State Sen. Jerry Cirino’s higher-ed bill is back. The Lake County Republican aims to tamp down a perceived liberal bias in Ohio’s 14 public universities and 23 public community colleges with a host of requirements. This bill echoes last year’s, which passed the Senate but failed to make it out of a House committee. It bans faculty strikes; outlaws diversity, equity and inclusion training; requires the school to affirm the fullest degree of intellectual diversity; and requires students to read a host of American historical documents. Cirino said that there will be less “indoctrination” in colleges as a result of his bill: “Parents are afraid when they are sending their child to a university, they’re afraid of what is coming back.” About 15 students showed up at the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday morning to criticize Cirino reintroducing the idea. “Higher ed,” they chanted, “will be dead!” — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs at Houston Rockets: Darius Garland’s missed free throws end Cavs’ comeback attempt in 109-108 loss to Rockets Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Milder conditions expected |
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A bill proposed by State Sen. Jerry Cirino, above, bans faculty strikes; outlaws diversity, equity and inclusion training; requires the school to affirm the fullest degree of intellectual diversity; and requires students to read a host of American historical documents. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Higher-ed bill: Laura Hancock reports this year’s bill in many respects goes further than State Sen. Jerry Cirino’s previous bill - completely banning faculty strikes and DEI efforts, reducing terms for trustees and requiring new trustee training. “It is called Senate Bill 1 for a reason,” Cirino said. “It is our top priority.” Governor’s race: Following Jon Husted’s appointment to the U.S. Senate, the Republican campaign for Ohio governor in 2026 is quickly shaping up to become a three-way race between ex-presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Treasurer Robert Sprague, and Attorney General Dave Yost, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Each of the three is expected to roll out their campaigns soon, months earlier than past candidates have done in recent Ohio gubernatorial races. Today in Ohio: Attorney General Dave Yost wants Ohio to officially outlaw “sanctuary cities,” municipalities that limit their cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We’re talking about Yost pandering to Trump on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Immigrant status: Eighteen Republican state attorneys general, led by Ohio’s Dave Yost, want the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to review the federal government’s list of countries whose migrants are admitted to the United States under the Temporary Protected Status program, reports Sabrina Eaton. House rules: Changes to how the Ohio House operates will either make lawmaking more efficient or less transparent, depending on who you ask. Anna Staver reports Republicans, who control the chamber with a massive supermajority, passed sweeping changes to its operating rules Wednesday, rolling back several changes Democrats brokered last general assembly. Solar project: A state board last week approved a 100-megawatt solar project in Clermont County while rejecting two others: a 250-megawatt project in Union County and a 70-megawatt project in Circleville. Jake Zuckerman reports the Ohio Power Siting Board allowed the Clear Mountain Energy Center in Batavia to proceed with a project on 1,226 acres. The developers also plan to build a 52-megawatt battery system. External revenue: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno introduced his first piece of legislation on Tuesday, a bill aimed at funding the “External Revenue Service” that President Donald Trump has promised to create, reports Sabrina Eaton. HB6 settlement: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission agreed to enter a $19 million settlement with American Electric Power last week after regulators accused the company of misleading investors about its involvement in the HB6 scandal. Jake Zuckerman reports AEP insisted to the public and its investors that neither the company nor its subsidiaries ever contributed to a “dark money” nonprofit former House Speaker Larry Householder controlled. But tax records show AEP contributed $1.2 million between 2017 and 2020 to two Householder-controlled groups. |
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Health center: Cleveland has picked a developer to turn the Thomas F. McCafferty Health Center in Ohio City — currently the home of the city’s Department of Public Health — into affordable housing for seniors, reports Sean McDonnell. National developer Pennrose plans to redevelop the 1.5-acre site on Lorain Avenue into a 72-unit senior affordable-housing development with space for non-profits to rent on the ground floor. Erie ice: Lake Erie is more than half-covered by ice, thanks to our frigid snap. Laura Johnston reports that after temperatures plummeted below zero, Lake Erie is about 60% frozen. That’s about 20% more ice than average for this time of year. Cold snap: The frigid weather took a toll on homes, with Cleveland-area plumbers reporting a significant uptick in burst pipes, and Northeast Ohio hospitals saw a few cases of frostbite in the past two days, as well as sprains and fractures from people slipping on ice, report Megan Sims and Julie Washington. Heights finance: For the first time in a year, Cleveland Heights has a permanent finance director, reports Cory Shaffer. City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Mayor Kahlil Seren’s hire of Rodney Hairston to step into a role that had been filled by acting or temporary directors since January 2024. Commissary prices: Jail commissary prices will increase slightly this year under Keefe Commissary Network. Kaitlin Durbin reports the company requested to raise the price of most items by 5% to offset rising inflation costs and Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel is poised to approve it. I-77 crash: Authorities are investigating a fatal traffic accident that killed a Stow-Munroe Falls teacher Tuesday on Interstate 77 in Green, reports Olivia Mitchell. House fire: Middleburg Heights firefighters battled an early morning fire Wednesday morning in freezing temperatures, reports Olivia Mitchell. One person was transported to Southwest General Hospital with unknown injuries. |
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UH Bedford: University Hospitals will transfer the former site of UH Bedford hospital and its surrounding property to the city of Bedford and pay $2.1 million to the city under a settlement agreement stemming from the abrupt closure of the hospital in 2022, reports Julie Washington. The property transfer will allow another healthcare provider to establish a presence in Bedford or allow for economic redevelopment of the site. Moen move: Faucet- and fixture-maker Moen is expected move its headquarters from North Olmsted to Illinois in 2026 as part of a consolidation of U.S. operations by owner Fortune Brands Innovations, WKYC Channel 3 reported Wednesday, after getting confirmation from the parent company. Micki Byrnes: WKYC Channel 3 President and General Manager Micki Byrnes is retiring in April. Byrnes has presided over the local NBC affiliate since 2015. Byrnes joined WKYC in 1997 alongside her husband, Brooke Spectorsky, who served as the station’s president and general manager before she succeeded him nearly a decade ago, reports Joey Morona. Multimillion-dollar homes: A total of 25 Cuyahoga County homes each sold for at least $2 million in 2024, with eight homes selling for at least $3 million. Zachary Smith reports big-ticket sales were localized in a handful of places, with Rocky River and Shaker Heights topping the list with three homes each over $2 million. |
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2-year-old's death: A former U.S. Marine and his estranged wife are charged in connection with the death of their 2-year-old daughter at a military base in Florida. Kodi Simon, 30, of Parma, and Kateri Simon, 30, of Avon Lake, are charged in federal court in Tampa with involuntary manslaughter, reports Adam Ferrise. |
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Beard awards: Four Northeast Ohio restaurateurs have been named semifinalists for James Beard Foundation Awards, reports Marc Bona. Doug Katz was named in the Outstanding Restaurateur category, which encompasses those who use their business as a vehicle for building community while demonstrating creativity in entrepreneurship and integrity. Kelli Connell: In “Kelli Connell: Pictures for Charis,” the American photographer reevaluates the relationship between writer Charis Wilson and photographer Edward Weston – particularly during their prolific figure studies and landscapes period from 1934 to 1945. Peter Chakerian reports that an exhibit on view at the Cleveland Museum of Art, beginning Sunday and running through late May, breathes new life into well-known photographs and brings a contemporary queer, feminist perspective to the proceedings in the process. Banter closing: Banter announced its restaurant in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood is closing. The restaurant's last day will be Feb. 2, Marc Bona reports. Non-alcohol options: From canned cocktails to sparkling wines, Alex Darus lists 12 ready-to-drink mocktail options to try before the end of Dry January. NIN: Nine Inch Nails is embarking on the “Peel It Back Tour,” the group’s first tour in three years, and Trent Reznor and the gang will be stopping at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Aug. 31. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday, reports Malcolm X Abram. Paczki: Rudy’s Strudel, the North Coast’s biggest champion of paczki for Fat Tuesday, already is mixing dough for paczki season. Paris Wolfe reports the shop in Parma is introducing two new flavors, each with a meaningful backstory. Alpine pop-up: Patron Saint all-day cafe and aperitivo bar is transforming into a chalet in the Italian Alps in hopes of warming up folks stuck in the frigid Ohio City neighborhood this season, reports Alex Darus. Best steak: Where can we get the best steak in all of Northeast Ohio? That’s what Cleveland.com’s Best of team is grilling you for. Voting is now open in a list of the 25 best places in Northeast Ohio. |
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Blessing House receives annual charity donation from Lorain County Community Development Read more Solon council approves collective bargaining agreements with two police unions Read more Enterprise Rent-A-Car to relocate in Solon; mixed-use project moves closer to reality Read more North Olmsted continues successful ‘Safe & Healthy Homes’ program Read more Fairview Park Schools, police host Family Safety Forum on Jan. 30 Read more Seven Hills budgets $1.6 million for this summer’s road repairs Read more Parma Heights to upgrade aging service department vehicles Read more |
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