Today, the American COVID-19 public health emergency ends. Since January 2021, COVID-19 deaths have declined by 95% and hospitalizations are down nearly 91%, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. But Americans are suffering from a new epidemic, says the U.S. surgeon general: loneliness and isolation. Social isolation increases the risk for premature death by 29%, comparable to smoking daily. And it’s hitting young adults hardest. Three years after the pandemic shut down the world and sent us all home, we all may need to be more intentional about connecting with others -- whether it be a book club, a soccer team, a pottery class or a regular get-together with friends. -- Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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When feeling alone, it seems like it's hard to find the sun. (Terry Pluto, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Loneliness: If you’ve been feeling lonely, depressed or more anxious than normal the past several years, you have plenty of company. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our collective mental health have outlasted the mandates for masking and social distancing, and not for the better. August election: Republican state lawmakers voted to set an Aug. 8 election in which Ohio voters will decide whether it should be harder for citizens to make future changes to the state constitution, a proposal intended to spoil a potential abortion-rights ballot issue that could come later this year. It sets up what will be a heated summer election — a typically sleepy time in the election calendar — that could be the first round in deciding whether abortion should have broad, difficult to undo legal protections throughout Ohio, Andrew Tobias and Jake Zuckerman report. Today in Ohio: No Mow May is a movement to not cut your grass for the entire month, with the theory that allowing weeds to grow will make more pollen available to feed pollinators. We’re talking whether letting your grass get knee-high by June is really a good thing on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
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Tourism slogan: Ohio’s new tourism slogan, unveiled Wednesday, is its old tourism slogan -- “the heart of it all,” reports Susan Glazer and Jeremy Pelzer. The return to the slogan used between 1984 and 2001 is part of Gov. Mike DeWine’s attempt to expand Ohio’s tourism efforts to attract not only visitors, but new workers, residents and students to increase the state’s stagnant population. Senate race: Candidates flooded last year’s Ohio Republican U.S. Senate primary election after Rob Portman, the longtime senator, announced he wouldn’t run for re-election. But for the chance in 2024 to face Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown? So far, no rush. Andrew Tobias reports that state Sen. Matt Dolan and businessman Bernie Moreno are the only official entrants. Norfolk Southern: Members of the U.S. Senate announced Wednesday that Norfolk Southern railroad will establish a fund to compensate East Palestine homeowners for declines in their property values caused by the February train derailment. Sabrina Eaton reports the announcement came as the Senate Commerce Committee approved bipartisan rail safety legislation from Ohio U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and JD Vance that’s intended to prevent future train disasters. ESG investing: The Ohio Senate on party lines Wednesday approved a bill that would prohibit managers of the state’s five pension systems and other investment funds from choosing investments based on their social, environmental and corpoorate governance goals. Laura Hancock reports ESG investing is an approach in which money managers choose companies or funds that are not just expected to make money but are also expected to achieve sustainability goals that could help – or at least minimize the harm – to society. Public schools: Forty-three urban Ohio school districts, including Cleveland Metropolitan School District, sent a letter to Ohio lawmakers asking them to prioritize funding public over private schools and to fully fund an education overhaul plan that the lawmakers are phasing in over six years. Lawmakers have proposed several changes in education in the two-year state budget currently under consideration, reports Laura Hancock. Immigration: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will cosponsor bipartisan legislation that would extend for another two years a coronavirus emergency health policy known as Title 42 that has been used to keep millions of migrants from entering the United States. Sabrina Eaton reports that the administration of President Joe Biden announced in January that it would allow pandemic-related national emergencies to expire, called Title 42 because they stem from Title 42 of a 1944 law that permits migration curbs to protect public health. Distracted driving: Distracted driving in Ohio has swerved down by more than 9% in the month after a new state law took effect allowing police to pull over motorists caught using their phones behind the wheel, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Between April 4 and May 3, distracted driving in Ohio fell by 9.1%, helping to prevent an estimated 540 crashes, one fatality, and $13 million in damages, according to data compiled by Massachusetts-based Cambridge Mobile Telematics. |
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New sheriff: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne on Wednesday nominated longtime Cleveland police officer Harold Pretel to be the county’s next sheriff, overseeing the jail. Kaitlin Durbin reports Pretel worked for the sheriff’s office briefly in 1990 as a corrections officer, and then deputy sheriff and detective before joining the city police department in 1994, where he has served the remainder of his career. He most recently served as deputy chief of homeland special operations. Environmental testing: A $500,000 contract for more detailed environmental testing on a potential, unidentified site for a new county jail was narrowly passed Tuesday by Cuyahoga County Council. Kaitlin Durbin reports that council members approved the contract with Partners Environmental Consulting, the firm used to vet the controversial 2700 Transport Road jail site that was ultimately rejected as an option. Shooting Stars: The Environmental Media Association has given the upcoming LeBron James biopic “Shooting Stars” a Gold Seal Award for the sustainable practices used in production of the movie. Local film experts say it’s the first movie filmed in Northeast Ohio to have been awarded such a distinction, reports Peter Krouse. Cleveland’s Promise: When Donea Roddy, a family support specialist with Say Yes Cleveland, learned that Cuyahoga County Council approved the funding that would secure her job, she could finally take a deep breath. Hannah Drown reports Roddy can continue to do the critical and life-changing work for Cleveland Metropolitan School District students and families. Robot competition: The Buckeye Regional FIRST Robotics Competition brings together over 1,000 students from across Ohio, fusing STEM learning with the excitement of traditional sports. With help from a computer scientist at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, the Astro Circuits from Cleveland’s John Marshall High School construct multiple robots, wire their electrical components and delve into computer programming to build the code necessary to run the robots, John Pana reports. Title IX investigation: Cleveland Institute of Music has launched an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior by principal conductor Carlos Kalmar, reports Joey Morona. Anne Midgette, the former longtime classical music critic at the Washington Post, declined an honorary doctorate from the higher education institution and withdrew as keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony on May 20 because of the investigation. |
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FirstEnergy: FirstEnergy plans to leave its downtown Akron headquarters and its offices in Brecksville, opting for a smaller footprint because many employees are now working from home. Sean McDonnell reports the company will remain headquartered in Akron, but on the west side instead of downtown. Top nurses: Nurses work in various sectors of healthcare, but they all have the same goal: providing their patients with the best care possible. The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com want to honor outstanding area nurses with a 2023 Top Nurses Award. Julie Washington reports that a Top Nurse can work in schools, hospitals, homes, correctional institutions, assisted living facilities or other locations. House sales: The cleveland.com database of home sales and other property transfer details has been updated with transactions for April 2023. Search the home sales database at this link. |
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Plastic container: A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted a Cleveland man and accused him of beating and stabbing a 60-year-old woman and then stuffing her into a plastic container. Prosecutors said Dalontay Edmond-Geiger, 31, is charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and weapons violations. Murder charges: A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted a Cleveland man in the 2019 killing of a woman who was walking her dog in a park in the city’s Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood. Dajuan Evans, 22, is charged with aggravated murder, murder and felonious assault in the Jan. 17, 2019, killing of 58-year-old Sheila Wallace in McGowan Park, Cory Shaffer reports. |
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Nearly top dog: More than 2,500 dogs, comprised of 210 breeds, competed at the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this week, and an Ohio dog nearly won Best in Show honors, Zach Mentz reports. Ribbon, an Australian Shepherd from Bloomingdale – a village in east-central Ohio – placed first in the Herding Group category and advanced to the final seven dogs up for Best in Show honors. And while Ribbon didn’t end up winning Best in Show, she still earned plenty of treats for her impressive showing. Buzzard fest: Artist David Helton, his cool-looking Buzzard and special guests will celebrate the halcyon days of Cleveland rock radio giant WMMS FM/100.7 on Saturday at the Cleveland Buzzard Rock 'n' Roll Market at Annika’s Event Center in Grafton, reports Malcolm X Abram. Houseboat rentals: SolStay, a community of rentable houseboats, opened last month in a protected alcove of Sandusky Bay, reports Susan Glaser. Owner Joe Lisa, a young entrepreneur who enjoys unique lodging options when he travels, said he’s creating a little piece of paradise on Lake Erie. Bachelorette weekend? Jane Morice strongly believes it’s a good idea to get away – even for a day or evening – to reset and relax before the whirlwind final days of wedding planning. |
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Gunman robs Tremont Target store for a cellphone, police say Read more Woman wanted in Florida on attempted-murder charge captured in Northeast Ohio Read more Shooting victim shows up at door of Akron home; police don’t know where he was shot Read more City mourns the loss of ‘Lyndhurst legend’ John E. Gallagher Read more Guaranteed maximum price for Orange High School classroom refresh set at $3 million Read more City Council celebrates Richmond Heights High basketball team and its second straight state championship Read more Parma Heights Mayor’s Court brings back Warrant Amnesty Program Read more Parma’s Donna Smallwood Activities Center to get new HVAC system Read more Seven Hills residents overwhelming approve levy renewal for refuse disposal Read more Olmsted Falls still waiting to receive new $224,000 truck Read more Fairview Park seeks grant for Grannis Park upgrade Read more Former Olmsted Falls mayor wins lawsuit against city Read more Parma Heights Building and Service Department looks to improve workflow Read more North Olmsted police chief implores residents to ‘lock your car doors at night’ Read more |
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