Plain Press

  • Plans for a shared use path from Edgewater Park to West Boulevard Cudell Rapid station resurrected

    STATE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING SPURS NEW EFFORT PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Friday, June 26, 2026; Site of proposed shared use path at Lake Avenue and West Boulevard: (L-R) Ward 12 Cleveland City Council Representative Tanmay Shah, District 13 State Representative Tristan Rader, and Ward 11 Cleveland City Council Representative Nikki Hudson mount bicycles as they…

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  • St. Ignatius hosts discussion on criminal justice reform

    PHOTO BY BRUCE CHECEFSKY Tuesday, March 3, 2026; Hummer Theatre in the Breen Center for Performing Arts at St. Ignatius High School, 2008 W. 30th Street: Dr. Brian Lovins, President of Justice System Partners, talks about how criminal and juvenile justice systems can be come more equitable, effective and humane. by Bruce Checefsky    (Plain…

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  • Ohio hemp law designed to ramp up incarceration rates for private prison industry

    by Daryl Davis    (Plain Press January 2026) Governor Michael DeWine and the Ohio Republican majority in the legislature have attacked the hemp industry in Ohio with legislation that will re-criminalize hemp products such as hemp beverages, gummies, chocolates and vapes and place additional restrictions on recreational marijuana use. Promoting this legislation looks like a…

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  • Public school funding under attack by Ohio lawmakers

    PHOTO BY BRUCE CHECEFSKY Friday, December 12, 2025; Tremont Montessori School building, 2409 W. 10th Street: The Tremont School building is one of the school buildings that the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has decided to close as part of its Building Brighter Futures plan. The Montessori school in the building now will move to be…

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  • GATEWAY PROMISED 28,000 JOBS;

    THREE YEARS LATER – 35,000 JOBS LOST GATEWAY PROMISED 28,000 JOBS; THREE YEARS LATER – 35,000 JOBS LOST by Roldo Bartimole   In 1990 when Cleveland politicians and top business & legal leaders were preparing to sell the first sales “sin” tax for our sports team owners, they promised 28,000 “good paying jobs for the…

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  • Media should reveal what public funds are subsidizing at Brook Park dome

    Media should reveal what public funds are subsidizing at Brook Park dome by Roldo Bartimole (Plain Press, July 2025) Now that the Republican state legislators and Gov. Mike DeWine have shoved $600 million FREE dollars into the hands of the Haslam group to build the property tax free domed stadium it’s time the public be told…

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  • History says Browns stay put

      by Roldo Bartimole (Plain Press June 2025) Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne is trying to save Cleveland.    He has put his foot down on rejecting a get-out-of-town demand from Browns owners – the Haslam family.    They’re asking for a $600 million input from County residents. Borrowed, the cost will likely double for Cuyahoga County…

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  • New law ends driver’s license suspensions for unpaid court fines or fees

    by Tonya Sams      (Plain Press June 2025) For years, thousands of Ohioans who were unable to pay back court-imposed fines or fees were penalized by having their driver’s license suspended. With the signing of House Bill 29 (HB 29) in January (effective April 9), people that were impacted by debt-related driver’s license suspensions may…

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  • Save Medicaid Expansion in Ohio.

    by Che Gadison      Health care coverage is in jeopardy for low-income adults   in Ohio      Medicaid Expansion provides healthcare to adults between the ages 19-64 with incomes below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level or $21,597 for a single individual.  The federal government currently picks up 90% of the cost while the state of…

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  • When Ohioans Vote, We Win

    PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE SENATOR NICKIE ANTONIO’S OFFICE by Ohio Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio    (Plain Press November 2024) In the past year, politically savvy Ohioans may have noticed an interesting phenomenon at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. When members of the legislature discussed issues like protecting abortion access or legalizing recreational cannabis,…

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