Ohio is 2½ weeks from allowing people to carry a concealed firearm without a permit: The Wake Up for Thursday, May 26, 2022

Hank Johnson displays his handgun, in Springboro, Ohio, on Feb. 27, 2013.

Ohio is 2½ weeks away from allowing people to carry a concealed firearm without needing a license, training, or a background check. (Al Behrman, Associated Press file photo)AP

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Weather

Showers and thunderstorms are likely today in Northeast Ohio, especially during the afternoon. Highs will be in the low 80s. Look for more chances of showers and storms overnight as temps drop to the mid-60s. Read more.

MLB: Houston Astros 2, Guardians 1

The headlines

Gun laws: As the United States reels from three mass shootings in 10 days, Ohio is 2½ weeks away from allowing people to carry a concealed firearm without needing a license, training, or a background check. On Monday, June 13, Senate Bill 215 takes effect, allowing anyone 21 or older in Ohio to carry a concealed firearm unless state or federal law prohibits them from possessing a gun, reports Jeremy Pelzer.

Redistricting: The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a resubmitted legislative redistricting plan from the Ohio Redistricting Commission and gave the commission until June 3 to pass an entirely new map. However, Jeremy Pelzer and Andrew Tobias report the decision likely means a federal court will soon order Ohio to hold an Aug. 2 legislative primary using the rejected map, which has now twice been ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Today in Ohio

Heartland Bank, a community bank in the Columbus area, has tapped Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to be a paid member of its corporate board. We’re talking about the move, for which the governor’s office could provide no historic precedent, on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s half-hour news podcast.

Statehouse & politics

Bail overhaul: The Ohio House and Senate passed bills Wednesday to change how judges weigh public safety when deciding bail. Laura Hancock reports the bills are similar but not identical, which means legislative leadership will negotiate which one to send to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to print on Nov. 8 ballots. Each bill would add to the Ohio Constitution the following language: “When determining the amount of bail, the court shall consider public safety, including the seriousness of the offense, and a person’s criminal record, the likelihood a person will return to court, and any other factor the general assembly may prescribe.”

Jim Jordan prepares to evacuate the House floor during riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, prepares to evacuate the floor as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press file photo)AP

Jim Jordan: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Champaign County on Wednesday responded to a subpoena he received from the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by decrying it as a “dangerous escalation” of a political vendetta. But Sabrina Eaton reports Jordan didn’t say whether he’ll comply with its demand that he appear for a May 27 deposition.

Steve Dettelbach: The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday grilled Cleveland attorney Steve Dettelbach on his plans to lead the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, which has lacked a confirmed leader for a decade because of fierce lobbying and stonewalling. Sabrina Eaton reports that Dettelbach, who spent over two decades as a Justice Department prosecutor before serving as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio during Barack Obama’s presidency, pledged, if confirmed, to “do everything I can to enforce the law, to respect the Constitution of the United States and to partner with law enforcement to protect the safety and the rights of innocent and law-abiding Americans.”

Unemployment benefits: Gov. Mike DeWine’s attorney argued Wednesday he was within his authority to halt federal money last year that provided unemployed Ohioans an extra $300 a week. Laura Hancock reports the case involves a trio of Ohio citizens who were unemployed and lost pandemic unemployment benefits when DeWine withdrew Ohio from the federal program.

Metro

Lawsuit settled: The city of Cleveland settled with a retired fire battalion chief for $990,000, a move that came more than six years after he sued the city and claimed officials mistakenly retaliated against him. Sean DeCrane, who worked as a firefighter for 25 years, accused city officials in 2016 of violating his First Amendment rights because they mistakenly believed he leaked information about an incoming fire chief’s lack of proper qualifications to a cleveland.com reporter, Adam Ferrise reports.

Tree canopy: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council are working to resurrect a long-dormant tree commission to help grow and protect the dwindling tree canopy in what was once known as the Forest City. Legislation establishing a 15-member Urban Forestry Commission is making its way through City Council and could be approved as early as June 6, reports Courtney Astolfi. Cleveland continues to lose 97 acres of tree cover each year, erasing a host of economic, health and community benefits, like storing greenhouse gas emissions, improving water quality by filtering out pollutants, and naturally cooling off homes.

Poor bridges: The Ohio Department of Transportation says that of 43,796 bridges in Ohio, 2,402 are rated in poor condition. This amounts to a little over 5% of the bridges in the state. Zachary Smith lists the bridges with a “poor” rating.

William Denihan: William Denihan epitomized the concept of public service, working more than four decades in government, not seeking the limelight but instead getting the job done. Denihan, 85, died Monday, after a career that included government work for Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the state of Ohio, reports Robert Higgs.

Tax abatements: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s overhaul of the city’s residential tax abatement policy underwent several hefty changes before ultimately winning unanimous City Council approval on Wednesday. Bibb sought to toss that “one-size-fits-all” approach in favor of one that would grant greater tax relief to neighborhoods with the weakest housing markets, which council kept, but reverted to the current policy of offering 100% abatement for 15 years, Courtney Astolfi reports.

Lacrosse swastika: The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and Lake Catholic High School have released a joint statement addressing their investigation of, and punishment for, an incident where one of the school’s lacrosse players played in an OHSAA playoff game against Orange with a swastika drawn on his leg. The school says another player stamped the symbol on the players’ leg as a joke, reports Jonathan Simmons.

COVID-19 & healthcare

Mental health: Parents are struggling in the wake of the Texas mass shooting to answer the most difficult question a child can ask. Why did it happen? Julie Washington reports that no matter the age of your child, your main goal is to make sure your child feels safe and loved, and can express their worries to you.

Business

Foot traffic: Now that Walmart has closed in Mayfield Heights, where are residents of the city supposed to go grocery shopping? Zachary Smith reports Walmart, which closed Friday, was not the biggest grocery store retailer in the area. Shoppers are most likely to visit the wholesale grocery store Costco.

Crime

Money laundering: Federal investigators say a Conneaut businessman laundered money for a North Royalton man accused of dealing large amounts of cocaine and stashing $2.4 million in a storage facility, reports Adam Ferrise. Rueben Schwartz, 49, owns several businesses in Conneaut, including a real estate investment firm, a construction company, a drive-through beer business and property management companies.

Arts & entertainment

Otter update: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has added two North American river otters to its wildlife center, reports Annie Nickoloff. The otters, named Atticus and Emmett, arrived at the museum on May 11 from their former home of Louisiana, joining river otters Linus and Calvin in their exhibit at the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden.

Cedar Point: Cedar Point’s summer schedule of events officially kicks off Thursday with the opening of Frontier Festival. The event runs 2-8 p.m. daily through June 19. David Petkiewicz was invited to a sneak peak on Wednesday to check out the offerings.

Memorial Day: Parades and ceremonies honoring veterans will return to Memorial Day after the pandemic forced many cities to modify their plans in the past two years. Alexis Oatman has a list of city events to recognize the holiday.

Other headlines

Body of woman reported missing found in vacant home in Slavic Village Read more

Officials release ID of 15-year-old boy killed in shooting in Akron Read more

Suspect accused of using BB gun to steal toilet paper from Dollar General Read more

Motorcyclist, 22, dies after hitting construction equipment parked on road Read more

Tom Bennett to step down as president, CEO of Solon Chamber of Commerce Read more

Asher says leaving Chagrin Falls High School for new job will be ‘bittersweet’ Read more

Lakewood High School senior graduates college before receiving high school diploma Read more

Lakewood High School student artists selected for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport’s Youth Art Gallery Read more

Lakewood Park’s Foster Pool and Madison Park’s Becks Pool set for opening day splash Read more

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