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The state does not have enough reserves to cover a full year of benefits during a recession, as federal standards recommend. It hasn’t since the 1970s.
One reason? Ohio funds its unemployment system primarily through payroll taxes on employers. But employers haven’t paid more into the system since the 1990s.
As we all remember, the unemployment system imploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, when outdated technology, overloaded employees and underfunded reserves led to massive delays, fraud and frustration.
Two competing bills in the Ohio House offer starkly different paths, possibly increasing employer and employee contributions or cutting weeks of benefits.
— Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Northeast Ohio weather forecast
:
Showers and thunderstorms
Top Stories
Unemployment
: The next recession could bankrupt Ohio’s unemployment fund — again.
Anna Staver reports
that two proposals in the Ohio House are back on the table: one a modest increase for employers and employees, one a more aggressive 25% cut to benefits.
Urban League
: One of the largest and most influential civil rights organizations in the country will gather in Cleveland this week to gain strength and fight back against a “coordinated campaign to reverse decades of progress,”
reports Susan Glaser
. It is the first time the National Urban League will hold its annual conference in Cleveland. The organization expects a total attendance of 10,000, making it one of the largest conferences in Cleveland in recent years.
Road rage:
A newly released video shows a confrontation between U.S. Rep. Max Miller and Westlake doctor Feras Hamdan during a road rage incident on Interstate 90.
Lucas Daprile reports
that Hamdan was charged with ethnic intimidation after allegedly threatening Miller and making racist comments during the encounter.
Today in Ohio
: The number of Ohioans locked up awaiting immigration decisions has tripled since Donald Trump took office. Of the 57,861 people jailed on civil immigration cases across the country, 71% having no criminal convictions on their record. On
Today in Ohio
, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about the human toll — and overwhelming expense — of jailing people with no criminal records.
Statehouse and Politics
E-Check:
Ohio lawmakers are moving closer to ending the mandatory E-Check vehicle emissions testing program in Greater Cleveland.
Jeremy Pelzer reports
the state is seeking U.S. EPA approval to discontinue the program, potentially saving $13 million annually.
Precision farming:
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s bill passed the House, requiring the FCC to examine satellite technology’s potential for precision agriculture.
Sabrina Eaton highlights
how the legislation could help farmers use GPS and satellite imagery to improve crop management.
Husted fundraising
: U.S. Sen. Jon Husted doesn’t yet have a significant opponent from either party in Ohio’s 2026 Senate race, but that’s not stopping him from raising a lot of money,
Jeremy Pelzer reports
. Husted, a Columbus-area Republican appointed to the Senate in January, raised more than $2.9 million in total between April 1 and June 30.
Trump loyalty:
Ohio politicians are competing to demonstrate the most loyalty to Donald Trump, with
Today in Ohio hosts
criticizing Congressman Michael Rulli’s proposal to establish a “Faith and Defiance Day” commemorating the 2024 assassination attempt of Trump. The podcast panel, including Leila Atassi, condemned the trend of performative political devotion.
Northeast Ohio News
Lakefront development:
Cleveland is seeking developers to reimagine its downtown lakefront without the Browns stadium, potentially doubling available property for new uses.
Rich Exner reports
that Mayor Justin Bibb is exploring options including housing, hotels and public spaces across 50 acres.
Marijuana regulation:
Hudson City Council voted, 5-1, to ban medical and recreational marijuana businesses within the city.
Megan Becka reports
on the council’s decision following Ohio’s 2023 marijuana legalization, despite opposition from some council members.
Heights mayor:
Cleveland Heights City Council passed ordinances restricting Mayor Kahlil Seren’s power, including barring him from accessing elected officials’ emails without consent as Seren faces a recall election,
reports Cory Shaffer
.
Cleveland 311:
The city is paying an outside firm $298,500 to improve its 311 Citizen Support Center, focusing on hiring, training and operational efficiency.
Sean McDonnell reports
the call center received over 7,000 requests in May and June, with most related to trash and city services.
Bucket gardening:
A Richmond Heights resident has transformed his vegetable garden using five-gallon buckets, creating a productive and back-friendly gardening method.
Susan Brownstein highlights
the resident’s innovative approach to growing peppers, tomatoes and zucchini with strategic soil mixing and watering techniques.
Business and Health
Blood transfusions
: Cleveland EMS has launched a groundbreaking program providing whole blood transfusions at trauma scenes, potentially reducing mortality rates by up to 75%.
Julie Washington reports
that in the first three weeks, seven of 10 patients receiving on-scene transfusions survived.
Medical research
: A Case Western Reserve University study suggests semaglutide, found in Ozempic and Wegovy, may lower dementia risk in Type 2 diabetes patients.
Julie Washington reports
the research found significantly reduced Alzheimer’s-related dementia risk, especially in women and older adults.
Crime and Courts
Street takeovers
: A Port Clinton woman, Ashlyn Rogers, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for helping orchestrate seven street takeovers in Cleveland last fall.
David Gambino reports
that Rogers pleaded guilty to felony charges and was ordered to forfeit her car and cellphone.
Rape charges
: A former nurse’s aide, Wayde Shankle, has been indicted on four rape charges involving two elderly residents at a Conneaut assisted-living facility.
Olivia Mitchell reports
the incidents occurred in February 2024 and were investigated by the Ohio Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Abduction sentence
: A Cleveland man, Anton Woodley, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for his role in a downtown Cleveland robbery and abduction.
Adam Ferrise reports
Woodley was the last of three men sentenced for forcing a 20-year-old victim to transfer $1,240 via CashApp at gunpoint.
Arts and Entertainment
Musician detained
: A Czech musician, Jaroslav Škuta, was detained and deported at Detroit Metro Airport after attempting to enter the U.S. on a tourist visa for performances.
Peter Chakerian reports
that Škuta, a former Kent State graduate student, was denied entry and forced to cancel his entire U.S. tour.
CLE Orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra is adding five new events to its 2025-26 season, including live performances of Hitchcock films “Psycho” and “Vertigo,” a holiday screening of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and a live-to-picture presentation of “Up.”
Joey Morona reports
on the orchestra’s exciting lineup of movie-related concerts at Severance Music Center.
Ask Yadi
: A woman who had lost touch with a friend finds out the friend’s husband died a year ago. She wants reach out to her past friend and express her condolences, but she’s uncertain about the appropriate way to respond.
Yadi Rodriguez offers her perspective
.
Culinary fundraiser
: EDWINS Leadership Institute raised over $450,000 at its annual La Bastille event, with more than 500 attendees supporting the nonprofit’s mission of training recently released incarcerated individuals.
Alex Darus highlights
founder Brandon Chrostowski’s recent James Beard Foundation Impact Award and the organization’s commitment to culinary education.
Food tour
: After eating her way through Nashville on a food tour, Susan Chapo decided Northeast Ohio could use similar experiences. So, in 2019 the Wickliffe resident launched Relish Cleveland Tours to guide folks through some of the city’s culinary highlights and give them history and context around the neighborhoods,
Paris Wolfe reports
.
Cordelia celebration
: Cordelia is celebrating its third birthday on East Fourth Street in Cleveland with a collaboration with a beloved Columbus sandwich shop.
Alex Darus reports
Wario’s Beef and Pork will serve sandwiches at the anniversary celebration at 6 p.m. Sunday at Cordelia.
Irish festival:
The Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.
Peter Chakerian reports
the family-run event will feature internationally renowned performers like The High Kings and Cherish the Ladies.
Student Theatre
: Cleveland Public Theatre’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program will debut “To Shake the Sleeping Self,” a play inspired by Don Quixote, featuring 39 student artists performing at nine regional locations.
Joey Morona highlights
the production’s imaginative story of a janitor’s dreamlike adventure.
You’re all caught up
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting
cleveland.com
. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists,
consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber
.
— Curated by content director
Laura Johnston
with contributions by by
Cliff Pinckard.
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