Think about it like paying off your mortgage. Cuyahoga County is finally paying off the loans it took out in the 1990s to build then-Gund Arena and Jacobs Field. But instead of celebrating with champagne, the county is looking at a whole new looming debt load – to build a new county jail and fix up the aging pro sports facilities. Not to mention financing $31 million to update the Global Center for Health Innovation as part of the Huntington Convention Center. (The county is paying off the cost of building the $465 million convention center complex through 2027.) Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has yet to announce proposals for where to build a new jail – the last estimate for which was $750 million – or courthouse improvements, estimates for which have topped $1 billion. Nor has he suggested how he might fund those projects. Currently the county of 1.3 million people has a total $1.3 billion debt load. On a happier note, we wish you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. The Wake Up is taking Monday off, so we’ll see you Tuesday. -- Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Progressive Field was known as Jacobs Field when it opened in April 1994. (Gary Gardiner, Associated Press file photo) |
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Cuyahoga debt: Cuyahoga County is paying down over $126 million in debt this year, including final payments on 30-year-old bonds used to finance construction of Cleveland’s downtown basketball arena and baseball stadium in the 1990s. The county still owes on other major debts for the sports facilities, though, and hundreds of millions of dollars in new debt is on the horizon, Kaitlin Durbin reports. Summer violence: Cleveland’s police chief, Wayne Drummond, struck a passionate tone Thursday as he warned that violent crime is up in the city compared to this time last year. At a news conference, Drummond and other city leaders implored residents for help and outlined a handful of recent initiatives to prevent violence, while conceding that the city won’t meet its police recruitment goals this year, John Tucker reports. Mayor Justin Bibb pushed for Ohio and federal legislators to tackle the issue of gun violence plaguing the nation. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine intends to vote for the constitutional amendment that would make it harder for Ohio voters to change the constitution, saying he’s concerned that “outside forces” could “spend a ton of money” to try to change the constitution. We’re talking about hypocrisy on Today in Ohio, since millions of dollars in outside money is funding the push for minority rule.
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Lincoln’s work: Former White House urban policy adviser and Cleveland native Ja’Ron Smith has a new book, "Underserved: Harnessing the Principles of Lincoln’s Vision for Reconstruction for Today’s Forgotten Communities," reports Sabrina Eaton. He says it offers a prescription that Republicans can use to uplift underserved communities like the Lee Harvard neighborhood he hails from by suggesting ways to revive President Abraham Lincoln’s vision for reconstructing the nation after the Civil War. Voting security: A voting rights group has sent a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose asking to meet with him so he can clarify his plans after he decided in March to have the state withdraw from a multi-state voter information database, Cliff Pinckard reports. |
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Memorial Day: With temperatures dipping into the low 50s Thursday afternoon, it didn’t feel anything like the unofficial start of summer is almost upon us. But don’t despair, Cleveland temperatures are supposed to rise to near 80 degrees by Memorial Day, with the early forecast calling for a high of 78 on Monday, Rich Exner reports. Honoring soldiers: Volunteers began placing U.S. flags near the grave markers of more than 9,000 veterans Thursday on a beautiful spring day. Eventually, flags will cover the 66 sections over 285 acres at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland to honor the service of veterans on Memorial Day. John Kuntz has photos. Patio and a pebble: As you’re weed-whacking and mowing to perfect your yard, you run the risk of flinging gravel and debris at your house, which could result in broken windows or additional damage – costing hundreds of dollars. It’s a costly trend and Zach Mentz has tips to save you. |
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Midtown housing: An historic Midtown factory is another step closer to becoming affordable housing, reports Megan Sims. The vacant Warner & Swasey Building has shadowed Carnegie and East 55th Street in Cleveland for decades, but this week, Pennrose, which is leading redevelopment at the site, was awarded over $12 million in low-income housing tax credits. Treating depression: The anesthetic drug ketamine is at least as effective as electroconvulsive therapy for treating major depression and has fewer side-effects, a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine reported. For those whose depression fails to respond to anti-depressive drugs, ECT, which involves inducing a seizure via electrical stimulation of the brain, is one of the few treatments that can provide life-changing relief, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. Lotto: If you’re a Keno or Pick 3 player, the self-serve machine you use might be moving to a new location. That’s because the Ohio Lottery Commission is moving 179 under-performing kiosks across the state to new homes where the machines could be more successful, reports Sean McDonnell. COVID-19 cases: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio dropped again this week, with 1,926 reported in comparison with 2,770 last week, reports Julie Washington. However, there is uncertainty over the trends. Earlier this month, the Ohio Department of Health caught up on a backlog of positive COVID-19 cases reported. |
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Meth in jail: The Ohio Supreme Court has temporarily barred a Cleveland Heights attorney from practicing law after he was charged with bringing methamphetamine into the Cuyahoga County Jail and possessing a child porn image. Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy late Wednesday granted a request from the state’s disciplinary counsel imposing a remedial suspension on Eric Norton while a complaint against his license is investigated, reports Cory Shaffer. Hit-skip: Police are searching for the driver of a car who fled after hitting a bicyclist Thursday morning. A 30-year-old woman was riding outside of the crosswalk on Superior Avenue near East 91st Street at 11:15 a.m. when the car struck her, reports Molly Walsh. Jayland Walker: The attorneys representing Jayland Walker’s family are demanding transparency after a grand jury last month declined to indict eight Akron police officers who shot and killed the 25-year-old Black man last June after a chase. They also are pushing a law that would protect peaceful protesters, reports Molly Walsh. Dance instructor: A once-renowned Cleveland School of the Arts and Cuyahoga Community College dance instructor was convicted Thursday of raping several of his students over his 20-year career. Cory Shaffer reports Terence Greene ushered some of Cleveland’s most talented young dancers to successful careers across the country, including several who made it to New York’s famed Broadway. Children found: The U.S. Marshals Service located 35 missing children from across northern Ohio. “Operation We Will Find You” worked to find children missing from Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, Canton, Youngstown and surrounding cities and counties, reports Olivia Mitchell. |
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Botanical garden: The Geis Terrace at the Cleveland Botanical Garden will have a vibrant, whimsical look this summer with the addition of “Bloomin’ Glass Botanicals,” reports Paris Wolfe. More than 1,000 blown-glass pieces play with light, creating an Alice-in-Wonderland-meets-Dr.-Seuss aesthetic. After passing through the Allee, visitors will find “Petals and Perches,” more than 500 colorful birdhouses scattered throughout the trees in various gardens created by local artists as well as garden staff. Festival guide: What’s your favorite flavor of festival? There are strawberries in Troy, tomatoes in Reynoldsburg and bratwurst in Bucyrus, reports Susan Glaser. Ohio’s summerlong season of fun (and food) kicks off this weekend with a variety of fairs and festivals to please every palate. Things to do: Summer fun kicks off in earnest this weekend as Northeast Ohioans prepare for the long Memorial Day weekend. Mike Rose lists 19 holiday events, including food festivals, concerts, Guardians baseball and much more. |
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Woman follows car after dispute, shoots and kills man inside, Akron police say Read more Shaker Heights native chronicles life of civil rights icon James Meredith Read more New Latin-focused market launches Saturday mornings in Cleveland’s Clark/Fulton neighborhood Read more Charity begins at school: Orange students share their passion projects Read more Pepper Pike pulls plug on splash pad for city park Read more Parks and police top Chagrin Falls Village Council business in May Read more |
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