Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog

Today's One Good Thing: Sidewalk Concerts

by Vince Grzegorek on March 27, 2020 at 3:52PM

Every day, while most things in this forsaken world suck, we'll offer one thing, just one little thing, that doesn't. Today:

Local COVID-19 Relief Fund Organized to Buy Gift Cards and Takeout From Local Restaurants to Distribute to Needy Families and Healthcare Workers

by Brett Zelman on March 27, 2020 at 3:40PM

Medworks, the Northeast Ohio non-profit that helps provide access to medical care for those in need, has launched the COVID-19 Relief Fund to assist families in need, as well as frontline healthcare workers and local restaurants. They are asking for donations, like so many other folks.

KeyBank Instituting Moratorium on Foreclosures, Will Defer Payments During COVID-19 Outbreak

by Sam Allard on March 27, 2020 at 2:52PM

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said Friday that in a conversation with KeyBank this morning, he was told that Key would be instituting a moratorium on foreclosures. Budish said he hoped other regional banks would follow suit.

Dave's Markets Buys Cleveland and Columbus Lucky's Market Locations

by Vince Grzegorek on March 27, 2020 at 2:28PM

While Lucky's Markets filed for bankruptcy and the majority of its stores earlier this year, the Cleveland location remained open. This week, it got a new owner.

More than $3 Million for Cuyahoga County Small Business Loans and Grants Could be Available by Monday

by Sam Allard on March 27, 2020 at 1:46PM

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, speaking at Friday's City Club virtual forum, said that roughly $3 million had been raised to provide emergency relief for small businesses. Those funds could be available as early as Monday of next week.

Confirmed Coronavirus Cases in Cuyahoga County by Zip Code

by Vince Grzegorek on March 27, 2020 at 11:21AM

Cuyahoga County this morning released a breakdown of confirmed coronavirus cases by zip code after being asked, by residents and by reporters, to be more transparent with public health information. Until today, officials had only announced total countywide infections.

Groups Say New Plan for Ohio's Primary Falls Short, Voting Should Extend Into May

by Mary Kuhlman, Ohio News Connection on March 27, 2020 at 9:30AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Civil-rights groups caution that Ohio's new plan to address the state's postponed primary could deprive people of their right to vote. To reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine closed the polls for the state's March 17 primary.

Meijer to Install Plexiglass Shields to Combat Coronavirus

by Jerilyn Jordan on March 27, 2020 at 9:22AM

Michigan-based retailer Meijer announced Wednesday that it would be taking extra safety measures across its 248 supercenters as the coronavirus continues to sweep through the state. As an essential business, Meijer and other grocery stores are among those allowed to operate during Ohio's stay at home order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Trader Joe's Confidential: Employee Worries the Company Isn't Taking Coronavirus Safety Seriously

by Anonymous on March 27, 2020 at 9:19AM

In the spirit of Kaizen… A Seattle store has already been shut down due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19, and reports are coming out that an employee has tested positive in New York as well.

Today's One Good Thing: Stream 'Saint Frances,' Help Cleveland Cinemas

by Vince Grzegorek on March 26, 2020 at 3:42PM

Go here, pay $12, half of which goes to Cleveland Cinemas, which can't operate right now, and enjoy a movie that has drawn these rave reviews on its way to a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes: "Saint Frances" hits a sweet spot that's really sweet.

Dr. Amy Acton: Ohio Could See 6,000-8,000 New COVID-19 Cases Per Day at Peak Surge

by Sam Allard on March 26, 2020 at 3:32PM

Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton made a shocking prediction at Thursday's COVID-19 press conference: During "peak surge," she said, Ohio could see as many as 6,000-8,000 new cases of the coronavirus every day. Given the state's limited testing capacity, in which tests are reserved for the highest risk patients, Acton said there'd be no way to document those numbers conclusively.

Metroparks Reminds You Not to Be an Asshole If You Visit a Park During the Coronavirus Pandemic

by Vince Grzegorek on March 26, 2020 at 2:34PM

Get outside, they say. Take a walk.

Ohio Beer Sales Were Up 38% in the Week Before Coronavirus Shutdown

by Vince Grzegorek on March 26, 2020 at 1:37PM

The Buckeye State saw the coronavirus pandemic coming and took, for the most part, necessary steps to provide for each other's safety as Ohioans worked to flatten the curve. We worked from home.

Ohio Clocks 187,000 Unemployment Claims in a Week as National Total Shatters Records

by Cincinnati CityBeat Staff on March 26, 2020 at 1:17PM

More than 187,000 Ohioans applied for unemployment benefits for the week ending March 21, according to federal jobs data released today. The avalanche of jobless claims added to the more than 3.28 million claims filed across the country — an amount that crushed the previous record for weekly claims set in 1982, when 695,000 people applied for unemployment in a single week.

Ohio Lawmakers Extend Primary to April 28 with No In-Person Voting; Voter Rights Groups Protest

by Nick Swartsell on March 26, 2020 at 12:11PM

The Ohio Association of Elections Officials represents the state's 88 county boards of elections. In a letter sent to legislators yesterday, they too say the deadline is unworkable.

First Energy Joined CPP in Halting Shutoffs, Has Restored Power to 600 Customers in Northeast Ohio

by Sam Allard on March 26, 2020 at 10:54AM

It has been two weeks since the City of Cleveland announced that it would temporarily halt utility shutoffs and restore power and water connections to those customers whose service had been disconnected due to lack of payment. Since that time, the city reports, Cleveland Public Power has reconnected 59 total customers and the Cleveland Water Department has reconnected 507 total customers.

Rock Hall, Art Museum, Science Center and Other Cleveland Cultural Institutions Announce Indefinite Closures Due to Coronavirus

by Vince Grzegorek on March 26, 2020 at 10:42AM

You're not supposed to go anywhere anyway, as Gov. DeWine has ordered, and who knows when All Of This will be over, but just for official measure, a group of Cleveland's largest cultural institutions issued a joint statement yesterday announcing their indefinite closures that will go beyond the statewide stay-at-home order. They include the Rock Hall, MOCA, the Art Museum, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Maltz Museum, the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Botanical Garden, the Children's Museum, the Holden Arboretum, the Natural History Museum and the Cleveland History Center.

Social Distancing Doesn't Mean Social Disconnecting

by Mary Kuhlman, Ohio News Connection on March 26, 2020 at 9:30AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Feeling cut off from the outside world can be depressing and lonely, especially for older Ohioans, but social distancing doesn't have to mean social disconnecting. With Ohio under a stay-at-home order and senior centers closed, AARP Ohio State Director Holly Holtzen recommends making a plan to stay connected with loved ones.

This Shit's No Joke: Waffle House Closes 418 Locations Due to Coronavirus, Including Some in Ohio

by Daniel Hill on March 25, 2020 at 5:08PM

In other words, if you absolutely must get your Cheesesteak Melt Hashbrown Bowl fix, you have options. But considering the Waffle House Index is currently flashing red, you might also consider taking caution — and taking this COVID-19 stuff very seriously.

Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon Converting to "Virtual Event" for 2020

by Sam Allard on March 25, 2020 at 4:20PM

“This is certainly not the outcome anyone wanted. We love our runners, and we know that so many of them have been training hard for our race in May,” said Jack Staph, Executive Director of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, in the statement.

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