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, […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Government, Local, News
Juvenile Justice Recommendations Released, Community Awaits Action
Listen to this articleBy Angela Hay In December 2022, more than 300 people gathered at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church to discuss their concerns about juvenile justice in Cuyahoga County. More than two years later, community leaders are still waiting for the Cuyahoga County Council to make substantial changes. The Juvenile Court Advisory Subcommittee released a […]
Posted inHealth
Emotional Repression Suppression How Avoiding Feelings Impacts Our Health
Listen to this articleBy Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RDT Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines emotions as “a conscious mental reaction (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as a strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body”. In short, emotions are a response to something, and […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Health
Feel Dont Flee How Emotions Show Up In Our Bodies
Listen to this articleBy: Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RDT “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. There’s vomit on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti.” You probably guessed it, Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself”. From these first two lines, it’s clear the person described is anxious. Have you ever felt butterflies in your stomach or […]
Posted inHealth
Recent Changes To Sexual Health Accessibility
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 inCityVoiceCLE Connect, Law/Legislation
Legal Aid Helps Residents With Medicaid Snap Benefit Issues
Listen to this articleBy Tonya Sams Navigating Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can be complicated. The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland provides free help for residents who face delays, denials, or confusing eligibility rules. How Legal Aid Works “Individuals applying for Medicaid and SNAP must apply through their county’s Job and Family Services […]
Posted inHealth, News, State, Wealth
New Ohio Tax Policy Could Cut Services Benefit Wealthy
Listen to this articleBy Ron Calhoun Ohio is poised to implement a 2.75 percent flat income tax, a major shift embedded in the newly signed $60 billion biennial state budget. Republican leaders say the policy will simplify taxes and promote growth, but analysts warn the change will disproportionately benefit high-income residents while putting public services, […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Education
An All-Or-Nothing Approach: Ohio Passes Sweeping Phone Ban for Public Schools
Listen to this articleBy Evelyn Rossman Students will soon forgo texting for textbooks thanks to the new phone ban for all Ohio public schools, which will take effect in July 2026. The ban has mostly drawn support from parents and teachers, but some have raised concerns about student safety. The Cell Phone Issue Cell phones […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
A Vessel For The Vision Jerome White Brings Art Spirit And Healing To Cleveland
Listen to this articleThis piece celebrates the first African-American Trailblazers from Northeast Ohio as part of the Art Walk of Fame. Painted by Jerome White, it was commissioned by the Cleveland Historical Society to spotlight regional Black history. In classrooms, on sidewalks, and across murals that stretch along Cleveland’s city blocks, you can find the […]
Posted inHealth
Daily Reflection 3 Questions To Ask Yourself Dailyauto Draft
Listen to this articleBy Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RDT Being able to identify, manage, and express our emotions in healthy ways enables us to navigate life’s highs and lows with confidence; this is known as emotional intelligence. According to Mental Health America, emotional intelligence is “the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand […]
Posted inGovernment, Law/Legislation, News, Politics, Wealth
Ohios New Budget Bill Protects High Earners While Social Services Suffer
Listen to this articleBy Angela Hay On June 30, Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio’s new budget bill for fiscal year 2026-27. According to a press release from the governor’s office, the bill serves as a tool to support children and families, strengthen the workforce, and invest in communities. DeWine says the plan will “make Ohio […]
Posted inGovernment, INTERNATIONAL, National, Politics
Trumps Travel Ban What You Need To Know
Listen to this articleBy Amaya Dennis According to the Associated Press, President Trump issued a proclamation that barred nationals from 19 countries from entering the United States, citing national security and terrorism reasons. Of these countries, 12 received partial entry restrictions, and the other seven were fully suspended. The proclamation went into effect on June […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, INTERNATIONAL
From Global Conflict To Local Fallout What It Could Mean For Cleveland And Urban America
Listen to this articleBy TCO Staff The U.S. may have launched airstrikes thousands of miles away, but the consequences could soon arrive much closer to home. On June 21 and 22, the United States reportedly conducted coordinated military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. While foreign policy experts debate the global implications, local officials and […]
Posted inGovernment, National
The Latest Dozens Arrested As White House Ratchets Up Federal Policing Of Dc
Listen to this articleBy The Associated Press The White House now says more arrests are being made and homeless people are being forced to remove their tents from public spaces as federal troops and law officers deploy in Washington, D.C. to enforce President Donald Trump’s monthlong takeover of the city’s police. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meanwhile hugged Ukrainian President […]
Posted inHealth
Emotional Intelligence In The Black Community Naming What We Feel
Listen to this articleBy: Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RDT Emotional intelligence is “the ability to read our instinctive feelings and those of others. It also allows us to understand and label emotions as well as express and regulate them”, as defined by Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and […]
Posted inCLEVELAND, Education, UNIVERSITY CIRCLE
Free College Prep Programs Support Low Income Cleveland Youth Pt 1
Listen to this articleBy Amaya Dennis At a time when college costs are rising and enrollment is declining, teenagers may feel discouraged from pursuing higher education. This is where TRIO at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) steps in. TRIO assists with both grade school tutoring and college preparation through the Upward Bound and Educational Talent […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, National
Gcleabj Shines As Host Of The National Association Of Black Journalists Convention In Cleveland
Listen to this articleBy Vince Robinson The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) marked its 50th anniversary with its annual convention and career fair, held Aug. 6-10 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. Founded in 1975, NABJ advocates for the needs of African Americans in broadcasting and print media. The four-day gathering drew journalists […]
Posted inHealth, Living, State
Ohios Long Term Care Crisis What Other States Can Teach Us
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Posted inLiving, Development
Development Projects Double Edge Sword That Can Build Or Break A City
Listen to this articleGuest Writer Behind the Scenes of Development Projects Recent development projects in Cleveland continue to foster and advance the area. While these projects take years to come to fruition, they revitalize deteriorated areas of the community. Josh John Forbes, Marketing and Communications Director of the Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, spoke with TCO about […]
