I've been a regular traveler on the Ohio Turnpike since I was 4 years old, heading west to the I-280 exit on my way to see family in Canada. (My mom drew me a map of the route to Sarnia, Ontario, showing the turnpike, Detroit and the McDonald’s we always stopped at in Toledo.) I drove the turnpike home for long weekends after college, when I worked as a reporter in Illinois and Indiana. And now I drive my family on the turnpike to Canada, though we now have E-ZPass and stop at a different McDonald’s. A few weeks ago, on the way home from West Virginia, I drove through the turnpike’s East Gate near the Pennsylvania border and marveled at the miles-long traffic jam of eastbound drivers. What was going on? Are we finally getting open-road tolling like other states? Well, yes, if you drive the entire 241-mile, 70-mph toll road. Otherwise, your payment structure just got a bunch more complicated in an attempt to save the Turnpike Commission some cash. Trust me. Get E-ZPass. -- Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Houston Astros: Guardians swept by Astros as Chas McCormick belts two home runs to hand Cleveland 3-2 loss Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and warm |
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The Ohio Turnpike's Swanton toll plaza, seen here, is part of the turnpike's revamped tolling system. Like other toll plazas, it includes lanes that allow E-ZPass account holders to drive through without stopping. (Courtesy Ohio Turnpike) |
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Turnpike changes: Until now, Ohio Turnpike drivers have been charged tolls based on where they got on and off the highway. Under a more complex system to launch this fall, drivers coming into Ohio from Indiana or Pennsylvania will each have to pay a flat-rate toll upon entering the state, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Toll plazas will remain at most entrances and exits, though. Early voting: Turnout for the Aug. 8 special election continues to trend higher than Ohio’s twin primaries in 2022, and the gap between urban and suburban counties and their rural counterparts is closing as Election Day nears. Andrew Tobias reports the number of Ohioans who already have voted early on State Issue 1 is exceeding the number of people who voted early at the same point in last year’s May and August primary elections. Today in Ohio: Former President Donald Trump has been indicted, again, this time for trying to deprive Americans’ rights of a free election. We’re talking about how Ohio Republicans still think he should be president -- and how Issue 1 would deprive Ohioans’ rights -- on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily news podcast. |
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Organized crime: A state office focused on organized crime is investigating Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. in connection with the company’s admission of bribing Ohio’s former House speaker and top utility regulator, reports Jake Zuckerman. In a financial report filed Monday, the company disclosed receiving a subpoena on June 29 from the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, part of the state attorney general’s office. River health: Ohio’s rivers are, overall, a lot cleaner than they were in the 1980s, thanks to improved wastewater infrastructure and efforts to cut down on farm pollution, according to a newly released survey from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The survey found that 86% of the 1,372 miles of river examined met federal and state water quality standards, Jeremy Pelzer reports. |
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Council dispute: Cuyahoga County Councilman Martin Sweeney called for President Pernel Jones Jr. to step down Wednesday after flipflopping votes on a new Garfield Heights jail, which Sweeney said reflected “an absolute lack of leadership” on one of the county’s biggest decisions. The request doesn’t have backing from any other councilmember and Jones tells Kaitlin Durbin he will continue to lead the body. |
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Global 500: While Northeast Ohio is well-represented on the Fortune 500 list, only one company made the Global 500 list — Progressive Insurance. Fortune Magazine ranked the world’s top 500 corporations, based on total revenue, reports Sean McDonnell. Urgent care: University Hospitals Urgent Care facilities in Mentor and Kent opened in new locations Tuesday, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. |
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Kids shot: A 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by an 11-year-old in a weekend of youth violence that also saw a teenager struck by a bullet in a stolen car. At least seven teens have been killed this year in Cleveland, one of the deadliest years on record, reports Olivia Mitchell. Shoplifting accusation: A Solon woman sued Walmart and accused the retail giant of racial discrimination after store security guards detained her and her daughter for two hours because the guards wrongfully believed she had shoplifted. Raquel Davis, an assistant administrator of information and technology services in the city of Cleveland’s finance department, filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court, reports Adam Ferrise. District settles: Willoughby-Eastlake schools agreed to pay $167,000 to settle a lawsuit with the mother of an eighth-grade student who was strip-searched at school, Adam Ferrise reports. School officials ordered the search because officials at Eastlake Middle School believed the student had a nicotine vape pen in her locker. Torture: A Cleveland man is accused of torturing his girlfriend with scalding cooking oil and abusing her for two days last week. The woman eventually escaped, reports John Tucker. Armed robbery: A Garfield Heights man, wanted by federal authorities in connection with an armed robbery of a Cleveland pizzeria in June, has been arrested, reports John Tucker. Terrance Trawick, 37, was apprehended Tuesday, hiding under a bed in the city’s Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood, about a mile away from the pizza shop. |
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Navy Week: Dozens of U.S. Navy sailors will be in town in September as part of Navy Week. Last held in Cleveland in 2018, the event consists of a series of outreach programs and appearances designed to give Clevelanders a chance to learn about the armed service branch and its importance to national security and prosperity, reports Joey Morona. Ask Lucas: What should you do if your friend keeps posting offensive memes? Lucas Daprile urges you to stoop to his level, but be warned that the low road has no exits. “Once you’re immersed in the toxicity of posting internet memes about divisive political issues, be prepared for your soul to suffer more pollution than the Cuyahoga River in the 1960s.” Music festivals: On Friday and Saturday, a pair of retired Cleveland music festivals will return to active duty when the Buzzard Fest and WGAR Country Jam happen for the first time in 23 and five years, reports Malcolm X Abram. The music festivals have been reborn under the new umbrella of Victory Live, named for their new home at Victory Park in North Ridgeville. European cafés: Some Cleveland-area restaurants have created a space that feels miles away from the United States. Alex Darus has 11 café-style bars and bistros in Cleveland that will temporarily transport you to Europe. |
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Car trying to pass truck crashes head-on into oncoming vehicle, killing driver Read more Teenager shot in Cleveland Heights early Wednesday, police say Read more Man, woman abduct driver from Ohio truck stop, die in shootout after long standoff, police say Read more 30 dogs found dead in freezers of ‘horrible’ Ohio rescue shelter Read more Parma City School District clarifies stance on arming staff members, meets with police department Read more U.S. Rep. Max Miller tells Solon chamber group to vote him out if he doesn’t deliver Read more Westlake’s Crocker Park named among top 5 shopping centers in U.S. Read more Fairview Park Library unveils new innovation center Read more Summit County mailing new property value notices, and how to get info online Read more North Olmsted City Schools completing concrete repairs at Administrative Building Read more Fairview Park Young Marine earns top 10 leadership accolades Read more Olmsted Township Trustees respond to annexation denial Read more ODOT begins Columbia Road overpass work in North Olmsted Read more Lakewood seeks input on skatepark bowl expansion Read more West Creek Greenway Plan to include Parma’s new South Park Connector Trail Read more |
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