Subscribe to the Wake Up, cleveland.com’s free morning newsletter, delivered to your inbox weekdays at 5:30 a.m.
Oct. 19 will be a star-studded night at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, when Cleveland for the first time since 2021 hosts the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions.
Not only will inductees like Mary J. Blige, Cher and Dave Matthews Band perform at the ceremony, but the list of presenters and other performers includes Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Chuck D, Ella Mai, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Julia Roberts, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lucky Daye, Mac McAnally, Method Man, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Slash and The Roots.
More celebrities will be revealed. Remember, the last time the ceremony was in Cleveland, Taylor Swift opened the show singing Carole King’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.”
If you’re not lucky enough to have tickets, Disney+ will stream the evening live.
— Laura
Guardians vs. Cincinnati Reds: Guardians don’t get perfecto, but they do get perfect swing from José Ramírez in 5-2 win over Reds
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Cloudy skies
Rock Hall: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced a list of presenters and performers (with more on the way!) and it’s a venerable who’s who of superstars from the world of music and film, reports Peter Chakerian.
Voter challenges: Conservative activists for the past several months have mounted a statewide effort to kick thousands of registered voters off the rolls in the runup to the 2024 election. Election officials in at least 13 counties tell Jake Zuckerman that they have received thousands of voter registration challenges, the vast majority of which have been rejected. Challengers can have zero personal knowledge about a voter’s whereabouts and residency before having their cases heard.
Today in Ohio: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno doesn’t understand why suburban women care about abortion — “especially for women that are like past 50, I’m thinking to myself, ‘I don’t think that’s an issue for you.’” We’re talking about the comment and Republicans’ view on women on Today in Ohio, cleveand.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
“Welcome To Springfield” is displayed on the Interstate 70 overpass in Springfield, Ohio. (Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press)AP
Springfield: Blaming the Biden-Harris administration for creating an “immigration crisis,” a group of Republican U.S. Congress members want the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education and Health and Human Services to help Springfield, Ohio, deal with an influx of Haitian migrants in the country legally under temporary protected status. Sabrina Eaton reports that U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, a Dayton Republican who represents Springfield, on Tuesday spearheaded letters to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to seek emergency funding.
Non-citizen donations: Ohio’s ban on non-citizens contributing money to state ballot-issue campaigns is now in force, at least for the time being, as a federal appeals court panel on Tuesday lifted a temporary freeze on the new law. Jeremy Pelzer reports it remains to be seen what effect, if any, the decision will have on the campaign to pass Issue 1, a proposed overhaul of Ohio’s redistricting process.
Jill Stein: Ohioans’ votes cast this fall for presidential candidate Jill Stein will not count because the Green Party nominated her running mate after a state administrative deadline, reports Jeremy Pelzer. Stein filed to run as an independent presidential candidate in Ohio because the Green Party lost state recognition several years ago, but votes cast for her in Ohio will not be counted.
Spotted lanternflies: The spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that has exploded in population in Greater Cleveland this year, is starting to do what most bugs do to ensure they stick around and annoy people for years to come: lay their eggs. Peter Krouse reports each female can lay up to two egg masses before they die, and each mass can contain 30 to 60 eggs, so it’s important for people to destroy them as much as possible to lessen the harm they can do later as adults.
Helene strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane earlier on Wednesday and is expected to strengthen more today, when it could make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region.National Hurricane Center
Hurricane effects: As Hurricane Helene is set to make landfall today in Florida, current prediction models don’t see the storm coming close to Ohio. But even if it did, it wouldn’t do much to help our drought or plant life, reports Zachary Smith.
Portage sheriff: Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski has removed his Facebook post about supporters of Kamala Harris, a move that came after he drew the threat of litigation and the anger of some residents. Lucas Daprile reports that Zuchowski’s post earlier this month gained national attention about his views on Harris’ immigration policies that many said bordered on threats to residents who posted signs supporting her.
SNAP skimming: County officials say there has been a spike in reports of people having their food assistance benefits stolen by thieves using card skimmers, Cory Shaffer reports. Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services cited a “significant increase” across the county in electronic thefts of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits.
Playhouse Square: Former Playhouse Square President and CEO Art Falco will retire from his current role as senior adviser at the end of the year, and Chief Operating Officer Patricia Gaul will be calling it a career after 40 years. Joey Morona reports that Falco led the organization through transformative projects, including the expansion from five performance spaces to 10, the formation of downtown Cleveland’s first Business Improvement District, and the establishment of the organization’s real estate division and education department.
Park grants: The National Park Service announced Wednesday $14.1 million in federal funding for three park projects in Northeast Ohio through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grants Program. The largest grant, $10.8 million, will go to Cleveland Metroparks to support the acquisition and development of Irishtown Bend Park.
Zoo rhinoceros: Azizi, a 24-year-old Eastern black rhinoceros, has returned to her birthplace at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. She rejoins the zoo’s rhino “crash” after spending time at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, where she mothered two calves.
Circle Square: The Circle Square masterplan in University Circle is continuing to push forward with conceptual approval for another project, its East Stokes Block North mixed-use building between Stokes and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards. Megan Sims reports the Circle Square masterplan is a multi-year project led by Midwest Real Estate Partners to develop property on either side of Stokes Boulevard at the northwestern gateway to the city’s medical, educational and arts district.
Grocery Outlet: A national chain called Grocery Outlet Bargain Markets is continuing to stake out new locations in the Cleveland area, this time at a store in Parma, reports Sean McDonnell. The grocer has signed a lease for a store on Broadview Road in Parma, north of Snow Road.
BW buyouts: Baldwin Wallace University is continuing to look for ways to cut costs and recently cut another 35 staff members though a buyout program, reports Sean McDonnell.
Men’s health: Younger men may not get routine cancer screenings, but they do prioritize mental health, a recent national Cleveland Clinic annual MENtion It survey found. Julie Washington reports the Clinic’s MENtion It survey looked into health priorities and concerns among men from different generations and discovered a generational divide in health habits, mental health and the use of social media as a source of health information and other topics.
A 63-year-old Kent man was killed in March in a head-on crash on Ohio 43 near Streetsboro.(Streetsboro Police Department)
Deadly crash: A Bedford Heights man has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after police say he crashed head-on into another vehicle while driving under the influence, killing a 63-year-old Kent man. Devonte Anthony also is charged with OVI and operating left-of-center in connection with the crash in March that killed George Shiner, Cliff Pinckard reports.
Car break-ins: Police say thieves broke into several cars in Ohio City and Gordon Square this week and officers are seeking residents’ help in the case. Most of the break-ins occurred in the Ohio City neighborhood on Monday, Olivia Mitchell reports.
Art museum: The Cleveland Museum of Art has announced the acquisition of three new pieces to add to its robust collection – including an ancient Greek helmet, an oil painting by Dorothea Tanning and a drypoint etching by Rembrandt van Rijn, reports Peter Chakerian.
Eras tour: Condado Tacos is doing an ultimate giveaway for Taylor Swift fans looking to snag tickets to the final U.S. leg of the Eras Tour, reports Alex Darus.
Tequila: Tequila is the hottest-selling spirit in the nation. To bear the name “tequila,” the spirit must be made from Blue Weber Agave in the Jalisco region of Mexico. Paris Wolfe reports that two Northeast Ohio distillers who don’t want to miss out of the trend are making the same product and labeling it “agave” spirit.
National Park: North Cascades National Park, two hours northeast of Seattle, is one of three national parks in Washington and among the least visited, reports Susan Glaser. There are more than 300 glaciers within the park boundaries – way more than at Montana’s Glacier National Park.
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.
Judge approves $600 million settlement for residents near fiery East Palestine derailment Read more
Medina council approves grant application to fund bump-outs, additional square improvements Read more
Best pet Halloween costume photo contest: Keep entering by emailing us your pictures Read more
Get ready for magic, costumes and treats at North Royalton’s Halloween Madness event Read more
Solon Council of PTAs’ Budget Bin sale in 60th year of supporting senior scholarships Read more
‘Clairvoyant’ Parma law director cleaning up outdated ordinance language Read more
Fairview Park begins annual street repair program Read more
North Olmsted begins Clague Road widening project Read more
