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MetroHealth fired its CEO, Akram Boutros, in November 2022 after the board said he improperly awarded himself $1.98 million in bonuses over several years.
He had led the hospital system for nearly a decade, adding more than 1,800 staff, increasing patients served and overhauling the hospital’s main campus in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood to open the $767 million, 11-story Glick Center.
Boutros claimed he acted within his authority to award bonuses and that his dismissal was an act of retaliation for questions he raised about potential violations of transparency laws by the hospital board during its search for his replacement.
He sued the board, first accusing it of flouting the Open Meetings Act and, in a separate lawsuit, of breach of contract, defamation and wrongful termination.
Boutros dismissed the second case, citing a serious health issue, but his attorney intends to file it again in the coming weeks.
A judge just dismissed the first case.
— Laura
Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers: Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase buckles in ninth as Tigers tie ALDS, 1-1, with 3-0 victory
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Cooler, sunny weather continues
MetroHealth lawsuit: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer O’Donnell dismissed former CEO Akram Boutros’ lawsuit against MetroHealth Medical System without explanation.
Today in Ohio: Ohio could generate more nuclear power not just at its Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants on Lake Erie, but also at eight more coal-powered power plants that could be converted using smaller nuclear reactors. We’re talking about the future of nuclear on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Springfield lawsuit: A three-judge panel declined to issue warrants for Donald Trump and JD Vance in a case brought by a citizen seeking their arrest and trial over their unproven claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield eating pets. Laura Hancock reports the Clark County Municipal Court judges referred the matter to Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll for further investigation.
Election: On Nov. 5, voters across Ohio will cast ballots in a total of 116 state legislative races. But only a fraction of them are expected to be truly competitive races, where the Republican or Democratic nominee each have a realistic chance of winning on Election Night. Jeremy Pelzer lists the most-watched competitive Ohio legislative races of 2024, in order of chamber and district number.
A home in Port Richey, Floriday, is boarded up in preparation for Hurricane Milton. (Mike Carlson, Associated Press)AP
National Guard: A team of more than three dozen members of the Ohio National Guard have been activated by Gov. Mike DeWine in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. The team from Port Clinton’s Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (REDHORSE) will conduct assessments of needed support, help clean up storm debris from public property, and provide other recovery and relief operations in hard-hit areas of Florida.
Tax issues: Voters in several Cuyahoga County communities will be asked to approve proposed tax increases on Nov. 5, reports Cliff Pinckard. Among the biggest issues are in Cleveland. Cleveland Metropolitan School District is asking for two tax increases: a 10-year tax to generate an estimated $52 million per year and a bond issue to borrow $295 million to build new buildings and improve existing ones.
The newly minted USS Nantucket, a U.S. Navy littoral combat ship, sailed Monday into the Port of Cleveland for a brief stay before heading to Boston to be commissioned and then to Florida where it will be based.Timothy McGinty
Navy ship: The USS Nantucket sailed into Cleveland Harbor Monday morning and is expected to remain dockside until Friday. Peter Krouse reports the newly minted littoral combat ship was built in Marinette, Wisconsin, and is on its way to the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston to be commissioned on Nov. 16, before heading off to its home port of Jacksonville, Florida.
Homelessness: Nearly three dozen people living without shelter in Cleveland found homes in the last month through a new city initiative to tackle homelessness, reports Cory Shaffer. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb announced Monday that the “A Home for Every Neighbor” program placed 12 people living at an encampment on Payne Avenue downtown and 23 living near the West Park Rapid Station into homes in its second month.
Welcome center: Eight months ago, Cuyahoga County opened a welcome center to support immigrants and refugees moving into the community. Now it wants to help them find jobs. Kaitlin Durbin reports the county’s Board of Control approved a two-year contract worth up to $241,000 with Cleveland State University to help employers navigate issues with hiring foreign-born workers who are in the country legally.
Redistricting: City Council will let the public weigh in on which two council seats to ax ahead of next year’s election, as part of the city’s redistricting process. Cory Shaffer reports that it is likely the first time that council has sought public feedback during the redistricting process.
Early voting: With early voting set to begin today in Ohio, the Summit County Board of Elections announced there will be a new location for the ballot drop box (temporary) and new traffic changes at the Early Vote Center to reduce congestion and delays for voters, reports Megan Becka.
Airport Sheraton: The demolition of Cleveland Hopkins Airport’s Sheraton Hotel has the green light, reports Megan Sims. The plan was approved during Friday’s Cleveland Planning Commission meeting, where city and airport officials talked about the 60-year-old hotel’s recent troubled history and poor conditions.
Winter viruses: Families have new weapons against winter viruses this year, including the the 2024-25 updated COVID-19 vaccine, an updated flu vaccine, a new at-home test that detects both flu and COVID-19, and the return of free rapid COVID-19 tests from the government. But during a Cleveland visit Monday aimed at boosting vaccine rates, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said none of these can make a difference if they aren’t used, reports Julie Washington.
Supply shortages: Flooding triggered by Hurricane Helene and a short-lived dockworkers strike are creating supply shortages at area hospitals, reports Julie Washington. The Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth System, University Hospitals and Summa Health are affected by nationwide shortages of IV fluids, irrigation fluids and certain types of dialysis solutions. The health systems are taking steps to deal with the shortage, they said in a joint statement.
Spirit flight: Spirit Airlines is suspending nonstop service between Cleveland and Orlando, Florida, amid talk that the carrier is considering filing for bankruptcy, reports Susan Glaser. The route suspension is one of dozens of cutbacks that the carrier is implementing in an effort to shore up its financing.
Gasoline prices: AAA reports that the average price for a gallon of gasoline across Northeast Ohio tumbled by 13 cents in the past week. The average fell to $3.083, in comparison to $3.215 a week ago and $3.292 during the same week a year ago.
Lakewood shooting: A man died and WOIO Channel 19 news reporter Winnie Dortch was seriously wounded Monday in a shooting during a domestic dispute, reports Olivia Mitchell. Lakewood police were called before 8 a.m. for reports of an argument between two people. Police said when officers arrived, they found a man and Dortch on a sidewalk on Chase Avenue, south of Clifton Boulevard.
Lyndhurst man shot: A Lyndhurst man was slain Sunday on Cleveland’s East Side, reports Olivia Mitchell. The office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner identified the victim as Jovante Banks, 28. He was fatally wounded on East 107th Street and St. Clair Avenue.
Police shooting: A Lorain police officer shot a robbery suspect who ran from officers early Monday, reports Olivia Mitchell. The shooting happened at 12:05 a.m. at a home in the 1300 block of West 17th Street. Officers received a report that a man had broken into a vehicle and he possibly possessed a firearm, police said.
Longtime sportswriter and television personality Dan Coughlin in 2013. He passed away at the age of 86.The Plain Dealer
Dan Coughlin: Cleveland sports icon Danny Coughlin passed away Sunday at the age of 86. He was the kind of guy who quickly made you feel like a friend, writes Terry Pluto.
ALDS atmosphere: Jerseys atop hoodies formed the apparel du jour at Progressive Field on Monday as the Guardians hosted Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. Marc Bona takes a look at the sights and sounds in and around the ballpark.
MC5: Upon the MC5′s fifth and sixth nominations, the late Wayne Kramer took to calling his band “the Susan Lucci of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” — referencing the actress who famously had 19 Daytime Emmy Award nominations before winning one. This year the famed — make that infamous — fivesome is finally getting its Rock Hall due with an award for musical achievement, writes Gary Graff.
Buffett band: Parrotheads will be celebrating on Oct. 19 when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors Jimmy Buffett with an award for musical achievement and a performance that’s slated to include Mac McAnally, a longtime collaborator and member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band since 1993, reports Gary Graff.
Brooklyn Streetfest: Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood is hosting an all-day celebration this Saturday including food, live music and more, reports Alex Darus. The Old Brooklyn StreetFest is set for noon to 8 p.m. Broadview Road will be closed to traffic between Spring Road and Tampa Avenue to accommodate the neighborhood block party.
French bistro: After six months of renovation, La Ville Lumiere opened in late September, reports Paris Wolfe. Chef/owner Kevin O’Connell completely renovated and reinvented the space left vacant in 2021 by the Clifton Martini & Wine Bar.
Ghost tour: If you believe in ghosts – or just wonder about them – you can learn where spirits linger on Euclid Avenue between Public Square and Playhouse Square, plus a detour to Erie Street Cemetery, reports Paris Wolfe.
Wayne Newton: The 82-year-old “Mr. Las Vegas” has done it all, including film and television. Peter Chakrian caught up with Wayne Newton this week at his Las Vegas home as he readied for an appearance at MGM Northfield Park at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
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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