Lead is poisoning Cleveland's kids. More than 10% of kids ages 1-5 who were tested in 2023 had lead in their blood, more than kids in Detroit, Toledo, Akron and Cincinnati. The numbers haven’t improved much since 2016. That’s why Mayor Justin Bibb has instituted more rigorous testing. But first, last October, landlords had a few days to get their apartments cleared as safe using less-rigorous tests. That created a backlog of applications city officials said would take six months to clear. Thankfully, because of Sean McDonnell’s reporting and ensuing outrage, volunteers jumped to help and the backlog shrunk to zero. City staff are out inspecting homes and helping landlords connect to grants for lead abatement. Today, just over 24,500 rental units in Cleveland are lead-safe certified — about half of the city’s estimated 50,000 rentals. Now the city must decide what to do next. Most children are poisoned from lead dust around windows, doors and porches. Should Cleveland focus there and help landlords and homeowners replace them? — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Cleveland continues to work on reducing lead-safety hazards in the city. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Lead backlog: Cleveland has cleared a backlog of 1,200 lead-safe applications ahead of schedule after enlisting volunteers from across City Hall to tackle the logjam. Sean McDonnell reports the cleared backlog lets the city refocus on the bigger issue: trying to make real progress on preventing childhood lead poisoning. County coroners: If the Ohio House has its way, voters will stop deciding their county coroners. House lawmakers in the last week inserted the language into their version of next year’s massive budget, directing county commissioners to appoint a coroner for four-year terms, meaning the end of elections for the positions. Lucas Daprile reports the last-minute add left little time for debate or testimony on the matter. Today in Ohio: Ohio House Republicans are showing some dissent from the plan to back the $2.4 billion Browns stadium in Brook Park. We’re talking about votes against state bonding — plus infrastructure around the planned development — on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Browns debt: A plan for the state to help finance a new covered stadium in Brook Park for the Browns with $600 million in bonds passed the Ohio House Wednesday. But of the 200 cleveland.com readers who responded to in our “From the Editor” Subtext service, just a dozen were in favor, Sabrina Eaton reports. DeWine reaction: Gov. Mike DeWine again signaled disapproval Thursday of an idea passed by the state House that would provide $600 million via state bonds to help pay for a new, covered stadium for the Browns in Brook Park, Jake Zuckerman reports. Tony George: Cleveland developer Tony George has asked the state legislature and Gov. Mike DeWine’s office to retain records about their recent decision to cancel $3.5 million in state aid for a development his son Bobby is spearheading in the Flats. Jeremy Pelzer reports the request comes ahead of filing records requests seeking evidence that legislative leaders revoked the money out of political retribution — not because of legal proceedings against Bobby George, as a Senate GOP spokesman previously said. SCOTUS appeal: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost asked the U.S. Supreme Court to back his blockade against a citizen who has spent two years trying to amend Ohio’s Constitution to limit a legal shield against lawsuits often invoked by police officers, reports Jake Zuckerman. |
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Earth Day: Euclid and Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood are preparing to mark Earth Day by once again squaring off in the annual “Big Clean” event, reports Cory Shaffer. Chilly spring: The start of April this year stacks up as cool by historical standards, especially recent history. The average high in Cleveland for these days since 2000 has been 56.11 degrees. Rich Exner reports that’s nearly 4 degrees above where we’ve been for the first nine days of April this year. Financial empowerment: Cuyahoga County soon will offer free services to help residents learn to budget, pay down their debt and build financial stability. Kaitlin Durbin reports the Financial Empowerment Center will staff professional counselors who will work with residents one-on-one to develop money management skills. Bill Cottrell: A former Detroit Lions lineman who made NFL history and was a longtime resident of Solon died March 20 at age 80. Dog adoption: For dog lovers looking to bring a furry sidekick home, there’s no better time to check out the four-legged friends at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter. Alex Darus reports that now through Sunday, the shelter is hosting its “Blow the Woof Off” event, where folks can adopt a dog for just a $25 fee. |
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Diabetes care: A new facility from the University Hospitals Diabetes & Metabolic Care Center, now located in Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood, brings health resources close to home for people living with diabetes and obesity, reports Julie Washington. Habitat for Humanity: The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity has made more headway on its initiative to build, restore and repair homes throughout Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. Megan Sims reports the nonprofit presented keys Saturday to the homeowners of five new modular homes on Matherson Avenue on the city’s West Side. |
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Murder conviction: A Euclid man was found guilty of murder Thursday for his role in a 2023 Cleveland shooting, David Gambino reports. Augustus Frazier, 34, shot and killed Alexander Eaton on Aug. 8, 2023, on the city’s East Side, a Cuyahoga County jury found. Laundering sentence: A Conneaut businessman was sentenced Wednesday to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay a $150,000 fine for laundering a Cleveland drug dealer’s money and ordering the torching an abandoned restaurant to collect insurance money, reports Adam Ferrise. College theft: A former Cuyahoga Community College police lieutenant, accused of stealing from the school, will have his criminal charge sealed if he repays $15,000 and completes a pretrial diversion program. Alliston Moreland, 67, was charged with grand theft in February for offenses committed between August 2019 and August 2020, reports David Gambino. Hit and run: A judge handed down a three-year sentence Thursday to a Cleveland man who fled the crash that killed a 7-year-old boy, reports Olivia Mitchell. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joan Synenberg ordered Donald Mynatt, 33, to prison following an emotional hearing on the death of Amir Prewitt. |
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Book awards: The quartet of Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards winners covers a range of topics as well as first-time honors for a graphic-novel memoir and lifetime achievement recognition for a poet, reports Marc Bona. The awards are the nation’s only endowed juried prize dedicated to literature that focuses on race and diversity. Food trucks: Cleveland’s popular downtown Food Truck Series rolls into town May 1 through Sept. 30, reports Paris Wolfe. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each weekday, people can find a food truck at one of five locations in the city. Cuisine will change as more than 50-plus food trucks take a turn. Locations will also feature live local music. Lost & Found: You can find “Lost & Found in Cleveland” in theaters on Nov. 7, reports Joey Morona. The locally shot feature film will be released by The Fithian Group, a consulting group behind Attend, a new data-driven, AI-assisted distribution platform that matches movies with specific theaters. Wine trail: The Bunny Hop Wine and Cocktail Trail in Northeast Ohio’s Grand River Valley wine region launched this week and runs through April 30, reports Paris Wolfe. Six different stops – four wineries, a distillery and a restaurant – pair two wine/cocktail samples with an appetizer or dessert for $8 per person. Staycation: Ohio destinations are readying dozens of new attractions and experiences to draw in travelers, whether first-time visitors or longtime residents, reports Susan Glaser. Among the noteworthy new attractions: Siren’s Curse at Cedar Point, a revamped Aquatic Visitors Center at Put-in-Bay and a conservation-themed water attraction at Zoombezi Bay. Things to do: Get out and enjoy concerts by musical legends, local theater performances, and both musical and film festivals and much more! Mike Rose lists two dozen events that might interest you to head out and explore the area this weekend. |
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Berea police find two bombs in trunk of Cleveland man’s Mercedes Read more Man accused of antisemitic vandalism in Orange pleads guilty, sentenced to probation Read more Cleveland Heights police seek pink-haired woman who, after stealing, punched female employee in the face Read more Solon’s Spring Festival to spotlight the sights, sounds and flavors of South Asia Read more Solon residents invited to grand opening of Sebastian’s Playground Read more Here’s how to get free gardening seeds at your local library Read more Brook Park to host free suicide prevention training May 7 Read more |
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