We were flummoxed when Cuyahoga County Council announced it would divvy up $66 million in federal stimulus money to award to members’ handpicked projects. “Not a slush fund,” said council. But how did they come up with the plan? Ohio law bans governments from making decisions outside of public meetings. So we checked their email -- 45,000 pages worth of it. The findings are stunning in a county that 13 years ago overhauled its government structure to create more accountability. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Cuyahoga County Council members as of 2022 include, from left back, councilmen Jack Schron, Michael Gallagher, Martin Sweeney, Pernel Jones, Dale Miller and Scott Tuma. In front, from left, is councilwomen Sunny Simon, Meredith Turner, Yvonne Conwell, Nan Baker, and Cheryl Stephens. (Photo courtesy of Cuyahoga County Council) |
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Sunshine law: Cuyahoga County officials forged a secret agreement on how to spend $66 million in stimulus funding, and without a public hearing or vote lined up projects for their “lists,” reports Lucas Daprile. Daprile examines documents showing an opaque process that left community groups befuddled and enabled councilmembers to control who received applications for the millions in federal funding. Wolf escape: When it comes to keeping its animal residents separated from its human visitors, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo turns to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for standards and guidance. But Peter Krouse reports that wasn’t enough to prevent a Mexican gray wolf from escaping an off-exhibit holding area at the zoo Labor Day morning and briefly roaming a public walkway. The incident is likely to provide a learning opportunity for the zoo and the Maryand-based AZA. Elections requests: Election boards throughout Ohio have been hit with recent public records requests that seem designed to prevent them from tossing out 2020 presidential election documentation that they otherwise would be able to discard this month. Sabrina Eaton reports Geauga County has received so many voluminous requests for information about the 2020 election in the past three or four months that it would have to hire more workers to fulfill them all. Intel: Ohio dignitaries and Intel executives celebrated the groundbreaking of a $20 billion silicon chip factory Friday in suburban Columbus by touting the high-paying tech jobs that will be needed to staff the plant and suppliers throughout the state. Laura Hancock reports Intel will manufacture silicon wafers in Columbus that will be cut into tiny chips, then shipped across the world and packaged inside central processing units in personal computers, servers, mobile devices and other technology. Today in Ohio: President Joe Biden was there, as well as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. All sorts of politicians, both Democrat and Republican, cheered the groundbreaking of the Intel plant in New Albany. We’re talking about a rare bipartisan celebration on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s half-hour news podcast. |
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Biden: The Democratic Party’s major candidates in Ohio are painstakingly keeping their distance from the president. But Andrew Tobias reports that Joe Biden still visited the state on Friday to tout the passage of the CHIPS bill and the groundbreaking of Intel’s massive new factory in the Columbus area. Intel training: Kent State University and Lorain County Community College will lead projects aimed at developing a semiconductor manufacturing workforce in the state as construction begins on a $20 billion chip plant in central Ohio, reports Laura Hancock. Payday loans: Ohio lawmakers who wanted consumer-friendly payday lending reforms fought an uphill battle against the industry until they finally passed a bill capping interest at 28% in 2018. But Laura Hancock reports that at least one lender started providing loans in a workaround that prompted dozens of consumer complaints and later remarks from a judge who said it was an attempt to evade the law. Republican chair: Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Paduchik survived an attempt by state party officials to replace him less than two months before the November general election. Jeremy Pelzer reports that after more than an hour of debate, the Ohio GOP state central committee decided Friday not to hold leadership elections until January. |
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Rental market: With a recent study showing the median asking price for rent in the Cleveland area now close to $1,050 a month, the question arises, what do you get for $1,050 a month in today’s market? Megan Sims lists what’s available, in location, amenities and size. Hardwood floor: Laura Johnston insisted on hardwood floors when she finished her attic to create a bed-and-bath suite. Since the millennium, wall-to-wall carpet has sunk in popularity. |
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CDC map: On the latest CDC map, Cuyahoga County and most of Greater Cleveland remained yellow, or designated as having medium COVID-19 transmission, reports Julie Washington. Ashtabula, Lorain and Portage counties were among the Northeast Ohio counties classified red, for high COVID-19 transmission. Home sales: The cleveland.com database of home sales and other property transfer details has been updated with transactions for August 2022. |
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East Cleveland: A grand jury has charged two former East Cleveland police officers with taking cash bribes to provide a man with falsified police reports so he could commit insurance fraud, reports Cory Shaffer. Von Harris, 52, and Demarkco Johnson, 28, were indicted Friday on multiple counts each of bribery and tampering with records, and one count of insurance fraud. Body found: A body washed up on the Lake Erie coastline in Lakewood on Saturday evening, police said. The Lakewood police department is currently investigating the matter, but have released few details, Megan Sims reports. |
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NIN: It’s been more than two years in the making. But Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails will finally make their way to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Troy Smith reports the museum will host Nine Inch Nails Fan Day on Friday, Sept. 23. Induction performers: Microsoft Theater, the venue for this year’s Rock Hall induction ceremony taking place Nov. 5 in Los Angeles revealed that Pink, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, Alice Cooper, Brandi Carlile, Olivia Rodrigo, Alanis Morissette and Miley Cyrus are all scheduled to appear, reports Troy Smith. Orchestra collab: The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Institute of Music are joining forces to broaden their collaborations and share resources, reports Marc Bona. The partnership adds exposure for the CIM Orchestra, which usually performed two or three concerts a year at Severance Music Center. Black Keys: The Black Keys’ concert Friday at Blossom Music Center was a great soundtrack to a beautiful Northeast Ohio night. Troy Smith reports that the Black Keys of 20 years ago, made up of guitarist/lead singer Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney’s noisy blues explorations only fit for a grimy basement, is long gone. They found a niche that allows them to amiably cruise while generating big hits and have mostly stuck to it. House of the week: Designed by New York-based architect Linn Kinne in the early 20th century, the mansion at 3145 N. Park Blvd. in Cleveland Heights was once owned by Case Western Reserve University, which used it as its president’s residence. Joey Morona reports the house is on the market for $1.4 million. |
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Patriot Day ceremonies in Berea, Brook Park honor lives lost during terrorist attacks Read more Westlake Porter Public Library unveils piece of steel from Twin Towers in honor of 9/11 Read more Man fatally struck by car in Medina County, authorities say Read more Powerball ticket worth $2 million sold in Ohio Read more Tri-City Bark Park’s future includes pavilion, dog agility course Read more Redeveloper of 3663 Park East Drive former hotel site unveils new, improved $200 million plans Read more Notre Dame College invites the community to its centennial celebration Sept. 18 Read more New teachers, improved facilities greet Chagrin Falls students -- but no more free lunch Read more |
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