Local

By Evelyn Rossman Since his second inauguration, President Donald Trump has prioritized higher tariffs as a tool for promoting U.S. businesses and reducing the country’s dependency on foreign goods, prompting a litany of responses and criticisms from people across the political spectrum. So far, Trump’s ever-changing tariffs have had a marginal impact on grocery prices… Read more: Will Tariffs Raise My Grocery Bill? Understanding Their Impact on Prices

By Angela Hay At Squash the Beef in GlenVillage on East 105th Street, chef Kurtis Williams makes plate after eye-catching plate of delicious food while a relaxed DJ set plays in the dining area. On the menu are giant burgers, hand-cut fries, nuggets, and overstuffed sandwiches. He prepares the kind of hearty, filling meals you… Read more: Squash the Beef Serves Southern Comfort Food with a Plant-Based Twist

By Mary Kate McNamee True West Homes is a small nonprofit based in Cleveland, that helps individuals exiting homelessness get back on their feet. Founded by Sheri West in 2018, the organization remains under her leadership today, with West serving as executive director.   The Birth of a New Era West says she always wanted to… Read more: True West Homes: Small Nonprofit Making a Big Impact

The Historic Leadership of Carl Stokes July 24 marks the 47th anniversary of one of the most courageous acts by an American mayor. In 1968, Mayor Carl B. Stokes, Cleveland’s first African American mayor, acted decisively to prevent further bloodshed after the Glenville Shootout. But his legacy extends far beyond that night, it’s a testament… Read more: Carl Stokes: A Courageous Leader Who Shaped Cleveland’s Future

Cities and villages can still use them under strict conditions. By Konner Hines Starting July 1, speed cameras are officially banned in counties and townships across Ohio. A major update to state law now prohibits these local governments from using traffic law photo-monitoring devices to detect or enforce traffic violations, marking a significant shift in… Read more: Speed Camera Ban in Ohio Counties and Townships Starts June 30

Public Safety & Crime Seven Teens Injured in Lee-Harvard Neighborhood Shooting In the early hours of Sunday, June 8, a shooting in Cleveland’s Lee-Harvard neighborhood resulted in injuries to seven teenagers. The incident occurred around 12:15 a.m. near the intersection of Lee Road and Harvard Avenue, following reports of drag racing in the area. Upon… Read more: CityVoice: Cleveland Weekly News Brief – June 13th 2025

Business Feature of the Month By Devon Jones A business is about its business, and it is always something special, no matter the size. However, when it comes to small companies, their achievements can feel even more remarkable. In today’s uncertain economy, providing consistent, high-quality service is not just a milestone—it’s a community privilege. The… Read more: University Heights Nutrition: Juicing Success and Community Health

By Denise Holcomb Removing the Stigma seeks youth-focused organizations, individuals, businesses, and volunteers to support our Youth Life CLE Readiness program. In the summer of 2024, we launched the Youth Life CLE Awareness and Prevention program to promote the removal of stigma around suicide and create a safe environment for youth to connect with peers,… Read more: Removing the Stigma: Collaboration Program for Youth

By Darcella L. Lambert On April 12, NeighborUp funding enabled Removing The Stigma to host the Survivors of Suicide Loss Luncheon: A Day to Remember, at the Stella Walsh Recreation Center, located on Broadway Avenue in Cleveland. The event provided a supportive space for those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. The… Read more: Healing Together: Survivors of Suicide Loss Share Strength and Support

By Ray’Chel Wilson, CFEI Let’s be real: economic uncertainty isn’t just a buzzword you hear on the news—it’s something you feel in your bones, especially if you’re part of Cleveland’s Black community. The legacy of redlining, the sting of predatory lending, and the constant hustle to make ends meet are all too familiar.  But if… Read more: Building Black Wealth in Cleveland: 3 Community-Driven Strategies

Quelina Jordan-Shaw receives $4,964 from Fund for Teachers to design her own learning experience. Quelina Jordan-Shaw, a high school teacher at Cleveland Metropolitan Remote School, has been selected as a 2025 Fund for Teachers Fellow. She will receive a $4,964 grant to travel to Ghana this summer, where she will study how schools there teach… Read more: Cleveland Teacher Wins National Grant to Study Education in Ghana

By Ron Kisner As evidence of a changing Parma, the city known for its racially torn history including a 27-year-old Cleveland NAACP housing and employment discrimination suit finally settled in 2002, has appointed its first black council member, Monica Wilson.    Clearly aware of her city’s sordid racial history, Wilson, who represents   Ward 1, said… Read more: Parma’s First Black Council Member Sees Changing City

The Cleveland Observer is dedicated to informing residents about legislative activities under review. By reporting on ordinances and resolutions during their initial stages, the Observer enables community members to engage with their Council members, providing feedback or expressing support before final decisions are made.  How Your Tax Dollars Are Being Spent Cleveland City Council introduced… Read more: Cleveland City Council -February/March First Reading Emergency Ordinances

Grammy Award-winning artist Anthony “Krayzie Bone” Henderson and his nonprofit, Spread the Love Foundation (STLF), partnered with students at Euclid High School to share real-world business, marketing, and music experiences that could help students in their future careers. The program kicked off on Thursday, March 7, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Euclid… Read more: Krayzie Bone Partners with Euclid High School Students

By Unity Powell On a gray, rainy day at Cleveland School of the Arts, a choir of teens practiced an upbeat medley of songs accompanied by piano. Dr. David M. Thomas stood, watching his colleague lead the students through the arrangement. While passing through to get to his class, it was obvious that his presence had… Read more: Music, Mentorship, and Legacy: The Journey of Dr. David M. Thomas