The iOpener: Cleveland Council Passes Lead-Safe Law; State Fair Opens

Good morning, iOpeners.  It's Thursday, July 25, 2019. 

Landlords of older properties in Cleveland will now have to certify that their rental units are lead-safe, under a new ordinance passed by Cleveland’s City Council. Supporters see the new law as a significant step toward dealing with the city’s historically high levels of child lead poisoning. Mayor Frank Jackson’s administration will have until March 2021 to come up with the certification process.  Landlords have told ideastream and The Plain Dealer that they have doubts about the city's ability to oversee a certification program.

In Beachwood, police are investigating a poster denying the Holocaust that was placed on a sign outside the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage last week. Beachwood Police Chief Gary Haba said similar fliers have appeared in other parts of the state. The poster called the Holocaust "fake news" and referenced the neo-Nazi website, The Daily Stormer. A spokeswoman for the museum said it's taking steps to ensure the safety of employees and visitors but wouldn't discuss any specific security measures.

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old man inside a Cleveland library. They say Brandon Cutnoe was shot and killed inside the bathroom of the South Brooklyn branch of the Cleveland Public Library, following an argument with another man. The library is to re-open today.

Cuyahoga County Council President Dan Brady said the charter amendment that would grant the sheriff greater autonomy while remaining an appointed official goes “a long way” toward improving the troubled jail. Brady joined nine other councilmembers who voted in favor of the charter amendment on Tuesday after his competing proposal to return the sheriff to an elected position didn’t get enough support. Councilmember Michael Gallagher, the lone opponent of the amendment, called it “a half measure.” The current sheriff, Clifford Pinkney, is resigning next month following a string of problems at the county jail, including overcrowding, nine inmate deaths and allegations of abuse by jail guards. 

The 166th Ohio State Fair is underway at the fairgrounds in Columbus, with Gov. Mike DeWine cutting the ribbon to launch the festivities for the first time as governor.  During a tour of the fair, DeWine encountered Amber Duffield, whose son, Tyler Jarrell, died following a ride malfunction at the fair in 2017.  He told reporters he talked with her about losing his daughter in a car crash in 1993.

The Indians kept up their surge, shutting down the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-0. Shane Bieber pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a double by Eric Sogard in the seventh inning. The Indians improved to 14-4 in July.  They're 30-12 since June 4th, the best record in the majors over that span. 

Weather forecast for Cleveland: Mostly sunny and comfortable, high 80.  Tonight, mostly clear, low 66.  Tomorrow, sunny, high 83. This weekend will be warmer, with temperatures back in the mid-to-upper 80s.