  What you need to know Tuesday, March 1, 2022  WEATHER
High temperatures might approach 50 degrees today, but there is a solid chance of showers during the afternoon with mostly cloudy skies. It will remain cloudy overnight with a chance of rain before 10 p.m. Temps eventually will drop to around 30 degrees.
OVERNIGHT
Primary election: Bipartisan election officials at Ohio’s 88 boards of election are joining the call for state lawmakers to move the election to a later date, reports Andrew Tobias. Officials say many counties around the state no longer have the ability to hold a smooth primary election in May. Leaders of the Ohio Elections Officials Association said that even with the new state legislative maps the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved last Thursday, they still can’t perform the necessary work to prepare for the May 3 primary election because they lack the full details needed to program their voting machines.
Earthquakes: Ten minor earthquakes have been recorded in Lake Erie just north of Lake County in 2022 and experts have a few theories for what caused the unusual seismic activity, but nothing definitive. Peter Krouse reports the largest of the tremors was a 3.0 magnitude on Jan. 4 and the smallest and most recent was 1.2 magnitude on Feb. 9. So many in one area in quick succession is kind of strange.
TODAY IN OHIO Ohio Democrats took a gamble last week when they voted against a new Republican state legislative map plan that favors each party to win a share of seats perfectly proportionate to their share of the recent statewide vote. Had they voted yes, Democrats would have locked them in for a decade and given them a real chance of ending the Republican supermajority in Columbus. We’re talking about whether that was the right idea on Today in Ohio.
STATEHOUSE & POLITICS Gerrymandering: Groups that sued to get previous Republican-drawn Ohio state legislative maps struck down in court now are objecting to the newest set Republicans approved last Thursday. Andrew Tobias reports that two sets of plaintiffs in the case are suggesting workarounds the court can follow to bypass the Ohio Redistricting Commission, the panel of elected officials that drew the maps. Animal protection: The Animal Legal Defense Fund ranked Ohio 24th in the U.S. in animal protection laws in a new report, up from 30th the prior year, after the General Assembly passed a law recognizing the link between animal abuse and domestic violence. In addition to new requirements for vets and social workers, House Bill 33 requires animal control officers to immediately report child abuse to children’s services agencies or police officers, Laura Hancock reports.
METRO Jail tax: Before Cuyahoga County can take on additional debt to build a new $550 million jail, it would first have to permanently extend a quarter-percent sales tax set to expire in five years to pay for it, budget officials said Monday, echoing plans previously proposed by County Executive Armond Budish. Kaitlin Durbin reports the proposed tax increase, which only requires council’s approval, would keep Cuyahoga County’s sales tax rate at 8% -- the highest in the state.
Mansion condos: A judge has again rejected an attempt by the owner of a Hunting Valley mansion – designed by the Van Sweringens and once owned by Vernon Stouffer – to overturn the village’s decision to reject her plans to turn the house into six luxury condominiums. Eric Heisig reports the judge ruled the zoning laws from which Roundwood Manor owner Sylvia Korey sought a variance to renovate the inside of her 55,000-square-foot mansion was not unconstitutional as it pertained to her case.
Bomb squad: At least six of the eight members of Cleveland police’s bomb squad are leaving the unit because of concerns about safety and supervision, reports Adam Ferrise. Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Jeff Follmer said bomb squad officers are concerned with the sergeant in charge of the unit after several recent incidents and tactics he deployed during calls.
Property taxes: Cuyahoga County is home to more than a third of the places in the state with the highest property tax rates - those topping $3,000 in taxes per $100,000 of home value. Zachary Smith reports the Harrison Township/Dayton district within the Northridge Local School District of Montgomery County has the highest property taxes per $100,000 at $3,929.
Law director: Late last year, Mark Griffin found himself on the shortlist for two prestigious jobs: inspector general for the city of Chicago and law director for the city of Cleveland. Griffin chose Cleveland. Courtney Astolfi reports that Griffin is now advising Mayor Justin Bibb on legal aspects of policy and managing a 100-person staff that functions as the city’s in-house law firm.
Clinic lounge: The Cleveland Clinic wants to open a lounge at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport for its patients traveling to Cleveland from across the U.S. and abroad. The lounge would offer concierge and hospitality services for Clinic patients traveling to and from Cleveland -- like help with travel arrangements between the airport and hospital, or help coordinating travel arrangements for patients’ family members, Courtney Astolfi reports.
BUSINESS Lordstown: The electric Endurance pickup truck is on track to reach roads this year, but in a limited fashion, reports Sean McDonnell. The electric-vehicle company operating on the site of a former General Motors plant plans to build 500 Endurance pickup trucks in 2022 and 2,500 in 2023. Production of testing vehicles is underway.
STEM field: An idea to get people of color and young women into the STEM field won the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Accelerate civic pitch competition. Shane Winnyk of Strongsville and Courtney Smith of Lorain pitched “Grayter Cleveland” to organize similar pairs of tech employees that can meet with students, giving them a chance to see different people working together, Sean McDonnell reports.
Better energy: Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. are among more than 80 participants in a new U.S. Department of Energy “Better Climate Challenge” to reduce their organization’s carbon footprint, reports Sabrina Eaton.
CRIME Homicide charges: Two men accused of shooting, choking and stabbing a 47-year-old man to death during a Christmas Day robbery now face charges that would make them eligible for the death penalty if they are convicted. Cory Shaffer reports a grand jury on Friday handed up a 20-count indictment charging Chad Webb and Daniel Mobley with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, drug possession and other charges in the Dec. 25 killing of Chris Vo.
Police officer: A judge on Monday gave probation to a former Cleveland police officer convicted of groping a woman during a 2019 altercation at his home. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John J. Russo placed Matthew Piter on probation for three years, Cory Shaffer reports.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Tall ships: Tall ships will return to Lake Erie’s waterfront this summer when the Cleveland Tall Ships Festival takes place July 7-10, reports Anne Nickoloff. Tickets to the four-day event are now on sale at tallshipscle.com, ranging in price from $17 for a one-day pass to $300 for a VIP fast pass. Weekend passes are also available.
St. Patrick’s: Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day parade was one of the first big COVID-19 cancellations in 2020. Marc Bona reports organizers now are anticipating the same size as the last parade, in 2019, which means several thousand participants, with 100,000 to 150,000 spectators lining the route. OTHER HEADLINES Lorain County substitute teacher, JV coach accused of sex crime involving student Read more
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Kent man accused of yelling racial slur, punching 2 women in Akron in attack caught on video Read more
Cleveland man dies in shooting in Ohio City neighborhood Read more
Fireworks fizzle in Mayfield Heights as council opts out of House Bill 172 Read more
Orange Schools drops mask mandate in all buildings and on school buses Read more
Lane closures begin as Ohio 18 construction continues in Medina Read more
The Park and the Clerk: Two issues headed to May ballot in Cleveland Heights Read more
North Royalton puts EMS/fire levy on May 3 ballot Read more
Hale Farm & Village to host Maple Sugar Days March 12-13, March 19-20 in Bath Read more
Presidents' Day Sale Cleveland.com Unlimited Digital Access. $49 for the first year. You can cancel any time.
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