When we voted Aug. 8 to defeat Issue 1, a new state law required Ohioans to show a valid state photo ID. It was the first statewide test of the law, which incorporated a slew of other changes, such as eliminating early voting the day before Election Day. And because not all voters understood the new standards and not all poll workers were sufficiently trained in their nuances (because the August election was a last-minute add-in, after Republican legislators banned statewide elections), many more ballots were rejected. Election officials say they noticed an increase in the number of provisional ballots cast, as well as the percentage of provisional ballots that were rejected. In addition, fewer voters returned absentee ballots they requested than in previous elections, potentially as a result of a new rule that requires straggling mail ballots to arrive sooner after Election Day. The final numbers are not available, but officials are sure to study them before the Nov. 7 general election, when abortion and recreational marijuana issues are on the ballot. – Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Guardians game vs. Dodgers suspended, set to resume today prior to series finale Northeast Ohio weather forecast: More storms expected |
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Early voting for the Aug. 8 election began July 11 at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections office in downtown Cleveland. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com) |
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Rejected ballots: Elections officials and voter advocates say new voting rules Republican state lawmakers passed late last year led to more rejected ballots in the Aug. 8 election. Andrew Tobias reports preliminary findings from those groups suggest the new rules, including a requirement that voters show a photo ID at their polling place, were an impediment for voters. Redistricting rejection: Backers of a proposal to overhaul Ohio’s system of drawing political maps must rewrite language after Attorney General Dave Yost rejected the group's summary of the proposed measure’s effects. Andrew Tobias reports getting the attorney general to sign off on petition summary language is the first in a multi-step process to get a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot and it's not uncommon to fail at least once on the first step. Police raise: Cadets enrolled in Cleveland’s police academy will receive a pay bump from $16 to $24 an hour, along with a $5,000 signing bonus, following negotiations between the city and two leading police unions, reports John Tucker. The deal comes as the police division faces significant staffing shortages and prepares for a new recruit class in October. Today in Ohio: Ohio Right to Life, a powerful organization that generally operates behind the scenes of state politics, has experienced a rare public controversy over its internal operations. We’re talking on Today in Ohio about the November election that will be pivotal for the future of abortion in Ohio. |
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Enhanced driver’s licenses: Even though Ohio legislators earlier this year authorized the issuance of “enhanced” driver’s licenses and ID cards, a state spokeswoman says it could take years before Ohioans can get them to enter neighboring countries in lieu of a passport. That’s because the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has to first get approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and officials with that agency have told the Ohio BMV they’re not yet ready to sign off, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Congressional maps: The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated it will weigh in on the constitutionality of the state’s current congressional district lines, as it issued a timeline to both sides in a lawsuit challenging the map, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Ohio’s congressional districts, which were drawn last year by a Republican-controlled redistricting commission, have been in a sort of legal limbo for months. SkillUp: A Cuyahoga County program that pays companies to train workers for higher-paying jobs has helped over 954 residents earn an average of $3.10 more per hour over the last six years, but changes might be coming amid concerns about whether the taxpayer-funded program is working as intended. Kaitlin Durbin reports SkillUp aimed to help eliminate residents' dependence on public assistance by paying for the additional training they need to move up in their company, get certified in a trade or otherwise achieve higher wages. The county reimburses businesses half the cost of that training, using money from the health and human services levy. Haslam endorsement: Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced to Republican donors this week that they’re backing Matt Dolan, a state senator whose family owns the Guardians, in the GOP Senate primary, reports Andrew Tobias. |
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Flooding: A string of constant thunderstorms Wednesday night dumped as much as 4.5 inches of rain on parts of Northeast Ohio, resulting in widespread flooding that shut down parts of Interstate 90 and also other roads, Cliff Pinckard reports. Rescuers reportedly were using rafts to reach cars stuck in the high water, some of them nearly completely submerged. Ukrainian garden: While the Ukrainian Cultural Garden opened more than 80 years ago, world events have made it just as relevant today as it was when dedicated in 1940. Zachary Smith reports that since Russia’s war with Ukraine began in early 2022, the garden has seen an influx of people showing support, including “We Stand with Ukraine” flags and, more recently, painted stones from local schools like the Gilmour Academy Lower School with colors of the Ukrainian flag and messages of support. Lead testing: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be offering free soil testing for lead this Saturday. Peter Krouse reports the Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing, or CLASH, is billing the event as the last chance for such free tests this summer. Tests will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Concerned Citizens Community Council at 13611 Kinsman Road. Garage collapse: Two people were injured Wednesday night when a parking garage partially collapsed at an apartment complex in Lake County. Cliff Pinckard reports that Willowick Fire Chief William Malovrh said said it’s unknown what caused the collapse of the north section of the parking garage at Shoregate Towers Apartments on Lakeshore Boulevard. |
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Car rentals: Car rental rates at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport have increased by more than a third in the past year and are some of the highest in the country, reports Susan Glaser. A recent survey lists the price of a weekly car rental at Cleveland Hopkins at $540 for a week – 10th highest in the nation. Pittsburgh flight: A temporary schedule change will offer Cleveland travelers the Alaska Airlines destination they never knew they needed: Pittsburgh. Susan Glaser reports that the carrier, which started flying between Seattle and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in 2022, is consolidating two routes into one for five weeks this winter. |
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Teenage girls murder charge: A 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old girl were arrested by U.S. marshals in Cleveland on Wednesday morning and accused of a murder on the city’s East Side, reports Molly Walsh. They are accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Kanye Williams last spring. Stolen shoes: Police in Olmsted Falls arrested three juveniles Monday and accused them of stealing $10,000 in sneakers from a resident’s garage. A resident on Fernwood Drive called police about noon on Sunday to report that the garage attached to his home had been broken into that morning, Molly Walsh reports. |
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WonderBus: The WonderBus Music and Arts Festival will take place Friday through Sunday this weekend at The Lawn at CAS in Columbus. Malcolm X Abram reports the headliners for the three-day festival are rapper/entertainer Pitbull on Friday, singer-songwriter Demi Lovato on Saturday, and Columbus’ own indie-folk trio CAAMP on Sunday. Canadian road trip: Laura Johnston took her 12- and 10-year-old children to the Thousand Islands, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto on a whirlwind week, where they stuffed themselves with Canadian culture, government, history, sports and food. They toured Parliament, spoke a bit of French, walked dozens of kilometers and generally were delighted with everything they saw. Coffee and pastries: Caffeine lovers with a sweet tooth can probably agree that there are few tastier pairings than a cup of coffee and a baked good. It’s a comforting way to kick off your day or the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up. Alex Darus lists 19 of the best spots for the duo. |
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