Latest news with #Clevelanders
Axios
23-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Highland Park targeting August for new driving range
A new driving range could open at Highland Park Golf Course as early as August. Flashback: The nonprofit Highland Park Golf Foundation took over management of the historic, Cleveland-owned property in 2023. A driving range and education center were part of the vision for the facility to attract new golfers and generate additional revenue. By the numbers: Total rounds played at Highland Park have increased dramatically year over year, with 59,000 rounds in 2024 compared to 46,000 in 2023. The latest: Last week, City Council approved raising the rates at the 36-hole course by $2 for nine holes and $3 for 18. Peak weekend pricing for a round of golf with a cart will be $48 this year. Yes, but: A discount for city residents — $6 off 18 holes — makes Highland Park one of the most affordable in the region for Clevelanders.
Axios
14-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Cleveland smoking rates drop 30% over 10 years
Cleveland's smoking rates are down nearly 30% over the past decade, per a recent survey of 1,500 city residents. Why it matters: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States, according to the CDC. State of play: Cleveland has some of the highest smoking rates in the country, and the city's Department of Public Health under director David Margolius has made smoking cessation a priority. Earlier this year, Margolius got a big win when City Council passed sweeping legislation to curtail illegal tobacco sales. What they're saying: "This is a sign that public health policy, when paired with community engagement and education, can create real impact," Margolius said in a statement. How it worked: CDPH and Case Western Reserve University mailed the survey to Clevelanders across the city's 34 neighborhoods last year. Findings are being released incrementally on a wide range of topics. What they found: Overall adult use of tobacco products has declined from 35% in 2015 to 25% in 2025. That's been driven by significant declines in cigarette use. Yes, but: Use of cigar products and vapes have increased over the same span. Between the lines: Increases in cigar use have disproportionately impacted Black residents — where the rate of cigar smoking is now equivalent with cigarette smoking (24%).
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Popular Ohio weatherman abruptly taken off air as local ABC affiliate cites 'personnel matter'
WEWS News 5, a local ABC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio, announced on Friday that Meteorologist Mark Johnson was no longer employed at the station after delivering weather forecasts for nearly three decades at the affiliate. "News 5 wants to share with our viewers a change to our on-air staffing. Meteorologist Mark Johnson is no longer employed at WEWS," a statement from the outlet read. Jodie Heisner, the station's news director, told that they couldn't "comment beyond what was posted on our website." "We want our audiences to know that News 5 and its parent company, Scripps, take protecting our audiences' trust very seriously by requiring our employees to adhere to the highest ethical standards. We cannot provide further details, as this is a personnel matter," Steve Weinstein, WEWS vice president and general manager said, according to the statement. Ohio Man Accused Of Killing Deputy Denied Bond As Chaos Disrupts Packed Court Room Several fans have taken to Johnson's Facebook page to post in support of the weatherman. One user wrote, "Well no reason for me to ever watch WEWS 5 every [sic] again!" Read On The Fox News App Johnson replied to the post on Facebook, as reported by The New York Post, and said, "I still love my News5 Family. Some great people." "More than anyone, you know there will be sunshine after a storm. Clevelanders stand with you… your stellar reputation cannot be tarnished and we celebrate your decades of loyalty to our community," another fan wrote to the meteorologist. Johnson has not issued an official statement about his employment. Another News 5 meteorologist, Katie McGraw, acknowledged she was stepping in for Johnson during a broadcast on Friday, and another stepped in for Johnson on May 6, according to News 5 broadcasts. The former meteorologist posted on Facebook and on Threads about a small earthquake in the area on Sunday. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture "Did You Feel It?? Small earthquake just before 11pm in Ashtabula County... Lake Erie Bluffs seismograph shows the quake here. 10:47pm near Harpersfield. Measured 2.5.," Johnson wrote on social media. Johnson's last appearance on the station appears to be on Monday, May 5, when he appeared on News 5 throughout the day, according to the News 5 article source: Popular Ohio weatherman abruptly taken off air as local ABC affiliate cites 'personnel matter'
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
Popular Ohio weatherman Mark Johnson off the air after vague statement from station stuns fans
A beloved Ohio TV weatherman is 'no longer employed' as a meteorologist at an ABC affiliate he worked at for years, the station revealed in a vague statement. 'News 5 wants to share with our viewers a change to our on-air staffing. Meteorologist Mark Johnson is no longer employed at WEWS,' the Cleveland-based news station announced on Friday. WEWS Vice President and General Manager Steve Weinstein added that the station takes 'protecting' its audience 'very seriously.' 4 Meteorologist Mark Johnson was let go by WEWS on Friday, the station revealed in a statement. Facebook / Mark Johnson 'We want our audiences to know that News 5 and its parent company, Scripps, take protecting our audiences' trust very seriously by requiring our employees to adhere to the highest ethical standards,' Weinstein said. 'We cannot provide further details, as this is a personnel matter.' WEWS said they have already begun searching for Johnson's replacement. 'Our commitment to being the weather team Northeast Ohio turns to for safety and accuracy remains steadfast,' the station wrote. News director Jodie Heisner told Saturday that the station could not 'comment beyond what was posted on our website.' 4 WEWS Vice President and General Manager Steve Weinstein added to the statement on Johnson (pictured) being let go that the station takes 'protecting' its audience 'very seriously.' Facebook / Mark Johnson The Post has reached out to News 5 for comment. The widely adored meteorologist being let go from his position shocked locals, who quickly took to social media to vocalize their confusion and outrage. 'You are the one who made me watch weather news. ABC is nothing without you,' another wrote to the veteran weatherman. 4 Johnson spent over three decades working at the ABC affiliate station. Facebook / Mark Johnson 'No idea what happened, that's between you and WEWS, but hope to see you back on the air soon and that it's somewhere in NE Ohio! Wish you luck whenever and wherever that may be!' wrote another. 'More than anyone, you know there will be sunshine after a storm. Clevelanders stand with you … your stellar reputation cannot be tarnished and we celebrate your decades of loyalty to our community,' another fan wrote to the meteorologist. Though Johnson has not publicly made a statement on his departure from the station, the beloved weatherman replied to one user's post on Saturday. 4 Johnson has not publicly revealed why he was let go from his job. Facebook / Mark Johnson 'Well no reason for me to ever watch WEWS 5 every again. Not without Mark Johnson!' the fan wrote. 'I still love my News5 Family. Some great people,' Johnson replied. While he may no longer be employed at WEWS, Johnson still took to Facebook Sunday night, asking residents in Ashtabula County if they felt a small 2.5 magnitude earthquake in the area. The veteran meteorologist graduated from Kent State University in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in mass communications and media studies, according to his LinkedIn. In 1993, Johnson started working for News 5 and spent more than three decades delivering weather forecasts to residents in Northeastern Ohio, reported — adding that his biography page on News 5 Cleveland's website had already been taken down. The outlet reported that he was the first Cleveland-area forecaster to hold both the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA) Seals of Approval.
Axios
06-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Cleveland erases medical debt for 160,000 residents
More than 160,000 Clevelanders have had their medical debt wiped away after Cleveland City Council allocated $1.9 million in pandemic stimulus money for the effort. The big picture: More than 100 million people nationwide are burdened with unpaid medical bills, per the Kaiser Family Foundation, affecting their credit score, financial outlook and quality of life. How it worked: In 2023, the city partnered with the organization Undue Medical Debt (formerly known as RIP Medical Debt), which bought portfolios of delinquent debt in bulk from hospitals and collection agencies for pennies on the dollar. The acquired debt was then forgiven. State of play: Cleveland's modest investment has had a huge impact. City Council initially estimated when it authorized the spending that 50,000 Clevelanders would have their debt erased. By the numbers: A total of 161,481 individuals have had $165,234,311 in medical debt erased. Between the lines: There was no application process. Residents were eligible if their household made up to 400% of the federal poverty level or held medical debt equal to 5% or more of their annual household income. Nearly $3 million in suburban residents' debts were included in the purchased portfolios, but the funds city council allocated were used only for Clevelanders. What's next: Nearly $1 million of the $1.9 million funding remains unspent, and city council is now considering ways to reinvest it.
