In 2019, in an attempt to protect children from lead poisoning, Cleveland City Council passed a law requiring rental property owners to prove that their dwelling units are safe from lead hazards. Five years later, the heralded law had made zero change in the thousands of Cleveland kids getting poisoned. Lead poisoning cases in Cleveland actually increased in 2023. Some kids were poisoned in homes that were certified as safe. There is no safe level of lead in blood. Poisoning can cause developmental delays, brain damage and death. In October, Mayor Justin Bibb mandated more rigorous testing. But that led to a flood of lead-safe applications filed under the older, easier tests – and that created a backlog that could take the short-staffed department six months to clear. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Rain, snow possible |
|
|
New data released in October showed that Cleveland’s lead-safe law, enacted in 2019, has failed to protect young children from lead paint exposure. (John Pana, cleveland.com file photo) |
|
|
Lead safety: Mayor Justin Bibb’s abrupt decision to tighten lead safety requirements for landlords has hit a bureaucratic bottleneck and now key staffers are at their desks tackling a 1,200-application backlog instead of going out to inspect homes. Sean McDonnell reports that Building and Housing Director Sally Martin O’Toole told City Council Tuesday that it will take months to wade through the backlog of landlords applying for lead-safe certificates. Kids glasses: Gov. Mike DeWine wants to spend $50 million to provide comprehensive eye exams and glasses to young Ohio students who fail school vision screenings. Only about 20% of students who fail school vision screenings get follow-up care, reports Laura Hancock. Through OhioSEE, over 33,000 students starting in kindergarten and through third grade would receive comprehensive eye exams at their schools and glasses, if necessary. Today in Ohio: A bipartisan Ohio House bill would ban police departments from using quotas of arrests or citations for promotions, transfers or discipline. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about whether police departments still require a quota of tickets from officers. |
|
|
Marijuana laws: Major Republican-backed changes to Ohio’s recreational marijuana law passed Wednesday, 23-9, in the Ohio Senate, reports Anna Staver. Republicans, who hold a supermajority in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly, back the overhaul, while Democrats oppose it. Wrongly imprisoned: State officials have approved multimillion-dollar payments to two Northeast Ohio men who each spent years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The agreements are the latest in a series of payments from the state of Ohio to people who spent years, if not decades, behind bars for crimes they were wrongfully convicted of committing. Opioid settlement: A December ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court effectively reversed a nearly $651 million judgment two Ohio counties won from major chain pharmacies for their roles in helping an opioid crisis proliferate. Jake Zuckerman reports two Republican lawmakers in the Ohio House now want to cement the court’s reasoning into state law. Musk email: In a Wednesday morning speech on the House of Representatives floor, U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown criticized “unelected, unaccountable, unvetted, unconfirmed billionaire Elon Musk” for prompting an email on Saturday that asked all federal government employees to respond with five bullet points explaining what they did the previous week, Sabrina Eaton reports. Ashtabula seniors: The Ohio House passed a bill Wednesday afternoon that would give Ashtabula high school seniors a waiver to the state’s minimum number of instructional hours, reports Laura Hancock. House Bill 43, which passed the House, 91-6, comes after a November snowstorm damaged a building and put the students at risk for not hitting the requirement. |
|
|
Harvest for Hunger: With a collaborative backing of private businesses and public figures, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank kicked off its annual wide-ranging Harvest for Hunger initiative to raise needed funds, reports Marc Bona. KartPlex: After sitting idle for decades as a forgotten landfill, a 37-acre site in Lorain is about to roar back to life with a new purpose, reports Hannah Drown. This summer, the long-dormant property will become home to the Lorain Ohio KartPlex, a $12.5 million racing complex set to bring international kart racing competitions, recreational go-karting and youth racing programs to the city. Rental assistance: Cuyahoga County’s Office of Reentry is offering rental assistance to formally incarcerated individuals struggling to find housing, but funds are limited, reports Kaitlin Durbin. The temporary financial relief is for any resident who has experienced federal, state or county incarceration at any period in their life and is now struggling. CWRU: Case Western Reserve University is putting limits on hiring and other spending because of concerns about cuts in federal funding, Cliff Pinckard reports. CWRU’s actions come as many colleges and universities across the nation grapple with possible funding shortages because of deep cuts by the Trump administration in federal funding for the National Institutes of Health. Hancock Avenue: A portion of Hancock Avenue in Ohio City street is expected to permanently close to make way for a new apartment complex, reports Megan Sims. A portion between West 26th and 28th streets was approved for closure Friday by the Cleveland Planning Commission, meaning vehicle traffic will no longer be able to use Hancock Avenue to reach West 28th Street. |
|
|
Chronic conditions: More than one-third of employees with chronic health conditions — including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and asthma — have skipped medical appointments or delayed getting care to avoid missing work in the past year, reports Julie Washington. Egg prices: Ohio is a top producer of eggs and the state has been particularly hard hit with bird flu, reports Paris Wolfe. As of Tuesday, Feb. 25, the commodity price of eggs was $8.54. By comparison, the price was $2.50 one year ago. |
|
|
DEA raids: Two people suspected of running a drug processing operation were arrested Wednesday at a storefront in Fairview Park, reports Olivia Mitchell. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal and local law-enforcement agencies executed three search warrants in Cleveland and its suburbs. Counterfeit armor: A Stow business owner is accused of selling counterfeit body armor imported from China to more than a dozen law-enforcement agencies, including Akron, Rocky River and Columbus police, reports Adam Ferrise. Guilty verdict: A Shaker Heights man was found guilty Wednesday for his role in the slayings of two brothers in 2020, reports David Gambino. David Spivey, known as “Lil’ Dave,” and an unidentified man took part in the shootings of Dominique King, 26, and Delvonte King, 22, following an argument, according to testimony. East Cleveland: Michael Smedley, the chief of staff of suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal corruption charges. Adam Ferrise reports U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent set a $10,000 unsecured bond, which means Smedley will not have to pay any money to stay out of jail while the case moves forward. TV fire: Five children and three adults were hurt after a television caught fire early Wednesday morning in Old Brooklyn, reports Lucas Daprile. Five fire department units responded and paramedics took all eight to the hospital in stable condition. |
|
|
Mentor Rocks: Gavin DeGraw and Uncle Kracker will headline Mentor Rocks summer concert series this year, reports Marc Bona. Mentor Rocks features free summer concerts. Bands perform 7 to 9 p.m. at Mentor Civic Amphitheater, with bonus performances on several dates. CIA: The Cleveland Institute of Art 2025 Student Independent Exhibition opens from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday with a free public reception at its Reinberger Gallery, 11610 Euclid Ave., reports Peter Chakerian. Grand Funk: Grand Funk Railroad is unquestionably an American band with a lengthy history of music and iconic songs that have kept rock fans of all ages' fists pumping and singing along to their classic-rock radio staples. Malcolm X Abram reports the former trio, now a quintet, will return Saturday to Northeast Ohio for a show at MGM Northfield. Southern restaurants: Low country, soul food, creole, Cajun, Floribbean, Gullah. There are plenty of subgenres to the umbrella known as southern cooking. It’s heartwarming comfort food personified and the Cleveland area has wonderful places to soak it all up. The Best Of team detailed the six highest-ranked southern-style restaurants in Cleveland, as reviewed by users on the ever-popular Tripadvisor website. Louis CK: Controversial comedian Louis CK is bringing his latest standup tour to Northeast Ohio this summer. Joey Morona reports the six-time Emmy winner will perform at the Akron Civic Theatre on Aug. 22, marking his only stop in the region. |
|
|
City considers allowing new parcel to join Medina/Montville JEDD Read more Medina employees save two four-legged friends on winter day Read more Mentor man dies in crash on Interstate 480 Read more Construction to begin on new community park set to open in Lorain this summer Read more Laketran seeks part-time drivers for Dial-a-Ride service in Ohio; hiring event scheduled Read more North Ridgeville leaders share state of city, schools at joint address Read more Great Northern Mall’s future: Less retail, more mixed-use development Read more Crocker Park adds restaurant, multiple retail stores and businesses Read more Olmsted Falls Middle School pays tribute to late custodian Chuckie Smith Read more Lakewood Schools to lose more than $1.5 million in proposed state budget cuts Read more ‘A huge loss’: Parma City School District mayors react to superintendent’s exit Read more |
|
|
Terry's Talkin' with Terry Pluto Newsletter |
Connect with Northeast Ohio’s favorite sports columnist as Terry shares his exclusive thoughts and insights on Cleveland sports teams, as well as issues on personal faith like in his popular weekly Faith & You column. There's one caveat, though. This is an exclusive newsletter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer loyal subscribers. Not a subscriber? That's ok. You can receive a few weeks of Terry’s newsletter as a free trial. In either case, click here 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. |
|
|
Start today for $1 (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
Start today for $1 (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS? |
|
|
|
