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Are the Browns really this stupid?

The Browns are going with Deshaun Watson starting quarterback for Week 1.

Sports

Deshaun Watson has done everything he can to not be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but the Browns will head into Week 1 with him at QB1, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ESPN&#x27;s Adam Schefter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49711613/sources-browns-tab-deshaun-watson-not-shedeur-sanders-qb1" data-vars-content-id="dd0bd2c7-5d14-4169-80e0-20c166031790" data-vars-headline="Are the Browns really this stupid?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49711613/sources-browns-tab-deshaun-watson-not-shedeur-sanders-qb1" target="_blank">ESPN&#x27;s Adam Schefter</a> and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NFL Network" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nfl.com/news/browns-deshaun-watson-starting-qb-week-1-2026-season" data-vars-content-id="dd0bd2c7-5d14-4169-80e0-20c166031790" data-vars-headline="Are the Browns really this stupid?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nfl.com/news/browns-deshaun-watson-starting-qb-week-1-2026-season" target="_blank">NFL Network</a>.State of play: The news follows Watson being <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="booed by fans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49695585/browns-watson-calls-fans-boos-personal-not-based-play" data-vars-content-id="dd0bd2c7-5d14-4169-80e0-20c166031790" data-vars-headline="Are the Browns really this stupid?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49695585/browns-watson-calls-fans-boos-personal-not-based-play" target="_blank">booed by fans</a> at Huntington Bank Field during Saturday&#x27;s preseason game after he completed just 5 of 12 passes and threw an interception against the Buffalo Bills.

"Union County" brings rural Ohio to the big screen

The new drama starring Will Poulter and Noah Centineo is playing at the Cedar Lee this week.

Culture

A new movie filmed and set in Ohio starring Will Poulter and Noah Centineo is playing at the Cedar Lee this week. The big picture: &quot;Union County,&quot; directed by Ohio filmmaker Adam Meeks, follows two foster brothers (Poulter and Centineo) as they navigate a court-mandated drug rehabilitation program while attempting to rebuild their lives amid the opioid epidemic.

Cleveland synagogues join national push to train congregants on security

Cleveland has something many Jewish communities don't: its own security force.

News

Synagogues across the U.S., including some in Northeast Ohio, are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="training congregants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/08/synagogues-security-teams-jews" data-vars-content-id="e0c27b25-1784-4427-bca7-5fd47ad0b935" data-vars-headline="Cleveland synagogues join national push to train congregants on security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/08/synagogues-security-teams-jews" target="_self">training congregants</a> to serve on volunteer security teams, as antisemitic assaults hit record levels nationwide.Why it matters: The push for hyper-vigilance comes as physical assaults against Jews in the U.S. hit a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="46-year high" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/06/antisemitic-assaults-jews-2025" data-vars-content-id="e0c27b25-1784-4427-bca7-5fd47ad0b935" data-vars-headline="Cleveland synagogues join national push to train congregants on security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/06/antisemitic-assaults-jews-2025" target="_self">46-year high</a> in 2025.

Ohio kindergarten vaccine rates decline

Ohio requires K-12 students to be fully protected against 10 vaccine-preventable diseases.

Health

Vaccination rates among Ohio kindergartners fell across all tracked vaccines during the 2025-2026 school year, mirroring a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationwide decline" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/kindergarten-vaccine-rates-fall" data-vars-content-id="117a4312-2cd2-4c99-a4db-158fac425fe0" data-vars-headline="Ohio kindergarten vaccine rates decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/kindergarten-vaccine-rates-fall" target="_self">nationwide decline</a>.Why it matters: The drop-off has coincided with continued efforts by the Trump administration to make controversial <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vaccine policy changes" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/47112002.82/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDkvMjYvbW1yLW1tcnYtdmFjY2luZS1zaG90LXNjaGVkdWxlLWNkYy10cnVtcD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/63883f95eb76627b3989208fBf3269c19" data-vars-content-id="117a4312-2cd2-4c99-a4db-158fac425fe0" data-vars-headline="Ohio kindergarten vaccine rates decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/47112002.82/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDkvMjYvbW1yLW1tcnYtdmFjY2luZS1zaG90LXNjaGVkdWxlLWNkYy10cnVtcD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/63883f95eb76627b3989208fBf3269c19" target="_self">vaccine policy changes</a> and with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="measles cases" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/47112002.82/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjYvMDcvMjIvbWVhc2xlcy1jYXNlcy1zdXJnZS1wYXN0LWxhc3QteWVhcj91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/63883f95eb76627b3989208fB4b8c0df8" data-vars-content-id="117a4312-2cd2-4c99-a4db-158fac425fe0" data-vars-headline="Ohio kindergarten vaccine rates decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/47112002.82/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjYvMDcvMjIvbWVhc2xlcy1jYXNlcy1zdXJnZS1wYXN0LWxhc3QteWVhcj91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/63883f95eb76627b3989208fB4b8c0df8" target="_self">measles cases</a> hitting levels not seen in more than three decades.

Which Rock Hall "snubs" actually deserve induction? 

We tabulated scores for more than 70 artists often considered Hall of Fame snubs.

Music

Last week, we looked to answer the question — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="How good is good enough" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/19/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-mendoza-line" data-vars-content-id="e5d07184-ac70-4b74-92ad-720f0fd2533c" data-vars-headline="Which Rock Hall &quot;snubs&quot; actually deserve induction? " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/19/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-mendoza-line" target="_self">How good is good enough</a> to gain induction into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame?The intrigue: We were hit with a bevy of reader emails asking how their favorite artists who haven’t been inducted would rate.

My insane haul from Mac's Backs $5 book sale

Get a load of these diamonds in the rough.

Mac&#x27;s Backs Books in Cleveland Heights <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is relocating" data-vars-click-url="https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/mac-s-backs-books-will-move-from-its-longtime-coventry-location-this-fall/" data-vars-content-id="576f7455-71bf-4740-8f7b-9756531098e4" data-vars-headline="My insane haul from Mac&#x27;s Backs $5 book sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/mac-s-backs-books-will-move-from-its-longtime-coventry-location-this-fall/" target="_blank">is relocating</a> across Coventry this fall and is currently hosting a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="massive $5 book sale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Db3ryC-GEAZ/?img_index=1" data-vars-content-id="576f7455-71bf-4740-8f7b-9756531098e4" data-vars-headline="My insane haul from Mac&#x27;s Backs $5 book sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Db3ryC-GEAZ/?img_index=1" target="_blank">massive $5 book sale</a> to clear out inventory before the move. State of play: I descended into the store&#x27;s basement this week to see what treasures awaited, and walked away with seven titles:

Cuyahoga County's hot summer read: "The Odyssey"

If you want to check out an edition of the Homeric epic, get in line.

Christopher Nolan&#x27;s film adaptation of the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Odyssey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/only-25-us-theaters-odyssey-imax-70mm" data-vars-content-id="9be500ed-bde4-4137-9aee-51fe9afb1e26" data-vars-headline="Cuyahoga County&#x27;s hot summer read: &quot;The Odyssey&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/only-25-us-theaters-odyssey-imax-70mm" target="_self">The Odyssey</a>&quot; is driving high demand for the ancient Greek epic at the Cuyahoga County Public Library. What we&#x27;re hearing: Requests for Homer&#x27;s roughly 500-page poem have soared this summer, a library system spokesperson tells Axios.

Writers Center Stage reveals 2026-2027 season

The annual Cuyahoga County Public Library series will bring six bestselling authors to town.

Cuyahoga County Public Library has announced the lineup for the 23rd season of its William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage series at the Maltz Performing Arts Center.Why it matters: The annual series brings the buzziest and most acclaimed contemporary writers to Cleveland for conversations about their newest books and creative lives.

This Anisfield-Wolf winner will change how you think about cities

"Born in Flames" reframes the urban arson of the 1970s as an epidemic driven by profit.

My book club recently met to discuss Bench Ansfield&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City.&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/winners/born-in-flames-the-business-of-arson-and-the-remaking-of-an-american-city/" data-vars-content-id="e4d87ccb-1f03-42d0-8781-a962a8288cff" data-vars-headline="This Anisfield-Wolf winner will change how you think about cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/winners/born-in-flames-the-business-of-arson-and-the-remaking-of-an-american-city/" target="_blank">&quot;Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City.&quot;</a>Why it matters: The revelatory urban history was the 2026 nonfiction winner of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/03/03/anisfield-wolf-book-awards-2026-finalists" data-vars-content-id="e4d87ccb-1f03-42d0-8781-a962a8288cff" data-vars-headline="This Anisfield-Wolf winner will change how you think about cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/03/03/anisfield-wolf-book-awards-2026-finalists" target="_self">Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards</a>.

Spider-Man fever hits Northeast Ohio for "Brand New Day"

The character has history in Cleveland. Parts of 2007's "Spider-Man 3" were filmed downtown.

&quot;Spider-Man: Brand New Day&quot; is swinging all over Northeast Ohio.State of play: Phoenix Theaters Great Northern Mall is rolling out the red carpet with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="36 hours" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/GreatNorthernMallOH/posts/are-you-ready-for-36-hours-of-phoenix-theatres-great-northern-mall-spider-man/1488793896616948/" data-vars-content-id="20bbd6ba-d77d-432e-b4f1-f63fbc370601" data-vars-headline="Spider-Man fever hits Northeast Ohio for &quot;Brand New Day&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/GreatNorthernMallOH/posts/are-you-ready-for-36-hours-of-phoenix-theatres-great-northern-mall-spider-man/1488793896616948/" target="_blank">36 hours</a> of nonstop screenings, starting at noon Thursday.

Colson Whitehead will keynote Inkubator 2026

The Pulitzer winner will discuss his work and Toni Morrison's influence at the free writing conference.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead will keynote Literary Cleveland&#x27;s Inkubator Writing Conference, which returns Sept. 9-12 as part of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cleveland Book Fest 2026" data-vars-click-url="https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/book-fest-landing-page/" data-vars-content-id="b862334a-2e85-44e1-8298-588d723552e5" data-vars-headline="Colson Whitehead will keynote Inkubator 2026" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/book-fest-landing-page/" target="_blank">Cleveland Book Fest 2026</a>.Why it matters: Inkubator has grown into the country&#x27;s largest free writing conference, drawing more than 4,500 attendees last year with workshops, craft talks and networking for writers of all levels.

Christopher Nolan's movies ranked from best to worst

We ranked the famed director's films, from "The Dark Knight" to "The Odyssey."

Things to Do

Director Christopher Nolan&#x27;s latest epic, &quot;The Odyssey,&quot; is destined to become one of the director&#x27;s signature films.State of play: The big release has us debating where Nolan&#x27;s latest belongs among his best films.<ul><li>Our resident movie nerds, Troy and Sam, took a crack at ranking the whole catalog.</li></ul>

Usher, Chris Brown bring R&B party of the summer to Cleveland

The two stars performed more than 50 songs over 2 1/2 hours.

Usher and Chris Brown&#x27;s concert at Huntington Bank Field featured an abundance of hit anthems, flashy dance moves and more screams than a roller coaster drop at Cedar Point.The big picture: The duo&#x27;s co-headlining show Tuesday was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of the biggest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/05/30/greatest-concerts-cleveland" data-vars-content-id="fcce8915-024e-42eb-830b-a28c39dbf91f" data-vars-headline="Usher, Chris Brown bring R&amp;B party of the summer to Cleveland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/05/30/greatest-concerts-cleveland" target="_self">one of the biggest</a> R&amp;B concerts to ever hit Northeast Ohio.