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  • My name is Sonny Graham and I’m 9 years old. I live at Woodhill Homes. I’m telling you my story because I would like people to know how I live and what I want to be when I grow up.

     

    6:15 a.m. - Morning Alarm

    On school days, my mom wakes me up at 6:15.

    "Sonny!" she calls. "Time to wake up!"

    I wake up in my Spiderman costume. It’s not pajamas, but a full costume, with fingers and toes. It makes me feel comfortable.

    I don’t like waking up so early. Why can't kids all around the world wake up at 9 or 10 instead of 6:15? I'm not a grown person yet.

    Sometimes, to help me wake up, I listen to a song.

    Today, it's "Happier" by Marshmello.

    Lately, I've been, I've been thinking / I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier...

    I also own a marshmallow mask that I sometimes put on with my Spiderman costume.

     

    6:30 a.m. - Morning Exercise and Walk to School Bus

    I do exercises in the morning so I can get better at things, like boxing and wrestling.

    Then it’s time to go to school. My mom and I walk to the bus stop. We talk about our neighborhood, and all the stray cats we see.

    The bus driver tells me good morning and I wave at my mom as he drives away.

     

    7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - School

    My school is only a few minutes away. I go to Saint Adalbart Catholic School on East 83rd Street.

    My teacher’s name is Mr. Gainey. He’s a nice, fun person. He doesn’t really yell a lot except when somebody gets on his last nerve.

    Today, he has our class read out loud about the International Space Station.

    When he calls on me, I read:

    "The international space station is a remarkable workplace in space. Exciting discoveries come from research being done there…"

    Then our Spanish teacher comes in to teach us Spanish. We sing the numbers and the alphabet and some kids start dancing.

    I do like Spanish, but sometimes it’s hard to say words.

     

    3 p.m. - After School

    After I get home on the bus, I usually go to the Woodhill Community Center and play games.

    Today is Wednesday, so I’m going to my favorite after-school club. It’s called MBIO, which is a Swahili word for "the race."

    Edward Horton runs MBIO. He does this program through his church.

    MBIO is just for boys. Mr. Horton and his friends teach us about things like responsibility and handling anger. He teaches us how to hold our breath when we’re mad.

    Later, we play games to help us concentrate, like an egg race.

     

    5:30 p.m. - Back Home

    I either go to boxing at 5:30 or walk back home around 6.

    My mom lets me go outside and play with my friends before dinner.

    The thing I like best about Woodhill is there are always kids outside to play. Except when it's raining, then no one's outside.

    Most of my friends are down the hill. When I go up the hill they sometimes mess with me. Sometimes I say something back and sometimes I just go by myself.

     

    7 p.m. - Homework and Dinner

    Around 7 o’clock, my mom comes outside to tell me to do my homework. I sit at the kitchen table doing math and spelling while she makes dinner.

    Tonight for dinner is spaghetti and broccoli. Broccoli is nasty.

    At 9 o'clock, my mom tells me it's time for bed. I read a book first. It’s called The Superhero Instruction Manual.

    "All right Sonny," my mom says. "Say your prayers."

     

    I’ve heard they’re going to build Woodhill Homes all over again.

    I hope when that happens, it looks better.

    And, it’s also blue.

  • President Trump is speaking to the nation following attacks on military bases in Iraq where U.S. troops are stationed. Trump tweeted on Tuesday night that "All is well!" and that an assessment of the casualties was underway. Iran said the missiles were launched as an act of self-defense after the U.S. killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.

  • Governor Mike DeWine's latest update for March 21, 2020, on the impact of COVID-19 on the State of Ohio. The press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m., but the actual start has often been later due to fast-changing circumstances. Our priority is to provide trustworthy, up-to-date coverage that Northeast Ohioans can rely on. As the pandemic continues, ideastream will share live briefings from Governor DeWine online and on our broadcast channels, WVIZ/PBS, 90.3 WCPN and The Ohio Channel.

     


    During these trying times, ideastream is dedicated to keeping you, the Northeast Ohio community, informed by providing trusted, up-to-date information that you need to know, as it happens.

    From special coverage of briefings by the president and governor to information about health resources and opportunities to ask questions of local and national health experts, ideastream is committed to providing you with all the information you need to know about COVID-19, as it happens. Visit www.ideastream.org/coronavirus for the latest.

    This special coverage is made possible thanks to the support of our members. We're here for you, and we're here because of you​.

  • While saying it's an "absolutely crucial time", Gov. Mike DeWine said he's issuing an order for all Ohioans to stay at home starting at 11:59pm Monday - what's being called a "shelter in place" order in other states.

    DeWine said the order includes three parts:

    1. Stay at home order allows for leaving home for health and safety, necessary supplies and services, outdoor activity, take care of others – family members, friend, pet in another household
    2. The identification of essential workers and businesses
    3. Each business that is allowed to stay open must follow good health, safety protocol, such as maintaining six foot distance, washing hands, hand sanitizing products, separate operating hours for vulnerable populations, online and remote access for customers

    The order goes into effect Monday at 11:59pm and will expire April 6, though DeWine said that could be extended. And he said it's an order, not a suggestion, and it can be enforced by local health departments and law enforcement.

    DeWine said there's nothing in his order that he hasn't been asking Ohioans to do for the last week.  He calls it a "blueprint of how we get through this".

    "We are in an absolutely crucial time," DeWine said. "What we do now will make all the difference in the world."

    Sunday the state announced 351 cases of coronavirus in 40 counties, with 83 hospitalizations. Three people have died, including 76-year-old Mark Wagoner Sr. in Lucas County and a 91-year-old married man in Cuyahoga County.

     

    DeWine also issued an order that all daycares in Ohio will have to operate under a temporary pandemic child care license. No more than six children will be permitted per room.

    DeWine also noted a decision from an emergency session of the Ohio Board of Pharmacy - that board  passed a rule setting out specific provisions on prescribing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Those are drugs that President Trump touted as possible treatments for COVID-19, though that is unproven. DeWine said an order will be issued to limit prescriptions of those drugs for their intended purposes - primarily for malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus - and for those who have tested positive for COVID-19.

    State lawmakers are expected to come back into session this week. DeWine also said he'll be asking them to take up state-mandated testing, saying "it's time to make the decision to forgo testing this year." That opens the door to an extension of his order to close K-12 schools till April 3. He's said several times that order will be extended and has suggested students may not go back to school this academic year.

    You can read the 12-page order here: 

  • Beginning Thursday, Ohio’s day care centers will need a temporary permit and will only be able to operate under strict new standards, including having no more than six children in each room.

    The initial day care slots will go to the children of those “directly involved” in the fight against the coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine said Monday, which includes first responders and healthcare workers, hospital and clinic staff, pharmacy staff, dentists and mental health professionals.

    Some licenses have already been granted and day cares can continue to apply at the Department of Job and Family Services website, DeWine said. The site also includes a list of childcare providers available after Thursday.

    The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ohio rose to 442 as of Monday afternoon and three additional deaths were reported by Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), bringing the total to six. There have been cases now confirmed in more than half of Ohio’s 88 counties. The youngest case is under a year old, while the oldest is 93.

    “We are very limited in our testing right now. We do have many testing kits that are pending at private labs,” Acton said, indicating the number of confirmed cases could continue to rise as those results come in.

    Coronavirus tests are not the only thing in short supply for Ohio, Acton said. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers is also already getting difficult to come by.

    Earlier in the day, OHD received the state’s federal PPE allocation from the national stockpile. Acton said those items would be dispersed to local hospitals Monday but warned healthcare workers about what to expect.

    “I have to tell you, don’t be surprised,” she said. “We’re talking small boxes, not truckloads.”

    ODH is holding 20 percent of the federal allocation in Columbus to be dispersed in a more targeted way as the pandemic continues to unfold.

    In addition to the statewide stay-at-home order issued Sunday and going into effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday night, DeWine said the state government will be tightening its belt along with the rest of Ohio.

    “Commercial activity is slowing down dramatically across the state of Ohio,” he said. “One of the consequences of that is that state revenues are going to go down dramatically.”

    The state shouldn’t wait to take action, DeWine said, announcing an immediate hiring freeze for the state government, with an exception for any positions that need to be filled specifically for coronavirus response. The already-enacted travel freeze for state officials will continue, and effectively immediately, the state will put a hold on any new contract services, he said.

    Cabinet members will be asked to look for any possible immediate cuts to their departmental budgets, up to 20 percent, DeWine said.

     

    Statehouse News Bureau’s Karen Kasler contributed to this report.

    This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

     


    During these trying times, ideastream is dedicated to keeping you, the Northeast Ohio community, informed by providing trusted, up-to-date information that you need to know, as it happens.

    From special coverage of briefings by the president and governor to information about health resources and opportunities to ask questions of local and national health experts, ideastream is committed to providing you with all the information you need to know about COVID-19, as it happens. Visit www.ideastream.org/coronavirus for the latest.

  • Gov. Mike DeWine and other state officials will provide their latest update on the COVID-19 pandemic for April 27, 2021. The press conference is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

    Our priority is to provide trustworthy, up-to-date coverage that Northeast Ohioans can rely on, including stories that follow up on the daily press conference. As the pandemic continues, ideastream will share live briefings from DeWine online.


    During these trying times, ideastream is dedicated to keeping you, the Northeast Ohio community, informed by providing trusted, up-to-date information that you need to know, as it happens.

    From special coverage of briefings by the president and governor to information about health resources and opportunities to ask questions of local and national health experts, ideastream is committed to providing you with all the information you need to know about COVID-19, as it happens. Visit ideastream's coronavirus coverage page for the latest.

    This special coverage is made possible thanks to the support of our members. We're here for you, and we're here because of you​.

  • Gov. Mike DeWine and other state officials will provide their latest update on the COVID-19 pandemic for May 13, 2021. The press conference is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

    Our priority is to provide trustworthy, up-to-date coverage that Northeast Ohioans can rely on, including stories that follow up on the daily press conference. As the pandemic continues, ideastream will share live briefings from DeWine online.


    During these trying times, ideastream is dedicated to keeping you, the Northeast Ohio community, informed by providing trusted, up-to-date information that you need to know, as it happens.

    From special coverage of briefings by the president and governor to information about health resources and opportunities to ask questions of local and national health experts, ideastream is committed to providing you with all the information you need to know about COVID-19, as it happens. Visit ideastream's coronavirus coverage page for the latest.

    This special coverage is made possible thanks to the support of our members. We're here for you, and we're here because of you​.

  • Join us on June 8 at 7:00 p.m. for the American Graduate: Path to the Future launch event. This multi-year initiative, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and The WNET Group, strives to help students explore and prepare for high-demand careers, including the 30 million open middle skill jobs that require a one-year occupational certificate or two-year associate degree.

    During the launch we will explore workforce development in the post-COVID economy with youth and leading experts including Patricia de Stacy Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona; John Bridgeland, Founder & CEO of Civic Enterprises; Dr. Shari Camhi, Superintendent of Schools for Baldwin Union Free School District; Anthony Carnevale, Director and Research Professor, Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce; Monique Miles, Director, Aspen Forum for Community Solutions; Rick Wade, Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach, US Chamber of Commerce.

    After the national launch event, please join ideastream for a local conversation with Dr. Brian Bontempo, Superintendent of the Auburn Career Center; Dave Mangas, Superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, Mary Kelley, Program Administrator for Ohio Means Jobs - Cuyahoga County; and Eric Dillenbeck, Vice Director of Work Experience for Youth Opportunities Unlimited on workforce issues facing Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. 

    Register now!

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