Conservative Ohio lawmakers have long tried to eliminate the state’s income tax. Since 2005, the legislature has steadily dropped rates, including by almost half for the state’s wealthiest residents. Last year, nearly a third of Ohio state senators sponsored legislation to phase out the income tax over the next 10 years. Now, Republicans are pushing to cut again and would make up the $1.2 billion in lost revenue by taking away money distributed to schools, cities, libraries, park districts and counties. The legislation also would reduce property taxes by only requiring Ohioans to pay tax on 31.5% of their home’s assessed value, rather than 35% under current law. Some cities are still recovering from 2011, when Gov. John Kasich eliminated the state estate tax and sliced the state’s local government fund, created in 1934 with Ohio’s first sales tax. A town-by-town examination in 2016 found that more than 70 cities had lost at least $1 million a year because of Kasich’s decisions. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers: Cavs’ second-half rally falls short in 118-112 loss to Philadelphia 76ers Northeast Ohio Thursday weather forecast: Rain and falling temps |
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The state would make up for the lost income-tax revenue by ending many state property tax rollbacks, which is state money given to local governments -- such as school districts, cities, libraries, park districts, and counties. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Tax cuts: The first introduced bill by Ohio House Republicans would cut and flatten Ohio’s income tax rates, lower property tax rates, and stop $1.2 billion per year in state payments to local governments. Jeremy Pelzer reports House Bill 1 would create a flat state income tax rate of 2.75%, though Ohioans making less than $26,050 per year would continue to pay no income tax. House Republicans’ priority bills also include creating near-universal school vouchers and banning transgender athletes from playing women’s sports, Pelzer reports. Spring in February: The average temperature for January was 7.3 degrees above normal and February has been a balmy continuation of the unseasonableness, reports Peter Krouse. Why? The North Atlantic Oscillation, measurement of pressure between Greenland and the North Atlantic Ocean, is keeping cold air up north rather than letting it spill down into Ohio. For the second time in a week, Cleveland set a record high temperature. Constitutional amendment: Ohio House leaders officially have revived a controversial state constitutional amendment to make it harder to amend the state constitution -- which could have major ramifications for an expected future abortion-rights ballot issue. Andrew Tobias reports House Speaker Jason Stephens on Wednesday gave a procedural green light to the proposal, which would require 60% of voters to approve future state constitutional amendments, compared to the current simple majority of 50% plus-one vote. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine wants to spend $162 million to teach kids with the “science of reading.” But Ohio State University has been an epicenter of the “balanced literacy” or “whole language” approach. We’re talking about teaching kids to read -- and the politics behind the so-called war -- on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Householder trial: Lobbyist Juan Cespedes left the witness stand of ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder’s trial Wednesday morning after lawyers for Householder and a co-defendant, lobbyist Matt Borges, finished trying to poke holes in the dramatic and incriminating information Cespedes shared with jurors during his one-and-a-half days on the witness stand, Andrew Tobias and Jake Zuckerman report. Train derailment: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown says federal law should require railroads to tell states when hazardous chemicals escape into the environment. Sabrina Eaton reports Brown blamed the administration of former President Donald Trump for weakening safety standards set by his predecessor, Barack Obama, that might have prevented the accident. Meanwhile, the Ohio EPA says East Palestine’s tap water is safe to drink after new testing found no sign of contaminants from the train derailment, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Reporter charges: Attorney General Dave Yost is dropping charges against a TV reporter arrested at a news conference on the East Palestine train derailment, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Evan Lambert, a reporter for NewsNation, was pushed to the floor and handcuffed by Columbiana County sheriff’s deputies on Feb. 8 after he refused officials’ demands that he stop giving a live report while Gov. Mike DeWine was speaking at the news conference. Billboard controversy: Left-leaning Ohio Statehouse observers are calling Rep. Jena Powell, a Republican who champions First Amendment rights online, a hypocrite after the company she runs removed a Democratic-sponsored billboard in Western Pennsylvania, Laura Hancock reports. |
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Lawsuit: Cleveland has agreed to pay more than $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a former police supervisor who accused a department commander and fellow supervisor of lodging a series of false complaints to get him fired. Cory Shaffer reports the city will pay $1.1 million to former Lt. Paul Baeppler and $1.4 million to Baeppler’s attorneys at Bashein and Bashein. East Cleveland judgment: The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the city of East Cleveland must pay $12 million for a judgement and interest that a jury awarded to two people struck by a police cruiser involved in a chase. Laura Hancock reports the court unanimously granted an order to compel the payment, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, stemming from a 2008 collision with a police officer. Native American STEM: While women of any color find it challenging to break into – and succeed -- in STEM fields, it is even more difficult for Indigenous women. Brenda Cain speaks to leading Northeast Ohio Native American women in the fields. Student support: As a Cleveland schools family support specialist, Donea Roddy is the school’s go-to person for, well, just about anything, reports Cameron Fields. Shauna Scott-Rose stops at a food pantry for five families and hand-delivers food and supplies to get them through the following weeks, Hannah Drown reports. House plants: Leggy houseplants are just what they sound like: plants with long stems and no leaves toward the base of the plant, giving them the look of having many long, straggly “legs.” Susan Brownstein reports the bare “nodes,” which is the part of the stem where the leaves were attached, can sprout roots, anchor into the ground and continue growing. |
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Brain tumor: New research at Case Western Reserve University seeks to give hope to patients with glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor that kills 90% of patients within two years of diagnosis. Julie Washington reports CWRU has received a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute — a part of the National Institutes of Health — to enhance MRI technology to more accurately diagnose brain tumors, CWRU announced recently. Changing location: Ernst & Young is planning to move from its local headquarters but stay in downtown, moving just blocks away from its current home overlooking the East Bank of the Flats. Megan Sims reports the global accounting firm confirmed Wednesday that when its lease is up in November it will move from the Flats to North Point Tower office complex at the corner of East Ninth Street and Lakeside Avenue, across the street from City Hall. |
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Karrie Howard: More than 90% of Cleveland patrol officers and detectives do not support the city’s safety director, Karrie Howard, following his remarks about the Irish and police hiring practices, union chief Jeff Follmer announced Wednesday. John Tucker reports the poll showed that 868 members of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association have no confidence in Howard’s leadership, while just 38 support him, Follmer said. Shooting outside school: No one was hurt Wednesday morning when someone fired gunshots outside of Collinwood High School, reports Olivia Mitchell. The shooting appeared to be an attack on a student. The district and city are working together to prevent acts of violence like what happened last month when Pierre McCoy, 18, was killed in front of other students near John Adams College and Career Academy. Theft: Federal prosecutors say an Akron woman working for a third-party company contracted by U.S. Bank stole $1.1 million from nearly 300 bank customers, reports Adam Ferrise. Ashley Miller, who worked for Dial America, changed customers’ addresses so she would receive their debit cards, then withdrew cash from ATMs, court records say. Drug tent: Two men are accused of setting up a camp at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park to sell mass quantities of mushrooms, marijuana and chocolate candies laced with drugs during a two-day concert festival. Edward Spak, 57, and Andrew Stenshorn, 26, were charged Wednesday in federal court in Akron with five counts of conspiracy and possessing with the intent to sell drugs, Adam Ferrise reports. |
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Paczki time: Fat Tuesday is beckoning, that calorie-filled, last hurrah that sends us off on a sugar high with paczki. The Polish tradition began centuries ago as a way to use up excess ingredients before Lent. The fried pastries are filled with fruit or cream and usually dusted (generously) with powdered sugar. Marc Bona shares where to get your fix. At Rudy’s Strudel, Paris Wolfe reports, customers can choose from 31 flavors of sweet and savory pastries and get a special treat as the bakery celebrates its 75th years of business. Volleyball tournament: The North Coast Cup volleyball tournament is set for Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland from Friday to Monday. Marc Bona reports more than 2,500 regional youth athletes will compete in the three-day event that the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission estimates will bring in $2.3 million in economic impact. Polar plunge: “Freezin’ for a Reason,” the 2023 polar plunge for Special Olympics Ohio, will be at Gateway Plaza on Feb. 25, reports Marc Bona. Festival lineup: Wonderstruck announced its lineup for the 2023 edition of the music festival with headliners R&B singer-songwriter Khalid and country hunk Walker Hayes, reports Malcolm X Abram. |
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Shots fired at vehicle hit woman in Bedford apartment, police say Read more Man fatally shot while driving stolen car in Cleveland’s West Boulevard neighborhood, police say Read more Chagrin Falls Gurney students, along with Hamlet residents make valentines for veterans Read more Akron’s Innerbelt History Collection spotlights history of displaced neighborhoods; panel discussion scheduled for Feb. 22 Read more Longtime custodian Todd Stimetz is Seven Hills Employee of the Year Read more North Olmsted begins Lorain Road corridor study Read more Will Lakewood’s Madison Park see pickleball courts and pool upgrades? Read more Lakewood school’s CHAMPS Café offers special needs students a rewarding opportunity Read more |
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