Latest news with #GeaugaCounty
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio's Geauga County continues its fight to keep ICE contract secret
Immigration officials, their backs turned to hide their identities, pose with an Australian citizen who faces possible deportation back to his home country. (Photo by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) As masked federal officers raise fears by raiding workplaces and courthouses and detaining elected officials who object, Ohio's Geauga County is fighting to keep secret its contract to jail immigrants those officers arrest. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio last month sued Geauga County when the county failed to provide a copy of its contract to jail people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ACLU is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to issue a writ mandating that Geauga County, which is just east of Cleveland, turn over the contract. The ACLU contends that such a contract between two public entities is a public document. For its part, the county is arguing that only ICE can release it. In a court filing Tuesday, Geauga County lawyers said 'they have not denied that they possess these records at the time of this filing, and that they have asserted that the requested records are prohibited by disclosure under federal law, and therefore exempted from disclosure under the Ohio Public Records Act, specifically, RC 149.43(A)(1)(v).' The provision cited under the Ohio public records law says that state officials can't release 'records the release of which is prohibited by state or federal law.' However, Geauga County didn't cite any part of state or federal law saying that ICE detention contracts are exempt from release. As a general matter, government documents can usually only be withheld or redacted if they contain sensitive personal information, business secrets, would compromise a law-enforcement investigation or if their disclosure would endanger public safety or national security. None of the nine exemptions the Department of Homeland Security says it has from federal open records law appears to apply to the ICE contracts. Geauga County can't simply hide behind federal immigration officials to avoid its obligations under Ohio open-records law, said Amy Gilbert, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU. 'Tellingly, Geauga doesn't dispute that it is withholding public records from disclosure,' she said in an email. 'The county's supposed reliance on ICE to tell it what to do does not relieve the county of this statutory duty. As a clear legal matter, their duty is governed by Ohio law.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Meanwhile, the lawfulness of ICE's conduct has been called into question elsewhere in Ohio — and across the country. ICE officers — some of them masked — on Tuesday handcuffed New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander when he asked to see the warrant they had to arrest a migrant who had appeared for a hearing at immigration court. The tactic in those and other courthouses has deprived migrants of a traditional safe space to engage with the legal system, critics say. Federal agents last week took U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla to the ground and handcuffed him as he tried to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference. Noem, who has struggled to explain fundamental legal protections for individuals, oversees ICE. In Butler County in Southwestern Ohio, supporters of Emerson Colindres had been demonstrating outside the jail against his ICE detention. Born in Honduras, Colindres, 19, had been living on Cincinnati's West Side since he was eight. On June 4, the recent high school graduate and soccer standout was arrested during a routine ICE check-in. CityBeat on Tuesday reported that ICE had moved Colindres to a private jail in Louisiana — even though his attorneys a day earlier had filed a motion to stop the deportation. In a written statement, Ohio Immigrant Alliance founder Lynn Tramonte said that if the goal of President Donald Trump's mass-deportation program was to make people feel safer, it's not working. 'No one benefits when masked ICE agents arrest immigrants at their immigration court hearings, while they are following the process,' she said. 'When ICE tricks a high school soccer star into showing up for an appointment, and arrests him on the spot. That doesn't help anyone at all.' Tramonte added, 'Emerson Colindres has a U visa waiting for him. One branch of the federal government is processing it, while another branch of the same government is trying to deport him.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Close encounter: Black bear spotted on local doorbell camera
MONTVILLE, Ohio (WJW) — A black bear was spotted in a Northeast Ohio neighborhood this week. Darcie Little lives in Montville Township in Geauga County. Rare white fawn spotted in North Olmsted She sent FOX 8 video of her close encounter. In the video taken about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, you can see the bear sniffing around just off the front porch, then saunter back into the dark. The video was captured on the home's doorbell camera. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, black bears are considered an endangered species in the state. Local black bear being tracked by ODNR ODNR said the best chance of spotting a black bear in Northeast Ohio is in Geauga, Ashtabula, Lake, Trumbull and Mahoning counties. In 2022 alone, 285 bear sightings were reported across 52 counties. Bear mating season began in May and continues into the summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Man confessed to shooting ex-wife in Chardon
CHARDON, Ohio (WJW) — Police have arrested a woman's former spouse after she was found shot dead in the doorway of a home. An Irma Drive resident reported a shooting at a nearby home just after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, according to a news release from Chardon police. Fan banned indefinitely from all MLB stadiums after comments to player Firefighters declared the woman dead at the scene. She has not been identified. A neighbor reported seeing a silver vehicle leaving the scene, and authorities issued an alert for the vehicle. The vehicle and suspect were spotted in Concord Township less than 30 minutes later. Lake County sheriff's deputies arrested him 'peacefully.' Video: See suspects in violent Akron home invasion The suspect was identified as Steven Kurzinger. According to a court complaint, Kurzinger admitted to the shooting. Kurzinger was booked in the Geauga County Jail. Kurzinger is scheduled for arraignment Friday. Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz told FOX 8 News this is the first murder charge filed in Geauga County since 2014. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of killing ex-wife in Chardon appears in court
CHARDON, Ohio (WJW) — A man accused of killing his ex-wife, who was found dead on her doorstep, appeared in court on Friday. Steven Kurzinger, 36, faces the first murder charge filed in Geauga County in more than a decade. Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica on Friday ordered Kurzinger jailed on a $5 million bond, and ordered him to have no contact with the five children he shared with the victim. ODOT crew's equipment struck by distracted driver in Cleveland, officials say Watch the full arraignment hearing below: Neighbors on Irma Drive said they heard shots at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday. One woman told FOX 8 News she first thought they might have been from a hunter. Minutes later, she looked out to see police swarming the scene. Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus at a Friday media briefing identified the victim as 37-year-old Alexandria Kurzinger. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Steven Kurzinger drove to a Concord Township residence right after the shooting, and met with people whom he knew but were not related to the family, Niehus said. He told one of them he had just killed his ex-wife, he said. Lake County deputies responded to the scene and arrested him, less than one hour after the shooting happened, Niehus said. Authorities found the suspected murder weapon, a handgun, in his vehicle, Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said at the Friday morning arraignment. GPS data also placed Steven Kurzinger at the scene of the crime, he said. He has refused to talk to investigators, Niehus said. 'Our investigation remains very active and we still have a lot of work to do,' he said Friday. 'We're working to understand the circumstances leading up to this event and the relationships of those involved.' Watch the full media briefing below: Steven Kurzinger has a misdemeanor charge of criminal damaging pending in Painesville Municipal Court. It was filed in April, records show. A condition of his bond in that case barred him from possessing weapons, Flaiz said Friday, arguing the discovery of the suspected murder weapons constitutes a bond violation. Court records show Kurzinger pleaded not guilty to that charge earlier this month and that he was ordered not to commit 'acts of violence' and not to have no contact with the victims. The day of the shooting, he failed to appear for a Wednesday hearing on the misdemeanor charge, Flaiz said. Ohio lawmakers make last-minute teachers pension change to state budget The couple divorced in 2021 and had been in and out of court over child custody. They had a hearing scheduled for Thursday. Steven and Alexandria Kurzinger shared five children between the ages of 9 and 16, authorities said Friday. Local job and family services workers are now involved in the case, Niehus said. Neighbors are in shock. 'I have never been in a situation like this,' said Andrea Skauca. 'It was just confusing and frightening at first.' The house where the woman was shot is a Ravenwood Health home where women get help for mental health trauma and addiction issues. Kurzinger is due back in the Chardon court on July 7. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Commissioners discuss county "loss team" options
JEFFERSON — The possible creation of a loss team was discussed Thursday morning during a work session of the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners at the request of Ashtabula County Coroner's Office Chief Investigator and Administrator Amber Stewart. Stewart prepared a proposal for the commissioners, seeking the creation of a team to assist families who have lost loved ones. She said a loss team was operational in the county until 2022, through the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, but has been inoperative since. Stewart said she has been working with the Geauga County Loss Team in cases where families needed special assistance, and believes the program is needed in Ashtabula County. A recent situation highlighted the need, Stewart said. 'I can't tell you how important was to have them on scene,' she said of a visit by the Geauga volunteers. Stewart said she has been studying the issue for two years, and sought to create it through the victims of crime office, but it didn't work out. 'It is just something our community needs,' she said, adding it could help reduce suicides. Stewart said the former loss team had a specific purpose, and her vision for the new organization is broader. 'We want to focus on all catastrophic loss,' she said. All three commissioners said they agree on the need for the program, but were concerned with financing of the operation. Stewart's proposal included a full-time administrator in a budget of around $60,000. Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said the county runs a lean operation, and wondered about the size of the expenditure. Commissioner Kathryn Whittington brought up financial questions, but felt it was an important program. She said she would be in favor of revisiting the idea after mid-year department financial evaluations are complete. The commissioners have committed to a review of department budgets because of a drop in sales taxes collections. Commissioner J.P. Ducro said he would like to discuss the idea further with Stewart. 'What would the bare minimum needed to get something started?' he said. The commissioners said they will invite Stewart back to review the possibilities this summer. Kozlowski said there might be a way to find a present county employee to receive a stipend to run the organization, which would be made up of volunteers. Ducro also wondered about a three-county collaboration to make a regional loss team. A volunteer from the Geauga County Loss Team attended the work session and explained how it works. The commissioners tentatively agreed to a new software company to administer the court computer network. Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Administrator Kathy Thompson said the new company would provide significant upgrades to the system, and could assist in getting out jury information. Thompson said spending seems to be going well so far this year when Kozlowski asked if the cost could be met by the present budget. The commissioners accepted the certification of the results of the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services and Ashtabula County Senior Services Board levies, both of which were approved by voters earlier this month. They also passed a resolution of necessity for the renewal of an existing two-mill levy for the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Kozlowski said the Board of DD is not seeking to renew a .5 mill levy, which will save tax payers money. Dennis Swihart was appointed and David Waldron was reappointed to the Airport Board of Zoning Appeals. Kaylee Berry was also appointed to the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, and Greg Myers was reappointed to the Ashtabula County Transportation Improvement District.
