Big spenders: Ad spending in the Ohio Republican Senate primary was approaching $50 million as of last week, setting the state on course to top the previous record for spending in a Senate race from 2016, Seth Richardson reports. That’s largely on the backs of spending by the candidates, from their personal funds, with more personal money in the primary than any other in the nation.
Court campaign: In the latest round of campaign finance reports, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, who is running against Justice Sharon Kennedy for chief justice, by about $51,000. Laura Hancock has details on fundraising from the other court candidates, including Patrick DeWine, Marilyn Zayas, Patrick Fischer and Terri Jamison.
A look bach: President Joe Biden tapped former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steve Dettelbach to head the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Before his confirmation, Adam Ferrise takes a deep look at Dettelbach’s history as a federal prosecutor, politician and private attorney. Dettelbach’s nomination also comes as gun violence has surged across the country, including in Cleveland, and as more states, including Ohio, have rolled back restrictions on gun owners.
Jim Renacci: Rep. Jim Renacci, a Wadsworth Republican running for governor, said he would bar large-dollar political donors in the state from conducting state business as a way to root out corruption. Renacci made the comments during a special episode of Today in Ohio, reports Seth Richardson.
METRO
Recycling start: Cleveland City Hall announced Friday that a deal has been reached with Rumpke Waste & Recycling to restart the city’s recycling program. Peter Krouse reports residents will be given another chance to opt-in to the program during May with the plan to start it back up in June. So far, 27,000 of the city’s 150,000 households have signed up.
White House bound: Oberlin High School’s Kurt Russell, who was named “2022 National Teacher of the Year” by the Council of Chief State School Officers, received an invite to the White House next week where President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will honor him. Sabrina Eaton reports that the White House says Russell will visit the White House next Wednesday and deliver remarks along with Biden, the First Lady and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
Pay up: FirstEnergy Corp. reached a $37.5 million settlement to resolve four lawsuits filed by ratepayers who sued the Akron-based utility over the House Bill 6 scandal, company’s CEO Steven Strah told investors Friday. Jeremy Pelzer reports that the news is hardly a surprise, as FirstEnergy told federal regulators months ago that it set aside the money to settle the suits that say the company committed civil federal and state anti-racketeering violations.
BUSINESS
Cliffs climbing: In a Friday morning earnings call, the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs explained how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was affecting the steel industry, which is dealing with supply chain disruptions because of the war. Sean McDonnell reports that Lourenco Goncalves said those disruptions weren’t hurting Cleveland-Cliffs because the company makes its raw materials in the U.S. The company reported strong sales and income in the first quarter of 2022, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the company’s commitment to a U.S. supply chain was a big part of making it happen. The flat-rolled steel company reported $6 billion of revenue and $801 million of net income for the first three months on the year. In Q1 of 2021, the company had $4 billion in revenue and $41 million in net income.
CRIME
Teacher charged: A Highland High School teacher is accused of having sexual conduct with a student, according to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Kaylee Remington reports. Kyle Brooks, 55, of Akron, is charged with sexual battery, a third-degree felony. Brooks made his first appearance in Medina Municipal Court on Friday where a judge set his bond at 10 percent of $20,000, according to court records. The sheriff’s office said it was notified of the allegations on Thursday and arrested Brooks later that day after speaking with the student.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wonderstruck, again: Troy Smith takes a deep look at Elevation Group and how the promotions company cemented itself as one of the premiere music festival organizers in Northeast Ohio. WonderStuck, which takes place July 9 and 10, began as LaureLive in 2016. The event took place Laurel School’s Butler Campus in Novelty, Ohio from 2016 to 2019.
Bulls in the Hall: Smith also continues in his series of profiles of bands in the running for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The latest installment focuses on Rage Against the Machine, the socially conscious 1990s rock band that is set to tour the globe later this year.
House of the Week: The brick colonial at 15610 Edgewater Dr. not only offers the rare opportunity to buy into the neighborhood but also a chance for the new owner to make it their own. Joey Morona reports that the 1924-built home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms in 2,646 square feet, plus an additional 1,020 square feet of finished living space in the basement. On the market since early February, the house is available for $789,000.
