For more than a year, cleveland.com’s Rethinking Child Care series has been examining the struggle to find quality, affordable child care and pushing for solutions to share families’ burdens and help the economy. Yet for more than a year, the state made little effort to address the crisis. Now, a week after Gov. Mike DeWine announced a new voucher program to help low- and middle-income families pay for child care, plus $85 million to help existing facilities, Republican legislators are proposing their own solution. The bills are modeled on the tri-share program in Michigan, which divides the cost of child care among parents, their employers and state government. In Michigan, the program began in 2021 with $2.5 million from the state and has expanded to 59 of the state’s 83 counties. Here, the program would be open to families making up to 300% of the federal poverty line and administered with nonprofits in regional hubs. The state would appropriate $10 million to get the tri-share program up and running. Will the bills pass? Legislators say that depends on how vigorously the business community pushes for the plan. We’re cheering it on from here. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Boston Red Sox: Guardians outlast Red Sox for sloppy 5-4 win, take three of four games in Boston Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and cooler this weekend |
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The average annual cost of child care in Ohio has soared to nearly $10,000 per infant, worrying state leaders, advocates, and the business community. (Elaine Thompson, Associated Press) |
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Tri-share: The tri-share program to assist with child care could cost $100 million to $200 million a year, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The state would likely get some of that money back, as it wouldn’t have to pay as much in SNAP benefits to residents who can’t work because they either can’t find or can’t afford care for their kids. Cavs playoffs: The Cavaliers are back in the playoffs, the importance of which is not lost on downtown businesses, reports Marc Bona. Downtown restaurants expect 20,000-plus people downtown – and that’s just for the arena. Throw in early afternoon playoff starting times, home Guardians games next door at Progressive Field, bars with eyes focused on televisions and packed restaurant reservations. All those factors combine to create “a halo effect” for downtown. Today in Ohio: Ohio cities could again have the power to prohibit retail puppy sales under a new bill introduced by a bipartisan pair of state lawmakers. We’re talking about possible changes in the law regarding puppy sales on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Biden ballot: If nothing is done to fix the issue, Republican Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman said this week that Democrats would likely be successful in court if they sue to block a state law that could prevent President Joe Biden from appearing on the ballot here. Two legal experts who spoke to Andrew Tobias agreed with that assessment, saying a road map can be found in a March U.S. Supreme Court decision. Nursing moms: Nursing mothers soon will be excused from jury service, reports Laura Hancock. A spokesman for Gov. Mike DeWine told cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer that the governor intends to sign House Bill 34, which passed the Ohio Senate on April 10 after having passed the Ohio House last June. Ukraine support: A bipartisan proposal to help Ukraine by seizing frozen Russian sovereign assets in the United States and transferring them to Ukraine has run into flak from U.S. Sen. JD Vance, reports Sabrina Eaton. He argues it will backfire by making U.S. Treasuries less attractive to foreign buyers. |
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Tornado damage: A tornado slammed into Windham Township in Portage County on Wednesday, damaging homes and uprooting trees as strong storms tore through Northeast Ohio, reports Molly Walsh. The tornado, which was about 65 yards wide, hit shortly before 7 p.m. and stayed on the ground for nearly four miles. Affordable broadband: Cleveland’s affordable broadband network from nonprofit DigitalC is starting to get built out and its services are coming online, with thousands of customers expected to have coverage by the end of the year, Courtney Astolfi reports. Kindland: Nicole Mendise, who was born with genetic hearing loss due to a mutation in her Connexin 26 gene, received her first cochlear implant as a young child in 2004 to support hearing in her right ear. With the help of implants, she mainstreamed into public school, developed a love for the violin – which she was eventually able to tune by ear – played softball with a modified helmet and even danced competitively. However, the accomplishment Nicole is most proud of is becoming a nurse at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Peter Chakerian reports in his weekly Kindland series. Wrestling launchpad: Extreme Fight World, an independent professional wrestling company, shares space with basketball courts, sand volleyball, a martial arts studio and more at NEO Sports Plant in Euclid. Lucas Daprile reports EFW acts as a launchpad for young wrestlers, offering training, live-streaming events and matches. Audience members can expect live commentary, synchronized lights, intro music or videos, backstory and all of the brawny camp. |
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Progressive sale: Progressive is moving ahead with its office consolidation plan and will officially list its former main headquarters in Mayfield for sale or lease, reports Sean McDonnell. The insurance company announced in July that it would close its main headquarters on Wilson Mills Road, moving its headquarters to what it calls its second campus on North Commons Boulevard, still in Mayfield. Minority homeownership: A recent report determined Cleveland has one of the largest minority homeownership gaps in the country, reports Megan Sims. According to Construction Coverage, Cleveland ranks number six among the largest metros in the nation for its minority homeownership gap. Using U.S. Census Bureau data, the company found that minority homeownership was 31% lower compared to white homeowners. COVID numbers: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio has dropped for the ninth consecutive week, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. Cases fell from 1,877 last week to 1,407 this week, marking the lowest level since early July. |
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City worker shot: A 39-year-old woman was arrested Thursday and accused of shooting a city employee inside of a Cleveland maintenance facility. The shooting happened about 5:40 a.m. in the 2300 block of East 65th Street at a Cleveland Public Works garage in the city’s Central neighborhood, reports Olivia Mitchell. Drugs in duffel: An appeals court on Thursday tossed the felony drug conviction of a Garfield Heights woman whose husband had more than 8 ounces of marijuana in a duffel bag in their basement. Cory Shaffer reports a divided 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals panel held that Cuyahoga County prosecutors put forth no evidence that Gwenetta Smith knew about the drugs that police found near a barber station that her husband set up in the basement of their home. Marshal shooting: Federal marshals Thursday shot and killed a Lorain man who attacked three officers with a wooden table leg. U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott said the officers went to a home in the 900 block of West 21st Street to serve a 34-year-old man a federal warrant for failure to appear. As they confronted the man, he attacked them, swinging the table leg like a baseball bat. |
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Ask Yadi: Is it too soon to move in together after eight months? Yadi Rodriguez asks, are you ready to be vulnerable with this person and let them see all of you and your habits? Chocolate chips: For those who like a salty-sweet flavor combination, Malley’s Chocolates is collaborating with Barrio on CocoLoco Tortilla Chips. Marc Bona reports it’s the taco restaurant’s famous tortilla chips smothered in Malley’s milk chocolate and sprinkled with zesty lime sea salt. Hawaiian vacation: Fourteen days, four islands, five flights – a lot could go wrong, Susan Glaser feared on her first-ever trip to Hawaii. But almost nothing did. Take advantage of Glaser’s good planning. Kite record: Crossroads Health wants volunteers to set a new kite-flying record for Lake County at the second Soaring Hearts on May 18 at Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor. Paris Wolfe reports the event will include entertainment, games, food trucks, a DJ, a 50/50 raffle and more. House of the Week: Where Ohio City meets Hingetown is Vine Court, a row of new, modern and luxurious townhomes with four levels of outdoor space. Completed last year, 3111 Vine Court has three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms in over 2,400 square feet, plus a three-car garage. Joey Morona reports the list price is $789,900 and the property comes with a 15-year tax abatement. Things to do: Northeast Ohioans are enjoying the early spring, which brings Guardians games and other warm-weather activities. Alex Darus lists 17 things to do this weekend, including Taylor Swift Fan Day at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cavs’ first round of playoff games. |
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Northeast Ohio road projects update: Detours drivers can expect Read more NWS confirms 5 tornadoes in Ohio during Wednesday’s storms Read more Medina woman to share stories of Winston Churchill during library event Read more Medina County Historical Society talks trash Read more International Institute of Akron trying to collect 500 blankets for incoming refugees Read more Berea residents to see new water, sewer fees starting July 1 Read more Pepper Pike council overrides mayor’s veto and establishes a charter review commission Read more Pull Tab Palooza is set: Here are the 3 locations in NE Ohio to know Read more |
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