Donald Trump is pushing fossil fuels, opposing electric vehicle mandates and planning to loosen regulations on corporations. His pick to lead the EPA is Lee Zeldin, a former congressman from New York who opposed the Inflation Reduction Act and has talked of restoring America’s “energy dominance.” So what does Trump’s environmental stance mean for billions of dollars awarded by the Biden administration to combat climate change? Ohio alone secured at least $3.7 billion in federal funding in 2021 and 2022. Northeast Ohio has been the beneficiary of several large climate-related grants in recent months, including $94 million to the Port of Cleveland to electrify its operations and $129 million to a coalition made up of Cuyahoga County, Cleveland and Painesville to put solar arrays on local landfills and add 63 megawatts of electricity to the region. Experts say the new administration likely won't claw back money once contracts are signed and work has begun. But the future of environmental projects is uncertain. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Despite the uncertain flow of federal dollars in the future, it appears many climate-change projects already in the pipeline will move ahead as planned. (Paul Sancya, Associated Press file photo) |
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Environmental grants: The Biden Administration has provided billions of dollars to address climate concerns over the past few years, much of it made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. What will happen when President Trump takes office and both houses of Congress are controlled by Republicans? Peter Krouse reports that current projects likely should be safe from claw-back attempts. Aer Lingus: The financial incentive that helped lure Aer Lingus to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport likely will be extended by a year, possibly in exchange for an expansion of service. Susan Glaser reports the financial incentive, which totaled nearly $12 million over three years, was key to landing new Aer Lingus service between Cleveland and Dublin. Basheer Jones: Federal prosecutors on Monday charged former Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones with corruption-related offenses, reports Adam Ferrise. Authorities say Jones used his title and sway as councilman to get a woman a job at a nonprofit, dupe the agency into giving him $50,000 for a community event that never happened, and pass legislation giving money to nonprofits, money that ultimately ended up in his pocket. Today in Ohio: Property tax relief likely won’t happen during the Ohio General Assembly’s lame-duck session this year, other than a few possible tweaks. We’re talking about property taxes and the legislative year on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Qualified immunity: Attorney General Dave Yost on Monday certified summary language of a proposed state constitutional amendment to end qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields police officers and other government officials accused of wrongdoing while performing their jobs, Jake Zuckerman reports. Intel plant: The Biden administration announced today it is releasing $1.5 billion in long-awaited federal grant money for Intel’s planned computer-chip complex in Ohio. However, senior administration officials also said the money will only go to help build half of the $20 billion semiconductor plant, currently under construction in the Columbus suburb of New Albany, and that the other half of the project now isn’t expected to be completed until after 2030, Jeremy Pelzer reports. EV stations: The Ohio Department of Transportation’s DriveOhio has opened seven new electric-vehicle charging stations, bringing the total of federally funded stations across the state to 13. Laura Hancock reports each new station has at least four ports, equipped with at least 150 kilowatts of power, which can charge most EVs in around 30 minutes. |
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Mismanagement: For the third time in two years, Cuyahoga County’s internal watchdog is accusing the sheriff’s fiscal office of mismanaging public funds, reports Kaitlin Durbin. In the last five years, the report found, the office spent over $815,000 in credit card purchases without proper approval from County Council, including about $5,700 in sales tax that the county office should not have to pay. The department also left $8,000 in potential credit card rewards, the report said. Expanded TSA: The Transportation Security Administration is expanding screening hours at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport by 15 minutes in anticipation of a busy week of holiday travel, reports Susan Glaser. The expanded hours will operate through Monday. New hotels: A local development group plans to build two new hotels, along with two restaurants, across Brookpark Road from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, reports Susan Glaser. The development is slated for about 10 acres of land between the Orbit Hotel and the Aviator restaurant, just north of Cleveland Hopkins and south of I-480. Facade collapse: Shaker Heights City Council is set to approve spending up to $100,000 on emergency safety measures at a historic building on the Shaker Heights-Cleveland border after a portion of the brick façade from a fourth-story roof collapsed onto the sidewalk below in September, Cory Shaffer reports. Free meals: The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is out with a list of hot-meal sites for Thanksgiving week. Marc Bona lists more than a dozen sites, in conjunction with the food bank’s more than 1,000 partner agencies, throughout Northeast Ohio. |
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Home sales: Ten Cuyahoga County homes nabbed at least $1.2 million in October, with the top home sale getting $3.7 million, reports Zachary Smith. The multimillion dollar deal occurred for a property in Gates Mills. The other nine homes that sold for at least $1.2 million were located in Cleveland Heights, Hunting Valley, Moreland Hills, Rocky River and Solon, as well as two each in Chagrin Falls and Shaker Heights. Downtown Heinen’s: Heinen’s second floor of the downtown Cleveland rotunda is closing, the store has announced, reports Marc Bona. As part of the remodeling, which is supposed to be completed in 2025, the wine and beer departments will be moved to the first-floor rotunda. |
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Fatal shooting: Shaker Heights police say two men died in a shooting Sunday at a house party. Nisiah Sanders, 24, of Cleveland and Myron Rainey, 30, of East Cleveland were identified as the victims in the double shooting, Olivia Mitchell reports. Voter fraud: A man who briefly tried to run for Newburgh Heights Village Council in 2023 is accused of illegal voting and submitting fraudulent records to elections officials, Sean McDonnell reports. Todd Knight, of Strongsville, has been charged with illegal voting, election falsification and tampering with records. Arsonist sentenced: An arsonist was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison Monday for threatening to torture and kill prosecutors and judges in Cleveland and Cincinnati, reports Adam Ferrise. Duncan Ray sent letters from his Mansfield prison cell to prosecutors who opposed his early release from prison in an arson case, to the judge who denied the release and to a federal judge in Cleveland who had nothing to do with the case. |
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Ask Lucas: What if your relative makes your family watch internet videos at Thanksgiving? Lucas Daprile writes that perhaps the desire to pull up an internet video stems from the fact that the family is forcing each other to watch a movie that came out when Eisenhower was in office. People nowadays need more audio/visual stimulation than Bing Crosby can provide. Charo: Charo will be bring her brand new variety style show to EJ Thomas Hall at the University of Akron at 7:30 p.m. today, reports Malcolm X Abram. Best cookies: From delicate sugar cookies and cutouts, to thumbprints, kolache and so much more, Kiedrowski’s, Fragapane’s and Wojtila’s bakeries make the season brighter for you, our readers, one cookie at a time. Winter Warmer: Tickets go on sale Friday for Winter Warmer Fest, reports Marc Bona. The 18th annual beer fest on March 1 is a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, the non-profit lobbying arm for the state’s craft breweries. Holiday things to do: There’s no shortage of ways to embrace the spirit of the season. Whether you’re looking to start a new tradition or revisit cherished ones, Joey Morona has 80 holiday ideas to keep you saying “Ho, ho, ho!” all the way through the New Year. |
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Man shoots person in dispute over potato chips, will spend at least 9 years in prison Read more Teen will serve at least 15 years in prison for role in fatal shooting over shoes Read more Shooting in Akron wounds 14-year-old boy Read more Medina receives grant to survey former Sunoco site Read more Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank kicks off Holiday Campaign amid record demand for groceries Read more Shaker councilman proposes new ‘youth sports administrator’ collaboration with school district Read more Bay Village Schools superintendent shares State of the District Read more Chagrin Falls prepares for snow with new equipment and urges residents to clear sidewalks Read more Brunswick High School construction project on time and on budget Read more |
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