The iOpener: Ohio Senate Unanimously Passes Budget; Cavs Draft Garland

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Friday, June 21, 2019, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. 

In a notable show of bipartisanship, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed a $69 billion budget. Now negotiations with the House begin. The chambers have differing income tax cuts plans and have earmarked increased education funding for different priorities. Both versions of the budget take advantage of what is projected to be a $1 billion surplus at the end of this fiscal year. The budget deadline is June 30 ^th.

Tucked into the Senate’s budget are new high school graduation requirements. Under the legislation, seniors would need to pass just two tests -- Algebra I and English II -- instead of seven to graduate. They'd also have to earn two diploma seals in areas like job readiness or community service. The changes, if approved by the House and Gov. Mike DeWine, would begin with the Class of 2023.   

The Cavaliers used the No. 5 pick in the NBA draft to take point guard Darius Garland, who played just five games at Vanderbilt because of a knee injury. They also added Belmont swingman Dylan Windler at 26 and acquired USC guard Kevin Porter Jr. by trading for the No. 30 pick with Detroit.

Attorney General Dave Yost has rejected petition language for a ballot initiative requiring background checks for nearly all gun purchases, including those between private buyers and at gun shows. Yost said in a statement the language submitted by Ohioans For Gun Safety inaccurately states the measure would apply to all firearms sales.  The proposal, as written, would not require federally licensed gun dealers to get background checks before buying guns. The group has to restart their efforts if they want to put the proposal to voters. 

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has named its baby male giraffe Kidogo. The name means "little" in Swahili.  The name, chosen by the public, is perfect for the little giraffe, who was underweight at birth, hitting the scales at a mere (for a newborn giraffe) 101 pounds. The naming comes on World Giraffe Day, which celebrates the world’s longest-necked mammal on this longest day of the year. Kidogo brings the zoo’s giraffe population to five.  Giraffe populations in the wild, meanwhile, remain a concern. 

The Texas Rangers earned a series split with a 4-2 victory over the Indians in Arlington. Rangers lefty ace Mike Minor held the Indians to three hits and one run over eight innings. The Tribe had scored 10 runs each of the last two nights. Carlos Santana hit his team-leading 15 ^th home run in the top of the ninth.

  Weather forecast: A cool but sunny and, more importantly, dry start to summer. Patchy fog to start, then sunny, high 70. Tonight, mostly clear. Low 58.  Tomorrow, mostly sunny, high 73.  Sunday, mostly sunny and warmer, high 78.  Monday, the rain returns. A 60 percent chance of thunderstorms, high 81.