WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023 |
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We knew the proposed Ohio House Bill 1 would hurt schools, libraries, park districts and other local governments in order to cut taxes for the state’s highest-income residents. But there are other unintended ramifications. Because of a decades-old state law designed to stabilize property tax collections, House Bill 1 could mean higher taxes for homeowners. The bill reduces the percentage of property that can be taxed, from 35% to 31%, and if that reduces the property value in a given area, the tax rates will increase to maintain a consistent stream of revenue for governments. House Bill 1 also might result in corporate tax cuts because of Ohio Supreme Court decisions that require all properties, regardless of classification, to receive the same assessment percentage. The bill’s sponsor promises to make changes so the bill doesn’t directly increase any taxes and only provides tax relief to residential and agricultural property. But as it stands, the bill has an array of opponents. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Support for House Bill 1 has fractured along party lines, with Republicans and conservative groups saying it will entice businesses to set up shop in Ohio, while Democrats, local governments, parks, libraries and schools say it will gut funding for crucial services. |
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HB1: A proposed Ohio income tax cut would have multiple hidden consequences, including raising property taxes and cutting business taxes, reports Lucas Daprile. Experts say House Bill 1 also carries potentially severe ramifications for taxpayers that the bill’s backers have, so far, failed to address. Local opposition: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne have joined a chorus of local governments and fellow Democrats in opposing a proposed statewide flat income tax rate, Lucas Daprile reports. Bibb and Ronayne submitted written testimony to a meeting of the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee as lawmakers consider a flat-tax proposed by House Bill 1. They joined several local government officials who spoke in-person during the committee meeting. Today in Ohio: Ohioans who want to see abortion rights enshrined in the state constitution soon will be able to sign petitions to put the question on the November ballot. We’re talking about how fraught signature gathering could get on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Abortion appeal: The Ohio Supreme Court has formally accepted an appeal by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in a case involving the state’s six-week abortion ban. Laura Hancock reports the court said Tuesday morning it will look only at two of three legal questions that Yost asked the court to review: Whether he has the right to appeal a lower court’s order putting the embryonic heartbeat law on hold and whether the abortion clinics have “standing” or the right to challenge the law in the first place. Norfolk Southern: The state of Ohio is suing Norfolk Southern over last month’s train derailment in East Palestine, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The suit seeks a declaratory judgment that Norfolk Southern is responsible for covering costs and damages for the emergency response to the Feb. 3 derailment, which spilled large amounts of toxic chemicals. Compensation: The owner of the Cincinnati Bengals is pushing Ohio state lawmakers to limit the ability of veteran professional athletes in any sport to receive compensation or medical benefits for work-related injuries, according to the NFL players union. Jeremy Pelzer reports that under language that may be added to the state’s massive two-year budget bill, pro athletes with Ohio teams would not be able to file for permanent partial disability if they are still under contract at least five years after the injury took place. Failing banks: Ohio U.S. Sens. JD Vance and Sherrod Brown may represent the same state in Congress, but their opinions are worlds apart on President Joe Biden’s decision to shore up depositors at a pair of failing banks, reports Sabrina Eaton. |
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Tenant eviction: Cuyahoga County Council is considering adding Pay-to-Stay protections in the county code that would prohibit landlords from evicting tenants for making late rent payments. Eight local municipalities already have such protections, but the new ordinance would extend the safeguards countywide and affirm a tenant’s right to remain in their home if they’re able to pay all past due rent as well as “reasonable” late fees, reports Kaitlin Durbin. PFAS: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed limits for the amount of potentially harmful PFAS, otherwise known as forever chemicals, allowed in the nation’s drinking water. Peter Krouse reports the first-ever standard announced Tuesday would be legally enforceable and follows years of increasing scrutiny over health concerns that PFAS present. Black women: The Cleveland Black Women and Girls Commission doesn’t exist yet -- nine months after Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council formally agreed to create the body. Courtney Astolfi reports Bibb and council championed the idea last year as a way to start addressing dismal outcomes faced by Black women Clevelanders – a problem made starkly apparent in a 2020 Bloomberg study that ranked Cleveland dead-last among major U.S. cities for Black women’s educational prospects and overall well-being, and second-to-last for health outcomes. Plant or weed? As we inch toward spring in Northeast Ohio, every sunny day brings new leaves poking through the soil and with them the question, “Is that a plant or a weed?” The next several weeks will have gardeners racking their memories and their bookshelves to identify plants based on a few leaves, while vowing to do a better job next fall of recording what they planted where, Susan Brownstein reports. |
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MetroHealth bonuses: MetroHealth CEO Airica Steed announced Tuesday she will suspend the supplemental and one-time bonuses that were the crux of the controversy surrounding former CEO Dr. Akram Boutros. Steed, speaking to the Cuyahoga County Council, also outlined new safeguards being put in place after Boutros was accused of taking $1.9 million in what the health system said were improper bonuses, Julie Washington reports. Women’s wages: While wages for women have increased in Cuyahoga County as well as the share of a woman’s salary compared to men, women still receive only 81.8% of the salary men are receiving, reports Zachary Smith. The median salary for women working full-time year-round in Cuyahoga County, according to the latest data from 2021, is $46,611, an increase of more than $6,300 from 2015. Jobs recovery: When it comes to jobs, Ohio’s recovery is much closer to recovering from COVID-19 than previously realized, reports Sean McDonnell. The state’s total employment was 5,569,500 in January, putting Ohio about 41,600 jobs short when compared with February 2020. Ravencrest: The larger-than-life Ravencrest estate, previously owned by the late real estate mogul Scott Weinstein, has sold after several months on the market. Megan Sims reports the 32,000-square-foot mansion, which is tucked away on 150 acres in Hunting Valley, sold last week, but the total price is unclear. It was listed by Howard Hanna at $15 million. |
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Officer shot: A Cleveland police officer was shot Tuesday evening in the city’s Central neighborhood, and two other officers responding to the scene in a police car were injured in an accident, Molly Walsh reports. The officer who was shot was conscious and was taken to the hospital, but his condition has not been released. Cliff Pinckard reports a photo released by police Tuesday night shows two suspects running from what investigators believe was a stolen vehicle. OSU: Ohio State University officials on Tuesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s decision to reinstate lawsuits filed by hundreds of former students who were sexually abused by Richard Strauss, a longtime doctor at the school. Adam Ferrise reports Ohio State argued that the high court needed to hear the case to preserve statute of limitations laws and prohibit the expansion of claims against the university. |
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Willie Nelson: Music icon Willie Nelson will bring the latest iteration of his Outlaw Festival to Blossom Music Center on Aug. 11. Malcolm X Abram reports tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Caste system: Cliff Anthony has been in this country almost 40 years, but it was his native India that stayed with him for his novel, “Tears in God’s Own Country.” Marc Bona reports that Anthony writes and teaches journalism at Lorain County Community College and lives in Highland Heights. Jazz festival: The 51st annual Lakeland Jazz Festival is taking place Friday to Sunday in the Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center at Lakeland Community College. Malcom X Abram reports the headliner at 8 p.m. Friday is Dan Bruce’s: beta collective, a contemporary jazz ensemble with some of the region’s most talented players. St. Patrick’s Day: If you’re looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Northeast Ohio with Irish food, music, dance and more fun, Mike Rose has the guide for you. Check out our list featuring more than 60 bars, restaurants, breweries and other locations across Greater Cleveland and Akron that have special events on Friday. |
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Ohio man, 72, gets 40 years in prison for decades of child sexual abuse, using drugs to coerce victims’ addicted parents Read more Woman’s body found in Tallmadge, police say Read more Male found dead after fire in shed behind Elyria home Read more Former Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams begins work as interim Richmond Heights chief Read more Bruster’s Real Ice Cream at Pearl Road & Ellsworth Drive wins Strongsville Planning Commission approval Read more Shaker Planning Commission forwards Arcadia development, Lee Road Action Plan to council Read more Lunch aide/attorney & former teacher appointed to North Royalton City Council Read more Beachwood developer’s proposed 20-lot cluster subdivision in North Royalton wins preliminary approval Read more Chagrin Falls Village Council needs new council member, chooses Riverside Park playground vendor Read more Brunswick officials call proposed highway interchange policy ‘disastrous’ Read more |
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