  What you need to know Tuesday, August 3, 2021  WEATHER
Sunny and clear skies should continue Tuesday, with the high expected to be near 80 degrees and the low around 62. But the potential for rain and thunderstorms is not too far behind, as isolated showers and thunderstorms are in Wednesday's forecast. Read more.
Local scores: Indians 5, Toronto Blue Jays 2 OVERNIGHT
Mask threshold: Cuyahoga County has reached the federal government’s threshold for “substantial” transmission of COVID-19, triggering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that everyone wear masks indoors. Courtney Astolfi reports that through Saturday, Cuyahoga County’s seven-day average logged 52.55 cases per 100,000 residents, up from 39.51 one week ago. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health did not immediately address questions about whether the designation will trigger any new guidance from local health authorities. Rather, a spokesman said the board would hold a press conference on Wednesday.
Randazzo: New documents show Sam Randazzo received a huge windfall from FirstEnergy Corp. in exchange for what the company has said was his 2015 agreement to change sides on a key state regulatory move FirstEnergy had been pushing for. Andrew Tobias reports that years before Randazzo became chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, FirstEnergy more than quadrupled Randazzo’s existing consulting contract, to $11.2 million.
Vaccinations up: COVID-19 vaccination rates are on the upswing in Ohio, perhaps in response to health experts’ warning that the unvaccinated risk getting sick with the highly transmissible delta variant. Through Sunday, 59,693 people received a first dose in the last week, Julie Washington reports. That’s 8,528 a day, or the highest point since June 19.
OSU masks: Ohio State University announced Monday it would require all students, faculty, and staff across all campuses to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. Alexis Oatman reports the decision comes after the recent rise of delta variant cases in the state and across the country.
This Week in the CLE: Cleveland Councilman Kenneth Johnson is the fifth Cleveland City Council member convicted of corruption-related offenses since 2000. We’re talking about the case on This Week in the CLE, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour podcast.
Redistricting: The seven-member panel tasked with redrawing Ohio’s political maps for next year’s election and beyond will hold its first meeting on Friday, the first step for Ohio’s new redistricting process. Andrew Tobias reports DeWine is a member of the commission, which is responsible for redrawing state legislative maps, and if there is an impasse with the General Assembly, the state’s congressional lines, too. Including DeWine, the commission has five Republicans and two Democrats.
School vouchers: Public school advocates who plan to sue Ohio over private school vouchers say the recently passed two-year state budget contains more money and programs for private and home schools. Laura Hancock reports they believe the provisions funnel state money away from public schools and will make their case – which has been in the works for months before the budget passed and involves over 70 school districts - against the state stronger.
Reducing poverty: Gov. Mike DeWine signed two executive orders that will provide millions to nonprofits and faith-based organizations to help drug addicts, pregnant women, people struggling to find affordable housing and other services for low-income Ohio families, Laura Hancock reports. The money is from the welfare program, officially called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and comes from the state and federal government.
Baby Zoomers: The pandemic related baby boom that everyone expected was a bust initially, but things just might be on the rebound with an uptick of births in Ohio. Birth rates in Ohio and a handful of other states hit the lowest point around January, reports Julie Washington. The U.S. birth rate fell about 4% from 2019 to 2020, the sixth consecutive year that the number of births decreased, and the lowest number of births since 1979.
West Creek: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $7 million of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative money to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District so it can perform improvements on the main stem of West Creek that will boost the Cuyahoga River’s water quality. Sabrina Eaton reports the money will be used to stabilize 3,500 linear feet of West Creek‘s stream bank within the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern and restore four acres of aquatic and terrestrial habitat.
Police shooting: Elyria police shot a man early Monday while investigating a report that a man was causing a disturbance and threatened people, Olivia Mitchell reports. Darnell Delaney, 37, of Elyria is expected to survive the shooting that happened shortly after 3 a.m. in the 900 block of East Avenue near Wolf Court.
Gun violence: One person is dead and more than a dozen are wounded in another weekend plagued with gun violence in Cleveland, Olivia Mitchell reports. An unidentified male was found dead at a Slavic Village gas station early Saturday morning. The city experienced at least 16 reported shootings and a stabbing over the weekend.
Embezzlement: The former Chagrin Falls clerk who embezzled nearly $250,000 from the village’s coffers will not spend any time behind bars, reports Cory Shaffer. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Hollie Gallagher sentenced 53-year-old Debbie Bosworth to two years of probation because she made good on her promise to repay more than $300,000 before Monday’s sentencing hearing.
Wet July: Northeast Ohio got soaked at record levels in July, as the previous month is the fourth-wettest July on record, according to the National Weather Service. Cameron Fields reports the region received 7.91 inches of rainfall in July, ranking only behind 1992, 1912 and 1878 on the all-time list.
Art of cards: Cardistry pioneers Dan and Dave Buck explain cardistry in 22 levels of difficulty, from a foundational Z-Grip to complicated cuts like the Leno, in this video from cleveland.com’s sister site, Wired.
Film fest: The Cleveland Italian Film Festival will host its 15th year of programming from Aug. 26 to Sept. 9, with three unique film screenings at the Cedar Lee Theatre and Atlas Cinemas Eastgate. Anne Nickoloff reports the movie event is organized by director festival director Joyce Mariani.
Maple Heights man charged with voluntary manslaughter in shooting of girlfriend’s ex Read more
Harry Connick Jr. used time during pandemic for new album and is ready to begin 19-stop tour Read more
Garfield Heights City Schools students, employees must wear masks again Read more
Ohio gas prices down 4 pennies this week: AAA Read more
Rainforest Car Wash to host karaoke event, winner gets free washes Read more
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