  What you need to know Wednesday, July 14, 2021  WEATHER
There might be a break from the rain today, with forecasters calling for partly sunny skies and highs in the low 80s. Temps will stay in the low 70s overnight with partly cloudy skies, setting up a very hot Thursday. Read more. OVERNIGHT
Transplant error: University Hospitals’ transplant program might come under federal review following an error that led to a patient receiving a kidney intended for another person. Julie Washington reports UH on Tuesday did not release any information publicly to detail what may have went wrong, when the surgery took place, whether the organ was from a deceased person or living donor, or the expected delay for the patient still awaiting a transplant. National standards call for numerous checks to ensure such an error doesn’t occur.
Asphalt plant: The nonprofit behind a proposed construction school along Cleveland’s Opportunity Corridor has dropped its controversial plan to build concrete and asphalt plants on the site. Eric Heisig reports Norm Edwards and Fred Perkins are instead exploring such operations “in a location that is next to other comparable assets,” but still want to build the Construction Opportunity Institute of Cleveland on the nearly completed boulevard between East 79th and East 83rd streets.
Indians' lease: As the Cleveland Indians and local officials negotiate extending the team’s lease of Progressive Field, Gov. Mike DeWine says he’s asked state lawmakers to consider appropriating state funding to renovate the 27-year-old ballpark. Jeremy Pelzer reports that DeWine is not involved with day-to-day negotiations, but said it appears that the Indians are “moving toward” a 15-year lease extension, with the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County getting the option of two additional five-year extensions after that.
HB6: A federal bankruptcy judge on Tuesday gave a prominent law firm until October to provide information about the firm’s lobbying work on behalf of Energy Harbor to help pass House Bill 6. Jeremy Pelzer reports the company predicted it wouldn’t need more time than that to reveal the information – which has already been collected and signed. The company’s lawyer told the judge that such information shouldn’t be made public until after the U.S. attorney’s office can “get the information it wants.”
Microgrid: Cuyahoga County cannot establish a microgrid unless the city where the grid would be located explicitly grants the county permission to do so, according to a legal opinion from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Courtney Astolfi reports the opinion adds a new hurdle to County Executive Armond Budish’s efforts to establish microgrids throughout the county as backup power supplies for businesses that want a constant stream of electricity.
Homeless hotel: In a few days, more than 100 homeless men will leave the Ramada Inn in Independence after Mayor Gregory Kurtz called upon Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish to remove them last month. Leila Atassi reports that Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, which runs homeless shelters for the county and had been contracting with private hoteliers to provide emergency housing during the pandemic, is working to transform the men’s shelter at 2100 Lakeside Ave. downtown to safely accommodate the influx of residents at a time when variants of the coronavirus remain in circulation and social distancing is still a priority.
Civilian appeal: The Civilian Police Review Board on Tuesday appealed Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams’ decision to issue written discipline against only two police officers involved in the late-2019 pursuit that resulted in the death of 13-year-old Tamia Chappman. Adam Ferrise reports the board appealed Williams’ decision to clear Lt. Gregory Farmer of any wrongdoing in supervising the chase and to issue only a written letter of reinstruction to Sgt. Michael Chapman, the pursing officers’ direct supervisor. Cleveland Safety Director Karrie Howard will now review the case and make his own decision, which will be final.
Consumer privacy: New legislation backed by Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted would create consumer privacy standards for companies that collect or sell Ohioans’ consumer data, Andrew Tobias reports. The proposed law change would create privacy rights for consumers, requiring companies to disclose how they use consumer data and, in instances where it’s sold to a third party, give consumers the right to opt out of the sale. Consumers could also ask a company to delete their data and file a complaint with the state if they think their data is being misused.
Vaccine incentives: On the heels of his Vax-a-Million sweepstakes, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that his administration will roll out a new statewide COVID-19 vaccine incentive initiative, Jeremy Pelzer reports. DeWine, speaking with reporters Tuesday, declined to offer details, though he hinted that the new program will award more prizes of smaller amounts of money in a way that offers vaccinated Ohioans better odds of winning. The new initiative will be unveiled “sometime in the next week or so.”
Airport funding: The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday awarded Cleveland nearly $32.75 million to combat the spread of pathogens at Cleveland Hopkins International and Burke Lakefront airports. Cleveland was awarded nearly $32.6 million to provide economic relief for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens including the coronavirus at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, Robert Higgs reports. The city was awarded another $148,000 for similar use at Burke.
Unemployment: Ohio’s unemployment benefits office announced Tuesday it’s started to notify residents accidentally overpaid during the pandemic that they can apply for a waiver to avoid repaying the money. Jeremy Pelzer reports the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is sending letters and emails about the waivers to Ohioans told they had to repay the state for benefits they were mistakenly given either because of an error by state officials or their employers.
Post office: Postal delivery woes continue to plague Northeast Ohio, with nearly one-third of all single-piece first-class mail experiencing some delay, Alexis Oatman reports. The delays have become a defining characteristic of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s tenure. And Northeast Ohio U.S. Reps. Bob Gibbs, Anthony Gonzalez, and Bob Latta are demanding answers.
Chief suspended: The Kirtland City Council suspended police Chief Lance Nosse for 30 days without pay pending the outcome of a termination hearing scheduled Friday over a series of allegations including drinking while using a city-owned vehicle in April, according to the city law director. Kaylee Remington reports the allegations against Nosse were contained in a letter sent to his home Wednesday from Kirtland Mayor Kevin Potter. The letter also accuses Nosse of sexual, ethnic and racial harassment.
Biden visit: President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Cincinnati next week to hold a televised town-hall meeting. During the July 21 event, which will be broadcast live by CNN, Biden is “expected to focus on a wide range of issues facing the nation ranging from COVID-19 to the economy,” Jeremy Pelzer reports.
East vs. west: According to data from the Cuyahoga County fiscal officer, the median home values in the county’s western suburbs are more than $50,000 higher than in the eastern suburbs. Eric Heisig reports that from Lakewood to Bay Village and south, the median home value is $160,400. From Euclid to Chagrin Falls and everything in between, that number was $109,300, based on 2020 property values used for 2021 tax bills.
Body language: Former FBI agent and body language expert Joe Navarro is back to explain why we feel they way we do about certain types of body language for cleveland.com’s sister site, Wired. Why do we shake hands, and why does a bad handshake turn us off so much?
Film commission: The Greater Cleveland Film Commission has named Bill Garvey as its new president, succeeding Evan Miller, who left the organization in December after 18 months on the job. Joey Morona reports Garvey is a television and movie location manager based in Ohio who helped bring movie productions such as “The Fate of the Furious,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Marvel’s The Avengers” to Cleveland.
Akron man spits on prosecutor after jury convicts him of raping developmentally disabled woman Read more
Akron police investigate 2 carjackings at gas stations Read more
Feds, police arrest suspect in slaying of Lorain man Read more
Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools to make mask wearing optional next school year Read more
Two dead, three hurt in three-car crash in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood Read more
Akron Deputy Mayor James Hardy to step down; Sean Vollman named acting deputy mayor for integrated development Read more
Strongsville voters to determine future of town homes-retail project at Ohio 82 and Prospect Road Read more
Orange Schools seeks to determine students’ COVID-19 vaccination status Read more
Brunswick City Council considers banning Airbnb-type businesses Read more
South Euclid council discusses fireworks restrictions after a noisy July 4th weekend Read more
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