The iOpener: Fatal Car Crash on East Side; Tornado Count Now at 20; Indians Lose

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Friday, May 31, 2019. 

Cleveland police say two people were killed and one person seriously injured following a high-speed crash late Thursday night on the city's East Side. A police spokeswoman said the car was speeding westbound on Bartlett Ave. when it  struck a utility pole at the intersection of E. 131st St.  The force of the impact cut the car in half.   The 38-year-old woman who was driving the car and a male passenger of unknown age were pronounced dead at the scene.  The third passenger, a male, was taken to University Hospital where he's having surgery on unspecified injuries. [ Updated 09:15 a.m.]

The number of tornadoes spawned across southwestern and southern Ohio by violent storms late Monday night now stands at a record 20 tornadoes.  The Wilmington office of the National Weather Service said the previous local record for the number of tornadoes produced by a single weather event was 12, which happened March 2, 2012.  Currently, Ohio is at 34 tornadoes for 2019. [ Updated 09:15 a.m.]

Crews have started tearing down a century-old industrial building, the Victoreen Building, in Cleveland’s Woodland Hills, the latest to be demolished as part of Cleveland’s Safe Routes to School program. The initiative is intended to remove vacant nuisance buildings that pose a safety hazard. Since it began in 2017, 943 vacant structures have been razed. The city estimates there are 4,038 that still need to be demolished.

A man now off Ohio's death row after more than 20 years because his conviction was thrown out is back in court and likely facing deportation to his native Jordan. Ahmad Fawzi Issa pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder Thursday in Hamilton County. He was convicted of aggravated murder in 1998 for allegedly arranging the slaying of a Cincinnati convenience store owner the year before. A federal appeals court ruled last year that his constitutional right to confront witnesses against him was violated and that hearsay testimony was used to convict him. Attorneys say they’re trying to work out an agreement to avoid a retrial.

The Chicago White Sox beat the Indians, 10-4. Indians starter Carlos Carrasco, who had not lost a start against the White Sox since September 2016, allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.  Former Indian Yonder Alonso and Jose Abreu each hit a two-run homer. The victory moves the White Sox within one game of Cleveland for second place in the AL Central. 

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny and – get this – dry! High 72.  Tonight, mostly clear. Low 62.  Tomorrow, partly sunny, with a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms. High 72.  Sunday, partly sunny, a slight chance of scattered showers. High 66.