METRO Police chief: Mayor Justin Bibb has chosen interim Cleveland police Chief Wayne Drummond has been chosen as the department’s permanent chief, reports Courtney Astolfi. Originally Bibb selected Drummond as the interim chief when he first took office and had planned to conduct a national search for a permanent replacement. Digital diversity: Two nonprofits have announced they will spend $300,000 to support a digital diversity position within the Cleveland mayor’s office. Lucas Daprile reports that in an unusual move, Rocket Community Fund and the Cleveland Foundation announced Thursday the creation of a two-year position -- the digital equity and inclusion manager. Midsummer tomato tips: What they don’t tell you when you start a tomato garden (or for that matter, when you get married or have a baby) is that the beginning is the easy part. Susan Goldstein has some midsummer tips and tricks to keep your tomato plants thriving and productive through fall. Taxpayer-funded abortions: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb offered an innovative approach to helping Cleveland residents seeking abortions that are not permitted in Ohio: using tax dollars to transport them to states where abortions are legal. Chris Quinn collects readers’ thoughts on the idea. COVID & HEALTHCARE Weekly cases: The state of Ohio on Thursday reported 26,610 new cases of COVID-19 this week, reports Julie Washington. This week’s case total averages to about 3,801 cases per day over seven days, slightly higher than last week but still below case totals in January, when they hit nearly 200,000 a week. BUSINESS Extended stay: Downtown’s Kimpton Schofield Hotel has added seven new extended-stay suites to its overnight mix, hoping to capitalize on an industry trend toward longer trips. Susan Glaser reports the hotel recently converted seven apartments on its eighth floor to seven long-term stay suites, with full kitchens, one or two bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, a washer and dryer, and more. KeyBank: KeyBank reported strong earnings and loan growth in the second quarter despite a changing economy. Sean McDonnell reports Key had a a net income of $504 million, or 54 cents a share, beating analyst estimates of 52 cents a share. Guardians: The Cleveland Guardians have announced their goals for diversity in contracts and hiring as part of their ballpark improvements project, and they're hosting workshop events to help businesses 'scale up' for success, reports Kaitlin Durbin. CRIME Pellet guns: Cleveland police are seeing a spike assaults involving toy guns that resemble semi-automatic weapons. The toys project Orbeez pellets, or similar water-absorbent polymer beads that can inflict pain, leave a welt or draw blood, reports John Tucker. They have gained widespread interest on social media, and police say a pellet gun is linked to the death of Ethan Liming, the 17-year-old who was beaten to death in Akron last month. Riot: A Cleveland man admitted Thursday to torching a Cuyahoga County van during the May 30, 2020, protests in downtown Cleveland over the slaying of George Floyd. Adam Ferrise reports Martino Andrews, 24, told police he set fire to the van after he was shot in the neck by a tear gas canister fired by police. Tamia Chappman: Attorneys for the family of Tamia Chappman on Thursday sought a $20 million settlement from Cleveland and again demanded accountability for the officers involved in the chase that caused her death, reports Olivia Mitchell. As the family’s lawsuit against the city has been pending in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for more than two years, Tamia’s mother, siblings and attorneys announced the settlement demand in front of Cleveland City Hall. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT State fair: The butter cow is back. And so are deep-fried buckeyes, Smokey Bear and the All-Ohio State Fair Band, after a two-year absence. Susan Glaser reports on the exhibits, performances, competitions and rides spread across 360 acres just north of downtown Columbus for the annual Ohio State Fair. Air show: Tickets are on sale for the 2022 Cleveland National Air Show, reports Marc Bona. This year’s show features the Navy Blue Angels showcasing their new F/A-18 Super Hornets for the first time in Cleveland. Things to do: This weekend hosts an abundance of festivals, outdoor concerts, theatrical performances and more in Northeast Ohio. Joey Morona has 22 of the most appealing things to do over the next few days, including Cleveland Orchestra’s “The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring” in Concert. | 