Listen to this articleRay’Chel Wilson Last winter, a family sat at their kitchen table in Cleveland, staring at bills stacked higher than the snow outside. The job loss was sudden, but the anxiety it triggered felt endless. They felt stuck, not just financially, but emotionally and without seeing a way forward. They dreaded conversations about […]
Posted inEducation, Politics
Baby Olivia Act passes Ohio House, moves to Senate
Listen to this articleOn Nov. 19, 2025, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 485, also known as “Enact the Baby Olivia Act.” This bill mandates that public school children in grades 5-12 be shown both a high-definition ultrasound video and “Baby Olivia,” a three-minute computer-generated film described as a “window to the womb.” […]
Posted inHealth
More Than a Trip: The Rise of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Listen to this articleJennifer Bailey The use of psychedelics has a long-standing history. Indigenous populations used them for spiritual and healing purposes. Dr. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford, said researchers studied psychedelics in the 1940s-1950s for their potential medicinal benefits. In the 1960s, psychedelics became criminalized due to […]
Posted inNews Briefs, INTERNATIONAL
TCO International Bi-Monthly News Brief
Listen to this articleGlobal developments shaping 2026 As 2026 gets underway, international news is less about single headlines and more about long-running pressures — war, elections, economic uncertainty, and climate disruption — that continue to shape daily life around the world and influence decisions closer to home. War and Diplomacy Remain Unresolved Armed conflicts in […]
Posted inNews Briefs, National
TCO National Bi-Monthly News Brief
Listen to this articleFederal policy, courts, and power struggles shaping 2026 National news at the start of 2026 is defined less by single votes or speeches and more by structural fights over power, budgets, rights, and enforcement that are setting the tone for the rest of the year. Congress Faces a Narrow Path on Spending […]
Posted inNews Briefs, State
TCO Ohio Bi-Monthly News Brief
Listen to this article State decisions shaping Cleveland and the rest of Ohio in 2026 As 2026 unfolds, Ohio politics are defined by state-level control over funding, rights, and local authority, with many of the biggest impacts felt not in Columbus, but in cities and communities across the state. State Budget Pressures and Local Impact […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, News Briefs
TCO Cleveland Bi-Monthly News Brief
Listen to this articleCity Hall decisions and neighborhood impacts shaping early 2026 Cleveland’s local news in early 2026 reflects a familiar pattern: major financial decisions moving quietly, long-term development deals advancing, and ongoing struggles around housing conditions, infrastructure, and public accountability. City Hall Focuses on Long-Term Commitments Recent City Council and Board of Control actions […]
Posted inOBSERVERS AI
Cleveland City Council: What Passed and What’s Pending
Listen to this articleBy Observers AI The Cleveland Observer is dedicated to informing residents 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. February 6, 2026 City Record […]
Posted inOBSERVERS AI
City Hall Approves Infrastructure Contracts, Vacant Lot Sales January 30th
Listen to this articleBy Observers AI The Cleveland Observer is dedicated to informing residents 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. No Council votes this week, […]
Posted inCommunity, Living
Backyard vegetable gardens are healthy for people and the planet. Here’s how to start yours
Listen to this articleBy CALEIGH WELLS Associated Press If you want healthy food, experts say to eat what’s local, organic and in-season. Those foods benefit the planet too, because they are less taxing on the soil and they don’t travel as far. It doesn’t get more local, organic and in-season than a backyard vegetable garden. At this […]
Posted inEducation
Is your child ready to register for kindergarten? Here’s what experts look for
Listen to this article New federal data shows about two-thirds of the nation’s 3- to 5-year-olds are on track to enter kindergarten. But being ready for school involves a lot more than a child’s ability to count or recite their ABCs. The effort to get a snapshot of kindergarten readiness is part of the National Survey of Children’s […]
Posted inWealth, History
Black History Month: Lessons from Black Wall Street
Listen to this articleRay’Chel Wilson Why remembering the destruction of Black Wall Street is the key to rebuilding. When Loula T. Williams and her husband opened their third theater in Tulsa’s Greenwood District in 1921, they practiced disciplined budgeting principles that still resonate a century later. Historical records show the couple meticulously tracked expenses and […]
Posted inHealth, Local
Cocaine overtakes fentanyl in overdose deaths
Listen to this articleAlthough cocaine is one of the leading causes of drug overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County in 2026, fentanyl continues to claim lives at an alarming rate. According to the Recovery Institute of Ohio there was a significant decline in fentanyl deaths in 2023. The national data from the Centers for Disease Control […]
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 inHistory, National
Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil Rights Leader and Advocate for Justice
Listen to this articleAn Explainer for Young Readers Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who advocated for equality and justice during the 1950s and 1960s. He worked to end racial segregation and discrimination against Black Americans through nonviolent protest and civil disobedience. King led a movement that challenged laws […]
Posted inLaw/Legislation
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IF APPROACHED BY ICE
Listen to this article1. Ohio-Specific Context (Important) ICE is federal. Local Ohio police are not required to enforce immigration law. In Ohio, police cannot detain you solely because ICE asks them to. Many Ohio cities and counties do not honor ICE “detainer” requests unless required by a judge. Your constitutional rights apply regardless of immigration […]
Posted inWealth
Financial Therapy in Uncertain Times: 3 Strategies You Can Use Now
Listen to this articleBy Ray’Chel Wilson The Cleveland Observer Last winter, a family sat at their kitchen table in Cleveland, staring at bills stacked higher than the snow outside. The job loss was sudden, but the anxiety it triggered felt endless. They felt stuck, not just financially, but emotionally, without seeing a way forward. They […]
Posted inNews, State, Wealth
SNAP changes that will impact Clevelanders in 2026
Listen to this articleBy Christina Easter The Cleveland Observer The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 signed into law on July 4, 2025 by the president of the United States changed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility, benefits, and program administration. Changes were made to root out fraud and make sure those who really […]
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 inEducation, Local
What’s Next for CMSD Students and Neighborhoods
Listen to this article“Every student… deserves to have the same education no matter what side of the city they live on,” said former councilman Zack Reed at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) Board of Education meeting on Dec. 9, 2025, where district leadership unveiled next steps for its citywide consolidation effort, “Building Brighter Futures”. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
From Collinwood to a Creative Cosmos: The Layered Evolution of Aawful Aaron
Listen to this articleWhen Aaron D. Williams talks about his work, he doesn’t describe himself the way most emerging artists do. He doesn’t lead with exhibitions, accolades, or even aesthetics. Instead, he starts with neighborhoods, grandparents, cousins, school hallways, retail backrooms, and the feeling of being seen for the first time while drawing at a […]
Posted inNational, History
Bullet-pocked marker memorializing 1918 lynching goes on display in Atlanta
Listen to this articleBy MICHAEL WARREN Associated Press Writer ATLANTA (AP) — A historical marker from the site of a 1918 lynching that was repeatedly vandalized in recent years is now safely on display in Atlanta in an exhibit that opens Monday. It memorializes an event that some people in rural southern Georgia have tried hard to […]
Posted inCLE Streets, Local, News, Politics
What Has the City Council Done Since Declaring Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis?
Listen to this articleIn April, the Cleveland City Council unanimously passed a resolution declaring gun violence a public health crisis in the city. The resolution, sponsored by Council member Richard A. Starr, stated that “it is vital for the residents of this City that public and private institutions develop an evidence-based public health response to […]
Posted inFaith, Wealth
Faith in Action: The Church’s Role in Economic Repair
Listen to this articleBy Ray’Chel Wilson The federal government shutdown stalled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions of families nationwide this November, churches and faith coalitions rose to the essential work of economic repair, bridging the gap left by disrupted policy and uncertain funding, according to Pew Research Center & PBS. Churches Respond […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, National, News
Venezuela, Oil, and Power: How Foreign Policy Strains a Democracy Built on Trust
Listen to this articleBy Ron Albert The Cleveland Observer Oil, sanctions, military pressure, and defense financing show how U.S. foreign policy can test public trust, even without a declared war. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves—about 301 billion barrels—surpassing Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Canada, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Sanctions, tanker […]
