Axios Cleveland

Extra food assistance benefits put into place during the pandemic are ending nationwide tomorrow, Axios Columbus' Alissa Widman-Neese reports.

Why it matters: The change in federal law means a smaller monthly food budget for the more than 1.46 million low-income Ohioans receiving aid — more than 12% of our state's population.

• That includes more than 202,000 people in Cuyahoga County, by far the hardest hit in the state.

Catch up quick: Since March 2020, pandemic emergency allotments have enabled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to receive at least an extra $95 a month.

• Starting in March, they'll go back to receiving one pre-pandemic payment determined by income and household size.

Zoom in: The number of Ohioans receiving SNAP benefits peaked in 2020 and declined as COVID-19's impact lessened and people returned to work.

• But 96,000 more Ohioans received benefits in November 2022 than four years prior, per the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services' latest data.
• The average monthly issuance per person has more than doubled during that time, from $127 to $273.

Threat level: The switch could strain already-strapped local food banks coping with inflation.

By the numbers: Ohioans visited food banks 3.1 million times from October to December 2022 — the most of any quarter in 25 years of data, Ohio Association of Foodbanks spokesperson Joree Novotny tells Axios.

• Ending the boost "will only worsen an already unprecedented level of need," she says.
• The group requested an additional $100 million in the next state biennium budget to keep up with demand, but it was flat-funded at its usual $49 million.

In the year since Russia invaded Ukraine, nearly 4,400 people in the Cleveland area have volunteered to sponsor Ukrainians seeking refuge.

• That made the Cleveland-Elyria metro one of the most welcoming places in the U.S. for Ukrainian refugees this past year, according to Homeland Security data.

By the numbers: Cleveland ranked ninth overall in host applications, but sixth on a per capita basis.

The intrigue: Joe Cimperman, executive director of Global Cleveland, tells Axios the number would be much higher if secondary migration were included.

What they're saying: "We are hearing of more and more people leaving other communities in the states and coming here," Cimperman says. "What it shows is that this community is vocal and extroverted about welcoming people and has the wherewithal to do so."

• Cimperman says the Orthodox churches, stores and cultural touchstones in Parma — Cleveland's largest suburb and the region's Ukrainian hub — makes new arrivals "feel at home instantly."

The big picture: The outpouring of Northeast Ohio support for both Ukraine and Afghanistan in recent years has activated civic "muscle memory," Cimperman says, inspiring locals to volunteer on behalf of other refugee communities.

• "If Cleveland wants to be great again," he says, "we have to be immigrant-oriented again."

💲 If you've received a letter from the city demanding back taxes in recent months, you're not alone. Cleveland has ramped up efforts to collect delinquent debts to fortify the general fund. (Cleveland Scene)

🎸 Congratulations to The Subliners, winner of the 26th Annual Tri-C High School Rock Off. The band took home $3,000 and an opening slot for a concert at House of Blues this summer. (Fox 8)

🗞 The Plain Dealer will no longer carry the "Dilbert" comic strip after its creator, Scott Adams, went on a racist rant. (Cleveland.com)

🛤 Environmental activist Erin Brockovich hosted a town hall in East Palestine on Friday, advising residents to prepare for a long fight. (WKBN)

👋 Sam here. A couple weeks back, my wife and I ventured to Cinemark Valley View for a movie. We were amazed to find ourselves among throngs of South Asian families and groups.

Driving the news: Many were probably there to see "Pathaan," which last month recorded the biggest opening weekend of all time for a Bollywood film in North America.

The big picture: In addition to its lineup of mainstream Hollywood fare, Valley View typically has several Indian films on offer every weekend.

• My personal interest in these films piqued after seeing the Netflix sensation "RRR."

What they're saying: "There is such a rich storytelling history in South Asian filmmaking, and we're proud to offer these spectacular movies on our big screens for their growing fanbase," a Cinemark representative tells Axios.

• "We have really seen the excitement for these films continue to build, particularly on social media, which amplified the interest and support for the genre. We are thrilled that as word-of-mouth has spread, the box office growth followed."

💼 Check out who's hiring around the city.

1. Philanthropic Coordinator at The Cleveland Foundation.
2. Director of Product Marketing at NorthSpyre.
3. Director, Product Marketing at HealthVerity.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

A new exhibit at The Cleveland Museum of Art is proof a Tudor isn't just a style of home in Shaker Heights.

Driving the news: "The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England" opened yesterday at CMA and will run through May 14.

• The exhibit, curated by CMA and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, showcases portraits, tapestries, sculptures and armor collected during England's Tudor dynasty.

Context: The Tudors' rule began with the ascension of Henry VII in 1485 and ended with the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.

Yes, but: You don't have to be an art history major to appreciate the exhibit.

• Several paintings are recognizable, including multiple images of Queen Elizabeth I that have been recreated in film.

💭 Troy's thought bubble: The huge pieces of textile art are most impressive. The longer you look at them, the more you discover.

If you go: Entrance to CMA is free, but tickets are required for "The Tudors" exhibit.

• Prices start at $12.