The iOpener: Ohio House Budget Includes Tax Cuts; Court: UH Embryos Are Not Persons; CBJ Loses

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Friday, May 3, 2019. What are you looking forward to doing this weekend? 

Ohio House Republican leaders are proposing income tax breaks for low- to moderate-income Ohioans in their version of the new, biannual budget. They want to eliminate taxes entirely for Ohioans making $22,499 a year or less and reduce taxes by 4.7 percent for those making between $22,500 and $88,800 annually. The tax cut would be paid for by reducing a state business tax exemption and getting rid of several tax exemptions and credits.   

The House budget also doubles Gov. Mike DeWine’s request of $30 million for the state’s foster care system. Scott Britton with the Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio said he was "blown away" by the increase. He said county child welfare providers have been stretched to the limit, largely as a result of the opioid crisis. Ohio’s current funding for child welfare services is the lowest in the nation.  

An appellate court in Ohio has ruled that the embryos that a couple lost last year due to an equipment malfunction at University Hospitals’ fertility clinic in Beachwood are not living humans. Wendy Penniman and her husband Rick had argued that they were, and were entitled to the rights of personhood.  The Pennimans are among more than 70 plaintiffs with lawsuits against UH after a storage freezer failed and made 4,000 eggs and embryos unviable.

Jury selection begins today for the civil lawsuit filed by Gibson’s Bakery in Oberlin against Oberlin College. The bakery argues it suffered a loss of business as a result of protests by Oberlin College students and community members after a 2016 shoplifting incident involving three black college students.  Days of protests followed, with members of the community accusing the bakery of racial profiling. 

The Boston Bruins scored within the first five minutes of the game and never let up, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-1, at Nationwide Arena to tie their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series, 2-2.  The Blue Jackets had 40 shots on net but were unable to get past Boston goalie Tuukka Rask, who made 39 saves.

The Indians will announce today on how much time ace Corey Kluber is going to miss due to a broken ulna bone in his pitching arm.  The two-time Cy Young winner was evaluated by team doctors in Cleveland yesterday.  Kluber’s forearm was broken when it was hit by a 102 mph line drive off the bat of Brian Anderson during Tuesday’s game in Marlins Park against the Miami Marlins.  Right-hander Cody Anderson is expected to replace Kluber in the pitching rotation.

Weather forecast: Showers and thunderstorms likely before noon, then scattered showers. Cloudy, high 60. Tonight , cloudy, low 45. Saturday , Cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of rain in the late afternoon. High 56. Sunday , mostly sunny, high 63.