Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose oversees a statewide constitutional office responsible for administering elections and incorporating new businesses. As part of his responsibilities, the Copley High School graduate chairs the Ohio Ballot Board, a state panel tasked with writing the language voters see on their ballots when they decide whether to support or oppose a ballot measure. That summary language is supposed to fairly represent the full text of the issue. But at a Republican gathering, LaRose said his office consulted with three prominent anti-abortion groups that led the anti-Issue 1 campaign to help it craft the ballot language. His spokeswoman explained: LaRose is “always is going to represent the conservative values on which he was elected.” In the past, LaRose has described his role as Ohio’s top elections official as an impartial “referee” who merely calls balls and strikes. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
|
|
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose told a Republican gathering in Strongsville earlier this month that the campaign working to defeat state Issue 1 did so in a way that was meant to help benefit the "no" campaign, effectively confirming a major point of criticism from the measure's supporters. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com file photo) |
|
|
Abortion language: Secretary of State Frank LaRose offered an unusually blunt assessment while defending the ballot language he helped write for state Issue 1, the abortion-rights ballot measure that voters approved earlier this month, to a conservative critic at a local Republican Party event. Andrew Tobias reports that abortion opponents helped Rose craft the ballot language in a way meant to benefit their campaign to defeat the measure. Today in Ohio: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is scheduled to be deposed by investors suing FirstEnergy in connection with the House Bill 6 scandal, the most significant public corruption case in state history. Gov. Mike DeWine got a subpoena, too. We’re talking about what investigators want to know on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
|
|
PFAs: A panel of judges on a federal appeals court Monday rejected an attempt to force chemical companies to pay for the PFAs coursing through the blood of as many as 11.8 million Ohioans. In 2018, an Ohio firefighter named Kevin Hardwick filed a lawsuit against chemical manufacturers, attributing PFAs found in his blood to firefighting foam, reports Jeremy Pelzer. His lawsuit, a class action, would have included every person with at least .05 parts per trillion of PFOA (a type of PFA) in their blood – which, according to the court’s opinion, could include just about every American. PFAs settlement: The state will receive $110 million from two massive chemical manufacturers for their role unleashing vast sums of toxic PFAs in Southeast Ohio, state officials announced Wednesday. Officials said the state would steer the funds toward PFAs monitoring and remediation, mostly in Southeast Ohio, Jake Zuckerman reports. Can of feces: The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended the law license of a Noble County defense attorney for at least six months after he threw a Pringles potato chip can filled with his own feces into the parking lot of the county’s crime-victim advocacy center, reports Jeremy Pelzer. |
|
|
Thomas Vail: Thomas V.H. Vail, retired chairman and longtime publisher and editor of The Plain Dealer, died Monday at age 97, followed in death Wednesday of his longtime wife, Iris, 95. Thomas Vail, whose family once owned the newspaper, worked as a reporter, editor and labor relations executive before serving as publisher of The Plain Dealer for 26 years. Under his leadership, The Plain Dealer surpassed the Cleveland Press in circulation in 1968 to become Ohio’s largest daily newspaper. Iris Vail: Iris J. Vail, who contributed her time, money and clout to countless Cleveland-area institutions for more than 50 years, died Wednesday at the age of 95, two days after the death of her husband. Iris Vail helped launch the beautification of Cleveland Public Square in 1975 and hosted the gala opening of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo RainForest in 1992. Hopkins Airport: The city’s plan to pay for a new terminal at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has hit a snag, as several airlines have questions about the project and its increasing costs. Airport director Bryant Francis said the city initially hoped to have a new lease agreement with the airlines in place by the end of this year, Susan Glaser reports. Instead, the city plans to extend the existing lease agreement for another two years while negotiations continue on the scope and cost of the new terminal. Market jobs: Six top-level jobs are being added to the new West Side Market management team. Cleveland Public Market Corp. - the private, nonprofit group that will start running the market next year - will accept applications on a rolling basis and begin interviewing candidates in January, reports Paris Wolfe. |
|
|
Bill increase: Dominion Energy is asking regulators to approve a plan that would increase the bills for residential natural gas customers by $13 a month, with potential for more cost increases each year. The proposed increases are part of the company’s rate case that’s been filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, reports Sean McDonnell. |
|
|
River recovery: Authorities recovered a body from the Cuyahoga River on Wednesday morning, reports Olivia Mitchell. Authorities pulled the body from the water before 10 a.m. in the 2100 block of West Third Street. Racist threat: Federal agents on Wednesday arrested a Lodi man on charges that accuse him of sending a racist threat to a district attorney in New Mexico. Adam Ferrise reports that Donald Fowler, 46, is charged in federal court in New Mexico with leaving a threatening voicemail for Dona Ana County District Attorney Gerald Byers. Unprovoked beating: A Norwalk man sued the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, accusing jail officers of an unprovoked beating while in lockup. Adam Ferrise reports that Franklin Ward alleged that officers attacked and choked him unconscious after he dropped his jail-issued identification bracelet. Chips shooting: A man suffered a gunshot wound to the face Tuesday night outside an adult nightclub in the South Akron neighborhood after he refused to share his bag of potato chips, Cliff Pinckard reports. |
|
|
Christmas songs: Maybe you’ve just decided this is the year you’ll pivot from tried-and-true radio classics to something different, musically speaking. Something that really does warm the cockles of your heart. Where to start? Peter Chakerian has a “baker’s dozen” musical choices, sure to change up your holiday mood, party and gift-giving. They’re presented in no particular order ... although we did save the best for last. Wish lists: Take a photo of your kid’s wish list to Santa Claus, writes Laura Johnston. The lists are a touchpoint, a time capsule of children’s interests and wider trends. And they’re hilarious to look back on. RV Rocking: In the three years that the Kinzbachs have been traveling full-time in their RV, they’ve seen and done a lot ... including helping a neighbor get their truck off a fire ring. |
|
|
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway says Haslams offered bribes to inflate Pilot truck stops earnings Read more Mayfield Heights is now lit up for the holiday season Read more Ohio amusement park scores high marks in study of best in the nation Read more Solon Library’s Innovation Center expected to open by end of 2024 Read more In heated conclusion to meeting, Richmond Heights Council President Jordan tells council it must work as one Read more Orange school board may hire event planner to coordinate centennial celebration Read more Parma Heights tweaks agreement with Cassidy Theatre Inc. Read more |
|
|
NEW! DINE DRINK CLE NEWSLETTER |
Get the latest news about Cleveland’s restaurant and bar scene. The latest on openings, closings, tastings and other events, plus features, guides, and recommendations from our team of writers and critics. Click here to sign up. |
|
|
Want the top headlines but don't have time to read? Listen to cleveland.com’s Today in Ohio podcast on Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts. |
|
|
WANT TO SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH A FRIEND? |
Did someone share this newsletter with you? Click here to never miss a day! |
|
|
To contact the newsrooms for any of our publications regarding technical support, news tips, classified ads and other inquiries, please click here. |
|
|
Unlimited Digital Access. |
|
|
$20 for 6 months (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
$20 for 6 months (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS? |
|
|
|
