Cleveland: Local News from the Plain Dealer

Here is the latest Local News from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Comment here on Cleveland.com court and crime stories for Saturday, May 28, 2016
Cleveland.com readers can offer their thoughts in the comments section.

Street violence is a public health issue; effective parenting is the cure: Phillip Morris
There’s been a lot of chatter in Cleveland about treating criminal violence – especially gun violence — as a public health issue. It’s a worthwhile conversation.

John J. Russo’s June meeting augurs well for judicial reform in Cuyahoga County: editorial
The June meeting for local stakeholders being convened by Common Pleas Administrative Judge John J. Russo ought to be the beginning of much-needed collaboration toward judicial reforms in Cuyahoga County, writes the editorial board.

Gladys Knight tops list of celebrity birthdays for May 28, 2016
Singer Gladys Knight turns 72 today.

Man killed in daytime Cleveland drive-by was part of Mayfield Heights home invasion, shooting
Charles Herrod, who was killed Wednesday in a daytime drive-by shooting, was part of a Mayfield Heights home invasion and shooting that left a man partially paralyzed.

Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday’s $218 million jackpot
Here are the winning numbers in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing.

Lakewood Development Director Dru Siley resigning to accept private sector job
Lakewood Planning and Development Director Dru Siley will leave his post in mid-June to accept a job with Liberty Development Co., which is developing commercial and residential projects throughout Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland corrections officer pleads not guilty to punching inmate while handcuffed
Jose Quinones, 42, is charged with assault and interfering with civil rights.

Authorities say person of interest in Cleveland abduction case linked to attempted Elyria snatching
Law enforcement said Friday afternoon that they have forensic evidence that links a May 21 abduction of a Cleveland girl to a February attempted abduction in Elyria.

Cleveland dismisses concerns about security readiness for Republican National Convention
Cleveland officials on Friday reaffirmed the city will have enough police officers for a secure Republican National Convention in July, and they disputed concerns about preparedness raised in recent news reports about Cincinnati and Greensboro, N.C. declining to send officers to help with convention security.

Warrant issued for suspect in off-duty Euclid police officer shooting
Euclid police issued an arrest warrant Friday afternoon for the man they say was armed during an incident with an off-duty officer that resulted in a shooting.

City of Cleveland to hold overview presentation on RNC security preparations
The City of Cleveland will hold an overview meeting Tuesday morning regarding its RNC security preparations.

Top Democratic lawmakers won’t take a position on Cleveland minimum wage proposal
Several federal and state Democratic lawmakers representing Cleveland won’t say whether they back a proposal to establish a $15-per-hour minimum wage in the city starting in 2017.

Cleveland water taxi begins service: What you need to know (photos, video)
The Cleveland Metroparks new water taxi officially went into service Friday.

Brook Park police looking for man who approached 12-year-old girl
Brook Park police are looking for a a man who reportedly called out to a 12-year-old girl and started following her last week.

Charges dismissed against men charged with throwing a dog over a cliff
Charges were dismissed against two men after a witness in a case of a dog death could not be located.

Man and woman freak out on their respective streets: Parma police blotter
Parma police arrested a man on Bremen Avenue after he screamed profanities at neighbors. Also, police arrested a Wexford Avenue woman after she started pounding on neighbors’ doors.

Law enforcement releasing update on West Side Cleveland abduction case (live coverage)
Law enforcement officials will hold a news conference Friday afternoon to discuss a new development in the case of the May 21 abduction of a 6-year-old Cleveland girl.

Inmate charged with running credit scam from Ohio federal prison
A twice-convicted and currently imprisoned fraudster was charged in federal court in Akron Friday with helping his fellow inmates discharge their debts by falsely telling creditors that their identities were stolen.

Man charged in drive-by slaying of Cleveland teen makes first court appearance
Lehendro Hill, 18, is being held in jail on $1 million bond in connection with the Oct. 25 fatal shooting of 15-year-old Tyler Sheron.

‘Thelma and Louise,’ ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ top Fandango’s 50 best road trip movies
‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ and ‘Thelma and Louise’ top Fandango’s list of Top 50 road trip movies.

‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign on the roads Memorial Day weekend
Law enforcement officials will increase efforts to enforce seat belt laws this holiday weekend.

Strongsville tightens background checks on door-to-door solicitors
Strongsville has tightened a law that regulates door-to-door sales, solicitations and campaigning.

Cleveland police in riot gear won’t wear body cameras during RNC
The Cleveland police officers who will be thrust in the most volatile situations during the Republican National Convention will not be wearing body cameras.

East Cleveland council talks merger commissioner criteria in closed-door session: What to know
East Cleveland City Council began conversations about criteria for who it might choose to negotiate a merger with Cleveland, should that come to pass.

Too bad the Portman-Strickland Senate race has turned into a China-bashing free-for-all: Bill Watson (Opinion)
In states like Ohio, shifting employment patterns and stagnant labor markets have given politicians an opportunity to blame foreigners for the mythical demise of America’s still-thriving manufacturing sector, writes Bill Watson of the Cato Institute.

Cleveland woman faces murder charge after police say she ran over her boyfriend
The girlfriend of a man killed in a drunken car crash was charged this week with murder.

Two dry days, two wet days in the Memorial Day weekend video forecast: May 27 update
Memorial day weekend is looking dry today and Monday, but has rain chances Saturday and Sunday.

Drunk man rolls over pickup truck; drunk woman screams wake-up call at neighbors: Brook Park police blotter
Brook Park police arrested a man who rolled over his pickup truck on Middlebrook Boulevard. They also arrested a woman who screamed at neighbors at 4 a.m.

Detroit-area trucker pleads guilty to bringing club drugs to Cleveland area
A Detroit-area truck driver pleaded guilty Friday for his part in bringing club drugs to Cleveland from Canada.

Vintage Playhouse Square gallery chronicles rise, decline and rebirth of iconic district (vintage photos)
A collection of vintage photographs of Cleveland’s iconic Playhouse Square.

A look inside a Head Start classroom in Cleveland (video)
Head Start helps poor kids prepare for kindergarten by offering free, quality pre-school.

Cleveland’s violence epidemic: Where we stand, and why you should care (ANALYSIS)
Just as Cleveland concluded a week spent in dialogue with national youth violence experts, nine people were shot in 24 hours. So where do we stand today on this issue? Where do we go from here? And why should you care?

‘He wasn’t lynched:’ Wife of man found hanging in Beachwood tree outraged over pictures of his body circulating online
The wife of a man found hanging in a tree in Beachwood said she knows her husband committed suicide.

Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine raps Obama’s transgender bathroom directive
The statement, accompanied by a letter to the Department of Justice, criticizes the directive and its infringement on local schools’ ability to decide how to address bathrooms and gender identity.

Cleveland Orchestra registers sorrow on emotionally laden Severance season finale (review)
The Cleveland Orchestra’s season final Thursday was satisfying in performance terms, but the material itself, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, brought at least one listener closer to tears than to any form of exultation.

It’s a tie for Cleveland’s Cutest Dog 2016 title: Pickles and Stryder claim the top ranking (photos)
After weeks of photo submission, three rounds of voting and guest judges, we have a tie for the title of Cleveland’s Cutest Dog 2016.

Aut-o-Rama rolls out stellar Retro Tuesdays movie series (photos)
Aut-o-Rama Twin Drive-In is a classic slice of Americana. Come June, the North Ridgeville theater will roll out its stellar Retro Tuesdays movie series.

Cuyahoga County on pace to see 450 people die from heroin, fentanyl overdoses in 2016
Cuyahoga County is on pace to record the highest number of overdose deaths due to heroin and fentanyl in history, as officials continue to grapple with the drugs’ deadly rise.

Arbitrator’s overtime award to 150 Cleveland police for RNC: Editorial Board Roundtable
An arbitrator’s ruling on mandatory police overtime during July’s Republican National Convention adds to the city’s economic and security headaches tied to the RNC, but who was at fault? The Editorial Board Roundtable takes a look.

Off-duty Euclid officer shoots at armed suspect, police say
An off-duty Euclid police officer working as a security guard fired several shots at a man who had a gun on him in the parking lot of an apartment complex.