Listen to this articleBy Staff Writer State leaders and the Cleveland Browns say a new, enclosed stadium in Brook Park could be a regional economic catalyst. The current plan carries an estimated price tag of about $2.4 billion (U.S.), with $600 million in state support and a separate $100 million settlement proposed between the city […]
Posted inEducation, Technology
Artificial Intelligence: The New Brain Drain
Listen to this articleBy: Marissa Valentine Cleveland parents and educators are joining a growing national conversation about the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on student learning, as a new MIT study warns of a phenomenon called “cognitive debt.” At the beginning of this school year, concerns have risen that overuse of AI tools like ChatGPT […]
Posted inLocal, Technology, Wealth
Best Artificial Intelligence Tools to Save Time and Money in Everyday Life
Listen to this articleBy Ray’Chel Wilson Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just hype or a Silicon Valley buzz phrase. For many people, the right AI tools are saving time, cutting costs, and preventing expensive mistakes. From catching tax errors worth thousands of dollars to helping small businesses keep up with paperwork, AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, […]
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 inHistory, National
Assata Shakur, Racial Justice Activist and Political Refugee Died, Dont Tell Anyone
Listen to this articleAssata Shakur, a prominent Black liberation activist and longtime political refugee, died Sept. 25 in Havana, Cuba, at 78, according to a statement from Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported by the Associated Press on Sept. 26, 2025. To the U.S. government, she was considered a dangerous terrorist; to many of her […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local, Opinion
OP-ED: From Homeowners to Developers: The Changing Face of Cuyahoga’s Land Bank and Its Community Cost
Listen to this articleBy Ron Calhoun Cuyahoga County’s Land Bank began as a residential tool. Today, its priorities seem to serve institutions and commerce over individuals. From Renewal to Redevelopment In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, longtime homeowner and resident Ron Calhoun has watched the county’s Land Bank evolve from a neighborhood renewal program into an engine […]
Posted inNational, Politics, Wealth
Government says SNAP benefit cuts won’t be as deep as announced for some families
Listen to this articlePresident Donald Trump’s administration now says that SNAP food aid for November will be reduced less than originally announced, the latest in a political and legal saga that impacts how about 1 in 8 Americans can buy groceries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a court filing late Wednesday that it caught […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Zadok Little’s Journey of Faith, Sound, and Purpose
Listen to this articleZadok Little doesn’t just make music; he lives it. His voice carries the weight of lived experience, yet relects the light of a man who’s found his purpose. Born and raised on Cleveland’s east side, Little is part of a new wave of artists transforming personal testimony into powerful sound. “I grew […]
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 inCLEVELAND, Health, Local
Cleveland STI Cases On the Rise: Reveal Deep Health Inequities
Listen to this articleBy Ron Calhoun A new report from Frances Mills, commissioner of health, City of Cleveland Health Department, shows that sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, remains a serious health problem in Cleveland. Nearly 8,000 people were diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis. Health experts say some numbers have gone down, but one infection, […]
Posted inHealth, Trending News
Anger is a Signal, Not a Weapon: Understanding Anger
Listen to this article By: Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RDT The Signal Behind Anger Anger is an emotion that comes with cautionary tape, reminding us that there is a line that we must not cross. Experts say it’s a signal telling us something needs our attention. Instead of running from anger or letting it control […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Sports
The 2025 Haslam/Brook Park New Deal: Who Really Wins?
Listen to this articleBy The Cleveland Observer Staff State leaders and the Cleveland Browns say a new, enclosed stadium in Brook Park could be a regional economic catalyst. The current plan carries an estimated price tag of about $2.4 billion, with $600 million in state support and a separate $100 million settlement proposed between the […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Sports
The 1998 Lerner Deal: Cleveland’s Second Chance, and What It Cost
Listen to this articleCleveland Observer When the Cleveland Browns were reborn in 1998, civic leaders framed the team’s return as a triumph of identity and pride. Behind the celebration was one of the most expensive franchise arrangements of its era: financier Alfred Lerner’s $530 million purchase of the new Browns, with a stadium plan that […]
Posted inGovernment, Law/Legislation
Controversial Definition of Gender Tucked into Ohio Budget Bill
Listen to this articleThe Budget Bill Beyond Numbers “On June 30, 2025, Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio’s state budget bill into law, with Republican-led tax cuts and a definition of sex and gender inserted late in the process, though it remains unclear which legislator proposed the language. Lawmakers said the language was intended to establish […]
Posted inCLEVELAND
Gloria Gaynor’s Political Donations Resurface, Trump-Epstein Links Highlight New Developments
Listen to this articleGloria Gaynor’s Political Donations Resurface Legendary singer, Gloria Gaynor, best known for the anthem “I Will Survive”, has recently donated nearly $22,000 to Republican politicians and political groups since 2016, according to Federal Election Commission filings. These records recently resurfaced after Gaynor was invited to perform at the Kennedy Center by President […]
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 inCLEVELAND, Food, Living, News
Clevelander Tackles Food Deserts With Community Solutions
Listen to this articleBy Devon Jones According to a 2018 study by Case Western Reserve University, limited access to affordable and nutritious food, affecting more than half of Cleveland residents who live in food deserts, contributes to chronic health issues across the city. To address this disparity, Food Strong, a nonprofit founded in 2018 by […]
Posted inLaw/Legislation, News
Trump Order to Block Nationwide Birthright Citizenship
Listen to this articleBy Staff Writer On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14160 titled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship. The measure sought to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the United States to undocumented or temporarily present parents. Within days, lawsuits were filed. Spectrum News1 reported that […]
Posted inLiving
Making Ends Meet in a Rising Economy: Grocery Shopping Hacks to Help You Save Money
Listen to this articleBy Marissa Valentine Consumers across the United States can agree that the price of groceries has changed drastically over the last 30 years. Clevelanders and shoppers across Northeast Ohio often travel outside their communities for the most reasonable prices. A recurring theme across social media and in news headlines is the increased […]
Posted inNational, News, Wealth
How Washington’s Interest Rate Policy Is Squeezing Main Street
Listen to this articleBy Ray’Chel Wilson, CFEI, CFT-I The Fed’s 4.5% rates aren’t just numbers on a screen, they’re changing how businesses survive. Business owners across America have grown accustomed to their projections being inaccurate. First, supply chain disruptions threw off pricing models. Then came inflation that made their cost estimates obsolete within months. Now […]
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 inCENTRAL
Cleveland Resident Walter Collins Continues to Speak Up for Veterans
Listen to this articleGuest Writer Walter Collins, a Vietnam veteran from Northeast Ohio, has spent the past decade turning his service into advocacy for fellow veterans. Through Cleveland’s Rid-All Green Partnership and a community housing initiative in Union Miles, Collins works to address invisible wounds like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries. His […]
Posted inHealth, News, State
Ohio’s Demographic Shift and Long-Term Care Challenges
Listen to this articleCLEVELAND — Ohio’s aging population is putting a growing strain on the state’s long-term care system, highlighting challenges with rising costs and uneven access to services. With an estimated 18.7 percent of residents age 65 or older, Ohio’s senior share is higher than the national average, according to America’s Health Rankings, which […]
Posted inCLEVELAND
Recent Changes To Sexual Health Accessibility 2
Listen to this articleBy Amaya Dennis When many people think of sexual health, Planned Parenthood comes to mind. This association is reasonable because, according to their website, Planned Parenthood is “the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people.” However, when some hear the name Planned Parenthood, […]
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, […]
