Three times this past summer, Edgewater Beach closed when rainwater overwhelmed the combined sewer system and spewed millions of gallons of raw sewage into Lake Erie. The combined sewer outfall at the beach dates back to the late 1880s and in the 1970s led to 40 to 50 overflows per year from the giant pipe at the western end of the beach. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District aims to reduce pollution in Lake Erie by 4 billion gallons a year as part of a consent decree with the federal EPA. In engineering a $3 billion system of holding tanks and tunnels, the district relied on 45 years of rainfall records ending in 1993 to create a “typical year of synthetic rainfall.” The typical year was then used as a baseline. But as climate change leads to wetter weather and more “big microbursts of precipitation,” will the new tunnels be able to handle the more intense rainstorms? Consider this: What was once a 1-in-100-year storm in Cuyahoga County is now considered a 1-in-26-year storm. -Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Cavs at Boston Celtics: Cavs see difference between them and title-contending Boston Celtics in 120-113 loss Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and cold |
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The combined sewer outfall at Edgewater Beach that can be activated during heavy rains. (Peter Krouse, cleveland.com file photo) |
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Sewage overflow: As climate change has resulted in what climatologists have said are more intense storms, are the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s tunnels designed to a standard that will adequately serve their intended purpose? Peter Krouse looks into the issue. Corky & Lenny’s: When Northeast Ohio’s treasured, 67-year-old Jewish deli closed its doors in the middle of Hannukah, it opened a flood of memories. A mostly shocked Jewish community was quick to recall food and family experiences at Corky & Lenny’s both at Cedar Center and in Woodmere Village. Paris Wolfe and Peter Chakerian report the deli first opened on Cedar Road in 1956, with the eastern Chagrin Boulevard expansion in 1973. Today in Ohio: Secretary of State Frank LaRose finally filed a mandatory campaign finance disclosure that shows he and his wife own assets worth somewhere between $800,000 to $1.9 million. We’re talking about how that doesn’t reflect the regular Ohioan vibe LaRose aims to project on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Affordable housing: Applications open next month for a new program designed to build or repurpose more affordable housing units in the state, reports Jake Zuckerman. Over the next two years, developers statewide can tap into $150 million to deliver a projected 2,150 affordable, single-family living units to the market. Crew fields: The panel that oversees the Ohio State Fair in Columbus has voted to lease additional state land to the Columbus Crew professional soccer team for construction of new practice fields, reports Andrew Tobias. The Ohio Expositions Commission has voted to allow the Crew to use an additional 8.8 acres of land near the Historic Crew Stadium, now owned by a public authority and used by the Crew for its minor-league developmental affiliate, as well as for concerts and other events. Marijuana changes: An Ohio native who led the marijuana regulation program in Los Angeles for five years told lawmakers Tuesday morning that directing cannabis tax revenue to law enforcement sends the wrong message. Laura Hancock reports that the House Finance Committee met to consider House Bill 354, which changes how revenues are distributed from the 10% point-of-sale tax to be collected at dispensaries. |
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Climate Mayors: Mayor Justin Bibb has been chosen as chair of Climate Mayors, a national organization of mayors who are focused on tackling climate change at the local level. Courtney Astolfi reports Bibb laid out several climate priorities for Cleveland in 2024, including an expansion of the EV charging network, more renewable energy use at city buildings, and the creation of a long-term decarbonization plan. Ashtabula census: Ashtabula County officially joined Cleveland’s metropolitan area in July, becoming the newest addition to the five counties that have long been classified for federal purposes as Cleveland metro. Zachary Smith delves into the new five-year estimates with the latest American Community Survey that breaks down the county. Microgrids: Cuyahoga County has taken the next step in developing its own electric utility to provide energy security to customers through the use of renewable energy, reports Peter Krouse. County Council last week approved a 10-year contract with Compass Energy Platform of Los Angeles to design and finance the utility’s microgrid, which are small, electricity-producing systems that are connected to the larger grid but can operate independently. Bullying: A 13-year-old boy died by suicide earlier this month and his family and parents of his classmates say they believe bullying played a role. Molly Walsh reports that the school canceled classes Thursday because of the boy’s death. A “Stop the Bullying” rally will take place at 6 p.m. Friday. Gardening gifts: If giving a gift to a gardener is on your to-do list, Susan Brownstein has a few suggestions to help you shop local. |
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Carl Icahn: Activist investor Carl Icahn no longer owns enough FirstEnergy shares to control any of the company’s board seats, reports Sean McDonnell. His firm Icahn Group and its affiliates now own less than 1.5% of FirstEnergy’s common shares, according to an SEC filing from the utility. Sportsbooks: Ohio’s legal sports gambling industry is almost a year old. And while Ohioans have bet just under $6 billion through October, many companies that hold sports-betting licenses have yet to fully get in the game. Sean McDonnell reports that the Cavaliers, Browns and the Hall of Fame Village each have separate licenses for both in-person and mobile betting, but each is only offering one or the other. Gas prices: In Ohio, the average price per gallon dipped under $3 the week of Nov. 27 — three weeks ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information. Sean McDonnell reports the streak is already beating last winter, when the price per gallon only dipped under $3 for two weeks in December 2022. |
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OSU coach carjacked: An Ohio State football coach was the victim of a carjacking Monday near Ginn Academy that resulted in a police chase and the arrests of four youths, report Nathan Baird, Adam Ferrise and Molly Walsh. The assistant coach was not harmed in the incident, which was part of a carjacking spree by four youths, ages 15 to 18. Carjacking suspects: The four suspects arrested in the carjacking of an Ohio State assistant football coach have been linked to violent robberies across the city in recent weeks, reports Molly Walsh. Authorities said the suspects stole Keenan Bailey’s Dodge Durango at gunpoint Monday while he was at Ginn Academy on East 162nd Street recruiting players. Kidnapping: Three Cleveland men are accused of stealing a Jeep at gunpoint downtown and kidnapping its owner, reports Adam Ferrise. Lavontay Johnson, Anton Woodley and Cashaun Woodley are charged in federal court in Cleveland with carjacking and kidnapping. Drug ring: A Cleveland man agreed to a 17.5-year prison sentence Tuesday after he admitted to running a large-scale drug ring from his Youngstown cell block, reports Adam Ferrise. Charles Daniels, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal drugs and four counts of using a phone in the commission of drug crime. Solon HR director: The former human resources director for the city of Solon was found guilty of assault last week stemming from an altercation with a city employee in September. Court records show Yolanda Guzman, 55, entered a no-contest plea to the charge, a first-degree misdemeanor, on Dec. 5, Molly Walsh reports. Wrong-way crash: A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted a Cleveland man and accused him of stealing a delivery van and leading police on a chase before crashing on Interstate 90 and killing a doctor, Molly Walsh reports. |
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DineDrinkCLE podcast: Alex Darus, Josh Duke and Paris Wolfe talk donuts, marijuana and more on the latest podcast episode. WinterLand: A trio of events has been added to the WinterLand lineup downtown to include family-friendly events, including pop-up snow days, reports Marc Bona. Music census: The team responsible for the Greater Cleveland Music Census that launched last month is making one final push for participation, reports Peter Chakerian. Creatives, presenters, industry (and tangential) professionals have been encouraged to participate by visiting clevelandrocksppf.org/census. CLE Ballet: A petition calling for the reinstatement of suspended Cleveland Ballet artistic director and co-founder Gladisa Guadalupe will not influence an investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct at the nonprofit dance company, says ballet board chair Michael Frank. Paris Wolfe reports Guadalupe and her husband, Michael Krasnyansky, the ballet’s co-founder and longtime president and CEO, were suspended by the dance company’s board on Nov. 14. The exact nature of the allegations against them is unclear. |
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Parents, pupils urge Strongsville school officials to reinstate fired football coach Read more Male pedestrian dies in hit-and-run in Lake County Read more Orange Board of Education awaits final estimate for Phase 2 of high school refresh Read more Brecksville hires engineering firm to inspect former Central Elementary School building Read more OCER to apply for $7.5 million in state funding to build combined art and senior center Read more Historic downtown Chagrin Falls bridge will receive facelift in 2024 Read more Parma City Schools superintendent discusses emailed threat hoax Read more |
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