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The United States made it 200 years before its first government shutdown.
But there were five under President Jimmy Carter and eight under Ronald Reagan.
We’ve had a total of 20, with the last one — before now, obviously — from Dec. 22, 2018, until Jan. 25, 2019, during President Trump’s previous term. At 35 days, it was the longest ever and it cost the country an estimated $3 billion in lost GDP.
This time around, the economy could take a big hit. Trump is directing agencies not merely to furlough federal workers, but also fire them en masse.
— Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers: Guardians rally to beat Tigers, 6-1, force deciding Game 3 in wild card series
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Dry, sunny stretch continues
Top Stories
Shutdown’s effects: In a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are furloughed or work without pay, government offices close, national parks may become inaccessible, and many federal services halt. Sabrina Eaton reports on the impacts in Northeast Ohio.
Tax veto override: Ohio Republicans are pressing forward with overriding Gov. Mike DeWine’s property-tax reform vetoes less than 24 hours after his work group recommended their ideas be moderated rather than embraced, reports Anna Staver.
Game 2: The Guardians’ offense laid dormant for the better part of seven innings Wednesday as Cleveland faced elimination in Game 2 of the American League wild card series. But “Playoff” Bryan Rocchio opened the floodgates as the Guardians went on to score four more times and even the series with a 6-1 win. Joe Noga lets you relive the action.
Today in Ohio: With the threat of a referendum to completely abolish property taxes in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine asked a task force to recommend ways to assuage homeowners’ increasing tax burden. We’re talking about the failure to address the big picture on Today in Ohio.
Statehouse and Politics
Park stays open: Cuyahoga Valley National Park will stay open during the government shutdown but with limited services, mainly maintaining trails and parking, reports Peter Krouse.
Museum closes: The temporary closure of the National First Ladies Historic Site in Canton because of the federal government shutdown also means the National First Ladies Library & Museum in Cleveland will be shuttered for the time being, reports Peter Krouse.
Child care: Cuyahoga County participated in the first “Child Care Supply Network” to develop solutions for the state’s significant child care challenges. Mary Frances McGowan reports the group is exploring innovative strategies to address workforce and economic development barriers.
Redistricting: Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman argues that public input should precede creation of any redistricting maps. Jeremy Pelzer reports that Republicans are expected to wait until November to potentially pass a map without Democratic support.
Waiting game: Today in Ohio hosts discuss the GOP’s calculated strategy of not proposing any congressional redistricting maps before the constitutional deadline, potentially allowing them to unilaterally redraw districts later. The podcast team criticizes the Republicans’ apparent intent to bypass bipartisan requirements.
Ridgeville tax: North Ridgeville is proposing an income tax increase with a potential flaw in the ballot language that could doom the measure. Today in Ohio podcast hosts discuss the ballot issue, which only mentions the tax increase without referencing a promised tax credit, which could lead to voter rejection.
Northeast Ohio News
CSU: Cleveland State University is permanently discontinuing 22 academic programs and suspending 14 others following a comprehensive review. Laura Hancock reports the changes are not due to Senate Bill 1, but rather a strategic decision to address declining enrollment and revenue challenges.
County budget: Cuyahoga County is shifting funds to address a budget deficit, which may impact programs supporting Ohio National Guard members’ college graduation efforts. Kaitlin Durbin explains the county’s financial moves.
Turnpike anniversary: A high school band played and transportation officials waxed nostalgic Wednesday, marking the 70th anniversary of Ohio’s first super highway, the Ohio Turnpike. Rich Exner reports on how the turnpike changed travel.
Council email: Cleveland City Council will now use “.gov” email addresses following new cybersecurity laws, with the transition beginning recently. Sean O’Donnell reports on the change.
Heights mayor: Tony Cuda was sworn in Wednesday as Cleveland Heights’ interim mayor, quickly appointing a new city administrator and firing the previous communications director, reports Cory Shaffer.
Fire rescue: Firefighters rescued an unconscious woman trapped in a house fire in Painesville Township, Molly Walsh reports. She and another civilian were taken to local hospitals for burns and smoke inhalation. Both are expected to recover.
Cyclist hit: A Rocky River City School District student was struck by a car Wednesday while riding a bike home from school, the second time a student has been hit by a car in less than a week, Cliff Pinckard reports.
Housing costs: Lorain County Commissioners questioned the high cost of a $69 million senior housing renovation, estimating nearly $400,000 per unit. Hannah Drown reports that commissioners called for justification of the expenses.
Connie Chung: Journalist Connie Chung told a packed crowd at the Parma-Snow branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library that women’s progress has been set back decades since she and others trailblazed newsrooms, David Gambino reports.
Tree planting: Fall is an ideal time for planting trees in Northeast Ohio as cooler weather helps roots establish before winter, supporting stormwater management and property value. Susan Brownstein writes about the benefits.
Dry September: Cleveland recorded its second-driest September since 1938, with only 0.75 inches of rain, contributing to worsening drought conditions across the region. Ryan Cohick reports on the drought.
Rest stops: The I-90 rest areas in Lake County will close on Oct. 14 for reconstruction into a lodge-style facility, with construction expected to last about a year, Molly Walsh reports.
Business and Health
Summa Health: Akron’s Summa Health completed a $485 million sale to for-profit HATCo, allowing it to eliminate debt and invest in new technologies, Julie Washington reports.
Crime and Courts
Giant Eagle stabbing: Jury selection has begun for Bionca Ellis, who is accused of stabbing a toddler and his mother at a Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmsted, Olivia Mitchell reports.
Felonious assault: A Westlake man, Jahard Colon, pleaded guilty to felonious assault after beating a woman and leaving her barely conscious in the street earlier this year. Lucas Daprile reports the sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29.
Hit and run: A 17-year-old girl escaped serious injury when she was struck by a car while riding her bicycle, but Euclid police are now searching for the driver of the vehicle, which left the scene, Cliff Pinckard reports.
Arts and Entertainment
Queens concert: R&B legends Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills will perform their “Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage” tour Sunday at Rocket Arena. Malcolm X Abram writes about the concert featuring four decades of musical excellence.
Hollywood CLE: The Cleveland History Center’s new exhibition, “Hollywood on the Cuyahoga,” explores Northeast Ohio’s rich film history and contributions to cinema. Joey Morona highlights the exhibit’s showcase of local talent and ongoing film legacy.
Top seafood: Cleveland’s “Best of” team is seeking nominations for the top seafood restaurants in Northeast Ohio. Yadi Rodriguez and Peter Chakerian invite readers to share their favorite seafood spots for a community-driven culinary competition.
Pierogi Bucket: A Bulgarian immigrant, Miroslav Parashikov, has opened The Pierogi Bucket in Ohio City, offering deep-fried pierogies in various bucket sizes. Paris Wolfe writes about this new fast-casual concept featuring mashed potato and cheddar cheese pierogies.
El Vaquero: El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant opens its first Northeast Ohio location in Fairview Park, bringing sizzling fajitas and handcrafted margaritas. Paris Wolfe reports on the restaurant’s made-from-scratch Mexican cuisine and traditional recipes.
Flour & Bean: Flour & Bean Art Café is opening in Lakewood’s historic Screw Factory. Alex Darus reports on how Edward Meyer and Regina Seballos are creating a unique space that combines French pastries, espresso, and support for local artists.
Country Gongbang: Country Gongbang, South Korea’s first professional bluegrass band, will perform at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Zachary Lewis highlights the group’s unique fusion of American bluegrass and Korean musical heritage.
CiderFest: Spring Hill Cider Works hosts CiderFest, featuring over 35 hard ciders from their own collection and guest breweries. Paris Wolfe details the weekend event with tastings, food, and live music.
Distillery Trail: The Ohio Distillery Trail continues to offer visitors a chance to explore unique spirits across the state. Paris Wolfe highlights the trail’s 45 member distilleries and their diverse flavor profiles.
Beer Guy: Les Flake, known as “The Beer Guy,” continues serving beverages at Progressive Field after recovering from an injury. Marc Bona writes about Flake’s resilience and ongoing commitment to his 50-year career.
mr. Gnome: Cleveland art-rock duo mr. Gnome prepares for a homecoming performance Saturday at Beachland Ballroom. Peter Chakerian reports on the band’s unique sound and immersive musical experience.
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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