METRO Polling changes: The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Thursday announced polling location changes affecting 22,000 voters in Tuesday’s primary election. Kaitlin Durbin reports the changes apply to 23 precincts in Bedford, Cleveland, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, North Royalton and Westlake. Drought map: Only parts of four counties in Greater Cleveland are classified as abnormally dry and at risk of drought, reports Zachary Smith. Ohio’s abnormally dry areas have shrunk to 9.11% of the state since June, after peaking at 35.94% of the state on July 5. Commission applications: Applications for the new Cleveland Commission for Black Women and Girls are still open. The women-led advisory body will consist of 12 members and two ex-officio members who work with Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council to make legislation and program recommendations dedicated to improving outcomes using a “data-driven approach,” reports Alexis Oatman. COVID-19 & HEALTHCARE Abortion law: Recent anti-abortion laws and court rulings have shifted and disrupted the legal landscape. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports from a seminar of healthcare law experts, medical doctors, and pro-choice advocates which discussed legal quandaries. One main complication is that lawmakers define medical terms differently than doctors. Weekly cases: The state of Ohio on Thursday reported 29,876 new cases of COVID-19 in its weekly dashboard update, an increase of over 3,000 from a week ago. Julie Washington reports cases per week have risen from 16,169 six weeks ago to 26,610 last week. BUSINESS JetBlue: A top official at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport said he doesn’t believe the planned sale of Spirit Airlines to JetBlue will result in any flight reductions in the short-term and may lead to expanded service in the future. Susan Glaser reports that the news that JetBlue had an agreement to buy Spirit Airlines sent shockwaves through the industry. COSE: The Council of Smaller Enterprises, better known as COSE, traces its roots to a trucker strike in 1970. Since its founding in 1972, COSE has had to change to meet business owners’ needs, but never deviated from its goal of protecting small businesses. Sean McDonnell reports on its 50th anniversary. Flats sportsbook: Another company has filed a long-shot plan to build a sportsbook in Cleveland, this time eyeing the Flats East Bank as a new home for sports betting. Sean McDonnell reports Steve Rosen put in an application for a sportsbook. But state law limits Cuyahoga County to five sportsbooks, and priority is being given to five other applications already in line from the Browns, Cavs, Guardians and JACK Entertainment. Mortgage rate: The national average mortgage rate dropped slightly this week, not yet affected by the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate hike. Sean McDonnell reports the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 5.3% this week, down from 5.54% a week ago. CRIME & COURTS Shane Bartek: Prosecutors rested their case against Tamara McLoyd on Thursday by playing recordings of the woman twice confessing on phone calls from the county jail that she shot and killed off-duty Cleveland police officer Shane Bartek on New Year’s Eve, Cory Shaffer reports. The trial is expected to resume Tuesday, when McLoyd’s defense team will either call their own witnesses or rest. Hammock lawsuit: Family members of two Cleveland Heights girls who died after a pile of bricks collapsed on them while they lay in a hammock are suing the hammock manufacturer. Adam Ferrise reports that Joseph and Heidi Scaravilli and the estates of their daughters — Scout, 14, and Chasey, 12 — cite nearly a dozen incidents since 2009 in which the hammocks collapsed, causing severe injuries or death. Ethan Liming: A Summit County grand jury Wednesday indicted three men in the slaying of Ethan Liming, who died near the basketball courts outside I Promise School in Akron last month. The Akron men originally were charged with murder in Liming’s death, but the grand jury filed lesser charges against them. Investment scam: A retired U.S. Navy officer scammed fellow military members out of more than $300,000 in an investment-fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Adam Ferrise reports. Retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert Murray Jr., formerly of North Canton, stole investors funds and violated antifraud and registration regulations, the SEC said in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Akron. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Summer vacations: It’s become quite pricey to travel these days, with the elevated cost of gas, hotels and other vacation expenses. Susan Glaser offers numerous close-to-home destinations that don’t cost anything (or much) to visit, aside from that tank of gas. Things to do: This weekend, downtown Cleveland will be packed with concertgoers during Elton John’s headlining performance at Progressive Field. If you won’t be among them, Annie Nickoloff has 18 other show openings, dance parties, theatrical performances and more to do this weekend. | 