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Today is Election Day.
It’s not a big one, obviously. Today is an off-year primary election and in Cuyahoga County that means a few suburban city council races, a few local tax issues and a few local liquor options on the ballot.
All Ohio voters will get to decide Issue 2, a $2.5 billion bond package for local infrastructure.
A yes vote would authorize the state to take on debt over a 10-year period and issue the money to local governments in the form of grants or no-interest loans for roads and other improvements. State tax dollars repay the debt, with interest. (The issue has nothing to do with the Browns’ plan for Brook Park.)
To find your polling place or review what’s on your specific ballot, visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s voter website.
Overnight Scores and Weather
Guardians at Washington Nationals: Guardians game postponed against Nationals due to rain; doubleheader set for Tuesday
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Showers, storms
Top Stories
Election Day: Voters head to the polls today to decide the fate of a $2.5 billion statewide bond issue and their local levies. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and anyone in line by closing time is entitled to vote, reports Anna Staver.
Lown Report: For a second year, the Cleveland Clinic ranks high among U.S. nonprofit hospitals not doing enough to directly benefit their communities, according to the Lown Fair Share 2025 National Report. The Clinic’s main campus ranked fifth on the Lown Institute’s list of 20 U.S. hospitals doing the worst in community spending, reports Julie Washington.
Today in Ohio: President Trump eliminated nearly $400 million in AmeriCorps grants, devastating the nonprofit agencies that had depended on members’ service. He canceled more than $321.8 million in funding for at least 32 scientific research and technology projects in Ohio, sending universities, health departments and hospitals reeling. We’re talking about the blow on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Statehouse and Politics
Internet infrastructure: The U.S. House of Representatives last week adopted a pair of bills by U.S. Rep. Bob Latta aimed at increasing internet access and safety, reports Sabrina Eaton. Approved on voice votes, both bills were sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Senate Bill 1: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has certified a petition for a referendum that would repeal a controversial higher education bill, sending it onto the next step in the long process of qualifying for the November ballot, Laura Hancock reports.
Drilling decisions: The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission delayed decisions Monday on whether to accept bids from oil and gas companies to drill on three areas of public land in Eastern Ohio, Laura Hancock reports.
Reporter blocked: An armed state police officer physically prevented a cleveland.com reporter from conducting an interview with a public official following an open meeting Monday, Lucas Daprile reports.
Ryan for gov? Democratic ex-U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is “seriously considering” running for Ohio governor in 2026 as he ramps up TV and in-person appearances, according to a close adviser, writes Jeremy Pelzer. Ryan’s move comes after he said he wasn’t interested in running for office in 2026 because of his lucrative lobbying job and desire to coach his 10-year-old son’s sports teams.
East Palestine: Nearly two years after the East Palestine train derailment, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has secured another $1.045 million to continue his civil case against Norfolk Southern. Anna Staver reports the state Controlling Board on Monday approved the request, which included $700,000 for outside counsel from Kelley Drye & Warren and $100,000 for Dr. Marek Greer to serve as a testifying expert.
Wrongful imprisonment: A state board on Monday approved awarding a total of nearly $3.6 million to three men who each spent years behind bars for crimes in Cleveland that they didn’t commit, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The payments, including an additional $2.6 million to Dwayne Brooks and more than $475,000 each in initial payments to Michael Sutton and Kenny Phillips, are the latest in a series of payments from the state of Ohio to people who spent years behind bars for crimes for which they were later exonerated.
Northeast Ohio News
Cuyahoga audits: One of Cuyahoga County’s independent watchdogs is training its eye this year on sheriff overtime spending, opioid settlement spending and County Council’s $66 million in discretionary ARPA spending, among other things, to make sure nothing is amiss. Kaitlin Durbin reports it’s part of Internal Auditor Cory Swaisgood’s job to assess every county department, agency, office or board at least once every five years to make sure they’re in compliance with the county charter and state laws.
TIF districts: After using tax incentives to spur Bedrock’s downtown construction near Tower City Center, Cleveland is considering the same plan for its East Side neighborhoods, Mayor Justin Bibb said Monday. At the same time, Bibb said Cleveland City Hall must reform its own processes so getting a building permit isn’t as much of a headache, Sean McDonnell reports.
Energy projects: The Ohio Department of Development has sent over $2 million to Northeast Ohio to help cut energy usage. The money is part of $8.5 million in grants announced by the state on Monday. It was awarded to nine organizations across eight counties, who will use it to achieve a 15% reduction in energy usage at various Ohio buildings, Megan Sims reports.
Lakewood schools: A 50-person community task force formed last year to study whether to close any of Lakewood’s public elementary schools is set to present its formal recommendation next month, reports Cory Shaffer. Lakewood City Schools’ Elementary Planning Task Force held its ninth and final meeting -- all closed to the public -- last week to choose the plan that it believes will best address depressed enrollment and disparate class sizes among the seven neighborhood-based K-5 schools.
Ohio City Inc.: A longtime administrator for Cuyahoga County and later MetroHealth Systems has been named executive director of Ohio City Inc., the neighborhood’s non-profit development organization. Rich Exner reports that Jane Platten had been serving as interim director since August until the interim portion of her title was removed last month.
Euclid demolition: Euclid will pay a Cleveland company $138,000 to demolish an abandoned office building on Brush Avenue, reports Cory Shaffer. Euclid’s Board of Control voted last month to award B&B Wrecking and Excavating the contract to tear down the four-story former Brush Building. The city will use more than $100,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund the project.
Plane crash: One person is dead Monday after a plane that took off from Burke Lakefront Airport crashed in Ashland County, reports say. Gary Wolfelt, 72, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was the only person on board the plane, Cliff Pinckard reports.
Chasing waterfalls: There’s nothing like a waterfall to make an escape into nature even more relaxing. While some of Greater Cleveland’s waterfalls are close to a parking lot without the need for hiking, others involve strenuous and off-trail treks to spots that are hidden from most people. John Pana shows 25 in a video.
Business and Health
Car sales: New vehicle sales across Northern Ohio jumped by more than 22% in April compared to the same month last year, as consumers rushed to make purchases ahead of potential price hikes tied to looming tariffs, reports Molly Walsh. Dealerships in the region sold 23,124 new vehicles last month, up from 18,890 in April 2024.
Crime and Courts
Email scam: Parma Heights in 2023 thought it was paying $500,000 to a contractor who fixed a road. But Adam Ferrise reports an email came from scammers who had hacked into a city email, patiently monitored the account and struck when the opportunity presented itself, according to authorities. The group used the same “email takeover” scam to swindle a Bedford commercial construction company out of $337,000 and a car dealership in Everett, Washington, out of $250,000. In all, the group stole more than $1.1 million in less than a week, according to the indictment.
12-year-old’s death: An Akron man has been charged in the death of a 12-year-old boy who was forced to take long ice baths and do pushups in the hours before he died. A Summit County grand jury indicted Anthony McCants, 23, on one count of murder and eight counts of endangering children. He is accused of causing the death of Jadako Taylor, 12, of Akron on March 22.
I-77 shooting: A Newburgh Heights man pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the slaying of a driver on Interstate 77 last year, David Gambino reports. Ian Rich, 30, shot at David Perez and his wife, Jacqueline, of Garfield Heights as they traveled south on I-77 about 9:30 p.m. April 28, 2024, according to prosecutors.
Remains found: Authorities say the remains of a 22-year-old man were recovered in a fire pit at a homeless encampment in Akron. The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Xavier Menefee of Canton. He was reported missing Aug. 1, 2024.
Restaurant loans: A Cleveland area businessman owes $1.1 million stemming from loans he took out for his restaurants from the St. Paul Croation Credit Union that collapsed in 2010, according to a lawsuit. Adam Ferrise reports that Zdenko Zovkic previously owned popular restaurants XO Prime Steaks, Seasons and Jade Steak & Sushi, among others.
King trial: A Cuyahoga County judge has denied that she was disrespectful to an attorney before the start of a public corruption trial, though she admitted that she was upset about a late motion filed just hours before the proceeding was to begin. David Gambino reports the trial for suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King remains on hold as the state’s top court considers a response to allegations of misconduct against Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher.
Police chase: A Warrensville Heights man crashed into an apartment building early Monday morning, forcing its evacuation, then led Akron police on a chase in which he struck patrol vehicles multiple times, injuring two officers, Cliff Pinckard reports.
Arts and Entertainment
Ask Lucas: For Christmas 2024, Lucas Daprile’s dad bought him an Omaha Steak box and added on a special treat: dozens and dozens of all-beef hot dogs. What should he do with them all? Daprile seeks some answers.
Soho Chicken: Soho Chicken and Whiskey will move to the former space of Xinji Noodle Bar, which closed last month. The fried chicken restaurant and whiskey bar at 1889 W. 25th St. announced the news that it would be moving from the space in Ohio City that it’s occupied for nearly 14 years, reports Alex Darus.
Benson Boone: Singing-songwriting, back-flipping pop star Benson Boone will release his sophomore album “American Heart” in June, Malcolm X Abram reports. He’s promoting the release with a concert tour that will come to Cleveland on Aug. 26 for a show at Rocket Arena.
‘Fiddler’: “Fiddler on the Roof” is an old-fashioned musical in the best possible sense. It tells a culturally specific story that speaks to something universal, all through songs that have stood the test of time. Joey Morona reports Cleveland Play House continues that tradition with a heartfelt and entertaining production, now playing at the Allen Theatre through May 25.
Beaufort, N.C.: Perched on the edge of the mainland, separated by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from the southern part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Beaufort has both small-town charm and undisturbed nature, lots to do and no rush to do it in. Laura Johnston writes that the town delighted her family for a week of pickleball games and golf cart drives, history tours and dolphin sightings, beaches, cruiser bikes and boat rides.
CLE Ballet: Cleveland Ballet has expanded its performance schedule for the 2025-26 season. The addition of a March performance date brings the season total to four mainstage performances at Playhouse Square, reports Paris Wolfe.
Cookbook author: Berkley, Calif.-based Chef Samin Nosrat, author of the James Beard Award–winning cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat,” is coming to Parma this fall. She will speak about her second book, “Good Things,” Sept. 21 at the Parma-Snow branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, reports Paris Wolfe.
Take a Hike: The 16-year-old Take a Hike program, which explores Cleveland landmarks and neighborhoods, has expanded for 2025. Paris Wolfe reports that during the 90-minute hikes, “characters from history” pop up and tell their stories.
Ichiko Aoba: The work of Japanese folk singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba is a bit like sakura in Japan: the delicate nature of cherry blossoms blooming represents spring, renewal, beginnings. Aoba’s new album “Luminescent Creatures” considers all of this and more in the shroud of primordial life and bioluminescence, reports Peter Chakerian. Aoba performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Cleveland Agora.
You’re all caught up
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.
— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by by Cliff Pinckard.
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