Does your teen have a cellphone? It’s a constant battle in our house to get my son to remove his eyes from the game bing-banging on his tiny screen and put the phone away. Screen addiction is real – and scary. A 2023 study by Common Sense Media found that 97% of students use their phones for an average of 42 minutes during the school day, with social media the top reason for students’ cellphone use. So what are schools to do to make sure kids learn? My kid’s school makes him keep his phone in his locker. But Hannah Drown took a look at two Northeast Ohio school districts with different tactics, either locking the phones in bags or allowing kids to keep their phones – and even use them for tracking – while teachers set policies. It’s a pressing issue and it’s not going away any time soon. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather: Mix of snow and rain |
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Akron Public Schools started a new policy this school year, banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during the school day. (Photo courtesy of Marty Coppola) |
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Cellphones: Akron Public Schools join a rising number of districts nationwide prohibiting cellphone use in school buildings, Hannah Drown reports. Beachwood High School incorporates what’s known as a “digital hall pass,” teaching digital literacy and accountability. Amtrak: Expanded Amtrak service linking Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati is a step closer to reality, with the awarding of federal funding to study key metrics of the proposed route, reports Susan Glaser. The 3C+D route is one of four in Ohio selected for key new funding from the federal government for planning and development of expanded passenger rail throughout the United States. New and expanded service between Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit was also selected for the Federal Railroad Administration’s new corridor development program. Today in Ohio: Former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Sam Randazzo has been charged with 11 counts related to bribery and embezzlement. We’re talking about evidence of a $4.3 million bribe in exchange for helping FirstEnergy secure its policy priorities, including House Bill 6, on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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DeWine’s involvement: Former PUCO Chief Sam Randazzo’s indictment makes no explicit reference to Gov. Mike DeWine or a downtown Columbus dinner five years ago. But DeWine selected Randazzo, the regulator FirstEnergy itself has admitted in court filings that it bribed. DeWine signed the legislation that sent ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder to prison for 20 years. Jeremy Pelzer reports on what this might mean for DeWine. Chuck Jones: While federal prosecutors have targeted the people who received FirstEnergy’s millions, so far they have been silent when it comes to charges against the people who – according to the company itself – arranged to hand them the cash, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Chief among those people are Chuck Jones, FirstEnergy’s former CEO, and Mike Dowling, previously the company’s top lobbyist. Both were fired in late 2020 amid multiple investigations into the bribe money. Marijuana laws: The adult-use cannabis taxes and THC potency caps proposed by the Ohio Senate to the voter-passed recreational marijuana initiated statute would make the product too expensive and unappealing to consumers, as well as add costs for businesses, the industry warned lawmakers Tuesday afternoon. Laura Hancock reports about three dozen people testified in person or by written remarks on House Bill 86, an alcohol-regulation bill that lawmakers have loaded with dozens of changes for the adult-use initiated statute that passed in November. |
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County budget: Cuyahoga County Council passed its biennial budget Tuesday night with $1.6 billion assigned to 2024 and $1.7 billion to 2025, Lucas Daprile reports. The budget includes more money for MetroHealth, the hiring of more social workers and correctional officers, and more. The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board (ADAMHS) saw its county funding decrease by $2.5 million in both years. Tiny forest: Lyndhurst Community of Faith Church joined a worldwide trend by planting a "tiny forest." Susan Brownstein explains the density and dirt that differentiates a forest from a couple of trees. Homelessness advocates: Advocates for the unhoused gathered Monday for a vigil to commemorate the four people in the last month who died while experiencing homelessness in Cuyahoga County, reports Lucas Daprile. That underscores the dangers of homelessness and the gaps in social services meant to help the unhoused. Vacant land: A multiyear project to show how Cleveland can make better use of thousands of acres of vacant land scattered across the city is getting ready for prime time. Steven Litt reports participants in a two-year study to improve the disposition of vacant land in Cleveland will present initial findings and recommendations Thursday at the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Cultural gardens: Walking through the Lebanese Cultural Garden should feel like walking through a park, with a paved winding path, reports Zachary Smith. Dedicated in June 2019, the garden sits directly across the Syrian Cultural Garden, which represents a country that has been intertwined with Lebanon throughout history. Kindland: The Prosperity Project helps families facing difficult times during the holiday season by providing them with food, cash, toys, clothing, furniture, and more, reports Peter Chakerian in his Kindland series. |
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Hiring: Society Brands, a Canton-based startup focused on buying and growing e-commerce brands, on Tuesday announced a plan to hire 70 more people over the next few years. Sean McDonnell reports the company, which recently unveiled its new headquarters in the Hall of Fame Village complex, currently employs about 100 people, with about 15 working out of Northeast Ohio. Meijer: A new, small-format Meijer being built in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood has finally announced an opening date, reports Sean McDonnell. The Meijer at East 105th Street and Cedar Avenue will open on Jan. 16. CPK: California Pizza Kitchen in Legacy Village has closed, reports Marc Bona. Legacy Village, the lifestyle-shopping center, announced via its Instagram page that the staple is leaving after 20 years. |
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Murder charges: A U.S. Marshals task force Tuesday arrested two men in Cleveland Heights on murder charges, reports Olivia Mitchell. Shawntell Ellis, 29, was wanted by the Bedford Heights Police Department in the deaths of brothers Joshua Cunningham, 21, and Dominic Cunningham, 22, both of Solon. |
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Ask Yadi: Is it OK to re-gift? A gift you don’t want could ultimately make a great white elephant gift. Though Yadi Rodriguez says if you do plan to re-gift something, make sure you remember who gave it to you. It would be pretty embarrassing or insulting to re-gift to the original giver! Paying student-athletes: NCAA President Charlie Baker’s proposal to radically change the Division I landscape gained immediate support from Ohio State’s leadership. Nathan Baird reports that Athletic Director Gene Smith took to X, formerly Twitter, to repost Baker’s summation of his proposal, which calls for the option to directly pay athletes for name, image and likeness opportunities and the creation of a new Division I subdivision for the wealthiest athletic programs. RV Show: If you’ve been hankering to travel and hit the open road across the country, here’s your chance to learn more: The annual Ohio RV Supershow is scheduled over five days next month, reports Marc Bona. Lights trail: Light up your holidays this season with a stop (or three) along the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail, a series of 70 high-wattage locations throughout the state, including 19 in Northeast Ohio. Susan Glaser reports TourismOhio developed the trail in 2018, a way to promote the many seasonal displays and attractions that pop up throughout the state in November and December, from Akron (Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens) to Zanesville (A Storybook Christmas) and everywhere in between. Gift ideas: If you haven’t done your holiday shopping yet, Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus have 23 food-related gift ideas for the gourmet on your list. All originate in Northeast Ohio. |
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3 convicted in connection to fatal shooting of pregnant woman get decades in prison Read more Kent murder suspect arrested in Texas, police say Read more Final brush strokes applied to Cleveland Heights Arts Commission legislation Read more True North proposes Shell station across from Valor Acres in Brecksville Read more Akron Public Schools mulls redistricting; informational meetings set for December Read more Shaker council debates recreation plan, school bus depot study Read more Avon Lake school board presses pause on returning bond issue to ballot Read more Ice time returns with reopening of Cleveland Heights north rink Read more |
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