How many texts do you get each day from political campaigns begging for votes and money? I stopped counting. Because like most of you, I’m sure, I’m inundated, including with texts addressed to my husband. And while I delete and hit the “report junk” every time, they persist. Why? And is there anything you can do to stop the flood? Not really. It’s totally legal. Political campaigns buy and swap lists of potential texting targets obtained by data brokers and compiled from a combination of state voter records, third-party consumer data collected by retailers, lists of verified cellphone numbers and other big data sources that are widely available for the right price. In 2022, campaigns sent more than 15 billion political texts ahead of the midterm election. You know it’s going to be bigger this year. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Political campaigns are estimated to send billions of text messages each year and there's not much voters can do about it. (Associated Press file photo) |
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Text overload: Mass-sent political text messages have proliferated since a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that loosened consent requirements for commonly used mass-texting systems, reports Andrew Tobias. Redistricting ads: Ohio officials have approved buying $405,000 worth of newspaper ads educating voters about a redistricting reform amendment on the November ballot, although it’s not yet clear exactly what the ads will say. Andrew Tobias reports that per state constitutional requirements, the ads will contain the full ballot language as well as the official state arguments for and against the measure. The vote comes as the GOP-authored ballot language itself remains unsettled, since it’s the subject of an ongoing lawsuit the Ohio Supreme Court is expected to decide soon. Today in Ohio: The federal government hasn’t charged any FirstEnergy executives, other politicians or operatives who advanced the scheme to force Ohio’s ratepayers into a $1.3 billion bailout of two nuclear plants owned at the time by FirstEnergy. We’re talking about the travesty of letting bigwigs walk on Today in Ohio. |
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Redistricting: Democratic State Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner on Monday rebuffed a request from Republicans to recuse herself from a high-stakes redistricting lawsuit. Jake Zuckerman reports that a lawyer for Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost asked Brunner in a motion Friday to step aside from the case, which is seeking a rewrite of language that will appear on statewide ballots in November describing the proposed constitutional amendment that would establish an independent redistricting process. Springfield claims: City officials in Springfield are refuting unsupported claims about migrants committing crimes that went viral after U.S. Sen. JD Vance and other conservative political influencers amplified them via social media over the weekend, Andrew Tobias reports. Through a statement issued by his office, the Springfield city manager’s office said Monday “there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” Political spending: A U.S. appeals court in Cincinnati has sided against U.S. Sen. JD Vance and other Republicans in their attempt to overturn federal limits on political parties’ ability to coordinate spending with candidates. Jeremy Pelzer reports that a majority of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals expressed empathy with the Republican plaintiffs and only sided against them out of a belief that it should be up to the U.S. Supreme Court, not them, to overturn a 2001 Supreme Court ruling upholding the limits. Candidate name change: Secretary of State Frank LaRose has ruled that state Rep. Tex Fischer can remain on the November ballot despite a Democratic protest that he violated a name-change disclosure rule that disqualified a transgender would-be legislative hopeful earlier this year. Jeremy Pelzer reports that the chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party filed a complaint last month claiming that Fischer should be kept off the ballot for not listing on his candidate paperwork that he legally changed his name in 2020 from Austin James Fischer to Austin James Texford Fischer. Internet security: The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday adopted legislation by Bowling Green GOP Rep. Bob Latta that would require the U.S. Department of Commerce to study the national security risks posed by routers, modems, or combined devices that are produced by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or Venezuela, Sabrina Eaton reports. |
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Council agenda: As Cleveland City Council returned from summer recess to its routine legislative duties on Monday, council President Blaine Griffin identified public safety and oversight work as a few of council’s priorities between now and next spring, Courtney Astolfi reports. In short, Griffin and his team said they intend to lean in on council’s oversight role of city operations and the work of Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration. CMA: The Cleveland Museum of Art has announced Andria Derstine as their new deputy director and chief curator after an extensive international search for the position, reports Peter Chakerian. Derstine will “oversee the work of approximately 20 curators and work closely with the director, curators and museum leadership team to strengthen the CMA’s celebrated permanent collection and expand its nationally recognized program of exhibitions and related programs." Airport Sheraton: The long-neglected Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel will be demolished next month to make way for more parking, reports Susan Glaser. The city in July signed a contract with Cleveland-based Baumann Enterprises to bring down the building, located just southeast of the terminal. Free trees: Homeowners in Lakewood can order a free tree through a pilot program meant to help grow the city’s tree canopy by 10%, reports Cory Shaffer. The city of Lakewood’s Tree Advisory and Education Board has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation Community Canopy Program to offer a limited number of trees for planting this fall. Engagement center: Case Western Reserve University has opened its Wade Park Community Engagement Center aiming to bridge the gap between its campus and the community. Several CWRU staff members from the Office of Local Government and Community Relations will be relocated to the second floor of the building to help implement community programming, Megan Sims reports. |
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Swissport: Swissport USA, a longtime provider of baggage handling and other services at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, is laying off more than 200 employees in Cleveland later this year. Susan Glaser reports the company filed paperwork with the state last week announcing the layoff of 213 employees who provide contracted work to several airlines at Cleveland Hopkins. TinyCircuits: As an electrical engineer, Ken Burns was constantly having to whip up little prototypes. It would be much easier to make those test devices, he thought, if he had quarter-sized electric components that could be swapped in and out like Lego bricks. So, Sean McDonnell reports, Burns made them. Syphilis test: Americans can now test for syphilis using the first at-home, over-the-counter test to be approved for the sexually transmitted infection. Julie Washington reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently gave NOWDiagnostics permission to market the First To Know Syphilis Test, which can detect syphilis antibodies in blood. |
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Deshaun Watson: Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was sued Monday in Houston by a woman who claims Watson sexually assaulted her on a date. The allegations follow more than two dozen lawsuits brought by massage therapists in Houston, who accused Watson of sexually assaulting them. Car theft: An Akron man faces charges after police say he broke into a car dealership and stole key fobs, reports Lucas Daprile. Police say about 2 a.m. Monday, Christian Caldwell, 19, smashed the glass door of VanDevere Kia on West Market Street, stole key fobs, broke car windows and drove around the parking lot with a stolen vehicle. Cash Flow King: A North Olmsted podcaster who called himself the “Cash Flow King” has pleaded guilty to fraud charges that accused him of ripping off dozens of investors for more than $7 million in a house-flipping venture. Matthew Motil, an author and podcaster who claimed expertise in real-estate investment, entered the pleas Thursday in federal court in Cleveland to securities fraud and wire fraud, reports Adam Ferrise. Missing kids: Authorities say they located 32 missing children from Akron and Summit County in the past three weeks, reports Olivia Mitchell. “Operation Homecoming” was a joint effort by the U.S. Marshals Service, Akron police and Summit County sheriff’s deputies. Concertgoer hit: The Summit County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the driver of a vehicle who struck a woman Friday night following an Avril Lavigne concert at Blossom Music Center and then left the scene, Cliff Pinckard reports. |
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Ask Lucas: If your boyfriend is distraught over the Browns' week one loss and already has begun canceling the plans he had for tailgates and watch parties, what do you do? Lucas Daprile writes that your boyfriend can cancel his adult playdates, but it won’t help. Rock fans: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Billy Joel (1999) and two-timer Rod Stewart (1994 as a solo artist and 2012 with the Small Faces/Faces) are coming to Huntington Bank Field on Sept. 13. Malcolm X Abram reports tickets start at $80 and are still available at ticketmaster.com. Pickle Fest: Cleveland Pickle Fest is returning downtown this month for pickle fanatics to relish in their love for the tangy food group, reports Alex Darus. Food vendors, contests, live music and more are in store for the annual event at Mall C. Proceeds from Pickle Fest benefit the Greater Cleveland Volunteers, which organizes the event. Via Roma: The old Carrie Cerino’s has been given an infusion of new life. But when you walk into Via Roma, don’t expect to see the huge traditional Italian restaurant that hosted parties and served diners for decades. Marc Bona reports Carrie Cerino’s, an iconic place for 60-plus years in North Royalton, is completely redone, soup to nuts as they say. Clambakes: Clambakes started in early September this year and will roll into the first weekend in November. That’s plenty of time to add several bakes to your calendar and enjoy a variety of experiences. Paris Wolfe lists where to find them. Best breakfasts: All three of the winners in our recent “Best Breakfast in Greater Cleveland” readers poll are family restaurants with people and inspirations from halfway around the world, write Peter Chakerian and Yadi Rodriguez. |
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Where’s the best place to spend a perfect weather day in Northeast Ohio? Let us know Read more Richmond Heights man slain in apartment building parking lot, police say Read more Victim of Labor Day shooting in East Cleveland dies nearly a week after attack Read more Medina seeking grant assistance on multiple projects Read more Medina dedicates City Hall bench to honor Carroll B. McClure Read more Valor Acres developers present draft of mixed-use design and construction manual Read more Proposed Akron Safety Forces Charter Amendment won’t be on Nov. 5 ballot despite last-minute effort Read more |
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