The U.S. surgeon general in 2023 issued a public health advisory about kids and social media. Up to 95% of teens 13-17 reported using social media and nearly 40% of kids ages 8-12. That’s despite the fact that 13 is commonly the required minimum age used by social media platforms. Greater social media use leads to disrupted sleep, online harassment, poor body image, low self-esteem and depressive symptoms, according to the advisory. Government officials are trying to figure out how to protect kids. On Wednesday, a federal judge blocked Ohio’s law requiring companies that create apps that children can access to first get parental consent for minors younger than 16. Now Ohio lawmakers want app stores from Apple and Google to check before certain apps are downloaded. At least eight other states have introduced bills to put the onus on app stores, including Utah, which signed its version into law in March. But no company wants the responsibility. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Under House Bill 226, app stores would ask users how old they are. Users would verify their age and those younger than 16 would need parental permission to download apps on their phones. (Patti Sapone, NJ Advance Media file photo) |
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Social media: After a federal court struck down their first attempt to limit teen social media use, Ohio lawmakers have a new approach: go through the app stores. Instead of putting the responsibility for policing whether children are using their apps on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, Republicans want Apple and Google to check before certain apps are downloaded, reports Anna Staver. Hemp case: After smoking hemp one morning in 2020, a 55-year-old Lorain man struck a State Highway Patrol trooper around 5 p.m. at a speed between 10 and 15 mph, causing injuries that ended the trooper’s career. State attorneys won convictions for aggravated vehicular assault and operating a vehicle while under the influence of metabolites of THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana) that police detected in his system. Jake Zuckerman reports the man asked the Ohio Supreme Court to overturn the convictions, a matter up for oral arguments next week. Today in Ohio: Why is President Trump revoking the visas of more than 50 international college students in Ohio? The colleges aren’t talking -- and neither are our federal representatives. We’re talking about kids being kicked out of the country on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Husted campaign: During his first 10 weeks as a U.S. senator, Jon Husted’s nascent 2026 campaign collected more than $1 million, reports Jeremy Pelzer. While that’s a drop in the bucket compared to what other recent U.S. Senate candidates in Ohio have spent, it’s a respectable showing given that Gov. Mike DeWine catapulted the Columbus-area Republican from lieutenant governor to the Senate in mid-January. College indoctrination: Colleges risk losing funding if they don’t follow a new state law that seeks to limit liberal “indoctrination” of students, and those who don’t like it can leave Ohio, state Sen. Jerry Cirino told the City Club Thursday. While some critics have warned that students and faculty will leave Ohio because of the bill, Cirino told the City Club “certainly, for some of them, that would be OK," Laura Hancock reports. |
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Digital C: After missing the mark in 2024 and facing a $1 million penalty, nonprofit internet provider DigitalC is currently on pace to meet its new subscriber goal in 2025, reports Sean McDonnell. DigitalC, picked by Mayor Justin Bibb to help bridge Cleveland’s digital divide, delivered a report to Cleveland City Council Thursday that showed that it’s on track to fulfill its contract with the city. Suicides: While drug overdose and homicide deaths are falling in Cuyahoga County, suicides are on the rise, especially in the Black community, according to data presented by Medical Examiner Thomas Gilson. Kaitlin Durbin reports that the county had 208 suicides last year, a major increase over pandemic figures, when he said suicide deaths “curiously” dipped to a low of 176, despite worries about increased despair and isolation. Esports: Esports, a form of competition-based video game play, has become the fastest-growing extracurricular at Lorain High School. But for the school, it’s more than just a rising trend — it’s a chance for statewide victory. On April 26, Lorain’s esports team will travel to the University of Akron for the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Tournament, reports Hannah Drown. RTA station: RTA trustees this week approved plans to build a new light rail Rapid station that will serve as a pilot project, testing on-demand heating for waiting riders. The station will also include wheelchair access and connect directly to a nearby neighborhood park, reports Rich Exner. Cherry blossoms: Enjoying the profusion of Japanese cherry blossoms is not a rite of spring reserved for those in Washington, D.C., reports Peter Krouse. They also can be appreciated around Wade Lagoon, south of the Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle, but not for much longer this year. Home listings: A new report showed that the Cleveland-Elyria area saw an increase in home listings in March. In its National Housing Report, RE/MAX, a global real estate franchisor, found that there were 2,346 new listings last month, a 45.7% increase from February, which had 1,610, reports Megan Sims. Destination CLE: Destination Cleveland President and CEO David Gilbert, who also serves as head of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, said the organizations won’t take a position on whether the Browns should move their stadium to Brook Park. Susan Glaser reports that Gilbert said the tourism agency would promote the team and the stadium wherever it’s located. Maundy Thursday: Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church held its Maundy Thursday celebration in the historical downtown Cleveland church. David Petkiewicz has photos. |
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AI symposium: As artificial intelligence reshapes industries from finance to health care, Case Western Reserve University is stepping forward with a bold goal: to help society navigate AI’s potential. Molly Walsh reports the Weatherhead School of Management will host its inaugural “AI and the Future of Work” symposium, a free, daylong event aimed at exploring how AI is changing jobs, industries and human decision-making and what it all means for Northeast Ohio and beyond. Testicular cancer: Ben Lavelle was preparing to return to college for his sophomore year when he learned that he had stage two testicular cancer, a curable disease that disproportionally affects in men in their 20s and 30s. Olivia Mitchell reports that in December, he had his final surgery to remove lymph nodes that had traces of cancer, which was a major relief for his family. Popcorn shop: Chagrin Falls merchants are rallying around the iconic Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop, which has had to close temporarily because of bridge construction. Marc Bona reports the Chagrin Falls Merchant Association has scheduled a “flash pop” – a takeoff on a flash mob – to support the longtime popcorn shop. |
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Police shooting: Authorities Thursday released the identity of a man who was shot and killed by members of a law-enforcement task force on Cleveland’s West Side. Olivia Mitchell reports the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Andre Dewayne Lamont Martin, 47, of Garfield Heights. Angelo’s owner’s home: In the past 10 years, police have been called more than three dozen times to the Westlake home owned by Thomas Kess, the proprietor of Angelo’s Pizza, reports Lucas Daprile. Kess was not charged in the latest incident Tuesday, though three women at his home were. Police lawsuit: A Cleveland police officer hit a teenager in the head with a baton while responding to a fight that the youth had nothing to do with, according to a lawsuit. Adam Ferrise reports the lawsuit says teen suffered a “traumatic brain injury” that prevents him from his schoolwork and from playing basketball. Dark web: Federal prosecutors say an Iranian man ran a dark web marketplace that sold troves of drugs, stolen financial information and hacking-for-hire services, Adam Ferrise reports. |
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Ask Yadi: Do you answer a friend honestly when she asks how she looks? Yadi Rodriguez writes that next time she asks, keep it general. Cheese shops: The closing of Old Brooklyn Cheese Co. this month is sad, but Northeast Ohio cheese-o-philes have at least four more dedicated boutiques where cheese rules. Paris Wolfe reports these carry broad selections of international, U.S.- and Ohio-made cheeses. Keyshia Coles: Oakland-bred singer-songwriter-reality TV star Keyshia Coles will celebrate the anniversary of her platinum debut album “The Way It Is” with the “The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour,” which includes a stop at Rocket Arena on July 6, reports Malcolm X Abram. BW music: Baldwin Wallace University’s nationally recognized Music Theatre program has unveiled its 2025-26 season, reports Joey Morona. The lineup is the first under the program’s new leadership team of incoming music theater director Jenn Hemphill, recently hired music director Richard Biever and longtime dance director Greg Daniels. 'Chopped': Hedy and Talia Trovato, chefs at Coppia in Chesterland (soon to be in Willoughby), weren’t “chopped” from their first appearance on the “Hungry for Love” tournament in the Food Network’s “Chopped.” Paris Wolfe reports the Trovatos, a married couple, competed with three other married couples to determine which duo would advance to the final competition on May 6. Messi in Cleveland: Huntington Bank Field has hosted hundreds of American football games in its history. But on Saturday, Tim Bielik reports, a different kind of football is coming to downtown Cleveland and the shores of Lake Erie, including one of the best players of our generation. Davy Knowles: Blues guitarist Davy Knowles is headed to Cleveland this month, reports Peter Chakerian. Things to do: Easter events, live music, Dyngus Day celebrations, major sporting events – the list goes on for things to do in Cleveland this weekend, so there’s no reason to stay home. Alex Darus lists 34 things to do in Greater Cleveland this weekend and beyond. |
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Brunswick police car struck while responding to fire on Interstate 77 Read more House Three Thirty hosting ‘Throwback Market’ with local vendors; find out when Read more Cleveland Institute of Music presents Mozart’s masterwork ‘Don Giovanni’ at Playhouse Square Read more NASA Glenn launches free summer engineering program for high school students Read more St. Basil the Great Catholic Church honors the past as it builds for the future Read more Olmsted Falls Fire Department purchasing new $700,000 pumper truck Read more Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills residents to decide school tax increase on May ballot Read more |
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