The speaker of the Ohio House presides over the larger of the state’s two legislative bodies. The position holds immense power, by appointing members and chairs of all committees, directing legislation and overseeing administration. If the speaker doesn’t like you – or your proposal – good luck getting it passed. Currently the speaker is Matt Huffman, who you might remember was until December the Ohio Senate president. (Term limits often mean politicians swap chambers every eight years.) He decides who to place in leadership roles, which come with bigger salaries. The legislative salary law provides that if you have extra duties, you are paid extra money. But it also says that lawmakers cannot get pay raises midterm. Is creating a brand-new role, with a brand-new salary, for a loyal associate a way to circumvent the Ohio Constitution? — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Ohio State Rep. Phil Plummer at the 2024 State of the State address in Columbus. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com) |
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Pay raises: A section of the Ohio Constitution states that “no change in their compensation shall take effect during (lawmakers’) term of office.” Regardless, Gov. Mike DeWine signed the transportation bill granting a pay raise to a ranking Republican lawmaker without commenting on the specific issue, reports Jake Zuckerman. Wrestling gift: The latest version of the Ohio budget bill adds $1.6 million over two years to restore and expand wrestling at Cleveland State University. Laura Hancock reports eliminating men’s wrestling is part of millions of dollars in cuts CSU has made in the past year as it seeks to plug a budget hole. But several prominent Republicans pushed to save the program. Councilman sentencing: Judge J. Phillip Calabrese’s statement when sentencing former Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones echoed many of the words of other state and federal judges, who handed down punishments to members of Cleveland City Council convicted of corruption-related charges. Adam Ferrise collects the jurists’ words, highlighting the shame of officeholders who fleeced the public to help themselves. Today in Ohio: Ohio lawmakers are trying to end the state’s years-long moratorium on executions by compelling state prison officials to seek federal help with obtaining lethal-injection drugs. We’re talking about the grandstanding, since it’ll never happen while Mike DeWine is governor, on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Trump protests: Protesters upset with the nation’s direction under President Donald Trump will be out in force Saturday, holding more than 600 public events throughout the nation, including several dozen in Ohio. Sabrina Eaton reports the overarching theme of the protests is “hands off.” In particular, protesters want the administration to keep its hands off “our healthcare, our Social Security, our civil rights, our freedom and our education.” Voter registration: If you want to decide whether Ohio takes on $2.5 billion in debt for infrastructure projects over the next decade, you better make sure you’re registered to vote. Anna Staver reports the State Capital Improvement Program renewal (Issue 2) is up for a vote alongside various local issues May 6, and Ohioans have until Monday to register. Bobby George: Last year, Ohio lawmakers approved $3.5 million in surplus state revenue to help Cleveland developer Bobby George build a three-building restaurant and entertainment complex on the east bank of the Flats. But Jeremy Pelzer reports that the Ohio Senate quietly and abruptly inserted language revoking the earmark into the state’s new transportation budget, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law earlier this week. House cuts: Ohio House Republicans want to slash $22.5 million from Gov. Mike DeWine’s plan to expand a program providing in-home visits to newborn babies to save an estimated 330 newborns every year. Jake Zuckerman reports DeWine had proposed spending $63.6 million in the first year of the state’s two-year budget for the Help Me Grow program and then increasing that to $85.5 million in the second year. Overdoses: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has awarded $1.2 million in grants to fight drug overdoses in county jails. Lucas Daprile reports the money, which will fund full-time addiction counselors and medications for people experiencing opioid withdrawal, is the first batch of $60 million in opioid settlement dollars that is being set aside for jails. |
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ODOT construction: Ohio Department of Transportation officials announced Thursday that crews will begin construction on 172 new projects across Northeast Ohio this summer, reports Cory Shaffer. The new projects, slated to cost $898 million, are in addition to 41 ongoing construction projects that carry a price tag of more than $600 million, according to a news release. Heritage Home: Cuyahoga County Council is considering funding to restore a program that will help East Cleveland homeowners fix up and preserve their older houses, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Council President Dale Miller and Councilman Martin Sweeney are proposing giving $15,000 from their tranche of ARPA dollars to the Cleveland Restoration Society to bring back the Heritage Home Program in East Cleveland, despite it falling outside of their districts. Air rights: Cleveland officials inked a deal to sell an “air rights parcel” above Eagle Avenue to real estate developer Bedrock for $120,000. You’re reading that correctly. This real estate deal did not exchange any pieces of land. Instead, Cleveland sold Dan Gilbert’s real estate firm part of the sky that sits above the road. Why? Because that’s where Bedrock plans to build, reports Sean McDonnell. Lightning fire: A gofundme account has been set up for Cleveland Clinic workers who lost their home in a fire that stemmed from a lightning strike, reports Olivia Mitchell. K9: The Avon Lake Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its most dedicated officers, retired K9 Ady, who died in March at the age of 15, reports Hannah Drown. |
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Gun deaths: Gun murders in 2023 fell 14% from the 2021 peak, while gun suicides peaked in 2023, according to the latest available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Julie Washington reports the CDC counted more than 46,000 gun-related deaths in 2023, with suicides accounting for 58% and murders at 38%. Building demo: The National Acme building on the city’s East Side is coming down thanks to state and city funding, and the mayor sees it as a huge redevelopment opportunity for Cleveland, reports Megan Sims. The massive vacant building on East 131st Street has languished for decades, but it finally will be demolished and remediated. The $11 million demolition project is expected to be complete by the fall. Pink Stuff: RPM International Inc. has agreed to purchase The Pink Stuff and its U.K.-based parent company, Star Brands Group. Molly Walsh reports that the Medina-based company announced Thursday that it will be adding the TikTok-viral cleaning product to its lineup. |
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Second Amendment: The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals agreed Thursday with a Cuyahoga County judge who found banning people facing violent felony charges from having guns violates the Second Amendment. David Gambino reports the decision stems from the case of a Maple Heights man who was indicted but not convicted of rape in 2017. Toddler shooting: A 17-year-old likely did not mean to shoot a toddler earlier this week, Akron police said Thursday. The almost 2-year-old victim is expected to survive, reports Lucas Daprile. |
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Ask Yadi: What do you do if you ask for a favor from someone who says “I’m here for you,” and they don’t follow through? Yadi Rodriguez writes that next time, perhaps you should follow up with them on your ask. Worst trades: The Deshaun Watson trade has been nothing short of an abject failure for the Browns, who once again are looking for their franchise quarterback. It’s clearly one of the worst trades in NFL history, but Tim Bielik asks, is it the worst? Kesha: Singer-songwriter-pop star Kesha will hit North American roads for the first time in a decade with her upcoming “The T!TS Out Tour” that will stop at Blossom Music Center on July 28. Malcolm X Abram reports Kesha will be joined by two openers, the recently reunited The Scissor Sisters and singer-songwriter Rose Gray. Home opener: The Guardians home opener is April 8 against the Chicago White Sox and Alex Darus reports several Greater Cleveland bars, restaurants and beyond have plenty of fun planned. Things to do: Wake up, buttercups! Peter Chakerian lists 27 things to check out this weekend and beyond in Greater Cleveland, with hibernation coming to an end. |
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Woman believed to be with escaped suspect turns herself in to Elyria police Read more Tornado with 120 mph winds injures 2 in Northwest Ohio Read more Highland Heights, in the face of deficit spending, asks for residents’ priorities before deciding on ballot try Read more Work expected to begin soon on I-271 northbound express lanes and Cedar-Brainard exit ramp Read more Cuyahoga Valley National Park closes some bathrooms indefinitely Read more Slow down: Orange to set up solar-powered radar speed signs Read more Get sneak peek inside Akron History Center before it opens (photos) Read more |
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