  What you need to know Monday, Oct. 11, 2021  WEATHER
Days will continue to feel summer-like. Today will feature mostly sunny conditions and highs around 83 degrees, with a south wind blowing about 11 mph. The night’s low will be around 65 with partly cloudy skies. Read more.
OVERNIGHT
Coal plant: While state lawmakers have repealed a controversial $1 billion-plus bailout of two Ohio nuclear power plants passed under House Bill 6, another part of the scandal-ridden law still on the books is expected to cost Ohio ratepayers even more money to subsidize two 1950s-era coal plants in Ohio and Indiana. Jeremy Pelzer reports some state lawmakers are pushing to eliminate the subsidies, which a recent study found could cost Ohioans a total of $1.8 billion by 2030, there currently isn’t enough support in the Republican-dominated state legislature to pass such a repeal.
Cleveland cable: Cleveland City Council raised eyebrows recently when, after a single committee hearing, it voted to earmark $20 million in stimulus funds for an ambiguous plan to expand broadband access in the city. Robin Goist reports the last time Cleveland City Council considered a proposal to run wires through neighborhoods to deliver signals into residents’ homes, the measure went through an exhaustive series of council committee meetings and other public hearings before council allocated the money.
Ken Mills: Cuyahoga County’s former jail director Ken Mills was sentenced Friday to nine months in jail for creating what a judge called “inhumane conditions,” reports Cory Shaffer. Retired Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Patricia Cosgrove, who oversaw the case as a visiting judge, said conditions inside the jail while Mills ran it were “horrific.” She also said Mills’ push to regionalize the jail and make money off of inmates made a bad situation in the jail worse.
Ken Johnson: Former Cleveland Councilman Kenneth Johnson, the onetime icon of the Buckeye-Shaker Square neighborhood, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for stealing from the city and federal government. John Caniglia reports U.S. District Judge John Adams ordered Johnson, a 40-year member of Council, to pay more than $700,000 in restitution for a series of schemes he ran from City Hall. A jury convicted him of public corruption charges in July.
THIS WEEK IN THE CLE The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday that plaintiffs in three lawsuits challenging Ohio’s redrawn legislative maps can depose Gov. Mike DeWine and other Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission. And yet, Justice Pat DeWine -- the governor’s son -- sees no conflict of interest in remaining on the case. We’re talking about that paradox and more on This Week in the CLE, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
METRO Home appraisals: In the past, tens of thousands of Cuyahoga County homeowners have taken advantage of the more informal process to try and get their property values lowered. But unlike in in years past, the county is not providing an opportunity for homeowners to informally appeal their most recent property appraisals before attempting the more stringent and time-consuming process of going before the County Board of Revision, reports Eric Heisig. The move comes because of time constraints brought on by the coronavirus pandemic that led to a later-than usual approval from Ohio officials of its tentative parameters as to how properties should be valued this year. Lakefront project: Baiju Shah, the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s chamber of commerce, said Friday that the organization would coordinate public and private engagement with the City of Cleveland’s new effort to create a seamless link between downtown and the Lake Erie waterfront, but would not be taking over leadership of the project. Steven Litt reports that Shah said Greater Cleveland Partnership will take on an assistance role in the project.
Mansfield Frazier: Mansfield Frazier, a community activist intent on improving Cleveland and owner of Chateau Hough winery, died Saturday of liver cancer, reports Cameron Fields. Frazier, who was 78, was a pillar of Cleveland who owned Chateau Hough, founded the nonprofit Neighborhood Solutions and provided a space for formerly incarcerated people to work.
Columbus Day: Columbus Day is observed today, with government offices and schools among those that will be closed for the controversial holiday. Cameron Fields reports on what will be open and closed on the holiday, which is recognized as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some locations.
STATEHOUSE AND POLITICS Government agencies: The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections- with 11,419 people to guard state prisons, office workers and other staff – is the largest state agency by number of employees. Laura Hancock reports on the top 10 government agencies in Ohio by number of employees
COVID Booster rollout: The winter rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines was marked by frustration, crashing websites and too little supply of the shots to meet high demand. Julie Washington reports that this fall, distribution of third vaccine shots is going much smoother, even though care providers are giving vaccines both to people looking to start their vaccine cycle and those eligible for third shots.
COVID deaths: Another 329 Ohio residents died with the coronavirus, according to the Ohio Department of Health on Friday, bringing the week’s total deaths to 546. Laura Hancock reports this week’s deaths are the highest in the past month and come as the surge in cases brought by the delta variant is receding.
COVID roundup: Pfizer is seeking authorization to use its COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11, and the federal government plans to buy $1 billion worth of rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests. Julie Washington reports on Pfizer’s plans and at-home tests in the latest COVID-19 roundup.
COVID timeline: Johnson & Johnson has asked for Food and Drug Administration approval for a booster shot last week. Marc Bona runs down the latest coronavirus news in his weekly recap.
Case numbers: Ohio’s coronavirus cases are continuing to fall, as case numbers were below the 21-day rolling average for about half of last week. Cameron Fields reports that the state’s seven-day case average is 5,090 as of Saturday, down from 7,268 on Sept. 16.
ZIP codes: The highest number of cumulative COVID-19 cases in Northeast Ohio are found in ZIP codes in Medina, North Ridgeville and Painesville. Julie Washington has the list of the of the 10 Northeast Ohio ZIP codes with the most total COVID-19 cases and the number of cases per 100 residents.
CRIME Shooting case: A man who fatally shot three people in separate incidents, including firing a barrage of bullets that killed a 12-year-old boy working at his father’s beauty supply store, will spend up to life in prison with parole eligibility in 29 years. Adam Ferrise reports Marvin Harris, 21, killed all three people in a five-month span in 2017. Cuyahoga County Judge John O’Donnell handed down the sentence Friday.
Woodmere shooting: A call about a man sitting outside a Woodmere mall while holding a gun led to him being shot by a police officer following a foot chase, police said. Kaylee Remington reports authorities have not released the name of the officer who shot the man Thursday near the Eton Mall. Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation spokesman Steve Irwin told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer Thursday evening that the officer who shot the man was from the Orange Village Police Department.
ENTERTAINMENT Amanda King: Amanda King, an influential Cleveland artist, activist, and advocate for social justice achieves compelling moments in her first solo exhibition, on view at Karamu House through Oct. 22. Steven Litt writes that King communicates outrage, passion and hope with a restrained minimal approach. She could shout, but she chooses to whisper, which makes you lean in and listen.
Cambodian art: The Cleveland Museum of Art is working with Cambodia, aiming to return artworks and forge agreements on exhibitions and research, rather than fighting legal battles over art ownership. Steven Litt reports the latest fruit of Cleveland’s win-win approach will be unveiled Sunday, Nov. 14, when the museum debuts “Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia’s Sacred Mountain,’’ a exhibition featuring an astonishing new reconstruction of its fragmented, 7th- century sandstone statue of “Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan.’’
Induction week: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will kick off Induction Week with its biggest Celebration Day yet on Oct. 24. Troy Smith reports the event, sponsored by PNC, will feature a full day of activities, including free live music, fireworks, showcases for local businesses on the Rock Hall’s plaza, and free admission to the museum for Ohio residents.
On My Block: The last season of the popular Netflix series, “On My Block,” is here. The show’s stars, including Jason Genao, Jessica Marie Garcia, Diego Tonoco, Brett Gray, Sierra Capri and Julio Macias, took a friendship test to see how well they know one another for cleveland.com’s sister site, Glamour.
House of the Week: If your wish list for a house includes an exterior with cool 1980s vibes, an updated modern interior and a secluded setting in the woods, 75 Cableknoll Lane in Moreland Hills ticks all of those boxes. Priced at $1,350,000, the home sits on two acres and boasts four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, reports Joey Morona.
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