![Plain Dealer Plaza, the former downtown headquarters of the newspaper. [ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbfea67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F4%2F02%2F0621peedee.jpg)
Good morning, iOpeners. It's Tuesday, April 2, 2019.
The Plain Dealer has laid off 14 reporters, photographers and editors as part of staff reductions first announced in December. The paper said it’s about one-third of its unionized newsroom staff. It comes in advance of another round of layoffs that will take place in May, when the paper shifts page-production work to a centralized external system. Members of Local 1 of the News Guild voted over the weekend to extend its contract with The Plain Dealer through Feb. 28, 2021.
Akron’s City Council approved the creation of an entertainment district around the former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company headquarters on East Market St. It’s the first one outside of downtown Akron. The designation will allow for 15 new liquor licenses, the maximum allowed. Developer Industrial Realty Group has a proposal that would bring retail, food service and entertainment businesses to the area.
Cleveland's city council is considering a new ordinance that seeks to limit the growth of “dollar stores.” According to the legislation, which was introduced Monday, the strategy of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and other "small-box general discount stores" is to saturate communities with multiple stores, making it harder for local full-service grocery stores to survive. The legislation notes dollar stores do not carry fresh food and employ fewer workers than grocery stores. The proposed ordinance would place a moratorium on dollar store permits.
The Indians took advantage of a four-run eighth-inning rally to beat the Chicago White Sox, 5-3, in a chilly home opener at Progressive Field. Mike Clevinger turned in a fine performance, allowing one hit and getting a career-high 12 strikeouts in seven innings of work before the Indians’ bullpen allowed Chicago to take a 3-1 lead.
Odell Beckham Jr. called his trade to the Cleveland Browns "one of the best things that ever happened" to him. The former New York Giants receiver was introduced by the Browns, whose acquisition of him sparked big expectations for a team that didn't win a game two years ago. Beckham was joined at the news conference by Jarvis Landry, a former Louisiana State University teammate and his best friend, Baker Mayfield and Myles Garrett. He believes his arrival in Cleveland is the start of something great.
The Phoenix Suns handed the Cavs their sixth straight defeat, beating them 122-113. The Sun’s Devin Booker, who’s averaged 50 points per game over his last three games, tallied 25 points and 13 assists.
Weather forecast: Partly sunny today. High 52. Tonight, partly cloudy. Low 38. Tomorrow, Wednesday, more sunshine. High 53.
