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The vast majority of Ohio’s public schools are already implementing the state’s mandated “science of reading” curriculum, which focuses reading instruction on vocabulary, phonics, fluency and comprehension.

Gov. Mike DeWine called for a “renewed focus on literacy” and a change to the way reading is taught last year after years of low reading scores.

Before, many schools relied on an instructional method known as “three cueing,” which teaches kids to consider the context, the syntax of words in a phrase, and letter-sounds. Now the approach requires more phonics and vocabulary lessons.

The science of reading has been championed by a number of educators and advocates who believe a radical change is necessary to turn around the education system, but the Reading Recovery Council of North America has sued over the requirements.

In the final quarter of the school year, DeWine is touring the state with the chief of the state Department of Education and Workforce, touting the new method.

The goal is to benefit kids.

— Laura

Overnight Scores and Weather

Guardians at Boston Red Sox: Guardians rally again for 10-7 win against Boston in extra innings

Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Storms return

Top stories

Science of reading: Gov. Mike DeWine’s science of reading roundtable discussion held at the Cleveland Public Library downtown featured dozens of local leaders, educators and community leaders. Lucas Daprile reports that since a significant portion of students’ reading education happens outside the classroom, officials stressed the need for families, libraries and nonprofits to get on the same page as schools when it comes to teaching reading.

Biden ballot: Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has rejected a Democratic proposal meant to get around a legal technicality that could prevent President Joe Biden from appearing on the ballot here this November. Andrew Tobias reports that in a Monday letter to Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a top lawyer in Yost’s office said the idea floated by Democrats — that LaRose accept a “provisional” certification of Biden as the Democratic Party candidate before the party’s official convention in mid-August — isn’t allowed under state law, which sets the deadline for parties to nominate their presidential candidates in early August.

Brown vs. Moreno: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s campaign has a significant cash advantage over Bernie Moreno heading into the next phase of Ohio’s election season as Moreno emerges from last month’s contentious Republican primary election. Andrew Tobias reports that Brown, a longtime Ohio Democrat, disclosed in new campaign finance reports that he has nearly $16 million in cash, compared to Moreno’s $1.72 million. Buckeye Values PAC, a Super PAC Moreno’s allies formed to support his campaign, meanwhile has another $543,000.

Today in Ohio: Ohio House Republicans want to further subsidize the development of natural gas pipelines in Ohio. We’re talking about state government using $20 million to create a revolving loan program that charges no interest for five years to governments that purchase easements for pipelines on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.

Statehouse and Politics

Congressional campaigns: U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes might be in one of the nation’s most competitive congressional reelection races, but she and Ohio’s two other targeted Democratic U.S. House of Representatives members are far ahead of their GOP rivals in fundraising. Sabrina Eaton reports that Sykes, an Akron Democrat, had raised $522,890 in the month-long period covered by the report, finishing up with more than $1.6 million in the bank at the end of March.

Transgender healthcare: A Franklin County Judge has put a recently passed Ohio bill banning transgender minors from gender-affirming medicines and surgeries on a 14-day hold, reports Laura Hancock. The temporary restraining order from Franklin Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook, a Republican, lasts for 14 days, or until he holds a hearing to consider a preliminary injunction — which is a longer, indefinite hold that continues while the merits of the case are argued — whichever is sooner.

Child care: Proposed money and reforms unveiled recently by Gov. Mike DeWine and his administration to improve Ohio’s problem-ridden child-care system are only “a step in the right direction,” the head of the state’s new agency focused on children said Tuesday. Experts say to solve the twin problems of a child-care workforce shortage and skyrocketing costs, it will take a large influx of government money, Jeremy Pelzer reports.

Eclipse traffic: Ohio avoided eclipse-related traffic gridlock last week that state officials had warned would accompany the once-in-a-lifetime event. State transportation officials said Tuesday it’s because Ohioans heeded their warnings and stayed off the roads, Andrew Tobias reports.

Payday lending: If an Ohioan borrowed $500 from a payday lender five years ago, the interest and fees piled up to a total average repayment of $1,180. Today, that same loan would cost a total of $595 on average, advocates say. Laura Hancock reports the advocates gathered at the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday to celebrate five years since 2018′s House Bill 123 went into full effect.

Northeast Ohio News

Bibb hire: Members of Cleveland City Council at Monday night’s meeting ripped Mayor Justin Bibb over his decision to hire his college roommate, Phillip McHugh, as a top Cleveland safety official after McHugh was accused of civil rights violations at a previous job. Courtney Astolfi reports Councilman Kevin Conwell likened McHugh to Tamir Rice’s killer, ex-Cleveland cop Timothy Loehmann, as well as Bull Connor, the Birmingham, Alabama, safety commissioner who brutalized civil rights demonstrators in the 1960s.

Road projects: The Ohio Department of Transportation on Tuesday unveiled $1.7 billion in construction work on 248 projects across Northeast Ohio, a move officials said would make roads and bridges safer, Olivia Mitchell reports. The projects in 17 counties include the repaving of Interstate 90 in three cities in Cuyahoga County.

Callery pear trees: Since January 2023, it is illegal in Ohio to plant or sell ornamental pear trees, reports Susan Brownstein. But you can find them all over Northeast Ohio, most in the wild, crowding out native trees and shrubs that provide habitat and food for the many songbirds that migrate through in the spring.

West Side Market: When the West Side Market closed Saturday because of an electrical outage, people took to social media speculating what happened and urged the city to buy backup generators for the aging facility, Paris Wolfe reports.

Sanctuary Museum: The Sanctuary Museum is a passion project started 13 years ago by restoration artist Lou McClung that showcases restored statues and other religious artifacts that once graced dozens of now-shuttered Catholic churches around Greater Cleveland. Housed in the former St. Hedwig’s parish on Madison Avenue are the fruits of McClung’s painstaking restoration work, reports Courtney Astolfi.

Cleveland refugees: In the first three months of 2024, refugees from 32 countries came to Ohio, according to state-reported data collected by the Refugee Processing Center, reports Zachary Smith. Of the 906 refugees who came to Ohio from January to March, more than a third (39.5%), or 358 people, came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (a separate country from the Republic of the Congo).

Healthcare and Business

HPV: The CDC says nearly 40% of children between the ages of 9 to 17 had received one or more human papillomavirus vaccine doses by 2022 and boys (34.6%) were less likely than girls (42.9%) to have received it, reports Julie Washington. That lags behind federal targets of fully vaccinating 80% of adolescents over the next decade.

Smart meters: FirstEnergy’s four-year plan to install smart meters for all of its residential customers took another step forward now that the utility and several key stakeholders have reached a settlement on a modified plan. The settlement, which still must be approved by Ohio regulators, brings the price tag of FirstEnergy’s grid upgrades down from $626 million to $421 million, reports Sean McDonnell.

New apartments: Plans for new income-based senior apartments in the Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood are scheduled to go before the Cleveland Planning Commission for final approval this week, along with the demolition of two structures currently at the site. A presentation sent to the commission ahead of Friday’s meeting shows a four-story apartment building consisting of 48-units, 28 of which will be one-bedrooms, with 20 being two-bedrooms, Megan Sims reports.

Jamaica flight: Just one month after launching new service between Cleveland and Montego Bay, Jamaica, Frontier Airlines has canceled the route, starting in late June. Susan Glaser reports a spokesperson for the airline attributed the cancellation, at least in part, to the State Department’s travel advisory for Jamaica, which recommends that Americans “reconsider travel” to the island nation.

Crime and Courts

14-year-old killed: A man wanted in the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Cleveland was arrested Monday in Georgia, reports Olivia Mitchell. Cleveland police say Ian Price, 21, killed Terrion Darryl Malone of Cleveland.

Prison sentence: A Euclid man who called 911 to report that he shot and killed his girlfriend in Cleveland Heights last year was sentenced Tuesday to spend at least 25 years in prison. Cory Shaffer reports Joshua Ward, 39, avoided a life sentence earlier this month when he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault and a weapons violation in the slaying of 43-year-old Shievon Seats.

Tax shelter: A well-known Independence financial adviser who ran what prosecutors called a “massive” tax-shelter scheme for wealthy clients was sentenced Tuesday to more than a year in federal prison, reports Adam Ferrise. Rao Garuda, 81, authored books and gave speeches around the country while helping hide his clients’ money from the IRS by lying on tax forms that said his clients donated to charity when they actually put money into an account they could access.

Gang sentence: A member of the Loyal Always street gang was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in federal prison for supplying fentanyl pills and other drugs to dealers, including a member of a rival gang, reports Adam Ferrise.

Arts and Entertainment

Henry Mancini: April 16 marks the 100th birthday of Cleveland-born composer Henry Mancini, one of music world’s biggest icons. Mancini’s vocalist-daughter Monica and husband, Los Angeles-based drummer and music producer Gregg Field, are marking Mancini’s impact in a big way, including an exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Peter Chakerian reports.

Ask Yadi: When at the bowling alley, even though you pick out your own ball, is it OK to grab any ball from the return even if it isn’t yours? Yadi Rodriguez writes that it’s not OK, but people may be confused by color, so it’s fine to grab another one and hold on to it when it comes back from the ball return.

Rhiannon Giddens: Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens will deliver the keynote address at the Oberlin College and Conservatory’s commencement ceremony, reports Malcolm X Abram. The critically acclaimed artist will also receive an honorary doctorate of music degree from her alma mater.

Cocky’s Bagels: Cocky’s will be celebrating 4/20 this weekend at its location at the East Bank of the Flats. Cocky’s is hosting a “Satur-daze” event from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Alongside groovy music and mellow vibes, Cocky’s will host shirt tie-dyeing and giving out free “j papers” with the purchase of a drink, Alex Darus reports.

Concert season: The parklike grounds of Lake View Cemetery will host four summer concerts (free) and three chamber music performances ($35) this year. Paris Wolfe reports the summer concerts are at 4 p.m. Sundays.

Rock Hall class: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be announced on Sunday during an episode of “American Idol,” which airs at 8 p.m. on WEWS Channel 5, reports Malcolm X Abram. The official fan vote ended with the Dave Matthews Band coming in at No. 1, Abram reports.

You’re all caught up

Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.

— Curated by Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard

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