The iOpener: Medina LGBT Non-Discrimination Ordinances Pass Committee; Indians Fall in Clev's Return

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Tuesday, June 18, 2019. More rain this morning for Akron and Medina.  Looks like you're going to need to trade your home for a houseboat.

Medina’s LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinances cleared an early hurdle, with unanimous passage by members of the Special Legislation Committee. The audience applauded when each ordinance was passed. The legislation would prohibit intimidation and discriminatory conduct on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. The chairman of the committee, Councilman-At-Large Bill Lamb, had said it would be a “black eye” for Medina if the ordinances weren’t approved.

The owner of a Euclid roller skating rink where a fight broke out between youth and police officers last week says the problem was caused by a lack of understanding between the two groups and not by a near-capacity crowd. Pla-Mor Roller Rink owner Miguel Sanders said the rink was not anywhere near full. He said places like Pla-More are needed to give kids something to do. Police say they shut down the end-of-school party for safety concerns. The city has filed a nuisance lawsuit against Sanders and Pla-Mor.

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has confirmed a tornado hit southeast Cuyahoga County and two more touched down in Trumbull County on Sunday, answering in the affirmative the question we posed in yesterday’s iOpener. All three tornados were rated EF-1s, with maximum winds of 95 miles per hour and a width of 250 yards. The Service says, in Cuyahoga County, the tornado touched down near Oakwood and Glenwilliow. In Trumbull, one tornado touched down near Southington, another, near Vienna.

The future of the Dayton area’s last abortion clinic is now up to the state's Supreme Court. Justices will decide whether to hear an appeal by Women's Med Center in its licensure dispute with state health officials. At issue is the clinic’s inability to secure the necessary waiver and written transfer agreement with a nearby hospital. Dayton commissioners voted in May to urge two local health systems to step in, but neither did. Ohio’s attorney general argued in a recent filing that the licensure issue has been resolved and justices should not take the appeal.

A proposal in the Senate version of Ohio's two-year budget would place a 17 percent tax on the invoice price of vaping products. Senate Finance Chairman Matt Dolan, a Republican from Chagrin Falls, said he's concerned that vaping has filled a niche in Ohio that is attracting teens. The industry opposes the tax proposal. The president of the Ohio Vapor Trade Association said it doesn’t make sense to put vaping into the same tax framework as the tobacco industry.

The Texas Rangers beat the Indians, 7-2, to spoil Mike Clevinger’s return from an injured back that kept him out for ten weeks. Lance Lynn struck out nine and gave up one run over seven innings. Meanwhile, Clevinger, in his first start since April 7th,  struck out seven in 4 and 2/3 innings. He also walked three, all of whom scored, and he allowed three hits, all for extra bases. There was a momentary scare in the second inning when Clevinger fell awkwardly to the grass after fielding a grounder. He twisted his left ankle. A precautionary X-ray found no injury.

Weather forecast: A second morning of patchy, dense fog that limits driving visibility. A slight chance of showers early, then mostly cloudy. High 70.  Tonight, cloudy. Low 60.  Tomorrow, a slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, high 75.