 2809 Woodland Ave. in Cleveland, opened a new exhibit commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the World Series of Rock, which culls fun, interesting and, for many, memory-sparking artifacts spread throughout the library space. Toilet seats: The Lake County Captains have debuted the “Roto-Rooter Toilet Row” at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, reports Marc Bona. Billed as deluxe, high-end toilets, the row of eight seats is right behind home plate. Fireworks: Cedar Point plans to double the pyrotechnics next week, with fireworks shows for America’s birthday on July 4 and 5. Susan Glaser reports the shows are set to launch at 10 p.m. both evenings, weather permitting. |
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Cleveland police investigating fatal car collision with traffic barrier on I-90 Read more Shooting wounds 12-year-old girl in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood Read more Revolutionary War soldiers, 19th century politicians and more share their stories from the grave at Monroe Street Cemetery Read more Three BHS alumni selected for Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Read more Medina’s Heritage renovations, redistricting plans on track Read more Medina approves new addition to JEDD with Montville Township Read more Solon Schools students excel at National Speech and Debate Tournament Read more |
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