A dome in Brook Park or a classic downtown? It’s a mystery whether the Browns will build a new multi-billion-dollar complex by the airport or update their longtime home on Lake Erie. But Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is now negotiating in public, with a $461 million offer for publicly financed stadium renovations, in part from increased taxes on tickets and parking fees at city-owned lots. He says he wants an answer by Aug. 12. The Browns were noncommittal in their response: “Our region deserves to be thought of as evolving, forward-thinking, and innovative, so we need to think boldly and creatively in this process.” Does that mean the team is considering cleveland.com’s big idea of creating a nine-county quarter-percent sales tax, which would pay for airport and pro stadium upgrades, beneath a regional facilities commission? Who knows? — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Mayor Justin Bibb on Thursday unexpectedly went public with his proposal to renovate Browns stadium. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Stadium offer: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb went public Thursday with a $461 million offer to publicly finance renovations to the lakefront stadium. Courtney Astolfi reports the offer includes $227 million from increases in admission tax revenues, $120 million from Cuyahoga County sin tax revenues, and $20 million in existing stadium capital reserves over the 30-year lease term, with a five-year renewal option. FirstEnergy: Steven Strah, who was thrust into the role of FirstEnergy CEO ahead of schedule after Chuck Jones was fired, in 2021 signed a contract similar to a plea agreement with federal prosecutors on FirstEnergy’s behalf. In a newly revealed deposition from September 2023, Strah said that he has never been interviewed by federal authorities investigating what they have described as the biggest public corruption scheme in Ohio history, reports Jake Zuckerman. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine believes politics should be removed from the redistricting process. But he opposes a constitutional amendment that would do just that. And he wants voters to wait for his own proposal next year. We’re talking about gerrymandering and the Republican supermajority on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Marijuana on the Midway: Ohio cannabis enthusiasts must get their high on the Ferris wheel this year as the Ohio State Fair is not featuring information booths, competitions or pop-up sales of marijuana – unlike fairs in other states. Laura Hancock reports the Colorado State Fair had its first medical marijuana information booth in 2013. Oregon has featured award-winning plants at the state fair. Trump response: To U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, Donald Trump’s suggestion on Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris misled voters about her race and now “wants to be known as Black” reinforced her poor opinion of the ex-president and current GOP presidential nominee. Sabrina Eaton and Olivia Mitchell report that Brown’s outrage is typical of the response Northeast Ohio’s Black residents and community leaders had to Trump’s remarks. Child tax credit: The U.S. Senate on Thursday shot down a House-approved bipartisan tax deal that would increase the child tax credit for low-income families and cut taxes for businesses, as Democrats attacked vice presidential candidate JD Vance of Ohio for missing the vote. Sabrina Eaton reports the measure – which needed 60 votes to proceed – was defeated, 48 to 44. Campaign cash: During the first half of this year, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted raised $1.7 million for his 2026 campaign for governor, more than twice the amount raised by his two potential Republican rivals combined. Andrew Tobias reports that’s according to new campaign-finance reports Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost and state Treasurer Robert Sprague filed with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday ahead of a state legal deadline. Earthworks: A series of centuries-old Native American earthworks in Ohio will be open to the public year-round starting in January as the state’s historical society announced Thursday it has reached a deal to close a golf course that has occupied the site for decades. Jeremy Pelzer reports the Ohio History Connection will buy out the Moundbuilders Country Club’s lease on the property for an undisclosed amount of money, resolving a years-long legal battle between the two over the Octagon Earthworks, part of Ohio’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
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Secret meetings: Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren this week called for an independent investigation into what he described as “specific evidence” that a majority of City Council members had met in secret to discuss legislation before it was placed on the agenda for a public meeting. Cory Shaffer reports the mayor said he has received “definitive evidence” that at least four members of the seven-member council secretly discussed two ordinances, introduced and passed on June 24. Jail visitation: Cuyahoga County is reconsidering allowing in-person visitation at its jail after an advocacy group called for the change, reports Lucas Daprile. The potential change follows a report from the Wren Collective, a criminal justice reform group comprised of public defenders, that criticized the county for not allowing in-person visitation for inmates’ loved ones and for allowing prosecutors to listen to recorded video calls without a warrant. Drought: Moderate drought conditions continue in Northeast Ohio, while also spreading farther east and to the south in the region. Meanwhile, conditions in southern Ohio have continued to worsen, reports Zachary Smith. |
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COVID numbers: For the ninth consecutive week, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio worsened, rising from 4,575 last week to 5,962 this week, Zachary Smith reports. Sports betting: Year-over-year, Ohioans appetite for betting in sports seems to be growing, reports Sean McDonnell. Just over $4.1 billion was bet on sports in Ohio through June, up from $3.8 billion at this same time in 2023. Hospice: Hospice of the Western Reserve, which serves 15 northern Ohio counties, on Tuesday announced the acquisition of Hospice of North Central Ohio. The agreement expands the Cleveland-based organization into Ashland, Knox, Richland and other nearby counties. |
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Edgewater cameras: Authorities are installing new surveillance cameras at Edgewater Beach following a chaotic shootout earlier this summer at the popular park. Lucas Daprile reports that Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said his office is planning to spend more than $100,000 on new cameras at the beach. False attack: Authorities say a woman made up the story about two men burning her legs with an unknown liquid at a Summit County Metro Park on Sunday. An investigation by rangers, Norton police and the State Fire Marshal’s office found that the woman fabricated the story about the attack along the Chippewa Trail at Silver Creek Metro Park. Rescue: Elyria firefighters rescued a 17-year-old boy who jumped into the Black River off the Lake Avenue Bridge on Wednesday. Firefighters were called about 7:25 p.m. for reports that someone had jumped off the bridge into the river near West Falls, reports Olivia Mitchell. Check forging: An Aurora manwas charged Wednesday in connection with a $700,000 check-forging scheme in which he used checks stolen from the U.S. mail, Adam Ferrise reports. Police say Darmani Hawkins, 20, recruited mail carriers and others via social media to steal checks, forge them and cash the fake ones at real banks. Retaliation suit: A judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit that accused Leslie Ann Celebrezze, a judge with the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, of retaliation and witness intimidation. John Tucker reports the suit was brought in September by Georgeanna Semary, a former aide to Celebrezze. She claimed Celebrezze demoted her and slashed her salary last year after Semary provided public documents to a journalist who was investigating the judge. |
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Ask Yadi: A mother wants to know if she has to attend each and every one of the bridal showers for her child's fiancé. Yadi Rodriguez says no. Taylor Swift’s guitarist: Strongsville native and professional musician Paul Sidoti, currently best known as the guitarist in Taylor Swift’s band since 2007, has taken part in a tribute recording to the Raspberries frontman, hitmaker and Cleveland legend Eric Carmen, reports Malcolm X Abram. Francona: Former Guardians Manager Terry Francona is an investor with Hangry Brands, the local restaurant company that now includes Steak, the restaurant in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. Steak is not a typical steakhouse, writes Marc Bona. It eschews dark and boring and has desserts named for Francona’s grandkids. Restaurant opening: Cilantro Taqueria will open its sixth location next week, this one in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, reports Alex Darus. Officially called La Ruta de Cilantro Taqueria, the restaurant is taking over the former Fahrenheit space in the neighborhood for its first location officially inside the city limits of Cleveland. Kimchi pickle chips: In the past year, Cleveland Kitchen has more than doubled its manufacturing space to 65,000 square feet and added kimchi pickle chips to its line of fermented products, reports Paris Wolf. Just last month, Walmart started carrying the 24-ounce kimchi pickle chips at more than 1,000 stores nationwide. Piano: The Cleveland International Piano Competition semifinals began Thursday, reports Joey Morona. Two pianists will take the stage each session from through Sunday in Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Music Center. New Aldi: Aldi is opening a second Middleburg Heights store at 6820 Pearl Road on Aug. 15. Paris Wolfe reports that during the grand opening of the store, the first 100 customers will receive a gift bag filled with a sampling of Aldi’s Fan Favorites and a gift card. Things to do: In addition to one of the four largest spectacles in professional wrestling’s yearly calendar taking place in Cleveland, the NFL’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies culminate down in Canton. Plus 30 other things to do this weekend. |
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Suspect in murder of 24-year-old Akron woman arrested in Chicago Read more Speak for the trees: Parma’s Petruska Park receives reforestation grant Read more Parma Heights City Council looks to tweak its marijuana dispensary ordinances Read more Mayfield City Schools to ask voters for 5-mill levy increase in November Read more |
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