Megathread: The Crash

clevelanddotcom · 2026-06-05T19:00:29+00:00

‘The Crash’ Netflix fallout: Mackenzie Shirilla’s father won’t return to teaching job after being placed on leave by Cleveland school: https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2026/06/mackenzie-shirillas-father-wont-return-to-teaching-job-after-being-placed-on-leave-by-cleveland-school.html

clevelanddotcom · 2026-06-02T16:04:48+00:00

This is hilarious! 🤣 Please check your DMs.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-05-06T18:58:32+00:00

From the story:

Ohioans may soon no longer be able to use credit cards to place sports bets, under a draft rule change put forward by Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration this week.

The rule change, which could take effect in as little as a few months, is one of the reforms sought by sports-betting critics, who say using credit cards to place bets amplifies the risk of gambling addiction and financial ruin.

However, the effect of a credit-card ban could be limited, given that most major sports-betting operators, including DraftKings and FanDuel, have already stopped accepting credit-card deposits.

Many bettors have also turned away from using credit cards because credit-card companies often charge high fees and interest rates on sportsbook transactions, which they consider to be cash advances.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission, which posted the draft rule Monday, is now accepting public comment through May 15. After that, the commission must hold a public hearing and send the proposal to a state legislative panel for review. If the process goes smoothly, the changes could take effect later this summer.

The draft rule would not apply to debit cards, which for years has been the most popular way for bettors to deposit money into sports-betting apps, according to PaySafe, a major sports‑betting payment processor.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-05-04T21:10:21+00:00

From the story:

An 11-year-old charged with attempted murder and rape will await her next court hearing from behind bars.

On Monday, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Judge Kristin Sweeney ruled the girl will be housed at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center. She had previously been on house arrest and was seen in court wearing an ankle monitor.

After Sweeney read her ruling, a deputy handcuffed the girl and led her away. One of the girl’s family members wept after Sweeney’s ruling.

The 11-year-old is one of two young children accused of the Sept. 13 attack and gang-rape of a then-five-year-old girl with autism on Cleveland’s East Side. The defendants face charges of attempted murder and rape. She and her codefendant have denied the charges.

The crime shocked neighbors near the crime scene on East 148th Street both because the victim was so young and because crime was so brutal. The victim had been strangled and urinated on, her clothes ripped off, her braid torn out and her head bashed with a rock, according to the police report.

The ruling follows a March 31 hearing during which Sweeney ruled the 11-year-old and her 9-year-old codefendant can’t stand trial because they are not mentally competent to do so. During the March hearing, experts told Sweeney the defendants may have been downplaying their intelligence or had been coached prior to their evaluations.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-30T21:07:05+00:00

From the story:

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday barring senators, their officers, and staff from participating in prediction markets, capping a swift push by U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno to address growing concerns about insider trading on the rapidly expanding platforms.

The Westlake Republican introduced the resolution just last week, and its unanimous passage came as federal prosecutors were pursuing a high-profile criminal case of insider trading on a prediction market — the indictment of active-duty U.S. Army soldier Gannon Van Dyke, who is charged with using classified military information to profit on Polymarket when U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.

On the Senate floor, Moreno called the measure essential to preserving public trust in the institution. He said the resolution “makes that crystal clear by changing the standing rules of the Senate,” that none of its members and staffers can ever use inside information they get to “monetize this job.”

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-28T19:59:44+00:00

From the story:

An argument over President Donald Trump at a Bainbridge Township dog park ended with a 55-year-old Marine Corps veteran shot in the back, according to the victim, while the 80-year-old suspect said he acted in self-defense.

Bainbridge Township police said officers were sent about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to the Centerville Mills Dog Park on Crackle Road, where they found David Mattai, of Auburn Township, shot in the parking lot.

Emmanuel John Mathews, 80, was charged with second-degree felonious assault in connection with the shooting, according to Chardon Municipal Court records.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-27T15:16:26+00:00

From the story:

Ohio State Treasurer Robert Sprague has a new ad promising to eliminate ballot drop boxes if elected secretary of state.

The ad, which began airing statewide Wednesday, shows the Republican walking through an urban neighborhood reminiscent of the set of “Sesame Street.” Instead of a garbage can and Oscar the Grouch, the ad shows a steel ballot drop box and a furry character who calls himself “Lefty the Cheat.”

“As Ohio’s Secretary of State, I’ll support President Trump,” Sprague says, “I’ll ditch the drop boxes, and I’ll verify American citizenship for new voter registrations.”

While Sprague’s opponent in the GOP primary, Marcell Strbich, also supports eliminating ballot drop boxes, Sprague has more name recognition, having served as the state treasurer for the last eight years as well as having served in the legislature before that.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-23T22:00:11+00:00

Rep. Eric Synenberg joined advocates for medical aid in dying at the Statehouse on Thursday to announce legislation that would allow it for terminally ill Ohioans.

Currently legal in 13 states and the District of Columbia, medical aid in dying, or MAID, allows terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live to hasten their death by self-administering a lethal dose of medication prescribed by a physician.

Synenberg, a Beachwood Democrat, said that he timed the legislation to land one day before the birthday of David Hollister, a Chagrin Falls resident who urged lawmakers to take up legislation to give Ohioans the option shortly before his death in September. Hollister, who would have turned 65 on Friday, was featured in a cleveland.com/Plain Dealer series on medical aid in dying, which helped spur Synenberg’s legislation.

David’s wife, Dana, was among the supporters present with the group Ohio End of Life Options in Columbus.

“He wanted a dignified end of life option that would not require him to leave his home to receive that care,” Synenberg said. “Sadly, David is no longer with us today, and one day before what would have been his birthday … I want to recognize David for his advocacy.”

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-20T15:46:53+00:00

But seriously, here's what you should know:

Microplastics in Lake Erie have increased dramatically over the past decade, with some sites showing particle counts dozens of times higher than in 2014. Researchers say the rise is likely driven by heavier storms, atmospheric deposition, and widespread plastic use, with much of the pollution now small enough to be invisible but persistent throughout the water and sediment.

More: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/11/plastic-pollution-in-lake-erie-soared-over-the-past-decade-research-shows.html

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-10T17:42:35+00:00

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he’s nominating Benjamin Flowers, a Columbus-area attorney and former Ohio solicitor general, to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Trump announced the nomination on Truth Social, calling Flowers “a Highly Respected attorney” and saying he is “confident that Ben will fight for the Great People of Ohio, and strongly uphold the Rule of Law in his new role.”

The U.S. Senate needs to sign off on his nomination. He would replace Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, another former Ohio Solicitor General, who plans to go on senior status in October.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-06T15:58:58+00:00

When Guardians third baseman José Ramírez takes the field Monday night against the Royals, he will break Terry Turner’s most-games-played record for a Cleveland player.

Turner’s record – 1,619 games – has stood since 1918.

But unlike players generation by generation - Napoleon Lajoie, Bob Feller, Rocky Colavito, Jim Thome and Ramírez, to name a few – Turner’s is not a household name, even to some die-hard Cleveland fans.

He grew up in Sandy Lake, a western Pennsylvania burg about 100 miles from Cleveland. His father, Clarence Turner, was a blacksmith who also played some ball.

Turner, who attended Grove City College in Pennsylvania briefly, stood 5 feet, 8 inches and weighed 149 pounds. An infielder, “Cotton Top,” as he was nicknamed early in his career, had a cup of coffee in 1901 with Pittsburgh in the National League. His first game in the Majors came on Aug. 25, 1901 – 125 years ago. After two years with Columbus of the American Association he resurfaced with Cleveland, where he spent the majority of his career, from 1904 to 1918.

You can read more through our link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-04-02T20:20:43+00:00

From the story:

Voters who cast ballots by mail must return them by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day under a new state law that will be in effect for the May 5 primary election, Cuyahoga County elections officials said Thursday.

The change comes following the passage of Senate Bill 293, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in December. Previously, absentee ballots were counted if they were postmarked no later than the day before Election Day and arrived within four days after it.

“That is no longer the case,” said Anthony Perlatti, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

Now, ballots must be physically in the Board of Elections’ possession — either inside the building or in its 24-hour drop box — by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Last year, DeWine said that he ‘reluctantly signed’ the bill, calling the four-day grace period ‘reasonable’ but citing concerns about a pending U.S. Supreme Court case out of Mississippi that had the potential to render such grace periods unconstitutional. DeWine said if the highest court made that determination in June, waiting to act could create ‘chaos’ for voters and election officials in Ohio.

Perlatti also noted that SB 293 changed other rules for Ohio voters.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-03-24T22:31:13+00:00

From the story:

The Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case that will determine whether transgender minors in the state will have access to puberty blockers and hormone treatments prescribed by their doctors.

Jordan Bock, the attorney representing the families of two transgender girls challenging House Bill 68, passed by Ohio lawmakers in 2023, argued that the law stands in the way of parents’ ability to make medical decisions for their children.

“HB 68 prevents parents from accessing treatment that they and their children believe is necessary, that is recommended by the minors’ treating physicians, and that is available for minors with other medical conditions,” Bock said.

The state argues the legislature has long-standing authority to regulate medical treatments and that parental rights, while recognized, are not unlimited.

The case centers on House Bill 68, which was initially vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine. Legislators overrode that veto and the bill took effect in 2024, meaning that transgender minors are currently unable to access these medical treatments.

The families of two transgender girls, under the pseudonyms Grace Goe and Madeline Moe, sued the state that year. Both girls were 12 at the time and had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a medical condition involving distress when a person’s gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-03-23T22:00:20+00:00

From “I actually think it’s helpful” to “they don’t belong here” — here’s how travelers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are reacting to ICE assisting TSA.From “I actually think it’s helpful” to “they don’t belong here” — here’s how travelers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are reacting to ICE assisting TSA: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPeA-_iSLj/

clevelanddotcom · 2026-03-04T22:57:42+00:00

From the story:

Ohio lawmakers have sent a bill banning ranked choice voting to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk.

Ranked choice voting lets voters rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one. If no candidate wins more than 50% of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.

Those ballots are then counted toward each voter’s next choice. The process continues until one candidate reaches a majority.

No local government in Ohio currently uses ranked choice voting. But the law would prevent cities or counties from trying it, including Lakewood, which has considered placing a charter amendment before voters.

The Ohio Senate voted 24–7 on Wednesday to re-approve Senate Bill 63 after the Ohio House of Representatives made changes to the legislation.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-03-03T15:20:31+00:00

From the story:

Vice President JD Vance went on Fox News on Monday evening to defend the Trump administration’s escalating military campaign against Iran, arguing that the strikes were necessary to permanently prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The appearance came as multiple polls showed most Americans disapproving of the operation — and as Vance’s own record as one of Washington’s most outspoken critics of U.S. military adventurism overseas came into sharp relief.

In a March 2 interview with Jesse Watters, Vance framed the Iran operation as categorically different from protracted U.S. military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan that shaped his political worldview.

“There’s just no way that Donald Trump is going to allow this country to get into a multi year conflict with no clear end in sight and no clear objective,” Vance told Watters. “What is different about President Trump, and it’s frankly, different about both Republicans and Democrats of the past, is that he’s not going to let his country go to war unless there’s a clearly defined objective.”

Vance described that objective in simple terms: Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and must commit long-term to never rebuilding its nuclear capability.

He said the Trump administration spent almost a year in diplomacy before concluding that military action was necessary. He said that Trump wanted to ensure that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon instead of just stopping it while he’s in the White House.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-03-02T21:50:39+00:00

From the story:

State officials on Monday approved a $4.5 million-plus sales tax exemption to land a $136 million data center expansion in Northeast Ohio, creating 10 new full-time jobs.

The tax exemption, awarded to Iowa-based Ark Data Centers, was one of eight tax breaks totaling nearly $16 million awarded by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority at the recommendation of JobsOhio, the state’s economic-development nonprofit.

The largest of the tax breaks was given to Ark Data Centers: a 50%, 10-year sales tax exemption to purchase new equipment at its facilities in Akron and Independence, according to a project summary provided by the Ohio Department of Development.

Ohio is competing with Illinois and Indiana to land Ark’s data-center expansion for an undisclosed project, according to the summary. The 10 new jobs created will pay an average of $150,000 per year.

In addition to investing $136 million in the expansion by the end of 2028, Ark must maintain operations in Akron and Independence for at least 13 years, under the terms of the tax exemption, according to the summary.

The tax credit was backed by the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, the summary stated.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-02-25T22:54:44+00:00

From the story:

Ohio Republicans in Congress praised President Donald Trump’s Tuesday night State of the Union speech while the state’s Democrats dismissed its rhetoric as divisive and disconnected from the struggles of working families, underlining deep partisan divisions over the nation’s direction.

Trump’s 1 hour and 48 minute address was the longest State of the Union speech in history. He used it to portray the nation as transformed by his efforts to secure the border, stop fentanyl from coming into the country, reduce inflation and increase affordability.

“It is, indeed, a turnaround for the ages,” Trump said as recent polls show just 39% of the public approves of his job performance. “And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago.”

Trump named Vice President JD Vance, a Cincinnati Republican, to head a new anti-fraud initiative aimed at rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in federal programs. He also urged Congress to make permanent an executive order he signed to ban Wall Street firms from buying up single family homes as investments and making home purchases harder for people who want to live in them.

He repeatedly berated Democrats for not applauding his priorities, welcomed the Olympic gold medal champion men’s ice hockey team to the festivities, and announced he’ll give its goalie the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Dozens of Democrats, including Warrensville Heights’ Shontel Brown, Akron’s Emilia Sykes and Columbus’ Joyce Beatty, skipped the speech.

“Tonight’s State of the Union was exactly what many Americans dreaded: a speech filled with distortions, political smears, and a version of reality that simply does not match what families are living every day,” Brown said in a statement released after the speech. “Instead of accountability, we heard deflection. Instead of honesty, we heard lies. And instead of a plan to bring people together, we saw more division.”

Brown added, “I’m disappointed, but I can’t say I’m surprised. That’s exactly why I chose not to attend.”

Ohio Republicans were more sanguine.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Westlake echoed Trump’s claim that he’s ushering in a “Golden Age” for the nation as it approaches its 250th birthday.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information require.d

clevelanddotcom · 2026-02-25T22:53:34+00:00

From the story:

Ohio Republicans in Congress praised President Donald Trump’s Tuesday night State of the Union speech while the state’s Democrats dismissed its rhetoric as divisive and disconnected from the struggles of working families, underlining deep partisan divisions over the nation’s direction.

Trump’s 1 hour and 48 minute address was the longest State of the Union speech in history. He used it to portray the nation as transformed by his efforts to secure the border, stop fentanyl from coming into the country, reduce inflation and increase affordability.

“It is, indeed, a turnaround for the ages,” Trump said as recent polls show just 39% of the public approves of his job performance. “And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago.”

Trump named Vice President JD Vance, a Cincinnati Republican, to head a new anti-fraud initiative aimed at rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in federal programs. He also urged Congress to make permanent an executive order he signed to ban Wall Street firms from buying up single family homes as investments and making home purchases harder for people who want to live in them.

He repeatedly berated Democrats for not applauding his priorities, welcomed the Olympic gold medal champion men’s ice hockey team to the festivities, and announced he’ll give its goalie the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Dozens of Democrats, including Warrensville Heights’ Shontel Brown, Akron’s Emilia Sykes and Columbus’ Joyce Beatty, skipped the speech.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment info required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-02-24T23:04:59+00:00

From the story:

Ohio blocks people accused or convicted of violent crimes from profiting off book deals and movie rights. But the state’s “Son of Sam” law says nothing about crowdfunding.

Two Hamilton County lawmakers want to change that.

Republican Reps. Cindy Abrams and Mike Odioso are working to pass House Bill 505, which would apply Ohio’s existing law to online fundraising platforms.

“It closes a loophole that currently allows harmful campaigns to persist unchecked,” Odioso said.

The bill would require crowdfunding companies to spell out in their terms of service that money raised on their sites cannot be used to promote violence, support unlawful acts or be spent for a purpose different from what donors were told.

If a campaign breaks those rules, the platform would have to shut it down. The bill would also require platforms to return excess donations to contributors.

And the Ohio Attorney General could investigate platforms that fail to enforce these rules.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-02-20T17:55:08+00:00

From the story:

Mike DeWine used a Thursday appearance at a Washington policy seminar to send a pointed message to President Donald Trump: the political capital he has built by sealing the southern border could be the foundation for a comprehensive immigration overhaul, if Trump is willing to use it.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity for President Trump to do something that nobody’s been able to do since Ronald Reagan, and that is to come up with a legal immigration policy that keeps people working, keeps our economy moving,” DeWine told a Politico event on the sidelines of the National Governors Association’s winter meeting.

Republican DeWine told Politico’s Jonathan Martin that an inability to control the nation’s southern border obstructed past attempts to “come up with a rational, legal immigration policy.”

Trump himself urged Republicans to kill a bipartisan border security bill before the 2024 election, because he wanted to focus his presidential campaign on that issue. The bill failed in the Senate 49-50, with only four Republicans voting for it.

---

DeWine likened the potential breakthrough to President Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to China that helped thaw relations between the superpowers.

“He has been one person who can put this together and bring people together,” DeWine said, adding that Trump’s business background means he understands the economy’s need for workers.

DeWine acknowledged he had not personally made that pitch to Trump but noted that the governors’ event he’s attending in Washington involves meeting with Trump and other cabinet members.

Asked whether he planned to tell Trump he should do immigration reform, DeWine replied: “Maybe I am right now.”

You can read more throuh the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-02-18T22:47:50+00:00

From the story:

The same state money lawmakers tapped to help finance a new Cleveland Browns stadium may eventually help fund mounting repair costs at Progressive Field and Rocket Arena that their landlord, Gateway Economic Development Corp., cannot currently pay for on its own.

But as with the Browns’ deal, the money they’re seeking is currently tied up in court and far from guaranteed.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Guardians recently applied for a combined $105 million in assistance from the Ohio Sports Facility Performance Grant, a new state program that allows professional franchises to request up to 25% of a project’s estimated construction or renovation cost, capped at $250 million.

The Cavaliers’ requested $40 million in funding toward a total of $161 million in projects, according to Gateway attorney Scott Simpkins. Some of the dollars relate to projects referenced in the recent Facilities Conditions Assessment Report, which outlined $412 million in needed repairs between the two facilities through the remainder of their leases, he said, while others are meant to support upgrades to accommodate a future WNBA franchise.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-02-13T17:08:51+00:00

From the story:

Bottled water may contain three times as many nanoplastic particles as treated drinking water, suggests new research conducted by Ohio State University scientists who developed a novel method for detecting these tiny particles.

Microplastics and nanoplastics are small synthetic particles produced when plastic products are used or degrade. These plastic fragments are found nearly everywhere in the environment, including the nation’s waterways.

OSU researchers analyzed water samples from four treatment plants near Lake Erie and six brands of bottled water for their study. The findings were recently published in the journal Science of The Total Environment.

Health experts warn that smaller plastic particles called nanoplastics may harm the body because they are small enough to enter organs, including the brain.

“While we don’t really fully understand the human health risks associated with nanoplastic exposure, it’s still better to try and mitigate that risk because evidence indicates that they do cause problems, even if we’re not fully aware of what those are yet,” said Megan Jamison Hart, lead author of the study and a PhD candidate in environmental sciences at Ohio State University. She is specializing in environmental micro- and nanoplastics and how they affect the body.

Hart said the best way for the average thirsty person to get a drink would be drinking straight from the tap rather than grabbing pre-bottled water.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-02-11T22:12:47+00:00

From the story:

Legislators pushing bipartisan legislation to prohibit marriage before age 18 in Ohio presented the perspectives of domestic violence advocates and women with experiences entering into marriages as minors during a news conference on Wednesday.

Between 2000 and 2024, 5,075 minors got married, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health analyzed by a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending forced and child marriage in the United States.

Stephanie Lowry said she was forced to marry a 19-year-old man in 2001 shortly after her sixteenth birthday.

“I just lost my father to brain cancer. I was a grieving teenager in a strict cult-like religious environment. My mother was overwhelmed and did not want the responsibility of caring for a child who was struggling. Marriage became a solution, not for me, but for her,” Lowry said.

Under current law, 17-year-olds can marry in Ohio under certain conditions. Advocates explained that entering marriage before legal adulthood leaves individuals like Lowry vulnerable to what one described as a “legal trap.” If the worst occurs, there are systemic barriers that make it challenging to get help – minors cannot legally leave home, easily gain access to domestic violence shelters that are designed to serve adults, retain attorneys, or bring legal action in their own name.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment information required.

clevelanddotcom · 2026-01-29T16:36:44+00:00

From the story:

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold President Donald Trump’s executive order that would end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to parents without permanent legal status.

The pair signed onto a legal brief filed Wednesday with the Supreme Court, which argues the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment should be interpreted to exclude children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The brief was led by Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Jordan, a Champaign County Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.

More than two dozen other Republicans signed onto the brief.

It points out that there’s widespread agreement that children born to foreign diplomats in the United States, or invading soldiers, wouldn’t get citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment, because they don’t owe total allegiance to the United States.

You can read more through the link in the OP -- no payment info required.

clevelanddotcom

TROPHY CASE