Police officers are rarely found guilty in fatal police shootings. But often, cities pay millions of dollars in settlements to the families of those who died. Since 2016, Northeast Ohio cities have paid out at least $24 million in settlements for high-profile police shootings. In the latest settlement, Akron taxpayers will pay $4.85 million to the family of Jayland Walker, even though a grand jury and an internal police investigation cleared the eight officers who shot him of any wrongdoing. If taxpayers are tired of huge settlements, one expert said the answer is not changing the legal system, but rather improving police training and policies. “The issue isn’t don’t settle these cases. The issue is, how do you get these cases to stop coming up in the first place?” — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
|
|
Family attorney for Jayland Walker, Bobby DiCello, holds up a photo of Walker to the media on June 27, 2022. Akron recently agreed to pay the Walker family $4.85 million in a settlement. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com file photo) |
|
|
Police payouts: Winning a civil lawsuit has a much lower bar than convicting someone of a crime — and that’s by design, reports Sean McDonnell. Village help: Schrell Palmer tried everything she could think of to correct her teenage son’s behavior and keep him safe. Mendrell Johnson Jr., or MJ, as everyone knew him, was shot to death at a Shell gas station in the Collinwood-Nottingham neighborhood on July 28. He was 15. Kaitlin Durbin reports Palmer now is on a mission to help other parents avoid burying their children. Lake County: East of Cleveland is Lake County, home to some of the region’s largest employers, including Avery Dennison and Steris, plus 31 miles of coastline, featuring some of Lake Erie’s finest beaches. In addition, James Garfield, the nation’s 20th president, ran for the country’s highest office from his home here. Topics on the minds of voters and leaders here this year: taxes, inflation, safety, education and the environment, reports Susan Glaser in our series of county profiles. Lorain County: In north central Ohio sits a county that offers a prime view of Lake Erie and has the third oldest Latino organization in the state, reports Kaylee Remington. Lorain County, which has more than 310,000 residents, is home to neighboring industrial cities of Lorain and Elyria, as well as the young, growing suburbs of Avon and Avon Lake. Today in Ohio: The Browns are suing the city of Cleveland challenging the “Modell Law,” a state law designed to stop teams from leaving cities that subsidized them with taxpayer money. We’re talking about about what the team's owners want on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
|
|
Haslam campaign: Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam are among the largest individual backers of the campaign to defeat state Issue 1 in November, donating $50,000 each to the Ohio Works campaign. Robert Higgs reports the issue would replace the state’s current problematic redistricting system with a new Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission that bars political figures from participation. Issue 1: The two sides on Ohio’s Issue 1, which would overhaul how the state handles redistricting, report they already have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to win your vote – and much of it is from special interest groups, reports Robert Higgs. Combined spending by campaigns for Issue 1 since July 1 topped $15.7 million. School vouchers: Ohio taxpayers subsidized families’ private school tuition to the tune of $970.7 million, according to all-but-final state numbers, a new high after the General Assembly expanded eligibility to include families of all income levels. Laura Hancock reports the final price tag didn’t reach the $1 billion it initially appeared to be on pace to hit. But it’s more than legislative fiscal estimates. Davidson dies: Jo Ann Davidson, the only woman ever to be speaker of the Ohio House and a mentor to generations of female leaders in Ohio politics, died Friday at the age of 97, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Davidson, who lived in suburban Columbus, was a prominent figure in Ohio politics for decades, serving for almost two decades in the state legislature as well as a Republican Party leader on the local, state and national levels. Supreme Court: Democratic candidates running for the Ohio Supreme Court all have raised more than their Republican challengers this past quarter in the runup to an election where three of seven seats are up for grabs. In two of the three races, the Democratic candidates spent more than their Republican rival this quarter, reports Jake Zuckerman. Frank LaRose: When Editor Chris Quinn sent a text message to his followers asking what they’d ask Secretary of State Frank LaRose, more than 300 people responded. Many are angry about the lies he put into the ballot language for Issue 1, which would end gerrymandering in Ohio. See what they said. |
|
|
Fall colors: If you’re looking for a great place to do a little leaf peeping, there’s no better place in Northeast Ohio than the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Dave Petkiewicz has photos. Our Best Life: We could all use a little more lightness in our lives. So, this Halloween, grab a lime-green wig. Or a witch’s hat. Or just go as your childhood self. |
|
|
Grocery store: Grocery Outlet Bargain Markets signed a lease for the former Dave’s Market space in the Cedar-Fairmount neighborhood, reports Sean McDonnell. The building has been home to a grocery store for most of its 100-year history but has been vacant since Dave’s left two years ago. Medicare: Cleveland.com presented a free webinar Thursday about changes in Medicare. In case you missed Julie Washington hosting, we have a video. |
|
|
Party shooting: Akron police are investigating a shooting at a Halloween party that left an 18-year-old female dead and two other teens wounded late Saturday, Megan Sims reports. 13-year-old shot: Police believe the shooting of a 13-year-old boy earlier this week is connected to another shooting in Cleveland. Lucas Daprile reports the boy is still recovering at University Hospital Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital from a gunshot to the back. Cyclist killed: The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified the woman who got stuck under a car and died during a crash while riding a bike Friday morning in Bedford. Linda Conger, 59, died in the crash that happened about 9:15 a.m. on Rockside Road near Broadway Avenue, Kaylee Remington reports. |
|
|
Classic CLE: Russian tea biscuits are another one of those “Classic CLE” baked goods that are revered here but can be a challenge to find elsewhere, reports Peter Chakerian. These are comprised of a toothsome dough loaded with raspberry, apricot or plum jam, plus raisins, nuts and cinnamon sugar. DineDrinkCLE: On the latest episode, hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus officially announce that they’re hosting the upcoming Great Grog Bake Off. The next event in the Grog Shop’s baking competition centers around pies and is set for Nov. 19. House of the Week: Built in 2018, this Sharon Township home features five bedrooms and six bathrooms, including four full baths. Joey Morona reports the current listing price is $3.15 million. |
|
|
Former Mayfield service director Scott Sipos indicted following allegations of illegal use of village-issued credit cards Read more 1 dead, 1 injured in fiery crash on Interstate 480 in Cleveland, police say Read more Berea to seek north-end Front Street redevelopment proposals Read more Berea council members face fear of unknown in police training simulator Read more Berea adds oomph to exterior maintenance enforcement Read more |
|
|
NEW! Terry's Talkin' with Terry Pluto Newsletter |
Connect with Northeast Ohio’s favorite sports columnist as Terry shares his exclusive thoughts and insights on Cleveland sports teams, as well as issues on personal faith like in his popular weekly Faith & You column. There's one caveat, though. This is an exclusive newsletter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer loyal subscribers. Not a subscriber? That's ok. You can receive a few weeks of Terry’s newsletter as a free trial. In either case, click here sign up. |
|
|
Want the top headlines but don't have time to read? Listen to cleveland.com’s Today in Ohio podcast on Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts. |
|
|
WANT TO SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH A FRIEND? |
Did someone share this newsletter with you? Click here to never miss a day! |
|
|
To contact the newsrooms for any of our publications regarding technical support, news tips, classified ads and other inquiries, please click here. |
|
|
Unlimited Digital Access. |
|
|
$5 for first month (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
$5 for first month (cancel anytime) |
| |
|
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS? |
|
|
|
