Talk of building an Interstate 71 interchange at Boston Road along the Strongsville-Brunswick border goes back more than 30 years, writes Rich Exner, even before there was a SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. I was in high school when SouthPark was brand new brick, luring suburbanites across Northeast Ohio with two stories of shops and its outer ring of big boxes and chain restaurants. I bought my prom dress at Dillard’s there, and I remember as a new driver thinking the double-left-turn lanes of Royalton Road made way more sense than the endless curb cuts of Medina Road in my hometown Montrose. Decades later, I dread driving the traffic headaches of Royalton Road when I head to the Strongsville ice rink or soccer fields. Strongsville residents want to relieve the congestion by adding an I-71 interchange at Boston Road. Brunswick residents vehemently oppose the idea, wanting to keep the traffic jams out of their town. The fight has even backed up into the Ohio Statehouse. A study examining the entire corridor and investigating possible solutions might finally reach a conclusion. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox: Guardians bullpen comes to the rescue (kind of) in 3-2 win over White Sox Northeast Ohio weather forecast: More rain expected |
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Boston Road's crossing of Interstate 71 along the Strongsville-Brunswick border, long discussed as a potential place for a new interchange. (John Pana, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Interchange: At the heart of the interchange debate are two questions, writes Rich Exner. Would the interchange prove to be a regional plus by providing traffic relief? Or would it be a net negative, causing havoc by introducing more traffic to Brunswick roads? State budget: The Ohio House passed a sprawling, $61 billion state budget plan Wednesday that includes significant school funding changes and property tax cuts, $600 million in state bonds for a new Browns stadium, and a wide variety of other major policy changes, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Stadium funding: The Ohio House tweaked its plan to issue $600 million in bonds to finance a new covered stadium in Brook Park for the Browns, requiring the team’s owners to provide more cash up front to limit the state’s risk, Jake Zuckerman and Jeremy Pelzer reports. Today in Ohio: When Ohio Republican legislators cut library funding in the House version of the state budget, libraries geared up to fight. Days later, while the legislators haven’t backed down on eliminating the libraries’ 1.75% share of state taxes, they’re tossing a few more million dollars their way. We’re talking about Ohio’s beloved libraries on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Coal: President Donald Trump signed four executive orders Tuesday at the White House meant to rekindle the coal industry after years of decline, Sabrina Eaton reports. He said that with electricity-intensive technologies like artificial intelligence coming online, “we need to more than double the energy, the electricity that we currently have” to “be number one,” and said coal is needed to accomplish that. DOGE pushback: U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes on Tuesday joined House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Democrats in a letter asking why NASA has allowed unvetted DOGE team members access to its facilities and data systems, reports Sabrina Eaton. Trump endorsement: President Donald Trump has endorsed newly minted U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, giving the Columbus-area Republican a major boost as he prepares for two consecutive election cycles, reports Anna Staver. |
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GovDeals: Ray-Ban sunglasses, PlayStation 4s, and Nike Supreme Air Force 1 sneakers usually cost hundreds of dollars – but the Lyndhurst Police Department is currently selling them for as low as $10. Kaitlin Durbin reports the department, like most other police stations and government agencies, sells unused office supplies, decommissioned police vehicles and unclaimed or forfeited evidence on GovDeals, an online auction platform. Housing funding: Two Cleveland-based nonprofits will receive state funding for affordable housing programs and essential home repairs, Megan Sims reports. The Ohio Department of Development announced Wednesday it has awarded $6.8 million in grants to 19 nonprofits across the state, including Cleveland’s CHN Housing Partners and Famicos Foundation. The two nonprofits will receive a combined $800,000. Nonprofits: Mayor Justin Bibb is warning nonprofits to pause their spending in case President Donald Trump reduces or completely cuts millions in federal grants that is sent to Cleveland each year, reports Sean McDonnell. Quaker Square: The University of Akron has agreed to sell the Quaker Square complex in downtown Akron for $800,000 to Ohio River Investments, reports Megan Becka. The sale of the buildings at 135 S. Broadway St. aligns with the university’s multi-year revitalization program that aims to sell under-utilized assets, reduce expenses and increase revenue while focusing on improving the student experience. Youth jobs: Cleveland City Council is spending extra money on a summer job program for teens and young adults, allowing the organization to hire another 150 kids and four more staff members this year. Youth Opportunities Unlimited plans to hire 1,900 youth aged 14 to 18 this summer, 1,330 of them Cleveland residents, reports Sean McDonnell. Lake County fire: More than a dozen fire departments extinguished a fire early Wednesday morning at a manufacturing building in Painesville, reports Olivia Mitchell. Fire crews responded to the Avery Dennison Corp. at 4:45 a.m. House fire: Cleveland firefighters responded to a fire Wednesday morning at a home on the city’s East Side, reports Olivia Mitchell. Two adults escaped the home without injuries. |
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Measles: The number of confirmed measles cases in Knox County has risen to 14, seven of which are Ohio residents, health officials said Tuesday. Julie Washington reports the cases join those confirmed in Ashtabula (10 cases) and Allen (1) counties in the past few weeks. Discovery forum: The Cleveland Clinic’s second annual Cleveland Discovery & Innovation Forum gathered international leaders to discuss how new technologies are transforming the future of medicine and patient care. Julie Washington reports the forum highlighted healthcare advancements enabled by quantum computing, artificial intelligence and digital health. |
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Jail drugs: A Cuyahoga County corrections officer has been charged after authorities said she smuggled drugs into the jail. The officer, Quiana Thompson, 31, was arrested Monday after authorities said she had been funneling drugs into the Cuyahoga County jail, reports Lucas Daprile. Theft ring: A Euclid man was found guilty Wednesday for his role in a crime ring that stole more than $230,000 worth of cigarettes, meat, liquor and cash from dozens of delivery trucks across northern Ohio, David Gambino reports. Carjacking: A Cleveland man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 11 years in prison for carjacking a 22-year-old man during a street takeover on Cleveland’s East Side, Adam Ferrise reports. |
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LeBron Ken: In the NBA, LeBron James is considered by many to be the GOAT. But in Barbieland, he’s just Ken. Joey Morona reports the Akron native is the first professional athlete to be turned into a Ken doll. Mellow Mushroom: Mellow Mushroom is bringing back its 4/20 deal a little early this year for folks looking for deals on munchies during the “high holiday.” Alex Darus reports that Mellow Mushroom is offering its signature pretzel bites for $4.20 from Sunday through April 20 at all locations. Urban Winery: “Foraged Feast,” billed as a culinary celebration of nature, is scheduled at CLE Urban Winery next month, reports Marc Bona. Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners’ fourth annual event aims to merge sustainability and local flavor May 22. |
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Lexus dealership seeks rezoning to move from Willoughby Hills to Beachwood Read more Solon seeks resident feedback on proposed Michael Angelo’s winery Read more Fairview Park Schools looks to silence cell phones during the school day Read more Olmsted Falls Councilman Chad Gluss running for mayor Read more Lakewood considers citizen advisory board for street safety recommendations Read more Olmsted Township explores options for walkable town center Read more Richmond Heights police bike patrol ready to roll in late May Read more |
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