Legalized pot: Two Northeast Ohio lawmakers introduced legislation to advance the planned initiated statute by the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol to legalize recreational weed use in the Buckeye State. Laura Hancock reports that the announcement from state Reps. Casey Weinstein of Hudson and Terrence Upchurch of Cleveland came on the world’s unofficial marijuana holiday.
Delta wave: Laura Hancock also writes about a rule change going into effect on May 2 that changes the definition of THC to include new cannabinoids. Six years ago, when the legislature created the medical program, delta-9-THC was the compound believed to give people a high. Now there are new forms of THC, including delta-8, which is used in hemp and can be found in CBD oil.
Hand it over: A consumer watchdog group prevailed over FirstEnergy in the utility giant’s efforts to keep from handing over thousands of documents related to the scandal-plagued House Bill 6 bailout. Jeremy Pelzer explains that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio judges ordered the company must turn over all responsive documents by May 22, the same documents it provided to federal energy regulators that found the company inappropriately accounted for part of the $71 million used to lobby for the tainted legislation.
METRO
Project grants: Thirty-nine Cuyahoga County municipalities and organizations are expected to receive a portion of over $4.5 million in community-development grants for various street, facility or program improvement projects. Kaitlin Durbin reports on which projects will receive money.
Ferris of all: The I-X Center’s iconic Ferris wheel, which poked through the roof and gave riders a glimpse of the surrounding area through a skylight, is heading to the Hall of Fame Village in Canton. Sean McDonnell reports that The Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment company announced a new Play-Action Plaza — 3.5 acres including a Ferris wheel, zipline, amphitheater and more. Both the Ferris wheel and zipline are coming from Cleveland’s International Exposition Center.
COVID-19 & HEALTHCARE
Rural dilemma: Data reporter Zachary Smith takes a deep dive into some staggering COVID-19 mortality data that shows how hard the pandemic struck Ohio. Deaths from all causes shot up 16.1% in 2020 as the pandemic took off and then another 2.7% on top of that in 2021. In those two years, about 45,000 more Ohioans died than what would have been expected if pre-pandemic patterns had continued.
BUSINESS
Start me up: Ohio saw $900 million of venture capital deals in the first three months of 2022, one of the biggest quarters for the Buckeye State in recent history. Sean McDonnell reports that, according to the Q1 2022 Venture Monitor, $901 million was invested in Ohio across 48 deals.
CRIME
Suspended: A Pepper Pike synagogue has suspended prominent Rabbi Stephen Weiss after learning of his Monday arrest on charges that accuse him of trying to meet up with what he thought was teenage boy for sex. Cory Shaffer reports that B’nai Jeshurun, where Weiss has served since 2001, said in a Wednesday news release that the congregation was “shocked” to learn of the arrest.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Writers salon: Literary Cleveland has launched a new yearlong residency aimed at creating new opportunities for writers in Northeast Ohio. Annie Nickoloff has details on how The Breakthrough Writing Residency will support six writers working on book-length projects in three categories: fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Record Store Day: It’s like it comes earlier every year. Record Store Day is once again upon us (Saturday) and Annie Nickoloff compiles a handy list of Northeast Ohio’s independent record stores, where you might be able to pick up an exclusive record or two if you’re willing to wait on line. Check out her big list of 23 of the best local shops around.
Lock the gates: Actor and comedian Marc Maron took part in a Q&A with John Benson to discuss, among other things, his upcoming DreamWorks animated project “The Bad Guys” and the controversy that stirred during his recent interview on the popular "WTF" podcast with actor Sam Elliott. Maron will perform May 13 at the Mimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square.
