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Recall effort launched against Mayor Justin Bibb

Activists cite spending and transparency concerns, but history is on Bibb's side.

Politics

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is facing a formal recall effort, though if history is any indication, he shouldn&#x27;t be sweating.Why it matters: Recall attempts are rare in the city of Cleveland and have never succeeded, but they can signal political dissatisfaction.

Cleveland's comeback era: How the '90s reshaped the city

After decades of industrial decline, Cleveland rebranded itself as "America's Comeback City."

News

What were you like in the 1990s?Why it matters: A new viral trend has everyone — from your friends and family to your <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="favorite celebrities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW0BKprCXju/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==" data-vars-content-id="6e4080e0-22de-4b79-a785-2a53a5995350" data-vars-headline="Cleveland&#x27;s comeback era: How the &#x27;90s reshaped the city" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW0BKprCXju/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==" target="_blank">favorite celebrities</a> — answering the question on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="social media" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=what%20were%20you%20like%20in%20the%2090s" data-vars-content-id="6e4080e0-22de-4b79-a785-2a53a5995350" data-vars-headline="Cleveland&#x27;s comeback era: How the &#x27;90s reshaped the city" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=what%20were%20you%20like%20in%20the%2090s" target="_blank">social media</a>.<ul><li>After decades of industrial decline, Cleveland rebranded itself as &quot;America&#x27;s Comeback City.&quot;</li></ul>

Cleveland joins Michelin restaurant guide

Starred restaurants for the new Great Lakes region will be revealed in 2027.

The world&#x27;s preeminent food reviewer is adding Cleveland to its guide. Why it matters: Cleveland&#x27;s food scene continues to turn heads and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="notch accolades" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/03/31/vinnie-cimino-james-beard-finalist-2026-cordelia-rosy" data-vars-content-id="e861e0b9-fea7-48b9-8c31-a389fa5e1207" data-vars-headline="Cleveland joins Michelin restaurant guide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/03/31/vinnie-cimino-james-beard-finalist-2026-cordelia-rosy" target="_self">notch accolades</a>, and a Michelin star would fully legitimize it.

Yost calls for ending Ohio's death penalty moratorium

The state AG criticized a "mockery of the justice system" as critics sound the alarm on systemic risks.

Attorney General Dave Yost has made a strenuous case for Ohio to restart executions in his eighth and final <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="capital crimes report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Reports/Capital-Crimes-Annual-Reports/2025-Cap-Crimes-Annual-Report_WEB.aspx" data-vars-content-id="3e3b9a62-5768-4b0f-aca2-3faf428b4e88" data-vars-headline="Yost calls for ending Ohio&#x27;s death penalty moratorium" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Reports/Capital-Crimes-Annual-Reports/2025-Cap-Crimes-Annual-Report_WEB.aspx" target="_blank">capital crimes report</a>.Why it matters: Ohio hasn&#x27;t carried out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an execution" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/04/22/ohio-death-penalty-machine-repeal-yost" data-vars-content-id="3e3b9a62-5768-4b0f-aca2-3faf428b4e88" data-vars-headline="Yost calls for ending Ohio&#x27;s death penalty moratorium" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/04/22/ohio-death-penalty-machine-repeal-yost" target="_self">an execution</a> since 2018, under a de facto moratorium by Gov. Mike DeWine tied largely to the state&#x27;s inability to secure lethal injection drugs.

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.

Education

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>.

Why CSU turned down $5M in historic tax credits for Fenn Tower

It was the largest allocation of state historic preservation tax credits in Cuyahoga County this year.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cleveland State University" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/07/31/cleveland-state-university-student-u-pass-transit-program" data-vars-content-id="3b2d82b0-14be-4471-85bc-be63d4622e20" data-vars-headline="Why CSU turned down $5M in historic tax credits for Fenn Tower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2025/07/31/cleveland-state-university-student-u-pass-transit-program" target="_self">Cleveland State University</a> declined a $5 million state historic preservation tax credit last month for its planned renovation of Fenn Tower — which would have been the largest such allocation in Cuyahoga County this year.Why it matters: The surprise rejection raised questions about how the public university is managing its high-profile renovation projects, and why it would walk away from apparently free money.

Education 📚

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

Cleveland plans massive school consolidation