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Subscribe to the Wake Up, cleveland.com’s free morning newsletter, delivered to your inbox weekdays at 5:30 a.m. When cleveland.com Editor Chris Quinn asked readers about their summer electric bills, more than 400 people responded — most of them frustrated and angry that their power costs soared, even when they cut back their usage. Some bills doubled or even tripled. That’s all thanks to record-high prices set in a wholesale electricity auction in June 2024. The auction set prices for future supply and thanks to climbing demand, Ohioans saw increases averaging 10%-15%. You can blame data centers and other tech businesses that drain enormous amounts of power from the grid. Plenty of Ohioans are. Thanks to Ohio’s Republican opposition to clean energy, the crisis is likely to worsen. — Laura Overnight Scores and Weather Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Breezy with showers Top Stories Utility rates: Ohioans paid significantly higher electric and natural gas bills this summer, with Consumer Energy Solutions reporting some customers seeing increases of up to 44%, Anna Staver reports. Energy experts say the surge stems from a mix of factors that included rising natural gas costs and expensive grid updates to meet the growing use of artificial intelligence by giant data centers. Unclaimed money: Now that Ohio lawmakers have passed a 10-year time limit on recouping unclaimed funds held by the state, a group of GOP legislators are now trying to make it easier for people to claim their money. House Bill 480, introduced late last month, seeks to create a “fast-track” claims process for people with less than $1,000 in the state’s unclaimed property fund, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Browns deal: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said there never was a legal path to keep the Browns on the lakefront, even if Cleveland had eventually won its lawsuits. State lawmakers had stacked the deck against the city, so he “fought like hell” to get $100 million out of Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam instead, Sean McDonnell reports. Today in Ohio: Due to the Amazon Web Services outage, we could not publish a podcast Monday. Statehouse and Politics ‘No Kings’: A photo gallery captures “No Kings” protests across Ohio, with participants demonstrating against the Trump administration in various suburbs and cities, including Cleveland, Strongsville and Medina. Zach Mentz compiles the scenes. Protestor rammed: A Jackson Township man is accused of ramming a protester during a “No Kings” rally, with police tracking the suspect after the incident, reports Lucas Daprile. Schools bill: Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill Monday allowing public and private schools to carry drug overdose reversal medicines – a law that also expands the amount of time students can leave class for released time for religious instruction, Laura Hancock reports. Career planning: Ohio will distribute $7.1 million in grants to establish Career Pathway Support Networks, helping students in grades seven-12 explore career opportunities. Laura Hancock reports the networks will provide career advising, mentoring, and strengthen partnerships among schools, higher education, and employers. Electric bills: Readers share widespread frustration while experiencing dramatic increases in electricity bills, with many blaming data centers and state policies for the unexpected cost surge. In texts to editor Chris Quinn, readers report bills doubling or tripling despite reduced energy usage. Northeast Ohio News Browns stadium: Brook Park is moving forward with plans to become the new home of the Browns, with ongoing negotiations about tax structures and stadium ownership, Rich Exner reports. Historic landmark: The Wilson Bruce Evans Home Historical Society of Oberlin broke ground last week on the second phase of its project to rehabilitate the historic Evans House, originally built in 1856 by abolitionist and Underground Railroad operative Wilson Bruce Evans, reports Hannah Drown. Blanche Avenue: Cleveland Heights is proceeding with a $2.5 million infrastructure project to extend Blanche Avenue, creating space for 29 previously undeveloped house lots. Cory Shaffer reports the project is part of the city’s strategy to attract new residents and families. School facilities: Midview Local Schools announced a $27 million athletic facilities project, including a 70,000-square-foot indoor complex and renovated sports fields. Hannah Drown reports the project will feature a 40-yard indoor turf field, practice areas, and a satellite wellness clinic. Fire victims identified: Markita Smith, 42, and Mary Smith, 71, both of Cleveland, died in an apartment fire last week at East 91st and Wade Park Avenue, Lucas Daprile reports. Though the two share a last name, officials were unable to say if they were related. Restaurant fire: A kitchen fire at Dianna’s Restaurant and Deli in Lakewood has forced the establishment to close indefinitely. Alex Darus reports the fire occurred on Oct. 17 after the restaurant had closed, with police discovering smoke around 11 p.m. Business and Health Centenarians: What does it take to live not just a long life, but a meaningful one? Paris Wolfe reports that the The Maltz Museum invites the community to explore that question during a special free program, “Longevity and Purpose: Keys for Living to 100 and Beyond,” which brings together two remarkable Clevelanders — Dr. Howard Tucker, a 103-year-old neurologist recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest practicing physician, and Albert Ratner, a philanthropic and business leader nearing his centennial. Crisis centers: Franklin County and Cuyahoga County are taking different approaches to funding their new mental health crisis centers, with varying strategies for long-term sustainability. Kaitlin Durbin reports on the complexities of financing these critical health care facilities. Crime and Courts Inmate death: A Cleveland woman named Tasha Grant died at MetroHealth Medical Center after struggling with officers, with body camera footage showing her repeatedly saying she couldn’t breathe. The county medical examiner ruled her death a homicide related to restraint while she suffered from congestive heart failure. Lawsuit tossed: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that accused officials at the Cleveland Institute of Art of failing to properly respond to a student’s allegations of sexual abuse, Adam Ferrise reports. The student, who attended the school from 2020 to 2023, argued in the lawsuit that the school mishandled its investigation and disciplinary process. Cleveland shooting: Two Cleveland men, Bruce Charles Singleton, 46, and Deon Stallings, 37, were killed in an early Saturday morning shooting at a Sunoco gas station in the Slavic Village neighborhood. Olivia Mitchell reports that two additional men were wounded in the incident. Shooting fatality: A 21-year-old Cleveland man died Saturday after he was shot multiple times, police said. Delon J. Bush was shot at about 10:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of East 75th Street in Cleveland, Olivia Mitchell reports. Lorain shooting: An 18-year-old Lorain City Schools student, Isaac Brocco-Rivera, was fatally shot at Lakeview Park North on Saturday evening. Hannah Drown reports the Lorain Police Department is investigating the incident. Child assault: A 10-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy are charged with attempted murder and rape of a 5-year-old autistic girl in Cleveland. David Gambino reports the children are set to appear before a juvenile court judge, raising complex questions about justice for very young defendants. Arts and Entertainment Tei Shi: Tei Shi, a dream-pop and R&B artist, is making her Cleveland debut at Beachland Ballroom. Peter Chakerian highlights her unique musical style, blending multicultural influences and intimate storytelling. Haunted trail: Old Man’s Cave Trail at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio, is one of the 13 Most Haunted Hikes in the U.S., according to Outside magazine. The 1.5-mile trail was named after an early Ohioan who lived in one of the caves during the 19th century, Zach Mentz reports. Swensons: Swensons Drive-Ins will operate two concession stands at Rocket Arena during the Cavaliers’ season, offering their famous Galley Boy burger. Joey Morona writes that the partnership includes an in-game promotion where fans can get free Potato Teezers if the opposing team misses two consecutive free throws. Trick-or-treating: Northeast Ohio communities have set various dates and times for Halloween trick-or-treating. John Benson provides a comprehensive list of trick-or-treating schedules for different cities and townships in the region. Best seafood: Where can you find the best seafood in Northeast Ohio? Cleveland.com’s Best of Cleveland team wants to know which restaurant deserves that title. The Top 10 spots are competing for the crown. Gingerbread competition: The Cleveland Botanical Garden will host its 19th annual Gingerbread Competition next month, inviting participants of all ages to create gingerbread houses. Alex Darus highlights that registration is open until Nov. 10, and winners will receive prizes like family memberships. 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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