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| What you need to know Monday, July 26, 2021 WEATHER
It will be very warm today as highs reach the upper 80s with mostly sunny skies. The good news is the humidity shouldn't be too bad. Overnight lows will be in the mid-60s with clear skies. Read more.
Local scores: Indians 3, Tampa Bay Rays 2 OVERNIGHT
Nearing DeWine? The House Bill 6 corruption scandal already was going to be a campaign issue for Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. But new details in the deal FirstEnergy Corp. signed with federal prosecutors last week put the scandal a step closer to the governor’s office, posing new complications as DeWine heads into what could be a challenging re-election year. Andrew Tobias writes that no one in DeWine’s orbit had been directly and clearly implicated in illegal behavior – until now.
Term limits: Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder sought FirstEnergy’s help with his attempt to dodge term limits and remain in office through 2036, according to the company’s legal deal with the U.S. attorney. Andrew Tobias reports the court filings include a text message conversation from an unnamed top FirstEnergy executive, in which he described Householder as an “expensive friend.”
Lying to juveniles: Some state lawmakers and criminal justice advocates in Ohio are hoping to learn from other states, with legislation meant to prevent police from lying to elicit confessions from children suspected of crimes. Cory Shaffer reports the nation’s leading policing experts are increasingly opposing such tactics, after hundreds of children across the country have had their convictions overturned after confessing under police pressure to crimes they didn’t commit.
Earmarks: Spending bills that will hit the U.S. House of Representatives floor in upcoming weeks contain millions of dollars for dozens of Northeast Ohio projects, from dredging Fairport Harbor to spiffing up an Akron park to adding storm sewers in Strongsville. Sabrina Eaton reports the cash infusion is due to the demise of a decade-long ban on letting Congress members allot money known as “earmarks” for particular projects in yearly funding bills. Bernie vs. Biden? If you’ve read the recent national news reports on Ohio’s 11th Congressional District special election, you’ve concluded that it’s a battle for the identity and soul of the Democratic Party, a proxy war between the establishment of President Joe Biden-backers and the liberal wing loyal to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But Seth Richardson writes in an analysis that the view is overly simplistic. One candidate in the 11th District is a veteran of Ohio politics, having held numerous elected offices and also a leadership position in the Ohio Democratic Party. The other is relatively new on the scene, trying to emerge as a new leader within the party.
Campaign finance: More than $6 million has poured into the 11th Congressional District Democratic primary during the special election cycle as former state Sen. Nina Turner and Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Shontel Brown continued to lead the pack. Seth Richardson reports Brown posted $1.3 million in her latest Federal Elections Commission filing covering donations from April 1 through July 14. Turner continued to dominate fundraising, posting $2.3 million for the latest period.
Coronavirus surge: The state on Sunday reported 495 new coronavirus cases, making it the most on a Sunday since 683 on May 23. The seven-day average over the last week jumped up to 714 with the 495 cases reported on Sunday. This is the highest it’s been since the seven-day average May 28, Kaylee Remington reports.
FirstEnergy: A day after agreeing with federal prosecutors to pay a $230 million fine for bankrolling the largest bribery scheme in state history, FirstEnergy Corp. executives pledged to continue to take steps to restore trust in their company. Jeremy Pelzer reports from the earnings call, when CEO Steven Strah said there are “many more steps down the path to restore confidence and trust.”
Chuck Jones: Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones on Friday denied that he or the company broke any law, even though his former employer agreed to pay a $230 million fine for bribing high-ranking state officials, Jeremy Pelzer reports. A statement said he is “very disappointed that FirstEnergy would falsely implicate so many hard-working and dedicated employees in wrongdoing who were committed to implementing the board’s stated goals.”
Bill Seitz: State Rep. Bill Seitz memorably declared on the Ohio House floor last March that it was “false to insinuate” that corruption in the House led to the passage of House Bill 6. Andrew Tobias reports that on Friday, the influential Republican said it didn’t implicate anyone in the House besides Larry Householder, whom House members voted in June to expel, over Seitz’s opposition. “And, I’ve said that all along, if those allegations are proven against Larry, then obviously that’s very bad,” he said. “And if he’s convicted, then I certainly would have no problem having him removed. But he’s already been removed.”
Guardians: The Cleveland Indians’ new name, announced Friday, should be an instant hit. It deserves to be, Steven Litt writes in a commentary about the eight, 43-foot-tall Berea sandstone sculptures of guardians that stand watch on four pylons over the east and west ends of the nearly 90-year-old Hope Memorial Bridge.
Guardians reaction: Members of Cleveland’s Indigenous community are looking forward to enjoying baseball games as they feel dignified by Friday’s news that the Cleveland Indians are changing their name, reports Robin Goist. Northeast Ohio officials largely welcomed the name. “It’s the first name that counts: Cleveland, that’s what counts. It’s still Cleveland baseball. There’s still a ‘C’ on the cap. That’s what we’ve celebrated for over 100 years, and that’s what’s important,” Gov. Mike DeWine tells Courtney Astolfi. Some disappointed fans tell Cameron Fields they saw no reason to change the name.
Tom Hanks: Tom Hanks is one of the most famous Indians fans on the planet and one of the most well-liked people in Hollywood. Why’d he narrate the video introducing the team’s Guardians name? Joey Morona reports Hanks' ties to Cleveland go back to 1977 when he landed his first professional job as an intern at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival.
Kidney transplant: A breakdown in the organ verification process caused a kidney transplant patient to receive the wrong kidney earlier this month, Julie Washington reports. In response, UH has changed its transplant procedures to increase redundancy in the verification of organs and patients, and conducted training with appropriate transplant personnel to reinforce organ verification protocols.
Monkeypox: A single Ohio resident is under quarantine as a precaution after being on a flight in early July that also included a Dallas person later diagnosed with monkeypox, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
COVID orphans: More than 1.5 million children around the world are estimated to have lost at least one parent, custodial grandparent, or grandparent who lived with them due to a COVID-19-related death during the first 14 months of the pandemic, Julie Washington reports. A study in the Lancet used mortality and fertility data in 21 countries to model rates of COVID-19-associated orphanhood (death of one or both parents) and deaths of custodial and co-residing grandparents (ages 60-84) from March 2020 to April 2021.
Trucking industry: The trucking industry has been navigating a driver labor shortage for more than 15 years, but the trend is worsening, with an anticipated 1.1 million new drivers needed in the next decade, Hannah Drown reports. With more goods being delivered to customers during the coronavirus pandemic, the need for skilled truck drivers has only amplified.
Ken Johnson trial: The longtime director of a neighborhood nonprofit testified Friday that his agency repeatedly struggled to make payroll, but Cleveland City Councilman Kenneth Johnson wanted three relatives to remain working at the agency. John Caniglia reports the former executive director of the Buckeye Shaker Square Economic Development Corp. said he felt pressure to keep the men working on a grounds crew, even though the move violated federal law and Cleveland conflict-of-interest regulations.
Motorcyclist killed: A 46-year-old Cleveland motorcyclist died Thursday night during a pursuit with East Cleveland police when he crashed into a Cadillac, Kaylee Remington reports.
Mayfield teacher: A Cuyahoga County grand jury handed up an indictment against a former Mayfield Middle School teacher accused of sexual misconduct against several of his former students and athletes, Kaylee Remington reports. Daniel Carlson, 35, of Highland Heights, is charged with 10 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, three counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor, four counts of importuning, two counts of compelling prostitution, two counts of extortion and a single count of tampering with evidence.
Olympic podcast: The 2021 Tokyo Olympics are a busy time for “Keep the Flame Alive,” a podcast dedicated to the games and their cultural impact, hosted by Lakewood resident Jill Jaracz and Norwalk, Connecticut’s Alison Brown. Anne Nickoloff reports the show features stories from athletes, historians, authors, coaches and more key figures in the Olympics and Paralympics.
Olympic science: Emily Kuhn, a former gymnast and current physics doctoral student at Yale University, explains all the math behind the amazing flips and turns we see during the Olympic gymnastics competitions for cleveland.com’s sister site, Wired.
House of the Week: Built in 2003 on nearly three acres of land, a Moreland Hills home offers five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, six full. The heart of the home is the kitchen, featuring luxury surfaces, premium appliances, an island and plenty of counter space, reports Joey Morona. The home is available for $2,795,000.
Woman fatally shoots man, says she was assaulted, Cleveland police say Read more
Man dies in shootout outside Cleveland convenience store Read more
Gunmen kill 1 as teens record music video in abandoned Cleveland church Read more
Construction plans for several Ohio Department of Transportation projects in Cuyahoga County next week to change traffic patterns Read more
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