© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News
To contact us with news tips, story ideas or other related information, e-mail newsstaff@ideastream.org.

The iOpener: CSU Swim Team Coach Resigns Amidst Drug Probe; Bill Would End State School Takeovers

A view of Cleveland State University looking towards downtown Cleveland. [Cleveland State University]
A view of Cleveland State University looking towards downtown Cleveland.

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Wednesday, March 20, 2019. On this day in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was published, and two years later on this day, the Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin.

The coach of Cleveland State University’s men’s swimming team and two senior athletic department administrators have resigned, following allegations of drug use.  The university says some team members were also disciplined. The university has not said how many swimmers were involved or what kinds of drugs were used. 

Two state lawmakers are proposing ending state takeovers of failing schools.  Democratic Rep. Joe Miller and Republican Rep. Don Jones say they want to get rid of Academic Distress Commissions and restore local control.  Three school districts – Youngstown, Lorain and East Cleveland – are currently under state control.  In Youngstown and Lorain, the process has caused acrimony and division.

Cuyahoga County's inspector general says he ran into road blocks trying to get information for his corruption probe of the county's troubled IT Department. Mark Griffin told a county council committee that, for more than a year, the IT Department refused to provide access to employee emails.  He said County Executive Armond Budish had to personally intervene.  Griffin said he did not know whether the delays were intentional.  The IT Department is one of the areas under scrutiny in a probe that is now being conducted by the Ohio Attorney General's office. 

The city of Columbus is suing to stop a new gun law that Ohio’s General Assembly passed last December. The city says House Bill 228 makes it more difficult for cities to pass gun legislation, violating the state constitution’s home rule provision. 

Odell Beckham Jr. announced on Instagram he's going "dark" for a few days to "reevaluate" the recent changes in his life, presumably his trade to the Cleveland Browns from the New York Giants.  The star wide receiver had initially expressed shock when he had learned of the deal and had said leaving New York was "bittersweet."

In NHL action, the Calgary Flames beat the Blue Jackets, 4-2.

Weather: Enjoy a warmer day today, with a cloudy high of 53. Expect rain tonight after 9. 

 

Expertise: Hosting live radio, writing and producing newscasts, Downtown Cleveland, reporting on abortion, fibersheds, New York City subway system, coffee