The iOpener: Tower City Mall to Become Tech Hub; Jackets Lose Top Players

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Dress for a hot day.  High temps today reaching 88 in Cleveland and the low 90s in Akron and Lorain.

First Energy Solutions is suggesting it’s willing to wait a little longer for help from state lawmakers, despite legislators’ failure to pass a bailout bill by the utility’s June 30th deadline.   The energy company, which filed for bankruptcy last year, said in a statement that it’s still moving forward with plans to deactivate and decommission the Davis-Besse plant next year and Perry plant by 2021.  But the company added that it would “immediately reevaluate” its options, should lawmakers approve House Bill 6. House Speaker Larry Obhof (R-Medina) said he doesn’t think the timing is going to be an issue for the future of the nuclear plants.

The shopping mall in Tower City in downtown Cleveland is to become an entrepreneurial hub.  Blockchain advocate Bernie Moreno told Cuyahoga County councilmembers that Tower City’s owner, Bedrock Detroit LLC, is on board with the concept. Bedrock chairman Jim Ketai confirmed its interest, saying in a statement that it’s working with Moreno and his backers toward a “shared goal” of making downtown Cleveland a hub for entrepreneurship.

Ohio’s agriculture director is asking the federal government to loosen restrictions on emergency aid to Ohio farmers, whose planting season has been delayed because of an exceptionally rainy spring. Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda said she’s traveled the state and has seen standing water and “waist-high weeds” in much of Ohio’s farmland. She has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to waive rules for certain emergency programs.   

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost three of their top players on the opening day of free agency. Forward Artemi Panarin signed with the New York Rangers; goalie Sergei Bobrovsky departed for the Florida Panthers after seven years with Columbus; and center Matt Duchene - picked up at the February trade deadline - went to Nashville.  Other players in free agency are also likely to leave the Blue Jackets, which also lost their top executive, John Davidson. He, too, joined the Rangers.

Cleveland Indians pitchers Trevor Bauer and Adam Plutko were among the major league baseball players who took to social media to mourn the death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. On Twitter, Bauer noted that he and Skaggs came up together in the minor leagues. Plutko called Skaggs “the spark plug in the room.” Skaggs, 27, was found dead in his hotel room in Texas on Monday prior to a game between the Angels and the Rangers. The cause of death was not released. 

The Indians begin a three-game series against the Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Trevor Bauer starts for the Indians against the Royal’s Jakob Junis, who hasn’t won a game since May 30.

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny, with a slight chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. High 88.  Tonight, mostly cloudy and warm, with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Low 75.  Tomorrow, a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. Partly sunny, high 85.