You’ve probably noticed the haze in the air these past few days, with gray sky, pink sunsets and a big orange moon. They may be pretty, but they’re the result of smoke from Canadian wildfires. Canada is contending with one of its worst years ever for wildfires, which have raged from Alberta in the west to Nova Scotia on the Atlantic Ocean. The smoke is swirling over thousands of miles, creating health problems across a swath of the United States, including New York City. We’re on day 18 without rain, which would clean the air and wash away the particulates, as well as ground-level ozone and pollen. -- Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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A midday map from firesmoke.ca on Tuesday shows concentrations of PM2.5 smoke particles at ground level from wildfires in Canada. (firesmoke.ca) |
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Air quality: Cleveland is well into its third week without any rain and now it has smoke from Canadian wildfires to contend with. Peter Krouse reports the region’s air quality has seen better days thanks to dry, stagnant conditions across Northeast Ohio, leading to an increase in dust and elevated levels of ground-level ozone. Cuyahoga jail: Cuyahoga County officials haven’t publicly disclosed locations they’re eyeing for a new county jail, but Cleveland already seems to be mounting opposition against one of the top contenders on the county’s “short list” of favorites: Garfield Heights. City Councilman Kevin Conwell called on his colleagues Monday night to join him in opposing moving the jail to Garfield Heights “or anywhere outside of the city of Cleveland,” reports Kaitlin Durbin. College legislation: Colleges say legislation passed by the Ohio Senate last month to make sweeping changes to rules around alleged political bias or the teaching of “controversial beliefs” will shoulder them with new costs and lost revenues, reports Jake Zuckerman. Schools say the bill would cost them hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to comply. Some worry that they could also lose tens of millions of dollars in federal grants that consider applicants’ diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Many expect lawsuits. Today in Ohio: Ohio officials acknowledge they made a mistake in the ballot language they wrote summarizing State Issue 1, the proposal to make it more difficult to change the state constitution. But they say it doesn’t matter. We’re talking about misleading voters on Issue 1 on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
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Budget plan: Ohio Senate Republicans’ two-year budget plan, unveiled Tuesday, would establish universal eligibility for some portion of publicly funded school vouchers for K-12 private schools and make major cuts to state income tax and commercial activity tax rates. Jeremy Pelzer reports the Senate’s state budget would create a $1 billion back-to-school sales tax holiday for two weeks at the beginning of August next year. Additionally, it would remove House-added budget items that would provide $62 million for a Cleveland “land bridge” connecting Cleveland’s downtown and lakefront and offer more sports gambling facilities in the state. Tracking device: An Ohio Senate committee passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday that creates a new criminal charge of using a device or app to track a person without their consent. Jake Zuckerman reports the bill comes in response to the advent of devices like Apple AirTags – coin-sized gizmos that can be attached to car keys or luggage to find if they’re lost. Medical marijuana: Ohio’s licensed medical marijuana growers say patient numbers in the state’s program appear to almost have peaked and with new grow space in the past two years, there’s now an oversupply of marijuana. One grower has said his unsold inventory is approaching expiration, but he’s unable to sell at a level that would recover his costs to produce it, reports Laura Hancock. Issue 1: Ohioans will vote Aug. 8 on State Issue 1, deciding whether to make it more difficult to approve future amendments to the state constitution. Andrew Tobias explains what you need to know to vote. |
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Downtown CLE: The city of Cleveland and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance laid out a “Reimagining Downtown Cleveland” plan Tuesday aimed at revitalizing the area over the next five years to help make downtown a “15-minute” city. Megan Sims reports that means a full concentration of places for people to live, work and play within a 15-minute walk. City improvement: Cleveland City Council has approved spending $30 million on a program to improve roadways, calm traffic, improve parks and more, reports Lucas Daprile. The infrastructure project, dubbed “Back to Basics,” comes from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act money and was increased from the previously proposed amount of $20 million during a Monday committee meeting. 'Antiques Roadshow': All across Northeast Ohio, attics were rummaged through, basements were cleaned out, closets were checked. And Tuesday, with cameras rolling, we all learned something: Folks like to save and collect old stuff. Marc Bona reports that thousands lined up at an “Antiques Roadshow” tour stop at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron. Wasp stings: A swarm of stinging insects takes the fun out of gardening in a hurry — and also can be dangerous. If wasps are building a nest in your raised bed container, the time to act is now, writes Susan Brownstein. CSU: Cleveland State University provided a $3 billion economic lift to Northeast Ohio and the state in fiscal year 2021-22, according to a study by Lightcast, a labor market analytics company. Megan Sims reports the study, which analyzed student and financial data, found that the public college, with a large presence in downtown Cleveland, supported 36,843 jobs in Northeast Ohio. New housing: The City of Cleveland has approved plans for investing roughly $50 million in new housing throughout the city. Lucas Daprile reports the dollars will help provide better housing for those who are homeless, affordable housing and market-rate housing. The city received 91 bids for projects and sorted them into three categories. Restaurant inspections: More than 2,000 food places outside Akron in Summit County were cited for health violations during the most recent inspection year. But more than half of the cited locations received less than 10 citations. Zachary Smith reports the top spot was cited with 87 violations. Cleveland’s Promise: Almira Elementary School’s two secretaries are often referred to as “Batman and Robin.” Hannah Drown reports the pair are tasked with answering the main phone line, tracking students who are tardy, coordinating payroll and checking in visitors, amongst other traditional front-office secretarial duties. But they say it’s the off-script part of their roles that keeps them on their toes and fills their hearts. Keeping it Real: Can you go to an open house even if you have no interest in buying? Yadi Rodriguez says why not? Satisfy that curiosity you may have about the house that just went up for sale on your street or in your neighborhood. |
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Fortune 500: The 2023 Fortune 500 list is out and 10 Northeast Ohio companies have made the cut, reports Sean McDonnell. |
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Browns' cars: Two Cleveland Browns players had their cars stolen over the weekend, one of them at gunpoint, reports Molly Walsh. Six masked men jumped out of a vehicle, robbed Greg Newsome II and stole his car early Monday morning. Running back Demetric Felton reported his car was also stolen from downtown this weekend. The thieves found something else valuable in Felton's vehicle: his helmet. It was thrown out of a car window at Browns Stadium, report Walsh and John Tucker. |
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Matchbox Twenty: Matchbox Twenty -- whose 1996 debut “Yourself or Someone Like You” was a 12-times platinum smash -- last toured in 2017. In the meantime, the quartet hunkered down to not only prepare for this year’s tour but to make its first new album in 11 years. “Where the Light Goes,” which came out May 26, is MB20′s fifth studio set overall and one of its most egalitarian, writes Malcolm X Abram. The group comes to Blossom on June 13. Spaces: Spaces, the small but powerful nonprofit gallery anchored on Cleveland’s West Side, is winning big-time national support for projects staking out an activist role over gay and transgender rights, climate change, and the environment. Steven Litt reports the latest sign of success is being named a winner of a prestigious Joyce Award, the flagship prize offered by the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation. Flats guide: Northeast Ohio summers -- at least the good weather days -- are limited. That’s a great reason to head to the low-lying neighborhood along the east and west banks of the Cuyahoga River for lunch, dinner and/or cocktails. Paris Wolfe has a guide to the best places to eat and drink in the Flats. |
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Rocky River principal under investigation involving former student, placed on leave, district says Read more Teen tries to rob suspected gambling site in Akron, ends up getting shot Read more Cleveland man slain in city’s Brooklyn Centre neighborhood Read more Bratenahl police chase ends with crash, arrest in Cleveland Read more ‘Oh my goodness!’ Driver busted with marijuana on way to pick up Mushroomhead equipment Read more Strongsville obtains property at Ohio 82 & Pearl Road for proposed fire station Read more On the campaign trail, Shaker Citizens for Fair Ticketing file a complaint - against police chief Read more Brecksville gets first look at proposed 15-lot subdivision on site of former school Read more Akron Zoo’s new Chillin’ at the Zoo event features ice-cream tasting Read more Cleveland Heights council OKs $1.1 million security camera expansion Read more Solon sets public hearings on two requests for commercial rezoning, including one for Sheetz Read more |
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