Boys travel baseball teams are already set for next summer. Which means they could start practicing this fall. Which means they’re prepping longer for their season than professional Major League Baseball players. “I think the prevalence of travel for some of these kids is off the charts,” said one youth sports expert. “You have some 10-year-olds who are playing 60, 70 or 80 games in a summer. It’s just out of control.” Unlike in high school athletics, no overarching association is looking out for those kids’ physical and psychological well-being. In our first series partnering with WKYC Channel 3, “How to win at youth sports (without going broke or breaking down),” we’re delving into youth sports — the cost, the pressure, the commitment, the best practices. We talked to experts, coaches and families about the current landscape and what we can do better to develop healthy, well-adjusted players. And we want to hear from you, with your sports stories and tips. Email me at [email protected]. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians vs. Minnesota Twins: Guardians survive late scare to beat the Twins, 5-3, push AL Central lead to 3 1/2 games Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and pleasant |
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Kids are feeling pressure playing sports. Cleveland.com and WKYC Channel 3 are addressing the current landscape in a series called "How to win at youth sports (without going broke or breaking down)." Advance Local |
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Youth sports: The “professionalization” of youth sports has led to burnout for young athletes (and often parents, too). In fact, 70% of kids stop playing sports before they’re even teenagers, largely due to burnout and injury, reports Zachary Mentz. Both factors can be reasonably attributed to the increasing demands and pressures, such as travel teams or specialized lessons, placed on children who simply want to play with their friends. Stadium proposal: In a letter Sunday to Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and County Council President Pernel Jones Jr. say they will not support a stadium proposal for Brook Park and will focus on renovating the existing lakefront stadium. In sending the letter, Ronayne and Jones join Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb in opposing the Brook Park plan. Project 2025: How is U.S. Sen. JD Vance connected to the conservative Project 2025 plan for federal government? Sabrina Eaton reports the vice presidential candidate from Ohio has links to the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank that created Project 2025, and its president, Kevin Roberts. DORAs: A growing number of Ohio cities, large and small, are designating areas of business or entertainment districts for visitors to walk around outside and consume alcoholic beverages. It’s a concept that had become popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were in search of new ways to socialize while remaining outside. But Cory Shaffer reports that Cuyahoga County has been slow to embrace the trend and continues to lag the state’s other large counties. Today in Ohio: Four tornadoes tore through Northeast Ohio suburbs Tuesday and many people could be without power for more than a week. We’re talking storm aftermath on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Free speech: An appeals court ruled Friday that a library violated the free speech rights of its security guard when he was fired for posting an image of an SUV driving over Black Lives Matter protesters amid the heated demonstrations nationwide following a police officer’s murder of George Floyd, reports Jake Zuckerman. ODOT chief: Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks is stepping down at the end of next month after more than five years in the job, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Marchbanks, one of the governor’s first cabinet hires in 2019, is departing on Sept. 30 after telling the governor’s office that he intends to pursue an unspecified academic position. |
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MetroHealth: The MetroHealth System’s board voted Friday to fire president and CEO Airica Steed, making it the second time in two years that the county’s hospital system has ousted its leader. Sean McDonnell reports the board voted unanimously to fire Steed in a special meeting that was held virtually on Friday. Board members spent most of the meeting in executive session, only coming out to vote on a resolution to fire Steed and read a statement. Power out: More than 17,000 FirstEnergy customers might have to wait until Thursday or later to get their power back, reports Lucas Daprile. The company hasn’t seen this many customers out since 1993. Cory Shaffer captures the repair crew staging scene in Rocky River. About 50,000 customers in Cuyahoga County had power restored Sunday. State storm response: Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday ordered state agencies to prepare to help Northeast Ohio communities affected by this week’s severe storms. Jake Zuckerman reports that DeWine authorized “all state departments and agencies to be at the ready and to utilize their personnel and resources as necessary to protect the lives, safety, health, and property of the citizens of Ohio." Bedrock plan: Cleveland City Council has unanimously approved Mayor Justin Bibb’s incentive package for Bedrock’s sprawling plans to remake Tower City Center and the eastern bank of the Cuyahoga River. Courtney Astolfi reports the deal provides two types of tax-increment financing for Bedrock’s $3 billion plan, which works by capturing property tax increases on Bedrock’s properties and property tax increases from a large swath of downtown Cleveland. Gus Frangos: Gus Frangos, described as the “visionary” founder of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, died “unexpectedly” on Saturday, according to a statement from the organization. Cliff Pinckard reports the group’s statement says Frangos leaves behind a “legacy of transformative leadership” as the president and general counsel of the land bank for the past 15 years. Drought: While moderate drought conditions have marginally improved in Northeast Ohio, conditions in southern Ohio have remained unchanged, reports Zachary Smith. Canopy Walk: Tuesday’s storm damaged the support structure of the Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum in Lake County and it’s unclear when the popular treetop experience will reopen. Peter Krouse reports a very large maple tree fell across a cable that anchors the walkway. Our Best Life: What hacks help you live your best life? While plenty of things enhance Laura Johnston’s existence, from swimming and reading to living near the water and prioritizing friendship, her big four aspects are all about time. That’s one thing you can never get more of. |
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Generators: Should you buy a generator? Getting any type of generator soon is doubtful. Portable versions are flying off store shelves and the contractors installing permanent generators have large backlogs. Now is the time to start thinking about it, though, if you want one in time for the next power outage. Sean McDonnell helps answer your questions and explore your options. Head spa: Head spa treatments are viral on TikTok, making them popular on East and West coasts. Now the ancient, Asian self-care ritual is available in the Midwest. Paris Wolfe reports local salons are acquiring equipment and training staff to offer the service. Assisted living: Mentor took the top spot as the most expensive city in the state for assisted living, reports Megan Sims. Seniorly Resource Center, an online senior community directory and resource, used data from 782 cities across the country to determine the most expensive and affordable communities for assisted living. |
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Carjacking: A suspect charged with two armed robberies faced a judge on Friday for his second arraignment in two weeks, reports John Tucker. In one case, Joseph Knight, 37, is accused of posing as a police officer to carjack a motorist in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. In the other case, Knight picked up a pedestrian in the Kamm’s Corners neighborhood, pointed a gun at him and asked if he had ever been shot before, authorities say. Fatal shooting: A 26-year-old man was arrested just hours after a fatal shooting in Akron. Police say they took Stacy Martin into custody in the slaying of a 20-year-old man Saturday, Megan Sims reports. St. Malachi shooting: Richo Samuels, a suspect in last month’s shooting at St. Malachi Catholic Church that wounded three, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday, reports John Tucker. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Peter Corrigan ordered a $100,000 bond for the 35-year-old. Fatal shooting: A 54-year-old resident was fatally shot Thursday in East Cleveland, according to police. Olivia Mitchell reports the office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner identified the victim as Terrell Bilal. Authorities say he was shot multiple times about 1:30 a.m. in the area of Hartford Road and East 135th Street. Wrongful arrest: A lawsuit argues Akron police wrongfully arrested a man last year, prompting city prosecutors to try to get him to sign a waiver saying he wouldn’t sue the city, reports Adam Ferrise. City prosecutors told Gabriel Benson that they would dismiss the case upon his signing, the lawsuit says. Benson refused, and prosecutors dropped the charges anyway. Prison stats: Of the more than 43,750 inmates in Ohio’s prison system last year, 70% were classified as violent offenders. A review of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction reports and records offers a snapshot into the violent felons sent to state prisons in recent years and the longer sentences they face. For instance, 7,757 felons were serving life sentences last year, or about 1 in 6 inmates. |
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Bananas baseball: With the Guardians playing the Twins in Minnesota on Saturday, the Savannah Bananas – the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball – took over the intersection of Carnegie and Ontario. For one night, a packed ballpark became a place where laughs and smiles, not runs and a win, mattered most, Kaylee Remington reports. Tedeschi Trucks: In support of their 2022 magnum opus quadruple album “I Am the Moon,” the Tedeschi Trucks band brings its “Deuces Wild” roadshow to Blossom Music Center at 7 p.m. today. Peter Chakerian reports singer-songwriter Margo Price opens the show. It promises to be an epic night of music. John Legend: Unfortunately, no one’s prayers to their preferred deities or appeals to Mother Nature’s better nature were answered as John Legend and the Cleveland Orchestra only managed four songs at Blossom Music Center before lightning stopped the show, reports Malcolm X Abram. Civil War: The Western Reserve Historical Society’s Civil War Weekend came to a close with the reenactment of the Battle of Shenandoah Valley at Hale Farm & Village, Megan Sims reports. Dozens of reenactors, sporting the garb of Union and rebel soldiers, along with traditional 19th century clothing, relived the battle and provided educational commentary to hundreds of visitors. Classic CLE: City chicken is not, in fact, chicken. Instead, cubes of pork or veal (sometimes both) are stacked onto wooden skewers and fashioned to resemble a drumstick chicken leg. Peter Chakerian lauds this humble Midwestern dish. DineDrink: In the latest episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus are joined by Paris Wolfe to talk about fun, food-themed events in Greater Cleveland this month. They chat about the upcoming Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy, which is one of the most popular cultural festivals of the summer. Plus, Wolfe explains a few free events hosted by Yelp Cleveland in collaboration with local businesses planned for the remainder of August. |
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Middleburg Heights amends noise law for mixed-use zoning Read more State grants enable Berea to prepare for future development Read more Richmond Heights Schools will be back on the ballot in November with a different kind of levy request Read more Independence Scout achieves Eagle, Gold awards with projects to help autistic children Read more |
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