Last Friday, I wore a ski hat and mittens to walk the dog. A day later, I was in shorts watching a kids lacrosse game. From winter to summer. But what about a stretch of light-jacket spring? This year alone, the season has already seen snow, rain, low temperatures of 23 degrees, and, on Monday, a high of 84 degrees. March 4 and 5 reached the mid-70s, and a week later, it snowed. Back-and-forth weather is pretty normal for Northeast Ohio. (You’ve probably seen the snarky T shirt with the five-day weather forecast that drops from 90 degrees to 12.) I feel like we complain about it every year. That’s why Zachary Smith came up with a definition for the beginning of spring and mined data to check past start dates. We’re actually smack in the middle, historically speaking. So enjoy those 60-some-degree days when we get them. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Houston Astros: Guardians go into extras for fourth straight game before beating Astros, 3-2 Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunshine continues |
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New growth on a willow tree sways in the wind as a walker enjoys the springlike weather at Edgewater park in March. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Spring season: It’s finally warm and the unofficial start of summer — Memorial Day — is less than four weeks away. But, Zachary Smith asks, didn’t we used to have more time to enjoy spring? Today in Ohio: The Browns want taxpayers to foot half the bill for either a proposed $2.4 billion dome stadium in Brook Park or a $1 billion renovation of their existing stadium in downtown Cleveland. We’re talking about the secret meetings about the plan, and how ridiculous the request is, on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Title IX: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined GOP counterparts in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia in suing the Biden administration over changes in Title IX to protect transgender students, saying the changes trample over the lawmaking power of Congress. Laura Hancock reports that Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act is about 50 years old and helps ensure women have equal access to educational facilities and programs by prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education. University protests: Sen. Sherrod Brown declined to criticize the police response to recent anti-Israel protests at Ohio State University and other college campuses across the state and country, reports Sabrina Eaton. Asked about OSU protestors’ demands that the university divest from Israeli sources, Brown, a Democrat, also said that doing so isn’t allowed under Ohio law, based on a 2016 bill signed by then-Gov. John Kasich, a Republican. Committee removals: Six Ohio House committee chairs were removed Wednesday from their leadership positions, as well as the committees themselves, by House Speaker Jason Stephens for aiding opponents of pro-Stephens Republicans, Jeremy Pelzer reports. The move, announced by Stephens via a House memo, is the speaker’s strongest action yet against antagonists from within his own Republican caucus as he tries to fend off outgoing Senate President Matt Huffman’s attempt to unseat him as speaker. Antisemitism definition: As part of Republican drive to quash campus protests over Israel’s war with Hamas, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bipartisan bill that aims to help enforcement of antidiscrimination laws by setting an official definition of antisemitism. Sabrina Eaton reports the “Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023,″ adopted in a 320 to 91 vote, would require use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on ethnicity, ancestry or national origin. Federally funded schools must comply with it. Whirlpool: The state Supreme Court ruled against Whirlpool Corp. and for a former employee Wednesday, boosting his chances of prevailing on a workplace injury compensation claim. Jake Zuckerman reports that Brian Caldwell was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a bulge that occurs in the groin, after suffering a work-related injury at a physical job at Whirlpool, a home appliance manufacturer. |
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Marsy’s Law: Cleveland City Council members and Mayor Justin Bibb’s law director are at odds over the city’s interpretation of Marsy’s Law, a relatively new state law that seeks to protect victims of crime. Starting last summer, the Cleveland police reports that council members receive no longer include the names of crime victims. Courtney Astolfi reports council members believe Bibb’s law director, Mark Griffin, is incorrectly interpreting the law. Delinquent: Cameron remembers being so desperate for food one night that he walked into a local grocery store and stole a package of meat for him and his younger brother. Theft soon became a habit for survival, a justification he later applied to selling weed, write Kaitlin Durbin and John Tucker in their juvenile justice series. With the right support, kids can change. Cameron lived it. BW: Baldwin Wallace University announced Wednesday that President Bob Helmer will retire at the end of the school year, just after he oversaw major cuts to the school’s budget, reports Sean McDonnell. The university cut 23 jobs, extended a hiring freeze and eliminated nine academic programs in February, cutting $17 million of expenses from its operating budget. The school has been trying to balance its budget while dealing with a projected deficit. |
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Casino revenue: Gambling revenue at Ohio’s casinos and racinos was up in March, marking the second time in three months that Ohio’s gambling revenues have improved year-over-year. Sean McDonnell reports the state’s 11 casinos and racinos collected a combined $223.5 million of revenue in March, up from $217.7 million in March 2023. Diabetic ulcers: Cleveland-based biotechnology company Discovery Therapeutics Caribe will soon be studying a treatment for diabetic ulcers that was developed in Cuba, Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports. The drug, which helps close hard-to-heal wounds in diabetic patients, was developed two decades ago and is authorized for use in 26 countries around the world to heal large ulcers in the feet of patients with poor circulation due to diabetes. Joann: Fabrics and crafts retailer Joann officially emerged from bankruptcy Tuesday and is once again a privately held company just two years after its initial public offering, reports Sean McDonnell. Joann, headquartered in Hudson, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 18 and had its prepackaged financial plan approved by the court last week. |
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Arthur Keith: A federal judge on Wednesday tossed out a lawsuit over the fatal shooting of Arthur Keith by a Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority police officer, reports Adam Ferrise. U.S. District Judge Patricia Gaughan ruled that CMHA officer James Griffiths acted “objectively reasonable” and that Keith “posed an immediate threat” to Griffiths before he shot the 19-year-old in the King Kennedy apartment complex. Credit card scam: A federal appeals court on Tuesday tossed out the conviction of a Cleveland Heights man accused of stealing $177,000 from vulnerable victims in a credit card scam because a judge violated the man’s speedy trial rights. Adam Ferrise reports that the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver twice failed to stop the clock ticking toward Carlos Dashawn Brown’s trial. Drug ring: Three Florida men used commercial trucking to ship cocaine and methamphetamine hidden in five-gallon buckets to Cleveland, reports Adam Ferrise. The drug ring — run by Ottmar Ebanks, O’Neil Nembhard and Omar Johnson — worked with others in Idaho and New York to ship the drugs from California, according to the indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Cleveland. Church abuse: North Olmsted police are investigating allegations of child abuse at a local church, reports Molly Walsh. Police received a report involving an employee of Christ the King Vineyard Church. The employee was fired by the church. Fatal crash: A Cuyahoga County grand jury handed up an indictment Tuesday for a man who prosecutors say was under the influence of alcohol when he caused the crash that killed a woman on Cleveland’s West Side. Olivia Mitchell reports Juan Soto, 33, is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicle assault and operating a vehicle under the influence. |
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Ask Lucas: How can you tell someone you don’t want to watch their dog? Lucas Daprile writes you should "get your own dog, preferably one that is both small and bossy. Chihuahuas are perfect for this.” Best tacos: Since 2011, La Plaza Taqueria and Supermarket built a reputation for serving some of Cleveland’s best (and most authentic) tacos. Peter Chakerian and Yadi Rodriguez report it may have started out as a weekend taco cart, but today it’s a street-facing eatery – a culinary gem that takes its fervent patrons on a flavorful journey every week. Cinco de Mayo: Mahall’s is bringing back its vegan market this Sunday with a spin in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Alex Darus reports. 'Parenting Musically': Lisa Huisman Koops encouraged parents to incorporate music in their daily routine in her 2020 book “Parenting Musically.” Peter Krouse reports she is following that with “A Family Guide to Parenting Musically,” which is more practical, has shorter chapters and offers plenty of tips for how families can incorporate music in their daily lives -- no matter how well you as a parent can hit the right notes. 100 things to do: Brandy Gleason's Ohio Road Trips page on Facebook has more than 1.1 million followers, who share tips on where to go and what to see throughout the Buckeye State. Susan Glaser reports Gleason just released her fourth book, “100 Things to Do in Ohio Before You Die,” which outlines a year’s worth (or more) of attractions and activities across the state. Highlights include the Buckeye Trail and the world’s best bologna sandwich, bird watching and Grandpa’s Cheesebarn. CIA: The Cleveland Institute of Art has named Bilgesu Sisman the new director of its Cinematheque. She replaces John Ewing, who will retire at the end of June, 40 years after co-founding the renowned repertory movie theater, reports Joey Morona. Watch party: The Cavaliers are opening Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for a watch party on Friday as they try to close out their first-round playoff series against Orlando, reports Marc Bona. TLC: Fubo subscribers found out Tuesday that some of their favorite programs like “90 Day Fiancé,” “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and “My Lottery Dream Home” were no longer available on the service. Joey Morona reports the live TV platform dropped TLC, Food Network, HGTV and other networks owned by Warner Bros. Discovery in a dispute over carriage fees. |
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Federal marshals arrest teen suspect in slaying of man at Akron apartment complex Read more Lorain County gets new Technical Rescue Team truck and trailer Read more Seven Hills keeps vigilant eye on cybersecurity; adds new IT provider Read more Let the bidding begin: Olmsted Falls is selling three city-owned lots Read more Lakewood eyeing settlements in Marine Towers West parking garage collapse Read more |
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