From 1971 to 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion up to 28 weeks, in the third trimester of pregnancy. Ohio’s current legal standard for abortion is that it is legal up to 22 weeks -- at least while the 2019 “heartbeat” law that bans it as early as six weeks into pregnancy is on hold while a legal challenge plays out in court. Now, two Ohio groups aim to ask voters this November to guarantee the right to an abortion. Their proposed constitutional amendment would set abortion as part of a broader set of legally protected reproductive health topics like contraception and fertility treatment, but would allow the state to prohibit abortion after the point of fetal viability. If the group successfully gets the summary language past the attorney general’s office, it will need to collect 412,591 valid voter signatures — or 10% of the turnout for last year’s general election for governor — by July 5. Ohio Right to Life is calling the language “even more dangerous than we originally believed.” Ohio could be in for a fierce campaign. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio Wednesday weather forecast: While Michigan braces for winter storm, Northeast Ohio to see milder mix of snow and rain |
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The Bans Off Cleveland abortion rights rally in downtown Cleveland drew more than 1,000 people to Willard Park on May 14, 2022. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Abortion amendment: A proposed amendment to the state constitution would give Ohioans an individual right to abortion modeled after a successful ballot initiative in Michigan, reports Andrew Tobias. Filing the summary, along with the full text of the proposed amendment, is the first legal step to place the measure for a statewide vote in November. Problem gambling: Calls to the statewide Problem Gambling Hotline during the first month of legalized sports betting in Ohio more than doubled over what had been the norm ahead of the Jan. 1 launch of sports wagering, according to data released this week by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. There was an average of about 48 calls per day in January, up from 20 a day in December and more than triple the 15 calls a day in January 2022, Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports. Today in Ohio: Before his stunning political downfall, Larry Householder was moving in secret to execute a complex plan to help him avoid term limits and remain Ohio House speaker well into the 2030s. We’re talking about what we’ve learned from Householder's corruption trial on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Train derailment: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the chemicals spilled and remove all contaminated soil and water, while the U.S. Department of Transportation will renew its push for freight rail safety as it investigates the cause of a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, reports Sabrina Eaton. Ohio lawmakers have proposed several measures aimed at improving train safety, reports Jeremy Pelzer, though they say their ability to make reforms is limited, given that federal, not state authorities, control many aspects of Ohio’s railroad network, one of the densest in the nation. Householder trial: The harassment, stalking and seeming omnipresent force organized against a group aiming to repeal House Bill 6 was unlike anything Michael Roberson had ever seen as the CEO of a firm hired to gather signatures to place a repeal on the 2020 ballot. Roberson testified Tuesday in the trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, as did a former Republican Ohio state lawmaker memorably described as WOMAN. Jake Zuckerman and Andrew Tobias report Laura Lanese described her progression from supporter of a rival speaker candidate to ostracized member of Householder’s leadership team. |
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Police FB: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the appeal of a Parma man who sued the city’s police department after officers arrested him for creating a fake police Facebook page that pilloried the department. Adam Ferrise reports the high court did not give a reason why it made the decision to decline the case of Anthony Novak, who was charged in 2016 and later acquitted of crimes stemming from the Facebook page. Drownings: A Lakewood man’s body was recovered from Lake Erie on Monday, reports Olivia Mitchell. His body was the fourth recovered from the lake within a week. Butterfly Garden: An African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child, but in South Russell, the village is working together to raise a garden. The Tom Harvey Memorial Butterfly Garden was installed last year and it is already creating a native habitat for pollinators, a peaceful refuge for visitors, and a tribute to the memory of a loved one, writes Susan Brownstein. |
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Oakwood explosion: State and federal authorities have begun their investigation into an explosion that killed a man and injured more than dozen people Monday at I. Schumann & Co., report Molly Walsh and Sean McDonnell. Oakwood Fire Capt. Brian DiRocco, who has been with the department for 25 years, said it is the largest fire the village has seen, as 14 departments and more than 60 firefighters responded to the blast. Aspire nurses: Aspire Nurse Scholars Program aims to help make nursing more diverse, reports Julie Washington. The scholarship program looks to remove barriers that keep underrepresented students away from healthcare careers and to support them during their education. Quit claim deeds: Cuyahoga County officials are planning new and stricter regulations aimed at protecting homeowners and buyers from a quit claim deed scam, reports Megan Sims. The scam usually involves a person filing a fraudulent quit claim deed with the county, with the help of falsely notarized paperwork. It is an attempt to transfer the home from the owner to the scammer, who then may try to resell it, without the actual owner’s knowledge. Meijer Perks: Meijer, the Michigan-based retailer with stores popping up near Cleveland, reworked its rewards program this month and now lets customers save on gasoline and get free home delivery. Even as a frequent Meijer shopper, Sean McDonnell had a hard time understanding the old system, but the new one is pretty similar to the myPerks program at Giant Eagle. Buffalo News: The Plain Dealer’s printing presses will add another newspaper to their lineup and will start printing The Buffalo News this year, reports Sean McDonnell. |
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Trafficking sting: Six men, including the Eastlake City Council president, have been charged with solicitation involving a human trafficking sting, the office of the Ohio attorney general said Tuesday. Councilman John Meyers and the others were accused of solicitation, Olivia Mitchell reports. In Ohio, a solicitation is a third-degree misdemeanor sex crime. |
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Mark Mothersbaugh: Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh, a veteran Hollywood composer, is excited about his latest project scoring the new film “Cocaine Bear,” which opens Friday in theaters. Malcolm X Abram talks with Mothersbaugh about his projects. CIFF: A documentary about a beloved children’s show, a portrait of a trailblazing television star and a dramedy about a socially inept, cinema-loving teenager will be featured at the Cleveland International Film Festival’s Opening Night, Centerpiece and Closing Night films. CIFF47 kicks off at Playhouse Square on March 22 with “Butterfly in the Sky,” telling the story and impact of “Reading Rainbow,” reports Joey Morona. Paczki: When store lights cut through the Parma darkness and the door swung open at Rudy’s Strudel at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, 30 people were already waiting in line. Paris Wolfe captures the annual Fat Tuesday ritual of paczki. |
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4 men face charges in chase involving vehicle reported stolen from dealership Read more Summit County man accused of making explosives, leaving them in woman’s apartment Read more Man steps outside of Akron apartment, gets shot, police say Read more North Royalton approves new contract with jailers after fact-finder intervention Read more Shotwell family donates land to improve park at Lake Medina Read more WetGo car wash proposed for land owned by Heinen’s in Strongsville Read more |
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