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| What you need to know Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 WEATHER
There is a slight chance of a rain-snow mix in the morning, then rain showers during the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid- to upper-30s. Rain and then snow showers are possible overnight, with lows falling to the mid-20s. Read more.
Local scores: Cavs 111, Utah Jazz 91 OVERNIGHT
Redistricting lawsuit: The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down the new Republican-drawn state legislative maps that were supposed to take effect for the primary election May. Wednesday’s ruling gives the Ohio Redistricting Commission, a panel of elected officials, 10 days to draw new maps, Andrew Tobias, Laura Hancock and Seth Richardson report. The lawsuit focuses on the 2015 constitutional amendment’s requirement to draw politically proportionate maps.
O'Connor reaction: In her majority opinion released Wednesday overturning state legislative maps passed by Republicans, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor called the current redistricting process a failure, adding voters may want to consider alternatives to prevent partisan gerrymandering in the future. Seth Richardson reports that O’Connor said the redistricting process was “not living up to its promise” of providing fairer alternatives to gerrymandered maps.
Decision fallout: Candidates eyeing seats in the Ohio House and Senate, up against a tight deadline to get on the ballot, now don’t know which districts to run in since the Ohio Supreme Court threw out redrawn legislative maps and ordered state officials to try again, Laura Hancock and Jeremy Pelzer report. Candidates have until Feb. 2 to turn in at least 50 valid signatures to get on the primary ballot. The primary is May 3.
Brad Sellers: Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers, a candidate for Cuyahoga County executive, signed off on a 15-year, 100% tax abatement on his own home after years of tax delinquency. A copy of the tax exemption, which bears his signature, shows he requested the abatement on his 26775 Rue Saint Anne Ct. property in 2018. It was based on the estimated cost of $117,000 in new construction, reports Kaitlin Durbin. TODAY IN OHIO Cleveland.com published an editorial Wednesday imploring Rob Portman to reconsider his year-old decision not to seek re-election and to instead run for his own U.S. Senate seat, bringing some sanity to a field filled with sycophants pledging their fealty to Donald Trump. We’re talking about how it would go if Portman enters the race, on Today in Ohio.
STATEHOUSE & POLITICS Federal lawsuit: A federal judge hit pause on a lawsuit challenging Ohio’s new political maps on the basis of racial discrimination, saying he wants to wait two months to give time for separate gerrymandering lawsuits to play out in state courts. Andrew Tobias reports U.S. District Judge John Adams in Akron agreed with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost that the Ohio Supreme Court could end up striking down both sets of maps, making the federal lawsuit moot.
Public health: Gov. Mike DeWine hasn’t challenged a new law allowing the Ohio General Assembly to repeal executive branch public health orders because he wants to keep the focus on promoting vaccines, reports Laura Hancock. Senate Bill 22 allows any executive branch public health order to be repealed by a simple majority of the Ohio General Assembly as soon as they next convene.
Coal plants: Gov. Mike DeWine said he doesn’t support a remnant of the scandal-ridden House Bill 6 that requires Ohio ratepayers to subsidize an Indiana coal-fired power plant. Jeremy Pelzer reports DeWine also pledged that his campaign would no longer accept any political contributions from FirstEnergy Corp., the Akron-based utility at the heart of the HB6 bribery scandal.
Health hazards: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday awarded 60 non-profit organizations and government agencies in 29 states over $104 million in grants for use in abating health hazards such as lead paint. Sabrina Eaton reports money from HUD’s “Healthy Homes Production Grant Program” will help grantees find and remedy health and safety problems in more than 7,400 low-income homes around the country for which other resources are not available.
METRO Bibb picks: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb on Wednesday rolled out another round of his picks for top City Hall jobs, including the finance chief, chief operating officer, and director of building and housing. Courtney Astolfi names the hires, who Bibb said are intended “to reimagine how city hall operates, break down silos and better connect departments.”
Affordable housing: Cuyahoga County Council has approved $2.25 million in HOME loans to help fund five housing projects that will create 309 affordable units in Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and Maple Heights. Kaitlin Durbin reports one project will support youth transitioning out of foster care, three will house seniors, and the largest of them will be mixed-use, mixed-income property at the former Warner and Swasey manufacturing plant.
COVID-19 & HEALTH Flu season: We’re off to a slow start for the flu in Cuyahoga and Summit counties, but there are indications this influenza season might be more severe. Julie Washington reports fewer people are getting the flu shot than last year and the flu vaccine might not be a good match against a mutating influenza virus. And the return to in-person gatherings and school instruction will give both influenza and the coronavirus more opportunity to spread.
CWRU tests: Case Western Reserve University announced this week that it had converted some of its vending machines to dispense COVID-19 tests for students and staff. The university has stocked multiple vending machines across campus with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to help combat the latest surge of the coronavirus. The tests also are available at no cost for faculty, staff and students, Alexis Oatman reports.
Prescription drugs: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week issued a proposal that it said would lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D program participants by cracking down on pharmacy benefit management fees that Ohio pharmacists say are driving them out of business. Sabrina Eaton reports CMS says that a system of drug price concessions that Part D plans have entered into with pharmacies -- where the plans pay less money to pharmacies for dispensed drugs if the pharmacies don’t meet certain metrics -- lacks transparency and doesn’t result in lower drug prices for Medicare patients.
FEMA grants: University Hospitals has received about $15.3 million in federal funding for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Julie Washington.
Daily numbers: The state of Ohio on Wednesday reported 20,093 new cases of COVID-19, continuing the trend of one-day case numbers above 19,000, Julie Washington reports.
BUSINESS Work-life balance: KeyBank’s 2022 Financial Mobility Survey found people value free time more than money. Sean McDonnell reports that of the 1,081 people surveyed, 62% said work-life balance was most important to them, while only 22% said a high-paying job was.
Inflation: Rising inflation has reached levels not seen since 1982, according to federal numbers released Wednesday. The consumer price index, the standard measure of inflation, rose 7% from December 2020 to December 2021, Sean McDonnell reports.
Starbucks: Northeast Ohio Starbucks are closing their dining rooms due to COVID-19. Sean McDonnell reports Starbucks in the Cleveland market will only serve to-go orders.
CRIME Additional charges: An 18-year-old woman charged in connection with the New Year’s Eve carjacking and fatal shooting of a Cleveland police officer is now indicted in connection with two earlier armed robberies, reports Adam Ferrise.
Brook Park slaying: A Brook Park mother left heartbroken by the killing of her 9-month-old daughter said the girl’s father had been harassing her for months, including just days before the murder-suicide. Sarah Smith-Carter tells Olivia Mitchell that she filed a pair of complaints against Martin Porter, both for telecommunications harassment, on Jan. 3 and Jan. 8.
Carjackings: Police are investigating four carjackings of Uber and Lyft drivers during a three-week span, Adam Ferrise reports. Police officials have not said if they believe the carjackings are connected. A 14-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy are charged in connection with one of the carjackings.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Sports awards: Tickets are on sale for the 22nd Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, which will be held March 23 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, reports Marc Bona. The awards celebrate a year of athletic achievements in Northeast Ohio, from high school stars to professional athletes. OTHER HEADLINES Authorities chase suspects in rugged area of Geauga County, catching 1, but another escapes Read more
Shots fired at vehicle during argument in Willoughby Hills, police say Read more
Arnold seeks to make positive impact on Orange Schools as new board member Read more
North Rocky River Drive in Berea to close Monday and Tuesday for railroad bridge repairs Read more
100 Women Who Care Medina chooses Matthew 25 Coalition to receive quarterly award Read more
Vote in Akron Zoo’s contest to name baby white-cheeked gibbon through Jan. 26 Read more
Solon Schools’ virtual Kindergarten Information Night set for Feb. 9 Read more
Richmond Heights recognizes 3 officers who took part in chase of Shane Bartek shooting suspect Read more
Tesla opens electric vehicle Supercharger site in Brooklyn; NOACA eyes City Center for charging station Read more
Parma City Council honors city supporter Chester ‘Chet’ Withrow with council chamber plaque Read more
Seven Hills City Council unanimously votes Ward 1′s Kiriazis as new president Read more
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