When kids are hungry, it’s hard to learn. That’s why the federal government offers free and reduced-price lunches for students. Now, any public school student in Parma can get a free lunch, since the number families applying for the benefit has snowballed. In 1998, just under 12% of students in Parma asked for free meals. In 2010, as the nation struggled after the Great Recession, the number climbed to 29.5%. In October 2019, it was 39.1%. Last year, 5,005 of the district’s 10,543 students — just over 47% — applied for free lunches. The numbers reflect the changing socioeconomic demographics of inner-ring suburbs like Parma. The government assumes that not every family who qualifies for their student to receive free lunches will fill out an application, meaning that many students may skip meals at school or at home. Hence granting a blanket benefit for the school system.
— Laura
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Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians at Baltimore Orioles: Guardians go left-on-left to beat Orioles, 3-2, for their 6th straight win Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Rain returns |
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In 1998, less than 12% of students in Parma schools qualified for free lunches. Last year, 47% did. (John Benson, cleveland.com) |
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Parma school lunches: For the first time this fall, Parma schools will offer free breakfast and lunch to all of its more than 10,000 students, thanks to a federally funded program. That means the number of children who are living at or near the poverty line — in what once were considered destination communities — has skyrocketed over the last two decades, reports Cory Shaffer. Legislative privilege: Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman argues a judge can’t force him to answer lawyers’ questions about which private school lobbyists he speaks to outside of legislative chambers. Exactly how far constitutionally protected legislative privilege extends is before the state’s high court, which has yet to decide whether it will take the case. Laura Hancock reports this fight is part of a larger, two-year-old lawsuit brought by 155 public school districts challenging state spending on EdChoice private school scholarships. Superman: Superman is ready for his Cleveland closeup. Joey Morona reports David Corenswet, the actor portraying Clark Kent in the new “Superman” movie currently filming in downtown Cleveland, arrived on set early Monday morning to shoot scenes along a closed section of Superior Avenue that’s been prepped for days to be transformed into Metropolis. Today in Ohio: An Equal Rights Amendment, a sweeping anti-discrimination addition to the Ohio Constitution, is in the early stages of a campaign. We’re talking about the response to recent moves by the Republican state legislature to pass bans restricting transgender youth and athletes on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Petland: Two couples filed lawsuits last week against Petland, a Chillicothe-based international chain of dog retail storefronts, claiming their puppies suffered from painful and expensive ailments that set in shortly after their purchase. The lawsuits describe dogs purchased for between $4,000 and $5,000 who within weeks experienced conditions including a urinary tract infection, cherry eyes, and pneumonia, reports Jake Zuckerman. Supreme Court: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear challenges from the Biden administration, Tennessee families and a medical provider to a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender youth. Ohio is among more than 20 states with a similar law. Sabrina Eaton reports the case to be heard this fall will be the first time the nation’s highest court has weighed in on state efforts to restrict medical care for transgender minors. Hospital abortions: Ohio voters enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution last year, but smaller clinics continue to provide most of the abortions in the state as Ohio’s hospitals are not increasing services or wading into the abortion debate, reports Laura Hancock. Abortion clinics report seeing increasing numbers of patients, including many from states outside Ohio, where women no longer have abortion rights, though state data won’t be available until later this year. Debate viewing: When President Joe Biden and ex-President Donald Trump square off Thursday in the first debate of the 2024 presidential race, there will be no shortage of places in Northeast Ohio to watch it, Jeremy Pelzer reports. |
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Fixer-upper: A recent study by Frontdoor, an app that connects homeowners with home maintenance experts, looked at the 50 largest cities in the country and found that Cleveland was where renovating fixer-uppers added the most home value — at 51%, reports Megan Sims. Blazing Paddles: Even if Share the River had not canceled last Saturday’s scheduled Blazing Paddles Paddlefest on the Cuyahoga River, citing extreme heat, there are questions as to whether the nonprofit would have been able to pull off what has become an annual event, reports Peter Krouse. When Share the River Executive Director Jim Ridge announced the postponement of the event on Thursday, two days before more than 400 paddlers were expected to take to the water, he had yet to obtain the go-ahead from the Cleveland Rowing Foundation to use its boathouses, docks and launches as planned. Exit strategy: A federal-state power struggle over a proposed new interchange on Interstate 71 in Northeast Ohio remained in limbo Monday as the state legislature headed toward a long summer recess after Wednesday. Steven Litt reports the stalemate leaves it unclear whether the state will try to ignore federal policy that empowers the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency to determine whether a new Boston Road exit would solve congestion along I-71 in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville. Jim Tressel: Jim Tressel, known for coaching the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship, his tenure as Youngstown State University’s president and his ties to Baldwin Wallace University, has been named to Baldwin Wallace’s board of trustees. Sean McDonnell reports that while the Tressel family already has a long legacy at the college as alumni, athletes and coaches, Baldwin Wallace said Tressel’s experience as a university president would be invaluable. Michipicoten: The Michipicoten freighter rescued in Lake Superior this month after water poured into a 13-foot gash in its hull might forever be tied to Cleveland. But the ore boat might also be inextricably tied to Duluth, Minnesota, reports Peter Chakerian. That’s where the Michipicoten is currently dry-docked for inspection, with a decision on repairs or scrapping hanging in the balance. Literary anthology: Clevelander R.A. Washington is bringing the works of homeless men to print in the anthology “These Words Are Not My Home: Poems, Stories, and Essays from the Unhoused,” reports Paris Wolfe. |
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Alcohol deaths: Alcohol deaths increased steadily over the past decade and rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Julie Washington. Overall, the national alcohol death rate has risen 70% in the past decade, accounting for 51,191 deaths in 2022, up from 27,762 deaths in 2012, according to the KFF, a health policy and research nonprofit organization. Cancer treatment: The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center opened a new treatment center dedicated specifically to blood cancers Monday. The university is calling it the first state-of-the-art center devoted to blood cancer care in the United States, Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports. SLC flight: After a four-year hiatus, Delta Air Lines is relaunching nonstop service between Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Salt Lake City, reports Susan Glaser. WonderStruck: Fans of the WonderStruck festival take note: The popular, Cleveland-area concert event formerly known as LaureLive will not take place in 2024. Neither will Wonder-branded counterpart festivals in Columbus, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, reports Peter Chakerian. CLE Bagel: The Cleveland Bagel Cafe is officially opening its Lakewood location this week to bring its much-loved Cleveland-style bagels to the suburbs, reports Alex Darus. Stocks: Nine large Ohio companies saw stock growth of at least 2% last week, four of which were Cleveland-area-based companies, reports Zachary Smith. This was led by Cardinal Health in Dublin, which experienced 4.4% growth, or an added $4.43 a share. |
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Officers investigated: Authorities are investigating two police officers in connection with the detaining of a truck driver at a Hinckley bar in April, officials said Monday. A Hinckley police report lists the officers, Donald Kopchak and Daniel Lajack, as suspects in the case and notes allegations of assault, disrupting public service, abduction and unlawful restraint. Fatal shooting: Police are investigating after a 37-year-old man was found dead of a gunshot wound Sunday night in the driveway of his home in Maple Heights, Cliff Pinckard reports. Edgewater shooting: Authorities have arrested a teenager in the shooting of a youth at Edgewater Park on Saturday. Cleveland Metroparks police said the suspect has been charged with felonious assault, discharging a weapon in a prohibited place and receiving stolen property. He also was accused of weapons charges. Murder hearing: Two men accused of murdering a woman in front of her children appeared from jail on Monday during their first court appearance and pleaded not guilty, reports John Tucker. |
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Marble Room: Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar’s wine dinner series continues in July with a decadent seven-course feast in the vault. Marc Bona reports the dinner will feature Hundred Acre Wines from Napa Valley, California, with dishes from chef Brandon Veres. |
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2 Cleveland Clinic officers involved in early morning shooting at Lutheran Hospital Read more Feeding Medina County welcomes donors, volunteers Read more Medina schools roll out student success and wellness plan Read more South Euclid councilman hopes to meet with bank in effort to save Notre Dame College Read more South Euclid approves guidelines for recreational marijuana businesses Read more Middleburg Heights sticks to zoning code for tattoo parlor request Read more Brook Park’s Citizen of the Year embodies community spirit Read more |
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