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  • Free clinic appreciation month

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    CLEVELAND — There are more than half a million people in Ohio who do not have health insurance.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ohio has 59 free and charitable clinics and pharmacies that provide essential care for the uninsured

    • CHN supports clinics in 86 of the state’s 88 counties 

    • In 2024, Salaam Clinic saw around 700 patients; this year, that number doubled to nearly 1400 patients seen

    Ohio has 59 free and charitable clinics and pharmacies that provide essential care for the uninsured. They’re supported by the Charitable Healthcare Network, and this month, CHN is celebrating the care they provide to patients in 86 of the state’s 88 counties.

    Salaam Clinic is one of several clinics in Cleveland. They see hundreds of patients a year. Shafeeq Sabir is one of those patients.

    “The opportunity is there for me to see a doctor, a physician, without having to worry about a cost factor,” said Sabir.

    Sabir has insurance but said he has a copay, and he’s on a fixed income. Salaam Clinic takes in uninsured, underinsured and those who cannot afford care.

    “Sometimes I can’t afford the copay, so I would prefer to come here for an exam before I go and see my primary physician,” said Sabir.

    Salaam Clinic is part of the Charitable Healthcare Network. The network is celebrating Free Clinic Appreciation Month this December.

    The network is Ohio’s statewide system that supports free and charitable clinics. Jason Koma is CHN’s Executive Director. He said the network’s 59 clinics provide high-quality health care to those who need it.

    “We are the backbone of the safety net of health care in the state of Ohio,” said Koma.

    More than 60,000 patients were seen at one of the network’s facilities from Jan. to Sept. 2025. In 2024, the clinics saw nearly 80,000 patients.

    The network’s clinics offer a wide range of services including primary care, specialty, dental, vision, behavioral health, social services, pharmacy, education, prescriptions, tests and insurance enrollment. In 2024, CHN’s clinics provided $224 million worth of services to patients all over the state. The network is supported by funds from the Ohio Department of Health and the state budget.

    The Ohio Department of Health said this in a statement.

    “Free clinics are an integral part of the healthcare system in Ohio, which is why the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) financially supports healthcare services to patients who lack the funds or insurance coverage to pay for vital health services.

    ODH support comes through the Uninsured Care Fund, a general revenue fund line item used to support free and charitable clinics providing medical and dental care at free or reduced costs to uninsured and underinsured Ohioans. These funds pay for primary healthcare services to any uninsured person who gets healthcare services at a free clinic in Ohio.”

    Every fiscal year, CHN gets $1.75 million to support the individual clinics around the state.

    Salaam Clinic receives funding from several sources, including CHN. Dr. Syed Shoaib Shah is the CEO of the Salaam Clinic.

    “Year over year it takes about $230,000 to run the clinic,” said Shah. “We have a part time nurse practitioner on staff as well as an administrative assistant and then includes all the supplies, all that lets us run all the mobile clinics, all the pop-up clinics that we do around the city.”

    However, the clinic doesn’t always get the full amount, and the clinic is looking at other options, including private donations.

    “Without the Charitable Healthcare Network in our clinics, these folks would have nowhere else to go,” said Koma. “Probably ending up in the emergency room and getting sicker and sicker and sicker.”

    According to UnitedHealthcare, the average emergency room visit costs $1700, but the cost depends on the services and care provided. Shah said clinics can be the first stop to getting healthy.  

    “We make sure every patient leaves with a roadmap and they know where they’re going, what they’re doing, and they have the referrals and check,” said Shah.

    Shah said clinics like his are saving lives. He said that even though they are seeing more patients and expect to see even more patients; he wants the community to know the clinic is here for them.

    “Hospitals are closing their outpatient centers because they can’t afford the care that they’re giving to the uninsured population,” said Shah.

    In 2024, Salaam Clinic saw around 700 patients. This year, the number doubled to nearly 1400 patients seen. With rising healthcare costs, Shah said the number will continue to rise, but they are happy to serve the community.

    “We expect to see more patients that are underinsured and uninsured, but they cannot afford care,” said Shah.

    Sabir said he’s grateful for Salaam Clinic and he tells everyone he knows about the clinic.

    “An opportunity of this service and that really has just gives me a better feeling consciously in my thinking and in my health, and I just feel much, much better about my life,” said Sabir.

    To become a patient of Salaam Clinic, first call them at (216) 243-7924. From there, the staff will recommend next steps and provide resources. If you would like to visit the clinic, appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.

    Saleem Clinic in Midtown, at 7401 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44103, is open on Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Their Solon location at Chagrin Valley Islamic Center at 6909 Liberty Rd. is open every last Friday of the month, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. They also do pop-up and mobile clinics.

    Salaam Clinic has a multilingual staff who speak French, Arabic, Swahili, South Asian languages, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi.

    Salaam Clinic, along with the other clinics in the network, are nonprofit clinics with paid and volunteer employees.

    The clinics accept monetary donations, and for every dollar donated to the Charitable Healthcare Network, it provides $13 worth of healthcare.

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    Rose Todd

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  • Akron man deported after living in U.S. for 44 years

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    CLEVELAND — Brittani Sisouphanh is spending her first holiday season without her father Sone Rassavong who was recently deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to his home country Laos.

    What You Need To Know

    • Brittani Sisouphanh is the daughter of Laotian immigrant Sone Rassavong, who she said was wrongfully arrested and deported by ICE earlier this year

    • The United States is home to an estimated 245,000 Laotian Americans

    • U.S. President Donald Trump is upping restrictions on nationals from more than a dozen countries he’s classified as “high risk,” including Laos

    Sone Rassavong first moved to the United States in 1981 as a refugee and lost permanent resident status after being accused of violating a protection order, Sisouphanh said. He was living in Texas at the time, she said, and lacked access to reliable transportation to check in for parole.

    “He didn’t understand what really comes with probation. So he had missed a day to go check in with his parole officer, and when he missed that appointment, they put a warrant out for his arrest,” Sisouphanh said. “He did not know that you check in once a month, and he just — they put him in jail, for missing that.”

    Sisouphanh said her father was detained by ICE officers that same year after serving several months in jail. 

    Still, she said, her father never received full due process.

    “Under ICE custody, they told my dad, again, no legal representation. They told my dad that if he signs this paper, he can go home. So he signed the paper,” Sisouphanh said. “And my dad has broken English. He doesn’t understand very well, but he didn’t know signing the paper, he was signing his status to be changed from permanent resident to deportation.”

    After signing the deportation order, Sisouphanh said, her father moved back to Ohio and had been living in Akron under a work visa.

    He checked in with Homeland Security and applied to renew his work authorization card each year, Sisouphanh said.

    “We went there just going to check in like normal, not knowing that my dad wasn’t going to come back out with us. I didn’t give any time for him to say bye to family or anything like that. Whatever he had on is what he had to go with,” she said.

    Rassavong is one of tens of thousands of Laotian Americans who became at risk of deportation after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing full restrictions and an entry ban on all immigrants from Laos and Sierra Leone.

    The White House wrote online last week that the limitations imposed under the proclamation are part of Trump’s promise “to restore travel restrictions on dangerous countries” and secure the nation’s borders.

    Sisouphanh said she and other family members have had limited contact with Rassavong since October.

    “It was so hard to be in communication with him. I had to call lots of places, talk to lots of people. I was able to find him on an app, and we were able to communicate that way. But, he did go to Laos and he did share some experience. Getting there was very traumatizing, inhumane,” she said.

    Rassavong is now being detained in Laos, being transferred to the country from a U.S. detention center last week, Sisouphanh said.

    “It’s going to be a culture shock, for sure,” she said. “He left Laos when he was 15, and he stayed in a camp in Thailand till he was 17, and then came to America when he was 17.”

    The impact of Rassavong’s deportation is being felt by many others in the family, Sisouphanh said. He was the head of their family as the father of seven children and grandfather of 13 grandchildren.

    “It changed my way of living because I was living with him the day to day life. And when the day he went, I had work … I just didn’t know how to deal with it,” said Logan Rossavong, Sone Rassavong’s youngest child.

    Still, Rossaving’s family said they’re holding on to hope.

    “When we were on FaceTime, he lost weight …  but right now he’s doing good,” Logan Rossavong said. “He’s trying to keep it, you know, positive, trying to make the best of it.”

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    Tanya Velazquez

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  • Akron public art inventory website goes live

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    AKRON, Ohio — A Northeast Ohio city created a new online inventory of their public art.

    What You Need To Know

    • In 2018, Mac and Allyse Love the founders of Art x Love started advocating for an online art database

    • The company was tasked with cataloging more than 700 public pieces of art throughout the City of Akron

    • The inventory is accessible to everyone including residents and visitors

    A place to find where art is in the city.

    In 2018, Mac and Allyse Love the founders of Art x Love started advocating for an online art database. Once it was approved, they developed the site for two years. They started collecting data for the inventory in 2024. The Akron art inventory website went live in late December.   

    “It helps the city understand what it’s responsible for,” said Mac Love the cofounder of Art x Love and the chief catalyst. “You know, what it’s responsible for maintaining and just as important as understanding what assets it has. It also helps paint a picture of where more public art is needed.”

    Art x Love is a creative agency that doubles as an art gallery. The company was tasked with cataloging more than 700 public pieces of art throughout the city of Akron.

    “The inventory is a database that features every piece of Akron art that is city owned, city funded, or on city property,” said Love.

    The inventory is accessible to everyone including residents and visitors. They can log on to the site to find out where a piece of art is located and even learn about its history.

    “We would like to encourage our residents, as well as the community to go out and about in the neighborhoods,” said Summer Hall the Public Art Liaison for the city of Akron. “Take a look at this art inventory. Check out the locations where the art is. I would recommend doing some art walks.”

    Summer Hall is the public art liaison for the city of Akron. She is responsible for coordinating efforts with the Akron Public Art Commission. She says the inventory is an ongoing project. More art will be added to the inventory even those not owned or funded by the city.

    “To make sure that, you know, art is in all the different neighborhoods, making sure that art’s not lacking in some of these neighborhoods and also with the maintenance plan from our inventory,” said Hall. “We will be maybe selecting 5 to 10 pieces that may need some work.”

    The inventory breaks down the art pieces into several categories including type of art, condition, accessibility and location. Love is currently finishing up a piece connected to the Akron marathon that was held in September.

    “This is a collaborative mural that was painted by over 3000 runners and their families at this year’s Akron marathon,” said Love.

    Once it is completed, it will be added to the inventory. Love says this inventory further amplifies the importance of art in the city.

    “It’s really important to take care of artwork and to invest in artwork,” said Love. “I think it keeps us from feeling lonely and it helps us expand our appreciation of, life and all of human experience.”

    The funding for the project was $48,500 and was a private gift to the Akron Public Art Commission. The art inventory is free to use and also has GPS to search artwork near you. To view the inventory, click here.

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    Rose Todd

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  • Staying on track with nutrition during the holidays

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    For many people, the holidays are filled with family, food — and temptation. But if you’re trying to stick to a nutrition plan or make a long-term lifestyle change, experts say you don’t have to choose between enjoying the season and staying on track.

    Benjamin Williams, an online nutritionist and personal trainer and the founder of The Beginners Club, said the holidays don’t have to be all or nothing. You can enjoy your favorite foods without completely falling off your plan — it just requires mindfulness.

    Williams said the key is focusing on balance instead of restriction. By eating healthy foods about 80% of the time, he said, you can allow yourself to indulge in less-healthy options for the remaining 20%.

    “What if you’ve had a small breakfast, for example, go and enjoy those mince pies,” Williams said. “Go and enjoy the chocolate log or the Christmas pudding because you’ve kind of saved those calories from earlier in the day and you can have them later on. So it’s just kind of thinking, where can I kind of save some calories and where can I go and enjoy myself?”

    He also recommends prioritizing protein and limiting higher-fat foods.

    “We really want to get a large quantity of protein. So leaner meats. So turkey is a traditional one, chicken,” Williams said. “We just want to make sure we’re getting larger quantities of the good stuff, leaner protein, vegetables, which are all tasting really good around the holiday time and just limiting, say, the not so good stuff.”

    Williams added that being mindful of alcohol and dessert intake can make a big difference. He suggests alternating alcoholic drinks with water and deciding ahead of time which desserts you really want, so portions stay manageable.

    “I’ve learned the hard way, you know, we can be getting over 200 calories in one pint of beer,” Williams said. “And so, you know, if you have three of those at 600 calories and that might be killing your deficit coming into the holiday kind of season. So quantity control and just making smart choices when it comes to beverages.”

    Another tip: prioritize conversation over constant snacking. Instead of mindlessly eating, focus on connecting with people you may not see often to stay occupied.

    The takeaway, Williams said, is to enjoy the celebrations — and not let one indulgent day turn into a season of guilt. He also stressed that movement still matters, recommending a walk with family or even some solo time outside after a meal.

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • Budgeting for the holiday season

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    CLEVELAND — The holiday season can be filled with family, friends, and of course, spending.

    What You Need To Know

    • Brittany Matthews is a mom and a wife shopping for six

    • According to a recent survey from Beyond Finance, 51% of people make a budget for the holidays

    • The National Retail Federation expects holiday spending to be more than a trillion dollars

    During the holidays, sometimes spending can go far above the budget.

    Brittany Matthews is a mom and a wife shopping for six.

    “I try to do everything for Black Friday, which I did family, adults — I did all their Christmas pajamas, like clothes, like needs,” said Matthews.

    During the holidays, she knows what she must spend and what she is buying. She prepares with a budget.

    “We have meetings, and we do discuss,” said Matthews. “We have budget meetings; we have family meetings. The only issue is if the meeting will, I guess, come to fruition in real life.”

    According to a recent survey from Beyond Finance, Matthews is a part of the 51% of people who make a budget for the holidays. They survey states 64% of people have already gone over their budget or think they will. Meltrice Sharp is a certified wealth coach and accountant who helps people gain clarity on how they spend their money. She is also a managing partner CLE Consulting Firm.

    “The holiday season creates such an emotional demand on us,” said Sharp. “Oftentimes, we’re spinning out of guilt, emotions, expectations, and it’s important to really decide what it is that you’re going to spend money on.”

    Sharp says sticking to a budget can give a sense of peace instead of chaos and regret going into the new year.

    “They pay for the decisions that they made in December, in January, February and March,” said Sharp. “So, you’re starting your year off in the deficit.”

    Sharp says the 50/30/20 rule can be an option — 50% of your income for your needs, 30% for your wants and 20% for savings.

    “Do what makes sense for you and your family, something that you can stick to,” said Sharp.

    Sharp recommends budgeting throughout the year and including the holiday shopping in that budget — something Matthews says she and her husband work hard to follow.

    “We don’t have to cut back on anything because we’ve been planning all year,” said Matthews.

    Sharp says don’t just budget for gifts but add in other costs like food, clothing and travel. When you shop for the holidays without a budget, Sharp says it leads to regret and buyer’s remorse.

    “Not having to deal with financial hangovers after you’ve spent money that you didn’t plan to, or money that you didn’t have,” said Sharp.

    Matthews says for her family of six, it’s about making memories, not regrets.

    “Budgeting is a part of adulting, which isn’t that fun, but it is very necessary and it helps to provide the life in which I feel like my kids deserve,” said Matthews.

    The National Retail Federation expects holiday spending to be more than a trillion dollars. The NRF expects November and December retail sales to grow between 3.7% and 4.2% over 2024. Last year’s holiday sales increased 4.3% over 2023, with $976.1 billion in spending.

    Some tips to reduce overspending or spending over your budget include:

    • Set a total number for your spending max
    • Create a list of who to buy for and how much to spend on each person
    • Categorize your spending
    • Start a holiday fund in January and contribute to it throughout the year
    • Shop early for deals and discounts, avoid last-minute anything (shopping, travel)
    • Avoid buying for yourself when shopping for others
    • Turn off one click buying or saved payment methods on websites to reduce impulse buying
    • Make homemade gifts
    • Avoid buy now and pay later
    • Use cash or debit cards instead of credit
    • Set up bank account alerts when your account gets below a certain number

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    Rose Todd

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  • Artisan Fest 513 brings handcrafted goods and holiday shoppers together

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    CINCINNATI — With Christmas just days away, shoppers looking for last-minute gifts had a chance this weekend to support local entrepreneurs at Artisan Fest 513 in downtown Cincinnati.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shoppers looking for last-minute gifts had a chance this weekend to support local entrepreneurs at Artisan Fest 513 in downtown Cincinnati

    • The market featured a wide range of handcrafted goods, including candles, knitwear and wellness products

    • Vee’s Herbal Exchange is a wellness brand specializing in handcrafted herbal goods such as soaps and body butters

    Nearly a dozen vendors set up shop in Washington Park as part of the Artisan Market’s recurring pop-up series, which aims to give small businesses face-to-face access to customers while encouraging residents to shop locally.

    The market featured a wide range of handcrafted goods, including candles, knitwear and wellness products, offering shoppers items not typically found in big-box stores.

    Among the vendors was Cori Venning, founder and CEO of Vee’s Herbal Exchange, a wellness brand specializing in handcrafted herbal goods such as soaps and body butters. Some of the products are even safe for consumption.

    Venning launched the business earlier this year and does not yet operate a brick-and-mortar storefront. She said events like Artisan Fest 513 play a critical role in building brand awareness and connecting with potential customers.

    “Being able to meet people face to face and tell the story behind my products really helps customers connect with what I’m doing,” Venning said. 

    The event is part of the Artisan Market’s broader #BuyLocal513 campaign, which organizers say has generated more than $1 million in local economic impact to date.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Hidden camera found in a Hocking Hills Airbnb

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    HOCKING HILLS, Ohio — Airbnb rentals have become a go-to option for travelers seeking something more personal than a hotel. Offering unique spaces, privacy and often a better price.

    But as their popularity continues to soar, there are growing concerns about what guests may not see when they check in. 

    What You Need To Know

    • A hidden camera was found in a Hocking Hills rental property 

    • The man who placed the camera there was sentenced to almost a decade in prison 

    • He was recording adults and children in the bathroom 

    Last month, an Akron man was sentenced to nearly a decade in prison after hiding a camera in the bathroom of his Hocking Hills rental cabin.

    The Hocking County Sheriff’s Office said the man was secretly recording over 50 guests, including children. 

    “Especially in the past year or so, Airbnb has really cracked down on privacy issues. And has been very clear with hosts on the platform that they have a zero-tolerance policy for any sort of cameras within the home or any private spaces,” said Sarah Karakaian, co-owner of Thanks for Visiting. 

    Karakaian is an expert in the short-term rental industry. 

    She said as an Airbnb host herself, she’s glad they make the hosts go through background checks but encourages guests to do their own research when booking a short-term rental. 

    “Is it monitored by any sort of municipality in terms of does that host have to have a permit? Do they have to operate under some sort of jurisdiction other than Airbnb?” Karakaian said. 

    The police department said cabin renters found the hidden camera in the ceiling of a bathroom and a residential search warrant was executed.

    The lead detective in the case said recorded videos from the camera date back to Sept. 2023 through Feb. 2024.

    Garrett Hendricks, a criminal defense attorney, said that under Ohio law, you’re right to record is based on whether an individual being recorded has a reasonable expectation of privacy. 

    “What that means is if the person believes they’re in private and they’re not likely to be recorded, then the law generally doesn’t allow recording,” said Hendricks, owner of Hendricks Law Office LLC. 

    Hendricks also said the charges can be much more severe when children are involved. 

    “If you are recording minors or adults illegally, meaning one of those places where they do have an expectation for privacy, certainly you can get into additional trouble or you have additional criminal exposure based on the fact that it is a minor as opposed to an adult because of the child pornography laws,” Hendricks said. 

    In the Hocking Hills case, the man will have to register as a Tier II sex offender for 25 years.

     

     

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    Cassidy Wilson

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  • Shop with a Cop is back

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    CINCINNATI — For kids, it means gifts under the tree, and for officers, it’s a chance to connect in a different way. 

    Shop with a Cop is back, pairing law enforcement with children for a day of shopping and support.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Shop with a Cop is back

    • The event pairs law enforcement with kids for a day of shopping and support

    • For more than 10 years, it has been a staple in the greater Cincinnati area

    “We identify kids, we work with the school and our SRO officer, for kids really in need, and it’s great for our officers to get to see these kids, to be able to spend this kind of money,” Reading Police Chief Police Bryan Edens said.

    For more than 10 years, Shop with a Cop has been a staple in the greater Cincinnati area, and Edens said seeing the kids get a $500 spending limit is amazing, but he is most impressed by their selflessness

    “When you see the smile on their faces and to watch some of these kids, because of where they come from, they worry about family members before buying for themselves, which is huge to see, 7–8-year-olds thinking of grandpa and grandma and siblings before themselves,” Edens said.

    Eric Bartlett, a school resource officer at Reading Schools, is pleased to see the difference an event like this can make. 

    “It means a lot to our students, means a lot to our officers who organize it with the school,” he said. “The school helps us pick out the children who are in need. We have 12 children I believe this year. We’re hoping it does help their families.”

    Edens said this event amazes him time and time again.

    “Watching the kids, knowing they don’t have a real limit on them, these are kids who have never had that experience,” he said.

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    Travis Hicks

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  • Space industry is expected to grow in 2026

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    TEXAS — Blasting off into 2026, the space industry is only expected to grow in the new year.

    According to a report by The Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT), the U.S. space economy could equal $428 billion in economic value, add 300,000 additional jobs and tens of billions in employee compensation over the next decade.

    SWIFT performed a study to discover what types of jobs are needed at major companies. They performed what they call a “bottoms-up” analysis, directly examining 5,000 active job postings from 27 leading employers in the space economy as of Aug. 2025. The findings reveal a workforce in transition.

    “Half of all the new jobs advertised are for non-degree individuals,” said Geoff Tudor, president of SWIFT.

    The organization is hoping to get more people in Texas trained to do more technical work to get more space companies to come to Texas.

    “What we saw in the job openings was an enormous need for technical talent,” said Leon Vanstone, vice president of SWIFT.

    The hope is to be the leading place for space innovation. However, California still dominates the national picture, with the most space job postings. 

    “Our focus is on workforce education training. If you can build a pipeline of people, you can build a pipeline of the next great space company,” Tudor said.

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    Barbara Fox

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  • New cameras will automatically cite Cleveland drivers for parking violations

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    CLEVELAND — Next time you park in Downtown Cleveland, be careful. The city plans to install roughly 40 cameras in hopes to decrease parking violations. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Cleveland plans to install roughly 40 new cameras downtown that will have the ability to automatically issue parking citations to drivers 
    • The cameras will also be used to collect data and create new loading zones where people can legally stop for a limited time
    • The city is also increasing the days parking is enforced to seven days a week in Downtown and six Days a week in Ohio City

    “The goal of this is to better enforce illegal stopping and parking activities, oftentimes and especially downtown,” said Mathew Moss, a senior strategist in Mayor Justin Bibb’s office.

    The city plans to reduce parking violations by installing roughly 40 new cameras on Euclid, West 25th, Prospect and Huron. They are contracting with a company called Autonomous to install cameras that can scan license plates and automatically issue citations if a car is improperly parked. 

    “Our goal is to deploy the camera, collect as much data as we can in terms of when the loading activity is most concentrated,” Moss said. 

    Moss said using data from the cameras will then allow the city to create smart loading zones. These are areas where people will be able to legally stop for a bit to drop somebody off, or for delivery drivers to pick-up food that’s been ordered.  

    “A loading zone might be a loading zone when we need it most, maybe early in the morning, through the early afternoon perhaps, and then it can transition to paid parking, or maybe a valet zone in the evening,” Moss said. 

    The city plans to install the cameras in the first quarter of 2026 and start creating those smart loading zones in February and March. 

    Changes are also coming to parking fees and hours for city street parking paid by using app Park Mobile. 

    “Currently folks are capped at two hours, coming into the new year they’ll be able to extend beyond two hours to a third and fourth hour,” said Lucas Reeve, senior strategist in Mayor Bibb’s Office.  

    Reeve said the fee for the third and fourth hour will increase per hour. 

    Another change in 2026 is that parking fees will now be enforced seven days a week in downtown and six days a week in Ohio City and will extend to later hours.

    Reeve said the city expects an increase in revenue from these parking changes. 

    “[Giving Cleveland] the ability to invest into neighborhoods with better lighting, crosswalks, speed tables and things like that,” Reeve said. 

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    Corey O’Leary

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  • Dealing with grief during the holiday

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    STOW, Ohio — The holidays are supposed to be filled with fun, family and friends but it can be difficult celebrating the holidays after losing a loved one.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fred Price and his wife, Sheila, met as teenagers

    • A 2024 survey from the American Psychiatric Association said grief or the loss of a loved one was a top stressor at 47%

    • Grief is the experience of coping with loss

    Fred Price and his wife, Sheila, met as teenagers.

    “She completed me,” said Price. “She was the love of my life. We dated in high school and then went our separate ways.”

    They reunited later in life, and then got married in 2005. Price says they had a wonderful life.

    “She had bad scoliosis since a child and went through several operations,” said Price. “Unfortunately, the last one that she had was not successful.”

    Sheila died in February of 2022. They were married for 16 years. Price said she loved the holiday season.

    “She loved Christmas, completely,” said Price. “All the holidays were her favorite and, I’ve tried to keep on that tradition.”

    Price has several of Sheila’s items around the house especially for Christmas. Price said the first year was the hardest for him. During that time, he started going to The GriefCare Place for support. Price is not alone; more than a million people will spend the upcoming holiday without a loved one. Benjamin Barnes works with The GriefCare Place. An organization that provides support groups. Barnes says grief can be complicated, different for everybody and last for a long time.

    “It depends on who you lost, how you lost to them,” said Benjamin Barnes, a clinical mental health counselor. “Who they meant to you who they were to you and it is not a one size fits all process.”

    A 2024 survey from the American Psychiatric Association said grief or the loss of a loved one was a top stressor at 47%. Grief is the experience of coping with loss. It’s a natural reaction that can involve an intense emotional, physical and mental responses like sadness, anger, confusion and numbness. During certain times grief can amplify and be triggered by birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. Grief can include the loss of You may grieve the loss of:

    • A friend, family member, partner or pet
    • A marriage, friendship or another form of kinship
    • Your home, neighborhood or community
    • Your job or career
    • Financial stability
    • A dream or goal
    • Good health
    • Your youth
    • Fertility

    Anything that was important to you.

    According to Kubler-Ross, there are five stages of grief:

    • Denial. You may have difficulty accepting that a loss is real.
    • Anger. You may direct anger at multiple sources, including people who couldn’t save a loved one, God, yourself — or even no one in particular.
    • Bargaining. You may imagine reaching an agreement, so you don’t have to deal with a loss. You may also regret past actions that you imagine could’ve spared you from loss.
    • Depression. You may experience the complex emotions associated with depression including emotional detachment.
    • Acceptance. Eventually, most people embrace the reality of loss even if the pain’s still there.

    The Cleveland Clinic says there are different types of grief including:

    Anticipatory grief

    Anticipatory grief involves grieving before the actual loss. 

    Abbreviated grief

    Abbreviated grief may follow anticipatory grief. You can grieve a loss quickly because you’ve already done a lot of emotional labor while anticipating that loss. 

    Delayed grief

    Instead of experiencing the emotions that accompany grief immediately after a loss, you feel them days, weeks or even months later.

    Inhibited grief

    Inhibited grief involves repressing emotions. This type of grief can lead to upset stomach, insomnia, anxiety and panic attacks. 

    Cumulative grief

    Cumulative grief involves working through multiple losses at once. Grieving multiple losses simultaneously makes the process difficult and complex in unexpected ways.

    Collective grief

    As a group, we grieve the shared experiences we’ve lost as we struggle to imagine a changed future.

    Barnes said there are some things you can do to navigate grief during the holidays. First, make sure to take care of yourself. Prioritize physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self-care. Make plans for the holiday — honor the lost loved one by lighting a candle.

    “When you first lose a loved one, you’re going to have all kinds of different emotions,” said Price. “You may at one point feel like you’re going crazy, but it’s okay to feel anger.”

    Give yourself permission to feel what you are feeling and don’t self-isolate, socialize and find support through family, friends or a group.

    “There’s no right way to do this, and so, it’s so important as hard as it is we always have a choice even in the deepest grief,” said Barnes.

    Price said it has been a difficult transition without Shelia, but he has a great support team around him and is healing. He remembers Shelia as the loving energetic and faithful person he fell in love with.

    “She loved pictures, we had to take all these photos, and now I look back on them, and I cherish those photos,” said Price. “I’m glad that we did it.”

    After about a year and half of attending the support group, Price became a counselor. Now, he helps other widowers get through their tough times.

    If you are experiencing grief and you need someone to talk to, the GriefCare Place offers their support groups at no charge.

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    Rose Todd

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  • Stakeholders continue debate over future of Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport

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    CLEVELAND — As the push to close Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport gains momentum, a coalition of pilots and businesses are now fighting to keep it open.

    What You Need To Know

    • As the push to close Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport gains momentum, a coalition of pilots and businesses are now fighting to keep it open.

    • “It’s not just as easy as saying, ‘Well, the airplanes can land somewhere else,’” Ned Parks, President of the Northeast Ohio Pilots Association, said. 

    • A spokesperson for Mayor Bibb’s office said they’re open to hearing the coalition’s concerns but are hoping to close Burke and open that lakefront land up for development as soon as possible.

    “It’s not just as easy as saying, ‘Well, the airplanes can land somewhere else,’” Ned Parks, President of the Northeast Ohio Pilots Association, said. 

    Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has been accelerating efforts to decommission Burke since agreeing to a $100 million exit deal with the Browns. The team will leave the downtown stadium for Brook Park at the end of their lease, and the city will use much of the settlement money to reimagine and develop a lakefront without them.

    As part of the agreement, billionaire team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam are supporting Mayor Justin Bibb and County Executive Chris Ronayne in their efforts to develop downtown. 

    “We have long been proponents of a reimagined lakefront and know how it can transform our city,” Haslam Sports Group spokesperson Peter John-Baptiste said in a statement. “We will continue to partner with Mayor Bibb and local leaders to be helpful in any way possible.”

    As part of their plan, Bibb and Ronayne are working to get Burke closed as quickly as possible to open up more land for public access and private development. 

    “My team was in D.C. last week and met with the Senate and Congressional delegation from Ohio,” Ronayne said. “We got great receptivity. We think that their general feedback is ‘Show us a plan. Show us it’s doable. Don’t have us pay for it all, and we’ll listen to you.’”

    But as the discussion of Burke’s closure becomes more serious, the local aviation community is raising alarm bells. Northeast Ohio Pilots Association President Ned Parks is part of a coalition of pilots and businesses asking the city to keep the airport open.

    “Literally every non-airline airport or aviation activity takes place here,” Parks said. “There’s flight training. There’s an enormous amount of medical flights that come in and out of here.”

    Spectrum News 1 reached out to Cleveland’s major hospital systems for comment on the impact of closing Burke on medical operations. None had a stated position on the issue, but a spokesperson for the Cleveland Clinic confirms that a majority of their 850 organ transplants last year arrived through Burke. 

    Parks said military and private flights also fly into Cleveland through the lakefront airport and claims there is nowhere else in the region that can support its operations, but his biggest concern is the economic impact of the airport leaving. 

    “All the employees that are aviation-related here at this airport would have to be re-homed at the city’s expense in order to get this airport closed,” Parks said.

    A 2024 study commissioned by the city found Burke generates about $77 million dollars in revenue each year, including from the Cleveland National Air Show. However, the same study found that closing Burke and developing the land it sits on would be the most economically productive use of that space.

    Ronayne said between Cleveland Hopkins Airport, the county’s airport in Richmond and more regional airports, there are ways to find new places for those aviation stakeholders, and many of them will stay within Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

    “We understand the need for a regional aviation system that works for all,” he said.

    While his coalition has sent letters to the mayor and politicians in D.C., Parks said he still hasn’t heard from Bibb’s office. He’s hoping to at least have a conversation about their concerns and a potential compromise. He suggested closing one of the airport’s two runways and developing around it.

    “We want to come to the table and talk about this as a ‘both and’ not an ‘either or,’” Parks said. “It’s not about keeping the airport open and doing nothing with it, which is what’s been happening for a long time, or closing the airport and turning it into a lakefront park. It’s about how can both of these coexist?”

    Ronayne said that while it’s ultimately up to the city to decide how to move forward, he’s willing to explore all options. 

    “I think we ought to look at that possible hybrid approach of public access and development and yet remain open to the conversation about some aviation use,” he said.

    A spokesperson for Bibb’s office said they’re open to hearing the coalition’s concerns but are hoping to close Burke as soon as possible.

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    Nora McKeown

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  • Protesters demand resignation of city leader facing child sex crime charges

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    Editor’s Note: This article discusses sexual assault. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. 

    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Some Whitehall city and community leaders are calling for the resignation of Whitehall City Council member Gerald Dixon after he was jailed and charged for alleged inappropriate sexual conduct with children.

    What You Need To Know

    • Protesters gathered out front Whitehall City Hall, calling for the resignation of Whitehall City Council member Gerald Dixon

    • Gerald Dixon is facing charges for alleged inappropriate sexual conduct with children

    • Gerald Dixon says he does not plan to resign

    Protesters gathered out front Whitehall City Hall Wednesday night, calling for the resignation of Whitehall City Council member Gerald Dixon.

    “Whitehall City Council does not care. It creates a scary environment,” said Michael Young, City of Grace pastor.

    Following a year’s long multi-state investigation, Dixon was arrested, jailed and charged for child sex crimes dating all the way back to the 1990s. Eight victims have been identified so far. 

    Dixon spent one night in jail before he was released on his own personal recognizance due to a court paperwork issue.

    “’I’m not going to put blame on any other organization I don’t know their processes, but it is frustrating because we promised victims that they’re safe and now they’re not. Well, I don’t want to say they’re not safe but that umbrella that we were providing them with him being incarcerated is no longer there,” said Whitehall Police Deputy Chief Shawn Wilson.

    Hours after being released from jail, Dixon showed up at city hall where he was sworn back into office. Spectrum News asked him that night if the allegations against him were true, and Dixon declined to comment.

    “I’m making absolutely no comment on that. None,” said Dixon.

    Whitehall’s mayor called for Dixon’s resignation at the rally.

    “It is my expectation that he resign his seat from city council. Now I have a follow up. I have been able to speak with city council members, a few of them, and they have the heart, the means and the motivation to actually remove this councilmember from his seat on city council,” said Michael Bevins Whitehall mayor.

    Whitehall’s city attorney says it would take a vote from every other member of council to remove Dixon.

    “I wanted to hear what everybody had to say at this rally. Obviously deeply concerned about the situation. I’m not sure of all the details but I certainly would hope that Mr. Dixon would step down,” said Amy Harcar, Whitehall City Council member. 

    Demonstrators prayed, chanted “Dixon must go” and even concerned children in the community spoke out.

    Dixon told Spectrum News he does not plan to resign.

    “Because the people elected me, and I have not been brought before a jury of my peers and whatever else it is and so here I am,” said Dixon.

    Dixon is due back in court on Dec. 23. 

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    Emani Payne

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  • Cleveland nears 50th anniversary of school desegregation

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    CLEVELAND — Leah Hudnall’s grandparents moved to Cleveland, along with hundreds of thousands of other Black families from southern states during The Great Migration. She said many incoming residents were forced into redlined neighborhoods with overcrowded schools that were segregated under the city’s historic “Relay” policy.

    What You Need To Know

    • Leah Hudnall, several other nonprofits and civic leaders came together to create a political history campaign now called Relay Cleveland

    • Campaign director Leah Hudnall said the exhibit showcases the history of desegregation in the city’s schools, which will remain on display at the Cleveland Public Library through February

    • The exhibition features the lived experiences of former educators administrators, students and activists across generations

    The Cleveland Relay Policy split the school day into morning and afternoon sessions with Black students only attending for half of the day, rather than sending them to white schools with space in their classrooms during the 1950s and 60s. The NAACP sued the State of Ohio and Cleveland Schools in the 1973 Reed. v. Rhodes court case. The policy didn’t come to an end until 1976, when U.S. Federal Judge Frank Battisti declared that Cleveland schools had been operating a segregated system, Hudnall said.

    As part of subsequent reintegration efforts, Batiste also mandated crosstown busing, transporting students from predominantly Black schools on the city’s east side to whiter suburban schools on the west side.

    (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “Now what you have are Clevelanders, elders in our community who are 70 and 75 years old, who may have only gotten three hours of the third grade or they may not have started kindergarten until they were seven years old,” Hudnall said.

    The exhibit also highlights the Cleveland’s larger role in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, Hudnall said.

    “You have parents, like Mrs. Daisy Craggett and Mrs. Clara Smith, who created a committee called Relay Parents March to fill empty classrooms,” she said. “… parent groups like that all banded together with historic organizations like the NAACP and Core Congress on Racial Equality, and they came together under a banner, calling it the Unite Freedom Movement.”

    While the exhibit celebrates nearly half a century of progress in education, Hudnall said, it is only a piece of an ongoing journey toward educational equity.

    Public data from the Ohio School Report Card shows many schools rated under 4 stars in 2024.

    (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “Cleveland saw a growth in many areas, graduation rates and academic success,” she said, “All of that led to what we all experienced together as a global community. The pandemic, which kind of shattered all of that hard work.

    Greg Deegan is the executive director of Teaching Cleveland, which joined other local groups, researchers, educators and leaders on the Relay Campaign Committee team. Deegan, who worked as a high school teacher for over 20 years, said many challenges still remain in Cleveland’s school system. 

    The Cleveland School District approved a plan Tuesday to close and consolidate dozens of schools in the city after facing a decades-long enrollment decline and budget deficit.

    “The more we talk about it, the more we sort of have a community conversation about this, the more we can be more well equipped for the challenges and opportunities today and what we see in schools,” Deegan said.

    Now, Hudnall said, the’re calling on other community members to “carry the baton.”

    “Our children in Cleveland need us,” Hudnall said. “They need us as neighbors, and they need us to actually get back in the game, on to fight for fair education.”

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    Tanya Velazquez

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  • Recent jail deaths renew push for civilian oversight

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    DAYTON, Ohio — Questions are mounting about safety inside county jails after a series of recent deaths. 

    In Montgomery County, protesters are demanding action after two more inmates died behind bars. 

    What You Need To Know

    • 12 inmates died in the Montgomery County jail in the last two years 

    • Protesters are calling for more oversight over jail operations, and one commissioner is calling for an independent investigation into the jail deaths 

    • State agencies do annual inspections of the jail and sited overcrowding problems, but a multi-million dollar addition to the jail is under construction

    For years, Joel Pruce has been coming to the Montgomery County Jail in protest. 

    “Hundreds of people are in here because they can’t afford to get out…being arrested should not be a death sentence,” said Pruce. 

    Pruce and his group, the Montgomery County Jail Coalition, pushed for civilian oversight after 25-year-old Christian Black died in custody back in March. 

    The case, ruled a homicide, led to a $7 million settlement, but no criminal charges.

    So Black’s family joined the calls for change, but Pruce says the system still isn’t changing.

    “I almost guarantee that we’ll be back right in the spot saying the same words that we’ve been saying,” said Pruce during a recent protest in front of the sheriff’s office. 

    Now, two more inmates died — both from separate medical emergencies — bringing the total to 12 inmate deaths in two years at the Montgomery County Jail.

    Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck would not do an on-camera interview, but sent Spectrum News this statement:

    “I want to be clear: the agencies referenced provide established oversight of jail operations through regular inspections and reviews as we have previously stated. The Sheriff’s Office continues to provide full cooperation with each agency in their review of jail operations. Transparency, accountability, and compliance remain central to how we operate. We welcome these inspections and remain committed to meeting the expectations and standards of the community we serve.”

    Michael Colbert, the Montgomery County administrator, also sent a statement that said, in part:

    “The Sheriff and State Legislature are the only authorities that can allow for changes in operational oversight.”

    The latest inspection from state agencies raised concerns on overcrowding issues. 

    The county is building a new behavioral health unit inside the jail that’ll be done in 2027, and one commissioner is calling for an independent investigation into the jail deaths. 

    “There is a lack of trust when it comes down to what happens in our jails. what happens with our police and other other workers. and i really want people to feel more confident in what’s being shared,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Mary McDonald.

    Protesters say it’s a start, but there’s still more work to do.

    “We as a community will not rest until there is accountability at this jail,” said Pruce. 

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    Sheena Elzie

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  • Local shops hoping Small Business Saturday sparks big impact in Madeira

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    CINCINNATI — American shoppers spent nearly $22 billion last year on Small Business Saturday, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. This year, the Ohio city of Madeira is encouraging residents to keep their dollars local with a holiday campaign designed to spark a multiplier effect for the local economy.

    What You Need To Know

    • The city of Madeira is encouraging residents to keep their dollar local this holiday season, launching the ‘Million Dollar Mission’ campagin

    • The city mailed out $10 ‘Shop Madeira’ gift cards, hoping small incentives will lead to bigger spending

    • The Cottage Paperie and Gifts offers a variety of custom holiday items

    Walking into The Cottage Paperie and Gifts in downtown Madeira is like stepping into a winter wonderland. The shop offers custom holiday items, giving customers a chance to check names off their gift lists without leaving town.

    “We’re very fortunate that practically every day we have customers walk in that say, ‘Oh, I’ve never been here before. I’m so excited to find you,’” said Lori Eddleman, owner of The Cottage Paperie and Gifts. “You can leave here with all of your holiday gifts wrapped beautifully.”

    Now in its fifth holiday season, Eddleman said the support of the community continues to grow year after year, proving that local love can truly be the gift that keeps giving.

    Downtown Madeira is also undergoing a multi-million dollar revitalization, and while construction has created some challenges, the Madeira Chamber of Commerce is using the season to remind shoppers the city is open for business.

    “With the project itself, we started with replacing a water line and then kind of moved to some side work, and now we’re working through a gas line project,” said David Peterson of the Madeira Chamber of Commerce. “Our job has just been trying to keep encouraging people that Madeira is as open as it can be, letting them know where they can park.”

    The Chamber’s “Million Dollar Mission” is bold but simple: encourage residents to spend at least $1 million at local businesses this holiday season. To help, the city mailed out $10 “Shop Madeira” gift cards, hoping small incentives will lead to bigger spending.

    “Encouraging them to spend at least $100 at our local businesses. Every dollar you spend locally really has a $2-$3 impact,” Peterson said, highlighting the campaign’s potential multiplier effect on the community.

    It’s support Eddleman hopes to see firsthand.

    “So it’s a lot of personal attention. I have a wonderful staff here to help you pick things out, to make suggestions, whatever it might be,” Eddleman said.

    For more details on local deals and ways to support Madeira businesses, click here.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Annual Adopt-A-Family Program aids hundreds of local families, seniors

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    CINCINNATI, Ohio —  An annual holiday program that pairs local families and seniors with community sponsors is once again helping hundreds across Greater Cincinnati as the Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family initiative ramps up for the season.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati’s Adopt-A-Family Program matches families and seniors referred for assistance with corporate or individual sponsors

    • The program received referrals for 400 families this year

    • De-Bra Kuempel is sponsoring 30 years for their second year with the program

    De-Bra Kuempel, the region’s largest technical, electrical and plumbing contractor, is sponsoring 30 seniors this year. The Cincinnati-based company, which employs between 1,200 and 1,300 workers and operates roughly 800 service trucks daily, is expanding its involvement after first participating in 2024.

    “When the ten people who originally started this last year came back and told everybody how the program worked and the smiles they saw on people’s faces, that is what became contagious,” said Kris Thorne, president and CEO of De-Bra Kuempel.

    The Adopt-A-Family Program matches families and seniors referred for assistance with corporate or individual sponsors. Last year, the Salvation Army distributed more than 18,000 toys and gifts. Thorne said many recipients request basic household needs, such as paper products and essential supplies.

    Major Martha Bone of the Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati said the organization has secured sponsors for 315 of the 400 families seeking help this year, leaving the remainder on a waiting list.

    “We’ve lost some grants this year for some specific programs that we have concerns about,” Bone said. “But I’m believing, just like at Christmas, people will be flooding our doors to give back. I believe that the need will be taken care of.”

    Thorne said the Adopt-A-Family tradition is becoming a staple for the company. He encourages others to take part.

    “When you see the faces of the people you’re making an impact on, I can almost guarantee you’ll double the participation afterward,” he said.

    Applications for this year’s program have closed, but the Salvation Army is still accepting donations and volunteers.

    More information is available on its website.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Ohio’s largest district considers ending high school buses

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Schools is considering eliminating yellow bus transportation for high school students or shifting them to Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) service as it looks to close a $50 million budget gap, raising safety and access concerns among families.

    What You Need To Know

    • Columbus City Schools may eliminate high school bus service or shift students to COTA to help close a $50 million budget gap, with a board vote set for Dec. 2

    • Parents have raised safety and access concerns, including early-morning waits and loss of transportation for sports and after-school activities

    • District leaders say major cuts are unavoidable, and the board continues to gather community feedback

    Superintendent Angela Chapman said transportation is one of several spending areas under review as the district searches for substantial savings.

    “Small cuts will not close this budget gap. We have to make big decisions, tough decisions,” Chapman said.

    One proposal would end high school bus service entirely, leaving students in grades 9 through 12 without transportation and returning the district to the state minimum. Another option would replace district-run buses with COTA passes for high school students. Parent Latrice Bradley, whose son is a junior, said the change would disrupt his commute and daily routine.

    “The fact that there’s a chance you will not have a bus sounds ludicrous to me. It doesn’t make sense,” she said.

    Bradley said she is concerned about her son waiting for a public bus before sunrise, riding alongside adults and depending on drivers who are not trained to transport minors. She added that he relies on district buses to travel between schools for sports and after-school activities.

    “That’s a big deal to put kids in front of adults that are going to work, that are just riding a bus,” she said.

    Board members acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions.

    “No matter what decision we make, kids will be affected by those determinations,” board member Sarah Ingles said.

    Bradley said she fears some students may skip school without the structure that traditional transportation provides. School Board President Michael Cole said attendance will remain a firm expectation.

    “Not attending school is not an option. It is not for legal purposes and most importantly, for the highest aspirational purposes of your education and your future,” he said.

    District officials say they will continue collecting community feedback as they finalize the budget reduction plan. The school board is expected to vote on the cost-cutting recommendations at its Dec. 2 meeting.

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    Saima Khan

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  • Hundreds in drug treatment lose housing after fraud allegations

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    DAYTON, Ohio — Hundreds of patients in drug treatment say they were left out in the cold with no warning. A major treatment provider in Dayton is in crisis and its future uncertain after its former owner was charged with fraud.

    What You Need To Know

    • Clearview treatment patients were told Medicaid paying for their housing was cut off over fraud charges against the former owner Terry Hill Jr. 

    • The U.S. Attorney’s Office states Hill was charged with health care fraud earlier this year and Medicaid fraud in 2021 

    • Volunteers from other treatment centers have been stepping in to help some of the Clearview patients who have been displaced 

    Daniel Bavicks and Amanda May are packing up what little they have left after they say they were forced out of their drug treatment program.

    “We got a knock on the door at 6:30 at night and was told be out of the rooms in an hour, so I’m out there stranded and nowhere to go, you know, and not knowing who to call, what to do,” said May. 

    They’d both spent the last two months trying to get clean through Clearview Treatment Center in Dayton. Now, they worry as hundreds like them are at risk of relapse.

    “I feel like it’s going to have a lot of impact on a lot of people’s treatment. like, people have nowhere to go. They’re going to end up relapsing or doing something stupid to find somewhere to go or anything like that,” said Bavicks. 

    An estimated 400 people lost their housing and treatment Friday night. 

    Clearview management would not comment on the situation. 

    But a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office shows Clearview’s previous owner Terry Hill Jr. was charged with health care fraud earlier this year for the second time. The statement shows the first time Hill was convicted of Medicaid fraud back in 2021.

    But patients were told Medicaid money was supposed to be paying for their hotel while in treatment and that Medicaid money has been cut off.

    Now, volunteers, many in recovery themselves, are racing to keep people from ending up on the street.

    “I know what it’s like to walk around without shoes on my feet in the middle of cold in the hopes of just getting high one more time, and I don’t like seeing that,” said TJ Brinnon, Safe Haven Recovery Housing owner. 

    Brinnon and his fiance, Molly Cruz, are starting a new recovery house and helping bring patients from Clearview to other housing.

    “I definitely wanted to help because of that and because there’s so many great options for treatment that it really it kind of hurts my soul,” said Cruz. 

    Now, they’re taking Bavicks and May to their next stop for treatment.

    “Just having that extra person to have your back and especially your spouse be in there with you makes a huge difference,” said May. 

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    Sheena Elzie

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  • Federal Shutdown Raises Concerns Over Childcare Funding

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — A brief pause in federal funding left early learning centers across Ohio scrambling to maintain operations, prompting school leaders in Columbus to call for more stable childcare funding to prevent future disruptions.

    What You Need To Know

    • A federal funding pause caused closures and uncertainty at early learning centers across Ohio

    • School leaders said childcare should be funded like infrastructure to withstand federal disruptions

    • Economic losses tied to childcare shortages in Ohio are estimated at $5.4 billion annually, according to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce

    During the freeze, some early childcare programs closed while others struggled to stay open. Staff at the Columbus Early Learning Center said families and educators felt the effects immediately.

    Antywanna Williams, a teacher’s aide whose son attends the center, said the uncertainty would deeply affect young children if access to schools were suddenly cut off.

    “How do you explain to your four-year-old that there is no school?” Williams said. “You have to wait until you’re five years old to go to kindergarten.” 

    Williams said the situation also raised concerns about her own job security and what a shutdown would mean for her family. She said her work is rooted in close relationships with the children in her classroom and their families, and losing that stability would affect them as much as it would affect her.

    Columbus Early Learning Centers CEO Gina Ginn said the funding pause highlighted how dependent early learning providers are on federal dollars and how vulnerable families become when that support stalls. She said the instability also carries a broader economic cost.

    “We are missing out in the state of Ohio on $5.4 billion a year in our economy because families can’t go to work because they can’t find affordable, high-quality childcare,” Ginn said.

    Ginn said the disruption underscored the need to treat childcare as core infrastructure—similar to roads, water systems and K–12 schools—so centers can withstand fluctuations in federal support. Without stable options, she said, families face long-term barriers.

    “It really is the foundation and the backbone of families being able to work. And then also create pathways out of poverty,” she said.

    School leaders said they are now evaluating how local funding structures could be modernized to prevent future shocks to early learning programs.

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    Saima Khan

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