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When Paris hosted last year’s Olympics, it spent a billion euros to clean up pollution in the Seine to host open-water swimming events. The mayor even took a dip to demonstrate its safety. And this summer, the city opened three public swimming areas in the river for the first time in more than a century.
This past weekend, hundreds of swimmers competed in a race in the Chicago River, also for the first time in 100 years.
And every year, swimmers loop Manhattan in organized swims through the Hudson, Harlem and East rivers.
So will we see swimmers soon in the Cuyahoga River?
Unfortunately, no, thanks to sediment, algae, other organic material, debris, stormwater runoff, industrial pollutants and what experts labeled “other gunk.”
(Disappointing, since I love swimming miles in Lake Erie from June through September.)
Some day, some day, maybe?
A group called Swimmable Cities aims to start 300 urban waterways on the path to swimmable by 2030.
— Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers: AL Central all tied up as Guardians fall to Tigers’ power, bullpen game, 4-2
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny, warmer weekend
Top Stories
River swimming: The Cuyahoga River is not clean enough to swim in yet, reports Peter Krouse. But that doesn’t mean the urban section near downtown Cleveland couldn’t host a gaggle of churning arms and flapping feet one day.
Chase policies: Cuyahoga County is planning to tighten pursuit policies after two deadly high-speed chases, with new rules limiting pursuits to serious crimes, reports Kaitlin Durbin.
Charter schools: Ohio is set to receive $105 million over five years to expand charter schools, with Linda Hancock reporting that the funds will support new and existing high-quality charter schools across the state, reports Laura Hancock.
Today in Ohio: A property tax proposal in the Ohio legislature would give some relief to home owners with rising property values — but not in Cuyahoga County. We’re talking about how the bill applies only to districts whose tax rates are at the 20-mill floor on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Statehouse and Politics
Kirk memorial: Ohio Republicans have introduced a bill to create a “Charlie Kirk Memorial Day” on Oct. 14. Anna Staver reports this proposal is part of several Republican-led efforts nationwide to commemorate the conservative activist killed earlier this month.
Abortion wait: Ohio Republicans are pushing the “SHE WINS” Act, proposing a 24-hour waiting period for abortion procedures despite the 2023 reproductive rights amendment. Mary Frances McGowan reports the bill would require physicians to provide detailed information about abortion procedures and risks.
Economic plan: Mayors from the United States and Canada have launched a 10-year economic transformation plan for the Great Lakes region. Mary Frances McGowan reports the initiative targets 18 million jobs by 2035 while protecting the area’s vast water resources.
Welfare-to-work: Ohio was selected for a federal welfare-to-work pilot program to help low-income families overcome barriers like transportation and housing, starting Oct. 1 across all counties, reports Laura Hancock.
ZIP code victory: The city of Green in Summit County won a partial postal victory, with residents now able to use “Green” in their addresses. Sabrina Eaton reports that while the city still lacks a unified ZIP code, Mayor Rocco Yeargin sees this as a step forward in addressing confusion.
Regional planning: A battle is brewing over the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency board structure, with rural counties challenging Cleveland and Cuyahoga County’s voting dominance. Today in Ohio podcast hosts discuss the tension between population-based representation and geographic diversity in regional planning.
Northeast Ohio News
Stadium height: The Ohio Department of Transportation approved the height of the Browns’ new stadium in Brook Park after dismissing airport safety concerns, with Cleveland opposing but Browns arguing the height isn’t unusual. Rich Exner reports the project still faces lawsuits and funding hurdles.
Drought: Northeast Ohio faces ongoing drought conditions, with recent rainfall easing some areas but severe drought persisting in parts of Lorain County. Dry weather is forecasted for the coming days, reports Ryan Cohick.
Shoreway closure: The West Shoreway in Cleveland will close eastbound this weekend for water repairs following a water main break. Rich Exner reports the closure starts this morning at West 45th Street and continues until Monday morning.
Apartment fire: Firefighters do not suspect foul play in the North Olmsted apartment fire that injured two and displaced 64 families, reports Lucas Daprile.
Archery season: Ohio’s fall deer archery season begins Saturday. October and November typically see the heaviest hunting activity due to increased deer movement during their breeding season.
Cannabis summit: The Ohio Cannabis Health & Business Summit returns Oct. 3-4 at the I-X Center in Cleveland. About 6,000 attendees are expected, reports Zach Mentz.
Business and Health
Virtual nursing: University Hospitals Lake West has launched a hospital-wide virtual nursing program, using remote technology to monitor patients, support staff and improve care, reports Julie Washington.
COVID vaccines: A federal vaccine advisory panel has revised COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, shifting from universal shots to personalized discussions with doctors, causing confusion, Julie Washington reports.
Crime and Courts
Jail death: The death of Cuyahoga County Jail inmate Tasha Grant was ruled a homicide due to physical restraint amid her congestive heart failure, prompting an investigation, reports Olivia Mitchell.
Fraud accusations: Homebuilder Jeffrey Crawford, 51, of Avon, faces more than two dozen felony counts after he was accused of bilking customers and investors out of nearly $3 million, David Gambino reports.
Suspect extradited: A former United Nations employee was extradited Thursday to Cleveland to face charges that he and a Warrensville Heights man ran dozens of guns to the Ivory Coast, Adam Ferrise reports.
Bus stop attack: Rayshon Reese, 50, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and attempted murder after he attacked a woman with a box cutter near West 25th Street, reports David Gambino.
Fentanyl death: A Lake County man received an eight to 12-year sentence for supplying fentanyl that caused a Mentor man’s fatal overdose in a Goodwill bathroom, reports Molly Walsh.
Wrongful prosecution? A federal magistrate dismissed a lawsuit against University Circle police, ruling Vincent Ealom’s claims of wrongful prosecution were invalid because probable cause was established, reports Adam Ferrise.
Arts and Entertainment
Ask Yadi: Yadi Rodriguez addresses workplace etiquette for electric vehicle charging stations, advising against unplugging a coworker’s fully charged vehicle and recommending communication with HR about shared charging policies.
Chain quesadillas: What restaurant chain has the best quesadillas? Yadi Rodriguez and Peter Chakerian rank them all as part of National Quesadilla Day.
L.L. Bean: L.L. Bean is set to open its Crocker Park store with a weeklong celebration starting Oct. 6. Marc Bona highlights the grand opening events, including gift cards and photo opportunities.
Bread competition: On the Rise Artisan Breads in Cleveland Heights will represent the U.S. in the international Mondial du Pain bread-baking competition in France, Paris Wolfe reports.
Happy hours: The “Happy Hour Project” launched in March. Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus summarize the best spots in Greater Cleveland.
Tom Sandoval: Tom Sandoval and his nine-piece cover band, The Most Extras, return to Cleveland after their “America’s Got Talent” run. Alex Darus highlights the band’s upcoming House of Blues show and Sandoval’s reality TV career.
Veggie snacks: PUR Spices founder Sonya Patel has launched Bold & Airy Bites, a line of allergen-free, freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks. Marc Bona reports that Patel created the product after struggling to find healthy snack options for her children.
Linda Theatre: The historic Linda Theatre in Akron will reopen on Halloween with the premiere of the indie horror film “The Mephistophiliac,” Megan Becka reports.
Things to do: Northeast Ohio offers over 20 weekend events, including Ingenuity Fest, Guardians baseball, and various cultural performances. Mike Rose highlights activities ranging from marathons to theater productions.
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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