Kevin Niedermier

More of Cleveland’s streets will be resurfaced this year thanks to last November’s city income tax increase. Wednesday, city officials talked about the new paving program.

Some Ohio cities have the nation’s widest employment and income gaps between whites and blacks.  Those are the findings in a new report by the National Urban League. Out of 71 cities studied, Toledo ranked 70^th in unemployment with a gap of more than 15 percent. Cleveland is 68^th with Akron ranked 51st. The three cities also all rank near the bottom when it comes to wage inequality.

Cleveland police are not doing enough to control dirt bike riders illegally using city streets, according to Councilman Zack Reed. And he says that is leading to more brazen behavior from the riders. Police officials say a new policy is on the way.

Akron City Council has unanimously approved legislation that adds more local control to Ohio’s legalization of medical marijuana.

Cleveland Clinic president and CEO Toby Cosgrove announced today that he is stepping down. After almost 13 years as head of one of the world’s largest health care institutions, Dr. Cosgrove says he will begin transitioning out of the position but is expected to continue in an advisory role. Cleveland Clinic officials plan to pick a successor before the end of the year.

Summit County Juvenile Court Magistrate Tavia Baxter Galonski has been picked to replace former State Representative Greta Johnson who stepped down to become the county’s deputy law director. 

A petition drive is underway to stop the city of Cleveland from spending $88 million to help renovate Quicken Loans Arena. The Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus, Greater Cleveland Congregations, and two service unions want voters to decide if the city should help fund the upgrades. What happens if they’re successful is uncertain.

Cuyahoga County Council has approved an additional $200,000 for this year’s medical examiners budget to deal with the rising number of fatal opioid overdoses.

The nation’s first publicly funded inner-city dirt bike park is being built in Cleveland with hopes of redirecting the swarms of dirt bike riders illegally using city streets. Backers say the park will reduce a dangerous nuisance, and generate revenue and create jobs. Others say the money could be better spent. 

The City of Akron has appointed its first Health Equity Ambassador to help decrease racial and ethnic health disparities.  Mayor Dan Horrigan has appointed Tamiyka Rose to the position. The mayor’s chief of staff, James Hardy says Rose will first focus on lowering the high infant mortality rate in the city’s African-American community.  Hardy says her job will be coordinating the many existing programs now working on the issue.

Ahead of tonight’s scheduled Cleveland City Council vote, city officials and the Cavaliers have announced enhancements to the financing deal to upgrade Quicken Loans Arena. Some groups have opposed spending tax dollars on Q renovations unless the same amount is spent on neighborhood projects.                                        

A Cleveland man who spent 23 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit went free today thanks to new forensic evidence.

Police say Steve Stephens killed himself late this morning after a brief police chase near Erie, Pa. He had eluded capture since Sunday when he allegedly fatally shot 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. and posted it on Facebook.