Since 1991, Ohio has required a 24-hour waiting period to schedule an abortion. In 1998, the law was updated to require an in-person visit before the period began. In practice, that 24-hour waiting period often stretched to a week as pregnant patients scheduled time off work, travel and childcare, according to clinics. But in November, Ohioans voted overwhelmingly to protect the right of abortion. And last week, in the first ruling on the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment to the Ohio Constitution, a judge struck down the 24-hour rule. “Patients have had to bear the burden of extra time, childcare, travel, and costs with the 24-hour waiting period for far too long,” one clinic director said. Clinics this week began providing abortions without the extra visit. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Picketers protest outside Planned Parenthood's center in Bedford Heights in October 2018. The site is one of two Planned Parenthood facilities in Ohio where the organization offers abortion services.(Robert Higgs, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Same-day abortion: Last Friday, a Franklin County judge issued a ruling blocking the state from enforcing a law that requires those seeking abortions to wait 24 hours before doing so. Andrew Tobias reports that within days, Planned Parenthood and at least one other Ohio medical provider have begun offering same-day abortions in response. Final Four: The women’s Final Four generated $32.9 million for the Greater Cleveland economy in direct spending, Marc Bona reports. The Final Four games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse drew 36,584 fans. Housing help: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has changed his mind on how best to use a sizeable chunk of federal aid that he and City Council set aside for housing projects, reports Courtney Astolfi. Instead of a $10 million down payment assistance program for Cleveland homebuyers, as initially proposed last year, Bibb is now looking to use that money to seed a fund that would be used to give low-interest loans and grants to housing developers. Today in Ohio: Ohio Turnpike drivers are confused by the highway’s new tolling system. So with customer service calls rising, the Turnpike suspended late fees. We’re talking about E-Z Pass not being easy for everyone on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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PUCO: The Ohio Supreme Court disallowed the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s practice of granting itself extra time to reconsider its rulings – a custom that, by one calculation, has cost Ohio ratepayers $273 million since 2009, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Miller/Moreno divorce: U.S. Rep. Max Miller and Emily Moreno Miller, one of Northeast Ohio’s most prominent political power couples, are filing for divorce, Lucas Daprile and Jeremy Pelzer report. Max Miller filed the divorce papers on Tuesday, two years to the day after Miller married Emily Moreno at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Hair relaxers: U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown wants to know why the U.S. Food and and Drug Administration has delayed a rule that would ban formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair products such as chemical hair straighteners that are popular among Black women, reports Sabrina Eaton. |
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Teacher of the Year: A Twinsburg City Schools educator has been awarded the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year honor by Ohio’s State Board of Education. Megan Becka reports that Twinsburg High School English teacher Daneé Pinckney received the award during a ceremony on Thursday. MLK in CLE: Martin Luther King Jr. loved Cleveland because so many Black people from Alabama had settled in the city. As part of a series of stories looking back through Cleveland’s history, with the help of photos and newspaper clippings, Julie Washington reviewed King’s many visits during the 1950s and 1960s. House fire: A 1-year-old girl died and her grandmother was seriously injured Thursday in a fire that destroyed a home on the Cleveland’s East Side. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Holiday traffic: If you’re thinking about hitting the road to be part of what is predicted to be a big holiday weekend for travel, consider avoiding this evening. Based on information from the transportation data company INRIX, AAA says Thursday and Friday evenings likely will be the busiest times on the road, Megan Sims reports. Deadly crash: A crash Thursday afternoon killed two people on Interstate 90 and restricted westbound traffic near the Euclid-Cleveland line for hours. Euclid Police Capt. Mitch Houser said the crash near East 200th Street. Summer Camp for Grown-ups: Deep breaths greeted the smell of wild flowers and fresh water cooling Molly Walsh’s hands and feet, which sometimes would be surprised by a tangle of seaweed as she took off on her low-stakes, nature-packed adventure. She floated the Cuyahoga River on her Summer Camp for Grown-ups adventure. Ohio drought: Drought conditions have continued to worsen in Ohio, with dry conditions in Ohio spreading despite a few weeks of improvements. Zachary Smith reports two counties in southern Ohio are in drought levels not seen in Ohio since U.S. Drought Monitor records began in 2000. Paralympic police officer: Most days, Byron Branch works the streets for the Dayton Police Department. But for about a week in Paris, he’s trying to claim the title of best paralympic fencer in the world. Jake Zuckerman reports that Branch, 40, got into fencing in high school and stayed with what was once just a niche hobby as an adult. |
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COVID cases: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio took a large leap this week, from 8,352 last week to 10,418, reports Julie Washington. This week saw the weekly case number climb over the 10,000 mark for the first time since January. It also was the 13th straight week that the case number has increased, continuing an upward swing that began in early June. Mortgage rates: The Federal Reserve looks like it’s ready to start cutting rates and mortgage rates are dropping in anticipation, reports Sean McDonnell. The average rate Thursday on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.35%, down from 6.46% a week ago. Chain Reaction: Three Cleveland businesses will share in Cleveland Chain Reaction’s $70,000 prize money. Cleveland Chain Reaction is an economic development project and small-business pitch competition, operated by Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Council of Smaller Enterprises, reports Paris Wolfe. |
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Fentanyl deaths: A Cleveland man is accused of selling fentanyl to two men who died from using the drug during a one-week span. Kendale Ware, 23, was charged Wednesday in federal court in Cleveland with three counts of drug trafficking and two sentencing enhancements for causing the death of two people in November 2022, Adam Ferrise reports. Death investigation: Officials are investigating the death of a Cleveland man who suffered injuries Tuesday at a gas station across the street from Warrensville Heights High School. The office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner said Mahlyk Williams, 22, was taken to South Pointe Hospital after the incident and later transferred to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he died. |
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Ask Yadi: Can you sit in priority seating in a bus or airport if the seats are empty? Yadi Rodriguez writes that if you sit there, just pay attention to your surroundings and offer it to someone in need or automatically get up and move to another seat. Solstice: Solstice in Lakewood has seemingly permanently closed after less than a year in business, reports Alex Darus. Solstice took over the space at 14310 Detroit Ave., replacing Deagan’s Kitchen and Bar, which was open for 13 years. Women’s Orchestra: The Cleveland Women’s Orchestra opens its 90th anniversary concert season in November with a featured violinist, reports Paris Wolfe. The season runs through the end of April, when the orchestra will collaborate with The Cleveland Opera. Grogapalooza: The Grog Shop and B-Side Lounge have teamed up with local promoter Byron Bruce for the first (ideally annual) Grogapalooza! Malcolm X Abram reports the three-day palooza will feature a packed lineup of live and mostly local music makers, and a special preview screening of the locally shot and produced horror film “Stalker Jane,” starring Halo Kitsch. Chagrin theater: The opening show of the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is a homecoming of sorts. The community theater will kick off its 95th season on Sept. 20 with “Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End.” Joey Morona reports the play was written by Allison and Margaret Engel, identical twins and 1969 graduates of Chagrin Falls High School. Aperol spritz: Before we fully succumb to the fall season, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the taste of summer with a spritz. Alex Darus rounded up 15 aperitif liqueur options besides Aperol perfect for making a spritz. Music census: The CLE Music Census is in and venues say there’s a “strong interest” in support and representation for the music ecosystem at the city or county level, along with a desire for more opportunities for artist performance, including festivals, reports Peter Chakerian. |
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Northeast Ohio road construction: Center Street Bridge to have brief closures Read more Cleveland Heights’ charter remains under review, with sights on next year’s ballot Read more Lakewood council committee to review applications for Ward 2 seat Read more Newly named Orange Community Farmers Market set for Sept. 7 Read more Solon superintendent shares safety and security update Read more Seven Hills adding automated locks to new park amenities Read more Parma Heights presents ‘Move with the Mayor’ exercise program Read more Is the second time the charm? Fairview Park City Schools unveils new website redesign Read more |
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