Subscribe to the Wake Up, cleveland.com‘s free morning newsletter, delivered to your inbox weekdays at 5:30 a.m. About half of Ohio’s infant death occur in four counties: Cuyahoga, Franklin, Montgomery and Lucas. Those are also four of Ohio’s most urban counties. A fifth – Hamilton – might hold a solution to save babies. In the past 18 months, Cradle Cincinnati has helped drive a more than 30% reduction in infant mortality, defined as deaths of infants younger than 1 year old. The model brings together parents, caregivers, health care providers and community leaders to support mothers and babies. In Cuyahoga, the infant mortality rate in 2023 was 8.8 per 1,000 births, the highest in the last five years. Black babies died at a rate more than three times higher than white babies. Clearly, we need help. Overnight Scores and Weather Guardians vs. Minnesota Twins: Luis Ortiz goes 6 1/3 scoreless, Bo Naylor goes deep as Guardians rally to beat Twins, 4-2 Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Showers and thunderstorms Top Stories Infant mortality: While Ohio’s infant mortality rates are the lowest in two decades, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Wednesday an initiative aimed at helping even more babies reach their first birthday. Julie Washington reports the state’s Partner for Change initiative will provide grants to nonprofit organizations across the state to replicate a Cincinnati model. Hotel taxes: The Browns want to raise taxes on hotels to help pay for a Brook Park stadium, but Cleveland’s hotel owners aren’t willing to help foot the bill, saying the move might hurt them and downtown Cleveland, reports Sean McDonnell. In a letter, the Cleveland Hotel Association opposed the Haslams’ proposed tax hike and said the Browns’ tax projections “may be overstated.” Library report: Cuyahoga County Public Library saw growth in nearly every area in 2024, according to its annual report released this week. Molly Walsh reports that library visitors borrowed more than 11.5 million items last year, up nearly 5% from 2023. Total customer visits rose 7.35% to nearly 4 million, while more than 41,600 new borrowers signed up for library cards, a nearly 16% increase. Today in Ohio: The Ohio Supreme Court released a two-sentence decision Tuesday on a gender-affirming care ban for minors, with zero detail. We’re puzzling over how Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy and Justice Jennifer Brunner ended up on the same side — dissent — on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. Statehouse and Politics STRS: Ohio’s State Teachers Retirement System board could be in for a shakeup, reports Anna Staver. Republican state Rep. Adam Bird announced Wednesday that Ohio’s Retirement Study Council will examine how all 50 states govern their teacher retirement systems — including who gets a seat at the table. Energy bill: Ohio lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a sweeping energy bill that backers say is the state’s answer to a looming energy demand crisis. Jeremy Pelzer reports House Bill 15 would increase oversight over what electric utilities charge customers, repeal coal and solar subsidies from 2019’s scandal-ridden House Bill 6, and lower property taxes on electricity and pipeline infrastructure. Delta 8: Restrictions on where Ohioans can buy most intoxicating hemp products, such as Delta-8 THC, would require most products with 0.3% or more of any THC compound to be sold at state-licensed marijuana dispensaries, reports Anna Staver. Yost lawsuit: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a civil suit against a Stow businessman who admitted to selling fake body armor to police officers. The suit, filed Tuesday in Summit County Common Pleas Court, asks a judge to bar Vall Iliev and Shotstop Ballistics from working as a supplier in Ohio until Iliev pays the millions of dollars in fines he owes, Lucas Daprile reports. Environmental appliances: The U.S. Senate voted along party lines Wednesday to approve a resolution authored by U.S. Sen. Jon Husted that would overturn energy certification standards for appliances and commercial equipment that were set during the administration of ex-President Joe Biden. Sabrina Eaton reports the rule had set enforcement requirements for 20 products, including dishwashers, central air conditioning and heat pumps, clothes washers, and more. Northeast Ohio News Ronayne letter: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne went it alone — absent Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb — in writing state legislators this week to request $350 million toward the renovation of the lakefront football stadium. This despite the fact that the Huntington Bank Field is wholly owned by the city of Cleveland, reports Rich Exner. Market lawsuit: A West Side Market vendor who publicly criticized the market over its conditions has sued after the market’s operator booted the vendor from the stall where it sold produce for some 40 years, Adam Ferrise reports. Heights hall: A now-former city employee wrote in an email that she felt unsafe after she heard the wife of Mayor Kahlil Seren repeatedly shouting expletives and pacing in a City Hall hallway last month, reports Cory Shaffer. Reentry: Three men who each faced significant hurdles rebuilding their lives after exiting prison say Cuyahoga County must better support people transitioning back into society if it wants to prevent recidivism – and they have some ideas for how to do it. Kaitlin Durbin reports they each faced similar challenges securing work, finding housing and reintegrating into society, showing how little things have changed over the years. Train death: A woman died after she was struck by a train early Wednesday in Lorain, reports Olivia Mitchell. Police said she walked on or near the tracks before she was struck by a Norfolk Southern train that traveled westbound. Storms: Severe thunderstorms left thousands without power Tuesday in Ohio and Pennsylvania and also are being blamed for three deaths in Pennsylvania, reports Ryan Cohick. Business and Health Signature Health: A community-based health care nonprofit purchased a commercial building in Beachwood for millions. Megan Sims reports Signature Health purchased the property at 24755 Chagrin Blvd., near Richmond Road, on March 5 for $5.3 million. Fetal death rate: The fetal death rate in Lorain County is nearly three times higher for Black mothers than for white mothers, according to a new countywide health assessment that highlights persistent racial disparities in maternal and child health among other issues. Hannah Drown reports that the 2025 Lorain County Community Health Assessment provides a comprehensive look at the health needs, priorities and resources within the county. Crime and Courts East Palestine: East Palestine school officials Wednesday sued Norfolk Southern, alleging the rail company owes the school district more than $30 million over the 2023 train derailment disaster. School officials in the lawsuit said Norfolk Southern never paid the district for its emergency response costs, the use of school facilities by emergency personnel and hasn’t fulfilled its promise to relocate sports facilities or build a community wellness center, reports Adam Ferrise. Police discipline: City officials are seeking to discipline two Cleveland police officers who fired shots at a woman’s car as she fled from a vehicle whose passenger sprayed bullets at her, reports Olivia Mitchell. The officers, Dylan O’Donnell and Amanda Rock, face suspension or termination for the shooting last year involving Antwoina Carter, 26, of Cleveland. Delivery van: A Cleveland man who killed an Akron doctor while fleeing police in a stolen delivery van will spend the next 30 years behind bars, reports David Gambino. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Brian Mooney sentenced Jalen Jackson, 24, to prison Wednesday and ordered him to give up his driver’s license for life. Arts and Entertainment Best of Lakewood: Cleveland.com readers know that there are plenty of good places to eat and drink in Lakewood. The votes are tallied and the clear winner is Woodstock BBQ, report Yadi Rodriguez and Peter Chakerian. Coming in second place was Artis, while third place went to Rood. Oberlin: Oberlin the city and Oberlin the college were both founded in 1833 by the same man, John Jay Shipherd, who traveled south from Elyria with fellow minister Philo Stewart, looking for land to create a perfect society, named for a French writer who never set foot in Ohio. Now, Susan Glaser writes, Oberlin is a pretty terrific destination for close-to-home travelers seeking outsized doses of culture and history in a quaint, easy-to-navigate package. Globe Iron: Friday night, the Cleveland live music scene will get its first new major concert venue in years as entertainment promotion giant AEG Presents opens the 1,200-person capacity Globe Iron on the West Bank of the Flats. Malcolm X Abram and Peter Chakerian report the inaugural show will feature local duo How We Feel (singer-guitarist Chris Bianchi and drummer Brian Lamtman) celebrating their debut album, “Ready for War,” with openers A Sense of Purpose, Ghostatic and Erasing Never. Cleveland Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra announced the addition of three new members to its artistic and creative team on Wednesday. They begin their tenure with the 2025-26 season, reports Peter Chakerian. Ken Stewart’s: Ken Stewart’s Grille in Akron is celebrating 35 years as a sophisticated steakhouse. Opened in 1990, the Grille has served more than 2.4 million guests, reports Paris Wolfe. To launch the anniversary celebration, owners Ken and Lori Stewart will walk through the dining room today and pass out champagne to guests with dinner reservations. Mint julep: If you can’t get to Churchill Downs Racetrack for the Kentucky Derby Saturday, you can still wear a crazy hat or tie and drink a mint julep in solidarity with the event. Paris Wolfe has seven versions of the classic cocktail recipe. Malley’s: Malley’s, with 18 different locations in Northeast Ohio, will kick off chocolate-covered strawberry sales at noon May 9. Alex Darus reports they’ll be available through the weekend or until they sell out. Mather: The 618-foot retired steamship William G. Mather opens for public tours Saturday and celebrates 100 years on lakes Erie, Huron and Superior on May 23, reports Paris Wolfe. Once the working flagship of Cleveland Cliffs, the Mather is now docked behind the Great Lakes Science Center. Beck shows: Beck Center for the Arts has unveiled an eclectic lineup for its upcoming 92nd season, with six shows, reports Joey Morona. Those include the first local production of a musical that’s “so fetch,” another drama from August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle series of plays, a collaboration with Oberlin College’s new music theater program and even a musical about a poriferan who lives in a pineapple under the sea. You’re all caught up Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber. — Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by by Cliff Pinckard. 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