Ohio taxpayers subsidized $970 million in private school tuition last year after the state expanded voucher eligibility to include families of all income levels. Ohio, like several other Republican states, followed Arizona when it became the first state to adopt universal school choice in 2022. President Trump wants to expand the practice throughout the United States. This week he accused public schools of failing students, based on Wednesday’s results of the Nation’s Report Card. Those grades are based on state standardized tests — which private school students don’t take. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs vs. Atlanta Hawks: Cavs continue their redemption arc by trouncing the Hawks, 137-115 Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Rain and snow this weekend, then sunshine |
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| Yoga instructor Sara Kelly runs through a breathing and stretching exercise in the fifth-grade classroom of teacher Mary Hejnal at Almira Elementary School. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com) |
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Voucher order: President Donald Trump’s new executive order may not deliver sweeping changes to Ohio’s already robust school voucher program and charter schools, but school choice proponents say it could bring financial benefits for the state and families, reports Laura Hancock. ICE arrests: Immigration lawyers in Northeast Ohio say clients are flooding phone lines, shaken up by recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests here and across the country. Lucas Daprile and Olivia Mitchell report the fear over President Donald Trump’s ramped-up immigration enforcement can be compounded by an opaque legal process and little to no information on who is arrested, where and for what. Joann: As Hudson-based fabric and craft retailer Joann faces bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year, it is warning of potential layoffs for more than 1,000 Northeast Ohio workers, reports Megan Sims. In paperwork submitted to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services over the past two weeks, Joann said up to 661 jobs at its corporate offices in Hudson could be in jeopardy, along with 359 positions at its Hudson distribution center. Today in Ohio: Less than two years after Ohio voters approved recreational marijuana, Republican legislators are looking to tighten the rules. We’re talking about plants and sharing pot on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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RFK Jr.: Republicans and Democrats on the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his views about vaccinations Thursday as they weighed whether to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Sabrina Eaton reports members of both parties praised Kennedy’s desire to “Make America Healthy Again” by using the post to address chronic health conditions. PUCO nominees: To fill an open seat on a powerful regulatory board that sets residents’ gas and electric prices, a state vetting panel recommended two names: a current commissioner who owns shares of companies that are party to cases he’s slated to rule on and the former CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Jake Zuckerman reports that Lawrence Friedeman, the incumbent Public Utilities Commission of Ohio commissioner since 2017, won supportive votes from all 12 members on the PUCO’s nominating council. So, too, did Joe Roman. |
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Digital C: Nonprofit internet provider Digital C is set to lose $1 million of its $20 million contract with the city of Cleveland after missing its new subscriber goal by 20% in 2024. Digital C, picked by Mayor Justin Bibb to help bridge Cleveland’s digital divide, could have lost $1.75 million based on the performance-based contract it signed with City Council in 2023, reports Sean McDonnell. Waterfront board: The executive director of the St. Clair Superior Development Corp. and a longtime Cleveland real estate developer have been named as board members to the not-for-profit organization set up by the city of Cleveland to oversee waterfront development and activities, reports Rich Exner. Executive race: Cleveland native Tariq K. Shabazz is making another run for Cuyahoga County executive in 2026, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Police commission: Cleveland’s Community Police Commission has been a clear source of tension in City Hall, with infighting among members and delays in fulfilling their mission of police oversight. Sean McDonnell reports eight of nine nominees appeared Wednesday in front of Cleveland City Council to be interviewed during a four-hour meeting. Council did not make any decisions and will discuss the nominations further at another meeting. Deer culling: Cleveland Heights City Council members are mulling whether to undertake a deer culling program in the coming years, reports Cory Shaffer. Four members at Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee hearing agreed that council will hold a public hearing in the coming months to see whether residents would support the city reducing its deer population. Jail payments: Some Cuyahoga County officials have been threatening to kick Cleveland’s detainees out of the jail if the city doesn’t cough up more cash to cover the rising cost of housing them and Mayor Justin Bibb says he’s open to paying a little more – just not as much as the county wants. Kaitlin Durbin reports that Bibb proposed increasing the daily amount that the city pays to detain persons in the county jail from $99 to $143. Joe Jones: Cleveland Councilman Joe Jones released a public apology Thursday afternoon, responding to accusations and a law firm’s investigation that found that he had a history of misconduct that included screaming at staff, touching a council employee’s breast and making inappropriate comments to women. Sean McDonnell reports that without commenting on any specific incident, Jones offered a blanket apology in a statement sent out by a City Council spokesperson. Walking grant: Sheffield Lake and Sheffield Village have been awarded an Ohio Department of Transportation grant to develop safe and accessible walking and biking networks that improve connectivity between neighborhoods, schools, parks and the Lake Erie waterfront, reports Hannah Drown. Drought: A dry week in the Midwest meant that Ohio’s eastern Appalachian counties remained in moderate drought, with the whole state unchanged from the week before, reports Zachary Smith. Crash benefit: Edwins Too in Cleveland is hosting a three-course fundraising dinner dedicated to the U.S. figure skating community and held in honor of the team members who lost their lives Wednesday on American Airlines Flight 5342 in Washington, D.C. Marc Bona reports all net sales from the dinner - which is 6 p.m. Feb. 8 - will be donated to the home skating clubs of those affected. |
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COVID cases: After falling for three weeks in a row, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio moved upward, increasing from 4,474 last week to 5,374 this week, reports Julie Washington. |
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Child abuse: A Rocky River man who admitted to sexually abusing a toddler and possessing child pornography was sentenced Thursday to 35 years behind bars, reports Lucas Daprile. Conner Walker, 21, was accused of abusing a 2-year-old girl, secretly recording a nude 3-year-old and pressuring an 11-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit images at an in-home daycare center in Parma Heights. Dog shot: A Maple Heights police officer responding Thursday to a report of a dog threatening a woman and her daughter ended up shooting the dog when it reportedly charged at the officer. No information was released on the dog’s condition and there were no reports of other injuries, Cliff Pinckard reports. |
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Classic CLE: Brewed with freshly roasted marshmallows, toasted coconut, cocoa nibs and rich English malts, The Baker’s Russian Imperial Stout marks a collaboration beer between the Cleveland Craft Beer Community, Cleveland Chocolate Co. and the brewery. It is perhaps the best pastry stout Peter Chakerian ever quaffed. Vodka CLE: Taste CLE is bringing a Vodka & Martini Gala to Landerhaven event center in Mayfield Heights on Feb. 15, reports Paris Wolfe. Marble Room: Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar received high praise as one of the most romantic date-night restaurants ahead of Valentine’s Day. Alex Darus reports Yelp released a list of 2025’s Top 100 Date Night Restaurants and the downtown Cleveland gem landed at No. 38. Sarasota: Sarasota – hit by back-to-back hurricanes last fall – is faring remarkably well, all things considered, reports Susan Glaser. The city, midway between Fort Myers and Tampa on Florida’s west coast, is a snowbird’s paradise with a little something for everyone – history, culture, dining, shopping and spring-training baseball, alongside some of the world’s best beaches. Anna Maria: Anna Maria Island – located midway between Sarasota and Tampa, but a world apart from either – continues to recover from back-to-back hurricanes that impacted Florida’s entire west coast last fall, reports Susan Glaser. Chagrin Film: Morgan Crawford has been named executive director of the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival. Crawford, who has served as the festival’s director of advancement since 2022, succeeds founder Mary Ann Ponce, reports Joey Morona. Home + Garden: HGTV celebrities Jenny and David Marrs have inspired millions of people during their six seasons of “Fixer to Fabulous” and they plan to share that inspiration at the upcoming Great Big Home + Garden Show in Cleveland, reports Paris Wolfe. Things to do: With the weather warming up ever so slightly across Northeast Ohio, it’s time to get out of the house and have some fun. Luckily, there’s no shortage of events to choose from this weekend, including museum exhibits, theatrical performances, sporting events and more. Joey Morona lists 17 ideas. |
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Car crashes into Highland Heights house, leaving it uninhabitable Read more Woman claims car was stolen and driven onto 8-foot snow mound Read more Cleveland man arrested after buying gun illegally, abandoning stepson, at Berea gun show Read more Medina council approves change to crosswalk ordinance Read more Steven Bordner appointed to Chagrin Falls School Board Read more Beachwood Planning Commission recommends zoning change for Commerce Park site where three apartment buildings are planned Read more Lorain County Sheriff provides civics lesson in the midst of ICE activity Read more Pepper Pike council learns that holding town halls on charter change ballot issue could be ‘problematic’ Read more John Soeder appointed new Ward 3 Parma councilman Read more |
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