DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
It's that time again -- the Mega Millions drawing that could make you a millionaire!
Tonight's drawing is worth $77 million, or $52 million if you take the cash up front.
Grab your tickets and let's play!
The winning Mega Millions numbers for Friday, August 30, 2013 are (as drawn):
06-43-24-44-19 and the Mega Ball is 33.
Good luck!
WKYC-TV
A Cold Front will slowly slip across the area on Saturday, then stall to our south by Saturday evening. Sunday, we'll be in-between. The next, stronger Cold Front will push into town on Monday with Showers & Thunderstorms. Then much cooler, drier air will be with us as we head back to work & school on Tuesday & for the rest of the week.
Tonight: Increasing cloudiness overnight, warm & muggy. Scattered showers after Midnight. Low: 72. Wind: SW 5-10 mph.
Saturday: Partly Sunny, Warm & Muggy with occasional rain showers. High: 83. Wind:" West 5-10 mph.
Saturday Night: A few evening showers, otherwise, Mostly Cloudy & Muggy. Low: 69. Wind: NE- 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly Sunny & Sticky with isolated showers. High: 83. Wind: South 5-10 mph.
Sunday Night: Rain & Thunderstorms return. Muggy. Low: 72. Wind: South 5-10 mph.
Labor Day: Rain & Thunderstorms. High: 81.
Tuesday: Partly Cloudy & much Cooler. High: 70.
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny & Pleasant. High: 75.
Thursday: Partly Cloudy. High: 71.
Friday: Sunny & Mild. High: 71.
-------
Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook or @wkycweather on Twitter
Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page
Holly Strano: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page
Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page
Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- New information led the FBI and police to West 25th Street and Interstate 90 -- specifically, Vega Avenue -- but their search turned up empty for a teenager missing since 1995.
WKYC's Tom Beres says the FBI and police were digging in a basement of a home at 2610 Vega Ave., an access road along the north side of I-90.
The FBI said a tip led to a search for Christina Adkins, who has been missing since Jan. 11, 1995.
Adkins was 17 and five months pregnant when she went missing.
1:30 p.m. Beres said Christina's younger sister Tonia Adkins arrived at the location and police allowed her and Christina's nephew to move closer to the house.
2:30 p.m. Debbie Marmol, Christina's mother, arrived at the home, saying she learned about the search from a co-worker who saw it on social media.
4:15 p.m. Beres said the parents of Gina DeJesus -- one of the three girls found May 6 held captive by Ariel Castro in his Seymour Avenue home -- arrived on Vega Avenue but declined to be interviewed.
They did join a group of neighbors who formed a prayer circle to pray for all those who are missing.
"She was my best friend, we talked 100 times a day," Marmol said. "I'm hopeful but I just want some closure."
Marmol said she did not know of any connection between Christina and the home on Vega Avenue.
FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson tells WKYC's Tom Beres that the FBI received a tip and that FBI and police are searching the entire home, along with police K-9s.
Anderson said the house is occupied, but the man who lives there is not a person of interest in the investigation.
Anderson also emphasized that, despite the street being near Seymour Avenue, there is no connection at all to Ariel Castro.
Neighbors tell Beres that the two homes are a gathering place on weekends for individuals who play "Dungeons & Dragons" games.
Outside the home are carpeted crosses that are standing upright in automobile tires.
Crime scene tape was put around a vacant lot next to the home.
They removed barrels of materials dug up from the basement.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
BEACHWOOD -- WKYC has learned that Bank of America has laid off 1,000 mortagage associates here, 55 in Independence and 100 in Cincinnati, with at least 45 more to be laid off pending.
The last day of work for these employees will be Oct. 31. On that same date all 3 mortgage branches in Beachwood, Independence, and Cincinnati will close. The Beachwood property -- two buildings -- was already sold back in 2007 to the Cleveland Clinic.
Beachwood Mayor Merle Gorden released this statement:
"We were contacted today by Bank of America representatives. They indicated that with the increase in interest rates, their home loan and refinancing applications are down substantially, and that as a result, there were pending layoffs in multiple cities and states housing this line of business, including ours."
"While we are always very disappointed to hear of any job cuts, we view this as a temporary setback. The Cleveland Clinic owns the two buildings housing the affected Bank of America facilities. The Cleveland Clinic has thriving operations in Beachwood and we are optimistic that they might be able to expand into this space. As such, we will engage very soon in conversations with the Cleveland Clinic to review the feasibility of that, and also to determine whether there could be a plan to transfer some of the affected employees into any new jobs that are created."
"In addition, we also told Bank of America that we will assist them in retaining and relocating any remaining employees by finding them more appropriate space that will be competitive and keep them here."
In response to WKYC's inquiry, Bank of America responded: "We continue to reduce the size of our mortgage servicing operations in line with the successful reduction of our portfolio of delinquent mortgage customers. Compared to peak levels in 2011, today we have fewer than one-third the numbers of customers who need the specialized programs and support of this team."
"These actions also reflect our ongoing efforts to streamline our facilities and align our cost structure with market realities, including declining refinance volume resulting from rising interest rates. Bank of America has a strong track record for helping our employees identify opportunities both inside and outside of the bank and we are working closely with leaders in the community to support a smooth transition. We remain committed to Ohio and continue to refine our business model to account for changes in the marketplace to both preserve our presence and plan for the future."
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
A Lakewood woman is getting national attention for her protest of the NFL's purse policy.
Under the new policy, purses and bags are banned.
The only things allowed in the stadium: clear gallon-sized bags and small clutch purses.
Jen Verrillo sounded off on her blog and got an overwhelming reaction. The post has received nearly a million views.
She said response -- even from men -- has been incredibly positive.
She points out that woman may have items in their purses, such as tampons, that they don't want other to see.
Jen is planning a protest before the Browns season opener Sept. 8.
She's calling it Team Tampon Tailgate and expects lots of people to come out and join her in picketing the new policy.
WKYC-TV
Brian Hoyer got the start tonight after Jason Campbell experienced flu-like symtons before the game.
Hoyer completed his first pass for 45-yards to Josh Gordon but was intercepted by Demontre Hurst on his second pass of the game.
Bears took a 3-0 lead on a 52-yard field goal by Robbie Gould.
Spencer Lanning missed a 41-yard field goal for the Browns that would have tied the game at 3.
Browns kicker Shayne Graham has tightness in his back and his return is questionable.
Bears led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Bears took a 10-0 lead on a Jordan Palmer 5 yard touchdown pass to Joe Anderson over ABdul Kanneh.
Spencer Lanning connected from 32-yards as the second quarter ended to cut the Bears lead to 10-3.
Bears led 10-3 at halftime.
Robbie Gould made 13-3 with a 21-yard field goal.
Trent Edwards was intercepted by James-Michael Johnson who returned it for a 23-yard touchdown.
Browns went for a 2-point conversion but failed so the Bears now lead 13-9.
Bears led 13-9 at the end of the third quarter.
Robbie Gould hit his third field goal of the night to give the Bears a 16-9 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Brian Hoyer threw a 14-yard touchdown to DanGronkowski to cut the Bears lead to 16-15.
Spencer Lanning gave the Browns a 18-16 lead with a 40-yard field goal.
Browns win 18-16.
WKYC-TV
CLEVELAND -- City leaders say perception is not always reality.
An independent study by the Police Executive Research Forum reported Cleveland Police had "sound and comprehensive" policies and procedures related to the use of force.
"The assumption that no one follows the general police order. That's not so. Most do, and you demonstrate that through showing reduction of the use of force," said Mayor Frank Jackson.
Jackson pointed out statistics that show deadly force down 54 percent, from 17 deadly shootings in 2006 to 12 in 2012. There have been six deaths from force in 2013 to date.
The report, by think tank PERF, examined policies on use of force and how they work within CPD.
"We have been showing a decline over the years, so we know we're doing it right," said Chief Michael McGrath.
Doing it right. That's much different than Attorney General Mike Dewine's response to a November use of force incident that left two dead 137 bullets later.
Dewine called the incident "a systematic failure."
"I didn't accept it then, and I don't accept it now that there's a systemic problem," said Jackson. "This is an indication and proof that we do follow what comes out of our mouth. And that is what we will set up protocols, processes, procedures ... all that in order to accomplish this recreating the trust between the public and the division of police."
City leaders say this report, commissioned in March 2011, didn't focus on any one incident. The report includes 26 recommendations, all in place except one announced Wednesday.
In a national best practice change, now officers are not to fire at or from a moving vehicle -- without exception.
The city says these statistics show that the department is moving in the right direction and the recommendations from the study should help them get there.
But that doesn't mean there won't be any problems ahead.
"There are those situations. There are those instances where you're going to have a problem," said McGrath. "We're not going to bat 100 percent all the time. I understand that. But we're trying to lower the probability and provide officers with the training and the policies and procedures so when they do make those decisions, they make the right decisions.
"We had a tragedy take place. I'm not a bit happy. I'm satisfied that PERF did a good job."
AP/WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland civil rights groups, residents and some who attended Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's famous "I have a dream" speech are remembering its 50th anniversary Wednesday.
Wednesday night there was to be a 6 p.m. rally on Mall A, followed by a march to the Cleveland Public Auditorium for a celebration of the Jobs and Freedom historic event.
Ninety-four-year-old Willa Morgan of Cleveland attended the Washington, D.C., rally in 1963.
"We didn't have no idea we were making history," she said.
"We went so that we would have equal rights like everybody else ... that's what we wanted to hear. Dr. King, that's what we wanted to hear, " she said.
She says there's been a lot of progress made but adds schools, poverty and community trust remain big issues.
"It's in a mess. One group doesn't like the other group. There's too much hatred. ... When I sit here, I look at that TV and I just shake my head. Do you think we'll ever break that racial barrier?" she asks a reporter.
Another Clevelander who attended the march, former Cleveland Judge Sara Harper, is to speak at Wednesday night's event, as is Congresswoman Marcia Fudge.
It's also billed as an intergenerational event, with a symbolic torch being passed to young people.
Marcia Mockabee, president of the Urban League, the event's main civil rights group sponsor, said the idea is to teach young people they have a responsibility of giving back and being connected to the community.
"We can't give up. We have to be very vigilant and have to make sure we keep making progress," she said.
Mockabee says the Urban League, NAACP and Southern Christian Leadership Conference hope the commemorative event starts to define new goals, seeking improvements in jobs, education and social justice.
"Urgency, empowerment and an action agenda" are what she hopes is created.
There will be followup meetings in the weeks to come, she pledged.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
The video could have told a very different story -- four young men enter a store hours after it closed and grab several items.
The manager of a New Jersey store thought the worst when she heard the store had been broken into.
Instead the young men paid for everything, even adding in the tax.
The honest kids caught on camera have been found -- at football practice at a nearby university. All four are on the team.
The players say they thought the store was open because the door was unlocked. The owner says there was a glitch in the locking mechanism.
The players are shocked that a $4 purchase of batteries and an audio cable is garnering national attention.
The manager of the store personally thanked each of them and gave them a $50 shopping spree.
CNN
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
Marine staff sergeant Jesse Cottle's world was changed forever in 2009.
"We were on an IED clearing mission on foot, it's not the safest job you could choose," he said recently.
Jesse's job was to find and dismantle improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.
"About 5 hours into that patrol, into that mission, I was struck by an anti-personnel IED," he said. "It was a pressure plate. I stepped on it and lost both legs right away.
"I remember most everything I was awake the whole time."
He met Kelly during his recovery. She was swimming for Boise State at the time, and both attended a swim meet in San Diego.
"I just remember being very intrigued by him," she said. "He was just very different and not because of his legs, just who he was."
They were married in 2012. They now live in San Diego.
While in Idaho visiting Kelly's family, they decided to take family portraits.
"It was a normal photo shoot, we finally got together and Jesse had his legs on and everything," she said.
Photographer Sarah Ledford suggested a picture in the water.
"So we said 'Well, you can just pop off your legs and get on one of our backs, and we'll take you in' and so, 'cause that's just how we get around sometimes, like at the beach," Kelly said. "We do it all the time. It's just pretty normal, so he hopped back on my back and then Sarah's like 'Oh, we'll take some couples shots.' "
Ledford posted one of those shots to her Facebook page.
She had no idea the image of Kelly carrying Jesse on her back would get the reaction it did -- thousands of likes, hundreds of shares and comments.
"Overwhelming, I can't even keep up with my page," she said. "The picture just blew up, America just fell in love with Jesse and Kelly."
"I'm just speechless," Jesse said. "Having that kind of impact -- it's very humbling. My first reaction was wanting to reply to each one, but then they kept coming."
Kelly added: "It's cool because we represent a lot of people, couples that are going through the same thing and so it's just an honor to be able to represent that."
CNN
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
A small group of community activists has come together in support of John Rager after he was attacked recently for no reason.
John's sister, Jimilee Hoover, says she's always been protective of her younger brother -- and proud that despite his mental challenges he works hard to support his family.
He works late nights at a Cleveland Heights bakery.
Last Wednesday his bike had a flat tire, so he had to take the bus to work.
As he was walking from the bus stop to his home in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, a group of men attacked him unprovoked.
They viciously beat his head and body and left him to die.
And now his sister is more determined than ever to fight for her baby brother.
A Facebook page -- John Needs Justice -- has been created to raise awareness and money for him and his wife, Dee Dee, who also has learning disabilities.
Additionally, Cleveland Councilman Mike Polensek has set up two funds -- one to raise money for John and another to raise reward money to find his attackers.
You can contribute to the victim fund at any Key Bank branch. To donate to the reward fund, call Polensek's office at (216) 664-4236.
Polensek said donations to the reward fund have reached $1,000 so far.
Cleveland police encourage anyone with any information about the incident to contact the Detective Michael Legg of the Fifth District. He can be reached at (216) 623-2589. Anonymous information can be given to Crime Stoppers by calling (216) 252-7463.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
As the cost of higher education continues to rise around the nation, one Ohio school is boldly taking a step in a different direction.
On Tuesday, Ashland University announced a 37 percent decrease in tuition for the 2014-2015 school year bringing the price tag for full-time undergraduate students down from a projected $30,064 to $18,908 next fall.
"This may serve as one of those catalyst moments in higher education where others are looking at this more intently," said Scott Van Loo, VP of Enrollment for the university. "This decision is not out of desperation or challenging times at our undergraduate level, it is something that we thought ... what is the most sustainable path for our institution?"
In fact freshman enrollment numbers are up this year according to Van Loo, with 634 freshman and 112 transfers registered.
Administrators anticipate the drastic tuition decrease will help entice more students to Ashland's campus.
"If we had continued on the path we were going with an average of 4 percent increase in tuition every year, over the next eight years, we would have cost over $50,000 dollars," explained Van Loo.
Federal and state aid will now pay a higher portion of Ashland's tuition bill while the university will reduce but not eliminate institutional grants and scholarships.
"We have adjusted our financial aid, but we're still remaining generous with our merit-based awards to students," said Van Loo. "Our top academic award is going to be $11,000 dollars, and, if a student is eligible for federal and state dollars, $5,500 for the Pell Grant and over $2,000 for the OCOG (Ohio College Opportunity Grant). They could have almost their full tuition paid for."
"I do have a little brother who is a freshman here and just the impact it will have for our family finically -- I know after 4 years here my college account is pretty well tapped out," said Christopher Manthey, a senior political science major.
"College itself is expensive, and seeing the initial cost is kinda like a take a step back," said Lauren Miller, a junior nursing major. "I thought it (tuition decrease) was awesome, and we all got so excited when we heard it I mean it's a great opportunity."
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
ELYRIA, Ohio -- A man in his 50s was struck and killed by a train in Elyria Sunday evening, Elyria fire officials said.
The accident was reported just after 4 p.m. near the intersection of West Bridge and North streets.
Railroad traffic was stopped for a few hours, but has since resumed, the Elyria Fire Department said.
Elyria Police are investigating and have not yet commented on the case.
The man's identity has not been released. The Lorain County Coroner's Office has not yet returned a call from Channel 3 News.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- The two houses on either side of Ariel Castro's former residence on Seymour Avenue will be demolished Monday morning.
The demolitions are scheduled for 8 a.m. and will be ongoing throughout the day, said Gus Frangos, Cuyahoga Land Bank President.
Reports have called for the lots to be converted into a community park or garden.
Stay with Channel 3 News for continued coverage of this developing story.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- Three people were rescued, but one of them later died in a water emergency off the Cleveland coastline near E. 72nd Street, officials said.
Officials say that a 9-year-old boy was fishing with a male in his twenties and a female in her thirties. The boy went into the water and they both jumped in to save him.
A good Samaritan then jumped in and helped save the female and boy, but couldn't find the male. The boy and woman were taken to the hospital and are listen in stable condition.
The male was eventually found by divers and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office confirms that he has died.
The man who rescued the boy and woman was not injured.
Metroparks Rangers, Cleveland Police, Cleveland Firefighters, Cleveland EMS and the United States Coast Guard responded.
Stay with Channel 3 News and wkyc.com for the latest on this developing story.
WKYC-TV
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts led 20-6 over the Browns in the fourth quarter.
Colts took the opening drive as Adam Vinatieri kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Colts a 3-0 lead.
Browns No. 1 defense still hasn't allowed TD in 8 possessions.
Browns opening drive went 7-plays but resulted in a Spencer Lanning punt.
Colts dominated the first quarter with five-first downs while the Browns had only one.
Colts led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Colts increased their lead to 10-0 with an Andrew Luck 3-yard touchdown pass to Stanley Havili.
Tashaun Gipson, just named starting FS this week, picked off Luck at goal-line on tipped ball by FB Stan Havili.
Colts led 10-0 at the end of the second quarter.
Colts made it 17-0 when Andrew Luck threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton.
Shayne Graham connected from 50-yards to cut the Colts lead to 17-3.
Colts increased their lead to 20-3 on a 25-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.
Colts led 20-3 at the end of the third quarter.
Shayne Graham hit from 44-yards to make the score 20-6 late in the fourth quarter.
Brian Hoyer got intercepted by Larry Asante for a 48-yard touchdown return to give Colts a 27-6 lead.
Colts win 27-6.
WKYC-TV
Our Sunny, Warm weekend will conclude on Sunday. As High Pressure slips to the east & south, Mother Nature's Heat Pump will be in full force, bringing us Heat, Humidity, and occasional Thunderstorms for the last week of August.
Saturday Night: Clear and comfortable. Low: 58. Winds: E-SE 5-10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny and warmer. High: 84. Winds: SW 5-10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly Cloudy & Mild. Low: 65. Wind: SW-10 mph.
Monday: Partly Sunny, Hot & Humid with scattered late day Rain & Storms. High: 87. Wind: SW 10-15 mph.
Monday Night: Scattered Rain & Storms. Muggy. Low: 71. Wind: SW 5-10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly Cloudy, Hot & Humid with scattered Rain & Storms. High: 85.
Wednesday: Partly Sunny, Hot & Humid with scattered Rain & Storms. High: 87.
Thursday: Partly Cloudy. High: 82.
Friday: Mostly Sunny. High: 83.
Saturday: Sunny. High: 83.
-------
Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook or @wkycweather on Twitter
Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page
Holly Strano: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page
Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page
Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
It's that time again -- the Powerball drawing that could make you a millionaire!
Tonight's drawing is worth $92 million, or $51.4 million if you take the cash up front.
Grab your tickets and let's play!
The winning Powerball numbers for Saturday, August 24, 2013 are (as drawn):
45-17-59-12-25 and the Powerball is 19.
Good luck!
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
OBERLIN -- "Renewable energy" and "high tech" are phrases you may not think of when you're taking out the trash.
But a local company is seeing the possible in just that.
Now, what you throw away can wind up around the world and even back in your home.
When you toss your recycling, there is a good chance it will make its way to the Lorain County Resource Recovery Complex.
The plant opened nearly 20 years ago but recently "reopened" after a $15 million upgrade.
"The old plant was like a Volkswagen beetle. Not a lot of moving parts to it. Not a lot to take care of. This plant is more like a Ferrari. So it takes a little while to understand how it works and get it tuned up the way we want it" said Eric VanHousten, the general manager of the Elyria Business Unit for Republic Services.
The complex is the largest of its kind in the region. Grants from the Ohio EPA and others have led to cameras that can sort out milk and juice containers.
Along with magnets that pluck metal and soda cans out of the air.
All the automation means you don't have to sort or bag your recyclables. Toss it all into one bin and your done.
"When we automate a community or put the carts in the recycling almost triples," VanHouten said.
Thirty-five tons of recyclables move through the plant per hour.
Once sorted and formed into bails, your garbage can go global.
"The cardboard will stay fairly local as will the plastics. But the fiber, the newspaper, the mixed paper could end up anywhere in the world" said VanHouten.
With the upgrades, 85 percent of what is sent to the plant is now recycled, keeping it out of the landfill. Even with the leftover trash the company is thinking green, creating electricity from methane gas given off by the garbage.
"We capture the methane and send it over to generators that will take care of more than 20,000 homes," VanHouten said.
Reusing resources means better business.
"The recycling facility also helps us be a good community citizen. And we are getting something that was thrown away back into the stream to be used again," VanHouten said.
Republic Services runs the plant, which recycles waste from Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties, as well as parts of Sandusky. The company is looking to expand their operation is Ohio.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- LEEDCo has announced a six-turbine wind project will be built seven miles out in Lake Erie.
It's called "Icebreaker" and has been touted at Ohio's clean energy testing ground. LEEDCo President Lorry Wagner says the economic benefits will be huge.
"The project will create 525 construction jobs and generate millions for the local economy," he said. "This clean energy enterprise will be the catalyst for a new regional industry, based right here in Cleveland."
Terrestrial wind turbines have been around for years, and there have been studies showing a number of negative environmental impacts.
For avid outdoorsman Darren C. Brooks, they have started to clutter up his vacation pictures. He notes, "They're everywhere. They're pollution, literally pollution to your photos."
Though Brooks is talking about turbines on land, he doesn't want to see the same thing happen in Lake Erie.
"Every fisherman, every boater, every island dweller, they're going to have to look at these now, and again the big concern is, what's going to happen tomorrow?" he asked.
LEEDCo says its goal is to eventually have a wind farm offshore that produces 1500 kilowatts of electricity. That's 500 separate wind turbines.
They are asking consumers to support the project by signing a "Power Pledge," saying they will purchase a portion of their energy from wind-generated sources.
The six turbines are slated to be up and running by 2017.
To learn more, visit LEEDCo's website.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- Last year in the wake of summer political conventions, there was a lot of buzz about Cleveland making a bid for one or both of the 2016 political conventions.
Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald was the chief cheerleader.
But seemingly little has been done in the public eye about the effort since then.
FitzGerald says behind-the-scenes discussions are taking place and that a decision will likely be made by the end of the year.
The city's in a much better position to make a case. It has a state of the art convention center that might be part of the event, and it will have a lot more downtown hotel rooms than it did in 2016, including a new supersize convention center hotel.
Both local political parties are strongly supportive of a convention bid. Chairmen Stuart Garson and Rob Frost are both upbeat, saying Cleveland remains the key city in the key county of key swing state Ohio.
Mayor Frank Jackson's team says, "We'll get back to you when there's something new to say."
But other cities have started to proclaim their "in it to win it" convention intentions.
Cleveland will have had practice hosting bigtime events including the Senior Games and Gay Olympics.
A convention brings a lot of free publicity, visitors and dollars. But there are also headaches and hassles.
And the business and civic leaders who would have to provide the money, time and energy to lead a convention bid may get the last word.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
The uproar has yet to die down. Dr. Phil's tweet asking if sex with a drunk girl is OK continues to reverberate on the Internet...as it should.
Social media being as immediate as it is can be both a blessing and a curse and ill-advised tweets -- or even Facebook posts -- are like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.
It began Tuesday when, on Dr. Phil McGraw's verified Twitter account, a tweet asked if it's OK to have sex with a drunk girl, with the hashtag teensaccused. Now I write my own tweets but I highly doubt Dr. Phil does the same so someone else apparently made a really bad decision on his behalf.
And if you live in Ohio, you likely know about the two Steubenville High School football players convicted of raping a Weirton, West Virginia girl (who also went to the same high school) while she was drunk.
What's also rather odd is the timing of Dr. Phil's alleged question, the fact that it occurred on social media and last year's rape. Dr. Phil's people said the tweet was for a show that was being taped Wednesday but they won't say what the show is about or if it's even about Steubenville "one year later."
The rape occurred the night of Aug. 11, 2012, when an incapacitated high school girl was publicly and repeatedly sexually assaulted by her peers, several of whom documented the acts in social media.
The victim was transported, undressed, photographed, and sexually assaulted. She was also penetrated vaginally by other students' fingers, an act defined as rape under Ohio law.
What was equally upsetting was the "assailants" actions were documented on Facebook, Twitter, text messages, and cell phone recordings of the acts.
Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays, both 16 at the time of the crime, were convicted in juvenile court for the rape of a minor. A grand jury is still meeting to see if others should be charged -- like parents, coaches, others who may have known what happened and didn't report it.
Dr. Phil's tweet was deleted Wednesday but the damage was done. In a statement, Dr. Phil's people said "It was clearly ill-advised" and "we sincerely apologize," that the tweet "was intended to evoke discussion leading into a very serious show topic."
"This tweet was intended to evoke discussion leading into a very serious show topic based upon a recent news story, hence the #teensaccused label," the statement also read.
They may never air the episode or they may air it and it may be about the Steubenville teens.
But one thing is for sure -- it is never "OK" to have sex with a drunk girl who can't give consent. Why was that question even asked for whatever reason in the first place? Sigh
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
KENT -- Ivory Byrd is starting his freshman year at Kent State University. He's well aware of the dangers of pictures and social media. That's why he turns off the GPS function on his camera phone.
"Bad people can find you," Ivory says.
Kent State journalism professor and social media expert Stefanie Moore says the metadata on pictures can help strangers find you. There are even websites that help lead the way.
"People are actually checking into their homes which is disturbing to me letting anyone know where you live, so I think we have to be a little more cautious about what we're sharing online," Moore says.
And young people are sharing way too much intimate information.
"Sexting is an everyday occurance. Everyone does it," Ivory says.
But when those relationships fail or the couple fights, those pictures often become public on websites that cater to revenge.
"I can't even count on both my hands how many times I've seen naked pictures on Twitter of people that have just broken up or gotten in fights," Ivory says.
And options for removal are limited.
"Legally if these photos were taken with the understanding that they would not be shared with anyone else she probably does have the ability to bring an invasion of privacy claim,"
But it won't stop the pictures from being public and forever circulated on the internet. And the website is usually protected, too.
Bottom line: Those private pictures may last a lot longer than the relationship.
"If you take naked pictures you run the risk of them getting out," Ivory says.
WKYC-TV
Photo taken from video on LeBron James' Instagram account.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
MIAMI -- The Miami-Dade Police Department says it will discipline the officer who provided a police escort to Miami Heat star LeBron James to the Justin Timberlake/Jay Z concert.
In a statement released Thursday, the department says it has chosen to give the officer "informal counseling" after investigating the escort involving the athlete.
The statement says no further action will be taken.
It does not identify the officer.
James posted a video on social media sites before Friday's concert saying he was following a police escort on the wrong side of the street.
The video showed the police vehicles with their lights flashing.
The department said Monday that officers violated policy by providing the police escort.
It wasn't scheduled in advance, but all safety precautions appeared to have been taken.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- A new study by the Cato Institute shows Ohio is one of more than 30 states where welfare recipients may be better off getting benefits than working in a minimum wage job.
The study's co-author Michael Tanner said, "The reality is people on welfare are not lazy. But they are also not stupid. If you pay them more to stay on welfare than to work, that's what they are going to do."
The study found an Ohio mother with two children participating in seven programs including food stamps, housing, Medicaid, cash payments and day care could get $28,723 in benefits.
Working a $7.85/hr minimum wage job for 40 hours a week would bring in less than $17,000.
Not all recipients participate in all seven programs.
Angela Delaboin's trying to raise two daughters.
"The minimum wage is definitley too low. The cost of everything is going up. A lot of people are applying for benefits rather than work because you do end up getting more," she said.
The United Labor Agency's David Megenhardt helps people at the Employment Connection try to find jobs.
"There's a misnomer that if you reduce benefits and use tough love people will be more motivated to find work. We don't see it. What we see are people looking for work," he said.
Sacha McGee and her husband both lost their jobs. They were denied unemployment benefits and are supporting two children.
She's enrolled in Employment Connection programs and would be willing to take some minimum wage jobs.
"We didn't have a choice but to apply for assistance. We do have a family. Maybe if it was a career I wanted, I'll start at a minimum wage," she said.
The study's co-author Tanner said Ohio is also falling short on the welfare reform goal of having people on welfare do work.
"Ohio is 44th in the nation. Only 37.6 percent of welfare recipients are working and that is a very generous definition of work," he said.
He says the study challenges federal and state lawmakers to find ways to get more low-skilled jobseekers working in jobs that can support a family.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
The culinary scene in downtown Cleveland is on fire with 36 new restaurants opening in just the last 18 months.
From Tomo in the Warehouse district to Ken Stewart's in the Flats, your palette is in for a treat.
Whether you're on a date, or you just want to take the family out for a good time, there are plenty of options to choose from in downtown Cleveland.
"We're seeing a nice portfolio of local restaurateurs, and, as you know, Cleveland has become really a national Mecca for chefs, and we're starting to see the results of that," explained Joseph Marinucci, president of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.
"It's really a reflection of the amount of activity that's occurring in downtown," he continued.
With most downtown apartments and condos at or near full occupancy and more developers investing in downtown, Marinucci anticipates growth will continue in the restaurant sector.
"There's been a lot of great investment downtown when you look at the casino, the flats east bank project, the convention center, so that public and private investment that's occurring has added to the momentum," he said.
Executive Chef Tony Fortner has already noticed this momentum at his downtown eatery Stonetown Soul Fusion, which opened doors just seven months ago on Prospect Avenue.
"We posted the menu in the window and people walked by and looked and started to see the different things that we offer ... and before you know it, the Cavs players started coming in, the Browns players started coming in, and before you knew it we were on the map," said Fortner.
The same success has also been found in the Flats by Lago owner Fabio Salerno.
"We've been here six weeks," said Salerno. "It's been great, every week has been building and building, and we have another place downtown too.
"I've worked downtown for a long time, and this is the first time in 18 years I've seen a lot of growth happen in the city, and a lot of people are excited about Cleveland and being downtown," he said.
Arrived in 2011
Arrived in 2012
Arrived in 2013
Opening in late 2013
Announced for 2014
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
The Terminal Tower communicates through colors and now it's using social media.
The tower is the gem of Cleveland's skyline.
Striking architecture is enhanced by a high-tech light system that alters the tower's appearance on a nightly basis.
The colors change for different causes.
A few examples:
To help connect with the community, the tower created a Twitter account: @TowerLightsCLE.
Tweets contain information on why the tower is a certain color, as well as daily and historic photos and facts.
Not every request can be granted, but the tower has started taking requests via Twitter to change colors.
To keep the focus on the tower, the person who controls the lights prefers to stay anonymous, so we conducted a Twitterview.
@KrisPickelNews Why do you tweet?
@TowerLightsCLE I tweet to keep the followers informed on why lights are a particular color and also to share fun facts about the Terminal Tower.
@KrisPickelNews What do your colors represent?
@TowerLightsCLE The colors represent various causes and organizations. Most have their brand colors, pink for breast cancer etc. I light up as they request
@KrisPickelNews Why stay anonymous?
@TowerLightsCLE I'm not really anonymous. I'm the Terminal Tower silly.
@KrisPickelNews What's your best move?
@TowerLightsCLE The Chasing Rainbow is the money move! I like to do that one when I'm showing off.
@KrisPickelNews Do you have a favorite color?
@TowerLightsCLE I like all of the colors! I think blue and purple look good on the building. It's also great to light up for the Indians, Cavs and Browns.
@KrisPickelNews What's the best way to get you to turn a color?
@TowerLightsCLE There is an application process at www.towercitycleveland.com/info/lighting. Or if you pay me a compliment, I'll change to a lovely blush color.
The lights were installed as part of the five-year restoration that was completed in 2010.
There are 508 individual lights and each light can be individually programmed to do any color or effect.
A fun little fact: The fixtures are Phillips fixtures -- the same type used by the Empire State Building.
As for the power bill: Forest City, which owns the tower, doesn't meter the exterior lights separately from the rest of the building, but does know the LED lights save about $20,000 a year over the old lights.
WKYC-TV
Heading toward the overnight hours we are expecting mostly clear and comfortable conditions. Temperatures should cool down toward the low and mid 60s. It will be a great night to view the passage of the International Space Station starting at 9:00 PM, rising in the northwest sky.
Warmer weather is on the way for Wednesday with temperatures peaking in the mid, even upper 80s, which would be some of the warmest weather we have felt across Northeast Ohio sense July 23rd!
This warm weather will be brief initially as a cold front passes the area Thursday afternoon and evening, bringing a few showers and storms with it. Friday will be a cool day, but the weekend will bring more heat and humidity that will continue into the next work week.
Tonight: Mostly clear and pleasant. Low/mid 60s. Winds: SW 3-7 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, hot and humid. Mid 80s. SW 5-10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, hot, humid and breezy at times. Scattered showers and storms. Mid 80s.Friday: Partly Sunny. Cooler. Upper 70s.
Saturday: Clearing & Seasonal. Near 80
Sunday: Mostly Sunny & Warm. Low 80s.
Monday: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Low 80s.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Hot and humid. Mid 80s.
-------
Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook or @wkycweather on Twitter
Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page
Holly Strano: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page
Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page
Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
AKRON -- Eric Morrison and Scott Kenimond say they saw Cedar Point's contest on its OnPoint blog: 13 couples to get married during September's Friday the 13th opening of Cedar Point's HalloWeekends.
But when they learned the offer didn't apply to same sex couples, they took action.
"We both have a love of roller coasters," said Kenimond. The couple is in love, and in love with coasters, so a contest to get married at Cedar Point for the opening night of HalloWeekends seemed just right.
"You were going to be married by a Zombie, or renew your vows by a Zombie. And you had to dress like Zombies," Kenimond said. "So it was just kind of cool because we both love Halloween, we both love roller coasters, we both love Cedar Point, so I just thought it was like, the dream thing."
But the fine print said only a man and woman could be selected due to marriage laws in Ohio.
Kenimond says other ceremonies the ad alluded to, aren't legal either.
"Vow renewals are not legal weddings so I don't understand why they were excluding commitment ceremonies," he said. "So we just set out to raise some awareness and maybe get them to open it up as opposed to keeping it shut."
To their disappointment, the couple's social media campaign led the park to end the contest.
Kenimond says Cedar Point could have chosen any couples it liked, but everyone should have a shot at it.
"In today's world, it's just not a fair thing to do to leave people out," he said.
While they won't get the zombie wedding of their dreams, these thrill seekers may still take the plunge at America's rocking roller coast.
"It would have been cool you know. It would have been like, the ultimate commitment ceremony," said Kenimond. "(But) I still love the park. I still absolutely adore the park. There's no place like it on the planet."
Kenimond says he recently signed a petition to put legalizing gay marriage on the ballot in 2014.
Kenimond says he recently signed a petition to put legalizing gay marriage on the ballot in 2014.
A spokesperson for Cedar Point sent me this statement: "Cedar Point does not discriminate against any guest for any reason. The 'Friday the 13th Wedding' event was created as a fun, in-park promotion to generate excitement for the kickoff of HalloWeekends. There was no negative intent. When the promotion logistics started to take on political undertones, as indicated by several guests who gave us feedback, it was decided that now is not the best time for this event. Cedar Point does not take any official stance on political issues. Outside of official park-provided promotions, Cedar Point does offer opportunities for all couples to have weddings, commitment ceremonies and other events here at the park. We encourage guests to contact us if they're interested in planning such an event."
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
PERRY TOWNSHIP -- A four-alarm fire in Perry Township in Stark County has sent a Perry Township firefighter to the hospital.
The fire broke out Tuesday evening in a six-unit apartment building.
Firefighters believe no one was inside at the time of the fire.
Firefighters did not know the cause of the fire or why the firefighter had to be taken to the hospital.
They were unsure if all six units were occupied.
WKYC-TV
Photo taken from video on LeBron James' Instagram account.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
MIAMI -- The Miami-Dade Police Department says its officers violated policy by providing a police escort to Miami Heat star LeBron James through heavy traffic at last Friday's Justin Timberlake/Jay Z concert.
The agency issued a statement Monday saying it will continue to investigate the matter.
James posted a video before the concert at Sun Life Stadium saying he was following a police escort on the wrong side of the street.
The video showed James following police vehicles with their lights flashing.
The video was posted on several of James' social media accounts.
The police statement said officers escorted James from one intersection to another, onto the stadium's property.
The statement also said the escort was not scheduled in advance and all safety precautions appeared to have been taken.
Watch James' video on Instagram.
Associated Press
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
LAKEWOOD -- The Coast Guard and Lakewood police and firefighters searched Lake Erie near Lakewood Park for several hours Monday night looking for a possible person in the water.
According to the Fire Department, a 17-year-old saw what looked like a person or a body in the water about 5:30 p.m.
The witness could not tell if the person in the water was dead or alive and didn't report the sighting to police until 9 p.m.
Lakewood police took the report and called the Coast Guard to assist.
The search was called off by 11 p.m. Monday.
The Coast Guard said police would continue to search Tuesday morning, but the search would be treated as a recovery effort.
It was unclear whether the Coast Guard would be involved in that.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland police SWAT team responded Monday night to the 3300 block of Walton Avenue, where a man had barricaded himself in his home after allegedly shooting his neighbor.
Police received a call at 9:30 p.m. reporting a male shot at that location.
Once on scene, police were told that the man shot his neighbor and ran into his home and would not come out.
The victim was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, to be treated for his injuries.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
Once again the trial of on-unpaid-administrative-leave Moreland Hills Police Chief Tom Flauto has been continued, this time until October 1. He had been scheduled for trial last Wednesday and, before that, the original trial had been scheduled for May 1, according to court records.
Flauto, now 69, of Solon, had been the police chief for more than 11 years until his Feb. 13 indictment for allegedly improperly accessing the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investiagtion database five years ago -- between June 1 and July 15 of 2008 -- as a favor to then-Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora.
Flauto's charge is a criminal charge and a felony. The case is being heard by Madison County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert D. Nichols.
Dimora was convicted last summer and sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for racketeering, conspiracy, bribery and other corruption charges. He is appealing.
On July 28, 2008, the FBI and the IRS, with more than 100 agents, conducted simultaneous raids on the homes and offices of many Cuyahoga County businesses and elected officials, including Dimora and then-Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo.
It was later revealed that Dimora and Russo were the main targets but at least 50 other people have pleaded guilty or been found guilty, including two then-Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judges.
What is their connection? Flauto was commander of the Bedford Heights detective bureau when Dimora was Bedford Heights mayor.
In preparation for the October trial, subpoenas were served July 1 by Cuyahoga County Sheriff's deputies on Dimora's wife, Lori Dimora, at her home in Independence and on two members of the Moreland Hills police department via the police dispatch center.
I am not naming either officer because it is alleged that Flauto directed one or both to make the database search without telling them why and it does not appear that they knew it was an alleged search for Dimora.
Why aren't you hearing much about any of this? It's because the case was filed in Madison County, Ohio, where BCI is located and is being heard there.
Documents show that the license plate allegedly searched for was 'GOLFER,' which, at the time, belonged to an Independence woman, according to the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles.
Flauto, who pleaded not guilty on March 1, was hired by then-mayor Charles DeGross and was placed on leave by current Mayor Susan Renda. Flauto was making $83,000 annually.
In mid-March, Renda hired former Maple Heights and Richfield police chief Dale Canter, 66, on a six-month agreement to oversee the 14-person department. Canter was expected to work a 28-hour week for six months at $57.51 an hour. That original arrangement is set to expire in mid-September and will likely be extended now.
Know that the FBI went to Moreland Hills and Renda in November 2008 with a subpoena for records, also asking that the village not begin an internal investigation of Flauto. Nothing was heard about it until the Madison County grand jury indicted Flauto in February 2013.
(In an effort of full disclosure, I covered Moreland Hills as a reporter for Sun Newspapers from November 1995 until December 2007.)
It was five years ago last month that the corruption probe first went public and there are still several defendants who still have to be sentenced.
The probe is not over but, in the interest of justice, lets hope that this cloud over the village gets resolved sooner rather than later.
WKYC-TV
Sunday Night: Mostly Cloudy & Mild. Low: 64. Wind: South- 5 mph.
Monday: Partly Sunny & Mild with a few scattered sprinkles possible, especially to the east & southeast. High: 80. Wind: NW 5 mph.
Monday Night: Clearing & Mild. Low: 63. Wind: W-SW 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny and Warmer. High: 84. Wind: West 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear & Mild. Low: 65. Wind: SW 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, Hot and Humid. High: 86.
Thursday: Partly Cloudy, Hot & Humid. High: 87.Friday.: Partly Sunny with a few scattered showers. High: 83.
Saturday: Clearing & Warm. High: 83.
Sunday: Mostly Sunny & Warm. High: 84.
-------
Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook or @wkycweather on Twitter
Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page
Holly Strano: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page
Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page
Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND - Ricarda Pierce, Kenya's mother pleaded with her daughter's kidnapping suspect, "Derrick Hudson, wherever you are please let my daughter go. I love my daughter, she hasn't done anything to you and she has a son. Please let my daughter go, please don't harm my daughter."
Police are continuing their search for 35-year-old Derrick Hudson. Hudson reportedly shot his aunt and uncle on Saturday, before kidnapping 35-year-old Kenya Pierce at gunpoint.
Related Story: Search for kidnapped woman, suspect continues - http://on.wkyc.com/14bVge5
Hudson served 10 years in prison for killing Kenya's boyfriend and was released on parole just this year.
Hudson's aunt, 52-year-old Ethel Munds has been released from the hospital and 55-year-old Andre Munds remains in stable condition.
Family, friends, and police are asking for help and pleading that Hudson lets her go.
"I never liked him, he's disturbed mentally, violently. He physically hit her before. He thinks if he can't have her then he doesn't want nobody to have her," said Ricarda Pierce.
Family members say she has a star tattoo on her arm and a scar on her forehead.
Her mother said, "I love her, wherever she is at, and I'm thinking about her and praying about her. I just hope she's alright."
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- A woman has been kidnapped and two people have been shot Saturday.
Police told Channel 3 an argument occurred between kidnapped woman Kenya Pierce, 35, and Derrick Hudson, 35, a man that may have been staying with her.
The incident happened on the 12400 block of Chesterfield Avenue.
The owners of the home, now identified as Hudson's aunt and uncle, went upstairs to see what the argument was about. That's when police say the two were shot by Hudson. The victims, 52 year old Ethel Munds and 55 year old Andre Munds, were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center and are in stable condition. It is unknown how severe their injuries are.
Hudson then took Pierce at gunpoint and fled the scene in a red, 2007 Dodge Magnum with the license plate FHY4340. The car was last seen in the area E. 105th Street in Cleveland.
Police say the car is registered to Pierce and it's believe the car may have damage on both sides.
Hudson is described as armed and dangerous, he is a black male, 35-years-old, 5'10", 185lbs and bald.
Pierce was described as a 35-year-old female wearing a white shirt, vest, and jeans.
Hudson was released on parole just this year after serving 10 years for killing Pierce's boyfriend.
This is the seventh shooting Cleveland police are investigating overnight.
If you have any information of you see Hudson you are asked to call 9-1-1 or contact Cleveland Police Department at 216.623.2570.
We will bring you more information as it becomes available.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
It's that time again -- the Powerball drawing that could make you a millionaire!
Tonight's drawing is worth $60 million, or $34.7 if you take the cash up front.
Grab your tickets and let's play!
The winning Powerball numbers for Saturday, August 17, 2013 are:
18-21-46-54-56 and the Powerball is 23.
Good luck!
WKYC-TV
A High Pressure ridge running from the Plains to the Atlantic coast will continue to control our weather. Some moisture from the south will try to creep north on Sunday & Monday. It will bring us a few more clouds, but that's about it.
Saturday Night: Clear skies-West, Cloudy-East & not as cool. Low: 61. Wind: East 5-10 mph.
Sunday: Variable cloudiness & a little Warmer. High: 81. Wind: SE-NE 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly Cloudy & seasonably Mild. Low: 63. Wind: E-SW 5-10 mph.
Monday: Partly Sunny & Warmer. High: 82. Wind: West 5-10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly Cloudy & Mild. Low: 64. Wind: SW 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny & Warmer. High: 84.
Wednesday: Sunny, Hot & Humid. High: 86.
Thursday: Partly Cloudy, Hot & Humid. High: 86.
Friday: Partly Cloudy, with scattered showers & storms. High: 81.
Saturday: Clearing & Mild. High: 80.
-------
Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook or @wkycweather on Twitter
Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page
Holly Strano: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page
Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page
Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
AKRON -- A Summit County mother and daughter finally see justice.
When Judy started a case to win support for her daughter, Taylor was 6. Now she's 20 and Dad has finally paid up.
"It didn't seem real because it had gone on for so long," said Judy, who asked us not to use her last name or the name of Taylor's father.
After 14 years of fighting, the family won a settlement of more than $125,000, the largest lump-sum payment in Summit County history.
"I know that she's worked really hard her whole life just to support me. She was the only one there for me," said Taylor.
"I just wanted her to have an easier time. It was already, I think, challenging that she did not have a father-figure in her life. And did not have the things that otherwise she might have been able to have," said Judy.
With the help of the Summit County Prosecutor's Office, Judy worked through years of hearings.
The father denied results of a paternity test, forcing prosecutors to appeal three times and hold two trials just to establish paternity, which happened in 2008.
Then it took five years of wrangling to collect the money Dad owed.
"It was shut off many, many times because there were ways that he was able to not pay," said Judy.
"We have a lot of cases where people will protest and will fight it and argue it. And they'll drag it out," said Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. "We are always aggressive in child support cases. If we have to go 14 years, to get somebody the support they deserve, that's exactly what we're going to do."
Now Taylor, a junior at Kent State University who's worked two jobs to stay in school, has a little cushion. And Judy encourages other parents battling it out for their children not to give up.
"It definitely takes away the worry and the stress of being able to pay for things and particularly right now in getting her through college," said Judy.
"I think she's always really wanted that for me," said Taylor.
Walsh says the goal is always to get parents to show their support and remove any barriers in the way that keep them from doing so.
The office is holding an amnesty event -- Child Support Solutions -- Aug. 16 and 17 in Akron to encourage parents to come out.
It will be held at The Job Center on East Tallmadge Avenue in Akron from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Dozens of agencies will be there to help parents reinstate their driver's license, start a payment plan or get on track.
You can find more information by clicking here.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
For tens of thousands of years, people have called Northeast Ohio home.
It was a crossroads on the ancient landscape, and those who lived here back then left us clues about their lives.
Next to the butterflies and the behind the goldenrod in this Hudson meadow, archaeology students from the University of Akron are unearthing history.
Professor Linda Whitman and her field study class surveyed a new Summit County Metropark.
There are four dig sites in the meadow.
Two have yielded clues to the areas prehistoric past.The dig is a slow process and all the dirt needs to be sifted.
Eric Olson found a cobble of chert, or flint, in this excavation.
Chert flakes were used to make all sorts of tools, including arrowheads.
That excitement and the knowledge that comes with studying the artifacts links us to our historic and prehistoric past.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
EAST CLEVELAND -- Longtime East Cleveland resident Gwen Miller and new resident Roosevelt James have one thing in common.
They both think the problem-plagued city is on the way to turning the corner to a brighter future.
"I think it's getting better. It's going to get better. That's why I'm not going nowhere," Miller said.
James, who just moved into a new building in the city, said, "It's improving. I think they are trying to get it right."
The city has many longstanding pluses. Wealthy John D. Rockefeller called East Cleveland home and bequeathed it lots of land.
Forest Hills Park is a majestic space in need of better upkeep.
East Cleveland has more "millionaires' row" mansions than Cleveland. Some of the region's richest VIPs called the city home.
And new housing may lead a possible comeback.
The city is positioned next door to thriving University Circle, which has little space to develop new housing for the army of workers at hospitals, museums and Case Western Reserve University.
University Circle Inc. just partnered to develop a complex of apartments in East Cleveland for workers and students.
Univercity Circle's head Chris Ronayne said, "We leased up immediately. East Cleveland was and will be again a home for a University Circle work force."
There's talk of possible expansion. Ronayne claims a half dozen developers are checking out East Cleveland sites.
Lots of abandoned properties in East Cleveland are being demolished to make way for possible development. Cuyahoga County's Land Bank is involved.
Both candidates for mayor see a brighter city future amid the development.
Incumbent Mayor Gary Norton said, "I think we're going to be in much better shape in 10 years. We will look different."
Council president and Norton's chief opponent, Dr. Joy Jordan, said, "I've fallen in love with this community. I believe we can turn this around. ... I want to be a change agent for the future."
Whoever wins, the mayor will have to juggle solving present massive problems with developing potential projects.
Norton said, "It's like performing emergency surgery on a patient to save them so you can build the hospital around them."
East Cleveland's other pluses include the new Stephanie Tubbs-Jones Health Care Center, being on the RTA Health Line linking the city's two biggest job centers, downtown and University Circle, General Electric's long-term presence at its Nela Park complex and a renowned and stirring Shaw High School marching band.
"Superb," Miller calls it.
Poverty, crime, blight and a City Hall government that often seems to be more of a problem than problem-solver remain overwhelming issues. But East Cleveland's decline didn't happen overnight. And any rebound and recovery will take time too.
Read more from our weeklong series about East Cleveland:
East Cleveland copes with police layoffs
Dangers for children walking to school in East Cleveland
East Cleveland employees caught in budget battle
East Cleveland residents adjust to loss of hospital
Despite problems, some see a brighter future for East Cleveland
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- Prices are up for air travel across the U.S. including Cleveland.
According to a study released this week by the Wall Street Journal, of 34 key airports, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport ranks third in the change in average round trip domestic fares, up 16.3 percent for all carriers.
CLE ranks eighth in change in seat availability, down 21 percent for all carriers.
In January 2008, an average of 130,091 seats were available weekly at CLE. In January 2013, the average fell to 102,597 on a weekly basis.
United Airlines is hubbed at Cleveland Hopkins, offering the most non-stop destinations.
The availability of flights benefits frequent business travelers, but prices are a growing concern.
"I try to book as early as I can to get the best price, but lately that doesn't seem to matter," said work traveler Marianne King.
Why the increase? Some say high fuel prices, while others point to the now common mergers among major airlines, and a decline in competition.
Flying out of CLE on United Airlines costs 10.4 percent more today than it did two years ago.
Jim Ratica has flown with United on a regular basis for the last four years, but says if the prices continue to go up:
"My company's paying but at that point we look for a different airline," Ratica said.
The Greater Cleveland Partnership considers United Airlines so important to Northeast Ohio, they say it's worth sometimes paying more to fly out of Hopkins, if it supports the hub here.
The hub guarantees more flights and more direct routes for travelers.
United Airlines is actually adding new routes for non-stop service this fall: to Oklahoma City, Nashville, Austin and Boston.
The Greater Cleveland Partnership adds, hub cities often rank in the top half of the price point model, because those cities pay for the infrastructure of having a hub, and for the convenience of having more flights.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- The Browns battle the Detroit Lions in preseason game two Thursday night.
How will Trent Richardson look for his first appearance? Will the team continue to show improvement? Follow along below for updates.
First Half
Browns score: Field goal by Brandon Bogotay is good. Browns now lead 3-0 with 6:31 left in first quarter.
Update: Offensive Lineman Jason Pinkston taken to locker room for evaluation. Looks like his right ankle.
Browns score: Brandon Weeden 10-yard pass to Tight End Jordan Cameron. Browns lead 9-0. Point after good, 10-0.
Browns score: Jordan Cameron 5-yard TD catch. Browns lead 17-0 with 12:35 left in the 2nd quarter.
Update: Kick is good by Detroit. Browns lead 17-3 with 4:37 left in the half. Barkevious Mingo leaves field with rib injury. His return is questionable.
Update: QB Jason Campbell now in the game.
Browns lead 17-3 at half time.
Second Half
Update: RB Dion Lewis left the game with a left ankle injury and will not return.
Update: Detroit field goal. 17-6.
Browns score: Brandon Jackson TD. Point after good, 24-6.
Injury: TE Gary Barnidge leaves game with shoulder injury. Brandon Bogotay left the game earlier with a groin injury and will not return.
Browns win!
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
Vacant lots and properties around the city of Cleveland aren't a new problem, but a new solution is gaining some traction among homeowners.
Through a joint effort with the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga land banks, homeowners living next to vacant lots in the city can now buy them for $200 a parcel.
Homeowners outside the city limits can purchase empty lots for $100 through the county and transform them into creative green spaces, parking lots, even playgrounds.
"The property has to have been tax foreclosed or donated to a land bank so that we have the title," explained Gus Frangos, president of the Cuyahoga Land Bank. "Our land bank has conveyed vacant lots from everything to churches for daycare expansion, playgrounds, to businesses for expansion of a parking lot."
In the city of Cleveland alone there are more than 7,000 vacant lots and properties, and Frangos estimates there are hundreds more in other municipalities.
"Instead of sitting there and remaining overgrown and tax delinquent and not productive, which is a blight on the neighborhood ... it corrupts all property values all around and it's much more broad than just that lot," said Frangos.
With more homeowners taking advantage of city and county resources Frangos believes "you're not only preventing decay and establishing value on that one home, you're preventing decay on the whole street."
Dianne Krnz recently teamed up with her neighbor to give a facelift to what used to be a vacant lot between their east side homes.
"It was very overgrown, and the city can't keep up with all the lots. It's too many," said Krnz. "Now it's an eye sore out of the way and it beautifies the neighborhood and it helps people to work together."
To qualify for either the city or county's program you must be a homeowner in good standing and have the ability to take over the property taxes and maintenance of the empty lot after purchase.
The city also requires applicants to draw up plans of what they hope to use the lot for. These plans must be in accordance with all local building, housing and zoning codes.
WKYC-TV
Photo by Bruce Bennett, Getty Images.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- State health officials say a virus that sickened people who participated in a long-distance race through mud and other obstacles in southern Michigan likely originated from a participant on the course.
The state Department of Community Health says there were more than 200 reports of gastrointestinal problems from spectators and runners at the June 29-30 Tough Mudder event in Jackson County. The event included more than 22,000 participants and spectators.
The department says it's a norovirus, which is common and produces flu-like symptoms for a few days.
In an update Tuesday, the Department of Community Health said that most illnesses were reported from people who had mud or muddy water in the mouth.
The state says Tough Mudder officials are working with health officials to prevent future problems.
Associated Press
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- In a brief statement from the office of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, it was learned late Wednesday that Cleveland's Fire Chief Daryl McGinnis will retire effective Friday, Aug. 16.
Assistant Chief Patrick Kelly will serve as Interim Chief of Fire.
Cleveland fire chief reprimanded for threat
McGinnis was assigned to non-supervisory, administrative duties at the Emergency Operations Center on August 1 while the Department of Public Safety conducted an internal review of McGinnis' training records and state-required certifications.
Training records showed that McGinnis only had 22 hours of training before he was sworn in as chief. The requirement is 40 hours.
McGinnis has been a Cleveland Firefighter for 27 years.
The Civil Service Commission will review the process necessary for Mayor Jackson to appoint a new Chief of Fire.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
WESTLAKE -- A resident whose dog has had run-ins with coyotes twice in the last month wants to warn others..
Patty Wilde's dog "Johnny Boy" just can't get a break. He's encountered coyotes while out playing in the yard. The first time was at night.
"I heard him yelp, so I turned on the flashlight and I saw two coyotes with him," Wilde said.
Coyote/human contact is not uncommon. The adaptable canines have learned to live with humans. They'll eat just about anything from nuts and berries to small animals or garbage.
Most coyote confrontations stem from a territorial dispute. Either the coyote is defending its territory, or a pet is defending its territory.
There are many studies under way in Northeast Ohio. Most prominently, Metro Parks Serving Summit County collaborated with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cleveland Metroparks and other groups to track the wild dogs with radio collars.
A video about the process can be found through the link below.
The most important thing people can do is educate themselves about coyotes and their habits. The Ohio Division of Wildlife and many of our county park districts have Web pages dedicated to coyotes.
If you see one, don't panic. Slowly leave the area. Always make sure your pets are on a leash if outside, and don't leave food sources like cat and dog food outside.
For more information on coyotes, you can call the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center at (440) 871-2900 to speak to a wildlife professional.
To read up on coyotes, follow the links provided.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- Horses have entertained us -- and served us -- from Roman battles to the Pony Express.
And they serve us still, in the city of Cleveland, where their presence has been around longer than most people know.
Eight horses and five officers make up the Cleveland Police Mounted Unit.
At about 108 years, they're the only unit that's never been shut down for financial reasons.Tax dollars pay for the officers, but nothing else.
It costs about $5,000 a year per horse to maintain the mounted unit. Most of that money is raised by the Friends of the Cleveland Police Mounted Unit.
Being on horseback makes officers more approachable and is effective for crowd control, according to the department.
Friends of the Cleveland Police Mounted Unit hopes to raise money to care for the horses when they hold a three-mile horse ride through downtown Cleveland 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.
They ask that participants check in between 9 and 9:45 a.m. in the muni lot. The ride will go up East Ninth Street through downtown, past the Horseshoe Casino and back to the muni lot for a tailgate party, which is open to the public.
Cost to participate in the ride is $20 through Aug. 25 and $30 after that.
Any questions, call Sgt. Medwid at (216) 623-5653 or Kathy King at (216) 990-9880 or email cuyahoga@ofbf.org.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
Wednesday is the tenth anniversary of the Great Northeast Blackout of 2003.
It put 55 million people in six states and Canada in the dark and it's blamed on a perfect storm of problems that started right here with FirstEnergy.
Could something like this happen again?
The Eastlake FirstEnergy power plant was the first plant to shut down. Before it was done, more than 100 plants were out of commission.
It was a chain reaction of small things that snowballed, starting with trees pressing on a power line and a software bug that kept an alarm from going off.
It became a memorable two days no one wants to relive.
The power went out in the middle of Little Italy's Feast of the Assumption celebration. Some say it was nice but others said that, happening two years after 9-11, it was scary.
It was a lot of small problems that spread like wildfire, causing 50 million people to lose power and eventually costing $10 billion.
The U.S./Canadian report put most blame on FirstEnergy, for tree limbs that that smacked a power line in Walton Hills and software problems kept an alarm from going off that snowballed, putting New York City and parts of Canada in the dark.
Cleveland's water system lost pressure and filtration. Its planners weren't ready but that's changed.
FirstEnergy's spent a hundred million dollars on improvements -- new monitoring equipment, better computers, worker training, better maintenance and serious tree trimming.
The $45 million Akron Control Center will show workers the big picture for half of its operations and two back-up diesel generators are ready just in case.
Lots of utilities are learning FirstEnergy's lessons. Two Generators that were shut down at the Eastlake Plant are being rebuilt into equipment to to help control conditions on the grid by stabilizing voltage.
The other big-ticket item for FirstEnergy? Tree trimming. It has spent $320 million to cut trees and control vegetation since the blackout.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
Soon Tim Tebow will learn that Karma can be as strong as other forces in the celestial world.
It's still the preseason so many players on all the teams are trying to prove themselves to make the roster. For some, it will be easier than others. For some, they will need to make changes.
Take the Cleveland Browns' Barkevious Mingo.
From the start, when the Cleveland Browns selected the former LSU defensive end in the 2013 NFL draft, they saw his place on the Browns at outside linebacker.
So far, Mingo is doing well. We'll see how he does in Thursday's pre-season game against the Detroit Lions here in Cleveland.
But the same cannot be said of former Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, who is trying to make the New England Patriots' roster.
His debut last week against Philadelphia was less than stellar.
The third-string quarterback took over late in the second quarter and finished the game completing four of 12 passes for 55 yards.
Hmmm. Not all that good.
Passing accuracy is one aspect of his game that needs work and making better decisions with the ball another. Used to needing lots of protection in the pocket, he was sacked three times for minus-23 yards.
To be fair, he is still trying to learn a very complicated Patriots offense. Still, Tom Brady is one heck of a quarterback.
And we won't be getting any clues from Patriots Coach Bill Belichick either.
At a Tuesday news conference, he quickly dismissed a question about Tebow's potential to make the final roster. "That's not anything that we're ready to talk about right now," Belichick said.
The Patriots host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday so we will see how this plays out.
Tebow continues to wax loquacious any time the media asks him a question. He should really be quiet and concentrate on his form.
He's the yin to Belichick's yang -- Tebow talks incessantly and Belichick barely speaks.
I'm willing to bet Belichick will give him enough rope -- then give him some kind of roster spot. Nothing flashy though.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
EAST CLEVELAND -- The city's Police Department has had to deal with two huge cases recently -- the wild Cleveland police chase that concluded with two unarmed suspects shot and killed ended in East Cleveland, and accused serial killer Michael Madison is charged with murdering three woman and dumping their bodies in the city.
Those cases would tax a full-strength police department.
But East Cleveland's been coping with the layoff of 12 officers since early this year. And 10 laid-off police clerks, dispatchers and corrections officers mean taking even more police off the street.
It's meant that residents like Jacquice Davis have called for police help that never came.
She says her ex-boyfriend beat her up in May. She called police, telling them the suspect was still at her house. She waited three hours and no one showed up.
Detective Sgt. Scott Gardiner says the department is overtaxed to the limits.
"You are probably talking hundreds of follow-ups we have not even been able to look at or get to," he said.
Police Chief Ralph Spotts says officers are being asked to cancel vacations, and some are doing the duties of three or four people.
City council voted to decrease the department's budget and Mayor Gary Norton objected.
Now Norton says the state budget oversight committee monitoring East Cleveland's financial issues has recommended restoring some of the safety funding cuts.
But it won't matter to Jacquice.
She says she doesn't feel safe and is planning to move out of the city.
And to make matters worse, three officers fearing layoffs recently left for better-paying jobs in other cities.
And a handful more are trying to do so as well, which would deplete the bare-bones, 53-officer department even more.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
PUT-IN-BAY -- Two groups of men were arguing in front of the police station here at 1:21 a.m. Sunday morning and it ended with one being cited for disorderly conduct.
According to the police report, police cited Joseph Scolaro, 29, of Brunswick, for disorderly conduct and he was given a court date and time.
On the citation, Scolaro listed his occupation as "police officer" and Cleveland police confirmed he is not on the department there.
Early Monday evening, Channel 3 News confirmed that Scolaro is a police officer with the Village of Moreland Hills, according to Village Prosecutor Santo Incorvaia.
"He is a fine police officer and had two tours of military duty, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He's a military veteran who has always been a gentlemen," Incorvaia said.
Put-in-Bay police say both groups were asked If they would like to press charges for assault which they all declined to press.
The one officer who was speaking with the two groups said in his report that Scolaro "...began to walk back up to the opposite party to begin to argue with them again. I instructed Scolaro to back up while I am speaking with them, Scolaro stated 'I'm not (expletive) going anywhere.'"
The officer again told Scolaro to back up but he didn't.
The officer then "...stepped between Scolaro and the group of individuals I was speaking with and began to escort him backwards away from the other group....Scolaro grabbed my forearm in an aggressive manner. Scolaro was taken to the ground for my safety and the safety of the other officers," according to the police report.
The reporting officer also said that "...while speaking with Scolaro I could smell a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage on his person," in his report.
Police say Scolaro was walked into the police station and cited and released.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
CLEVELAND -- A new incentive program will provide $15,000 down payment loans to qualified home buyers.
The catch?
The house they buy must be in Cleveland.
But, if the buyer lives in the home for at least five years, he or she doesn't have to pay the loan back.
It's a proposal to revitalize some areas of the city that have seen better times.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland will hold a two-day event Sept. 12 and 13 at the Cleveland Convention Center, where prospective home buyers can find out if they qualify.
Get more information at www.wellsfargo.com/citylift.
WKYC-TV
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
In my opinion, a magistrate judge in Tennessee has way overstepped her bounds in changing an infant's name from 'Messiah' to 'Martin.'
Her reasoning? WBIR-TV reports that Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew said the religious name was earned by one person and "that one person is Jesus Christ." That's when she ordered the name change.
In a world where names have become more fanciful and their spelling sometimes boggles the mind, who is this magistrate to put a religious notion into a court ruling when she wasn't even asked?
Would she have changed Barkevious Mingo's name if she didn't like it because she is a cat person instead of a dog person?
It's a case that makes me wonder what other rulings she has made that never got noticed by the media?
And why was she involved in the first place?
The seven-month-old boy's parents were in court because they could not agree on the child's last name.
Thta's when Ballew heard the boy's first name and that's when she ordered it changed, too. She is quoted as saying "It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has had no choice in what his name is... The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ."
Ballew then ruled that the baby was to be named Martin DeShawn McCullough, which includes both parents' last name. The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin, of Newport, said she will appeal, saying Messiah is unique and she liked how it sounded alongside the boy's two siblings -- Micah and Mason.
I agree with the mother. And that magistrate needs a good talking to.
WKYC-TV
Photo by Ryan Haidet, WKYC-TV.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WKYC APPS
TALLMADGE -- The Summit County Medical Examiner will perform autopsies Monday on the remains of two bodies found in a wooded area in Tallmadge.
A night investigator at the ME's office confirmed that the office was asked to come out to retrieve the bodies by the Tallmadge police.
Police say the bodies were discovered Saturday on Stone Creek Drive. Police did not speculate on the cause of death but said they were called by a woman who went to the house to check up on her daughter.
Stay with wkyc.com for updates as they are available.
WKYC-TV
Sunday Night: Variable cloudiness & Mild. Low: 63. Wind: E-S 5-10 mph.
Monday: Partly Sunny in the morning, with scattered Showers & Storms by late afternoon. High: 82. Wind: SW 5-10 mph.
Monday Night: Rain & Storms likely with a Cold Front. Low: 64. Wind: West 5-10 mph.
Tuesday: Morning cloudiness, followed by gradual clearing in the afternoon. Breezy & Cooler. High: 72. Wind: North 10-15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clearing, Breezy & Cooler. Low: 55. Wind: North 10-15, gusts-25 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny, but Cool. High: 70.
Thursday: Mostly Sunny & Mild. High: 74.
Friday: Mostly Sunny & Mild. High: 75.
Saturday: Mostly Sunny & Milder. High: 79.
Sunday: Partly Cloudy & Warm. High: 80.
-------
Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook or @wkycweather on Twitter
Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page
Holly Strano: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page
Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page
Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page
WKYC-TV
