We write a lot about American Rescue Plan projects – because nearly every municipality is receiving a whole lot of stimulus dollars. Cleveland alone has $512 million, much of which remains to be spent by the end of 2026. Mayor Justin Bibb proposed $102.5 million worth of projects in August. On Monday he announced his latest round of ideas, including “high-dosage literacy tutoring” to help young students recover the reading and learning losses following a pandemic that led to sagging test scores in key subjects. Other big-ticket items include remediating brownfields and encouraging participatory budgeting, which Bibb hopes will increase voter turnout. -Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio Tuesday weather forecast: Slight chance of rain and snow |
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Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s proposals for spending millions in stimulus money still need to go through the legislative process, in which City Council members will hear testimony, propose amendments in committee and eventually cast a vote. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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ARPA plans: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb plans to use $40 million in COVID-19 stimulus funds for a series of programs, including education, workforce development and improving Opportunity Corridor, reports Lucas Daprile. The largest expense category is $17 million for “education for everyone,” followed by $14 million for workforce development and improving land at Opportunity Corridor, $6 million for a “participatory budgeting” fund and $4 million to improve the city’s 311 call service. Amtrak: The state of Ohio is “strongly considering” applying for federal dollars that could lead to expanded passenger rail service throughout the state, including establishment of a new route connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. Susan Glaser reports officials in Northeast Ohio are definitely planning to pursue funding that could establish Cleveland as an Amtrak mini-hub, with more frequent service to Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., and other cities. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine has signed legislation that refers to natural gas as “green energy” and broadly expands the ability to drill for oil and gas in state parks. We’re talking about why DeWine didn’t veto the bill on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Inaugural address: In his second inaugural address on Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine called for making Ohio “the best state in the nation” for mental-health treatment, research, and prevention efforts. Jeremy Pelzer reports the governor urged out-of-staters – in particular, legal immigrants – to move to Ohio, touting the state’s quality of life, low taxes, cultural attractions, and “top-notch” educational institutions at his address from the Ohio Statehouse rotunda following his ceremonial swearing-in by his son, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine. TikTok: State of Ohio employees are no longer allowed to download or use TikTok or a number of other Chinese-owned apps on state-owned devices for security reasons under an executive order issued Sunday by Gov. Mike DeWine. Jeremy Pelzer reports the executive order comes after President Joe Biden banned TikTok, a popular social-media video platform, on phones and other devices owned by the federal government. ID bill: A coalition of left-leaning groups, backed by a major national Democratic law firm, has sued Ohio over the elections bill Gov. Mike DeWine signed on Friday that makes it mandatory for voters to show a photo ID when casting an in-person ballot. Andrew Tobias reports the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans and the Union Veterans Council filed the lawsuit in federal court on Friday, minutes after DeWine announced he had signed the bill. Earthworks: Ohio’s 2,000-year-old Hopewell ceremonial earthworks around Ohio are expected to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site this summer by United Nations officials, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The earthworks, made up of several archeological sites in Ross, Warren and Licking counties, would be the first World Heritage Site located in Ohio. |
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Danny Kelly: Cleveland City Council members during a caucus meeting Monday selected Danny Kelly to fill the Ward 11 vacancy left by Brian Mooney, who is leaving the body after winning a seat on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas bench. Courtney Astolfi reports Kelly -- a retiree who works for Cleveland schools and was a decades-long labor leader -- was Mooney’s recommended pick for the job, and members typically affirm whomever the outgoing member recommends to fill their own vacancy. HQ price tag: The city of Cleveland is proposing a maximum price of $90 million for the new Cleveland police headquarters, which will require the renovation of an historic building on Superior Avenue. Courtney Astolfi reports Mayor Justin Bibb introduced legislation Monday to City Council that would allow the city to move forward with Bibb’s plans to renovate the ArtCraft building to house the headquarters, which are currently located in leased space at the county-owned Justice Center in downtown Cleveland. Overtime: Cleveland officials settled a lawsuit for $50,000 with a City Hall employee who said she wasn’t paid overtime while working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Adam Ferrise reports Eve Bonvissuto, an assistant administrator in the city’s public safety department’s medical unit, sued the city in federal court in August over what she said was $68,709 in overtime pay the city failed to pay her because her job was misclassified as exempt from overtime. |
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MetroHealth audit: The Ohio auditor’s office is now among the agencies looking into $1.9 million in bonus payments that led to the firing of former MetroHealth System CEO Dr. Akram Boutros. Julie Washington reports the state auditor’s Special Investigations Unit opened an ongoing investigation in December. New plant: A company that sells pre-made meals to school cafeterias is planning on opening a new poultry-processing plant in Cleveland and has won a $9.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. International Food Solutions, a Florida-based company with Cleveland ties, plans on redeveloping a vacant building on the corner of East 55th Street and Central Avenue, Sean McDonnell reports. $2 million homes: A total of 15 Cuyahoga County homes each sold for more than $2 million in 2022, including the highest sale since 2018, a $7 million Lakewood home in September. Big-ticket sales were localized to only a handful of cities in the counties, with Shaker Heights topping the list with three homes over $2 million, reports Zachary Smith. 'A Christmas Story': A Christmas Story House & Museum owner Brian Jones and “A Christmas Story” movie actor Yano Anaya were involved in a public confrontation outside the Cleveland tourist attraction. But Paris Wolfe reports the two have reconciled and a group led by Anaya is interested in buying the house. |
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Teacher pornography: A Medina High School teacher is accused of possessing child pornography and speaking with an undercover federal agent about meeting up to have sex with a fictitious 14-year-old girl. Adam Ferrise reports Kevin Hedrick, a social studies teacher, self-surrendered to authorities on Friday, according to court filings unsealed on Monday. |
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PLJ: Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones has been appointed to the Ohio Arts Council board, reports Marc Bona. Jones and Kristie Dukes Davis of Cincinnati are new appointments, with terms ending July 1, 2026. Robert "Robb" Hankins of Canton and Jon Holt of Dayton have been reappointed, with terms ending July 1, 2027. Bash on the Bay: Superstars Pitbull and Luke Bryan will headline Bash on the Bay 6, the annual island music festival held on Lake Erie’s Put-in-Bay. Susan Glaser reports the event will run two days, on Wednesday, Aug. 23, and Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Put-in-Bay Airport on the south end of the island. Antiques: Akron is a scheduled stop as part of the “Antiques Roadshow” tour, reports Marc Bona. Historic venues in each city will be revealed closer to the event dates. Top Thrill: Coaster fans will have to wait another year to ride a reimagined Top Thrill Dragster, reports Susan Glaser. The amusement park has been largely silent about its plans for the record-breaking roller coaster, which seriously injured a guest standing in line in August 2021. RV Rocking: While many people who have adopted the RV lifestyle head to warmer areas during the winter, a growing number of people are seeking cold-weather capabilities from manufacturers. Jeff and Patti Kinzbach share some interesting RV statistics on this week’s “Rocking the RV Life” podcast. Learn more about what to look for in an RV for cold weather and how to prep your RV for extended periods of cold as well. |
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Man fatally shot by sister’s boyfriend in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood Read more Man fatally shot at store on Cleveland’s East Side, police say Read more Suspected burglar stabbed, killed by resident of Northeast Ohio home, police say Read more Cleveland man gets 10 years in prison for shipping fentanyl through mail Read more Man uses Facebook to arrange purchase of PlayStation, ends up getting assaulted, robbed Read more Teen accused of shooting death of 19-year-old woman in Akron surrenders to police Read more Medina City Council considers parking permits for downtown residents Read more Bay Village band director recognized for making a difference with his students Read more Welo to run for sixth term as South Euclid mayor Read more Medina police offering steering wheel locks to Hyundai owners Read more Orange Schools’ Hardaway achieves career goal of becoming elementary school principal Read more Medina Economic Development Director Marshall takes on state leadership roles Read more |
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