The people who elect government leaders and pay for government services ought to be able to see the work their tax dollars are funding. Our state has long boasted robust public records laws that give Ohioans decent access to a variety of government documents. Many states aren’t nearly as friendly to the public’s right-to-know. Lawmakers in Columbus are trying to chip away at some of Ohio’s access, with a proposal to shield police files and similar records from public review. Proponents, like the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, say it helps protect the integrity of investigations. Its executive director said Ohio’s existing law, which provides access to such records, increases the risk of witness intimidation or the likelihood of people not cooperating with police. But he wasn’t able to name even one instance of that happening. — Courtney Astolfi |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Rain, then sunshine this weekend |
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| While proponents say changes in public access laws are needed to help protect the integrity of police investigations and legal proceedings, critics fear the changes – if passed – would result in most police records being kept off-limits indefinitely from the public. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com) |
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Ohio police records: Language tucked into the latest state budget proposal would create a wide range of new exemptions to public-records requests for law-enforcement records and other documents, Jeremy Pelzer reports. The House’s budget plan would, if passed, create public-records exemptions for any information assembled by law enforcement ahead of a probable or pending criminal proceeding until the appeals process in the suspect’s case is finished. Judge grants immunity: A Franklin County judge gave legal immunity to four former FirstEnergy officials, all ousted amid criminal investigations into the company’s two bribery schemes of state officials, clearing the way for them to testify to state regulators, reports Jake Zuckerman. Investigators believe the men might know something useful that has yet to emerge in nearly five years of investigative efforts into what federal prosecutors deemed the biggest bribery scandal in state history. Ohio visas revoked: The total number of international students at Ohio colleges and universities whose visas have been revoked is now up to at least 62, Laura Hancock reports. Cuyahoga Community College and Sinclair College, a community college in the Dayton area, said this week that three students’ visas were revoked from each school. While the schools aren’t identifying the students by name, some details about Ohio students’ visa troubles have become available in court documents. YSU grad sues Trump: A Youngstown State University graduate late Wednesday sued Trump administration officials after her student visa was revoked, Adam Ferrise reports. Cynderila Patrick, a Nigerian citizen now living in Maryland, obtained a master’s degree in chemical engineering last year. The lawsuit says Patrick’s visa was revoked on April 8, likely over a 2024 fourth-degree misdemeanor charge that prosecutors ultimately dropped. |
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Supreme Court pause: The Ohio Supreme Court ordered Thursday a pause on a ruling from a lower court that found banning people accused of violent felonies from having firearms is unconstitutional, David Gambino reports. Cuyahoga County prosecutors appealed the decision and asked for a stay after the 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals released its ruling in the case of Delvonte Philpotts on April 3. Air pollution bill: Ohio’s Republican members of Congress are pushing legislation that would rescind the Biden administration’s decision to restore an Ohio policy that lets citizens bring federal nuisance lawsuits against industrial air polluters, reports Sabrina Eaton. Sierra Club attorney Megan Wachspress accused the GOP legislators of serving corporate interests instead of finding solutions to lower prices and improve Ohioans’ quality of life. Yost sides with Bibb: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sided with Mayor Justin Bibb this week and determined that Cleveland City Council members don’t have the right to see the names of crime victims listed in police reports, Sean McDonnell reports. In a legal opinion issued Tuesday, Yost said that legislative bodies have no legal responsibility to know the identities of victims. |
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Cleveland Shoreway conversion: Work continues toward converting the highway that runs in front of the Browns’ Huntington Bank Field and north of downtown Cleveland, Rich Exner reports. The conversion includes a four-lane boulevard with traffic lights similar to the Opportunity Corridor. College student retention: Last September, more than 500 students from a dozen Northeast Ohio colleges gathered at Progressive Field to cheer on the Guardians during College Fest, part of a broader effort to encourage more Cleveland-area college students to stay in the area after they graduate, reports Susan Glaser. The organization has set a goal of 55% of college graduates staying in the region by 2030. New polling locations: Voters in Cleveland’s Ward 3, Precinct M, are being moved to a new polling location for the May 6 Primary Election, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections announced Thursday. Kaitlin Durbin reports a news release from the board says the change was the result of maintenance issues. Roughly 31,127 voters in seven suburbs will also be reporting to new voting locations this election. West Side fire: Firefighters extinguished a house fire Wednesday on the city’s West Side, Olivia Mitchell reports. Firefighters responded to a blaze in the 3600 block of Highland Road, according to a report from Lt. Mike Norman, a spokesman for the Cleveland Division of Fire. The cause of the fire stemmed from careless smoking, he said. |
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Layoffs: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems in Avon is offering voluntary layoffs, citing a sharp slowdown in the trucking industry and economic pressures from tariffs, Molly Walsh reports. A spokesperson for the company said the layoffs, announced April 17, are available to all full-time salaried employees across the company’s U.S. operations. Lorain public transit: The Lorain County Community Action Agency is making rides on the county’s low-cost Via LC public transit service even more accessible with a new pre-paid voucher program, reports Hannah Drown. The voucher program uses the existing Via LC public transit infrastructure, which has already provided over 10,000 rides in its first two months of operation, according to LCCAA. |
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Woman sues Michigan assistant: A former Malone University swimmer on Thursday sued the school and former University of Michigan assistant football coach Matt Weiss, who authorities say hacked into some 3,000 students’ accounts to steal explicit photos and videos, Adam Ferrise reports. The lawsuit says the U.S. Department of Justice contacted her after FBI agents found that Weiss accessed her information as part of an eight-year campaign to gain photos from female student-athletes across the country. Cleveland man killed: A Cleveland man was killed Wednesday in the city’s Fairfax neighborhood, reports Olivia Mitchell. Officials identified Devon Foster, 34, as the victim. He died of a gunshot wound, said Cleveland EMS Commander Ellen Kazimer. Suspect shot: Two Medina County sheriff’s deputies fired about a dozen shots at a man who they said was wielding a knife in a Cleveland parking lot last week, according to video released Thursday. Lucas Daprile reports the footage shows the responses of officers to the shooting of Andre Dewayne Lamont Martin, 47, of Garfield Heights outside the Staples store on West 117th. Stalking trial rescheduled: A North Ridgeville school teacher accused last year of stalking a man has denied the allegations, saying the victim lied to police, reports David Gambino. Hannah Freeman, 27, was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with menacing by stalking, trespassing, theft and identity fraud. Her trial, previously set to begin next week in front of Judge David Matia, has been rescheduled to June 30. Thieves at large: Suspects remain at large after robbing a PNC Bank in Akron earlier this week, reports Lucas Daprile. The suspects did not physically harm anyone during the robbery, said Akron Police Lt. Michael Murphy. The suspects wore hats but did not cover their faces, according to photos police released from the robbery. As of Thursday, police have yet to identify the suspects, Murphy said. Vehicular homicide arrest: Two suspects accused of intentionally running over a man and killing him were arrested Tuesday on Cleveland’s East Side, Olivia Mitchell reports. Ann Marie Clayton and Marvin Atkins are accused of vehicular homicide, Cleveland police said. The charges stem from an incident on April 14 in which authorities say the pair drove at Norman Duncan, 37, of Cleveland. Drug possession sentence: A Mayfield Heights man called the police in 2023 after seeing a prowler trying to break into his apartment. Now, he’s serving a 35-year prison sentence, Adam Ferrise reports. Authorities say Jamill McDonald, 43, was a drug dealer who had some $30,000 worth of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin inside his home when he asked police to help check for an intruder. |
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Hot Dog Diner re-opens: Hot Dog Diner & Burger Co. reopened Thursday in its former Parma location after abruptly closing in February, Alex Darus reports. The fast-casual restaurant at 5494 Pearl Road reopened at 11 a.m. Thursday. Hot Dog Diner has been a staple in Parma for 25 years, formerly located on Brookpark Road. Cleveland musician dies: David Thomas, the lead singer of influential art-punk “avant garage” band Pere Ubu, has died at 71, Peter Chakerian reports. Thomas was born June 14, 1953, in Miami but raised in Cleveland. He was a prolific punk singer who fronted several bands in addition to having a fruitful solo career. Fundraiser for dogs: Dogtopia, a dog daycare, boarding and grooming facility in downtown Cleveland, is hosting a fundraiser in the form of a “Lady and the Tramp” pasta lunch for dogs, reports Alex Darus. Today during daycare hours, doggie visitors can enjoy a pasta lunch with a $10 donation. Top events: This weekend in Northeast Ohio is filled with things to do, Joey Morona reports. A Tony-winning musical about corn tops a cornucopia of events, from theater and concerts to festivals and more. Read more about 20 things worth checking out. |
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Three run from fleeing car after Highland Heights police chase it into resident’s backyard Read more Richmond Heights expanding business possibilities by rezoning Curtiss Wright Parkway Read more Pepper Pike Mayor Bain said he will resign if Issue 17’s charter changes are approved May 6 Read more NASA Glenn engineer celebrates 35th anniversary of Hubble Space Telescope launch Read more Olmsted Township, Olmsted Falls collaborate on economic development district Read more Beloved Parma veterinarian honored with Dr. B’s Buddies canine kits Read more University Heights mayor urges residents to call 911 first in case of emergency, not volunteer group Read more |
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