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Tag: Ohio Cleveland Top Stories

  • Importance of exercise for heart disease patients

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    CLEVELAND — Exercise being good for your health is common knowledge, but for some, no amount of exercise can prevent heart disease.

    But doctors say that’s no reason to stop.

    What You Need To Know

    • Exercise cannot always prevent disease but it’s still beneficial for those with heart disease

    • People who exercised before heart surgery have much better recovery

    • Two years after heart surgery, man is competing in state swim championship

    Duane Grassell has been swimming competitively since he was a teenager.

    “I got top 10 for the 200 fly when the year I turned 64,” he said.

    But that stopped three years ago when he started having chest discomfort in the pool. Grassell was starting to slow down, and he didn’t know why.

    “I was a heart attack waiting to happen,” Grassell said.

    He had clogged arteries and needed open heart surgery. He was told to stop swimming until it was fixed.

    “There are some things that are outside of your control… family history, your genetics is very strong,’’ Dr. Joseph Lahorra, cardiothoracic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic.

    He performed a quintuple bypass on Grassell. He said for some, no amount of eating right, exercise or healthy lifestyle can prevent heart disease.

    He said even though exercise may not always prevent heart disease, it is still beneficial.

    “Patients who have a baseline of exercise, they bounce back much quicker. You do it to try to prevent these problems, but maybe as important, maybe more important is that when you do have this problem, you are fit and ready to go,” Lahorra said.

    Lahorra said exercise doesn’t have to be at a competitive level, even walking is sufficient. But that wasn’t enough for Grassell.

    “It was very depressing. Because I’m not a couch potato, but I had to become one for a few months,” Grassell said.

    It’s been two years since Grassell had heart surgery. He is now 68-years-old.

    “I don’t measure myself against other people. I measure against the clock,” said Grassell, who swims at least 40 laps every other day and will be competing in the U.S. masters state championship in March.

    His next goal is to compete at a national event at age 70.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Nearly 200 Ohio fire departments receive funding via grant

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    OHIO — One-hundred-and-ninety fire departments throughout Ohio are being awarded funding through the Small County Volunteer Fire Department Grant.

    Nearly $8 million is being awarded to these departments, spread throughout 49 different counties in the state, for them to purchase necessary equipment, make upgrades to their facilities and improve their training, according to a press release from the Division of State Fire Marshal.

    “These small, volunteer fire departments, many of which serve rural areas of the state, are the backbone of Ohio’s fire service, and the vast majority of them are working with small budgets,” State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon said in the release. “Thanks to the work of the legislature, this grant funding will better equip these departments to do a job that our communities rely on them to do, and that is to be there if and when an emergency strikes.”

    The release states that the grant was just one initiative of several meant to support volunteer fire departments, at a time when the number of volunteers has been declining even as calls have been increasing.

    You can view the full list of departments and award amounts, separated by county, below:

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  • Bowling Green survey highlights voters views

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    OHIO — President Donald Trump is set to make his State of the Union speech at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night.

    As the president prepares to speak to the joint session of Congress, there’s a lot on the minds of Americans just over a year into his second term.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bowling Green State University/YouGov’s February 2026 survey of 1,200 U.S. registered voters paints a picture of Americans’ thoughts on the current political environment

    • President Donald Trump will make his State of the Union speech at 9 p.m. Tuesday evening

    • Voters seemed to identify the economy as an important issue

    According to Bowling Green State University/YouGov’s February 2026 survey of 1,200 U.S. registered voters, 41% either somewhat or strongly approve of how Trump has handled the job as president. On the other hand, 51% strongly disapprove, and 7% somewhat disapprove.

    Here’s what else the survey found.

    Voters appeared to identify the economy as an important issue.

    Respondents identified the following issues as the most important to them: the economy in general (42%), health care (31%), threats to democracy (32%), immigration (31%) and inflation (29%).

    Only 28% of the respondents said the economic situation has improved (either somewhat or significantly) in the past year. That’s compared to 55% who said it has gotten much or somewhat worse. A total of 17% of people said it stayed about the same.

    As the 2026 Midterm draws nearer, 49% of respondents said they’d support the Democratic candidate in Congress if the vote were today, compared to 41% who said they’d support the Republican and 9% who said they’d support neither.

    A total of 59% of respondents feel the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, compared to 34% who feel it on the right track.

    Operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have dominated recent media cycles, and it has seemingly not escaped the notice of voters. According to the survey, 58% of respondents said they’ve paid a great deal of attention to recent ICE raids, and 33% said they paid some attention. Only 9% of people said they paid little or no attention.

    Most respondents oppose what they’ve seen of these “ICE raids,” with 50% strongly opposed and 9% somewhat opposed. A total of 27% of the respondents said they strongly favor the raids, and 14% somewhat favor them.

    The majority of Americans agree with the statement “I am proud to be an American.” A little over half (52%) of the respondents strongly agreed with the state, and a quarter (25%) somewhat agree. A total of 23% of people either somewhat or strongly disagree.

    You can view the full survey here:

    Spectrum News reporter Susan Carpenter contributed to this report.

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    Cody Thompson

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  • Ohio residents come together to show support for Ukraine

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    STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Gathering in the cold, residents came together on Saturday to reflect and pray for those in Ukraine.

    What You Need To Know

    • Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022
    • A protracted war has followed, with several Ukrainian cities currently occupied by Russian forces. 
    • Residents around Northeast Ohio came together on Saturday to rally to support Ukraine and pray for peace

    “It’s pretty tough in Ukraine right now. I think everybody is aware that not only are they, you know, the battles going on at the front line. Russia is targeting infrastructure. When I call, you know, Ukraine and talk to the doctors, I mean, they could be without electricity 18 hours out of the 24 hours,” said Dr. Taras Mahlay.

    Mahlay is the President of the Cleveland Maidan Association, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that has focused on providing medical aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2022. 

    Bohdan Danylo, the bishop at the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in Parma, says the four-year anniversary is a good time to reflect. 

    “On one hand, it’s a bittersweet commemoration. On the other hand, it’s also hope that Ukraine, already for four years [has withstood] the Russian invasion,” Saqid Danylo. “In the last couple of years, they were able just to move a couple of miles from the initial invasion.”

    Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are ongoing, but this comes as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine. Recently, talks between the two countries have made no progress. 

    “It’s not the land; it’s the people. Why would you give up people? I mean, you wouldn’t give up your cousin because they are on the wrong side of a border, or move that border over?” Mahlay said. 

    Northeast Ohio is home to a large population of Ukrainian immigrants and their descendants. Mayor of Parma Timothy DeGetter stranded the rally. 

     “We know that there is no quit in the Ukrainian people, and we welcome you to Parma, we welcome you to Strongsville, to Northeast Ohio. I am very, very proud of the connection that Parma has with Ukraine. I have always said Ukraine is Parma, Parma is Ukraine,” DeGetter said. 

     Those in attendance urged others to focus on the ongoing war. 

     “The most important is to ask, you know, our people in Northeast Ohio to still not give up on peace. Call your representative, call your senators, call the president.” Danylo said. 

     

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    Corey O’Leary

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  • Cavaliers beat Hornets 118-113 for 7th straight victory

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory and 12th win in 13 games.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 for their seventh straight victory Friday night

    • Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter

    • The Cavs will be at Oklahoma City on Sunday

    Jared Allen had 25 points and 14 rebounds and James Harden added 18 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers.

    Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel finished with 33 points on seven 3-pointers, giving him 193 made 3s for the season — the second most in NBA history by a rookie. Keegan Murray holds the record with 206 set in the 2022-23 season.

    LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each had 18 points and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.

    Miller’s and-one layup off a no-look feed from Ball cut Cleveland’s lead to four with a minute remaining, but Mitchell made a short jumper and four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the win.

    The Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and looked like they were preparing to break the game open, but Knueppel began to heat up, finishing with four 3s and 16 points in the first half to cut Cleveland’s lead in to six. Charlotte took the lead late in the third quarter behind three more Knueppel 3s.

    But Mitchell began to take over with his physical play. He got to the line 13 times and made 12 free throws.

    Charlotte played without suspended forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate and Grant Williams, who sat out with knee injury management forcing them to play younger, less experienced players in the frontcourt.

    The Cavaliers outscored the Hornets 50-28 in the paint.

    The Hornets have now lost three of their last four games after winning nine straight games just before the All-Star break.

    Up next

    Cavaliers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

    Hornets: At Washington on Sunday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Cleveland Browns announce new coordinators

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    BEREA, Ohio — Late last month, the Cleveland Browns announced they hired Todd Monken as the new head coach, replacing Kevin Stefanski, who was fired on Jan. 5, the day after Cleveland finished a 5-12 season.

    But a football team is a lot more than just the head coach. Now, the team has announced its three coordinators for 2026.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Browns have named three individuals as coordinators for 2026

    • They are Travis Switzer, Mike Rutenberg and Byron Storer

    • The team hired Todd Monken as the new head coach last month

    “You’re always looking for coaches that never forget that we have a job for our players,” Monken said. “That’s first and foremost, and our job is to maximize our players’ measurable skill set. I always say to aspire to be the best coach they’ve ever had.”

    For the position of offensive coordinator, they are bringing in Travis Switzer, who spent nine seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Monken had spent his previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator with Baltimore.

    “He was our run game coordinator, and that’s where it all starts with your ability to run the football,” Monken said in the release. “So, he’s ready for this challenge. He’s intentional, he’s intelligent and he can teach.”

    For the position of defensive coordinator, they’re adding Mike Rutenberg, a coach with 14 years of experience in the league.

    “He’d been in a similar system, but not the exact system because Jim (Schwartz) was unique,” Monken said in the release. “And they can say attacking style, but then there’s attacking style, which is what they’ve done here up front. And I think that background of being a four-down attacking style, but not exact, (and) to add some things that they had done before that I thought would mesh really well with the current staff, was a big part of that. And I thought his energy, his ability to teach, his juice, I mean, it popped. It was what I was looking for.”

    Finally, for special teams coordinator, the Browns will have Byron Storer. He’d been with the Green Bay Packers for four seasons and has 12 years coaching experience in the NFL.

    “First off, his journey – going to Cal, playing special teams little bit in the NFL, into coaching, out of coaching and into the business world, then back into coaching. Being with one of the best special teams to ever do it in Rich Bisaccia. Matt LaFleur just absolutely standing on the table for him was huge,” Monken said in the release. “Unbelievable presentation when we interviewed him, he was more than ready. It was obvious when I got done interviewing him that we had to have him here.”

    Earlier this month, Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned from the position after three seasons.

    Schwartz has led one of the league’s top defenses over the past three seasons but was upset about being passed over for the head coach job, after many thought he was the favorite to replace Kevin Stefanski.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Legislation could ban NIL for high school student-athletes

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    CINCINNATI — Recent legislation has been introduced to ban Name, Image and Likeness deals for high school and middle school students in Ohio. This comes just months after the OHSAA passed the bylaws to allow students to benefit from NIL. For one of the athletes who is making millions of dollars thanks to the new rules, he says his family relies on it.

    What You Need To Know

    • House Bill 661 would ban NIL for high school and middle school athletes in Ohio

    • Kam Mercer is one of 30 high school athletes in Ohio who has an NIL deal 

    • Mercer said he transferred back to Ohio once NIL was voted in by member schools of the OHSAA because his family relies on the money he makes 

    Kam Mercer is just 16 years old but stands tall at 6-foot-5-inches, and counting.

    “I get some growing pains here and there,” the sophomore said. 

    Kam Mercer practices at Princeton High School after transferring to the school in December. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    The fifth-ranked player in the country in his class calls southern Ohio home. But he left his family and friends his freshman year to play at Huntington Prep in West Virginia and started his sophomore season at Overtime League in Atlanta, both prep schools where he could benefit financially from his game.

    “More of like a family decision as far as, like, I had to help my family out financially,” Mercer said.

    But then, everything changed.

    “Ohio passed NIL, and it gave me the opportunity to come back home,” he said.

    Just a few weeks later, Mercer transferred back to Princeton and began raking in NIL deals, like with Panini trading cards.

    Mercer says he’s happy to be back home. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “It’s a multi-million dollar deal,” he confirmed.

    It’s life-changing money that is making a big difference for his family.

    “It is a decent amount of pressure,” he said. “But I know that if I wasn’t built for, I wouldn’t be here. So I’m just happy to be here with my family.”

    But now, that could all change. Earlier this month, two Ohio State Representatives announced legislation to ban NIL deals for high school and middle school students.

    “High school sports are an extension of the classroom,” State Rep. Adam Bird, R-District 63, said. “They teach character, discipline, leadership, work ethic and fitness. This bill is about protecting kids, keeping the focus on learning and development and ensuring students across Ohio compete on a level playing field.”

    “The OHSAA is aware of the introduction of House Bill 661 and looks forward to continuing to provide information on the process taken to develop the proposal and safeguards that went to our membership for a vote last fall,” OHSAA spokesperson Tim Stried said. “It is important to note that NIL at the high school level in Ohio is very different than what we see at the college level, and that Ohio is one of 45 states that allows some version of NIL for high school student-athletes.”

    Mercer listens to head coach Bryan Wyant in a huddle at practice. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    Mercer understands the controversy of NIL for student-athletes like him.

    “It does make you more mature than you are,” Mercer said. “At the end of day, I know I’m a 16-year-old kid, and I don’t try to act any more mature than I am. But just being in a situation I am now, I have to grow up a little bit more.”

    But he’s hopeful the new bill doesn’t go into effect, because that could mean leaving his family once again.

    “If it does, I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said. “I know I’ll be fine, but I’m just I’m not too worried about it, but, like, who knows what could happen?”

    The next hearing for House Bill 661 to ban NIL for high school and middle school athletes is set for Tuesday.

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    Katie Kapusta

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  • Thomas, Lewis help No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 in Nashville

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis each scored 13 points and No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 on Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena in the Nashville Hoops Showdown.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    • Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9).

    • He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9). He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    Amare Bynum had 15 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes in their latest nonconference game in nearly 40 years.

    It was tied at 37 at the half, with Virginia erasing an early Ohio State lead

    Ohio State opened up a six-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining, but the Cavaliers had a 6-0 run to tie it.

    With just over a minute remaining, Lewis forced a turnover and then went the length of the floor for a layup to give Virginia a 65-61 lead. He then hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

    Prior to the game, Ohio State said John Mobley Jr. will be sidelined indefinitely due to a hand injury sustained Wednesday night against Southern California. Mobley started the Buckeyes’ first 24 games, averaging 15.1 points.

    The Cavaliers are 10-2 away from home, including 3-1 in neutral-site games.

    Up next

    Ohio State: Hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday night.

    Virginia: At Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Brother’s Keeper working to help young men feel connected

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    Editor’s Note: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

    UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — There is a loneliness epidemic, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, and one group that’s been particularly affected is young men.

    What You Need To Know

    • The suicide rate is four times higher for men than for women

    • Students at John Carroll University meet monthly to build more intimate relationships and ward off loneliness

    • Young men are less likely to open up to family members because they don’t want to be a burden

    Between 2010 and 2023, the suicide rate for males ages 15–24 rose by 26% according to the American Institute for Boys and Men.

    One man is trying to change that.

    “From a very young age, boys are taught that certain feelings, they can’t express,” said Matt Wooters, therapist and a professor at John Carroll University.

    He said that’s enforced on social media and with their peers.

    “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, to feel any spectrum of emotion,” Wooters said.

    He started a group called Brother’s Keeper. It’s a safe space where young college men can share about more than just football scores. They meet monthly.

    “There’s a lot of talk about toxic masculinity in the modern discourse. And it’s interesting that there’s also a lot of talk about male loneliness and isolation,” Wooters said. “I think those two things are connected.”

    Men are more likely than women to feel socially isolated and not meaningfully part of any community, according to the AIBM, and their suicide rate is four times higher than women.

    “I think it really stems back to the phones and social media, even when we seem like we’re super connected with others, there’s a sense of loneliness, and that connection that it’s not really genuine,” said junior Casey LaForce.

    LaForce attends the monthly meetings. He plays lacrosse and considers himself close to his teammates, but he said the talks just aren’t the same.

    “You just see each other and you ask ‘Oh, how’s your day going? Oh, it’s good.’ And it doesn’t go much deeper than that,” he said.

    He said that the conversations in the group are much deeper.

    Wooters said he intentionally chooses athletes.

    “Even the most connected, successful, popular students on campus, especially male students, don’t have spaces to be authentic,” Wooters said.

    He said men don’t share with family because they don’t want to be a burden.

    “One single adult in their life that isn’t a family member, that they can call when they’re not doing well or when they’re doing well, changes everything,” Wooters said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • East Cleveland is first city to be placed under receivership

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    EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — East Cleveland is the first-ever town to be placed under a receivership, meaning that after years of fiscal emergency, a court appointed third party is going to be taking over their finances in order to find a viable long-term solution.

    What You Need To Know

    • The city of East Cleveland is being placed under a receivership
    • After years of fiscal emergency, a court-appointed third party is going to be taking over their finances
    • The town’s new mayor said this is a way for them to move forward

    East Cleveland has long been in debt.

    “Part of the problem is that we have a lot of debt that hasn’t been quantified yet,” new Mayor Sandra Morgan said.

    Morgan said the receivership was in the works before her term, but it is something she supports.

    “I believe it’s a lifeline for us,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to right the ship, frankly.”

    At a recent town hall, residents heard from the mayor and the court-appointed receiver, George Shoup.

    “I’m dismissed as a receiver once we determine that the areas of financial distress has been resolved and that a viable plan going forward is in place,” Shoup said.

    Morgan said the current estimate of the city’s debt lies around $50 to $65 million, largely as part of large settlements ordered where the police department was found guilty of abuse.

    “There’s just an erosion of the infrastructure because no one bothered to invest,” Morgan said.

    The city has consistently lost population since the 1950s. It was once at roughly 40,000 residents but is now around 14,000. Morgan said, if they want long-term financial stability, they’ll have to reverse that trend. 

    “We’re planning for building housing, really all sorts of housing,” she said.

    She said new developments, like more housing as part of the Circle East project, shows there’s a push for growth.

    “There’s a lot of reasons to come to East Cleveland,” she said.

    When asked about what she’d say to an East Cleveland resident who is skeptical about the receivership, she said, “the alternative is real grim.”

    “We don’t really have any alternative, and this is a way for us to move forward,” she said.

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    Corey O’Leary

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  • ‘Bent, but not broken’: Congresswoman Shontel Brown reflects on a chaotic 2025

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    CLEVELAND — Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown reflected on what she calls a chaotic year in Washington, D.C. during her State of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District Address.

    What You Need To Know

    • Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown reflected on what she calls a chaotic year in Washington, D.C. DC during her State of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District Address

    • Brown says her district is facing pressure because of many of President Donald Trump’s priorities, including the tax and spending policy he calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”

    • Brown vowed to use every tool she has to dismantle ICE, saying she would not vote to approve giving the agency even one more cent of funding

    “Our communities are being terrorized by ICE,” she said. “Our health care is being cut. Our food assistance is being slashed. Our schools and our local programs are being defunded by Washington. Our pocketbooks are being stretched thin by Trump’s reckless tariffs.”

    Brown says her district is facing pressure because of many of President Donald Trump’s priorities, including the tax and spending policy he calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

    “But I like to call it the Big Ugly Law,” Brown said.

    The law extends tax cuts and cuts spending on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and health care programs Medicare and Medicaid, reduces spending on clean energy tax credits and significantly increases spending for ICE. 

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates nearly 100,000 Ohioans will lose out on SNAP food benefits because of the Republican-backed spending bill. Brown said her district has the highest percentage of people relying on SNAP in the state. While she fights to protect and restore those benefits, she said Republicans invested $75 billion into ICE. 

    “I am going to introduce legislation in the coming weeks that would repeal that funding and put it right back into the SNAP program,” she said.

    Brown vowed to use every tool she has to dismantle ICE, saying she would not vote to approve giving the agency even one more cent of funding. 

    She said House Democrats will continue using their leverage to secure wins despite being in the minority, pointing to the release of the Epstein files as a win.

    Constituent Terreia Whitsett said she’d like to see Brown continue to press that issue.

    “The biggest issue is that the attorney general is not interviewing the victims,” Whitsett said. “And I think that’s very important. When you’re a victim of something, you want to be heard and you want to know that people really feel what you’re going through. And I just think she’s deflecting a lot.”

    Through all the chaos of 2025, Browns said her community banded together, protesting ICE’s crackdown, raising money to make up for frozen federal benefits and taking care of each other.

    “We know our strength and we know our power,” she said. “We’ve been tested, but not defeated. Battered, but not beaten. Bent, but not broken.”

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    Nora McKeown

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  • Ohio elementary student brings cursive back to class

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s a skill many adults learned in school, but for some younger students today, it can feel almost foreign — because it isn’t as commonly taught in classrooms anymore.

    What You Need To Know

    • A fourth grader at West Mound Elementary started a cursive club to teach classmates a skill that’s become less common in schools

    • Educators say increased technology and computer-based testing have reduced time spent on handwritten skills like cursive

    • Teachers say cursive still plays an important role in everyday life, especially for tasks like signing documents

    That’s not the case for fourth grader E’lon Hamilton at West Mound Elementary School in Columbus. Cursive comes so naturally to him that he’s now teaching it to others.

    “I got it (cursive) from my parents. I used it on occasions when I needed to, like when I was writing something very important,” Hamilton said.

    Once a week during lunch at West Mound Elementary School in Columbus, Hamilton runs a cursive club he started himself. He gives tips, demonstrates letters, and watches closely as his classmates practice.

    “Because I wanted not just myself to know cursive. I want other people to know cursive as well. A lot of other people,” Hamilton said.

    For many of the kids in the club, cursive is a handwriting skill they might not have learned otherwise.

    “At the club, I think I’m a little bit good. Like, like connecting them is kind of, like, hard to not let go,” said club member Diana Oitiz.

    Educators say cursive has become less common as priorities in schools have shifted.

    “We have a lot of tests now that are on the computers that need to learn how to use the keyboards. So I can see that technology is probably taking over a lot of the handwritten things,” said Margaret Brown, principal of West Mound Elementary School.

    Still, educators say cursive can matter — not just for school, but for everyday life.

    “You have to sign a check. Right? You gotta pay your bills. You have to do this in your signature, in cursive. So at least being able to sign your name in cursive is important for us,” Brown said.

    When asked his favorite word to write in cursive, Hamilton didn’t just choose a word; he shared a message.

    “Happiness. I want everybody to be happy in this class. What I want, like, is the more we learn teamwork, the more we get along with each other, the more we make friends. Happiness is key. Teamwork is key,” Hamilton said.

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    Aliah Keller

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  • A look at Donovan Mitchell’s emotional week

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    CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell was already in store for an emotional week.

    The Cleveland Cavaliers guard was selected to the NBA All-Star Game for the seventh straight season and will watch his fiancée, Coco Jones, sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before Super Bowl 60 on Sunday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Donovan Mitchell is having an emotional week

    • The Cleveland Cavaliers guard has been selected for his seventh NBA All-Star Game

    • His fiancée, Coco Jones, will sing at the Super Bowl 60 pregame ceremonies on Sunday
    • Things changed on Wednesday when the Cavaliers traded Darius Garland for James Harden

    Things took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when the Cavaliers traded Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden.

    “It’s been a lot. There’s just so much going on,” Mitchell said after Cleveland’s 124-91 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night.

    The Cavaliers are on their longest road trip of the season and face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night. Mitchell will then travel three hours to Santa Clara, California, to watch Jones perform before rejoining the Cavaliers in Denver for Monday’s game against the Nuggets.

    Mitchell and the Grammy-winning singer announced their engagement last July after two years of dating. When the Cavaliers were eliminated in five games by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year, Mitchell said he was taking time off and “going on tour with good music.”

    Jones was on tour last summer after releasing her debut studio album.

    “I’m excited for her. It’s just great to see the success she’s having in her own right. She deserves this,” Mitchell said last week before the Cavaliers started their six-game road trip. “It’s something that is new for me to kind of just watch it. As much as I am her fiancée, I’m a fan of her work and her work ethic. And to see it on the biggest stage, it’s special.”

    Mitchell, in his ninth season, is sixth in the NBA in scoring and averaging a career-high 28.8 points. He also leads the NBA with 178 made 3-pointers.

    The Harden trade moves Mitchell back to full-time shooting guard. Garland was sidelined for stretches this season with big toe injuries, and Mitchell took on some point guard duties.

    Harden, expected to make his Cavaliers debut Saturday night, is averaging 25.4 points per game and is on track for his best season since 2019-20.

    “I think our ceiling is definitely higher when you have a guy like James Harden. You know what he brings, but with that, there’s definitely a higher expectation,” Mitchell said Wednesday night. “It’s not gonna always be pretty. You make a move at the deadline, there’s gonna be bumps in the road, but for us this is the time.”

    Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman also admitted there will be a little bit of an acclimation period for his new backcourt to get up to speed.

    “We’re going to have to adapt to James. He’s that good a player, but I think we’re going to still run,” he said. “We need to get the ball in Donovan’s hands, and we need to get the ball in James’ hands so that we’re going to have a great possession. And in the playoffs, I do still think it comes down to largely a half-court game, and so we really are thinking about that.”

    Jones said during a press conference on Thursday that taking part in the Super Bowl is “pretty much the top of the top.” Her father, Mike Jones, was on the Tennessee Titans squad that played in Super Bowl 34.

    “I just think that this is one of the most highly-viewed events of all time, and so it’s hard to compete. Maybe my wedding will be up there,” she said.

    However, Mitchell hopes this will not be Jones’ only Super Bowl appearance.

    “She’s going to perform at the Super Bowl at halftime,” he said. “That’s the next goal. She’s going to keep doing her thing, but it’s a blessing to be able to somehow find a way to be a couple of hours away the night before. So it’s going to be special.”

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Browns Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz resigns

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    This comes just days after the team officially introduced Todd Monken as the 19th coach in franchise history.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Wind and snow will slow down travel on Friday

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    OHIO — Friday will begin with a round of accumulating snowfall and end with a reinforcing shot of Arctic air.

    What You Need To Know

    • Accumulating snowfall will begin early Friday morning

    • Roads may be snowy and slushy during the daytime hours

    • Most areas can expect between 1 to 3 inches of snow, with pockets up to 4 inches
    • Snow squalls are possible Friday evening

    Snowfall amounts will be 1-3 inches for most but some pockets of heavier snow up to 4 inches are possible.

    Road conditions during the daytime hours may be snowy and slushy with afternoon highs mainly at or above freezing. Winter weather advisories are up for Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati.

    Winds will be gusty so we could see lower visibility from blowing and drifting snow. Intense snow bands are possible in the snowbelt, with the possibility of snow squals in Northeast Ohio. Snow squalls can reduce visibility down to zero and produce heavy snowfall and snow covered roads in a short amount of time.

    This system will be fast moving so many will see the snow come to an end Friday evening.

    Following the snow, a blast of Arctic air will come rushing in out of the northwest, dropping wind chills as low as -10 to -20 early Saturday.

    Cold weather advisories are up for Saturday.

     

    Temperatures will moderate on Sunday, with milder and more average temperatures for most of next week.

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    Meteorologist Erin Carroll

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  • Cleveland Heights native Laila Edwards making history with Olympic debut

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    CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Northeast Ohio native Laila Edwards is officially in the history books as the first Black woman to represent Team USA in ice hockey in the Olympics.

    What You Need To Know

    • Laila Edwards became the first Black woman to represent the United States in women’s hockey at the Winter Olympics on Thursday 

    • Edwards is a Cleveland Heights native and played her first hockey games at the Cleveland Heights Community Center 

    • Edwards’ parents say that Northeast Ohio should embrace her success because they played a part in it

    Edwards picked up an assist in the USA Women’s Hockey team’s 5-1 win over Czechia in their opening game of the Milano Cortina Olympics. Her journey to the world stage began in her hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. 

    “I never would have imagined it,” Edwards said. “I think for it to be a reality is super cool.” 

    Her journey to the Olympics began at 3-years-old, when her parents say she first fell in love with figure skating and, soon after, hockey.

    “Mr. Edwards used to get ice in Cleveland Heights at 6 in the morning,” Laila’s mother Charone Gray-Edwards said. “I never heard her complain.” 

    “We actually went skating every day for a year, literally every day for a year,” Laila’s father, Robert Edwards, said. “She was a very good skater. We kind of knew then she was going to be good.”

    Good is an understatement.

    Edwards quickly excelled on the ice as the best player on the boys hockey teams she played on growing up. Edwards moved to Rochester, New York, in high school to attend Bishop Kearney and play for its elite hockey program. In college, she stars for the Wisconsin Badgers, she’s led the team to two national championships.

    Despite the success, Robert Edwards and Charone-Gray Edwards say their daughter never forgets where she came from.

    “I feel that the community should share in her success and should share in her involvement in hockey because it produced the expectations, produced the opportunity and nurtured it,” said Robert Edwards. 

    “Her foundation was at Cleveland Heights Rec Center,” said Charone Gray-Edwards. “That’s where everything began. So for her to come back and say, yes, everybody, this is where it started. Maybe she wouldn’t be where she is today. I thank Cleveland Heights.”

    Edwards is breaking barriers and changing the game as the first Black woman on the United States Women’s Olympic hockey team. It’s something her father Robert said she takes a lot of pride in. 

    “If she can be the person that comes out there and allows other women to see that they can play or anyone, regardless of who, but Black girls in particular,” Robert Edwards said. “If she can do that for hockey, like what Venus and Serena have done for tennis, I think she would be overwhelmed by that.”

    Edwards is already making a difference in Northeast Ohio.

    “It’s important for girls in this area to have that representation,” Cleveland Lady Barons coach Emily Busta said. 

    In November, Edwards surprised the Cleveland Lady Barons at one of their practices. Busta said Edwards is inspiring girls to lace up their skates. 

    “She’s like the Taylor Swift of Cleveland girls hockey because every single girl was blushing just looking at her,” said Busta. “They just want to be her. They want to play like her.”

    As Laila continues her first Olympics, she’ll have all of Cleveland Heights behind her while inspiring a lot more people. But Edwards isn’t feeling any extra pressure as she goes for the gold with Team USA. 

    “This is the highest level,” said Edwards. “It’s kind of a business, but it’s still fun. At the end of the day, it’s just hockey. I believe we can win this year. We have the ability to do so.”

    Laila and Team USA will hit the ice for their second Olympic contest against Finland on Saturday. 

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    Jack Berney

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  • José Ramírez will get final payment from Guardians in 2051

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    CLEVELAND — José Ramírez will receive his final payment in 2051 under the third baseman’s $175 million, seven-year contract with the Cleveland Guardians.

    What You Need To Know

    • He gets a full no-trade provision and a hotel suite on road trips

    • Ramírez’s deferred money from each season will be payable in 10 equal installments each Dec. 15 starting in the 10th year after it was earned

    • The 33-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has played his entire 13-year big league career in Cleveland

    His deal, announced Friday, includes annual salaries of $25 million, of which $10 million annually will be deferred.

    Ramírez’s deferred money from each season will be payable in 10 equal installments each Dec. 15 starting in the 10th year after it was earned. His 2026 money will be paid from 2036-45 and his 2032 money from 2042-51.

    He gets a full no-trade provision and a hotel suite on road trips.

    Ramírez earned $72 million from 2022-25 under a $141 million, seven-year deal that had $69 million remaining: $21 million this year, $23 million in 2027 and $25 million in 2028.

    The 33-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has played his entire 13-year big league career in Cleveland.

    A seven-time All-Star, Ramírez had a career-high 44 stolen bases last season and became the fourth player with multiple seasons of at least 30 home runs and 40 steals. He had a .283 batting average.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Ohio Turnpike, OSHP partner to promote safe driving habits

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    OHIO — Ohio officials are teaming up to remind motorists of their “personal responsibility” to practice safe driving habits along the state’s major roadways. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission are teaming up to encourage safe behaviors

    • For the fourth year, Ohio has seen a decrease in fatal crashes across the state, including 37 fewer lives lost in 2025 when compared to 2024

    • OSHP will conduct high-visibility patrols on the turnpike throughout 2026, focusing on violations that put drivers at risk, such as distracted driving, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt

    The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission are teaming up to encourage safe behaviors when behind the wheel.

    “Our troopers, our partners at the turnpike and first responders regularly encounter the aftermath of a poor choice that is made while behind the wheel,” said Staff Lt. Rick Reeder, Ohio State Highway Patrol. “These poor choices leave lasting impacts on families and communities, and many of them could have been avoided.”

    For the fourth year, Ohio has seen a decrease in fatal crashes across the state, including 37 fewer lives lost in 2025 when compared to 2024. The Ohio Turnpike had its lowest number of lives lost in the last 5 years at 10.

    From 2021 through 2025 on the Ohio Turnpike, there were:

    • 4,061 speed-related crashes, resulting in 21 fatalities and 1,637 injuries
    • 304 crashes where a distraction played a role, causing one death and injuring 143 others
    • 32 fatalities where a safety belt was available but not used

    “As you can see, in too many instances, these senseless tragedies resulted from something that was preventable,” Staff Lt. Reeder said.

    OSHP will conduct high-visibility patrols on the turnpike throughout 2026, focusing on violations that put drivers at risk, such as distracted driving, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt.

    “Innovations like forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and blind spot warnings are impressive and helpful, yet they’re not a substitute for safe driving behaviors and letting your guard down,” said Ohio Turnpike Chief Engineer Chris Matta, who also serves as deputy executive director for the turnpike commission. “Improving safety isn’t a switch we flip overnight. It’s ongoing work — through education, enforcement, outreach and most importantly, personal responsibility,” added Matta.

    Over the past five years, more than 6,000 people have died on Ohio’s roadways, and data shows the top crash factors remain the same for both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. 

    These factors include:

    • Unsafe speed
    • Improper lane changes
    • Following too closely
    • Failure to yield

    Last year, more than 56 million cars and trucks traveled 3 billion miles on the Ohio Turnpike, with commercial vehicles accounting for about 25% of traffic on the turnpike. 

    Buses and trucks have larger blind spots, less maneuverability, and need more distance to stop. 

    The American Trucking Associations’ Share the Road campaign gave tips for drivers on ensuring safety:

    • Never cut in front of a truck
    • Don’t linger alongside a truck
    • Pass safely and promptly
    • Stay clear of blind spots;
    • Remember: if you can’t see the driver’s face in the side mirror, they can’t see you
    • Give trucks room to maneuver

    “This has already been a challenging winter,” said Matta. “Snowplow trucks are not obstacles. They’re making our roadway safer. Please give them plenty of room to work.”

    Drivers can report reckless or impaired driving and drug activity by calling #677.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Winter is the perfect time to start your native Ohio gardening

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    CLEVELAND — Gardening isn’t a task normally associated with winter, but February can be the perfect time to plant.

    What You Need To Know

    • A free native seed library is distributing seeds to residents across multiple northern Ohio locations
    • To properly sprout, various seeds native to Ohio have to be planted in the winter
    • Wild Ones Greater Cleveland is putting on two Winter Sowing Workshops in partnership with the seed library, one on Feb. 8 and one on Feb. 11

    “A lot of times people will get a native seed and not know what to do with it. They’ll try planting it and it won’t work if you plant it in the summer,” explained Allison Welch, the Education Coordinator for Wild Ones Greater Cleveland.

    The group is a nonprofit run by volunteers, and it is putting on a series of winter-sowing workshops. 

    “You need to do it in the winter to experience the right kind of conditions to sprout by spring,” Welch said 

    Various seeds native to Ohio need winter weather for proper germination and sprouting.

    The workshop is free and takes participants through all the steps of planting seeds that will sprout in spring and summer. 

    The workshop is the perfect pairing for West Creek Conservatory’s Native Seeds Library program, which is now in its second year. 

    “So here we got the display, with our native seed library,” said Danielle Dejak, the Outreach Coordinator for the West Creek Conservancy.

    The program provides free seeds at various locations across northern Ohio. 

    “This year we really have expanded up to nine locations and up to 12,000 seed packets now,” Dejak said. 

    Now in its second year, the seed library has expanded because of high demand, partnering with organizations like Holden Garden and Forests, who collected many of the seeds themselves. 

    So why plant native seeds?

    “Native plants are gonna provide a lot of food and habitat for pollinators and just our native wildlife in general and because of their deep root systems they are going to really help with stormwater management, helping to slow the flow of that rainfall and reduce flooding and erosion,” Dejak said. 

    If you’re feeling antsy this winter, it might be time to consider some gardening. 

    Wild Ones has partnered with the seed bank to offer a free winter sowing course on Feb. 8 and Feb. 11. 

    “Come spring, you got a beautiful garden ready to go,” Welch said.

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    Corey O’Leary

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  • Expert shares tips to keep our furry friends safe

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    CINCINNATI — Freezing temperatures can quickly become deadly for pets.

    What You Need To Know

    • Severe temperatures can harm everyone in a household, including your pet

    • Queen City Veterinary Clinic shares tips to keep animals safe in the winter

    • One suggestion is to outfit your dogs with boots and sweaters

    Knowing how to help our four-legged friends can be the difference between life and death. 

     “One really big key is if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them,” Owner of Queen City Veterinary Clinic, Larry Keller, said.

    Keller shared tips on ways you can keep your pet safe and signs you need to worry about.

    “The biggest things you worry about hypothermia, if they’re shaking, if they’re looking for a place to hide and get warm, that’s a sign you need to go ahead and bring them inside,” Keller explained.

    Similar to people, pets’ tolerance to the cold can vary based on their size, age and coat.

    The American Veterinary Medical Association said it’s important to look out for signs like whining, shivering, if your pet seems weak or starts seeking warm places to burrow.

    “If you have a dog that’s been inside the entire winter and you decide I want to take them for a walk, I wouldn’t stay more than five or ten minutes outside,” Keller warned.

    Another way to protect a pet during the winter is to outfit them with small boots, a sweater or a dog coat.

    If they’ve been outside, wipe them down. That’s not only to keep them dry but to remove any de-icing products they may collect.

    Keller said if travelling with a pet, make sure you don’t leave them in a car for a long period.

    “Leaving your dog in the car, people think about it during the summer because your car gets real hot, but think about it you drive to Kroger for 15 minutes, then you come outside and get in your car it’s cold, the same thing happens to your dog,” Keller continued.

    And lastly, be prepared by talking to a veterinarian about anything your pet may need during the cold weather.

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    Travis Hicks

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