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The search for child care is distressing families. It’s so expensive and difficult to find that a lack of child care is costing the nation $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity and revenue every year.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has put a spotlight on the issue for lawmakers. Gov. Mike DeWine has proposed his own changes. And lawmakers from both parties have introduced six bills, from expanding publicly funded child care and preschool to offering annual tax credits to employers and families.
Even U.S. Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addressed child care in the vice presidential debate.
Despite the bipartisan acknowledgment that there’s a problem, though, one expert says change has been slow because solutions require significant investment, long-term planning, and a coordinated effort at every level of government.
At cleveland.com, we’ve been pushing to rethink child care. Let’s hope we’ve finally reached a turning point.
— Laura
Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers: ALDS Game 3, 3:08 p.m. today, Comerica Park, Detroit. TV: TBS, truTV, Max. Radio: WTAM AM/1100, WMMS FM/100.7
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: More sunshine
Child care: Republican JD Vance of Ohio and Democrat Tim Walz agree that a shortage of affordable child care is straining American families and that the federal government should help parents somehow, though their campaigns suggest drastically different ways to do it, reports Sabrina Eaton.
MetroHealth CEO: Acting MetroHealth System CEO Dr. Christine Alexander-Rager has been appointed the CEO for at least the next 15 months. Julie Washington reports the appointment came at the end of a two-hour board of trustees meeting Tuesday, most of it held in executive session.
Today in Ohio, the daily news podcast of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Today in Ohio: A three-judge panel declined to issue arrest warrants for Donald Trump and JD Vance in a case brought by a citizen seeking their arrests and trial over their unproven claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating pets. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about punting the case to Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll for further investigation.
Private schools: A Washington-based organization that fights for the separation of church and state is investigating distributions in Ohio’s capital budget, which provided $5.6 million for construction and remodeling at 10 private schools. It’s believed to be the first time Ohio has funded building construction for private schools and Ohio could be the first state in the country to do so, reports Laura Hancock. The money was quietly slipped into the budget and wasn’t reported until three weeks ago.
Sports bet taxes: Ohio’s doubling of its tax on sports betting has made the state one of the most highly taxed markets in the country, reports Megan Sims. At 20%, Ohio has the sixth-highest tax on sports betting operators among the 38 states and the District of Columbia that have authorized sports betting, according to the September report from the Tax Foundation, a tax policy and research nonprofit.
Sales tax holiday: Ohio’s newly expanded sales-tax holiday in late July and early August was celebrated by shoppers far less than state officials expected, reports Jeremy Pelzer. While the state budget office predicted the bulked-up holiday would reduce monthly sales tax revenue to less than $250 million, the state ended up taking in about $815 million.
Redistricting study: A prominent backer of a redistricting reform amendment Ohio voters will consider this fall says in a new report that Ohio’s existing system has divided people and marginalized communities. Molly Walsh reports the League of Women Voters of Ohio released a report titled “Ohio’s Congressional Districts: Disparities, Divisions, & Disadvantages,” which argues that manipulated district boundaries have created significant political divisions and disadvantages, particularly for marginalized communities, by diluting their voting power.
Helene response: U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio is telling crowds that bureaucracy is hindering disaster response to Hurricane Helene, reports Sabrina Eaton. He says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is focused on resettling illegal immigrants instead of disaster relief and that Appalachian areas are being ignored. Democrats say Vance and presidential candidate Donald Trump are the ones disgracing themselves by spreading lies during a disaster.
A state board Tuesday recommended that Timothy Grendell, the controversial Geauga County judge, be suspended from the bench for a year.The Plain Dealer
Grendell suspension: A state board has recommended that Timothy Grendell, the controversial Geauga County judge, be suspended from the bench for a year. The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, made up of attorneys and judges from across the state, pushed the penalty to the Ohio Supreme Court, which will hear arguments, review briefs and then decide.
Election time off: Cleveland will provide city employees with up to four hours of paid leave on general election days, which is intended to give them time to head to the polls, reports Courtney Astolfi.
Voting rides: Public transportation will be free on Election Day, Nov. 5, thanks to a local donation meant to increase equitable access to the polls and voter turnout. Kaitlin Durbin reports Cleveland Foundation that it is providing a $105,000 grant to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority so anyone can take the bus, rail or paratransit to vote in the presidential election.
Cleveland Heights: Cleveland Heights City Council plans to hold a public meeting later this year so members can air grievances and show the public they can find solutions, reports Cory Shaffer. Council’s Committee of the Whole discussed the proposal at its Monday meeting and agreed to schedule a grievances meeting sometime in the beginning of December.
Hospital rankings: Children’s hospitals in Columbus and Cincinnati were named among the 10 best nationally and tied for first in Ohio in the new U.S. News & World Report rankings, reports Julie Washington. Tied for third in Ohio were Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital and UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, followed by Akron Children’s Hospital at fifth.
Street takeover: Police arrested a second man accused of starting a fire during a street takeover last month, Olivia Mitchell reports. John Alan Dietrich, 20, of Barberton, was wanted by the Cleveland police for aggravated arson. Authorities say Dietrich was involved in a fire on Sept. 15 at West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue.
Guns seized: Authorities have intercepted 25 guns from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport so far this year, reports Olivia Mitchell. For the entire year of 2023, they intercepted 38.
Drug sentencing: A Cleveland man was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison after federal agents found nearly 100 pounds of cocaine stashed in an Old Brooklyn home, reports Adam Ferrise.
School threat: Students at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights were placed on lockdown Monday after the school received a threatening voicemail. Olivia Mitchell reports that a message at about 9:45 a.m. said that someone intended to “shoot up the school.”
Police charge: A former Chester Township police officer has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge after he was accused of meeting up with a teenager while on duty in 2023, Lucas Daprile reports. Nicholas Iacampo, who also briefly worked as a school resource officer at West Geauga High School, had initially been indicted on charges of sexual battery and contributing to the unruliness of a minor.
Ask Yadi: Is it OK to refuse to change seats with someone on a plane? Yadi Rodriguez says yes. Don’t ever get into an “altercation” with a fellow passenger over this; if they don’t move, let the flight attendants handle it. They have more authority and weight than you do.
High school football: Thirty-one high school football games will be played Thursday around Ohio, including 18 in Northeast Ohio, mostly in observance of Yom Kippur, reports Matt Goul. Four games involving teams ranked in the cleveland.com Top 25 will be played on Thursday, including Revere (5-2) at No. 8 Highland (7-0), Chagrin Falls (5-2) at No. 10 Kirtland (7-0), No. 21 Kenston (4-3) at Riverside (4-3), and Shaker Heights (2-5) at No. 24 Strongsville (4-3).
Picasso exhibit: The Cleveland Museum of Art has announced ticketing for its next major exhibition. “Picasso and Paper,” on view starting Dec. 8, promises to be one of CMA’s biggest and most immersive undertakings yet. The exhibition, organized by the CMA and the Royal Academy of Arts, London in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris, will showcase nearly 300 works across Picasso’s 80-year career, reports Peter Chakerian.
Visiting Detroit: Cleveland baseball fans are expected to flock west this week to cheer on the Guardians in Detroit in back-to-back games at Comerica Park. Susan Glaser spent a day in Detroit earlier this year, checking out several top attractions.
Foreigner: For many years Foreigner has been considered one of the Rock Hall’s greatest slights — particularly given the resume it’s amassed during the past 48 years. Gary Graff reports the current Foreigner, which will be performing at the induction ceremony with an all-star cast that includes Slash, Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith and Demi Lovato and Kelly Clarkson, is making plans for the future.
Lopez: The last call for the current Lopez in Chagrin Falls will be Nov. 1-2. In an ironic twist, it will celebrate the colorful Mexican holiday Dia Day los Muertos (Day of the Dead), reports Paris Wolfe.
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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