Latest news with #DonateLifeMonth
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New bill makes effort to change how college sports are streamed
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — A state lawmaker said watching teams like the Ohio State Buckeyes has become a frustrating experience for many fans, complicated by the emergence of streaming services that now carry certain games each season. 'There are a dozen different streaming services and if you want to watch Big Ten football or Big Ten basketball, if you don't pay for all the services, you're going to miss your team's game because it switches from one week to the next, one game to the next, what streaming service they're actually going to be on,' said State Senator and OSU graduate Bill DeMora. Holistic pet care: How it's helping some animals live longer lives The Democrat from Columbus is proposing a bill that would ban exclusive streaming contracts for college sports in the Buckeye State. Senate Bill 94 would also require that enrolled students be given access to broadcasts of athletic events. During a hearing held by the Senate's Higher Education Committee on Tuesday, Demora told fellow lawmakers, 'I was disheartened the last two years to have Ohio State football games on streaming only services, which I don't pay for.' DeMora said fans are being unfairly gouged by the streaming-only model. 'True fans have to pay for this service and that service and that service, an extra $50, $60 every time they want to watch their team play every month,' he said. Lorain woman Sharon Matusiak, 64, killed by train at Leavitt Road crossing When asked why the state should have any say on which platforms air the games, DeMora responded, 'Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Toledo, Akron, Kent State and Cleveland State are all funded by public tax dollars, so they should not be allowed into a contract that says that only the games will be watched on a streaming service.' A spokesman for Ohio State told FOX 8, 'Media rights agreements are negotiated by the Big Ten on behalf of all conference members'. DeMora responded, 'They can say that but we all know that if Ohio State told the Big Ten, 'we're going to get our own network and not participate in the Big Ten Network,' that the Big Ten would do whatever it took to keep Ohio State because that's their money maker.' DeMora said he has received positive feedback from sports fans, but says the political reality is that there is no chance that his proposal will become law. Families share story that brought them together for Donate Life Month 'None of the bills that I sponsor ever get passed because I'm in the minority party,' he said. DeMora said his only hope is that the Republican majority will pick up the torch on behalf of college sports fans across the state and ban exclusive streaming contracts. 'It doesn't cost the taxpayers any money, and it's something that saves taxpayers money because right now, if you want to see sports, you're shelling out money hand over fist,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio governor says funding for Browns stadium project is ‘doable'
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The Fox 8 I-Team is investigating new developments with the plan for the Cleveland Browns to move to an enclosed stadium in Brook Park. On Wednesday, team attorneys were in court for the first time, while Governor Mike DeWine in Cleveland said he believes financing for the project is doable. Lorain woman Sharon Matusiak, 64, killed by train at Leavitt Road crossing 'If we could end up in a dome stadium in the state of Ohio, we do not have one, I think it's a very, very positive thing,' DeWine said. 'I think it's a very, very positive thing the Haslam family is willing to put a lot of their own money in.' Last week, Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam spoke to the I-Team about investing more than a billion dollars in the project. 'You can't think of this as a stadium project, it's an economic development project,' Haslam said. The Browns are also asking for public money, including $600 million from the state, bond money that would be paid back with profits from the project. Families share story that brought them together for Donate Life Month While the governor likes the project, he wants a different plan for public money. Using a tax increase on sports gambling to help pay for the stadium.'I don't want to take the money from the general fund,' DeWine said. 'We can raise the tax, we still won't be the highest tax in the country, and we can generate $150 to $180 million every year to go into a fund for sports stadiums.' Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon, only the I-Team rolled as lawyers walked into court. It was the first meeting on a lawsuit filed by the City of Cleveland trying to block the Browns from moving. Another hearing on the case is set for June.'We would like a decision on our lawsuit with respect to enforcing the Modell Law,' said Cleveland Law Director Mark Griffin. 'We would like to move it forward.' Browns QB Shedeur Sanders surprises students at Cleveland high school The Modell Law restricts professional sports teams from moving. And, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said he wants the team to stay in Downtown Cleveland. Ronayne sent a letter Monday to state Senate leaders requesting $350 million in state funds to renovate Huntington Bank Field, the current stadium for the Browns, even though the team is making plans to leave. 'We're not about not doing something,' Ronayne said. 'We are doing what is smart, and smart is coming back downtown and being on the lakefront.' Ronayne said he has concerns that Browns officials are providing unrealistic projections. I-Team: Impact on your streets if police oversight ends A report prepared by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, at the request of a state senator, states some of the Haslam Sports Group's economic projections for a new enclosed stadium 'may be overly optimistic.' The Haslams disagree. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I-Team: Impact on your streets if police oversight ends
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has uncovered more about a new push to end oversight of the Cleveland Police by a group earning $750 an hour. On Tuesday, we revealed all federal consent decrees are now under review. So we investigated what this could mean on your streets. Families share story that brought them together for Donate Life Month Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley spoke out, saying Cleveland Police often hesitate to take back the streets because they're under too much federal oversight. The Prosecutor pointed to video from street takeovers in Cleveland last year. That showed stunt drivers doing donuts around police cars and a crowd jumping on a patrol car with an officer inside. Yet no one at that time got arrested. O'Malley said, 'The officers are sitting there, humiliated, not being able to act because they're handcuffed.' He spoke out as President Donald Trump ordered a federal review of all consent decrees. Lorain woman Sharon Matusiak, 64, killed by train at Leavitt Road crossing The Prosecutor believes that kind of oversight is no longer needed in Cleveland. He added, 'There was a reason the Consent Decree was entered into, but we're well past that. It seems to me that this has become more about money for those who are monitoring it than benefit to the citizens of Cleveland.' The Consent Decree in Cleveland has been going on for more than a decade, and it has cost city taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Councilman Michael Polensek said the total is at least $45.8 million. The I-Team has shown you time and time again how members of that monitoring team have billed taxpayers for big money. Not just for working on policies and procedures, but simply for watching an awards ceremony, writing a sympathy note after an officer died, and even for talking to the I-Team. U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno recently spoke out to the I-Team, calling for an end to the Consent Decree in Cleveland. Browns WR Elijah Moore heading to Bills: Reports For this story, his office issued a statement. It said, 'Under President Trump, law and order is back, and I'm grateful that the administration is shining a light on the corruption around consent decrees. It's past time for Cleveland to end its far-left, Obama-era consent decree that put handcuffs on police officers and cost taxpayers millions of dollars – money that is desperately needed to help our communities.' This month, at a city council meeting, activist Brenda Bickerstaff called for police oversight to continue. She said, 'The consent decree is important. Why is it not important? I don't understand what is not important.' In the meantime, City of Cleveland Law Director Mark Griffin said on Wednesday, 'We are committed to constitutional reform with or without the federal government.' There is no word yet on how officials in Washington will determine if a Consent Decree should end. The review is expected to be done in 60 days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dogs trained to detect this invasive species in Cleveland Metroparks
CLEVELAND (WJW) – It's that time of year again — the spotted lanternfly is making its way back to Ohio. This season, however, the fight against the invasive insect is started a little earlier with help from a few four-legged recruits. The Cleveland Metroparks is using four trained dogs to help detect spotted lanternfly egg masses. Angler breaks his own record with massive invasive species catch Officials said the dogs have proven to be more effective than humans in some forested areas. They said dogs can sniff out the eggs which are typically found on plant surfaces and can be scraped off and destroyed. Early detection helps control the spread. Park officials said each mud-like mass contains about 30 to 50 eggs, so destroying them is a more effective way to control the population. FOX 8 caught up with Juno, an 8-year-old black lab and her volunteer handler near the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights on Wednesday. 'We've been doing scent work already so she already understands the game. This was just a matter of adding in another odor to her repertoire,' volunteer Tara Gifford said. 'It's been a lot of fun to get out and do these searches in the parks. It also makes you feel good to be able to do something meaningful, help the environment, help the community.' Families share story that brought them together for Donate Life Month The spotted lanternfly, which can be mistaken as a butterfly, was first seen in the Buckeye State in 2020. The eggs will begin to hatch in early May with adults expected to emerge in about two months, attracting flies and wasps and damaging plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has previously encouraged residents to kill the invasive insects. Learn how to report a sighting on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
30-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Volunteer quilters ease pain of organ donor families in Colorado
At any given time in Colorado, there are about 1,200 people in need of a life saving organ transplant. In 2022, 278 people became organ donors after their deaths. It's a devastating loss for the families of the donors, but the gift of life for the organ recipients. The Donor Family Quilt Project is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to honoring the sacrifice those donors make to others. "She said, 'We want to start making these quilts for Donor Alliance.' And I said, 'Stop right there. I'm in.'" Elaine McFarlane recalled about how she got started with the Project. "Because my husband was a twice kidney transplant recipient. Donor Alliance found him the gift of life twice." CBS It's that connection that drives McFarlane to continue making lap quilts. She and D'Anne Vangilder head up the Donor Family Quilt Project. Vangilder spent years as an ICU nurse. She cared for many patients who became organ donors. The quilts are very dear to her heart, too. "It goes with them to the operating room. It's part of the ceremony. It's something bright and cheerful," she explained. Over the years, they've put hundreds of hours into making quilts. They pick colors, patterns, and designs with the hope that they'll connect with a specific donor and their family. "Quilts show that care that you've put some personal time and thought into giving something to somebody. They're warm and loving. You put quilts on your bed to snuggle up on, so I think it's a very personal item too." Vangilder told CBS News Colorado. Donor Alliance provides the batting for the quilts. McFarlane and Vangilder source the backing from an out-of-state fabric supplier. Dozens of volunteer quilters stitch up the tops, and then quilts the parts together. In 2024, they make 370 quilts. "I love the fact that I can be creative and spend time with my sewing machine and sew. But, I also like the fact that we're perhaps able to provide a little bit of comfort to a family during a really difficult time," Vangilder said. CBS Each quilt comes with a message for the donor's family. "Please accept this with our gratitude. We hope it will provide you warmth and caring thoughts for many years to come," McFarlane read from the note enclosed with each quilt. The dream of every crafter is that their creation can serve a greater purpose. In this case, the quilts are a tangible reminder of a life lost, but also of the lives saved through organ, eye, and tissue donation. LINK: Donate Life Month April is Donate Life Month. It a time when we honor donors and celebrate recipients. It's also a good time to talk to your friends and family about your organ donation wishes.
