The iOpener: State Budget Deal Reached; No Answers From Sheriff on Jail

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Clifford Pinkney refused to answer nearly all questions that county councilmembers put to him about the troubled jail system. Pinkney, who’s weeks from retirement, came to the council meeting with his attorney, who told councilmembers that Pinkney didn’t want to disrupt ongoing criminal investigations and civil lawsuits. 

Ohio’s House and Senate have reached a deal on the new, two-year budget and will vote on it today, hours before a 17-day interim budget expires. A conference committee approved the $69 billion plan Tuesday night by a 5-1 vote.  The new budget cuts Ohioans’ income taxes across the board by 4 percent -- the House had sought an 8 percent cut and the Senate 6.6 percent – and eliminates taxes for those earning less than $21,750 a year.  It largely preserves a $1.2 billion annual tax break for many businesses. It also funds a Senate plan to give money to fast-growing, generally wealthy public schools and a House plan to finance additional services for poorer school districts.

None of Ohio's Republican Congressmembers voted in favor of a resolution condemning President Trump's racist tweet telling four Congresswomen of color to "go back" to where they came from.  Only four Republicans — Representatives Will Hurd of Texas, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Fred Upton of Michigan, Susan Brooks of Indiana — broke with their party to vote against Trump. They were joined by Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, who recently abandoned the Republican Party to become an independent.

Ohio State University is reviewing donations it received from financier Jeffrey Epstein who's now facing sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. The university said in a statement Tuesday that Epstein's private foundation anonymously donated $2.5 million to Ohio State in 2007. That money, along with a donation from billionaire Les Wexner, made up a $5 million pledge toward the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The Columbus Dispatch reports Epstein was a long-time financial advisor for Wexner, who sent an email to employees saying he broke ties with Epstein 12 years ago and did not know of allegations that he sexually abused young girls.  

Remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which made landfall in Louisiana two days ago, are bringing heavy rain and high humidity today and tomorrow to Northeast Ohio. Temperatures will climb into the low to mid 90s Thursday through Sunday, with the heat index making it feel like 100 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch from Friday afternoon through Saturday night.  Heat indices ranging from 105 degrees to as high as 112 degrees are possible Friday and Saturday.

The Indians routed the Detroit Tigers, 8-0, for their third consecutive win since they lost two games in a row to their American League Central rivals, the Minnesota Twins.  Oscar Mercado hit a two-run homer, and Zach Plesac and three relievers combined for a one-hitter. That came from the Tigers’ Nicholas Castellanos, who lined a single up the middle in the fifth inning off Tyler Clippard.  Cleveland’s victory, and the Minnesota's loss to the Mets, moves the Indians up to five games back of the AL Central leading Twins. 

Weather forecast for Cleveland: Rain from what remains of Tropical Storm Barry peppers the region today.  High humidity, too. Some storms could produce heavy rain. High 83.  Tonight, cloudy, low 74.  Tomorrow, the start of four days of hot weather. Partly sunny, high 90. Temperatures will remain in the low to mid 90s through Sunday.