By this point in the winter, we probably all know someone struck down by the flu. In Cuyahoga County, flu activity is low, with one flu-related death this season. But across Ohio and neighboring Kentucky, influenza spread is considered very high. Nationally, Americans have had 5.3 million flu illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths this season. Experts say that a surge in flu cases is normal for this time of year, but the numbers are still concerning. And they urge people get the seasonal flu vaccine, so those who get the flu will have a less-severe illness. But as of December, only 41% of adults in the U.S. had received the vaccine. It’s not too late to get the shot. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Cavs end Thunder winning streak, 129-122, in potential NBA Finals preview Northeast Ohio weather forecast: A break from the snow |
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Influenza activity is elevated across most of the country, with at least 5.3 million illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths from flu so far this season, according to the CDC. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) |
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Flu season: Influenza A — a nasty virus that fueled the 2009 flu epidemic — is landing increasing numbers of Ohioans in the hospital. In Cuyahoga County, influenza A, one of four types of flu viruses, is the reason weekly flu-related emergency room visits spiked in December, from 220 to more than 400, reports Julie Washington. Lake Erie ice: Persistent below-freezing temperatures have kick-started the formation of ice on Lake Erie, which was nearly 13% covered as of Tuesday, reports Peter Krouse. The ice coverage on the lake is predominantly in the shallower western basin near Toledo. The Port of Cleveland, for example, is still ice free. Today in Ohio: Dr. Amy Acton, who comforted Ohioans through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, is running for governor as a Democrat. We’re talking about the 2026 race on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Drilling ban: President Joe Biden’s actions on Monday to ban oil and natural gas drilling along U.S. coastal areas in the final days of his administration are taking hits from Republicans, including Ohio’s Bob Latta and president-elect Donald Trump, who promised to overturn it when he takes office. Sabrina Eaton reports the White House said Biden's action would protect more than 625 million acres of ocean waters from offshore drilling, affecting the entire east coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, Pacific coastal areas of California, Oregon and Washington, as well as Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area. Yost: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s five-year refusal to comply with a public records request from a progressive watchdog went before the Ohio Supreme Court for the third time on Wednesday, reports Jake Zuckerman. The Center for Media and Democracy in March 2020 issued records requests seeking documents pertaining to a winter meeting of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and others related to RAGA’s independent expenditure arm, the Rule of Law Defense Fund. Bills signed: Gov. Mike DeWine signed nearly 30 bills into law on Wednesday, including a so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights” that requires school officials to notify parents if their child asks to be identified by a different gender, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Other bills signed by the governor will expand grounds for K-12 student suspensions, criminalizing “sextortion” and sexual “grooming” of minors, limit courts’ ability to suspend Ohioans’ driver’s licenses, and increase state drunk-driving penalties. |
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Stadium funding: The owners of the Browns say they want a domed stadium in Brook Park and that they’re starting to prepare for a move, but Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne thinks the team can still be lured back to the lakefront – potentially through greater public subsidies or the promise of a new stadium later, Kaitlin Durbin reports. Ronayne has already made it clear that county tax dollars will not follow the Browns to Brook Park. Jail planning: Cuyahoga County has already secured property and funding for the new jail – however controversial they remain. Now it must lock in a size, design and price tag by the fall. That will allow the new jail to open in 2028 or 2029, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said in an interview with Kaitlin Durbin. Crumbling facades: Shaker Heights on Tuesday approved spending up to $36,000 for a drone inspection of the crumbling façade of the historic former First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association headquarters, reports Cory Shaffer. Historic renovation: Plans are underway to bring fully renovated apartments to the upper floors of the University East building on the corner of Euclid and Mayfield Avenues in University Circle, Megan Sims reports. First Interstate Properties, the developers behind the luxury apartments at One University Circle, acquired the mixed-use building on Tuesday via ground lease. Snowy owl: Much to the joy of local birders, several snowy owls have been sighted since early December, although not in the Cleveland area but further up the Lake Erie coast in Lake and Ashtabula counties, reports Peter Krouse. Snowscape: See John Pana’s video of wide, snow-covered landscapes from Lakewood to Cleveland Heights and from downtown to North Royalton. Rainforest fire: Firefighters extinguished a blaze Wednesday at the RainForest exhibit at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, reports Olivia Mitchell. Animals and staff were not hurt, said a spokeswoman for the zoo. |
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Casino earnings: Ohio’s 11 casinos and racinos reported $198.2 million of gambling revenue in November, $3 million more than in October, reports Zachary Smith. The same casinos and racinos also generated more revenue than they did this time last year, when they reported $186.1 million in revenue for November, according to data from the Ohio Casino Control and Lottery commissions. Coffee shop: On New Year’s Day, Matt Ashton opened a second Lekko Coffee shop in Cleveland’s Warehouse District, reports Paris Wolfe. It occupies the storefront abandoned by Phoenix Coffee in March 2024. |
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Dan Gaul: A former Cuyahoga County judge who was kicked off the bench last year can return to the legal profession, reports Lucas Daprile. The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously removed Dan Gaul from his position as a Common Pleas judge in December 2023 after he was accused of displaying a lack of impartiality and repeatedly disrespecting defendants. Lying accusations: A man who spent 15 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit denied accusations by Cleveland city attorneys that he repeatedly lied in court proceedings, including in his lawsuit against the city. Adam Ferrise reports Ru-El Sailor, who is now representing himself in the lawsuit, said in a court filing Wednesday that he misspoke during a deposition and denied that he and his now-wife coaxed witnesses to lie on his behalf. Bus accident: A driver fleeing police struck a Lorain City Schools bus with students on board Wednesday morning. No students or staff were hurt, reports Olivia Mitchell. Sex crimes: A federal task force Tuesday arrested a suspect accused of committing several sex crimes, including rape, reports Olivia Mitchell. Emilo Joseph Lee Dial, 22, was wanted by the U.S. marshals and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. Fentanyl bust: New charges against two men arrested in connection with one of Cuyahoga County’s largest-ever fentanyl busts could land the duo in prison for life, reports Adam Ferrise. A federal grand jury charged Kevin Lanier and Chantez Moore with drug trafficking charges that, if convicted, carry a minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life. Lorain investigation: Lorain County’s new sheriff, Jack Hall, has launched an internal investigation into an incident at the jail that left an inmate paralyzed last year, reports Lucas Daprile. In May 2023, correctional officer Brian Tellier was accused of smashing the head of inmate Jeffrey Fry into a wall. The incident sparked outrage over conditions in the jail and led to a federal lawsuit from Fry seeking $40 million. That suit is ongoing. |
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GoFundMe: Co-founding and former Mushroomhead member singer Jeffrey Hatrix — aka longtime clean vocalist “Jeffy Nothing” — is asking for help from fans and anyone else as he recently was diagnosed with cancer just a few months after his wife died from the disease. Malcolm X Abram reports that Hatrix’s daughter, Mea Hatrix, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for her father’s medical bills. Accessibility: Periodically, readers ask Susan Glaser to include information in stories about whether a travel destination is accessible. What would you like to know, accessibilitywise, about the places we write about? Birdietown: Birdietown is teed up to bring an elevated indoor mini-golf experience alongside a high-quality restaurant in collaboration with a renowned local chef, reports Alex Darus. Birdietown, 12501 Madison Ave., is aptly located in Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood. The massive venue is home to two nine-hole mini-golf courses, two full bars and a restaurant menu from James Beard nominated chef Jill Vedaa. Pav’s: Pav’s is getting ready to mark two years next month at its Akron shop, but the classic ice-cream company, which has five locations, goes back more than 50 years, reports Marc Bona. Best waffles: Your “Best of Cleveland” team of Yadi Rodriguez and Peter Chakerian is back with another perfectly timed ranking. It’s January, it’s cold and a little warm breakfast nosh to jumpstart the day felt like a golden opportunity. So, we rooted out 25 different brands of frozen waffles and put them to the toas... er, to the test. Bottle Shop: Jon Tancinco wants to make it easier to choose the perfect wine. An experienced restaurant sommelier with the industry’s WSET III certification, he opened the boutique Lakewood Bottle Shop in mid-2024 to help shoppers find winning bottles with every purchase, reports Paris Wolfe. Yacht rock: Yacht rock is about the last thing you’d expect to get a warm embrace. But thanks to HBO’s Music Box installment “Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary,” one of music’s guiltiest pleasures gets a come-uppance. Chris Bentley and his bandmates in the local yacht rock outfit Böaterhead couldn’t get enough of it, reports Peter Chakerian. Playhouse tours: Public tours of Playhouse Square resume this month, reports Joey Morona. The 90-minute tours, available on select Saturdays starting Jan. 18, are free, but advance registration is required. |
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Medina council meets to confirm 2025 appointments Read more Lorain County Community College president to join national semiconductor tech workforce advisory board Read more Richmond Heights receives full funding for sewer improvement project that will also aid Highland Heights Read more Olmsted Falls planning to sell cell tower leasing rights Read more Developer proposing new townhomes in Lakewood Read more Parma City Schools Board of Education appoints new president Read more Greener pastures await as Big Creek Connects merges with West Creek Conservancy Read more Lakewood Schools seeks new director of student services Read more |
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