Sherrod Brown and Democrats Want Hazard Pay for Essential Workers Included in Next Stimulus Bill
Whenever Congress gets around to the next pandemic stimulus bill, which should be sooner rather than later, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and other Democrats want essential workers — those who are continuing to make supply chains move and taking care of patients and driving our buses and shopping for your groceries and ringing you out…
Fearful Cleveland Clinic Nurse On Hospital’s PPE Policies: “The Clinic Should Be Creating the Standard of Care, Not Lowering It”
As the calendar turns to April and, as Dr. Amy Acton has said, we exist in the “calm before the storm” of impending surges of coronavirus cases, Ohio’s hospital systems are struggling with shortages of personal protective equipment, including N95 masks. That’s factoring in what was already on hand, what’s been donated, and this week’s…
Heinen’s Pepper Pike Store Reopened After Deep Cleaning Following Employee’s Positive COVID-19 Test
Update: An overnight deep cleaning and Heinen’s in Pepper Pike is back open this morning, the chain announced. April 1, 2020 Dear customers, We were pleased to be able to reopen our Pepper Pike store this morning at 8 a.m. EDT. We had closed due to an associate having a positive test for COVID-19, and…
Local Restaurants Are Helping the Greater Cleveland Community by Feeding the Needy and Our Frontline Healthcare Workers
We’re currently living through a global pandemic, affecting millions around the country and many right here in Northeast Ohio. During these tumultuous times, it can also bring out the best in some, and restaurants around town are lending a hand. A multitude of different restaurants and establishments are donating food to those in need in…
DeWine Orders State Water Utilities to Halt Shutoffs, Restore Service During COVID-19 Crisis
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statewide order Tuesday that will prevent water utilities from shutting off connections due to non-payment and will require them to restore service to those customers whose water has been disconnected. The statewide policy has been in effect locally for several weeks. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson announced a moratorium on…
Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Ohio Order Banning Surgical Abortions During Coronavirus Crisis
A federal judge has put a temporary hold on an order by Ohio officials to cease surgical abortions during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The Ohio Department of Health issued an order on March 18 telling medical facilities to cease elective surgeries whenever possible to conserve scarce personal protective equipment and medical capacity. That, state officials…
Ohio Shelters Aren’t Built for Social Distancing
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio is starting a new effort to focus on the collision of two public health crises: coronavirus and homelessness. Gov. Mike DeWine announced the creation of a new task force that will examine how to best help homeless programs that are struggling to meet local, state and federal guidelines to reduce the…
As a Record Number of Ohio Unemployment Applicants Express Frustration, State Officials Say They’re Working on Solutions
The crisis caused by pandemic coronavirus COVID-19 has triggered a record number of layoffs in Ohio as some businesses struggle to stay open and other non-essential establishments were ordered to close by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Now, as many of those workers file for unemployment benefits with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services,…
First Positive COVID-19 Test at an Ohio Prison is Worse Than it Seems
Sunday evening, mere hours after Gov. Mike DeWine postulated that inmates in Ohio’s correctional facilities might be safer in prison than at home with their families, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction confirmed that an officer at the Marion Correctional Institution (MCI) had tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first known positive case…
Lawyers Discovered Long-Hidden Evidence at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. Now, a Death Row Inmate May Get Another Shot at Justice
Documents filed this morning with the Ohio Supreme Court argue that newly discovered evidence should allow Death Row inmate Melvin Bonnell to revisit his 1988 murder conviction and course-correct decades of alleged bad faith on the part of the state. Only a few weeks ago, in February, his defense attorneys found long-lost bullets that were…
FDA Allows Full Use of Columbus Company’s Surgical Mask Sterilization Tech After Pressure from Gov. DeWine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended a previous decision regarding the use of Columbus, Ohio-based science and technology institute Battelle’s CCDS Critical Care Decontamination System after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted spoke about their disappointment in the national agency in a press conference on Sunday, March 29. The…
Honoring Ohio’s Front-Line Fighters Against Coronavirus on National Doctor’s Day
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Today is National Doctor’s Day, but there’s little time to celebrate for doctors on the front lines of a global pandemic. More than 34,000 active physicians work in Ohio, including Dr. Eric Adkins at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He said one of the greatest challenges for medical providers in…
Cuyahoga County Continues to Lose Population, According to Latest Census Estimate
Cuyahoga County is still the 35th most populous county in the country, the same rank it held based on 2018 Census numbers, but it continues to lose population. The latest Census estimates, released last week, put the county’s population loss at 6,646 between 2018 and 2019 and the seven-county Cleveland-Akron population loss at 5,722 over…
Ru-El Sailor Sues City of Cleveland, Cleveland Police Officers for Wrongful Conviction
Ru-El Sailor, whose 2002 murder conviction was vacated in 2018 after the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office investigated his claims of innocence and found them to be true, has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland police officers that worked the case that ended with…
Cleveland’s Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Winners Announced
The Cleveland Foundation announced Monday morning the recipients of the 85th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, the only national literary prize for works devoted to the exploration of race and racism. This year’s recipients — Ilya Kaminsky in poetry; Namwali Serpell in fiction; Charles King in nonfiction; and Eric Foner for lifetime achievements — are listed…
City of Cleveland Has its First COVID-19 Death
The City of Cleveland has seen its first death in the Coronavirus outbreak. Though no personal details about the patient were released, the city reported that she was a woman in her 70s. As of 2 p.m. Sunday, Cleveland now has more than 100 confirmed cases of the virus, with patients in their 20s through…
Today’s One Good Thing: Sidewalk Concerts
Every day, while most things in this forsaken world suck, we’ll offer one thing, just one little thing, that doesn’t. Today: Neighbors coming together to provide and enjoy music in a safe environment? Yeah, that’s a damn good thing. Today was warm enough to have a tree lawn concert. It was amazing. By the end,…
Local COVID-19 Relief Fund Organized to Buy Gift Cards and Takeout From Local Restaurants to Distribute to Needy Families and Healthcare Workers
Medworks, the Northeast Ohio non-profit that helps provide access to medical care for those in need, has launched the COVID-19 Relief Fund to assist families in need, as well as frontline healthcare workers and local restaurants. They are asking for donations, like so many other folks. The difference here is that your donation works on…
KeyBank Instituting Moratorium on Foreclosures, Will Defer Payments During COVID-19 Outbreak
Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said Friday that in a conversation with KeyBank this morning, he was told that Key would be instituting a moratorium on foreclosures. Budish said he hoped other regional banks would follow suit. Key confirmed when asked by Scene, saying that it was not only suspending foreclosures, but was allowing existing…
Dave’s Markets Buys Cleveland and Columbus Lucky’s Market Locations
While Lucky’s Markets filed for bankruptcy and the majority of its stores earlier this year, the Cleveland location remained open. This week, it got a new owner. Dave’s Markets bought that store and the Columbus-area Lucky’s Market at auction for a total of $1.25 million. The sale will be finalized next week. “The Saltzman family…
More than $3 Million for Cuyahoga County Small Business Loans and Grants Could be Available by Monday
Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, speaking at Friday’s City Club virtual forum, said that roughly $3 million had been raised to provide emergency relief for small businesses. Those funds could be available as early as Monday of next week. Budish, who appeared on the forum to address the various ways in which the county has…
Confirmed Coronavirus Cases in Cuyahoga County by Zip Code
Cuyahoga County this morning released a breakdown of confirmed coronavirus cases by zip code after being asked, by residents and by reporters, to be more transparent with public health information. Until today, officials had only announced total countywide infections.
Groups Say New Plan for Ohio’s Primary Falls Short, Voting Should Extend Into May
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Civil-rights groups caution that Ohio’s new plan to address the state’s postponed primary could deprive people of their right to vote. To reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine closed the polls for the state’s March 17 primary. House Bill 197 was passed by the Legislature this week, extending mail…
Meijer to Install Plexiglass Shields to Combat Coronavirus
Michigan-based retailer Meijer announced Wednesday that it would be taking extra safety measures across its 248 supercenters as the coronavirus continues to sweep through the state. As an essential business, Meijer and other grocery stores are among those allowed to operate during Ohio’s stay at home order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine. To combat the…
Trader Joe’s Confidential: Employee Worries the Company Isn’t Taking Coronavirus Safety Seriously
Editor’s Note: As the coronavirus pandemic escalated into a national crisis, grocery stores have become unexpectedly risky places to work. A Texan Trader Joe’s employee, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, reached out our sister paper in San Antonio to offer perspective on what it’s like to work during this crisis and voice concerns…
Today’s One Good Thing: Stream ‘Saint Frances,’ Help Cleveland Cinemas
Every day, while most things in this forsaken world suck, we’ll offer one thing, just one little thing, that doesn’t. Today: Cleveland Cinemas has partnered with Oscilloscope Films to stream “Saint Frances,” an award-winning comedy that took home an audience nod at SXSW last year and that was set to open at Cedar Lee before All…
Dr. Amy Acton: Ohio Could See 6,000-8,000 New COVID-19 Cases Per Day at Peak Surge
Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton made a shocking prediction at Thursday’s COVID-19 press conference: During “peak surge,” she said, Ohio could see as many as 6,000-8,000 new cases of the coronavirus every day. Given the state’s limited testing capacity, in which tests are reserved for the highest risk patients, Acton said there’d be no…
Metroparks Reminds You Not to Be an Asshole If You Visit a Park During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Get outside, they say. Take a walk. Take a hike. Grab the dog. Get some fresh air. It’s good advice, and Gov. DeWine and Dr. Acton have mentioned it themselves. Fresh air is one of the few salves in this otherwise dire and stressful period of quarantine, but people here and elsewhere seem to think…
Ohio Beer Sales Were Up 38% in the Week Before Coronavirus Shutdown
The Buckeye State saw the coronavirus pandemic coming and took, for the most part, necessary steps to provide for each other’s safety as Ohioans worked to flatten the curve. We worked from home. We skipped unnecessary social functions. We called our parents and told them to do the same. We washed our hands We stocked…
Ohio Clocks 187,000 Unemployment Claims in a Week as National Total Shatters Records
More than 187,000 Ohioans applied for unemployment benefits for the week ending March 21, according to federal jobs data released today. The avalanche of jobless claims added to the more than 3.28 million claims filed across the country — an amount that crushed the previous record for weekly claims set in 1982, when 695,000 people…
Ohio Lawmakers Extend Primary to April 28 with No In-Person Voting; Voter Rights Groups Protest
Ohioans will have until April 28 to vote via absentee ballot in the primary, the Ohio General Assembly decided yesterday. However, most residents will not be given the opportunity to vote in person following the last-minute suspension of the March 17 election due to fear of the spread of COVID-19. The legislature’s move has drawn…
First Energy Joined CPP in Halting Shutoffs, Has Restored Power to 600 Customers in Northeast Ohio
It has been two weeks since the City of Cleveland announced that it would temporarily halt utility shutoffs and restore power and water connections to those customers whose service had been disconnected due to lack of payment. Since that time, the city reports, Cleveland Public Power has reconnected 59 total customers and the Cleveland Water…
Rock Hall, Art Museum, Science Center and Other Cleveland Cultural Institutions Announce Indefinite Closures Due to Coronavirus
You’re not supposed to go anywhere anyway, as Gov. DeWine has ordered, and who knows when All Of This will be over, but just for official measure, a group of Cleveland’s largest cultural institutions issued a joint statement yesterday announcing their indefinite closures that will go beyond the statewide stay-at-home order. They include the Rock…
Social Distancing Doesn’t Mean Social Disconnecting
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Feeling cut off from the outside world can be depressing and lonely, especially for older Ohioans, but social distancing doesn’t have to mean social disconnecting. With Ohio under a stay-at-home order and senior centers closed, AARP Ohio State Director Holly Holtzen recommends making a plan to stay connected with loved ones. This…
This Shit’s No Joke: Waffle House Closes 418 Locations Due to Coronavirus, Including Some in Ohio
Waffle House, whose penchant for remaining open even in cases of natural disaster is so consistent that FEMA uses its rare closures to determine the severity of such disasters, has announced that they will be temporarily closing 418 of their locations due to coronavirus, including several in the St. Louis area. As odd as it…
Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon Converting to “Virtual Event” for 2020
The Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon announced Wednesday that its 2020 races, scheduled for May 16-17 downtown, will now be hosted as “virtual events.” Runners can log their miles at locations of their choice from April 15 to May 17. Shirts and medals will then be mailed in June. Runners who prefer not to participate in virtual races…
704 Confirmed Cases,10 Deaths, 75 Intensive Care Hospitalizations. Ohio’s Latest COVID-19 Data
Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton announced Wednesday that there were now 704 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio, with 182 hospitalizations and 10 deaths. Cuyahoga County remains the state’s densest cluster of confirmed cases, with 206. Acton noted, however, that this data may be skewed by the location at which the test occurred, not…
Phone Data Shows That Ohio is Very Good at Social Distancing Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
You deserve a six-feet-apart air high-five, Ohio. You’re killing the social distancing game, according to your phone data. New York and Norway-based data and analytics company Unacast revealed the findings of its “Social Distancing Scoreboard,” which shows just how good — or bad — of a job some states are doing at navigating this whole…
Ohio Supreme Court Rules City of Cleveland Doesn’t Have to Pay $13.2 Million Judgment to Wrongfully Convicted Man
In a 6-1 ruling this week, the Ohio Supreme Court decided the city of Cleveland does not owe a wrongfully convicted man the $13.2 million judgment he won against two Cleveland police officers who framed him for a murder. A creditor, in this case David Ayers, can’t force a state actor to indemnify an employee…
Ushabu Offering Japanese-Style Fried Chicken Starting Tomorrow
Matt Spinner, like most other chefs in town, is trying just about anything he can to get Ushabu through this rough period, and starting tomorrow that means Japanese-style fried chicken, which is usually something he offers only around the holidays. The details: View this post on Instagram STARTING THIS THURSDAY AT 12:00 PM! JAPANESE STYLE…
Cleveland International Film Festival to Launch ‘CIFF Streams’ To Watch Selected Festival Films From Home in April
Add the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) to those organizations that are coming up with new and creative ideas to still get their product out during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning some time in April, CIFF, which was scheduled to begin their 44th annual fest today, will debut CIFF Streams. What’s that mean? For subscribers, many…
Canton’s Gervasi Vineyard to Launch Hand Sanitizer Production in Barbecue Sauce Bottles
In a press release Wednesday, Canton’s Gervasi Vineyard said that it was in the process of procuring necessary ingredients and packaging supplies to produce hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 outbreak. Gervasi planned to launch production at its facility immediately with the goal generating 2,500 bottles for medical providers and general consumption in three weeks. As many…
16 Ways to Entertain and Educate Your Kids in Cleveland During the Covid-19 Shutdown
Do you find yourself suddenly working from home with a child in the house? Are you a stay-at-homer who can no longer escape to Target for an aimless stroll with your kid safely contained in a shopping cart? Are the seats at your kitchen table suddenly filled with new little bodies? Yes? Well, me too.…
Savage Love: Should I Still Date During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
My question is on managing “gray area” intimacies during the pandemic. I have a lover/friend that I’ve been hanging out with — fucking, drinking tea, going on hikes, eating ice cream, watching movies, and other activities — for about nine months. He’s 36 and was married for 10 years and due to that experience he’s…
