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At the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Thursday, voters waited about 45 minutes at lunch time to cast their ballots early for Tuesday’s election.
Most of Ohio’s 8 million registered voters still vote on Election Day and in Cuyahoga County more early voters have opted to vote by mail than in person.
But more than 45,000 of them have come to vote early in person.
Why?
Some told Molly Walsh they weren’t sure the post office would deliver their ballot by the deadline. Others feared long lines at their polling places on Election Day. And “as ads bombard television screens and social media feeds, some just wanted to get it over with.”
— Laura
Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers: 1 p.m. Sunday, Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland. TV: WOIO Channel 19. Radio: WKRK FM/92.3, WNCX FM/98.5, WKNR AM/850.
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunshine, then showers this weekend
Early voting: In Cuyahoga County, about 168,000 people have voted in the 2024 election so far — more than 45,000 of them in person — with three days of early voting left to go, reports Molly Walsh.
Modell Law: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office asked a federal judge on Thursday to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the Browns to test the “Modell Law,” a state law designed to stop teams from leaving cities that subsidized them with taxpayer money. Adam Ferrise reports Yost’s request to U.S. District Judge David Ruiz in Cleveland says his office should be involved in the lawsuit because it involves a state law that forces taxpayer-funded teams to take certain steps before it can leave.
Today in Ohio, the daily news podcast of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Today in Ohio: More than 60% of Ohio nurses who left bedside care did so because of a heavy patient load and about 65% of bedside nurses have experienced workplace violence in the last 12 months. We’re talking about an Ohio survey that looked at the impact of understaffing in Ohio’s hospitals on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Voting locations: Voters in 22 precincts in five communities in Cuyahoga County will cast ballots in new polling locations on Tuesday for the 2024 presidential election, reports Robert Higgs. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Thursday released a reminder for some voters in Cleveland, Maple Heights, North Royalton, Shaker Heights and South Euclid that their voting locations have been changed.
Citizenship proof: A federal judge has rejected a legal challenge to new rules requiring naturalized citizens in Ohio to show proof of citizenship in certain instances before they can vote at the polls, reports Jeremy Pelzer. The revised rules were put in place earlier this month by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office to address a fairly narrow problem: allowing newly naturalized citizens to cast a ballot even when they haven’t been yet able to obtain a driver’s license or state ID card that doesn’t have the word “noncitizen” printed on it.
Drilling rights: A state watershed conservancy district voted to sell drilling rights underneath 2,257 acres of Leesville Lake in Carroll County for about $12.4 million plus 20% on royalties to Encino Energy, a Houston-based oil and gas company. Jake Zuckerman reports the board of directors of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District voted last week to allow its staff to execute the lease, which hasn’t yet been finalized.
CMSD levies: The two Cleveland Metropolitan School District tax questions on Tuesday’s ballot will help the district at a time when it faces a funding gap, the district says, due in large part to one-time federal coronavirus funds that have been committed and spent. But the larger picture shows money concerns that extend beyond COVID-19 funds, Laura Hancock reports.
EV recycling: As part of an effort to promote recycling of electric vehicle components, the U.S. Department of Energy is giving a $2 million grant to the University of Akron, reports Sabrina Eaton.
Famous Supply: A vacant warehouse facility is getting new life and bringing new jobs to Maple Heights, thanks to funding support from Cuyahoga County Council, reports Kaitlin Durbin. The body is considering a $2 million loan to help Famous Distribution, more commonly known as Famous Supply, finish renovating the warehouse at 5700 Lee Road South into its main distribution center and training facility.
Drought conditions worsen in Northeast and Central Ohio, while more than a dozen counties are still in exceptional drought conditions.U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought: Every time Northeast Ohio thinks its out, drought pulls it back in again, reports Zachary Smith. While four counties regionally are still in normal conditions, two Greater Cleveland counties have been touched by moderate drought again.
Natural tires: A primary ingredient in tires is butadiene, a chemical compound derived from fossil fuels. But if Bridgestone Americas is successful with a pilot project, the company will make butadiene from ethanol, which not only is produced from corn in the United States, but also from sugar cane in Brazil, reports Peter Krouse.
COVID: After six weeks of steady downward movement, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio essentially stayed flat, going from 2,751 last week to 2,779 this week, reports Julie Washington.
Antisemitic graffiti: A suspect accused of spray-painting homes in Orange denies the allegations and his attorney has called for the village’s mayor to apologize for a rush to judgment. Ryan Kellogg, 37, of Orange, was arrested Sunday after being accused of spray-painting two homes, one with a swastika, in the village, reports Lucas Daprile.
School parking lot shooting: An off-duty Cleveland police sergeant was charged Thursday in a shooting in the parking lot of Riverview Elementary School in Painesville, an incident that panicked children and their parents just as the day began. Alexander Sinclair, 34, of Painesville, is charged with felonious assault, kidnapping and the discharge of a firearm on a prohibitive premise.
Expungement: More than 160 people with felony convictions sought to have their cases expunged or sealed in Summit County this week, reports Olivia Mitchell. Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich and Clerk of Courts Tavia Galonski had the county’s first expungement day Tuesday. Officials reviewed old convictions to determine whether the cases can be sealed or wiped off residents’ records.
Medical worker stabbed: An Independence man has pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder in the stabbing of a medical worker earlier, reports Lucas Daprile. Jason Halasz, 25, entered the plea in front of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Cassandra Collier Williams on Wednesday. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two charges of felonious assault.
Holiday cookies: With the holidays right around the corner, we knew it was time to ask about cookies and where to get ‘em. Our Best Of team narrowed the field down to a top 20 list of nominated spots. Now it’s time to vote.
Thanksgiving to-go: For those interested in placing to-go orders ahead of Thanksgiving Day, Alex Darus has a list of 22 restaurants offering pickup options for the holiday dinner.
Frank Lloyd Wright: Westcott House was built in 1908 and is a superb example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature Prairie-style design. The house, open for tours year-round, is one reason to make the trip to Springfield, Ohio, reports Susan Glaser.
Things to do: To provide some inspiration for this post-Halloween weekend, Alex Darus has 19 things to do in Greater Cleveland, including concerts, theater performances and beyond.
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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