WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20, 2023 |
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Voters will decide in November whether to spend 2% of Cleveland's annual budget on whatever an 11-member steering committee chooses. Mayor Justin Bibb and many City Council members oppose the People’s Budget because, they say, devoting $14 million a year to participatory budgeting would decimate safety services. This week, the opposition threw out several defensive measures. City Council President Blaine Griffin planned to introduce a new law allowing taxpayer money to oppose ballot issues, but then abandoned the legislation because he said council already has the authority. And State Sen. Jerry Cirino announced a bill that would ban charter governments like Cleveland from allowing "funds to instead be distributed or otherwise disbursed by a vote of residents.” But there’s no guarantee Cirino has the support to pass his bill on emergency and invalidate the idea of a People’s Budget. – Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Cleveland voters are set to vote on a participatory-budget proposal in November, although a bill has been introduced in Columbus that would attempt to block the measure from taking effect. |
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Participatory budget amendment: Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that he isn’t familiar with the issues surrounding Cleveland’s upcoming participatory budget charter amendment proposal, much less the details of a bill planned by a Republican state senator who hopes to pass legislation blocking the measure from taking effect if voters approve it in the November election. DeWine’s support likely would be needed for the bill to achieve State Sen. Jerry Cirino’s stated goal of thwarting the proposed People’s Budget, Andrew Tobias reports. Amazon hires: Amazon is looking to hire 7,000 workers in the Cleveland area ahead of the holiday season and is advertising a starting wage of anywhere from $17 to $28 an hour. Sean McDonnell reports the e-commerce giant announced it is hiring 250,000 employees across the U.S., which includes 15,000 in Ohio, in full-time, part-time and seasonal roles. Hopewell Earthworks: Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are the nation’s newest UNESCO World Heritage site, a collection of sophisticated ancient Native American properties that showcase “outstanding universal value.” Susan Glaser reports a United Nations committee in Saudi Arabia approved the designation early Tuesday, naming the 25th World Heritage site in the United States, and the first in Ohio. Today in Ohio: Protesters won the day when the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission delayed its decision on drilling on public lands after a combative and sometimes raucous meeting Monday. We’re talking about the ongoing debate over access to resources at state parks and protected wilderness areas on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Federal shutdown: As a top Republican on the House of Representatives committee that funds the federal government, U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce says he’s been working “feverishly” on a compromise that will keep the federal government open when funding expires on Oct 1. Sabrina Eaton reports Joyce has worked closely with House of Representatives leaders to devise a monthlong stopgap that would keep the government open long enough for Congress to complete work on bills that will fund the government through the rest of the year. GOP feud: U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, a South Russell Republican who is allied with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and who sits on the House Ethics Committee, has been sucked into an ongoing feud between McCarthy and Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is threatening to oust McCarthy as speaker. Sabrina Eaton reports Gaetz posted a video on social media that attacks Joyce for accepting campaign contributions from political action committees, while running audio of a Politico interview from last week where Joyce discussed Gaetz’s efforts to undermine McCarthy. Abortion amendment: The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the Ohio Ballot Board, which writes the wording for initiatives on state ballots, to reconvene and fix part of how it describes the abortion rights constitutional amendment on the Nov. 7 ballot, Laura Hancock reports. The campaign group working to defeat the abortion-rights ballot issue has a new local leader, Andrew Tobias reports. Redistricting: The Ohio Redistricting Commission is set to reconvene this afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine announced, ending a weeklong delay stemming from a tug-of-war over political power between Republican legislative leaders. Jeremy Pelzer reports it remains to be seen whether Republicans who control the seven-member commission will put forward a plan to redraw the state’s 99 House districts and 33 Senate districts, or if the two Democrats on the commission would vote for such a plan. DeWine has COVID: Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for coronavirus late Tuesday afternoon, Jeremy Pelzer reports. DeWine tested after feeling increasingly sick, starting with mild cold symptoms on Monday, according to a news release. When he took a COVID-19 test at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, he reported having a temperature of 101 degrees. School vouchers: The new gender policy in schools run by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is leading some area Democrats to question the big boost in taxpayer funding that those schools could see this year. Laura Hancock reports that Ohio Senate Republicans — who supported the state’s voucher expansion — said that when parents send their kids to Catholic schools, they expect policies that would be different from other schools. Jim Jordan: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan on Tuesday said a lawsuit that Hunter Biden filed against the Internal Revenue Service over whistleblowers disclosing his tax information to Republican investigators “may be designed to try to intimidate and keep others from coming forward,” Sabrina Eaton reports. |
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Catholic & LGBT: The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland’s gender policy continues to echo through parishes across Northeast Ohio, a week after leaders made public a controversial directive that has shaken many on both sides of the issue. Molly Walsh reports that supporters of the directive say it is consistent with what the Catholic Church has always taught and it has just been formalized. Supporters of the LGBTQ community blasted the measure as they fear the harmful effects on children and others. Lake projects: Cleveland and Cuyahoga County might now have more waterfront planning and development projects underway on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River than at any other time in its history. To help provide greater transparency, coordination and accountability, the Greater Cleveland Partnership is launching a new online tool to give everyone the big picture on waterfront planning, reports Steven Litt. Meanwhile, the city wants to create a massive tax-increment financing district across much of downtown Cleveland and some of the near West Side to help pay for sweeping waterfront development plans, Courtney Astolfi reports. Paramedic pay: In a bid to boost EMS staffing, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and the union representing Cleveland EMS workers have agreed to higher starting wages for experienced paramedics. Courtney Astolfi reports that paramedics with at least one year of experience who take a job with Cleveland EMS no longer have to spend their first four to six months earning $16-an-hour training wages. Instead, experienced paramedics will be hired in at $27.59 an hour. Cultural garden: The land for the Syrian Cultural Garden was allocated in 1929. It was built in 2011, the first garden representing an Arab country, Zachary Smith reports. The concept of the garden is to immortalize the culture of Syria and its people throughout history. |
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Top Nurses: Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer honored 11 Northeast Ohio nurses Tuesday for their dedication and compassion. Lifetime achievement: Veterans Affairs chief nurse of community outpatient service David Davidson’s passion for nursing, exemplary leadership and professionalism has led to his recognition as this year’s Top Nurse Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Readers of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com nominated nearly 127 of their favorite nurses for this year’s awards, Julie Washington reports. Diabetic blood flow: A previously experimental therapy to restore blood flow in the limbs of diabetic patients received FDA approval last week, giving thousands of diabetics with severe vascular disease an alternative to amputation. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports that LimFlow therapy pioneered by researchers at University Hospitals Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute bypasses blockages in the arteries of the legs that have been irreparably damaged by diabetes. |
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Airsoft pistol: A 17-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday morning at Solon High School after police said he possessed an "airsoft pistol” in the school. Molly Walsh reports officers responded to the school at about 9:08 a.m. after receiving a report that a student was seen concealing a gun in his clothing. Drug trade: Three men are accused of running a large-scale cocaine dealing network in Lorain tied to Mexican drug suppliers. Adam Ferrise reports all three are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to launder money internationally and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. |
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Rude neighbors: While you may not be having Sunday dinner with your neighbors, it doesn’t take much effort to say hello when passing them on the sidewalk, writes Yadi Rodriguez. Nighttown: Nighttown returns this fall, reports Joey Morona. The Cleveland Heights institution, which dates back to 1965, was shuttered in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But after a change in ownership and a renovation project that has experienced several delays, the restaurant will reopen its doors and welcome customers back starting the week of Nov. 6. Music guide: Home to the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, numerous colleges and universities, and a wealth of high-level presenters and performing arts organizations, Northeast Ohio has plenty of events to enjoy classical music. Treat yourself to an experience among your fellow humans. Remind yourself what it’s like. Joey Chestnut: Widely regarded as the world’s No. 1 competitive eater, Joey Chestnut holds several competitive eating world records, including for the “World Apple Pie Eating Championships” held at Mapleside Farms in Brunswick in 2013. Peter Chakerian reports Chestnut returns Sunday for the festival’s golden jubilee apple cider donut-eating contest, with proceeds going to the Remarkable Youth Foundation — a new non-profit helping children and young adults. Summer songs: Which songs, years from now, will take you back to the summer of Barbieheimer, the Eras Tour and the Grimace shake? Joey Morona counts down the Top 15 Songs of the Summer 2023. Jonas Brothers: Nobody in their right mind left The Jonas Brothers’ concert Monday night wanting more, reports Eric Heisig. The trio blasted through more than 60 songs during its more than two-and-a-half hours onstage at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in what was a dynamic and sleek performance. |
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Man, 60, dies in motorcycle crash; separate crash kills 66-year-old woman Read more Will residential drone use ordinance fly in Brunswick? Read more Biennial Shaker Heights Democracy Day rules again in ‘23, letting off a little corporate steam Read more Sister Christine De Vinne to retire as Ursuline College president in June Read more North Royalton council says council president may have conflicting interests; he says it’s all just politics Read more Downtown Cleveland Taco Bell Cantina location closes after six years Read more Cleveland Heights looks toward more community ‘buy-in’ for Noble neighborhood Read more Voters to decide this fall on Brecksville’s first new mayor in 36 years Read more Solon council approves amended deed restrictions on Hawthorn Parkway Read more |
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