Across the United States, universities are probing their programs, considering conflicts to President Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion. One of Trump’s first executive orders was to ban DEI policies in programs that receive federal money. That net widely covers academia, where institutions rely on federal funding for research grants and projects. The University of Akron announced that during February’s Black History Month, it will cancel the Rethinking Race forum it has held for 28 years. “While the University of Akron offers a variety of events for students and the community, we must do so in the context of a state institution that is required to abide by law, regulations and guidance at both the federal and state levels, from which we receive funding,” the university said. On Monday, a coalition of professors, diversity officers and restaurant worker advocates filed a federal lawsuit to block Trump’s anti-DEI orders. Other Black History Month events on the University of Akron campus will proceed. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. Boston Celtics: Kenny Atkinson doesn’t get answer he wants as Cavs lose to Boston Celtics for second time this season, 112-105 Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Snow and freezing rain expected |
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The University of Akron will host several Black History Month events in the coming weeks, though it will not hold its annual Rethinking Race Forum. (Laura Hancock, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Race forum canceled: The University of Akron will not hold its annual Rethinking Race Forum, which has sought to engage the community with topics related to social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. Megan Becka reports the decision not to hold the forum this year is in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. ICE arrests: Five of the six people arrested last month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at a Cleveland Heights restaurant were expected to be released Tuesday from custody on bond. Adam Ferrise reports the arrests put the suburb on edge as they came during a time when ICE agents across the country began arresting hundreds of people each day after President Donald Trump put arrest quotas in place for agents. Consent decree: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno wants the U.S. Department of Justice to re-examine consent decrees that it has reached over the years to reform police practices in Cleveland and other cities. Sabrina Eaton reports the freshman Westlake Republican is sending a letter to newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi that seeks her views on voluntarily dismissing consent decrees with state and local governments, citing a U.S. Supreme Court precedent on enforcement of consent decrees. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine proposes doubling Ohio’s sports betting tax in his two-year state budget plan. A new commission would award that money to pay for major and minor league sports stadium projects, as well as youth sports programs. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about what that would mean for the Browns' $2.4 billion dream of building a dome in Brook Park. |
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Sports betting: Gov. Mike DeWine’s budget proposal to double Ohio’s tax on sports betting companies’ revenue to fund sports stadium projects – like a proposed new Browns stadium – received a skeptical, though not completely hostile, reaction from state lawmakers on Tuesday. Jeremy Pelzer reports the plan would raise the state’s tax on sports gambling companies’ gross Ohio revenues from 20% to 40%, marking the second time the tax has doubled since sports gambling became legal in Ohio in 2023. State school aid: Nearly a third of Ohio schools this year are receiving additional state aid that Gov. Mike DeWine has proposed trimming as part of an education funding plan in his two-year state budget. Laura Hancock reports the state has distributed the Temporary Transitional Aid Guarantee for decades under its school funding protocols, but DeWine wants to cut the guarantee by nearly $14.3 million, or 5% of current state levels of $285 million. Return to office: State employees’ work from home era ends next month, reports Jake Zuckerman. In an executive order Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine directed all state agencies, boards and commissions under his authority to get employees back in to their “physical office” by March 17. East Palestine: Two years and a day after a train derailment spilled toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, two U.S. Congress members from Ohio are reintroducing bipartisan legislation that they hope will improve safety and prevent future accidents. Sabrina Eaton reports that the “Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act” that Akron Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes is introducing with Salem Republican Rep. Michael Rulli would increase inspections on all trains, strengthen safety-placard requirements to help emergency responders identify hazardous materials, and increase maximum penalties for violations of rail safety regulations, among other measures. Voter records: Ohio’s push for election transparency means voter records — names, addresses and registration status — are now a click away for campaigns, voter outreach or harassment. Anna Staver reports that a new portal for downloading voter data went live Monday on the Secretary of State’s website. Local election boards must update these files by 4 p.m. each day, capturing “daily snapshots” of voters in their counties. |
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Jail cost: Updated plans for Cuyahoga County’s new jail call for spending $890 million on a 1,886-bed complex along Interstate 480 in Garfield Heights. That’s up from the $750 million that had been used as an estimate for nearly three years, Rich Exner reports. MetroHealth lawsuit: MetroHealth’s former president and CEO, Airica Steed, sued the hospital system Monday over her firing, saying officials sought to undermine her “on a consistent basis.” The lawsuit accuses the hospital board of breach of employment, defamation and wrongful discharge in violation of public policy. Team NEO: Six months after former CEO Bill Koehler announced he would be stepping down, Team NEO has named Matt Dolan as its new leader. Megan Sims reports that Team NEO’s board of directors announced the nonprofit’s new CEO in a news release, following what it called a “rigorous and thorough search process.” Carbon monoxide: The Cleveland Division of Fire is seeking donations to supply residents with detectors to prevent deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning, Olivia Mitchell reports. Director returns: Franz Welser-Möst, music director for the Cleveland Orchestra, is making an early return to the podium following a recent medical leave. He will lead an additional subscription week at Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center on Feb. 27-28 and March 1, Paris Wolfe reports. |
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Cancer hub: University Hospitals is constructing a new $39 million regional cancer hub at UH TriPoint Medical Center in Concord Township, reports Julie Washington. The proposed building — along with plans to move cancer care out of UH Conneaut Medical Center and UH Mentor Health Center — is meant to consolidate the health system’s cancer services. Gambling profits: Ohio’s 11 casinos and racinos reported $207.4 million of gambling revenue in December, $9.2 million more than in November and the highest combined gambling revenue in the state since March. Zachary Smith reports the same casinos and racinos generated less revenue than they did this time last year, when they reported $212.1 million in revenue for December. Health trust: Public trust in key federal health agencies has dipped during the past 18 months, continuing a decline that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Julie Washington. About 53% of the public recently said they trust the Food and Drug Administration to make the right recommendations on health issues at least “a fair amount,” down from 65% in June 2023, a KFF poll found. IBM building: The IBM Building on Cedar Avenue, known both for being relatively new and consistently empty, is going to find new life as offices and a research facility — with help from Cleveland’s incentives. Sean McDonnell reports that Canon Healthcare USA Inc. has plans to buy the IBM Building and to transform the facility into a state-of-the-art imaging and research center. |
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Miller v. Moreno: A police report says that U.S. Rep. Max Miller called police on New Year’s Eve to report that his wife refused to leave his Rocky River home amid their ongoing divorce proceedings, reports Lucas Daprile. I-480 death: A man who was found dead on Interstate 480 had been shot in his car hours before his body was discovered, newly released video shows. Bedford Heights police found Johndiel Sanchez Rivera, 19, in his car, which crashed on the westbound berm of the highway near Aurora Road, reports Olivia Mitchell. Suspect escapes: A man being arrested Monday on a warrant for multiple felony charges managed to escape from Elyria police while still wearing handcuffs. Cliff Pinckard reports that police say Donte Jamar Parker II, 23, had not been found as of late Tuesday night. Animal cruelty: Two Euclid residents were charged with animal cruelty involving the treatment of a pit bull that needed to be euthanized. A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Trevonte Epps, 23, and Dazia Chuppa, 18, and accused them of mistreating Duke, a tan mix pit bull. |
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Ask Yadi: Is it OK to email feedback to a restaurant, like when you buy a bad batch of soup? Absolutely you should say something, says Yadi Rodriguez. Hot Dog Diner: Hot Dog Diner & Burger Co. will close its location in Parma this weekend after 25 years there, reports Alex Darus. The family-owned fast-food joint plans to move to a new location on Cleveland’s West Side, which it will announce at a later date. It’s not clear if it will remain in Parma. Siren’s Curse: Cedar Point officials on Tuesday revealed additional details about the park’s new tilt coaster, Siren’s Curse, which is expected to debut in early summer. Susan Glaser reports the ride’s signature element is a 61-foot-long piece of track that shifts (“tilts”) 90 degrees, holding riders vertical for as long as 10 seconds as they look straight down. Devo: De-evolution is real and so still, is Devo, the band that dreamt up the concept and who will be hitting the road this spring and summer on their “DEVO: 50 Years of De-Evolution ... Continued” tour. Malcolm X Abram reports it will include a stop at Temple Live on May 11. R&B: The Western Reserve Historical Society and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame are teaming up on a special event for Black History Month celebrating R&B music. Joey Morona reports the event will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Cleveland History Center. Chuck Kyle: Former St. Ignatius High School football coach Chuck “Chico” Kyle became a local sports legend, leading the Wildcats to 11 state championships and four national titles in his 40-year career. But his impact extends far beyond Northeast Ohio, reports Joey Morona. That’s the subject of “The Object of the Game,” an upcoming documentary from filmmaker Matt Waldeck. Seafood bar: Seafood lovers will soon get a taste of the East Coast with a new restaurant in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood from the folks at Kate’s Fish at the West Side Market. Tom McIntyre, owner of Kate’s Fish, has dreamed of opening a blue-collar seafood bar at the West Side Market for years, reports Alex Darus. McIntyre was inspired by traveling to the East Coast and eating at no-frills seafood shacks. Cheeseboards: Learn about locally made, artisan cheeses and gather tips on composing cheeseboards at “Falling in Love with Cheese & Crackers” at PurpleBrown Farm Store in Peninsula, reports Paris Wolfe. The store, which specializes in local farm and artisan products, is holding the social event from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday. Chuck Prophet: Ask Chuck Prophet what brought him to Cumbia (Latin folk rock with flair) music and you “figure out right quick” why he picked the profession he’s in. Peter Chakerian reports that the singer-songwriter and former Clevelander spins an incredible yarn about landing on such celebratory sounds. Pop culture: Mentor is set to host its inaugural Pop Culture Show in June, reports Marc Bona. Various aspects of popular culture will be on display, from movies, comic books, trading cards, video games, toys, anime, vintage clothing, vinyl records and more. |
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Cleveland Heights residents speak out on ICE raid at Cilantro Taqueria Read more Cost of North Royalton senior center project continues to rise Read more Cedar-Lee garage reopening date still to be determined after Marquee fire in Cleveland Heights Read more See the massive ice dam that has formed on the Rocky River (photos, video) Read more Ohio pediatric hospital bolsters care with virtual nursing program Read more $1.3 million kitchen remodel on menu at North Royalton Middle School Read more Fire destroys two cars in garage at Solon home; no injuries reported Read more Lakewood High School lockdown ends with student’s arrest Read more Medina seeks proposals for 2025 Community Development Block Grant Read more |
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