SB 1 sprinted through the Ohio statehouse this spring. After Republican state Sen. Jerry Cirino of Kirtland failed to pass his conservative higher-education overhaul in the previous legislation session, it became top priority in January, aimed at what Republicans have described as liberal “indoctrination” on college campuses. The bill, which applies to the state’s 14 public universities and 23 public community colleges, is sweeping. It requires that professors encourage students to reach their own conclusions about all “controversial beliefs,” including on climate change, immigration policy, gay marriage and abortion. It mandates that students take a three-hour American “civic literacy” course that teaches a host of basic American historical documents. And it subjects faculty to extra scrutiny through a new “post-tenure review.” Students and faculty unions fervidly oppose the bill, with protests at every hearing. Democrats warned that the law would allow serious consideration of lies, including denying the Holocaust. Nearly 800 pieces of testimony - virtually all in opposition - were submitted to lawmakers. But the bill hurdled them all. — Laura |
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Hundreds of Ohio college professors demonstrate Wednesday against Senate Bill 1, a sweeping higher-education bill that would prohibit professors from striking, limit the topics that can be negotiated in collective bargaining agreements, and other provisions. A group of students joined the professors, having marched to the Statehouse from nearby Ohio State University. (Laura Hancock, cleveland.com) |
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Education bill: The Ohio House passed a sweeping, 76-page higher education bill Wednesday that conservatives say will end liberal “indoctrination” at colleges but that professors and students believe will lower the quality of Ohio education, Laura Hancock reports. Today in Ohio: An Ohio Senate committee on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation that backers say will eliminate add-on charges to customers’ monthly electric bills and, they hope, spur development of new natural gas-fired power plants. Under the law, all utilities would need to undergo a full rate review every three years. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about how some companies, like FirstEnergy, have gone more than a decade without a rate review. |
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Energy bill: The Ohio Senate unanimously passed legislation Wednesday that will eliminate add-on charges for gas and electric bills, apply more scrutiny to prices set by utility companies, and, according to supporters, spur development of new natural gas-fired power plants, reports Jake Zuckerman. Pay raise: A late-stage amendment nestled in the state’s two-year, $11.4 billion transportation budget grants a pay raise to one of House Speaker Matt Huffman’s top lieutenants. Jake Zuckerman reports the omnibus amendment accepted Tuesday by the Senate Transportation Committee raises pay for the newly created leadership position of House Assistant Pro Tempore Phil Plummer, boosting his pay to $99,903. I-71 exchange: Ohio lawmakers have passed an $11 billion-plus transportation budget that, among many other things, would repeal a state requirement to build a controversial highway interchange between Strongsville and Brunswick, Jeremy Pelzer reports. |
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Astronauts return: A trip to the International Space Station that was supposed to have lasted eight days took more than nine months for a pair of astronauts who returned to Earth Tuesday, including Euclid native Sunita Williams. Sabrina Eaton reports NASA astronauts Williams and Butch Wilmore, who spent 286 days in space together, splashed down safely off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who had spent 171 days there. Winter snow: National Weather Service data recorded at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport show there were more days of measurable snowfall this winter season compared to the past three years. As Northeast Ohio celebrates the official end of winter, Megan Sims looks back to see just how snowy this season proved to be. Browns stadium: After the Browns doubled down on their idea for a Brook Park stadium Tuesday and criticized Cleveland, Mayor Justin Bibb responded, calling the proposal by the team's owners a “scheme” and saying that it squanders taxpayer dollars to benefit billionaires, reports Sean McDonnell. Bibb wrote, “The Haslams need to raise your taxes, make it more expensive for you to attend games, and steal events away from downtown Cleveland to pay for their stadium." Stadium concerns: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne says the Browns’ ask of the county to issue $600 million in bonds to help pay for a $2.4 billion stadium in Brook Park raises a “tidal wave of concerns” and he steadfastly insists the Browns should remain in downtown Cleveland, Rich Exner reports. Lakefront board: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb wants to oust a Browns official from a lakefront planning board amid the ongoing controversy about the team’s plans to move from the downtown waterfront to a proposed stadium in Brook Park. Sean McDonnell and Rich Exner report that one of the original 10 members appointed in October 2023 is David Jenkins, chief operating officer of both the Browns and the Haslam Sports Group. Downtown district: Cuyahoga County Council has signaled it's ready for the county to join Downtown Cleveland Inc.’s special taxing district, raising more money to improve safety and cleanliness downtown, despite lingering tensions and a last-minute attempt to block them. Kaitlin Durbin reports that council’s Economic Development and Planning Committee agreed to advance the proposal Tuesday following weeks of heated debate. Hopkins TSA: There’s relief coming for the long security lines at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, but it won’t be here in time for spring break – or even Thanksgiving. Susan Glaser reports airport officials are planning to add two security lanes to the Central checkpoint in an effort to ease congestion during busy travel periods. Summer in March: According to the National Weather Service, the high for Wednesday, as of about 3 p.m., was 72 degrees, far above the 48-degree average for this time of year and just 3 degrees below the record high for March 19. Dave Petkiewicz captured photos of Clevelanders enjoying the weather. |
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HOF: Michael Crawford, hired in 2018 to transform the property around the Pro Football Hall of Fame into “the Disneyland of football,” is stepping down as CEO, reports Susan Glaser. Though significant progress on the development has occurred in recent years, some of the highest profile aspects of the project – including a football-themed waterpark and adjacent hotel – remain unfinished. Property sold: Phantom Fireworks has purchased a former Quaker Steak & Lube property in Sheffield Village, reports Molly Walsh. The purchase happened on Feb. 5, according to the Lorain County Auditor’s Office, with a second adjoining parcel of land transferring to a holding company on March 3. The property cost $2,585,000. |
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COVID fraud: The owner of an Akron tax preparing business “preyed” on vulnerable people who lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic by using their personal information to siphon $700,000 in COVID-19 relief money for himself, prosecutors said Wednesday. Adam Ferrise covered the opening statements of the trial in federal court in Cleveland. Police shooting: Newly released body camera footage shows the chaotic moments before Akron police killed a man in February who they say fired at them first. On Wednesday, Akron police released two more body camera videos from the Feb. 7 incident in which police say Marcus Smith shot at officers following a traffic stop, reports Lucas Daprile. Teen killed: Cleveland police say a 14-year-old boy was killed Wednesday afternoon in a shooting downtown. Police said the youth was wounded shortly before 2 p.m. in the 1800 block of East 13th Street. Paramedics transported the youth to a local hospital, where he died.
Murder sentence: A Cleveland man was sentenced Wednesday to 33 years in prison for shooting and killing a man at a gas station in the city’s East Side, David Gambino reports. Suspect arrested: U.S. marshals arrested an Akron man Wednesday accused of shooting at police during a traffic stop, Olivia Mitchell reports. The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force apprehended Jon Tae Von Angelo Nelson, 30, who is charged with assault on a police officer, weapons violations and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. |
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Beachland Ballroom: After running a concert venue for 25 years, you best believe Cindy Barber and Mark Leddy of the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern have stories. Peter Chakerian reports they’re celebrating every step of that quarter-century this weekend, featuring concerts by CLE soul-shakers Welshly Arms, punk rockers Dollyrots and Lake Erie surf-punks The Rosies – as well as “The Big Tease” burlesque show on Saturday. Vietnam: The traffic was only one of the remarkable features of Hanoi, Vietnam, writes Susan Glaser: The food was fantastic, the history complex and the culture a complicated mix of messages. Amid all the urban cacophony, there’s some serenity in the region, too – particularly 100 miles east of the city, where Halong Bay provides an ethereal escape from the chaos. Parade the Circle: The Cleveland Museum of Art’s 33rd Parade the Circle returns to University Circle on June 14. Paris Wolfe reports this year’s theme – “Magical Allure: A Vibrant Celebration of the Snowy Owl” – was conceived by artist Héctor Castellanos Lara, who leads the event for the third consecutive year. Happy hour: LockKeepers in the Cuyahoga Valley is a special-occasion dining spot with its upscale-lounge feel and equally elevated Italian steakhouse menu. But Alex Darus and Paris Wolfe report the restaurant also boasts a robust weekday happy hour, perfect for after-work hangouts or budget-friendly dinners. CMH: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is celebrating its grand reopening and renovation with a run of planetarium shows called “Stardust: An Immersive Music Experience” from March 25 to March 30 in Shafran Planetarium. Peter Chakerian reports that “Stardust” is a state-of-the-art, 4K-high-definition, 360-degree journey “to the edge of space and beyond” and will show twice daily. ‘80s concert: Hey music fans, remember the 1980s? Well, “Lost 80s Live” sure does, and on Aug. 8 at MGM Northfield Park the long-running retro pop tour will recall the heady days of big, feathered hair and folks gagging on spoons, reports Malcolm X Abram. Family theater: Playhouse Square unveiled the lineup for its Family Theater Day on May 3, reports Joey Morona. The organization says the annual event is intended to spark joy and wonder in children of all ages through theatrical experiences. Coppia: Coppia, a three-year-old fine-dining restaurant in Chester Township, is preparing for new beginnings about 14 miles away in Willoughby, reports Paris Wolfe. |
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Construction of South Euclid senior living facility at Maywood and Mayfield roads contingent upon tax credit Read more Parma schools' superintendent search likely to wrap in May Read more Lorain County to launch new emergency alert system after persistent failures with previous provider Read more University of Akron’s revitalization plan includes cutting $22M from budget Read more Newly reopened Lakewood Skatepark to include needed shade structure Read more Fairview Park studying aging City Hall building Read more Parma schools agrees to Rockside Road rehab hospital TIF Read more Parma Heights updates City Hall with new paint and carpeting Read more |
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