😔 Hello Thursday! Sorry to say, neither Sam nor Troy won last night's Powerball jackpot.

🌧️ Today's weather: Slight chance of rain showers then partly sunny, with a high of 82 and a low of 69.

🎧 Sound's like: "I'll Sue Ya" by "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Today's newsletter is 1,014 words — a 4-minute read.

Local officials are celebrating a $31 million expansion and renovation of the Norma Herr Center, the region's primary emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness.

Why it matters: The ongoing project significantly expands shelter capacity while replacing congregate sleeping arrangements with more private, dignified accommodations.

• It's part of a strategy to move people from homelessness into permanent stable housing.

Driving the news: The second phase of the Norma Herr redevelopment adds 26,600 square feet and 103 beds, along with individual bathrooms, lounge areas, a computer lab, expanded dining space and a new courtyard.

• The YWCA-operated shelter serves nearly 200 people each night.
• The first floor of the renovation will begin welcoming guests next week, with the second floor likely opening in October.

By the numbers: Cuyahoga County contributed $7.9 million in federal HUD money toward the project. Cleveland provided $5.6 million in federal housing and community development dollars.

• Capital One Bank added $9 million to facilitate a New Market Tax Credits transaction, finalized in recent weeks, that provided critical financing.

What they're saying: "By investing in facilities like the Norma Herr Center, we are not only helping individuals experiencing a housing crisis, but providing a safe, dignified space where they can access the resources and support they need to rebuild their lives," County Executive Chris Ronayne said in a statement.

The big picture: The expansion is part of the county's Strategic Action Plan for Homelessness and complements Cleveland's A Home for Every Neighbor initiative, launched with the county in 2024, which has helped more than 200 residents find housing.

• Housing has a more dramatic impact on public health than any single medication, David Margolius, the city's public health director, said yesterday at a news conference.

What's next: During remarks, Ronayne pleaded with the gathered crowd of nonprofit professionals and service providers to support the county's Health and Human Services levy increase on the ballot this year, which he called critical as state and federal partnerships have become "shaky."

• "It's ground zero for how we as a community step up," he said. "As our partners step away, we as Cuyahoga County say we're not stepping away. We're stepping in."

Attention Northeast Ohio gas stations and convenience stores: If you have a logo that features a cartoon animal and the color red, you may want to call your lawyer.

Why it matters: Buc-ee's, the hyper-popular chain of mega-travel centers, is planning to open a location in Mansfield in 2028.

• The company, which opened its first Ohio location in April near Dayton, is already embroiled in two lawsuits that preview how aggressively Buc-ee's could protect its brand as it expands.

Catch up quick: Buc-ee's has filed lawsuits against Beaver's Mini Mart in the Dayton suburb of Beavercreek and against Coles IP Holdings, a company operating 40-plus Mickey’s stores across northern Ohio, including two in Lorain County.

Zoom in: Buc-ee's, with a logo featuring a cartoon beaver, says Beaver's name, mascot and use of the color red could lead customers to believe the two businesses are related.

• Buc-ee's also says the Mickey's logo, which features a cartoon moose and the color red, is too similar.

Side note: No word yet on how Buc-ee's feels about GetGo's Lil Tot mascot or Bellstores' cartoon dog, but we'll keep you posted.

Between the lines: Trademark cases aren't decided simply by comparing two logos.

• The key question is whether consumers could be confused into thinking the businesses are connected.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: Not to take the side of Goliath in the ongoing dispute, but it does seem relevant to a trademark infringement claim that Mickey's only recently became "Mickey's" after doing business as "Mickey Mart" since the 1980s, and that it only trademarked its "beloved moose mascot" in 2020.

The bottom line: The results of these lawsuits could put a few Northeast Ohio businesses on notice.

⚡️ Seven inmates from the Grafton Correctional Institution remain hospitalized after lightning struck the facility Tuesday evening. (Fox 8)

👀 Cleveland has issued a request for proposals to provide the city's safety forces with license plate readers, gunshot sensors and drones.

• Under Mayor Justin Bibb, the city's surveillance network will continue to expand, even after the expiration of the current contract with Flock Safety. (Signal Cleveland)

🤖 Artificial intelligence tools are being used in Summit County to answer and listen to 911 calls. (News5)

🥞 Keke's Breakfast Cafe, a Denny's Corporation breakfast franchise based in Orlando, is coming to Ohio, with five locations planned for the Cleveland market. (Crain's Cleveland Business 🔐)

President Trump's visit to Northeast Ohio for this week's Patriot Games included a greeting by ESPN personality Pat McAfee and drama involving a civilian plane.

State of play: Trump touched down at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at 4:45pm Tuesday in the pouring rain.

• He made the trip to Ohio in the new "bridge" Air Force One, a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar for use as a presidential aircraft.
• The plane stands about 63 feet tall and stretches more than 230 feet long.

Trump and McAfee boarded Marine One for the helicopter flight to Ashtabula County and SPIRE Academy for the Patriot Games.

The intrigue: F-16 fighter jets fired flares and intercepted a civilian plane flying in restricted airspace around Geneva shortly after 6pm, CBS News reports.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: I'm pretty sure I saw Marine One flying over my home on Cleveland's west side, trailed by an enormous drone.

• Did anyone else see it?

🎶 Sam can't stop listening to this choral rendition of Muna's "Dancing on the Wall" by the New York Vocal Collective.

💪🏾 Troy is watching the new season of "Reacher," which is making him want to hit the gym immediately.

This newsletter was edited by Tyler Buchanan.