When cleveland.com embarked on its Rethinking Child Care project last spring, we hoped to galvanize Northeast Ohio to tackle a national crisis. We had no idea that Ohio is at the bottom of the nation for public childcare support. Ohio has the lowest poverty threshold when it comes to families eligible for public subsidies. And, along with a handful of other states, Ohio has the lowest formula for calculating the subsidies it pays childcare centers -- at 25% of the market rate. The federal government, at least, has ordered Ohio to increase the rate to 50%. There’s so much more we could do. The Wake Up will be off Monday for Labor Day. Relish this last long weekend of summer and we’ll greet you Tuesday morning. – Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
|
|
Ohio, under federal order, must increase its childcare reimbursement rates to at least the 50th percentile by the end of 2024 or incur a penalty. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com file photo) |
|
|
Rethinking Child Care: Ohio ranks at the bottom of U.S. states for its childcare subsidy formula, reports Zachary Smith. It’s one of only a handful of states that reimburses childcare providers at the 25th percentile of the local market rate and it has been ordered by the federal government to do better. Unemployment fraud: Ohio authorities are looking into whether dozens of people who worked for the state’s unemployment office during the coronavirus pandemic illegally helped approve fraudulent claims, reports Jeremy Pelzer. While it remains to be seen how many state employees and contractors will end up facing criminal charges, it raises the possibility that unemployment fraud from within the department is far more widespread than previously thought. Homicides: Most of the more than 100 homicides in Cleveland this year took place in East Side neighborhoods, away from downtown, according to an analysis by Olivia Mitchell and Zachary Smith. Most of those slain were men in their 20s and 30s, though women were victims in about one in 10 slayings. The youngest, Say’Ge Ross, was a year old when he died in March. One of the oldest, Clinton Davis, was 65 when he was shot in February at the Crestview Estates in Old Brooklyn. Today in Ohio: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Wednesday told his colleagues on the Ohio Redistricting Commission that they must approve a legislative redistricting plan by Sept. 22, nine days after the first scheduled meeting. We’re talking about why LaRose announced the timeline now, rather than in January, on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
|
|
Lawsuit dismissed: U.S. Rep. Max Miller, a Rocky River Republican, has voluntarily dismissed a defamation suit he filed against a former girlfriend, ex-White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, for publicly claiming he abused her when they dated. A journal entry filed Wednesday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court said the case has been “dismissed with prejudice,” with each side paying their own court costs, reports Sabrina Eaton. The case had been scheduled for a jury trial on Sept. 25. Jobless fraud: A former state unemployment office worker and a Columbus-area daycare owner, working both together and separately, arranged for nearly $6 million to be paid to hundreds of fraudulent jobless claims, the state inspector general announced Thursday. Alana Hamilton, an intermittent customer service representative, and daycare owner Lasheta McClellan were indicted Wednesday on 19 counts by a Franklin County grand jury, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft, telecommunications fraud, records tampering, money laundering, and tax fraud, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Bob Young: Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens ousted fellow Republican state Rep. Bob Young from his committee chairmanship on Thursday following Young’s second arrest of the summer. Young, of Summit County, was arrested after police said he violated the terms of a protective order by calling someone he was prohibited from contacting following his July 7 arrest on charges of domestic violence, reports Jake Zuckerman. |
|
|
Rain totals: Cleveland is heading into September about 7 inches above normal for precipitation on the year, thanks largely to heavy rains in July and August, reports Rich Exner. Just two months - April and May - have been below normal for precipitation, National Weather Service records say, based on readings from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Cultural gardens: The Pakistani Cultural Garden had its official dedication ceremony during Sunday’s One World Day festival in Rockefeller Park, making it the newest garden to join the collection of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Zachary Smith reports the ceremony included both the American and Pakistani national anthems, a children’s fashion and talent show, songs and poetry. |
|
|
COVID cases: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio rose yet again, from 5,361 last week to 7,821 this week, marking the eighth consecutive week of climbing cases, reports Julie Washington. AI jobs: The fastest-growing jobs today are increasingly driven by artificial intelligence. AI and machine-learning specialists, for example, top the list of fastest-growing roles in the world’s largest companies, according to a 2023 World Economic Forum survey. Zachary Smith lists 23 careers looking for AI skills in Ohio, including engineering roles and those working with data. |
|
|
Charges dropped: Cuyahoga County prosecutors on Thursday dismissed rape and abduction charges against the man once accused of stalking Cleveland EMS technician Lachelle Jordan, whose five-day disappearance in May remains under investigation. Cory Shaffer reports Michael Stennett had been the focus of three separate criminal investigations. Falsification charge: A former Cleveland police officer has been accused of falsification, an allegation that stems from his time on the force. Rayshon Blue, 37, resigned from the force in February after five years as a patrol officer, reports John Tucker. Illegal database use: A Cleveland police detective who tried to illegally use a law-enforcement database was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and a year of probation. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Saffold said during the hearing Monday that he could end probation early for William Cunningham II, 50, if the officer completes his community service before the year is up, reports Cory Shaffer. |
|
|
Fall viewing: The ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have upended the fall movie and television season. But Joey Morona reports autumn remains packed with highly anticipated sequels, new seasons of your favorite streaming shows and horror movies to get you in the Halloween spirit. Things to do: On the unofficial end of summer this weekend, the fun in Greater Cleveland is more than one person’s calendar can handle. Paris Wolfe lists the Cleveland National Air Show, Oktoberfest and 15 other things to do over Labor Day weekend. |
|
|
Ohio man admits to threatening Arizona governor when she was secretary of state Read more 4-year-old Akron boy dies after he accidentally shot himself in the face, authorities say Read more Two feuding business owners throw golf balls, rocks at each other in Berea Read more University Circle police win honor, thanks to a little Grace Read more Barberton Mum Fest offers mums galore, arts and crafts, entertainment Sept. 23-24 Read more Three candidates vie to replace retiring Rocky River Municipal Court judge Read more Redwood officially opens its new neighborhood in Brunswick Hills Township Read more |
|
|
NEW! DINE DRINK CLE NEWSLETTER |
Get the latest news about Cleveland’s restaurant and bar scene. The latest on openings, closings, tastings and other events, plus features, guides, and recommendations from our team of writers and critics. Click here to sign up. |
|
|
Want the top headlines but don't have time to read? Listen to cleveland.com’s Today in Ohio podcast on Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts. |
|
|
WANT TO SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH A FRIEND? |
Did someone share this newsletter with you? Click here to never miss a day! |
|
|
To contact the newsrooms for any of our publications regarding technical support, news tips, classified ads and other inquiries, please click here. |
|
|
Unlimited Digital Access. |
|
|
Start today for $1 (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
Start today for $1 (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS? |
|
|
|
