Officials predicted Cleveland would reap $22 million in economic impact from the NCAA Women’s Final Four basketball tournament. But the long weekend was so successful, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission believes it could be $30 million or more. And that’s just the tangible purchases related to the events. "The media hits and media value were so phenomenal for our city,” Commission President David Gilbert said. “They were honestly beyond our best imagination.” That’s due in part to Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark and the undefeated South Carolina team. About 30,000 people showed up downtown. And Sunday’s championship game topped out at more than 24 million viewers across the country. Viewers got to see our moment in the sun. Be proud, Clevelanders. Said Gilbert, “It was such a magical week for our city.” — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Warmer weather returns |
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With multiple events taking place last weekend, bringing thousands of tourists to Cleveland and the wild card of weather hanging over us, things could have gone horribly wrong. But things went smoothly. (cleveland.com collage) |
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Cleveland shines: The media exposure during the NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four “was just off the charts,” said the head of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Marc Bona reports Cleveland gained an economic boost, basked in city pride and received an over-the-top media value that chambers of commerce dream of. HB6 prosecution: The death of former state regulator Sam Randazzo has wrenched state and federal criminal cases accusing him of accepting a $4.3 million bribe from a power company before doing its bidding inside Ohio’s government. The charges against Randazzo and his businesses, years in the making, now stand on uncertain ground, reports Jake Zuckerman and Andrew Tobias. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine announced help for the child care crisis in his State of the State address Wednesday, with a Childcare Choice Voucher Program for families with incomes of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and $85 million to improve existing facilities. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily news podcast, we’re talking about how this fits with the child care changes announced last week and whether the legislature will try to halt this expansion like they did last year. |
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Background checks: In an effort to prevent gun purchases without background checks, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Steven Dettlebach on Thursday announced new standards for the type of firearm sales that will require federal licensure. Sabrina Eaton reports the new rule will close the so-called “gun show loophole” that lets thousands of unlicensed gun dealers sell tens of thousands of guns without background checks, including to buyers such as “domestic abusers violent felons, and even children." Seatbelt law: Gov. Mike DeWine called on lawmakers this week to pass a law allowing police to pull people over solely for the reason of not wearing seatbelts. Laura Hancock reports Republican leaders in the Ohio House and Senate don’t appear motivated to change the seat belt law any time soon. Chinese cars: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown wants to make sure that inexpensive Chinese electric vehicles whose manufacture is subsidized by the Chinese government don’t make it into the United States to undercut domestic car makers. Sabrina Eaton reports the Cleveland Democrat on Thursday called Chinese-made electric vehicles “an existential threat to the American auto industry” and asked President Joe Biden to ban their U.S. sales. Drug overdoses: Ohio is making significant strides in the battle against drug overdoses, with Gov. Mike DeWine recently announcing $4 million in grants that will aid first responders in acquiring and distributing lifesaving tools, such as naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips, Hannah Drown reports. |
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Data portal: The city of Cleveland last week rolled out Mayor Justin Bibb’s long-promised open data portal, which is meant to provide the public with easier access to city data. Details available through the portal range from data-heavy, lengthy spreadsheets showing complaints made to 311 and the rental registry status of Cleveland homes, to simpler map-based information showing the boundaries of neighborhoods, or locations of recreation centers and schools, reports Courtney Astolfi. Social services: Cuyahoga County is planning to close the troubled Jane Edna Hunter Social Services Center within the next three years, reports Lucas Daprile. During a Tuesday committee meeting, county officials presented a timeline for consolidation of various county buildings. Tremont apartments: A new apartment building now leasing in Tremont has something a little bit different for the trendy spot near downtown Cleveland – four hotel suites. Megan Sims reports the Driftwood includes amenities such as a swimming pool and a rooftop deck with skyline views of downtown Cleveland. Plus there are designs for a high-end restaurant with a rooftop bar. Cultural Gardens: Cleveland boasts 36 gardens in its Cultural Gardens, with nearly a dozen others in the process of joining over the next decade. As part of an ongoing series, Zachary Smith has examined 20 gardens, exploring the storied histories of their creation and of the immigrant population who came to Cleveland for work, education or as political refugees. |
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COVID cases: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio fell again for the eighth consecutive week, from 2,224 last week to 1,877 this week, marking the lowest level since mid-July. Julie Washington reports case numbers have been falling steadily since February. Fairview: A new combined cancer center and medical office building may be part of Cleveland Clinic’s $150 million construction project to refresh Fairview Hospital’s campus, reports Julie Washington. Space cleared by the demolition of Clinic-owned homes near the hospital will be either become landscaped green space or provide land for a parking deck extending across West 179th Street, making it unusable as a roadway, according to proposed building options. Energy shopping: It’s time to shop for electricity, reports Sean McDonnell. FirstEnergy is buying power at auction for the equivalent of 7.4 cents per kilowatt hour. You can find a better deal if you shop. |
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East CLE commander: Larry McDonald, the former East Cleveland police commander, has been indicted on charges that accuse him of failing to report a high-speed chase in 2022 in which the fleeing car’s driver died. The Cuyahoga County grand jury’s indictment marks the second time McDonald has been charged with not reporting a chase that ended in a crash, reports Cory Shaffer. Gas station robbery: Police are looking for four suspects who robbed a gas station and later cashed in stolen lottery tickets. Police said the heist took place at 11 p.m. March 7. Three of the suspects, all men, walked into the Rebel Gas Station at 18501 Nottingham Road in Cleveland, reports Olivia Mitchell. Tax scheme: A Florida attorney and certified public accountant who exported his sophisticated tax shelter scheme to Northeast Ohio was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison, reports Adam Ferrise. 3-year-old shot: A 3-year-old boy died Wednesday in an accidental shooting in a family garage in Brunswick Hills, reports Molly Walsh. The man who called police said he was across the street when he heard the gun go off. He said that he was told the gun fell off a workbench in the garage. Missing teenager: It has been nearly 10 months since Keshaun Williams was reported missing and his mother pleaded again Thursday for his safe return, reports Olivia Mitchell. Authorities and the Cleveland Family Center for Missing Children and Adults are offering a $22,500 reward for information about the Cleveland teenager. |
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Ask Yadi: Should you share your electronic passwords with your partner? Yadi Rodriguez writes that you should respect their privacy, as you would want them to respect yours. Film Fest: There are nearly 50 screenings on Friday and Saturday during the Cleveland International Film Festival, including several eclectic shorts programs and a few thrilling after-hours selections. Festivalgoers attending the final screenings Saturday night are also invited to stick around for the Closing Night Awards Ceremony to find out which films stood out above the rest, Joey Morona reports. 'Sleeping Beauty': Cleveland Ballet will end its season on April 25-27 with four performances of “Sleeping Beauty,” one of the most technically challenging classic ballets. The classic tale, set to a score by composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, will be staged at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace, reports Paris Wolfe. Travel advisory: Two months before Susan Glaser's trip to Jamaica, the U.S. State Department advised Americans to “reconsider travel” to the popular Caribbean nation. So she employed a local guide to show her around rather than exploring on her own. She never felt unsafe. Jamaica tour guide: Lee Weinstock of Shaker Heights made his first trip to Jamaica in the late 1980s, a student at Ohio State University enamored with reggae music. Weinstock has spent the majority of his career helping to support the tourism economy of the small island nation – organizing tours for thousands of cruise passengers, setting up meetings at the island’s swankiest resorts, even taking a fellow Shaker Heights native on a tour of some of the country’s best jerk chicken, Susan Glaser reports. |
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Baby Jameela doing ‘really well’ as she settles in with gorilla group at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Read more In state-of-city address, University Heights’ Brennan speaks of University Square, purchasing Wiley as community center, recycling Read more Will the Medina school board make cuts after levy failure? Read more Akron Children’s Hospital opens adjacent Family Resource, Unity centers Read more Eclipse glasses handed out by Orange Village ‘didn’t work’ Read more Orange council considers amendment related to special residential zoning districts Read more Clothing charity YAHAB wins support from 100+ Women Who Care in Medina Read more |
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