Listen to this articleMarissa Valentine As law enforcement agencies expand the use of automated license plate reader cameras across Northeast Ohio, some residents and advocacy groups are raising concerns about how the technology is used and what it means for personal privacy. Flock Safety, a private surveillance technology company, installs camera systems designed to help […]
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Posted inCommunity, Education, Living, National, Opinion
Opinion: PBS funding cuts threaten free education
Listen to this articleMarissa Valentine Federal cuts to public broadcasting funding are affecting young viewers nationwide. Public broadcasting which provides free educational programming to children across the country has lost federal funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This loss of funding limits access to educational programming in marginalized communities. According to a Jan. […]
Posted inTechnology
Opinion: Battle of the mind and the modern conquest for data and algorithms
Listen to this articleOpinion | Technology & Society Researchers and lawmakers are raising concerns about a new kind of power struggle, centered on data and algorithms. These systems decide what billions of people see online every day. The world still faces traditional conflicts. The 2025 Global Peace Index reports 59 active state-based conflicts worldwide. But […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, History, Local
Opinion: Sabotaged Miracle on 105th Street: Winston Willis Pt 1
Listen to this articleAjah Hales These views are expressed solely by the writer and not necessarily by The Cleveland Observer. This three-part series explores the rise, destruction, and ongoing fight for justice surrounding Winston Willis’s lost empire. Part 1: The Rise of a Black Business Titan – How Willis built his fortune, overcame racial terrorism, […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Cleveland Must Fulfill its Promise to Address Racism as a Public Health Crisis
Listen to this articleBy Yvonka Marie Hall Executive Director Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition Editor’s note: The opinions expressed here are those of the author. In 2020, the world experienced a profound awakening regarding social justice and racial equity. In response, Cleveland City Council adopted Resolution 296-2020, officially declaring racism a public health crisis. In […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Opinion: Banning Books Threatens Our Freedom
Listen to this articleEditor’s note: The opinions expressed here are those of the author. By Marissa Valentine “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.” – Benjamin Franklin Knowledge is Power What is a banned or challenged book, and why should you care? If you enjoy movies, […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Opinion: Moderates and Independents Have Spoken—Will Someone Finally Listen?
Listen to this articleThe 2024 election has come and gone, but it left behind a big lesson: voters in the middle—moderates and independents—made their voices heard. These aren’t the loud partisans who dominate the headlines. They’re the millions of people who don’t fit neatly into the “blue” or “red” box, and they’re tired of being […]
Posted inGovernment, Politics, State
Greg Levy launches U.S. Senate Campaign in Cleveland
Listen to this articleUrges unity, expanded ballot access access On Greg Levy, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), launched his U.S. Senate campaign on Feb. 21 at Holy Trinity Church in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood. Campaign launch in Fairfax In leaflets distributed by PSL organizers, Levy described the situation as dire for […]
Posted inNational, Politics
Will Trump deploy the National Guard to Cleveland?
Listen to this articleIn June, President Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). City and state leaders insisted that federal intervention was not necessary, but thousands of troops remained in the city for months. Since then, Trump has sent Guard members to five additional cities and threatened […]
Posted inHealth
New Year, More Aware You: Choosing Growth Without Reinventing Yourself
Listen to this articleBy: Jennifer Bailey The ball has dropped, and the countdown has ended. When a new calendar year begins, many Americans set resolutions to reinvent themselves. The popular phrase, “New Year, New Me,” assumes new beginnings and transformation; however, it subtly suggests that you were never good enough. Following through with resolutions is […]
Posted inHealth
Tips to Stay Calm During a Stressful Holiday Season
Listen to this articleBy Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RDT Between shopping for the perfect gift, baking for the cookie exchange and finding an ugly sweater for your workplace’s holiday party, December can bring more than holiday cheer. The American Psychological Association (APA) reported that 89% of American adults experience at least one source of stress […]
Posted inHealth
News Overload: How National Events Impact Our Emotional Health
Listen to this articleBy Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RD In the last five years, Americans have weathered wave after wave of national and global crises. From the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, to the dismantling of DEI policies, each event lingers in our feeds. Social media doesn’t […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Politics
Voter Information: How to Research New City Council Candidates
Listen to this articleBy Angela Hay This article is part of the Cleveland Observer’s voter information series designed to prepare Cleveland voters for the general election on Nov. 4, 2025. Informed participation in local elections is a crucial way to shape the city. Unfortunately, getting reliable non-biased information about the candidates and their beliefs can […]
Posted inPolitics
Voter Information: Does the Incumbent Deserve Your Vote?
Listen to this articleBy Angela Hay This article is part of the Cleveland Observer’s voter information series designed to prepare Cleveland voters for the general election on Nov. 4, 2025. The race for positions on Cleveland’s City Council includes two types of candidates: prospective candidates, who have not served in those roles before, and incumbent […]
Posted inNational, News, Politics
Supreme Court To Decide Fate Of Trumps Citizenship Order With Historic Stakes For African Americans
Listen to this articleBy Ron Calhoun The U.S. Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling on President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14160 could determine whether birthright citizenship remains protected under the Constitution, a decision with historic implications for African Americans, whose citizenship was secured after the Civil War. From Dred Scott to the Fourteenth Amendment The Fourteenth Amendment, […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Development, Law/Legislation
Ohio In Transition The 2025 Reform Battles
Listen to this articleStaff Writer Lawmakers, auditors, activists and voters are clashing over sweeping changes to Ohio’s property tax system as the 2025 election approaches. Ohioans face a growing property tax problem as rising home values drive up tax bills, putting pressure on homeowners statewide. In response, lawmakers, county officials and grassroots activists are proposing […]
Posted inCLEVELAND
Donald Trump’s First 100 Days in Office: Bold Actions and Legal Challenges
Listen to this articleBy Konner Hines President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January marked a swift and contentious start to his second term. Within his first 100 days, he signed approximately 142 executive orders, the most of any president during this period, focusing on immigration reform, federal spending cuts, and reshaping government […]
Posted inEditorial, Opinion, Politics
Editorial: Redistricting for the People VIA Unaffiliated Voters
Listen to this articleBy Ron Calhoun Why Ohio’s Maps Must Reflect the Majority of Unaffiliated Voters When most people think of redistricting, they imagine maps shaded in red and blue, carved up by one political party to outmaneuver the other. In Ohio, a striking truth is hidden beneath that oversimplified color scheme: the majority of […]
Posted inLiving, National, Trending News
A woman who called a Black child a slur has raised a backlash but also thousands of dollars
Listen to this articleBy TERRY TANG and SARAH RAZA Associated Press NOTE CONTENTS: This story contains a term that refers to a racial slur. A video showing a Minnesota woman at a playground last week openly admitting to using a racist slur against a Black child has garnered millions of views. Maybe equally viral has […]
Posted inNews Briefs, State
TCO Ohio Weekly News Brief: April 21th 2025
Listen to this articleBringing Ohio’s top stories from last week into focus with clarity and conscience By The Cleveland Observer Staff ⚖️ Ohio’s Death Penalty Under Renewed Scrutiny “The system is inefficient and wasteful.” — Attorney General Dave Yost Advocates are intensifying efforts to abolish Ohio’s death penalty, citing over $1 billion spent since 1981 […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Politics
Cleveland Police Commission Urges Caution as City Council Fast-Tracks New Police Union Contract
Listen to this articleThe Cleveland Observer March 24, 2025 Editor’s note: Within hours of the Cleveland Community Police Commission’s (CPC) request on March 24, Cleveland City Council unanimously approved an “emergency ordinance” to ratify a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association (CPPA). The Cleveland Community Police Commission (CPC) calls on […]
Posted inNational
Clock is ticking for local governments to use billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid
Listen to this article By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press From the looks of it, the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert hasn’t done too much with the $24 million it received in federal pandemic aid. The site where it plans to spend most of the money for a crime victims center remains an empty plot of […]
Posted inWealth
How Power and Money Are Hurting Cleveland Communities
Listen to this articleStaff Writer (Opinion The Cleveland Observer In Cleveland, many people struggle to stay in their homes and make ends meet. At the same time, decisions are being made that help those with power and money, but not everyday residents. This is called ”elite capture.” In Cleveland, elite capture can be found in […]
Posted inLaw/Legislation
Choosing to Accept or Decline Medical Care
By Sheila Ferguson Approximately half (45% or 133 million) of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, and the number is growing. Chronic diseases—including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, respiratory diseases, arthritis, obesity, and oral diseases—can lead to hospitalization, long-term disability, reduced quality of life, and death. Chronic conditions are the nation’s […]
