  What you need to know Friday, Dec. 3, 2021  WEATHER
It will be cooler today, bringing a chance of rain and snow showers. Highs will be around 40 degrees. Skies will clear Saturday, with highs staying in the low 40s. Temps will climb into the 50s Sunday but it will be cloudy with a chance of showers. Read more. OVERNIGHT
Extra unemployment: Six months after Gov. Mike DeWine cut enhanced benefits of $300 a week to unemployed Ohioans, labor data suggests the decision did little to prompt jobless Ohioans to return to work faster. The number of filled jobs in the Buckeye State grew 1.1% from June through preliminary data for October, lagging behind the 1.7% growth in the national average, Sean McDonnell reports. And Ohio’s preliminary unemployment rate of 5.1% in October remains nearly unchanged from the 5.2% rate in June.
Airfare: Flying from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport continues to be a relative bargain, reports Susan Glaser. The average airfare from Cleveland in the second quarter of 2021 was $271, well below the U.S. average of $300.
TODAY IN OHIO Former President Donald Trump’s chief of staff says Trump tested positive for coronavirus three days before the first debate against President Joe Biden in Cleveland -- then tested negative. We’re talking about the Cleveland Clinic’s role in keeping the debate COVID safe on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
STATEHOUSE & POLITICS Running mate: Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci, who’s looking to unseat incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine, announced Thursday he has picked Christian movie producer and motivational speaker Joe Knopp as his running mate. Jeremy Pelzer reports that Knopp, who lives in the Dayton suburb of Springboro, doesn’t have any prior political experience. Abortion bill: A doctor testified Thursday that an Ohio bill requiring physicians to provide lifesaving care to fetuses that survive abortions could rob women the opportunity to hold the baby and say goodbye when there isn’t any chance the infant will survive. Laura Hancock reports that Senate Bill 157 is aimed at botched abortions. Sponsor Sen. Terry Johnson, a Scioto County retired family osteopathic physician, has said the bill is necessary because the fetus deserves the same degree of medical care that a doctor would perform on any other newborn.
Police pension: Taxpayers in Cleveland and other cities in Ohio could pay an increased share of retirement costs for police and firefighters if a proposal from state lawmakers were to become law. Andrew Tobias reports the proposal from Republican state Reps. Brian Baldridge and Cindy Abrams would require cities to cover 26.5% of retirement contributions paid into the Ohio Police & Firefighter Fund, compared to the current 19.5% for police and 24% for firefighters.
Cannabis bill: Bainbridge Township Republican Rep. Dave Joyce is teaming up with New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on new legislation that would help states expunge criminal records for people with convictions for non-violent cannabis offenses, Sabrina Eaton reports. The bill they’re calling the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act would set up a “State Expungement Opportunity Grant Program” through the U.S. Department of Justice to reduce states’ costs for processing expungements.
COVID-19 UH: University Hospitals will allow unvaccinated caregivers to continue working after Jan. 4, reversing its earlier mandate, Julie Washington reports. UH had announced that it would follow the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but a federal court injunction issued Tuesday temporarily blocks enforcement.
Hospitalizations: Coronavirus cases continue to increase across the state, with the highest concentration of hospitalizations in Northeast Ohio, Laura Hancock reports. According to the Ohio Hospital Association, 905 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Northeast Ohio facilities on Thursday. In comparison, 477 coronavirus patients were inpatient in the Columbus area and 483 were in the Cincinnati area.
COVID cases: The state of Ohio on Thursday reported 9,131 new cases of COVID-19, the most for as single day since Jan. 8, reports Julie Washington. Thursday’s total was up from 8,944 new cases Wednesday and well above the 21-day average of 5,595.
Student cases: The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is reporting the most new COVID-19 cases in the state among students and staff, according to the latest weekly update from the Ohio Department of Health, Alexis Oatman reports.
BUSINESS Unemployment: The number of Ohioans filing for unemployment is the lowest on record after a large week-to-week drop left fewer than 40,000 people claiming benefits last week. Sean McDonnell reports nearly 8,300 people stopped making claims from the week before, while the number of new claims was only up slightly, leaving total claims at 39,653 for past week, the lowest on record dating back to 1986.
Mark Wahlberg: Mark Wahlberg has opened another automotive dealership in Lorain County, making it his sixth in Ohio. The second Mark Wahlberg Airstream & RV opened Wednesday at 4500 Grove Avenue in Lorain, Sean McDonnell reports.
CRIME Guilty plea: A former Cuyahoga County Jail officer pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor charge after prosecutors accused him of punching a handcuffed inmate in a scuffle caught on video.Reion Cook, 47, pleaded guilty to persistent disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, which was reduced from a charge of assault, Adam Ferrise reports.
Suspects arrested: U.S. marshals this week arrested two suspects in two separate Garfield Heights homicides, Kaylee Remington reports. Deondra Hatcher, 24, was arrested in connection with the Oct. 31 killing of Antoine Lashawn Calhoun. Cortland Scales, 32, was arrested in connection with an Oct. 29 homicide.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Holiday travel: Light up the season this year with a holiday road trip to light displays and Christmas markets, life-sized nutcrackers and decked-out zoos. Susan Glaser reports that several events, canceled or off-limits last year because of the pandemic are back for 2021, including WinterFest at Kings Island and the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Black Nativity: If you see one Christmas show this holiday season, consider making it “Black Nativity” at Karamu House. Joey Morona reports the musical tells the Nativity story from a culturally inclusive point of view.
Nela Park: A 97-year tradition continues at GE Lighting’s Nela Park headquarters this holiday season. John Pana collected Plain Dealer and Cleveland Press historical photos to transport us back decades and show the evolution of the popular lighting display over the years.
Sotheby auction: Take a tour through Karl Lagerfeld’s treasures before a landmark Southeby’s auction with cleveland.com’s sister site Vogue. Eight online and live auctions are planned.
Things to do: ‘Tis the season for holiday events. Joey Morona has 16 events worth checking out to get you in the spirit. OTHER HEADLINES Cleveland Heights police search for suspect in home invasion, robbery Read more
Mom, children run to safety after armed men invade Akron home Read more
Cleveland police bomb squad, feds find nothing suspicious in car outside Federal Building, officials say Read more
Avon High School teacher to be honored with colorful mosaics Read more
Orange council reappoints Hitt to Planning and Zoning Commission Read more
Berea school board member-elect envisions ‘very positive’ district future Read more
Commission approves Middleburg Heights police station site plan Read more
Highland Heights City Council now accepting applicants for Ward 4 seat Read more
Mayfield police begin I-271 photo speed enforcement Read more
Parma City School District focuses on student social-emotional wellbeing with Mental Health Summit Read more
Court denies police union’s motion against Olmsted Falls Read more
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