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The murder of Charlie Kirk continues to reverberate, heightening polarization across the country between political parties and even among the Democratic members of the Cuyahoga County Council.
Council President Dale Miller surprised most of his colleagues Tuesday night when he opened the meeting by calling for a moment of silence to honor Kirk and other recent victims of political violence.
“This is a sad day,” Miller said, mentioning Kirk and Minnesota state legislators Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman. “We send positive thoughts for an end to all political violence.”
Council Vice President Yvonne Conwell had advanced notice about the content and immediately pushed back.
“I do not condone acts of violence of any kind,” said Conwell, who is Black. “But I will not be able to do a moment of silence for someone who actively communicated racist remarks against African Americans.”
Council members Meredith Turner and Pernel Jones Jr., who are also Black, silently followed Conwell out of the chambers as audience members applauded.
In Congress last week, U.S. Reps. Shontel Brown of Warrensville Heights, Emilia Sykes of Akron and Joyce Beatty of Columbus were among the 58 Democrats who voted against a resolution honoring Kirk, who among other statements denied that systemic racism exists.
— Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers: Guardians top Tigers, 5-1, move into first place for first time since April
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Showers, then sunshine
Top Stories
Kirk silence: Three Black members of Cuyahoga County Council walked out of Tuesday’s meeting rather than join a moment of silence for conservative media personality Charlie Kirk, reports Kaitlin Durbin. Their protest turned the council’s usually routine opening ceremony into a political flashpoint.
Property taxes: Ohio Republicans have unveiled a plan to cut property tax bills for homeowners affected by rising property values. Anna Staver reports the proposal primarily affects rural districts on the 20-mill floor, costing them $1.7 billion in taxes.
Today in Ohio: YouTube has agreed to reinstate creators previously banned for COVID-19 and election-related content, a win for U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan. We’re talking about Jordan’s years-long investigation into what Republicans characterize as a coordinated effort to suppress free speech on social media on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Statehouse and Politics
Secret messages: Ohio lawmakers soon will block public access to their text messages and emails between each other and staff for up to two years. Jeremy Pelzer reports the new law represents the most significant restrictions to state public-records legislation in over 25 years.
Uninsured kids: With post-pandemic Medicaid and CHIP cutbacks, 152,000 Ohio children do not have health insurance coverage, reports Laura Hancock.
Nazi parallels: Today in Ohio podcast hosts warn that a Republican proposal to ban transgender Americans from owning guns echoes disturbing historical precedents. Editor Chris Quinn highlights the dangerous parallels to Nazi-era discrimination, emphasizing the systematic targeting of marginalized groups.
Northeast Ohio News
Behavioral health: In a narrow vote Tuesday, Cuyahoga County Council agreed to gamble $7 million in opioid settlement money on a new behavioral health center that could transform the area’s crisis care, but risks draining other services and lacks a clear plan for long-term sustainability, reports Kaitlin Durbin.
Lorain schools: Lorain City School District received a two-star rating in its school report card, ranking it last in Ohio, Hannah Drown reports.
Special Olympics: Cleveland has been named the host city for the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games, Kaylee Remington reports. The event will bring thousands of athletes and spectators, boosting the region’s economy.
Speed limit: Cleveland plans to reduce the speed limit on Lake Avenue from 35 to 30 mph to improve safety, supported by crash data and safety studies, reports Rich Exner.
Lubrizol spill: Avon Lake City Council is demanding answers after a chemical spill from Lubrizol’s Avon Lake facility released 6,600 gallons of polyurethane into Powdermaker Creek, Hannah Drown reports. The city is scrutinizing Lubrizol’s response and containment measures.
Recycling fire: Firefighters battled a second blaze early Wednesday at a Cleveland metal recycling facility where they extinguished a massive fire just two days earlier, Olivia Mitchell reports.
Mentor land: Mentor is inviting residents to a public meeting on Oct. 1 to help shape its 2025 Land Use Plan, with officials presenting future housing and commercial development models, Molly Walsh reports.
Jobs numbers: Unemployment rates in Lake and Geauga counties dropped sharply in August, nearing or surpassing pre-pandemic levels, signaling economic recovery, reports Molly Walsh.
Heights mayor: Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren awarded lucrative graphic design contracts to a longtime friend before promoting her to full-time, with no formal application on file, reports Cory Shaffer.
Goat leg: Abby Butcher, a Lake Erie College student, designed a 3D-printed prosthetic leg for Zelda, a rescued goat, showcasing innovative animal welfare solutions, reports Molly Walsh.
Polsky Building: The University of Akron received a $500,000 GAR Foundation grant to support renovations of the historic Polsky Building, aiming to boost downtown Akron’s cultural and educational scene, reports Megan Becka.
Business and Health
Contraceptives: The Trump Administration plans to destroy $9.7 million worth of contraceptives, falsely labeling them as abortifacients, sparking criticism, reports Julie Washington.
Crime and Courts
Right to attorney: A judge found Cleveland police ignored murder suspect Matthew Tucker’s request for a lawyer during interrogation, leading to the exclusion of his statements from trial, reports David Gambino.
Life sentence: A judge handed down a life sentence Wednesday to a man convicted of raping and kidnapping six women in Cleveland whom he targeted through online ads, Olivia Mitchell reports.
Street takeovers: The main organizer of the Cleveland street takeovers was sentenced to prison Wednesday, marking the end of a case that resulted in the convictions of 23 people for commandeering city roadways last year, David Gambino reports.
Brother’s death: JVont’e Philpott, accused of killing his brother after an argument, was arrested after the victim’s dying declaration. Philpott is facing charges of murder and felonious assault, reports Lucas Daprile.
Drug sentence: Derek Nicodemus, 28, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for selling more than 250 pounds of drugs, including cocaine and mushrooms, Adam Ferrise reports.
Police death: Jacob Derkin died of cardiac arrest while in Brunswick police custody after resisting arrest and smashing bottles, according to authorities, reports Lucas Daprile.
Arts and Entertainment
Hall of Fame: The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame will induct five remarkable athletes, including an Olympic sprinter and an MMA champion, at its new museum in December, Marc Bona reports.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Cleveland City Councilman Brian Kazy and other members of the council will present Bone Thugs-N-Harmony with the third annual Music Keynote to the City at a ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday, Malcolm X Abram reports.
Harvest Festival: Hale Farm & Village is hosting its annual Harvest Festival over two weekends in October, offering families a chance to experience 19th-century farm life. Alex Darus highlights the event’s historic demonstrations, Johnny Appleseed performances and a 5K race.
John Brown: The Akron Zoo will rededicate the John Brown Monument on Sunday, honoring the abolitionist’s legacy and historical significance. Megan Becka writes about the monument’s origins and its importance in commemorating Brown’s fight against slavery.
Luxury package: The restored Willoughby House Inn offers a $190,200 Gilded Age weekend package, celebrating Cleveland’s historic wealth and culture with luxury experiences, reports Molly Walsh.
Digital orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra is expanding its digital presence through partnerships with platforms like Marquee TV and Adella. Zachary Lewis reports on the orchestra’s strategy to bring “the Cleveland sound to the world” beyond traditional concert venues.
Haunted attractions: Check out the 2025 Haunted Attractions Guide, featuring 15 spooky locations across Northeast Ohio. Peter Chakerian highlights the diverse range of haunted houses and Halloween experiences for thrill-seekers.
You’re all caught up
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.
— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard.
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