Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish secretly maneuvered to add East Cleveland sites into contention for n – cleveland.com

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It will be chilly today, with highs staying in the upper 20s. Cloudy skies are expected and there are slight chances of snow showers during the morning and in the evening. Temps will dip to about 19 overnight, again with slight chances of snow showers. Read more.

Jail site: While a committee considered locations for a new Cuyahoga County jail, County Executive Armond Budish secretly asked consultants to target possible sites in East Cleveland, Courtney Astolfi reports. A consultants list included two sites in East Cleveland a former dump and another site that would require uprooting about 70 homeowners that dont appear to meet key criteria approved by committee members in November. While committee members criticized the maneuvering, Budishs chief of staff said the final site selection will be made by the committee.

Acton for Senate?Dr. Amy Acton, the popular former director of the Ohio Department of Health, is considering a run for U.S. Senate, multiple sources confirmed tocleveland.com/The Plain Dealer. Acton, a Democrat, was a mainstay during the early stages of the pandemic, holding a featured role during Republican Gov. Mike DeWines daily press briefings. Acton resigned as head of ODH in June following DeWines decision to loosen coronavirus restrictions and rapidly reopen the state.

This Week in the CLE: U.S. Sen. Rob Portman wont run for re-election when his term is up in two years. But why not? Why announce now, and who wants to replace him? Were discussing on This Week in the CLE, cleveland.coms daily half-hour news podcast.

FirstEnergy campaign: Mailers blanketed many Cleveland neighborhoods in late 2018, telling residents in bold letters that Cleveland Public Power rates were unfair and unjust. City officials say the mailings were part of a larger plan by FirstEnergy to end its competition in Cleveland, John Caniglia reports. Now, City Council President Kevin Kelley is studying whether to file subpoenas to discover whether other dark money from House Bill 6 flowed to Cleveland.

A total of 2,964 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in Ohio on Tuesday, down 44% from a record 5,308 on Dec. 15.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

New numbers: Ohio added 4,262 coronavirus cases on Tuesday, below the 21-day rolling average of 6,567. Laura Hancock reports 88 more coronavirus deaths were added, above the average of 77.

COVID curfew: Ohios 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. statewide curfew could be shortened starting as soon as Thursday, then lifted entirely a few weeks later, depending on whether the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations continues to fall, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Gov. Mike DeWine said that if Ohio has seven straight days where the number of coronavirus hospitalizations statewide remains below 3,500, he will push back the start of the daily curfew to 11 p.m.

Extra doses: More older Ohioans will be vaccinated sooner than previously expected, thanks to counties needing fewer doses because theyve finished up with healthcare workers in the 1A group. Laura Hancock reports that half of nursing home employees also have declined vaccines. Thousands left over will be given instead to members of the 1B group.

School vaccines: Some Ohio schools that requested coronavirus vaccines will start receiving them ahead of the Feb. 1 anticipated start date, Emily Bamforth reports. Gov. Mike DeWine said vaccination would begin in Cincinnati Public Schools on Thursday.

Cleveland schools: Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon shared a comprehensive plan for school staff vaccination, as well as the staff of city private and charter schools, Emily Bamforth reports. Cleveland schools vaccination plan includes two sites, one at East Technical High School and one at Max S. Hayes High School. These sites will have six lanes for staff to move through, with CSMD nurses administering the vaccine.

Internet access: Cleveland schools will allow nonprofit DigitalC, which is working to increase internet access in underserved areas of the city, to install antennas on certain school buildings to boost coverage. DigitalC is a low-cost internet option available in certain areas of Cleveland and is free to CMSD families. The school district pays a discounted fee of $16 a month per household for the service, Emily Bamforth reports.

Per-student spending: As Ohio continues to search for a solution to a an education funding formula declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court, the states auditors office claims that spending-per-pupil in districts is not closely correlated with student success. Emily Bamforth reports the conclusion does not factor in socioeconomic data that might affect student performance.

Second amendment: An Ohio lawmaker is preparing to introduce a proposed Second Amendment Sanctuary State Act, designed to nullify any gun-control measures put into place by the Biden Administration. Jeremy Pelzer reports that the legislation is based on similar bills passed in Alaska, Idaho, Kansas and Wyoming and comes as several counties in Ohio have made similar declarations.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, on Tuesday joined 44 other Republicans in supporting an effort by Kentuckys Rand Paul to reject the constitutionality of impeaching former President Donald Trump. (Graeme Jennings, Associated Press file photo)AP

Impeachment vote: A vote on Tuesday showed the difficulty that impeachment advocates will have in convincing Republicans, including Ohios Rob Portman, to support impeaching former President Donald Trump when the case goes to trial next month before the U.S. Senate. Sabrina Eaton reports Portman joined 44 other Republicans in supporting an effort by Kentuckys Rand Paul to reject the procedures constitutionality on the grounds that Trump is no longer in office and that Senate president pro tempore Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, will preside over the trial instead of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Cleveland bribery: Federal prosecutors accused the owners of a Wickliffe demolition company of paying more than $1,500 in cash bribes to a Cleveland official to gain faster inspections and other help, John Caniglia reports. Authorities say Gwen and Joseph Tucceri III of R Demolition worked with Rufus Taylor, the former demolition bureau chief for the city, over the course of 18 months.

Body cams:Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Monday filed a claim against the city of Cleveland, which refused to release police body camera video of two officers charged in connection with their actions during a hit-and-run traffic crash investigation. Adam Ferrise reports the claim in the Ohio Court of Claims asks to review body camera video of officers Harvey Andrekovic and Jason Rees, who face misdemeanor charges of interfering with civil rights, dereliction of duty and obstructing official business for their actions on Aug. 22.

Civil rights: A downtown Cleveland resident arrested while trying to pick up groceries he ordered during the curfew that followed the May 30 riot has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Cleveland and the group of officers who arrested him. Cory Shaffer reports Mehdi Mollahassani showed Cleveland police his ID, a pay stub with his East Ninth Street address and his digital grocery receipt on his cellphone as proof. He also told the officers that he was not a looter. A sergeant replied, You look like one.

Frank Q. Jackson: Parma police released video of its officers encounter early Sunday with the grandson of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Olivia Mitchell reports the video released by Parma police shows two different angles of the traffic stop and ensuing pursuit involving Frank Q. Jackson that began just after midnight on Sunday at State Road.

Online colleges: Ohio State University generally topped the rankings for online Ohio schools, though the University of Cincinnati took the top spot for online masters in business administration programs in the U.S. News & World Report 2021 rankings. Emily Bamforth reports that the online consumer magazine changed its definition of online program to the vast majority of required coursework for program completion is able to be completed via distance education courses.

Co-working: A Columbus company plans to turn the former site of Maggianos Little Italy and H&M at the Beachwood Place mall into a co-working space, complete with a brewpub. Eric Heisig reports that the two-story Cedar Road space would include a podcast studio, gaming areas, a golf simulator and amenities.

Supreme Court: A lawyer argued Tuesday before the Ohio Supreme Court that Volkswagen should pay the state hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties for the automakers 2015 emissions cheating scandal. Jeremy Pelzer reports that Volkswagens attorney argued that if Ohio wins the lawsuit, it would create regulatory chaos for the auto industry and might open the company to lawsuits from other states, as well as thousands of local governments, for intentionally violating clean-air laws.

Vaccine rollout: Ohios vaccine rollout for people 75 and older is getting smoother, but still has a few bumps. The elderly and their caregivers continue to be frustrated by a system requiring them to look up vaccine providers on their own to make arrangements. But once they make the appointment, readers say the vaccination process itself is easy, Julie Washington reports.

Ice cover: Lake Erie is normally about half frozen by now. But this year, with above-average temperatures, ice covers only about 8.8% of the lake, mostly in the shallow western basin. Alexis Oatman reports Cleveland will continue to see lake-effect clouds and snow for the near future.

Tax credit: A state board awarded a job creation tax credit worth an estimated $1.1 million to Brecksville-based CrossCountry Mortgage, which agreed to create 180 new jobs with an annual payroll of $9 million as part of its plans to relocate its headquarters to a historic cluster of buildings between East 21st and East 22nd streets in downtown Cleveland. Eric Heisig reports the Ohio Tax Credit Authority on Monday gave the OK to a 1.655% credit for eight years.

Rapid Response: The Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund has awarded another $237,000 in seven grants to support the residents in Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund has distributed more than $8.6 million to organizations on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, Alexis Oatman reports.

Travel policy: A new U.S. government policy requires all incoming travelers to the United States to show proof of a negative COVID test. Susan Glaser examines how the change will affect Northeast Ohio travelers.

Culturally speaking: Cleveland.coms sister site, Conde Nast Traveler, asked a panel of 50 people from 50 different states to name a word or phrase their neighbors tend to pronounce differently from the rest of the nation.

Seafood boils: The Cajun culinary tradition of seafood boils involves bringing together various types of seafood and sides in a platter, with spicy or buttery flavoring mixed in. Anne Nickoloff has 10 Northeast Ohio places where you find such a feast.

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Cleveland Rape Crisis selects Teresa Stafford as chief program officer Read more

Four Solon Schools staff members test positive for COVID-19 since Friday Read more

Beachwood now offering residents a free COVID Care Package Read more

Cleveland Heights teens Cakes for Cancer book raises money for research Read more

Cleveland Heights League of Women Voters weighs in on 10-month City Council vacancy Read more

Political firestorm erupts after Brecksville councilwoman, planning commissioner sign letter supporting Trumps election fraud claims Read more

Brecksville-based Republican club denies it planned protest trip to Washington D.C. Jan. 6 Read more

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Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish secretly maneuvered to add East Cleveland sites into contention for n - cleveland.com