When did you last have a civil, productive conversation about politics or social issues with someone you disagreed with? Exactly. For most people, it feels difficult to talk about issues you feel passionately about – whether that’s fiscal policy or abortion. That leaves us in our safe bubbles of friends we agree with, whether on social media or in real life. And it can make those who don’t feel the same seem like enemies. We’ve decried the devolving civility in our society, the proclivity to call names and attack others’ opinions. Now, cleveland.com is doing something to address it. We’re rolling out a series of articles examining our lack of ability to have civil discourse and what can be done to rectify that. This series builds on a column from cleveland.com Editor Chris Quinn, which highlighted work local activists are doing to bridge the red-blue divide. As Lucas Daprile writes, this isn’t a series calling for people to abandon their beliefs or just “play nice.” The point of this is to help provide a roadmap for Americans to find ways to have hard conversations – and even find solutions – together. Let’s make it happen. -- Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox: Shane Bieber fans nine as Guardians take series from Astros with 5-0 victory Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Rain makes a comeback |
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In recent years, many Americans have noticed a decline in our collective ability to find common ground, or at the very least, to be able to have a productive discussion about politics or social issues. |
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Civil discourse: Nearly a quarter of Northeast Ohioans say they have had such a severe political disagreement with someone that it caused a personal relationship to become “broken,” reports Lucas Daprile in the first story in our Civil Discourse Initiative series. We partnered with some experts to conduct a scientific survey to start. Constitutional amendments: Ohio’s minimum wage might still be $5.15 an hour, casino gambling still would be illegal, and recent economic development and conservation programs favored by state officials and business leaders would have failed had a higher voter approval threshold proposed by Republican state lawmakers been in effect in previous decades. And that’s just since the year 2000. Going further back in history, other proposals that would have failed to clear the new proposed higher bar include alcohol prohibition, an official recognition of women’s suffrage, allowing non-white people and women into the Ohio National Guard, and ending the practice of party-line, straight-ticket voting, reports Andrew Tobias. Pay to play: Prosecutors in former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder’s corruption trial laid out a playbook of political cash: pay six-figure sums to opaque nonprofits aligned and, according to some parties, controlled by public officials. Jake Zuckerman combs through trial transcripts and court documents to highlight the secretive nature of 501(C)(4)s. They can exist in the wild, taking huge sums for corporate or wealthy donors and discreetly exist under the thumb of political power. Today in Ohio: The Ohio Senate’s two-year budget plan seeks to reduce money for foodbanks, defund housing for pregnant women, eliminate tax credits for affordable housing and reduce support for childcare -- all while giving tax cuts to the wealthy. We’re talking about the proposed budget’s cruel attempt at austerity on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
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College vaccines: The Ohio Senate GOP proposed a plan that would essentially strip colleges of their ability to require vaccination as a term of enrollment, reports Jake Zuckerman. The bill would technically still allow colleges to impose vaccine mandates, but would force them to grant exemptions for students’ religious convictions or “reasons of conscience.” Trump Indictment: Ohio Republicans rallied around former President Donald Trump on Thursday evening after Trump announced that a grand jury indicted him for mishandling classified documents he brought from the White House to his Florida estate, marking the first-ever federal indictment of a former president, Sabrina Eaton reports. |
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Bibb blame: Mayor Justin Bibb has repeatedly blamed judges for crime issues in Cleveland but doesn’t appear to be backing up those claims with anything beyond anecdotal evidence. Courtney Astolfi reports that twice in recent weeks, Bibb has publicly called for “judicial accountability” when discussing crime problems in the city, particularly when it comes to allowing “repeat offenders” out of jail. NOACA: The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency will go back to the people to get input on a regional climate action plan for its five-county planning area, reports Peter Krouse. The first go-around at public engagement didn’t go so well, so now the agency will extend its timeline at least another six months in an effort to be more collaborative and inclusive among the five counties for which it assists with planning and grant-seeking efforts, largely centered around transportation and environmental concerns. Home sales: The cleveland.com database of home sales and other property transfer details has been updated with transactions for May 2023, reports Rich Exner. LeBron’s Promise: The East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. and the LeBron James Family Foundation on Thursday celebrated the opening of I Promise Housing, a housing development featuring 50 affordable long-term housing units, reports Megan Becka. Units include two-, three- and four-bedroom varieties to accommodate families both large and small. |
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Motor lawsuit: Lordstown Motors said Friday that it plans to take legal action against Foxconn because the Taiwanese manufacturer is balking on its agreement to buy more shares in the electric-vehicle startup, Sean McDonnell reports. New COVID strain: An unidentified person in Ohio has a new strain or lineage of the COVID-19 infection and is unaware of it, according to a professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Zach Mentz reports the professor found large amounts of a new, unique strain of COVID-19 while searching through a wastewater database of COVID samples. Opioid lawsuit: Ohio will receive nearly $680 million from CVS, Walgreens, and two drugmakers as part of a $17.3 billion settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits related to the companies’ role in the opioid-addiction crisis, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Self-driving cars: U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, a Bowling Green Republican who co-chairs the Congressional Autonomous Vehicles Caucus, views fully self-driving vehicles as a potential solution for car accidents, reports Sabrina Eaton. |
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U.S. attorney: Federal judges on Friday appointed Becky Lutzko as the interim U.S. attorney for northern Ohio. The judges made the decision just days after President Joe Biden nominated her to become the leader of the office. The U.S. Senate must confirm her, a process that could take weeks. Jimmy Dimora: Disgraced former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora was released from prison, about seven years shy of his estimated date, reports Adam Ferrise. The former commissioner who orchestrated a vast and widespread pay-to-play scheme will serve the remainder of his sentence, until 2030, on house arrest, according to the Bureau of Prisons, which granted Dimora’s release on Wednesday under the CARES Act. Drunken driving: A Warrensville Heights man with at least eight drunken driving convictions could be facing his ninth after he plowed his truck into an SUV while intoxicated on Tuesday, John Tucker reports. Turnpike crash: The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed two people in Lorain County on Friday morning, Molly Walsh reports. Dacia Clayborn, 22, and Lashell Silver, 42, both from Edgewood, Maryland, died in the crash, the patrol said. |
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Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift has experienced plenty of ups and downs (mostly ups) in her storied, record-setting career, with fans and randos judging all of her choices. She's not performing in Cleveland during her Eras Tour, but Malcom X Abrams traveled to Ford Field in Detroit to check out a performance from one of pop music's biggest stars. Kelleys Island: The largest U.S. island in Lake Erie, Kelleys Island offers the perfect combination of nature-based attractions and human-made amenities. Its small state park is one of Ohio’s loveliest and the island’s well-appointed downtown has choices for every palate, Susan Glaser writes. Pride Month: You can get tote bags, purses, handbags, clutches, accessories and so much more in recognition of the LGBTQIA+ community from a variety of stores. See a full list from Kaylee Remington. Local winery: Cru Uncorked has one of the best backyards in Greater Cleveland, a secret garden growing produce and flowers for enjoyment and culinary use, Paris Wolfe reports. The space opened last summer and is in full cultivation this year. New speakeasy: A new speakeasy opened late last year on the grounds of the former Lonz Winery, now part of Middle Bass Island State Park, Susan Glaser reports. And the state is moving ahead with plans to renovate the former Lonz Mansion, which is slated to become a small museum and bed and breakfast. Ask Yadi: When you are done with your cart at Aldi's and someone comes by you, do you give it to them or extend your hand waiting for them to give you a quarter? Yadi Rodriguez offers her thoughts. House of the Week: The sprawling property at 1119 W. Hill Drive in Gates Mills offers storybook charm, beautiful natural surroundings and room to stretch your legs, writes Joey Morona. Originally built in 1941, the estate is situated on 20 wooded acres, with seven bedrooms and eight baths (six full) in 9,500 square feet, listed at $2,750,000. |
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Man who escaped from Summit County deputies sentenced to prison Read more Building on departmental diversity, Shaker swears in four new police officers Read more Two loose pit bulls attack, injure smaller dog in Brook Park Read more Man dies after garage fire in Summit County Read more Firefighters battle blaze at UPS facility in Middleburg Heights Read more Richmond Heights named among five winners of award to modernize Great Lakes cities’ water infrastructure Read more New playground at Mayfield Heights community/aquatic center project site could open in August Read more |
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