The iOpener: DeWine Declares Emergencies For Storm-Struck Counties; Cuyahoga Bans Plastic Bags

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

Gov. Mike DeWine has declared a state of emergency for the three Dayton-area counties that were ravaged by Memorial Day tornadoes and severe storms. The declaration will allow state agencies to provide Greene, Mercer and Montgomery counties to provide resources and support beyond their normal authority. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted toured the area by car and airplane Tuesday.

The strong storms that swept through Ohio and Indiana killed just one person: 81-year-old Melvin Dale Hannah of Celina, a community about 70 miles north of Dayton. The mayor of Celina says Hannah was killed when a parked car was blown into his house. Area hospitals reported as many as 130 people were injured. 

The National Weather Service has confirmed five tornadoes struck the Miami River Valley. The one that hit the northwestern Dayton suburb of Trotwood and tore through most of Montgomery County was an EF-3, with 140-150 mph winds. Another EF-3 tornado was confirmed in Celina. 

Cuyahoga County Council passed a countywide ban on single-use plastic bags, after tweaking the language of the ordinance to allow retailers more time to prepare. The vote was 8-3, along party lines, with the council’s three Republicans, Jack Schron, Michael Gallagher and Nan Baker voting against it. The ban will go into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Clifford Pinkney’s departure is a retirement and not a resignation, as it was portrayed earlier by the county.  A copy of the letter obtained by ideastream states Pinkney’s last day with the department is Aug. 2.  “It is time for me to spend my time with my family and pursue new opportunities,” he wrote in the May 24 ^th letter.  Pinkney leaves behind a jail system that is embroiled in lawsuits following the deaths last year of eight inmates. A ninth inmate committed suicide earlier this month. A U.S. Marshals’ review of the jail last fall found conditions there “inhumane.”

Roberto Perez and Greg Allen homered for Cleveland during a five-run ninth inning as the Indians rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-5, in a rain-delayed game at Fenway Park. Brad Hand notched his 14 ^th save. Indians starter Zach Plesac allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings in his big-league debut.

Weather forecast: Cloudy, with more showers and thunderstorms today before 4 p.m. High 70.  Tonight, cloudy, low 60.  Tomorrow, patchy fog early, then cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. High 70.