Fifteen years ago, Cuyahoga County loaned itself $20 million to help kickstart its fledgling land bank. Formally named the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp., the bank was created by the state legislature to buy or accept foreclosed and abandoned properties for demolition or rehabilitation. Gus Frangos helped write that law. And he helped shape a national response to eyesores. Since Frangos forged the land bank, it has torn down more than 10,000 blighted properties in Cuyahoga County, redeveloped dozens of commercial and industrial properties, and built or restored 2,000 area homes. Frangos, who also served as a Cleveland Municipal Court magistrate and Cleveland City councilman, died Saturday at age 69. His bank, replicated in dozens of Ohio counties, “is probably the most important tool to economic development for communities in the last generation,” said Frangos’ good friend, former county Treasurer Jim Rokakis. “And it came out of Cleveland.” — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians vs. Chicago Cubs: Another old-school arm shines as Guardians beat Cubs, 6-1, for 3-game sweep Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Late storms possible |
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Gus Frangos founded the Cuyahoga Land Bank in 2009 and served as president until his passing in August 2024.(Courtesy of the Cuyahoga Land Bank) |
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Gus Frangos: Gus Frangos envisioned the nonprofit Cuyahoga Land Bank as a solution to the housing crisis that started in the late 2000s and left Cleveland with more than 10,000 foreclosed homes and abandoned lots, Kaitlin Durbin reports. MetroHealth: MetroHealth System pledged to solicit input from neighborhood leaders and its own employees as it finalizes its “hospital in a park” building plan, Julie Washington reports. Former MetroHealth CEO Airica Steed, who was recently fired, drew criticism when she cut public green space in the development plan without getting community buy-in. Leaders now say they’re committed to rebuilding community trust, but did not give specifics on the building plan going forward. Youth sports: Youth sports can cost thousands of dollars a season or more for families who opt to join travel or club teams instead of joining less-expensive local recreational leagues. When it comes to leaving town for tournaments, costs can add up bit by bit. Sean McDonnell breaks down the costs for kids to play on a team. Today in Ohio: FirstEnergy will avoid state criminal prosecution over its starring role in the House Bill 6 bribery scandal in exchange for paying $20 million, under a deal quietly signed Monday with Attorney General Dave Yost’s office. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about how FirstEnergy will pay $250 million to elude criminal prosecution (plus another $100 million in expected regulatory penalties) for paying tens of millions in bribes to top state officials to secure super-lucrative policy priorities. |
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Name change: In the summer of 2020, Austin James Fischer legally became Austin James Texford Fischer. When he was appointed to the Ohio House earlier this year, the 28-year-old former political consultant was introduced to the public as “Tex” Fischer, which is how his name will appear for the first time on the ballot in the 58th House District in November. But Jake Zuckerman reports that the chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party filed a complaint with local election officials Tuesday based on the name change and a law that says if candidates for public office change their name within five years of filing their initial candidacy paperwork, they must disclose their former names. Tax credits: Expectant parents in Ohio would be allowed to claim their unborn child as a dependent on their state income-tax return under newly introduced legislation in the Ohio House. Jeremy Pelzer reports that proponents say the measure would help Ohio parents afford the cost of a new baby, though critics say it’s a thinly veiled attempt to undermine abortion rights. College loans: Saying that wealthy, elite universities need to take responsibility for ballooning student debt, U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-South Russell, has introduced legislation that would require them to pay more taxes on endowment profits and increase the number of schools that pay such taxes. Sabrina Eaton reports that Joyce and New York Republican Nicole Malliotakis last week introduced a bill called the Higher Education Accountability TaxAct that aims to hold universities accountable for the role they’ve played in saddling students with massive student loans. |
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Farmer’s Almanac: A new Farmers’ Almanac means new winter forecasts and if the predictions are to be believed, it will be a cold winter by Lake Erie, reports Zachary Smith. It will be so cold, in fact, that the Almanac says the Great Lakes and Northern Plains will have the coldest temperatures in the entire country this winter. Home repair lottery: Cleveland homeowners have one more week to submit their names for a chance at winning the city’s home-repair lottery. Courtney Astolfi reports 150 winners will be selected to receive up to $30,000 for a single major repair to things like roofs, foundations, home exteriors, and furnace and air-conditioning units. Team NEO: After nearly 10 years at the helm of Team NEO, CEO Bill Koehler is preparing to pass the torch to a new leader. The Board of Directors announced the transition, highlighting Koehler’s leadership that has established Team NEO’s position as a unifier of regional economic development partners, according to a news release. |
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Betting fees: DraftKings will not be charging winners extra fees in “high-tax states” after all, reports Sean McDonnell. The sports-betting company announced that it would scrap its plan to add a “gaming tax surcharge” to winning bets in 2025. This came after two major competitors came out and said they would not add fees. |
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Mental health: The family of the woman who was fatally shot last month by the Medina County sheriff said Victoria Carter was a loving mother, a successful sales representative and the life of the party. Olivia Mitchell reports that Carter suffered from mental health issues throughout her life, which spiraled. Extortion charge: A Cleveland community organizer, lauded by city leaders for his outreach programs but occasionally questioned for his armed street-patrol tactics, has been charged with extortion, reports John Tucker. Antoine Tolbert, who runs the anticrime group New Era Cleveland, is accused of using threats to try and gain employment at a convenience store in the city’s Lee-Harvard neighborhood. Stow shooting: Two people are dead after a shooting Wednesday evening in the drive-thru lane of a Taco Bell in what police believe is a murder-suicide, Cliff Pinckard reports. |
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'Tiny Desk': Devo has joined the long and varied list of artists and bands who have stopped at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., and performed at the “Tiny Desk” of former “All Songs Considered” host Bob Boilen, reports Malcolm X Abram. Mushroomhead lawsuit: A former vocalist for Cleveland heavy metal band Mushroomhead has sued a former bandmate and fellow co-founder over accusations of copyright infringement, Lucas Daprile reports. Jeffrey Hatrix said in the lawsuit that Steven Felton, a drummer, producer and co-founder of Mushroomhead, failed to pay him royalties over the last several years. Pandemonium: Cleveland Public Theatre’s Pandemonium benefit is Sept. 7, reports Paris Wolfe. The fundraiser will turn the theatre’s campus into a labyrinth of theater, dance, visual art and other performances for one evening. New winery: A new winery is opening in Little Italy just in time for the neighborhood’s big celebration of the Feast of the Assumption. Owner Michael Penrod, who has Italian and Sicilian heritage from his mom’s side, started working on his 3 Roses Winery – Little Italy in May, reports Paris Wolfe. Sober in the City: Verbena Free Spirited and Fleurish Zero-Proof Events and Bartending are teaming up with local chefs for intimate dinner parties in Cleveland aimed at normalizing not drinking, reports Alex Darus. Sports stars: Stars in basketball – one off the court, one on it – an accomplished marathoner, a pioneering jockey and an iconic announcer are all being inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. Marc Bona reports the hall lauds star athletes and notable sports figures born in or raised in Greater Cleveland. 'Alien: Romulus’: Somewhere along the way, the “Alien” franchise became too complicated and pretentious. “Alien: Romulus” — the seventh entry in the original series — means to right the ship by recapturing the spirit of the original. Joey Morona reviews the film. |
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Mogadore man who killed woman in crash while under influence of drugs sent to prison Read more Greater Cleveland Food Bank comes to Lakewood to help families on SNAP recover food losses after storms Read more Medina schools continue agreement with Cleveland Clinic for sports medicine services Read more Medina schools approve agreement for GPS services on school buses Read more Olmsted Falls City Schools unveils new social media-friendly website Read more Brooklyn mulling recreational marijuana options Read more Parma Police Department needs to replace aging cruiser fleet Read more |
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