Ohio legislators have vastly expanded private school vouchers to give families a choice, with the goal of making private schools more affordable for students struggling in poor-performing public districts. But, Laura Hancock reports, state data show that most of the families newly benefiting from the vouchers were already enrolled in chartered private schools. The expansion is costing Ohio taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Before the expansion, during the 2020-21 school year, Ohio spent an estimated $241 per student. Now the state is spending about $514 per student. And under a newly proposed bill, the state could spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on different private schools – schools that don’t meet Ohio’s charter requirements. Non-chartered private school students are not eligible for Ohio’s voucher programs, but state Rep. Gary Click’s proposal would send them public dollars anyway through what he’s calling “educational savings accounts” the state would fund. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. Boston Celtics: Dean Wade plays fourth-quarter hero as Cavs stun East-leading Boston Celtics, 105-104 Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Cooler weather returns |
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An Ohio House bill would create educational savings accounts for families with kids attending a specific category of private schools and possibly cost Ohio $239 million a year, according to one estimate. (Canva) |
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Private schools: An Ohio House bill would create educational savings accounts funded with taxpayer dollars for families of kids attending a specific category of private schools, a move that one estimate projects would cost the state $239 million a year. Laura Hancock reports House Bill 339 is sponsored by state Rep. Gary Click, a Sandusky County Republican and pastor. Click’s church has a school that falls under the category of schools targeted by his bill. Bank closings: More than 150 bank branches in Greater Cleveland have closed in the last few years, according to a cleveland.com analysis of federal records. And just 31 new branches have opened since 2020 began in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. Sean McDonnell reports the trend is driven by a few factors, including technology. Today in Ohio: The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is warning state leaders that they need to make child care more available and affordable so workers can fill new jobs. We’re talking about Steve Stivers’ thoughtful ideas about addressing Ohio’s child care crisis -- and why the Ohio Senate’s first response is gut quality -- on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Concealed carry: The number of concealed-carry permits issued in Ohio plummeted to an all-time record low in 2023, a predictable trend in the first full year when the state no longer required a permit or training to carry a concealed handgun. Jeremy Pelzer reports county sheriffs in Ohio issued 15,581 new concealed-carry permits last year, down 42% from the 27,031 new permits issued in 2022. AI: Ohio’s Jim Jordan and JD Vance are attacking Google after its Gemini artificial intelligence chatbot generated racially inaccurate portraits of historical figures that Jordan describes as “woke AI.” Sabrina Eaton reports the tech behemoth last month said it would temporarily pause Gemini’s image generation of people while it works on an improved version. The move followed complaints about the chatbot providing images of a female pope, a Black George Washington, and people of color as World War II Nazis. Child care subsidy: Families enrolled in a federal program that subsidizes child care for low-income working families will have their child costs capped in a move the White House says could save thousands of families hundreds of dollars. Sabrina Eaton reports that child care costs would be capped at 7% of family income for families receiving subsidies from the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. EPA rules: Ohio’s Sherrod Brown on Monday led a group of Democratic U.S. Senators in a letter asking President Joe Biden to reject a trio of EPA emissions proposals that he says would devastate Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel Corp. and cost American jobs, reports Sabrina Eaton. Senate race: For a race where the conventional wisdom strongly favors a single candidate, there’s a surprisingly high level of uncertainty surrounding the Republican contest for U.S. Senate in Ohio with two weeks to go until Election Day. Andrew Tobias examines the race between Bernie Moreno, Matt Dolan, and Frank LaRose ahead of the March 19 primary election. |
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Bibb's plan: Online permits, extra money in the general fund, better working conditions for employees and a more modern approach to basic services – plus a standalone Parks and Recreation Department, advertising on trash trucks and a Cleveland gift shop inside City Hall? All are ideas included in a wide-ranging, 10-year strategic plan for city government that Mayor Justin Bibb unveiled Tuesday, Courtney Astolfi reports. Eclipse myths: Ancient societies could only explain a solar eclipse by retelling myths, passed down through generations, to entertain and reassure. Julie Washington reports that today, myths offer a glimpse at the early recognition of astronomical events and efforts to explain why they were happening. Mammal return: Yet another animal species that disappeared from Ohio decades ago is making a return, this time migrating from a neighboring state, reports Peter Krouse. The discovery of a dead fisher in Pierpont Township in eastern Ashtabula County that tests show had been pregnant provides additional evidence that the once-extirpated mammal is gradually reproducing in an area where it once thrived, before overhunting and destruction of habitat drove it away altogether in the mid-1800s. Kirtland Temple: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has purchased the Kirtland Temple, the first temple built by the religion’s founder in the 1800s and recently designated one of the world’s “most holy places.” The Latter-day Saints announced Tuesday they had acquired the temple from the Community of Christ church, Cliff Pinckard reports. Shelter expansion: Starting Monday, people experiencing homelessness in the Cleveland area will have a new and improved shelter in which to stay. Lucas Daprile reports the $5 million, 14,000-square-foot addition to the existing Men’s Shelter, located at 2020 Lakeside Ave., was done using COVID-19 stimulus money to create more space and privacy for those who stay there. Spring gardening: When is it the right time to cut back perennials? Frustratingly, the answer is “it depends,” both on the type of plant and your gardening goals. Susan Brownstein writes that dead plant matter is keeping overwintering bugs and butterflies warm, and you should wait until the soil has warmed enough that the new plant growth starts taking off. Waterfront leader: The not-for-profit North Coast Waterfront Development Corp., created last year by the city of Cleveland to help guide planning and development of big lakefront projects, announced Tuesday it has chosen real estate executive Scott Skinner as its first executive director, reports Steven Litt. |
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Cedar Fair: Some longtime Cedar Fair unitholders are starting to organize in opposition to the company’s merger with rival amusement park owner Six Flags. But it’s unclear whether they have any ability to derail the deal, reports Susan Glaser. Among the opponents: New York City-based Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers recently sent a sharply worded letter to Cedar Fair’s board and management, outlining numerous objections to the deal. UH: University Hospitals has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 12th straight year, reports Gretchen Cuda Kroen. Some 136 different companies from 20 countries and 44 industries were given the recognition this year by Ethisphere, a company that evaluates ethical business practices of global corporations. Home loans: Residential mortgage and related loan applications decreased at the end of 2023, and recent data show volume has not made much of a comeback in 2024 so far. Megan Sims reports Residential Property Mortgage Origination Report, which curates real estate data, found that 1.35 million mortgages were issued in the fourth quarter, worth about $417.4 billion. The volume showed a 13.8% decline from the third quarter and a 16.5% decrease from the same time in 2022. |
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Capitol riot: A Wellington man was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in prison for attacking police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Clifford Mackrell, 23, helped shove through a barricade and grabbed at an officer’s face mask after someone sprayed bear spray in the air, reports Adam Ferrise. Wrongful death: The family of an inmate who died in the Summit County Jail filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the county sheriff and other officials of ignoring the man’s medical and mental health issues that led to his death, reports Adam Ferrise. Motel shooting: A 42-year-old Fairview Park man accused of shooting at two people inside the lobby of a Fairview Park motel last month has been indicted on felony charges, reports Cory Shaffer. A Cuyahoga County grand jury charged David Kaczynski with three counts each of attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder and felonious assault. He also is charged with vandalism, menacing and having a gun with a felony record. Akron police: Akron is launching a pilot program that will partner police and fire officials with behavioral health specialists when responding to mental health crises, reports Molly Walsh. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, joined by several city and county officials, announced the start of the Summit County Outreach Team, a mobile response service with medical professionals and a police officer to respond to calls where mental health may be a concern. |
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Ask Yadi: Is a past friendship with a liar worth revisiting? Yadi Rodriguez writes that you should ask yourself how much you have missed this friendship since you walked away. Did this person bring something to your life that you are aching to have back? Film Fest: The Cleveland International Film Festival is nearing Friday’s big reveal of its full lineup for CIFF48 with a slew of announcements, including preview events, solar eclipse plans, a new retro program and more. Joey Morona reports CIFF is hosting three preview events this month to get you acquainted with some of the upcoming offerings: a Latinx Cinema Preview at the LatinUs Theatre Company on March 12; a Black Cinema Preview at Karamu House on March 19; and an Asian Cinema Preview at Li Wah restaurant on March 23. GemStreet: Crafters and collectors can feed their passion with gems, jewelry, minerals, fossils and rare finds from around the world at the GemStreet USA Show & Sale, March 8-10 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Paris Wolfe reports items range from a $1 Egyptian silver charm and a $100 amethyst geode to a $5,000 emerald pendant or priceless 50-million-year-old fossil. Hargrove Hot Stove: Mike and Sharon Hargrove are set to headline the Akron RubberDucks’ Hot Stove Banquet this year. Marc Bona reports the banquet was moved to summer because of scheduling issues. It benefits West Akron Baseball League. Best burgers: The best burgers in Greater Cleveland can be found where? We started with 25 and now we have the top 10. Who will take the top spot? Vote in our Best Of contest. |
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Suspect in shooting at Hall of Fame Village arrested in Tennessee Read more Worker at northern Ohio school district facing multiple child-sex charges Read more Cleveland woman slain in city’s West Boulevard neighborhood; suspect in custody Read more Suspect indicted on charges of causing explosion that killed woman on Cleveland’s East Side Read more Shaker Schools mobilize plans around accelerated building construction schedule Read more Strongsville Schools answering criticisms about finances as tax levy vote approaches Read more ‘Noble Station’ developers are back with re-envisioned plan in Cleveland Heights Read more Akron Children’s Hospital opens $3.5M sports health facility at local college Read more |
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