What is a lame duck? The first recorded use of the term was in 1761 at the London Stock Exchange, alongside bull and bear, to refer to a stockbroker defaulting on debts. The phrase later morphed into politics to describe politicians in the period between losing their races and finishing their terms. Lame duck at the statehouse occurs at the end of the two-year legislative session, when representatives and senators push through a slew of bills before the year ends. These are long, rushed days where bills often pass without much time for public scrutiny. Separate bills get crammed into noncontroversial legislation to increase the chances that they pass. The cleveland.com team is following all the machinations, starting Wednesday with the transgender bathroom bill. — Laura |
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The Senate had to concur Wednesday on changes made in the Ohio House earlier this the year that wrapped House Bill 183, the bathroom and locker room ban, into the unrelated SB 104. |
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Transgender bathrooms: The Ohio Senate on Wednesday sent Gov. Mike DeWine a bill that started as noncontroversial legislation about college credit for high schoolers that, thanks to an amendment, now includes a ban on transgender students using locker rooms and bathrooms of the gender in which they identify. Laura Hancock reports the ban applies to students in traditional public, charter, STEM and most private schools, and public and nonprofit private colleges and universities and private for-profit career colleges. FirstEnergy depositions: A former FirstEnergy lobbyist who worked closely on the company’s scandal ridden lobbying and self-professed bribery campaign invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination roughly 100 times during a deposition Wednesday. Jake Zuckerman reports that Joel Bailey, a state and federal lobbyist who reported to FirstEnergy’s now-indicted government affairs head Mike Dowling for about 20 years, was questioned under oath in a long-stalled state regulatory investigation into the bribery scheme. Today in Ohio: Is the Browns’ Brook Park plan even viable? We’re talking about the land and the impact on Cleveland if the football team moves on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Government efficiency: Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has been named by President-elect Donald Trump to co-run a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” a move he says removes him from being appointed to Vice President-elect JD Vance’s soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat. Jeremy Pelzer reports that Ramaswamy, a 39-year-old Columbus resident who ran for president, will lead the new department along with billionaire Elon Musk. Opioid grants: Agencies across Ohio will be splitting $68.7 million in grants to combat opioid use and overdoses, reports Molly Walsh. The state is distributing the federal funding, part of the fourth round of the State Opioid and Stimulant Response grants, to support local organizations that offer prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and long-term recovery services for Ohioans struggling with an opioid or stimulant use disorder. |
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Sheriff reappointment: Cuyahoga County Council seems poised to approve Sheriff Harold Pretel’s reappointment this year, but members remain concerned about operations and the budget, and it even has the county prosecutor weighing in. Pretel gave a positive review of his 16 months leading the Sheriff’s Department, during his reconfirmation hearing before council’s Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Trail network: Local transportation and parks officials are developing a plan to build a network of new trails to connect parks and neighborhoods across five counties, and they want the public’s input, reports Cory Shaffer. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency is spearheading the Regional Metroparks Trails Connectivity Study with Metroparks agencies in Lorain, Cuyahoga, Medina, Lake and Geauga counties. Air show: A report shows that more than half the people who attended the Cleveland National Air Show this year came from outside the region and they contributed more than $13 million in economic impact to the community, reports Susan Glaser. The long-time executive director of the air show said the results of the study give a more complete picture of the event’s economic reach. Child pornography: A former Akron police officer faces decades in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges involving the sexual abuse of children, Lucas Daprile reports. Geoffrey Parker, 34, entered the pleas in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Oct. 31 to eight felony counts. Algal bloom: The annual Lake Erie harmful algal bloom this year was moderately severe, reports Peter Krouse. The bloom came in at 6.6, based on its 30 peak days, on the severity index, which was slightly above the seasonal forecast that predicted a range of 4.5 to 6. |
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14-year-old crime: Cleveland police say a 14-year-old boy became a one-person crime wave in the past month, reports Olivia Mitchell. Police said Wednesday that the boy “is suspected to be involved in dozens of recent crimes,” including stealing cars, breaking into them and robbing victims. Kosar suit: A media company sued by Bernie Kosar has asked a judge to force sports radio host Tony Rizzo to hand over any texts or emails he exchanged with the former Browns quarterback about Kosar’s pending lawsuit. Sean McDonnell reports BIGPLAY Media says in court filings that Rizzo has ignored a subpoena, and it has asked a judge to compel both Rizzo and his employer, ESPN Cleveland WKNR, to provide the requested documents — including any communication Rizzo has had about the lawsuit. Eight-year case: The criminal case of a North Royalton man accused of hacking into thousands of computers to surreptitiously watch, listen and record people will likely stretch past its eight-year mark, reports Adam Ferrise. U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver late Tuesday ruled that Phillip Durachinsky, who is highly intelligent but diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, should have one more chance at having his competency restored before the case moves on. |
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Cavs on Prime: Cleveland Cavaliers games are coming to Prime Video, reports Joey Morona. Diamond Sports Group, the company that runs FanDuel Sports Network, the television home of 13 NBA teams including the Cavs, announced a deal with Amazon that will make the network available to local customers as an add-on subscription within Prime Video. St. Lucia: When visiting a Caribbean island, travelers are often ready to be met with crystal clear waters on beautiful beaches, delicious tropical fruit and exciting water activities. But Zachary Smith reports that St. Lucia deliversit all, which is how he found myself at the base of Gros Piton on the cusp of one of the most challenging hikes of his life. |
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Case Western Reserve University: 'Multiple individuals' arrested in connection with vandalism of campus buildings Read more Street minister posts sign about gun violence near where two teens were shot Read more North Ridgeville schools employee arrested, on leave Read more Parma barber helps veterans impacted by Hurricane Helene Read more Elyria Catholic boosts science curriculum with 3D anatomy addition Read more Lake County officials present first State of the County report Read more |
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