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Before Netflix's "The Crash," other shows explored the Mackenzie Shirilla case

A 2023 episode of the A&E true crime series "Killer Cases" also focused on the investigation.

News

If you&#x27;ve found yourself caught up in Netflix&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;The Crash,&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/05/14/netflix-the-crash-strongsville-murder-mackenzie-shirilla" data-vars-content-id="70d22c32-b8b9-47c7-83df-5ffcb62d050c" data-vars-headline="Before Netflix&#x27;s &quot;The Crash,&quot; other shows explored the Mackenzie Shirilla case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/05/14/netflix-the-crash-strongsville-murder-mackenzie-shirilla" target="_self">&quot;The Crash,&quot;</a> you&#x27;re not alone.State of play: The documentary about one of the most high-profile murder cases in Northeast Ohio history was the streaming service&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most-watched movie" data-vars-click-url="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10" data-vars-content-id="70d22c32-b8b9-47c7-83df-5ffcb62d050c" data-vars-headline="Before Netflix&#x27;s &quot;The Crash,&quot; other shows explored the Mackenzie Shirilla case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10" target="_blank">most-watched movie</a> last week.

Cleveland expert wants Congress to tackle stadium subsidies

Ken Silliman argues billion-dollar demands from pro sports owners have become a national problem.

Sports

Federal intervention is needed to curb the trend of sports team owners demanding public subsidies in excess of $1 billion for new stadiums, says local expert <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ken Silliman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/11/07/ken-silliman-browns-deal-prediction" data-vars-content-id="b20c1fbe-86d8-429d-9148-dd2782bc37cc" data-vars-headline="Cleveland expert wants Congress to tackle stadium subsidies" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/11/07/ken-silliman-browns-deal-prediction" target="_self">Ken Silliman</a>. Why it matters: Cash-strapped cities like Cleveland, with fewer resources for essential services, are effectively being held hostage by pro teams, who have used the threat of relocation to extract eye-popping sums, he writes.

Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets

Vehicle sticker prices have been climbing for years, including in Ohio.

Average monthly car payments in Ohio are now $716 for new cars and $504 for used cars, according to new data from car research site Edmunds.Why it matters: Cleveland hopes to increase active transportation like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/04/10/cleveland-transportation-plan-50-miles-bike-lanes" data-vars-content-id="9a243526-41f5-4027-8629-04520f610056" data-vars-headline="Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/04/10/cleveland-transportation-plan-50-miles-bike-lanes" target="_self">biking</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="walking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/07/20/cleveland-mandatory-parking-transit-corridors" data-vars-content-id="9a243526-41f5-4027-8629-04520f610056" data-vars-headline="Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/07/20/cleveland-mandatory-parking-transit-corridors" target="_self">walking</a> over the next few years, but the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="overwhelming majority" data-vars-click-url="https://learn.streetlightdata.com/hubfs/eBooks%20and%20Research/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report.pdf?hsLang=en" data-vars-content-id="9a243526-41f5-4027-8629-04520f610056" data-vars-headline="Car ownership is taking a bigger bite out of budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://learn.streetlightdata.com/hubfs/eBooks%20and%20Research/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report/Transportation%20Mode%20Share%20Report.pdf?hsLang=en" target="_blank">overwhelming majority</a> of Northeast Ohio residents still rely on cars.

Why trading Myles Garrett was the right move for the Browns

Myles Garrett is headed to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse and multiple draft picks.

The Browns shocked the NFL world Monday by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trading" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-network-browns-trading-myles-garrett-to-rams-jared-verse" data-vars-content-id="4075b29f-4edd-4387-9d23-94251d101d82" data-vars-headline="Why trading Myles Garrett was the right move for the Browns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-network-browns-trading-myles-garrett-to-rams-jared-verse" target="_blank">trading</a> the team&#x27;s best player.Driving the news: Cleveland is sending Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for defensive end Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick.

CSU Poetry Center faces uncertain future amid cuts

University officials call it restructuring. Authors and former staff call it the gutting of a beloved cultural export.

Education

Another beloved cultural export from Cleveland State University appears to be on the chopping block, though CSU says that&#x27;s not what&#x27;s happening.Why it matters: For decades, the CSU Poetry Center has published award-winning books, hosted readings and given students rare hands-on experience in independent publishing.

Cleveland's best public records journalist is a "mom with a blog"

Polly Karr's Publicly Cleveland Substack has produced indispensable reporting on CMSD for two years.

Collinwood mom Polly Karr has become one of Cleveland&#x27;s most indispensable journalists, though she doesn&#x27;t see herself that way.Why it matters: Karr has amassed thousands of followers on her Substack, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Publicly Cleveland" data-vars-click-url="https://publiclycleveland.substack.com/" data-vars-content-id="eb07c9e1-815b-499b-be89-f5875b76ed8b" data-vars-headline="Cleveland&#x27;s best public records journalist is a &quot;mom with a blog&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://publiclycleveland.substack.com/" target="_blank">Publicly Cleveland</a>, which has produced a steady stream of scoops and rants about the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) since it launched two years ago.

Cleveland Teachers Union elects new president

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

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.

Lawsuit filed over Cleveland State's transfer of student radio station

CSU's decision late last year drew widespread backlash and garnered national attention.

A new lawsuit​ is seeking to reverse the controversial transfer of Cleveland State University&#x27;s longtime student-run radio station, WCSB, to Ideastream.Why it matters: CSU&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="decision" data-vars-click-url="https://www.clevescene.com/news/cleveland-news/cleveland-state-university-kills-wcsb-transfers-license-to-ideastream-to-broadcast-smooth-jazz/" data-vars-content-id="3d7898b1-9e11-42fe-bf3b-ced84e6787b3" data-vars-headline="Lawsuit filed over Cleveland State&#x27;s transfer of student radio station" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.clevescene.com/news/cleveland-news/cleveland-state-university-kills-wcsb-transfers-license-to-ideastream-to-broadcast-smooth-jazz/" target="_blank">decision</a> late last year to shut down the station and transfer its signal to another broadcaster drew widespread backlash from students and the college community, while garnering <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national attention" data-vars-click-url="https://www.spin.com/2025/12/the-rock-and-roll-capital-killed-its-college-radio-station-for-smooth-jazz-and-the-students-are-fighting-back/" data-vars-content-id="3d7898b1-9e11-42fe-bf3b-ced84e6787b3" data-vars-headline="Lawsuit filed over Cleveland State&#x27;s transfer of student radio station" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.spin.com/2025/12/the-rock-and-roll-capital-killed-its-college-radio-station-for-smooth-jazz-and-the-students-are-fighting-back/" target="_blank">national attention</a>.

Say Yes Cleveland releases first progress report

713 CMSD grads have earned degrees, but thousands more never enrolled despite free tuition.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Say Yes Cleveland" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/02/21/say-yes-funding-scholarships" data-vars-content-id="75228193-27d5-4719-8a66-0138949ac57e" data-vars-headline="Say Yes Cleveland releases first progress report" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/02/21/say-yes-funding-scholarships" target="_self">Say Yes Cleveland</a> says 713 Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) graduates have earned a college degree or credential since the nonprofit scholarship program launched in 2019.Why it matters: The program debuted with enormous fanfare and sweeping promises — free tuition for all eligible CMSD graduates for the next 25 years.

Cleveland plans massive school consolidation

39 schools would close or merge as CMSD confronts steep enrollment drops and a $150M deficit.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cleveland Metropolitan School District" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/09/19/cuyahoga-county-school-report-cards-2025" data-vars-content-id="aa52b69f-c90c-40b4-b1d9-ba16125314a1" data-vars-headline="Cleveland plans massive school consolidation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/09/19/cuyahoga-county-school-report-cards-2025" target="_self">Cleveland Metropolitan School District</a> plans to close or merge 39 schools under a sweeping consolidation plan unveiled Wednesday.Why it matters: The controversial move, more than a year in the making, would save the district at least $30 million per year — stabilizing finances amid enrollment drops and a looming budget deficit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="that could reach $150 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ideastream.org/education/2025-02-25/cleveland-schools-consider-cuts-to-extended-year-calendars-as-deficit-looms" data-vars-content-id="aa52b69f-c90c-40b4-b1d9-ba16125314a1" data-vars-headline="Cleveland plans massive school consolidation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ideastream.org/education/2025-02-25/cleveland-schools-consider-cuts-to-extended-year-calendars-as-deficit-looms" target="_blank">that could reach $150 million</a>.

CMSD to announce school closure recommendations Wednesday

CMSD could shutter as many as 30 schools after years of shrinking enrollment.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is expected to announce recommendations for closing or consolidating 20 to 30 schools at Wednesday night&#x27;s Board of Education meeting, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Signal Cleveland reports" data-vars-click-url="https://signalcleveland.org/cmsd-to-announce-school-closings-wednesday/" data-vars-content-id="29649335-a5e4-43c6-93ab-12f50f4fe84f" data-vars-headline="CMSD to announce school closure recommendations Wednesday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://signalcleveland.org/cmsd-to-announce-school-closings-wednesday/" target="_blank">Signal Cleveland reports</a>. The big picture: The long-awaited plan follows months of community meetings and data reviews on enrollment, academic performance and building conditions.

CWRU students pay $350K to end criminal case, but fallout continues

The 11 students and activists had been indicted for pro-Palestinian vandalism on campus in 2024.

The 11 Case Western Reserve University students and activists <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="indicted" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/02/20/11-indicted-cwru-pro-palestinian-vandalism" data-vars-content-id="eac33002-d485-4b21-8f64-7da56d9c70b9" data-vars-headline="CWRU students pay $350K to end criminal case, but fallout continues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/02/20/11-indicted-cwru-pro-palestinian-vandalism" target="_self">indicted</a> for pro-Palestinian vandalism on campus last year have paid more than $350,000 in restitution to the university to clear their names.Why it matters: The payments are part of a legal agreement with the Cuyahoga County prosecutor&#x27;s office under the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pre-trial diversion program" data-vars-click-url="https://signalcleveland.org/pretrial-diversion-programs-cuyahoga/" data-vars-content-id="eac33002-d485-4b21-8f64-7da56d9c70b9" data-vars-headline="CWRU students pay $350K to end criminal case, but fallout continues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://signalcleveland.org/pretrial-diversion-programs-cuyahoga/" target="_blank">pre-trial diversion program</a>. If all stipulations are met, the defendants&#x27; criminal records will be cleared.

CMSD kicks off community meetings on school closures

Here's how to weigh in on which schools CMSD will close in 2026-27.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is holding a series of community conversations to solicit feedback on school consolidations and closures.Why it matters: CEO Warren Morgan and the school board have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="warned for months" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ideastream.org/education/2025-03-24/cmsd-wants-to-build-brighter-futures-how-will-it-pay-for-it" data-vars-content-id="a1110c2f-3ee4-40aa-82c0-94655e6abc5b" data-vars-headline="CMSD kicks off community meetings on school closures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ideastream.org/education/2025-03-24/cmsd-wants-to-build-brighter-futures-how-will-it-pay-for-it" target="_blank">warned for months</a> that the district&#x27;s current portfolio of school buildings is not financially sustainable, especially with a declining student population and rising costs.

Many Cleveland students attend schools in extreme heat zones

The heat island effect can make some neighborhoods notably warmer than others.

As K-12 students in Cleveland head back to school in the coming weeks, a large portion will sit in classrooms in extreme <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="urban heat zones" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/40984476.66/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjQvMDcvMTEvaGVhdC1pc2xhbmRzLXVzLXJlY29yZC10ZW1wZXJhdHVyZXM_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/63883f95eb76627b3989208fB417cd0cd" data-vars-content-id="4e0aa4ff-f6bc-4938-b121-51ea13758230" data-vars-headline="Many Cleveland students attend schools in extreme heat zones" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/40984476.66/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjQvMDcvMTEvaGVhdC1pc2xhbmRzLXVzLXJlY29yZC10ZW1wZXJhdHVyZXM_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/63883f95eb76627b3989208fB417cd0cd" target="_self">urban heat zones</a>, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: The heat island effect can make some neighborhoods notably warmer than others, especially during <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat waves" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/40984476.66/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDYvMjMvaGVhdC13YXZlP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/63883f95eb76627b3989208fBa18c8ac6" data-vars-content-id="4e0aa4ff-f6bc-4938-b121-51ea13758230" data-vars-headline="Many Cleveland students attend schools in extreme heat zones" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/40984476.66/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDYvMjMvaGVhdC13YXZlP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/63883f95eb76627b3989208fBa18c8ac6" target="_self">heat waves</a>.

Education 📚

CSU Poetry Center faces uncertain future amid cuts

Cleveland's best public records journalist is a "mom with a blog"

Cleveland Teachers Union elects new president

Lawsuit filed over Cleveland State's transfer of student radio station

Say Yes Cleveland releases first progress report