The Ohio legislature has not proven itself a friend to cities — or environmentally sustainable policies — over the past two decades. And now President Trump is threatening to strip cities of federal funding. Bloomberg Philanthropies is stepping in to help. The foundation, established by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is giving Cleveland $1.5 million, plus $120,000 for related expenses, to hire three employees to tackle urgent public health and environmental challenges. Two dozen other cities — including Akron, Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati — are also part of the program. While Cleveland hasn’t designated any specific programs or goals for these new employees to achieve, officials want them to help ramp up sustainability efforts and save kids from lead poisoning. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Super Bowl LIX: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La. TV: WJW Channel 8. Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Wintry mix possible this weekend |
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The Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities would recruit three new employees for Cleveland, though City Hall would help guide the hiring process. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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CLE help: Sean McDonnell reports the positions focus on sustainability and reducing lead poisoning and could come at no cost to the city — offering support at a time when federal dollars hang in the balance. FirstEnergy charge: Don’t trust autopay on your electric bill from FirstEnergy? That’ll cost you at least 50 cents per month, reports Jake Zuckerman. FirstEnergy – the Akron-based holding company that owns Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison and The Illuminating Company utilities serving more than 2 million Ohioans – recently contracted with ACI Worldwide, a new third-party payment processor. Browns stadium: Gov. Mike DeWine’s budget plan to help pay for a new Browns’ stadium and other stadium projects by doubling the state’s sports-gambling tax could be sacked just after kickoff as Ohio House leaders from both parties expressed hesitation at best about the proposal. But Jeremy Pelzer reports that House GOP leaders appear to be leaving the door open to some sort of state support for a new Browns stadium in Brook Park. Today in Ohio: Does President Trump have a calculated long-term plan with his flurry of executive orders or is he acting without considering the consequences? We’re talking about Trump’s first weeks in office on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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LaRose campaign: The reshuffling of statewide Republicans continued Thursday as Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose entered the race for state auditor in 2026, reports Anna Staver. LaRose, 45, is an Army Green Beret who started his political career in Ohio’s state Senate. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2024 but lost the Republican primary to Sen. Bernie Moreno. |
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Special Olympics: Cleveland aims to host the Special Olympics and they’ve promised to “pull out all the stops” to land the event. Marc Bona reports that a cadre of officials, led by Gov. Mike DeWine, waved the flag in touting Cleveland during a multi-day visit from site-selection officials. Turnpike stop: Car drivers stopping for a quick bite to eat might not realize it, but tucked in the back of each service plaza along the Ohio Turnpike are rooms for truckers to clean up, relax and even do laundry during long breaks. Rich Exner reports that as far as the million-plus users of the mobile app Trucker Path are concerned, there’s no better truck stop in the U.S. or Canada than one of those service plazas along the Ohio Turnpike. Real ID: You no longer have to physically hand over your ID to go through security at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport – but only if you’ve uploaded your driver’s license to your iPhone first, reports Susan Glaser. Drought: With the Midwest being warmer than usual the past week, Ohio once again is stagnant when it comes to drought, reports Zachary Smith. House fire: A house fire in Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood has displaced two residents and caused $100,000 in damage, reports Olivia Mitchell. |
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Remote workforce: By the end of 2023, just above 12% of Midwest workers were remote, the smallest proportion of remote workers nationwide, according to a report by CoworkingMag. The Cleveland metropolitan area has only the fourth-highest percentage of remote workers in Ohio, with 12.8% of workers aged 16 and older working entirely remotely or in a hybrid environment, Zachary Smith reports. Career website: A taxpayer-funded program has launched a website to connect Cleveland residents with career opportunities related to construction, infrastructure and clean energy. Megan Sims reports the effort comes from the Built Environment Collaborative, which is a project funded by the city of Cleveland and led by Greater Cleveland Works, a workforce development board for the city and county. COVID cases: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio inched upward, moving from 5,374 last week to 5,559 this week, reports Julie Washington. |
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Drug ring: An unlicensed Los Angeles marijuana wholesaler was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in prison and ordered to forfeit $3.3 million for shipping marijuana to a violent Cleveland drug ring, reports Adam Ferrise. Walter Sornoza sent 700 pounds of cannabis to Northeast Ohio, giving the drug ring, run by Jerry Baker Jr., the backbone it needed to carry out power-fueled violence, prosecutors said. Scam suspect: Authorities arrested a Virginia man and accused him of scamming an elderly Barberton resident out of $130,000. Ankit Rajeshkumar Patel, 28, of Newport News is charged with felony theft from the elderly, Olivia Mitchell reports. |
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Ask Yadi: If someone gives you a recommendation or referral, are you obligated to use them? Yadi Rodriguez writes that you’re not obligated, but just to be safe, make sure you let people know that you are getting a few referrals so that they don’t think that you are going with their choice. Best steak: Cleveland.com readers have spoken. The best steak in Greater Cleveland is served by Dean Martin’s Lanning’s in Akron. Our Best Of team reports that Schvitz Social Club in Cleveland took second place in our recent Best Steak in Greater Cleveland poll. Tutto Carne, also in Cleveland, came in third. 'Parade': “Parade,” in town at the Connor Palace through Feb. 23, is a powerful, heart-wrenching and sometimes shocking production that sticks with you long after the curtain falls and the theater lights come up. Joey Morona reports that “Parade” might be the best — and certainly the most relevant — show of Playhouse Square’s 2024-25 Broadway season. Transformer Station: The Cleveland Museum of Art’s Transformer Station in Ohio City has a robust schedule of art exhibitions and performances scheduled for 2025, reports Paris Wolfe. Shahzia Sikander: Shahzia Sikander has been revitalizing traditional South Asian art for a generation while expanding the notion of what it means to be an American artist who also happens to be Muslim, Pakistani and feminist, reports Peter Chakerian. Sikander is the subject of a career-spanning exhibition “Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior,” which was co-organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) and the Cincinnati Art Museum. The joint exhibitions will make their debuts at both institutions starting Feb. 14. Girard arcade: Past Times Arcade invites gamers of all ages to stop in and play for a while. Susan Glaser reports the arcade is housed in a former grocery store, Santisi’s, which closed in 2016 in downtown Girard, between Warren and Youngstown. Things to do: Consider stripping to the basics for Cupid’s Undies Run this weekend. If it’s frigid, walk around indoors at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Picasso show. Paris Wolfe lists 27 things to do this weekend. |
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Murder trial for two accused of killing Cleveland toddler nears end Read more Cleveland man accused of stabbing 3 people on charter bus Read more Cleveland man steals two loaner cars from Serpentini in Middleburg Heights Read more Seven Brew Drive Thru, with 20,000 drink combinations, to open Feb. 10 in Lyndhurst Read more Surveys show Medina residents, businesses support DORA Read more Medina County Safe Communities Coalition receives traffic safety grant Read more Former NE Ohio county commissioner accused of throwing lemons at GOP colleague Read more Akron to plant 1,800 trees along residential streets; how to request or opt out Read more Orange council ratifies Flock camera contract -- a year after former mayor signed it Read more Oberlin High School students showcase artwork in new Black History Month public art display and exhibition Read more North Ridgeville adds officers to police and fire departments Read more Jeffrey Light replaces Scott Lewis on Orange Planning and Zoning Commission Read more |
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