Rock Hall To Feature Supremes Gowns

Cleveland -- You can catch some of the glitz and glamour of the do-wop days of the Supremes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The exhibit, featuring more than 50 Supremes costumes and rare memorabilia, opens April 28th. Mary Wilson, a member of the Supremens, says some of the gowns weighed in at 30 pounds apiece.

Former Prosecutor To Be Released Early

Cleveland -- Former Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Aaron Phillips will get out of jail early and has been granted shock probation. Phillips who was jailed for bribery, theft in office and drug possession only served a portion of his two had a half sentence. Prosecutor Bill Mason is disappointed with the judges decision and says Phillips should have been held to a higher standard. Phillips is required to do 300 hours of community service and will serve four months on electronic home detention.

Chlorine Leak Forms Cloud Over Area

Cleveland -- There were some frightening moments for some Cleveland residents last night. Hazmat crews responded to a chemical leak at Transportation Road and Rockefeller Avenue. Some people reported they saw a small cloud over the area. Officials say it was chlorine that filled the sky and formed the cloud. An investigation is underway to try to find out where the leak originated. There were no injuries.

Police Video Cameras Offered

Cleveland -- The Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association is offering as much as $25-hundred worth of video equipment to the Cleveland Police Department. The group hopes it will be used to tape interviews with suspects in homicide cases to avoid conflicting testimony.

Clevelanders To Discuss Lakefront Plan

Cleveland -- Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell says the City Planning Commission has scheduled a meeting to present a new development plan for Cleveland's Downtown Lakefront from the Cuyahoga River to Burke Lakefront Airport. The public session is the first of several planned meetings to be held in the coming months to present plans for areas of Cleveland's lakefront from Edgewater Park to Collinwood. The first meeting will be Wednesday March 24th at the Cleveland Convention Center.

Church Affirms Traditional Marriage

Cleveland-- An influential Cleveland church held a rally last night to reaffirm the rite of marriage as being exclusively between a man and woman. Reverend Marvin McMickle told the congregation at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church that the "design for the human family" is clearly stated in the Bible. The rally drew more than 500 people and comes just days before proponents of same-sex marriage hold a similar gathering in front of the Lakeside Courthouse

Mayor Names New Community Director

Cleveland, OH -- Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell has named Daryl Rush, a senior vice president at Neighborhood Progress Inc., as the new director of Community Development. The mayor has also named John Wilbur, executive director of the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation, as assistant director for the department. Rush replaces Linda Hudecek. Hudecek held the position for six years and began under the White administration. She has moved on to a position outside of City Hall.

Cleveland International Film Festival Opens at Tower City

Cleveland -- The Cleveland International Film Festival is underway at the Tower City Center. Over the next eleven days, movie-goers will view 85 movies. The film "Dandelion" kicked off the festival on opening night Thursday. One official says some folks will use vacation time to come and watch many of the movies. Officials expect 40-thousand people to attend screenings during the festival.

Downtown Cleveland Condo Project Planned

Cleveland-- A $90-million condo project is being planned for Cleveland's Warehouse District. The project has been named the District Park Condominiums and will offer 350 units overlooking Lake Erie. It's a three-phase project that could begin as early as July first if enough units are pre sold to secure bank financing.

Firefighters Cutting Down On Sick Time On St. Paddy's Day

Cleveland -- Cleveland firefighters were on the job on St. Patrick's Day willing or unwilling. In an effort to crack down on "sick calls," the city warned firefighters if they call off on St. Paddy's day, they should expect a battalion chief to visit their home to make sure they are really ill. Authorities say only one firefighter called to have the day off, compared to eleven sick calls last year. The city says this will save money in overtime, which would have been used to replace the missing firefighters.

Looking for the Next Apprentice

Cleveland -- Are you ready to answer a casting call? Now's your chance to try out for the new NBC reality show, "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump. Auditions will be held Saturday March 27th at WKYC-TV 3, 1333 Lakeside Avenue at 9:00 in the morning. According NBC officials, there will be no interviews without a wristband. No one will be allowed in the building without a wristband. A limited number of wristbands, approximately one-thousand, will be distributed beginning at 9 a.m.

Seven Hills looking to Switch School Districts

Seven Hills -- Leaders from the Parma and Independence school districts have been invited to a meeting with Seven Hills Mayor David Bentkowski to discuss residents switching school districts. Seven Hills is currently in the Parma district, though some parents feel Independence would be a better system for their kids. The Parma schools are thinking about renaming their district to include Parma Heights and Seven Hills to give residents more of a feeling that they are included.

Airport Monitoring Planned In Olmsted Falls

Olmsted Falls -- The city of Olmsted Falls will have additional monitoring of sound levels for jets passing over that community from nearby Hopkins International Airport. The monitor will be installed in a neighborhood of historic homes. There are concerns about noise levels increasing, especially with a new two thousand foot runway extension being built just two miles from the Olmsted Falls border.

Metroparks Meeting May Be in Violation

Cleveland -- The Ohio Auditor's office says the Cleveland Metroparks violated a state law when it denied public access to a board meeting concerning an upcoming audit. It happened Wednesday when members of the Metroparks staff met behind closed doors to prepare documents for the audit. The Metroparks said it interpreted the law concerning such meetings in a different manner, but will check with the state auditor's office for recommendations on future meeting procedure.

Coyne to Retire from Science Center

Cleveland -- The executive director of Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center has announced he will retire this summer. Richard Coyne was instrumental in helping to raise the $60 - million to build the center, and brought in major exhibits to increase attendance figures. Coyne says he would like to see the new director continue his plans to expand the size of the Science Center.

New Hotel Planned for The Highlands

Beachwood-- The Chagrin Highlands business district will soon see a 300-room Marriott Hotel. It's the first such hotel for the property owned by the city of Cleveland that is located in Orange, Beachwood, Warrensville Heights, and Highland Hills. Construction should take about a year, with the hotel scheduled to open in the summer of 2005.
 

United Way Donations Are Up

Cleveland -- Despite massive job losses and a weakened economy, donations to the United Way of greater Cleveland were up five percent over last year. Pledges total $46.5 million for 2003, which is $2 million more than the year before. National City Bank, KeyCorp and Eaton Corporation showed the greatest amount of employee pledges.

City's Community Development Director Leaving

Cleveland -- Cleveland Community Development Director Linda Hudecek is leaving after serving the city for six years.  Hudecek is leaving to become senior vice president of Neighborhood Progress Incorporated. It's a group that links neighborhood groups with founders and banks. As director, Hudecek managed numerous community projects. No word on her replacement at this time.

Dollar Bank Opens Near Westside Financial Education Center With A Hispanic Flavor

Cleveland -- Residents of Cleveland's Near Westside neighborhoods have a new financial education center, and it comes with a Hispanic flavor. Dollar Bank has expanded its Clark/West 25th Street branch to include a Loan and Financial Education Center that will cater to Spanish speaking customers. Bilingual employees have been hired, and promotional material has been written in Spanish. Credit enhancement, home ownership and financial education classes will be offered to Near Westside residents in both English and Spanish.

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones Votes Against Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act

Cleveland -- Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones has given the thumbs down on the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act. The Congresswoman says she is against H.R. 3717 because she feels that the legislation was an unreasonable reaction to recent events on television and radio. Congresswoman Tubbs Jones went on to say it is clear that the American people are concerned about obscenity and does not believe that the solution rests in restricting the First Amendment. She says instead of legislation that results in censorship, we should vote by consumer choice. We should choose media that are respectful of the family hour, and boycott media that are not.

Bob Dole Visiting Ohio regarding Healthcare

Columbus-- Former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole made the second stop on his nationwide speaking tour this week promoting the benefits of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for seniors and people living with disabilities. Appearing at the annual Ohio Health Day in Columbus, Ohio, Senator Dole introduced a new website and presented a new educational pamphlet that explains the details of the Medicare Drug Benefit. As part of event, Senator Dole announced that the Visiting Nurse Associations of America joined Senator Dole in support of his nationwide speaking tour.

School Demolition Ceremony Scheduled

Cleveland -- Ceremonies honoring 170 students and 2 teachers who died in a fire at a Cleveland school nearly a century ago will be held at noon today. Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett will be in attendance at Memorial Elementary, which is scheduled to be demolished so a new school can be built. Construction on the new school should be completed by 2005.

South Amherst Fined by Ohio EPA

South Amherst -- The village of South Amherst has been fined more than $25 thousand by the Ohio EPA for violations at its drinking water plant. Those violations occurred between 1998 and 2002. The village draws it's water from water quarries, which are more susceptible to bacteria contamination. The violations concern monitoring and reporting requirements.

Holiday Sobriety Checkpoints Announced

Euclid -- Police across Cuyahoga County will be out in force on St. Patrick's Day. Sobriety checkpoints will be set up in at least 16 communities with high accident areas. The checkpoints are a mandatory requirement in order for the county to receive continued federal funding.

ODOT Worker Suspended Over Bush Remark

Cleveland -- Michael Gertenslager has been suspended with pay from his job with the Ohio Department of Transportation for a written remark apparently aimed at President Bush. It happened during Bush's visit to Cleveland this week, when Gertenslager was asked to park his snowplow to block access to Interstate-90 for the president's motorcade. Gertenslager is said to have hung a sign off the truck that read "Traitor." The State Highway Patrol noticed the sign, and Gertenslager was suspended later that same day. He faces penalties, including possible dismissal at a discipline hearing next week.

Ferry Operators, Marblehead Ordered To Reach Agreement

Marblehead -- An Ottawa County Common Pleas judge has ordered Marblehead village officials to meet with operators of the Kelley's Island ferry line next week. The meeting is aimed at resolving a dispute over a departure fee that has halted service from the island to the mainland. The ferry line claims the tax is illegal and unenforceable. Marblehead says the tax is needed to improve its parks and other public facilities. Ferry operators threaten to move their operation to Sandusky to avoid collecting the extra fee.

Mayors Propose Regional Bank

Cleveland-- A group of Cuyahoga County mayors is supporting a half-billion dollar regional bank to improve their cities with additional housing and reverse declines in population. The bank would be funded with county issued bonds, possibly backed by a tax hike. The operation would then sustain itself with loans and pay dividends to communities. It's an effort to make up development money that is no longer supplied by the state and federal government.

Terry R. White To Receive Humanitarian Award From The American Red Cross

Cleveland-- Former MetroHealth CEO Terry White will be the recipient of the "Steven D. Bullock Humanitarian Award," given by the Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross. White is being recognized for his contributions to healthcare over the past four decades. White will be honored at the 11th Biennial Red Cross Ball of Cleveland on May 1st.

Issue 31 Economics and Arts Levy Goes Down To Defeat

Cleveland, -- An economic development plan that included funding for the arts community was rejected by Cuyahoga County voters yesterday. Even so, Tom Schorgl (Shor-gull) with the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture says it could only be seen as a setback rather than a defeat. He plans to meet with county commissioners to discuss options for arts funding. Issue 31 would have also provided money to fund expansion of businesses like Taylor Chair in Bedford, which has been in that city for 188 years.

John Kerry Takes Ohio

Cleveland -- Massachusetts Senator John Kerry was the winner in Ohio and eight other Super Tuesday states with Cleveland-area Congressman Dennis Kucinich finishing a distant third. Kerry's main rival John Edwards, who came in second in most states, will officially leave the race today. The economy was said to be the key issue among voters in the Buckeye State.

Cafaro To Take On LaTourette

Cleveland -- She may have little political experience, but plenty of campaign funding helped Democrat Capri Cafaro in her bid to take on Republican Congressman Steve LaTourette this fall. Cafaro used heavy TV time to beat four other challengers in the primary. Her family develops shopping centers in the Youngstown area and despite using $200 thousand of her own money, Cafaro says hard work was the key to her campaign victory

Cleveland Library Issues Okayed

Cleveland-- Most library funding issues around Northeast Ohio were passed yesterday, though two went down to defeat. Voters in the Portage County and North Ridgeville systems said no to their proposals. Willoughby-Eastlake and Akron-Summit County won approval with the Cuyahoga County system leading in the final hours. The libraries needed the extra tax money to make up for cuts in state funding.

Taxin' Tim Hagan Wins Commissioner Seat 

Cleveland -- Longtime political figure Tim Hagan came out the winner in the Cuyahoga County commissioner's race against incumbent Tim McCormack with 53 percent of the vote. Hagan was asked to run for the seat by local business leaders and had a bigger campaign war chest than McCormack. There was no Republican candidate for the seat.

Lake County Medical Center Moves Ahead

Concord -- Voters in Lake County have approved a rezoning issue that will open the doors for a proposed $50-million medical center there in the next few years. The Lake Hospital System plans to build that facility on 40 acres in that should be in operation within the next two years.

Lakewood City Council Says No To Building Giveaway

Lakewood-- Lakewood City Council has rejected a plan that would have given the city-owned Madison Building to the Cleveland Clinic. The clinic planned to sell that building to a group of doctors. Lakewood Council President Bob Seelie says lawyers for the city will now look at alternate plans to dispose of that building. The clinic had plans to upgrade a new heart unit at Lakewood Hospital with the money generated by the sale of the Madison Building.