It feels like everyone is sick. So many kids were out at my daughter’s elementary school that the Cuyahoga County Board of Health created a voluntary survey. But it’s not too late to get a flu shot. Normally flu season ends around March, but nearly all indicators are trending above the five-year average for this time of year. In the most recent weekly report, Ohio had 558 flu hospitalizations and the number of physicians visits jumped by 30%. Flu hospitalizations are highest in West Central and Northeast Ohio. Stay well, Cleveland. Wash your hands. Get enough sleep. And if you feel sick, stay home. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Highs in the 50s |
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A Centers for Disease Control map shows the most recent flu activity across the U.S. (CDC) |
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Flu season: The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Ohio Department of Public Health are urging flu shots in response to Ohio’s “very high" rate of flu illness, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. Today in Ohio: State regulators are considering rules that would slash fees for medical marijuana patients and caregivers and pave the way to license recreational marijuana dispensaries as soon as September. We’re talking about a new package of rules meant to ready Ohio for recreational marijuana on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Death penalty : While some lawmakers are seeking to revive Ohio’s death penalty through the use of nitrogen gas, Gov. Mike DeWine is continuing the state’s de facto moratorium on executions by rescheduling execution dates well into the future. DeWine pushed back the scheduled executions dates for convicted murderers Timothy Hoffner and John David Stumpf from later this year until 2027, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Family Dollar: Family Dollar has reached a $400,000-plus settlement with Attorney General Dave Yost’s office to resolve claims that some prices on the chain store’s shelves are lower than what’s being charged at checkout. Jeremy Pelzer reports that under the settlement, Family Dollar also agreed to put a number of new policies in place to ensure the discount retailer’s 460 locations in Ohio aren’t charging customers more at the register than the advertised price on the shelf. Editorial rules: Why didn’t Bernie Moreno participate in cleveland.com’s endorsement interview for U.S. senator? He didn’t agree to the ground rules. Rick Rouan explains the rules, specifically about recording and releasing video from the interview. Senate debate: Ohio’s three Republican U.S. Senate candidates had no fireworks or major mistakes in Monday's debate, in contrast to Ohio’s memorably bruising 2022 Republican Senate primary campaign that literally saw a near-fight break out on stage at one event, reports Andrew Tobias. State Sen. Matt Dolan, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno stuck to their scripts, making similar pitches about their personal backgrounds while giving similar answers to those they’ve given at prior events, including the first televised debate last month. Fracking: The Ohio Environmental Council and Earthjustice filed a motion Tuesday to halt an Oil and Gas Land Management Commission meeting scheduled for next week, arguing it will expedite the bidding process for drilling and fracking in Salt Fork State Park and other state lands by nearly three months sooner than required by state law, Laura Hancock reports. |
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Scary moment : Tuesday morning, when Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Bishop got his chance to address Mayor Justin Bibb during the opening hours of budget hearings, he recalled a harrowing event from earlier in the morning when two gunshots had been fired outside his home. The councilman’s experience put a finer point on the crime concerns that loom large in Cleveland neighborhoods, Courtney Astolfi reports. Family leave: Cuyahoga County is expanding its paid parental leave program for non-union county employees, Lucas Daprile reports . Recently, the county announced employees will be eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid leave for parents caring for a newborn or newly adopted child. The previous limit was two weeks and it was only available to employees who were eligible for Family Medical Leave. National Register : The Cleveland Restoration Society has been awarded a $52,149 grant from the National Park Service that it will use to nominate six historic Black churches for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Sabrina Eaton reports listing on the National Register would help the churches get National Park Service-administered federal preservation tax credits. St. Patrick’s Day: The St. Patrick’s Day parade – one of the oldest traditions in Cleveland – is set for March 17. Marc Bona reports civic officials, parade-committee members, honorees, safety forces, honor guards, Irish organizations, marching units, drill teams, floats, novelties, pipe and marching bands and others will queue along Superior Avenue downtown in the annual parade. Spring forecast : Coming off the heels of a winter with minimal snow so far, Cleveland should expect warmer-than-normal temperatures in the spring, Zachary Smith reports. |
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Ancora : Mayfield-Heights based activist investment firm Ancora is now publicly calling for Norfolk Southern to replace its CEO, Alan Shaw. The firm is looking to add eight new members to the railroad company’s board — including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, reports Sean McDonnell. Senior complex: A new seniors apartment complex built in Maple Heights with the help of an $11 million affordable tax credit from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency is now accepting applications. Megan Sims reports Beacon Grove Apartments, a three-story building off of Rockside Road, will be managed by Jennings, a faith-based organization that provides housing and other services for adults. Stocks: Stock prices for 10 major Ohio companies increased by at least 2% last week, reports Zachary Smith. This was led by the clinical research organization Medpace Holdings Inc. in Cincinnati, which increased 20%, or $265.25 a share. |
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Tax evasion: A Chagrin Falls businessman who once faced price-gouging accusations during the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced Tuesday to four years of probation for attempted tax evasion. Adam Ferrise reports Mario Salwan, 52, tried to hide income he made from his garage-finishing business to avoid paying $511,000 in payroll taxes for years, including secretly funneling money to a relative who bought his Pepper Pike home out of foreclosure. Disbarred attorney : The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday permanently disbarred a Parma lawyer who pleaded guilty in 2022 to stealing from six clients, reports Cory Shaffer . Gary Vick Jr., 49, of Strongsville, also failed to file paperwork with the high court to show he was complying with the indefinite suspension he received after clients said he took their money but didn’t do any legal work for them. 7-11 shooting: Shaker Heights police are searching for a suspect who shot a store employee early Tuesday morning, reports Molly Walsh. Officers responded at 6:33 a.m. to a BP and 7-Eleven at 20420 Chagrin Blvd. after someone reported gunshots. Strongest mom : On Valentine’s Day, Amy Jolley was stabbed six times at her home on Luelda Avenue in Parma. Her estranged husband, Rick, chased her down and attacked her. He later died by suicide. Amy is recovering from serious injuries. Meanwhile, Molly Walsh writes , the couple’s four children – two were home during the incident – are struggling to grasp what happened. |
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Fast casual: Looking to stay on-budget but also love digging into some delectable local nosh that might not be on your radar (yet)? These are for you. Peter Charkerian lists 15 favorite casual/comfort foods in The Land. Ask Yadi : Are terms of endearment or casual references appropriate greetings for paying customers? Being called "buddy" or "pal" by a clerk at a small business irritates one customer, and Yadi Rodrigeuz says the customer is not alone. Brite Winter: Good thing Clevelanders have a Brite Winter to look forward to in February. The “mostly outdoor” music and arts festival on Saturday is described by festival organizers as “the premier Cleveland event between New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day,” writes Peter Chakerian. Spelling bee : Being a young kid in a national competition would be daunting. But imagine being a young Black girl in Jim Crow America, with the spotlight and pressure constant in a national spelling bee. MacNolia Cox, a 13-year-old in Akron, was the first Black person to win Akron’s 1936 spelling bee. The book “How Do You Spell Unfair?” came from New York Times best-selling author Carole Boston Weatherford. She crafted this singularly focused story on Cox, one that Weatherford tells in an entertaining, clear and educational way, Marc Bona reports. Short and sweet : The Short. Sweet. Film. Fest. launched in the basement of Market Garden Brewery in 2012 as a festival for filmmakers by filmmakers and has grown to nearly 300 short films to be shown on four screens at Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square Feb. 28 to March 3. Joey Morona reports the lineup features both narrative and documentary films by local, national and international filmmakers. Taco Fest: Taco Fest – Labor Day weekend at Jacobs Pavilion – will feature more than 30 taquerias, taco trucks and other eateries, along with more than 30 musical and entertainment acts on two stages, including mariachis and others, reports Marc Bona. Rock Off: The 12 teen bands that will compete to be named “the Best Band in The Land” at the 27th and final Tri-C High School Rock Off are set. Malcolm X Abram reports four bands were selected at each of the three preliminary rounds, held at the Rock Hall on Feb. 3, Feb. 10 and Feb. 17. Opera : Cleveland Institute of Music’s Opera Theater is producing Johann Strauss II’s “Die Fledermaus” on March 1 and March 3, reports Paris Wolfe. This is the program’s third opera production this school year. |
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Authorities identify man killed in shooting in Akron Read more 10-year-old boy wounded after shooting in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood; suspect arrested Read more Euclid man dies after crash on Interstate 271 in Mayfield Heights Read more Northeast Ohio HS student accused of raping girl in school building Read more SouthPark Mall redevelopment may include hotel, grocery store, fitness center Read more Orange mayor, former mayor strongly endorse Issue 14 during telephone town hall meeting Read more Former North Royalton superintendent to serve as temporary principal in Strongsville Read more Concerns about Cedar-Fairmount parking garage nothing new to merchants, residents Read more With home repair costs on the rise, Shaker Heights ups its grants game Read more |
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