Listen to this articleAP-US-Teacher-Arrested-Russia, WASHINGTON (AP) — An American schoolteacher arrested in Russia on drug charges more than three years ago has been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained, the State Department said Friday. Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, is serving a 14-year prison sentence after being arrested in August 2021 […]
Posted inNational
Florida requires teaching Black history. Some don’t trust schools to do it justice
Listen to this article AP-US-Florida-Black-History, 1st Ld-Writethru By KATE PAYNE Associated Press/Report for America Eds: EDITS: Fixes a typo in the opening sentence. Sends to additional audiences. With AP Photos. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Buried among Florida’s manicured golf courses and sprawling suburbs are the artifacts of its slave-holding past: the long-lost cemeteries of enslaved people, the […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, OBSERVERS AI, Politics
Cleveland Council Legislation Undergoes First Reading and Board of Control Resolutions Report: November — December 2024
Listen to this articleThe Cleveland Observer is dedicated to keeping residents informed about legislative activities under review. By reporting on ordinances and resolutions during their initial stages, the Observer enables community members to engage with their Council members, providing feedback or expressing support before final decisions are made. How Your Tax Dollars are Being Spent […]
Posted inHistory
Arutisuse: December 24 is a Day to Honor Freedom and Resilience
Listen to this articleBy Ron Calhoun What makes Dec. 24 a cornerstone of empowerment for Foundational Black Americans (FBA)? It is the celebration of Arutisuse, a holiday dedicated to the enduring legacy of resistance, resilience, and cultural triumph of FBA. On this day, FBA honor their ancestors’ brave acts of liberation during one of the […]
Posted inEducation
Mayor Bibb Appoints Three New CMSD Board of Education Members
Listen to this articleBy Rosie Palfy The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) Board of Education has three new members. Mayor Justin Bibb announced the appointments of Caroline Peak, Jerry Billups, and Pastor Ivory Jones III in a press release on Dec. 3. The mayor wrote that he was “delighted to welcome” the new Board members.“Their […]
Posted inFaith
Rejoice: The Lord is at Hand
Listen to this articleBy Pastor Ron Rollins When was the last time you felt a moment of pure joy? In a world that often feels overwhelmed by bad news and uncertainty, finding reasons to celebrate can seem difficult. Our days are filled with stories of war, disasters, neighborhood tensions, and illnesses affecting those we love. […]
Posted inWealth
Retire Rich: An Easy IRA Guide
Listen to this articleDiscover the straightforward path to a prosperous retirement with Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). This guide builds on our previous discussion, simplifying the process of using IRAs for wealth accumulation Understanding IRAs in Wealth Building Tax Benefits: Traditional IRAs offer tax-deferred growth, and Roth IRAs provide tax-free growth, maximizing your savings Compound Interest: […]
Posted inOBSERVERS AI
Cleveland City Council Unveils Redistricting Plan: Wards Reduced from 17 to 15 Amid Population Shifts
Listen to this articleCleveland City Council has unveiled a proposed redistricting plan to reduce the number of wards from 17 to 15, as mandated by the City Charter due to population changes. This adjustment reflects the city’s evolving demographics and aims to ensure equitable representation across all wards. Key Changes in the Proposed Ward Map: […]
Posted inWealth
Minority Businesses: Become Eligible For Government and Corporate Contracts
Listen to this articleBy Raland (cq) Hatchett, President and CEO RH Professional Services RH Professional Services provide strategic, balanced, and objective business and corporate management consulting services to save businesses time and money. RH partners with corporate management to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and social impact. Raland consulting company is […]
Posted inState
Day 2 of Protests in Akron and Statements on Body-Cam Footage in Jazmir Tucker Shooting
Listen to this articleAkron, Ohio (TCO) — On the second consecutive day of protests, Akron residents gathered downtown to demand justice for 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker, who was fatally shot by police on Nov. 28. The demonstrations come in response to the release of body-worn camera footage and official statements from Mayor Shammas Malik and Police […]
Posted inOBSERVERS AI
Residents Provide Feedback on Cleveland City Council Redistricting
Listen to this articleBy Lisa O’Brien With the Cleveland City Council community feedback meetings and the national election in the rearview mirror, it is high time for another update on the city’s redistricting process. On Oct. 15, 16, and 17, the Cleveland City Council hosted three community feedback meetings across the city to give residents […]
Posted inOBSERVERS AI
Council Legislation Undergoes First Reading: Nov 2024
Listen to this articleThe Cleveland Observer is dedicated to keeping residents informed about legislative activities under review. By reporting on ordinances and resolutions during their initial stages, the Observer enables community members to engage with their Council members, providing feedback or expressing support before final decisions are made. How You Tax Dollars are Being Spent […]
Posted inPolitics
Cleveland Council Legislative Updates November 2024
Listen to this articleThe Cleveland Observer is dedicated to keeping residents informed about legislative activities under review. By reporting on ordinances and resolutions during their initial stages, the Observer enables community members to engage with their Council Members, providing feedback or expressing support before final decisions are made. How You Tax Dollars are Being Spent […]
Posted inSUBURBS
Warrensville Hts Elementary School Student and His NaNa Publish Their First Book
Listen to this articleBy Marissa Valentine Warrensville Hts City School District, Communications Coordinator Warrensville Hts second grader R.J. Woodford’s story as an author isn’t by happenstance. His secure relationship with his grandmother whom he refers to as Nana, and his quest for knowledge were the perfect combination for a children’s book to be created about […]
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 inFAIRFAX, History
Olivet Institutional Baptist Church Earns Cleveland Civil Rights Trail Marker
Listen to this articleA Cleveland Civil Rights Trail historical marker was unveiled at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church on Nov. 15. The Cleveland Restoration Society, in collaboration with the Ohio History Connection, placed the marker in front of Olivet, described by its former 33-year pastor, the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., as the Cleveland home base […]
Posted inCLE Streets
How Cleveland Youth Feel About Gun Violence
Listen to this articleBy Sarai Murdock Following the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, gun laws and U.S. citizens’ access to firearms have become a major topic of discussion. In Ohio, you must be 18 to purchase a firearm and 21 to buy a handgun. “I grew up around guns all of my life,” 19-year-old […]
Posted inLiving
Better Business Bureau Warns of Scams Surrounding Medicare Open Enrollment
Listen to this articleTCO Staff/ChatGPT Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and scammers are using this period to trick people out of money and personal information. BBB Scam Tracker frequently receives reports from consumers about scam calls and text messages from individuals posing as Medicare representatives. Consumers report receiving calls from […]
Posted inCLEVELAND
FutureLAND 2024 Attendees Leave with Cash Grants, and Contracts
Listen to this articleBy Rhonda Crowder This year’s conference helped business owners “evolve.” With 50+ speakers, more than 1,700 registrants, approximately 65 youth participants, and more than 15 sponsors, the FutureLAND 2024 has been deemed a success and impactful by conference organizers, the City of Cleveland, United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, and JumpStart. Although […]
Posted inBest of 2024, Health, Opinion
Understanding Sugar and Its Impact on Your Health
Listen to this articleFor many people, a teaspoon of sugar in their morning coffee is enough to satisfy their craving. But for others, sugar becomes an obsession, leading to constant cravings. Some people even develop a dependence on sugar, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they try to cut back. Sugar addiction can have a significant impact […]
Posted inLiving, National
DOJ Targets Elder Abuse – National Nursing Home Fraud
Listen to this articleThe U.S. Department of Justice has issued its sixth annual report to Congress, detailing efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. During this period, the department pursued over 300 enforcement actions against more than 700 defendants accused of stealing nearly $700 million […]
Posted inLaw/Legislation
Legal Aid Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Can Help Resolve Tax Issues
Listen to this articleBy Tonya Sams Receiving a notification from the IRS can cause anxiety and fear. These feelings can be magnified when someone cannot afford an attorney to resolve their tax issues. The Legal Aid Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) can help taxpayers with their tax problems for free. The LITC assists low-income taxpayers […]
Posted inPolitics
Ohio voters reject replacing troubled mapmaking system with citizen-led redistricting commission
Listen to this article Nov 6, 2024 12:58 AM – 688 words By JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press Eds: UPDATES: With further reaction. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio voters rejected a constitutional amendment Tuesday that would have established a citizen-led redistricting commission to replace an existing mapmaking system that repeatedly produced unconstitutional maps. The outcome marked […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Cleveland Unites for “Tanisha’s Law” to Reform Crisis Response
Listen to this articleStaff Writer/Cleveland City Council Press release CLEVELAND (Nov. 6, 2024) — On Thursday, Nov. 7, Cleveland City Councilmembers, the family of Tanisha Anderson, and members of the Student Legislative Initiative of Cleveland will come together to introduce “Tanisha’s Law.” This new legislation, aimed at improving how the city responds to mental health […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, State
Seven Guitars Strikes a Chord at Ohio State University
Listen to this articleBy Vince Robinson COLUMBUS, Ohio — August Wilson’s Seven Guitars recently concluded its run at Ohio State University’s Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts, masterfully directed by Terrence Spivey. This production brought to life Wilson’s profound insights on Black life in America, blending themes of love, struggle, triumph, and tragedy. Seven […]
