22 Plain Dealer Newsroom Staffers Laid off in Advance Union Purge

by Sam Allard on April 3, 2020 at 6:57PM

Columnist Mike McIntyre, TV Critic Mark Dawidziak, Senior Staff Photographer Marvin Fong and Health Reporter Brie Zeltner are among the 22 Plain Dealer newsroom staffers laid off Friday in the latest union purge by Advance Publications. The cuts were announced last month by newly christened editor Tim Warsinskey, a local newspaper vet who'd been installed for the grim task ahead.

We're Drinking More During Coronavirus, A Lot More — But Our Immune Systems Are Paying the Price

by Jerilyn Jordan on April 3, 2020 at 5:01PM

We totally get it. Times are bleak.

Ohio Officials Close Hocking Hills State Park in an Effort to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus

by Cincinnati CityBeat Staff on April 3, 2020 at 3:20PM

One of Ohio's most popular nature destinations will close at sunset today, April 3, to try and prevent spread of the pandemic coronavirus that causes COVID-19, Ohio officials say. It's the first state park to close due to the COVID-19 crisis.

DeWine Recommends Release of 38 Ohio Prison Inmates Due to Coronavirus; Advocates Want Many More Released

by Nick Swartsell on April 3, 2020 at 3:17PM

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine today announced that his administration is recommending the release of a small proportion of Ohio's 48,991 prison inmates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move comes after recent revelations that three guards at Ohio's Marion Correctional Institution have tested positive for COVID-19.

Cleveland's 2021 FRONT Triennial Will Be Postponed to 2022 Due to Expected Ramifications of Coronavirus Pandemic

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 1:48PM

According to emails going around in the arts and culture sectors of Cleveland, and which have ended up in Scene's inbox, the 2021 FRONT International Cleveland Triennial is being pushed back until 2022 because of the expected long-term recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. FRONT is expected to make the announcement official on Monday.

Ohio Bought a Record 437,507 Gallons of Liquor the Week Gov. DeWine Ordered Bars and Restaurants Closed Due to Coronavirus

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 1:22PM

On the afternoon of Sunday, March 15, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that all bars and restaurants in the state would have to close by 9 p.m. that evening. It was among the first in a string of stunning orders given to help slow the spread of coronavirus that have altered daily life.

LJ Shanghai Has Reopened for Takeout, Thank the Soup Dumpling Gods

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 1:00PM

COVID-19 Cases in Cuyahoga County by Zip Code

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 12:12PM

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health has for the second week released a map of COVID-19 cases across the county broken down by zip code. It began the semi-detailed breakdown last week after pressure to be more transparent about the geographic breakdown of infections facing the region.

Cleveland COVID-19 Surge Plan Creates 10,000 New Beds, but Won't use Convention or IX Centers

by Sam Allard on April 3, 2020 at 11:13AM

Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals announced at a City of Cleveland press conference Friday morning that the local COVID-19 surge plan includes an increase of roughly 10,000 hospital beds. The Cleveland Clinic is increasing its capacity from 3,000 to 8,000 beds, (including 1,000 beds at its Health Education Campus); University Hospitals is increasing its capacity from 2,000 to 6,000 beds; and MetroHealth is increasing capacity as well.

Here's Bill Withers' Incredible Rock Hall Induction Speech in 2015

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 10:48AM

Take 20 minutes of your Friday or weekend and listen to Bill Withers' acceptance speech at the 2015 Rock Hall ceremony, largely considered to be one of the best speeches in Rock Hall induction history. Joyous, funny, moving, honest — it's got everything we need today, plus Stevie Wonder performing "Ain't No Sunshine."

Detroit Is Leading the Nation's First Large-Scale Study of Hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 Treatment

by Lee DeVito on April 3, 2020 at 10:08AM

testing drugs and therapies in the process." Whitmer also said that she wants to be "making sure that we ... continue to own the lane of being innovators."

Six Cuyahoga County Jail Inmates Test Positive for COVID-19

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 9:27AM

Six Cuyahoga County jail inmates are presumed positive for COVID-19, the county announced this morning. Those inmates, whose ages were not released, are in quarantine.

Ohio's Stay Home Order Extended to May 1, Coronavirus Deaths Increase 25%

by Sam Allard on April 2, 2020 at 4:13PM

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday that the state's Stay Home order — Ohio's version of "Shelter in Place" — will be extended to May 1. It's an action, the Governor said, that is necessary to save lives.

Cuyahoga County Jail Warden Resigns After Inspector General Report Finds He Retaliated Against Employees Who Complained About His Management

by Vince Grzegorek on April 2, 2020 at 2:47PM

Cleveland Ticket Holders Entitled to Refunds From Stubhub For Cancelled or Postponed Events

by Jerilyn Jordan on April 2, 2020 at 2:18PM

“We have a situation right now where we had over 20,000 events canceled, basically at the same time. In addition to our buyers, we also have a million sellers on our platform, all of whom are trying to figure out how they're going to get recouped from the original seller — the venue, the team, the artist — and the timing delays are going to be significant,” StubHub president Sukhinder Singh Cassidy told Axios.

Samuel Adams 'Restaurant Strong' Fund Will Give $1,000 Grants to Ohio Service Industry Workers Affected by Shutdowns

by Brett Zelman on April 2, 2020 at 1:44PM

Samuel Adams, the Boston-based brewery, is expanding its Restaurant Strong fund to 19 states across the country, including Ohio, to help restaurant workers impacted by closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic with $1,000 grants. The fund, which started in Massachusetts in March, has already given away over $500,000 to service workers in that state and has now raised $2 million dollars to start the out-of-state fund.

Elkton Federal Prison, Where Jimmy Dimora is Serving Time, Overrun with COVID-19

by Sam Allard on April 2, 2020 at 1:17PM

The Elkton Federal Correctional Institution in Columbiana County appears to be overrun with the Coronavirus. 3News' Rachel Polansky has reported that three inmates tested positive for the virus but as many as 80 are exhibiting symptoms.

Cleveland Metroparks Closes Busy Roads to Cars to Allow More Room for Pedestrians and Bicyclists to Practice Social Distancing

by Brett Zelman on April 2, 2020 at 12:47PM

In order to keep up with social distancing mandates and recommendations made by the state of Ohio, the Cleveland Metroparks announced closures of some of their most popular destinations and assorted road restrictions to allow more room for pedestrians and bicyclists. DeWine had recently been asked at one of his daily press conferences about people crowding park areas and said he hoped everyone would engage in proper distancing practices so he didn't have to issue an order to close state parks.

Buckeye Vodka Hosting Virtual Bartending Contest with Cash Prizes for Ohio Mixologists Laid-Off Because of COVID-19

by Seth Robinson on April 2, 2020 at 11:44AM

Among other establishments facing temporary closure, the country’s restaurants and bars — and their bartenders and waitstaff — have taken one of the hardest hits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No longer able to work, many people in the service industry are facing reduced hours and layoffs.

The Classic George Forbes vs. Carl Monday Showdown is Now a Meme About Paying Rent During the Coronavirus Pandemic

by Vince Grzegorek on April 2, 2020 at 11:37AM