We’re less than two weeks from Election Day, Nov. 7. And as of last Friday, 212,133 voters cast early ballots, either in person or by mail. That’s about 3,6oo fewer votes than during the same time period in August. But Ohio voters have requested 291,722 absentee ballots, which is 50% more than the 194,307 they had requested at the same time in August. What do the numbers mean for Issues 1 and 2, which would protect the right of abortion and legalize recreational marijuana? Early voting has increased in rural areas while dropping in urban areas, generally a favorable sign for both issues since rural counties tend to vote more Republican. U.S. Sen. JD Vance and a collection of national and Ohio Republican leaders in September announced a “Bank Your Vote” effort to encourage their base to vote early. Republicans are telling their voters the issue of abortion is too important to wait. As for Cuyahoga County, which leans heavily Democratic, 24,833 voters have cast ballots so far, compared to 28,633 at the same time in August. But 76,241 voters have requested absentee ballots, compared to 60,233 three months ago. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Early voting for the Nov. 7 election began Oct. 11 at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections in downtown Cleveland. About a half-dozen people were in line when the doors opened at 8 a.m. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com) |
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Early voting: Slightly fewer Ohioans have voted early ahead of the Nov. 7 election compared to the state’s previous election in August. But significantly more have requested absentee ballots, which eventually should translate to higher overall early voting totals, reports Andrew Tobias. Democratic questions: Ohio has gone from a state that ex-President Barack Obama won twice to one that’s increasingly off the radar of national Democrats, thanks to a years-long string of Republican election wins. Andrew Tobias reports the shift has left in-state Democrats and progressive groups looking for answers, including Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank in Columbus founded by staffers from ex-Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration. Voter purge: Thousands of inactive Ohio voters were quietly purged from the state’s voter rolls last month at the direction of Secretary of State Frank LaRose after some voters had already begun casting ballots in the November election. Jeremy Pelzer reports LaRose’s office so far has not answered questions from a state lawmaker or the media about exactly who was removed and why the purge went ahead just weeks before high-profile statewide votes on abortion rights and marijuana. Today in Ohio: Private investigators have testified at an Ohio House committee against proposals that would outlaw using tracking technology, like Apple Air Tags, to monitor another person without their permission. We’re talking on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, about legislation that would allow licensed private investigators to use tracking technology in specific cases. |
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Football tickets: Ohio’s House speaker thinks students are being overcharged to watch high school football playoff games and that state lawmakers ought to step in. In unprompted remarks to reporters Tuesday, GOP House Speaker Jason Stephens said the $15 students are paying at the door on Friday nights is an undue burden for students, reports Jake Zuckerman. Vance vs. masks: After failing to secure unanimous Senate passage of anti-mask legislation last month, U.S. Sen. JD Vance on Tuesday pledged to bring a second anti-mask effort to the U.S. Senate floor, Sabrina Eaton reports. This time, Vance says he’ll try to add an amendment to a transportation spending bill that would block the Department of Transportation from using any federal money to enforce mask mandates in response to the COVID-19 virus through the current fiscal year. |
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Jail warden resigns: The new warden at the Cuyahoga County Jail resigned Monday, by request, just six weeks into his new position, according to county records. Jeremy Everett began his short tenure at the Cuyahoga County Jail on Sept. 11, Olivia Mitchell reports. Police criticism: Cleveland police are failing to ensure unbiased and timely investigations into uses of force by officers, according to a report released Tuesday by the team overseeing the department’s reform. Adam Ferrise reports the Force Investigation Team’s examinations of the incidents allowed for investigator bias, leading questions and late interviews of the officers involved in the cases. Croatian Cultural Garden: Walking into the Croatian Cultural Garden from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will grant visitors a greeting from the “Immigrant Mother.” Zachary Smith reports the sculpture is meant to be a reminder of the experiences of immigrant mothers who came to America, a tale pervasive throughout the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Black walnuts: Are the nuts of black walnut trees toxic to other plants? Susan Brownstein reports the tree releases juglone, a chemical signal that enables it to grow quickly by crushing the competition from other plants. Hunting licenses: The 2023 Ohio deer gun hunting season is about a month away. How many people have a license to partake this year? Stacker compiled data on the number of registered hunters in Ohio using U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data, Zachary Smith reports. Kindland: The Lift Up Vikes (or LUV) Food Pantry & Resource Center at Cleveland State University is a by-appointment-only oasis connecting CSU students in need to grocery and personal hygiene necessities, writes Peter Chakerian in our series of Clevelanders helping others. |
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Cleveland-Cliffs: Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves offered updates about the automotive industry and using hydrogen to make steel during a presentation for investors Tuesday morning, but he stayed clear of commenting on Cliffs’ desire to acquire one of its rivals — Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, reports Sean McDonnell. GM layoffs: General Motors announced Tuesday that another 139 workers at the GM Parma Metal Center are out of work due to a new United Autoworkers strike at a full-size SUV plant in Texas, bringing total layoffs at the plant to 276, Sean McDonnell reports. Breeze destinations: Breeze Airways will start flying between the Akron-Canton Airport and Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina, with one-stop service to New Orleans, reports Susan Glaser. The new route starts Feb. 2 and will run twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. |
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Priest arrested: A former priest was arrested Monday and accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl who is ill with cancer, reports Molly Walsh. A local Catholic priest called Westlake Police Department to report “a disturbing incident” involving Luis Jesus Barajas, 76, who was visiting the area and performing spiritual ceremonies in Spanish for Hispanic residents. Warrensville Hts. slaying: Nearly two weeks after a Warrensville Heights woman was fatally shot in her home, family and friends are demanding justice. Community members gathered at The Word Church in Warrensville Heights on Tuesday to raise awareness of the Oct. 9 slaying of 46-year-old Amanda Williams, who died of multiple gunshot wounds, Molly Walsh reports. Young trial: The wife of former Ohio House Rep. Bob Young testified Tuesday that he struck her during an argument about how a bartender had treated his political friends from Columbus. The couple’s 16-year-old daughter testified that she saw her dad hit her mom but that she did not call police because she was scolded for doing so in 2020. Shooting settlement: The estate of an unarmed man fatally shot in the back by an Ohio sheriff’s deputy will get $2.5 million to settle a federal lawsuit, reports Adam Ferrise. The family of Robert Sikon III filed the lawsuit in 2020 in federal court in Akron against Carroll County and the deputy who shot him, Jacob Baker. |
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'Christmas Story' house: The house from “A Christmas Story” has been sold, reports Joey Morona. But who bought it and how much they paid for it remains a mystery. Best Wings: Fat Little Buddies in Olmsted Township has been crowned the winner of cleveland.com’s “Best Wings” contest. The neighborhood spot edged out The Rusty Barrel in Westlake for the top spot, report Peter Chakerian and Yadi Rodriguez. Skinny’s Bar & Grille in Euclid came in third place. Ask Yadi: Can you ever be too old to trick-or-treat? Yadi Rodriguez says no. “I don’t care if you are a newborn or 99 years old. If you wear a costume and want some candy, I got you.” Willoughby House: The historic Van Gorder estate, now known as home to “Willoughby House,” is an abandoned 120-year-old mansion and carriage house, and it’s undergoing a thoughtful transformation into a 10-suite inn, relaxed fine dining restaurant, and community events spaces. Paris Wolfe reports those who want to see the progress up close and sample dishes by chef Jose Coronado are invited to reserve a seat at one of two upcoming events. Spooky bars: Many bars in Northeast Ohio jump on the Halloween bandwagon, but there are also a few institutions that channel a spooky vibe all year long. Alex Darus lists 14 Northeast Ohio bars perfect for celebrating Halloween in 2023. |
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Lorain man gets at least 34 years in prison for shooting death of teen girlfriend Read more Woman found dead in front of burning Akron home is victim of murder-suicide, police say Read more Cleveland Heights Racial Justice Task Force presents preliminary findings Read more Strongsville residents to vote on Issue 81, which would allow fire station at Ohio 82 & Pearl Road Read more Shaker Heights to continue deer-culling partnership with Beachwood Read more Issue 57 would lengthen North Royalton City Council terms from 2 to 4 years Read more Orange school board expresses concerns about House Bill 33, but agrees to comply with new law Read more Candidates vie for council, trustee and school board seats in northern Medina County Read more It’s a crowded ballot for Parma City Schools Board of Education Read more Brunswick and Brunswick Hills residents to vote on renewal levies Nov. 7 Read more |
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