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The iOpener: Guards Accused of Mistreating Inmates; Quicken Loans Arena to Get New Name

The county jail and courtrooms are found in Cuyahoga County's Justice Center in downtown Cleveland. [Nick Castele / ideastream]
The county jail and courtrooms are found in Cuyahoga County's Justice Center in downtown Cleveland.

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Tuesday, April 9, 2019, the anniversary of the end of the Civil War.  On this day, in 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.    

Five current and former corrections officers face criminal charges in connection with their treatment of inmates in three separate incidents at Cuyahoga County’s jail. One of them, former guard Martin Devring, is accused of a civil rights violation and other charges in the fatal overdose of Joseph Arquillo, one of seven inmates who died last year.  The other four are accused of assaulting inmates while those inmates were strapped to restraint chairs. Attorney General Dave Yost's office announced the indicments Monday. Union leaders declined to comment on the charges facing their members.  

Cleveland’s city council introduced legislation that would make rental scooters and electric bikes legal. Vendors like the scooter share program Bird would be required to pay the city fees of one dollar per scooter or bike per day. The money would go into a new transportation infrastructure fund to pay for improvements like bike lanes.

The Cavaliers’ home court is getting a new name. Quicken Loans Arena is to be renamed the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.  The Cavs are expected to make the announcement official during a news conference this afternoon. The arena is undergoing a $185 million renovation that is scheduled to be finished in time for the start of the 2019-2020 NBA season this fall. 

Larry Drew's stormy season with the Cavaliers is nearly over, and his tenure in Cleveland could be as well. Drew took over when Tyronn Lue was fired in October. He said he won't discuss his future with the team until after tonight’s season finale against the Charlotte Hornets at the Q. The Cavs enter the game with a 16-64 record.

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny and breezy, high 58.  West wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Tonight, mostly cloudy, still breezy, low 38.

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