On President Trump’s first day in office, he created the Department of Government Efficiency, under the leadership of billionaire businessman Elon Musk, with the goal of maximizing government efficiency and productivity. A month later, we’re trying to sort out who is getting cut where – at NASA Glenn, the VA hospital and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. At NASA, where Musk’s involvement has drawn criticism about a potential conflict of interest with his SpaceX company, hundreds of employees responded to a deferred resignation offer. At the Department of Veterans Affairs, 60 non-union employees across Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana are receiving pink slips, though the agency won’t specify how many employees are in Cleveland. And at CVNP, four employees lost their jobs, while the status of the 40 summer seasonal workers is unknown. Federal workers protested the cuts Thursday at a rally downtown. U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, a Democrat, said she stood in “solidarity with federal workers who are being bullied and disrespected by Trump and his billionaire buddy Elon Musk.” Republican congress members aren’t saying much. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs at Brooklyn Nets: Cavs overcome slow start, begin ‘final push’ with 110-97 win against Nets Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Gradual warming this weekend |
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The Ledges Trail at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. (Thomas Ondrey, Plain Dealer file photo) |
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Congressional response: Democratic members of Congress from Northeast Ohio are blasting the Trump administration for its staff cuts at federal operations, including Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and for potential staff reductions elsewhere, including NASA Glenn Research Center. Meanwhile, Republican members of Congress had little or nothing to say when contacted by Peter Krouse. NASA: Staff cuts are underway at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a spokesperson for Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center said, though the full impact the cuts will have on the facility isn’t yet clear. Sabrina Eaton reports that NASA is in the process of “validating hundreds of employees” who responded to a deferred resignation offer that pledged to give federal workers who left voluntarily full pay and benefits until Sept. 30. Protest: Union members and U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown vowed Thursday to fight against efforts to radically downsize the federal workforce, reports Lucas Daprile. About 100 people demonstrated outside the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building in downtown Cleveland in the snow and 19-degree temperatures. Today in Ohio: Ohio already is spending $1 billion on private schools, but under Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed two-year budget, they could spend another $250 million. Meanwhile, DeWine’s budget cuts public schools by $100 million. We’re talking about the redistribution of wealth and how it’s hurting Ohio school kids on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Enhanced driver’s licenses: Less than two years after state lawmakers made Ohio the sixth state to authorize “enhanced” driver’s licenses and ID cards, legislators are now trying to make a U-turn. Enhanced licenses and IDs – not to be confused with “Real ID” cards that soon will be required to board airplanes – are designed to allow residents to cross the border into Canada, Mexico and Caribbean nations without needing a passport, but Jeremy Pelzer reports the state is still waiting for approval from the federal government. Vance comments: Vice President JD Vance on Thursday touted President Donald Trump as a masculine role model, telling the Conservative Political Action Conference that Trump’s practice of saying what’s on his mind is a “good example to set for young men in American culture.” Sabrina Eaton reports Vance said God made male and female “for a purpose, and we want you guys to thrive as young men and as young women.” He said Trump’s administration is promoting public policy to make that possible. CSU wrestling: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno is questioning Cleveland State University President Laura Bloomberg over the school’s decision to eliminate its wrestling program, which he described as “disquieting.” Laura Hancock reports that Moreno wrote in a letter Wednesday that participation in boys and girls wrestling is increasing at the high school level, and college wrestling is popular in Northeast Ohio. Court defying: If Trump defies the courts, there isn’t much judges can do to reign him in, experts tell Lucas Daprile. And with Congress firmly under Republican control, it seems unlikely a third impeachment against Trump would be a non-starter. |
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Polluters near schools: While several Northeast Ohio locations are at risk from toxic chemicals emitted by nearby manufacturers, Elyria tops the region’s list for the number of its schools where students face the most potential harm from air pollution, according to researchers. Zachary Smith found that among the 100 most at-risk schools in Ohio, Elyria has nine, the highest number in the eight-county Greater Cleveland region. Sensory kits: Interactions with law enforcement can be nerve-racking for anyone, but the lights, sirens and added stress of the situation can be especially hard for those with sensory processing issues. Kaitlin Durbin reports that Cuyahoga County sheriff’s deputies will carry sensory kits with resources to try to make the experience a little easier, especially for children and adults with autism, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder or other conditions. |
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Big Lots: Big Lots, the discount retailer based out of Ohio’s capital city, is closing its doors and laying off 533 employees at its corporate office by the end of April, reports Jake Zuckerman. Hall of Fame: The Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists will induct several local Black journalism legends at its first-ever Hall of Fame event, reports Megan Sims. There will be a dozen inductees at the inaugural ceremony this weekend, which includes people that have made an impact across various platforms and mediums in the Cleveland region. COVID cases: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio showed a substantial drop this week, falling from 5,422 last week to 4,616 this week, reports Julie Washington. |
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East Cleveland: The chief of staff to suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King was charged late Thursday in a federal indictment that accuses him of accepting bribes from two brothers who authorities say pretended to be royalty in the United Arab Emirates, Adam Ferrise reports. The brothers plied Michael Smedley with dinners and Cleveland Browns tickets, and text messages showed they talked about giving Smedley cash, according to the indictment. Bank theft: A former Cleveland bank manager was sentenced Wednesday to one day in prison for stealing more than $60,000 from a dead client’s account, reports Adam Ferrise. Lamont Hankins spent Wednesday afternoon in jail for forging documents and lying to supervisors and employees to embezzle the money from an account at the PNC Bank Harvard-Lee branch that he managed. 10-year-old killed: A Cleveland man and a Brooklyn woman have been indicted on homicide and drug charges in connection with the shooting death of a 10-year-old, reports David Gambino. Plow crashes: As snow piles up across Northeast Ohio, the number of ODOT snowplows struck by drivers this winter season has jumped to 49, reports Olivia Mitchell. From Friday through Sunday, the agency reported 11 crashes, with nine on Sunday. |
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Ask Yadi: What should you do if you if you accidentally saw a negative text about yourself on your co-worker's phone? Yadi Rodriguez advises to let it go. “Don’t look for trouble where there may not be any.” Rock Hall: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Fan Vote is up and running for 2025 and the voting process has been expanded to give fans different ways to cast their ballots for their favorite nominees, Malcolm X Abram reports. Women’s tea: The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland is celebrating International Women’s Day with an afternoon tea at 11 a.m. on March 8. The event offers fine teas, pastries, savory bites and one glass of champagne, reports Paris Wolfe. Manatee kayaking: In southwest Florida last month, Susan Glaser had perfect conditions for a close encounter of the manatee kind at Lee County Manatee Park. The park is located on the Orange River, alongside a discharge canal from a nearby Florida Power and Light plant, which warms the water as its equipment cools. Things to do: Football is over, Valentine’s Day is in the rearview mirror and all you can think about while shoveling the driveway is Guardians’ spring training and the impending home opener. Good thing we have Cleveland’s annual Beerfest, the Cleveland Auto Show, standup comedy and even a bit of ’90s nostalgia. Peter Chakerian lists 17 things to do this weekend. |
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Brook Park man threatens to shoot McDonald’s manager, employees in Berea Read more Mandel JCC’s Annual Jewish Book Festival resumes with five author events in March Read more Prosecution is next step as some elevators remain non-working at Richmond Heights' 444 Park Apartments Read more Avon Lake’s ozone garden offers a unique approach to air quality research Read more Applications open for Shaker Heights schools' Finance and Audit Committee seat Read more Lakewood firefighters prepare for ice rescues on Rocky River, Lake Erie Read more Brooklyn officials using different tools to control development Read more |
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