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The Cleveland Teachers Union is getting new leadership just as CMSD prepares to implement a sweeping school consolidation plan.

Driving the news: Errol Savage, a longtime school librarian, defeated incumbent CTU president Shari Obrenski in the election last week — 1,610 to 1,438.

About 75% of the union's 4,000+ educators voted.

Friction point: The district's plan to close and consolidate dozens of schools starting next year has angered many educators, who say the administration has failed to communicate clearly or involve teachers in decisions.

Savage campaigned on that frustration, promising more transparency and stronger engagement with rank-and-file members and the community.

What they're saying: "I think involving the public is where we win," Savage said in an 18-minute YouTube video about his campaign.

"We have to be engaged with the public, part of the community, not seen as some isolated entity that only shows up when we want a levy to pass."

He said his first three priorities will be tackling the nuts and bolts of school mergers; working on the enforcement of the union's collective bargaining agreement; and modernizing the CTU's constitution.

Between the lines: The scale of CMSD's "Building Brighter Futures" plan turned the CTU race into a proxy debate about how aggressively the union should challenge district leadership.

Savage and his camp argued that Obrenski didn't fight hard enough to get a seat at the table before the plan was released.

The other side: Obrenski told Signal Cleveland before the election that she believed the criticism was "unfair," "disingenuous" and "in some respects it's naive."

She conceded the election in a social media post during the weekend.

"Well, the members have spoken," she wrote. "Congratulations to my opponent. Thanks to all who have supported me throughout the years. Being the CTU President has been the honor of a lifetime."

Cleveland Teachers Union elects new president

Librarian Errol Savage unseated Shari Obrenski as CMSD prepares to close and merge dozens of schools

Illustration of an apple with an I Voted sticker.

The Cleveland Teachers Union is getting new leadership just as CMSD prepares to implement a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sweeping school consolidation plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/11/06/cleveland-school-consolidation-cmsd" data-vars-content-id="181c7f3a-9377-497e-abd1-88d1722a23bc" data-vars-headline="Cleveland Teachers Union elects new president" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/11/06/cleveland-school-consolidation-cmsd" target="_self">sweeping school consolidation plan</a>.Driving the news: Errol Savage, a longtime school librarian, defeated incumbent CTU president Shari Obrenski in the election last week — 1,610 to 1,438.

Education

The boom or crack you heard Tuesday morning across Northeast Ohio was likely a shock wave created by a meteor passing overhead, the National Weather Service confirmed via satellite imagery.

Reality check: The meteor did not make landfall.

The Cleveland office of the NWS received no reports of meteorites hitting the ground and suggested that it may have fully burned up while entering the atmosphere.

What they're saying: "We do not have any specifics on the meteor characteristics at this time," NWS meteorologist Doug Kahn told Axios just before 11am.

"We suspect the loud noise was due to the meteor breaking the sound barrier."

Zoom out: Meteors travel at extremely high speeds — as fast as 160,000 miles per hour — and the air in front of them can't get out of the way smoothly.

The violently compressed air builds up into a shock wave — a sudden, dramatic change in pressure and temperature.

What we're hearing: Phones were ringing off the hook and group chats were buzzing across the region all morning as people sought to explain the sound.

A security camera at the Olmsted Falls City Schools' bus garage captured the meteor in flight.

And a NWS meteorologist in Pittsburgh caught a video of the meteor flying overhead.

Loud boom across Northeast Ohio likely caused by meteor

NWS officials say the object likely burned up in the atmosphere, creating a shock wave heard across the region.

Illustration of a magnifying glass pointed towards space, magnifying a meteor

The boom or crack you heard Tuesday morning across Northeast Ohio was likely a shock wave created by a meteor passing overhead, the National Weather Service confirmed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="via satellite imagery" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/NWSCLE/status/2033894680241242489?s=20" data-vars-content-id="3a95b2b1-cb26-437d-ba20-3ca590f4e109" data-vars-headline="Loud boom across Northeast Ohio likely caused by meteor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/NWSCLE/status/2033894680241242489?s=20" target="_blank">via satellite imagery</a>.Reality check: The meteor did not make landfall.

News

The Buckeyes, RedHawks, Zips and Raiders are going dancing. 

State of play: Both the men's and women's teams from Ohio State University and Miami University, plus the men's teams from the University of Akron and Wright State University will appear in this year's NCAA tournaments.

Zoom in: Miami, whose men's undefeated season came to a surprising halt after losing to UMass in the MAC Tournament's opening round, is a No. 11 seed and will be among the "First Four" that plays Wednesday night at 9:15pm.

If Miami defeats SMU, it'll play No. 6 seed Tennessee at 4:35pm Friday.

No. 8 seed Ohio State plays No. 9 seed TCU at 12:15pm Thursday, and should the Buckeyes advance, they would likely take on No. 1 seed Duke in the second round. 

The intrigue: The No. 12 seed Akron Zips, who finished their 29-5 season with a MAC Tournament victory, will play No. 5 seed Texas Tech at 12:40pm Friday. 

Dayton's Wright State won the Horizon League to punch its ticket to the dance. The No. 14 seed will play No. 3 seed Virginia at 1:50pm Friday.

The other side: The Ohio State women's team is a perennial powerhouse. It's been named a No. 3 seed and will host No. 14 seed Howard at 11:30am Saturday.

The Miami RedHawks women's team finished the season 28-6 and a MAC Tournament championship, good for a No. 13 seed. They'll play No. 4 seed West Virginia at 5pm Saturday.

Flashback: The 2024 Women's Final Four brought Caitlin Clark and historic ticket sales to Cleveland. 

This year's Men's and Women's Final Four will be held in Indianapolis and Phoenix, respectively. 


Columbus

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Columbus. Written by Alissa Widman Neese and Andrew King.

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The Buckeyes and the RedHawks will send their men's and women's teams to the dance.

White man in red "Miami" jersey (No. 5) flexes under a hoop. 

Miami guard Peter Suder is ready for action. Photo: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buckeyes, RedHawks, Zips and Raiders are going <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dancing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/28/ohio-state-ncaa-final-four-appearances-march-madness" data-vars-content-id="3bbda4a3-dcfe-4b77-87ae-1a98e987cf62" data-vars-headline="All the Ohio schools in the 2026 NCAA Tournaments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/03/28/ohio-state-ncaa-final-four-appearances-march-madness" target="_self">dancing</a>. State of play: Both the men&#x27;s and women&#x27;s teams from Ohio State University and Miami University, plus the men&#x27;s teams from the University of Akron and Wright State University will appear in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="this year&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/bracket" data-vars-content-id="3bbda4a3-dcfe-4b77-87ae-1a98e987cf62" data-vars-headline="All the Ohio schools in the 2026 NCAA Tournaments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/bracket" target="_blank">this year&#x27;s</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NCAA tournaments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/basketball-women/d1/2026" data-vars-content-id="3bbda4a3-dcfe-4b77-87ae-1a98e987cf62" data-vars-headline="All the Ohio schools in the 2026 NCAA Tournaments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/basketball-women/d1/2026" target="_blank">NCAA tournaments</a>.

Sports

U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is blasting a new tax break for a Northeast Ohio data center expansion project and calling on the company behind it to reject it.

Why it matters: The deal has become a flashpoint in Ohio's growing debate over whether data centers deserve taxpayer incentives when they consume massive quantities of energy but create relatively few permanent jobs.

State of play: In a letter obtained exclusively by Axios, the Ohio Republican urged private equity giant Carlyle Group to return a $4.5 million state subsidy recently approved for Ark Data Centers to expand facilities in Akron and Independence.

Catch up quick: State officials approved the tax break this month to support a $136 million expansion.

In return, Ark committed to create 10 full-time jobs and maintain operations locally for at least 13 years.

What they're saying: "That's not economic development; that's a sweetheart deal for Wall Street while everyday Ohioans are forced to foot the bill," Moreno wrote in the March 16 letter to the Ohio Tax Credit Authority and Carlyle Group.

He called on Carlyle to sign onto President Trump's "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," aimed at preventing data centers from shifting soaring electricity costs onto consumers, and to voluntarily give up the subsidy.  

"Make no mistake: Carlyle doesn't need the cut, and I won't stand by while Ohio families' pocketbooks get sold out for a superficial press release," Moreno wrote.

The other side: "Carlyle has a long-standing commitment to Ohio, employing nearly 6,500 people across more than 30 portfolio companies and investing approximately $1.5 billion on behalf of Ohio teachers and public sector employees," a Carlyle spokesperson said in a statement to Axios. 

Supporters of the incentive say its value goes beyond the 10 new jobs.

Team NEO's Matt Dolan told Cleveland.com that the subsidy not only secured Ark's Ohio investment for the expansion, but also prevented existing facilities from relocating to Indiana or Illinois, where Ark also owns data centers.

Between the lines: The tax break is a 50% sales tax exemption on data center equipment spread out over 10 years, not a cash subsidy.  

And Ark Data Centers in Ohio are not "hyperscale operators" like Meta or Google, an Ark spokesperson tells Axios, adding that calls to sign Trump's ratepayer protection pledge are therefore not applicable. 

As Ohio's data center boom accelerates with the demands of AI, a group of rural Ohioans is hoping to amend the state constitution to ban data centers larger than 25 megawatts, Cleveland.com also reported.

Residents submitted signatures to the Ohio Attorney General's Office Monday to start the ballot process.

If approved, supporters would then need to gather roughly 413,000 valid signatures by July to place the amendment on the November ballot.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from spokespeople from the Carlyle Group and Ark Data Centers.

Northeast Ohio data center expansion project

Moreno calls on data center owner to reject $4.5M Ohio subsidy

In a letter obtained by Axios, the senator called the tax break for a Northeast Ohio expansion creating 10 jobs a "sweetheart deal."

Man in blue suit in congressional hearing, wood paneled room, asking questions into microphone. 

Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is blasting a new tax break for a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Northeast Ohio data center expansion project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/03/06/ohio-data-center-akron-independence-laws" data-vars-content-id="6ec2a2af-9d34-4bce-83ef-be9d26148c08" data-vars-headline="Moreno calls on data center owner to reject $4.5M Ohio subsidy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/03/06/ohio-data-center-akron-independence-laws" target="_self">Northeast Ohio data center expansion project</a> and calling on the company behind it to reject it.Why it matters: The deal has become a flashpoint in Ohio&#x27;s growing debate over whether data centers deserve taxpayer incentives when they consume massive quantities of energy but create relatively few permanent jobs.

Politics

Development

Cleveland Clinic is making its case for building a new Level I trauma center after facing public criticism from MetroHealth. 

The big picture: Trauma centers offer the highest level of care for life-threatening injuries, from car crashes to gunshot wounds, and maintain around-the-clock access to specialized surgeons and critical care teams.

Driving the news: In a lengthy public statement issued last week, the Clinic said hundreds of critically injured patients are transferred out of its system every year because it lacks the facilities required to treat them.

Those transfers add time and risk during already life-threatening emergencies, the hospital said.

What they're saying: "Trauma care is a natural extension of our responsibility to serve patients in our region," the statement read.

"Expanding trauma care strengthens the safety net for Northeast Ohio and helps ensure more patients can receive lifesaving care close to home, when it matters most."

Zoom out: The trauma center is scheduled to open in 2028, part of a major expansion of the hospital's main campus, including the opening of a new Neurological Institute next year. 

Friction point: The plan has sparked a public clash with MetroHealth, which operates one of Cleveland's two existing Level I trauma centers. 

CEO Christine Alexander-Rager has warned a third center could dilute expertise, worsen outcomes and raise costs.

What's next: Alexander-Rager will undoubtedly address the issue, alongside others facing MetroHealth, at the City Club on April 24. 

Cleveland Clinic defends trauma center plan

In a new statement, the Clinic says a Level I center would close gaps in care.

Illustration of blueprints with an ambulance emergency symbol drawn.

Cleveland Clinic is making its case for building a new Level I trauma center after facing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public criticism from MetroHealth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/02/11/metrohealth-cleveland-clinic-trauma-center" data-vars-content-id="aaef5db2-c540-4ac6-adb6-c7d8b45e6ee9" data-vars-headline="Cleveland Clinic defends trauma center plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/02/11/metrohealth-cleveland-clinic-trauma-center" target="_self">public criticism from MetroHealth</a>. The big picture: Trauma centers offer the highest level of care for life-threatening injuries, from car crashes to gunshot wounds, and maintain around-the-clock access to specialized surgeons and critical care teams.

Sam Allard

Featured stories

At City Club, a rare public clash over homelessness policy

Loud boom across Northeast Ohio likely caused by meteor

Moreno calls on data center owner to reject $4.5M Ohio subsidy

Cleveland Teachers Union elects new president

All the Ohio schools in the 2026 NCAA Tournaments