Latest news with #FOX8I-Team
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
I-Team: Governor reviewing proposal to use unclaimed funds to help fund Browns dome project
[Watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage in the player above.] CLEVELAND (WJW) — Gov. Mike DeWine's office confirmed to the FOX 8 I-Team that the governor is reviewing a proposal by Senate Republicans to use unclaimed fund money to help the Cleveland Browns pay for a new enclosed stadium project. Dan Tierney, spokesperson for the governor, also added that he looks 'forward to continuing the budget process with the Ohio General Assembly.' Ground beef sold nationwide possibly contaminated with E. Coli DeWine has proposed increasing the tax on the state's sports gaming tax to help fund stadium projects and youth sports programs. The Browns requested $600 million in bonds from the state. That money would be paid back with profits from the project. The Browns are also contributing $1.2 billion toward the stadium and another $1 billion to the mixed-use development. State Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) told the I-Team he believes the plan to use unclaimed funds is better for taxpayers. Cirino said the proposal is to use money from Ohio's $3.7 billion in unclaimed funds. Cirino added that $1.7 billion of that amount would be used to create a sports and cultural facilities fund. The Browns would be given a $600 million 'performance grant' that would be paid back with profits from the project. Cirino added the Browns would put $100 million in an escrow account that would be used to pay back the state if the project falls short. 'This is a forward-thinking plan that acknowledges the economic impact professional sports has on our communities,' Cirino said. 'This program protects taxpayers, promotes growth and is positive for the general fund, while putting idle dollars to work that have been sitting in the state treasury, often for decades.' Some state lawmakers disagree, including state Sens. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) and Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood). 'I've already heard from Ohioans I serve about the difficulty they've encountered in accessing their unclaimed funds,' Weinstein said. 'But apparently it's been easy for the Haslams. Taking money owed to Ohioans, while cutting funds for libraries and schools sends the exact wrong message about our priorities.' LIVE: All the Goodyear blimps together over Cleveland Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb also are against the proposal. Both Ronayne and Bibb want the Browns to continue playing football games in downtown Cleveland. 'I have been clear from the beginning that if we're talking Browns, we have a doable plan for downtown,' Ronayne said. 'We have a plan that does not rely on the state Senate giving away your funds. Don't pick the pocket of hard-working Ohioans for the single purpose of a stadium in Brook Park.' Senate officials are expected to vote on their version of the budget bill sometime next week. A final state budget must be approved by the end of this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cleveland Heights council approves ‘no confidence' resolution amid allegations against mayor's wife
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) – Cleveland Heights City Council is taking action after Mayor Kahlil Seren's wife, Natalie McDaniel, allegedly sent and made anti-Semitic remarks and texts. The FOX 8 I-Team has been fighting for public records related to the alleged behavior to be released, but so far the city has been dragging its feet. The mayor has adamantly denied the anti-Semitic behavior, but at a special meeting on May 27, Councilman Jim Petras introduced a 'no confidence' resolution calling for accountability and transparency. I-X Center one step closer to being repurposed — what it would mean for events It was standing room only inside council chambers on Monday night for the first public reading of the resolution. Several were carrying signs calling for the mayor to resign. 'RESIGN Seren it's you, you're the problem,' one sign said. Councilman Anthony Mattox, Jr. said he thought the issue should be left to voters and he expressed concerns because other members of council supporting the resolution are running for mayor. He also said that the controversy is breeding division. 'It is affecting my family, many families up here and many of your families too,' he said. Councilman Craig Cobb said the controversies are making Cleveland Heights, 'the laughing stock of Northeast Ohio.' Kent State to close LGBTQ+, women's, multicultural centers In the end, council voted 6 to 1 in favor of the 'no confidence' resolution. Although it's largely symbolic, the calls for the mayor to resign are expected to intensify. Seren responded, saying, 'Even as you have lost confidence, we will still get the work of the city done just as we have this evening and all of you will continue working with me and I will continue to work to move the city forward and I am appreciate to the residents and all the city workers who have shown me care and support through this.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cleveland Heights retains outside counsel after refusing to release bodycam video
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) – Cleveland Heights law department officials have retained an attorney to represent them after refusing to release police body camera video involving Mayor Kahlil Seren's wife. The FOX 8 I-Team has asked for the video, but the law department denied the request and sent us an email stating that they have retained Attorney Gregory Beck, of North Canton, to handle the matter. The I-Team has filed a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims asking the court to order the city to release the video. The interaction between the mayor's wife, Natalie McDaniel, and the sergeant happened Dec. 6 inside Cleveland Heights City Hall. 'King of the Hill' actor fatally shot: Reports Cleveland Heights officials said there was no 'official' police report but they did release a statement written by the sergeant. No charges were filed against the mayor's wife. 'On 12/06/2024 at approximately 1 p.m. I was approached by a unknown woman in City Hall's front desk of the Mayor's office,' wrote Sergeant Jason Mose. 'I first noticed the woman in a panic state in the atrium, as if she was waiting for someone. She was gesturing and talking to herself. At some point, she approached me at the front desk and asked in a frantic voice if I knew where the Mayor was. I replied, I have not seen the Mayor. She became very agitated and annoyed at my answer. She told me she was suppose to meet her Husband in the atrium. At this point, I was able to connect this female is the Mayor's wife. I asked her what time did the Mayor respond to you, she stated at 12:53 p.m., in agitated voice. I remember looking at the desk top computer and saw the exact time was 1:05 p.m. I told her maybe he is in a meeting or something. She then demanded if I knew Chief Britton was in his Office, I replied I do not know.' The report further noted that when an employee from the mayor's office confronted her, she began swearing at him. The sergeant noted on his statement that the incident happened during city hall business hours. The sergeant added that a lieutenant tried to 'de-escalate' the situation. 'I could still hear the female berating and criticizing someone from where I was sitting,' the statement read. 'This scolding continued for approximately 20-30 minutes. The female was hitting the glass window behind me. She was calling me a giant white man and how she is a light skinned Black woman who repressed the way I treated her. This ended when the Mayor, his wife and Lieutenant Corrigan exited from the Office. The Mayor turned to me and stated we need to talk while walking towards the staircase. Parts of this incident was recorded on my BWC.' Some taxpayers may receive tax refunds in June: When payments could arrive Attorney Tom Merriman said he believe the body camera video should be released. 'The rules don't change, the law doesn't change just because she happens to be married to a public official,' Merriman said. 'If you look at the law, if you look at the case law, this is a no brainer. It's a slam dunk public record.' We have tried to talk to the mayor several times but he has declined to answer any specific questions.'I think the members of Cleveland Heights City Council should be demanding that this recording be released,' Merriman said. 'I think they have a duty to the people of Cleveland Heights.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘That's crazy': Struggling CMSD sent kids to Disney World, I-Team learns
CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team has found the Cleveland Municipal School District sent kids on a trip to Disney World while spending money that could have been used for unique educational projects. We investigated the story behind the all-expenses paid trip for kids and adults from the Garfield School. Twelve students in sixth. seventh and eighth grade went, and so did six adults, including the school principal. Teen accused of assaulting girls in line at Cedar Point: I-Team Records show the cost of the trip totaled more than $28,000. 'This serves a handful of students and a few lucky adults who got to go on the district's or the public's money,' said Errol Savage, a member of the executive board of the teacher's union. Money for the 'Disney Dreams' trip came from the Get More Opportunities Fund. The application promised the trip would be 'rewarding well-behaved students' to 'encourage further growth, achievement and well-being.' We found that trip was chosen for grant money over several other applications from teachers for educational projects or trips. 'I think that money could have been better spent. It could have been spent on educational field trips: Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Washington, D.C., the Henry Ford Museum.' Savage added. The other proposals not chosen included money for technology to help kids with learning disabilities, a project to help kids create 3-D rollercoasters and a competition for kids at four schools to learn to think on their feet. 'That's crazy,' Polly Karr, a parent and school district watchdog, said. Examining Perrysburg Schools' identity fraud case through a legal lens She reacted to the Disney trip while pointing out, at another school, the same grant money was denied when the chess club wanted to take a teacher to an out-of-state tournament. 'They're denying us from the Get More funds to take the teacher. We applied for a grant for that to take the teacher,' Karr said. In the response to our records request, the school district said an 'equitable process' was used to pick the adults on the Disney trip: the principal, a secretary and teachers, including a union chair. We tried contacting the principal, but we received no response. No one from the school district is talking on camera. A spokesman stressed only grant money was used. No general fund money, and the principal considered the trip to be something really special. 'You can't expect students to always make the right choices, but adults, they could have been guided better,' Savage said. We also took note of the dates for the Disney trip, which were school days in March — not even spring break. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A pivotal moment': Greater Cleveland Partnership backs Browns dome plan
[Watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage in the player above.] CLEVELAND (WJW) — Members of Greater Cleveland's regional chamber of commerce, which fosters development in the region, said they support the Cleveland Browns' move to Brook Park. In what it called 'a pivotal moment for Greater Cleveland,' the Greater Cleveland Partnership's executive committee said it 'endorses a domed stadium that anchors a mixed-use development in Brook Park as well as support for all our professional sports facilities,' reads a statement found Tuesday on the partnership's website. 10-year-old boy killed in crash on US Route 422 in Solon identified 'GCP also asks all parties to work together for accelerated development of a vibrant downtown lakefront and riverfronts,' reads the statement. 'The business community has and will continue to support the success of our public officials. We will continue to work with them on these transformational opportunities to provide long-term and lasting benefits to support the growth of downtown, Cleveland and the region.' Executive committee members with conflicts of interest recused themselves from the endorsement, according to the statement. That presumably refers to Browns co-owner Dee Haslam, one of the numerous local and Ohio-based executives who sits on the committee. Huntington National Bank, Sherwin-Williams and FirstEnergy are also represented. 'Professional sports are an economic engine,' reads the statement, and a domed stadium in Brook Park means a 'transformative' $3.4 billion investment in the region. Domed stadiums in regions similar to Cleveland can draw up to three times as many visitors per year, and the demand for large-scale, live entertainment is expected to continue growing, according to the partnership. A domed stadium in Brook Park could also synergize with new development at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. 'While a downtown dome is ideal, financial and development constraints have been challenging; the Brook Park option is more practical to move forward,' reads the statement. Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne disagreed, calling the plan a 'boondoggle' when speaking to reporters on Monday. He and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb want to keep the Browns playing downtown. 'The truth is simple: You're pushing a costly, risky and poorly conceived plan that uses public subsidy to diminish our region, our communities and our businesses,' he said. City leaders issued a statement to the FOX 8 I-Team on Tuesday that reads: 'The city of Cleveland is focused on delivering a world-class lakefront for Cleveland's residents, visitors and businesses. It's disappointing to see a small number of individuals from the regional chamber supporting the financial interests of the Haslams at the expense of Cleveland and taxpayers.' The Browns sought $600 million in state bonds, to be repaid with profits from the new stadium, and planned to put up more than $2 billion on their own for the stadium and surrounding development. When the county wouldn't get on board, Haslam Sports Group said they'd go on without them. Haslam Sports Group Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins, in a statement to the I-Team, said the Browns' open-air lakefront dome is 'a short-term solution' and that there's a bigger upside with the county's participation. 'We have had extremely positive and constructive collaboration within our community, with corporate leaders and with state officials who understand and support the transformative nature of this opportunity,' Jenkins wrote. ' … By not participating, [Ronayne] is not impeding this transformative solution, he is negatively impacting the growth of Northeast Ohio and the several hundreds of millions of excess dollars generated on the public side that could go towards lakefront redevelopment, the city of Cleveland and other Cuyahoga County needs.' 'Saw a little purple jacket': Teen rescued child from river after deadly Fremont train accident A vacancy at Huntington Bank Field could also lead to new mixed-use development that 'supports a more vibrant downtown and activated waterfront,' reads the statement. It could also mean the closure of Burke Lakefront Airport to make more room. 'Once the stadium decision is settled, GCP asks the team, Cleveland and Brook Park and county to collaborate on accelerating the lakefront development,' reads the statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
