Buckeye Beat

She's a symbol of great determination and earlier this week, Jessica Cox was right here in Cleveland during the Cleveland International Film Festival.

Jessica is the world's first licensed armless pilot -- the motivational speaker and author was born without arms, due to a rare birth defect. But she didn't let that limit her dreams. Jessica learned to operate flight controls with her feet, which she uses like arms to perform everyday life skills.

The star of the documentary

visited the Women's Air and Space Museum at Burke Lakefront Airport on Sunday -- she wants to encourage the world that it's ok to be different. Jessica got her pilot's license in 2008 -- but still has big flight aspirations, including a trip around the world.

Jessica's documentary was just one of the films featured at the Cleveland International Film Festival which opened last week.

It's the 40th anniversary for the film festival, which has grown from just eight films in its first year -- to now around 200 feature films and 200 shorts from 72 countries that will be shown over the span of two weeks. Festivals like the one in Cleveland, are used as launch pads for films -- and can provide the opportunity for unknown filmmakers to get their movies in front of an audience.

Films and screenings were shown both in Cleveland and Akron... With many turning their attention to a documentary about Cleveland sports fans called,

.

There might be an extra spring in your step this week if you're a baseball fan. That's because with the spring season, we also welcome the start of America's favorite past time. And we're lucky to have two major league baseball teams right here in Ohio -- the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians held opening day games at their respective ball parks this week.

The Reds won their opener on Monday, beating the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 6-2 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Cleveland fans had to wait to see their beloved Indians play -- Monday’s opener was postponed a day due to bad weather.