Subscribe to the Wake Up, cleveland.com’s free morning newsletter, delivered to your inbox weekdays at 5:30 a.m. Ohio’s $61 billion budget sets the state’s priorities. We spend money on the issues we, as a state, value. But shouldn’t that require an open, transparent process with input from regular Ohioans? Instead, lawmakers shove spending priorities – and laws completely unrelated to spending – into a 4,000-page document, then pass it in 24 hours, without a public comment. The House budget, which reporter Jeremy Pelzer calls “enormous (and enormously complicated),” includes hundreds of major policy changes on a wide variety of issues. Like public records laws, which could make it harder for Ohioans to see what their government is doing. And measures to raise state vehicle registration and renewal fees while boosting pay raises for elected officials, and no longer have voters elect county coroners. House budget amendments were adopted en masse, without revealing which lawmaker was behind each proposed change. And voters didn’t get a say, though they certainly can appeal to their state senators, who take up the budget next. With that, I leave you in good hands this week with trends editor Courtney Astolfi. See you after spring break! Overnight Scores and Weather Cavs vs. Miami Heat: Cavs make early statement with dominant 121-100 win over Miami Heat in playoff series opener Guardians at Pittsburgh Pirates: Guardians hang on to beat Pirates, 5-4, in 10 innings despite Emmanuel Clase’s blown save Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Showers, thunderstorms and breezy Top Stories Last-minute budget: The Senate (where, like the House, Republicans have a supermajority) will likely make its own round of 11th-hour revisions on the Ohio budget, reports Jeremy Pelzer. After that, even more changes are expected to be made by a House-Senate conference committee, in which a handful of lawmakers meet behind closed doors at the very end of the budget process to hammer out a final budget plan to send to Gov. Mike DeWine. Get ready for more surprises. Library programs: Northeast Ohio libraries served more than 28,000 meals and snacks to children in 2023. They helped more than 6,300 students with their homework, notarized documents, assisted with passport applications and gave technology training, reports Anna Staver. Now, as lawmakers debate how much money to give them, library leaders say their unique funding model is exactly what makes these kinds of responses possible. Today in Ohio: Ohio lawmakers want to make app stores responsible for verifying that users are at least 16 — but no companies want that responsibility. We’re talking about keeping your kids safe from social media on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. Statehouse and Politics Solar farm: Citing political opposition from Republican township trustees and county commissioners, state regulators Thursday rejected a permit for a 150-megawatt solar farm that would have generated enough power for tens of thousands of households. Jake Zuckerman reports that Stark Solar wanted to build a 150-megawatt solar farm of about 237,000 panels across 860 acres in Washington Township in Stark County. Northeast Ohio News School overflow: Every school day at North Ridgeville High School feels like a logistical juggling act. With enrollment totaling 500 more students than the building allows, administrators face an exhausting daily challenge — and student enrollment continues to outpace the city’s already booming population, reports Hannah Drown. After multiple failed funding attempts, a long-awaited new school is on the horizon, but it’s three years away. Downtown patrol: Cuyahoga County Council might be taking steps to disband the sheriff department’s controversial Downtown Safety Patrol following a high-speed chase that resulted in two deaths. Kaitlin Durbin reports that council members Sunny Simon, Michael Gallagher and Michael Houser have proposed legislation to prohibit the sheriff from spending any money on the downtown patrol, which would effectively disband the unit. Lakewood City Hall: Lakewood Mayor Meghan George will propose today moving the city out of the 70-year-old City Hall on Detroit Avenue and into the historic school board site on Warren Road. George wrote in a letter to Lakewood City Council attached to the agenda for tonight’s meeting that she determined renovating City Hall on Detroit Avenue would not fix issues created by the building’s disjointed layout and the growing needs of the police department and municipal court, which also are housed in the building, reports Cory Shaffer. Police reform: City officials and the team that monitors Cleveland police reform have sparred in court filings in recent days, including an accusation that the city isn’t focusing enough on fixing issues in the department. Adam Ferrise reports the monitoring team wrote in a report late Thursday that the city appears to be more focused on criticizing his team than on devoting “all resources on compliance” with the court-ordered reform. Business and Health Unemployment: Ohio’s unemployment rate continued to rise in March, reaching 4.8%, the highest rate in more than two years, reports Molly Walsh. Unemployment in Ohio has continued its upward climb since reaching a then-two-year high in January, when it was 4.6%, up from a revised 4.5% in December 2024. Crime and Courts Corruption plea: The romantic partner of former Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones admitted Friday to swindling nonprofits with him. Sinera Jones, also known as Sinera McCoy, made $40,500 at a job she got because of her partner’s sway and the duo banked $95,000 from two other schemes against nonprofits, Adam Ferrise reports. CWRU lockdown: A high-speed chase of a stolen car preceded the chaos that prompted Case Western Reserve University officials to order its students to stay inside last week, reports Lucas Daprile. Teen not guilty: A jury on Thursday acquitted a teen charged in the death of a woman who was tied up, beaten and shot 19 times on a desolate Cleveland road, reports David Gambino. Remains found: The skeletal remains found this week in Middleburg Heights are of a man who was reported missing more than two years ago. Olivia Mitchell reports authorities identified the victim as Steve Benkovits, 66. The remains were discovered Monday near Beyer’s Pond in the Big Creek Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. Arts and Entertainment Classic CLE: After all the dark, roasty porters and stouts from the winter, a fresh lager is like a breath of fresh air. This year, Peter Chakerian is shaking things up a bit – cracking into Fat Head’s Brewery Leaf Man Lager, which benefits the Cleveland Metroparks Trails Fund; Immigrant Son’s American Pilsener and Collision Bend’s High Rent Lemon Girl. Jake Paul: Jake Paul’s next fight is scheduled against Mexico’s former champion Julio César Chávez Jr. in June, reports Marc Bona. Superman movie: DC celebrated Superman Day Friday by releasing a new behind-the-scenes look at its upcoming “Superman” movie. Joey Morona reports the two-minute, 15-second video takes viewers on location with director James Gunn and the cast, featuring footage filmed in Atlanta, Norway and, yes, Cleveland. Botanical Garden: Spice Catering Co. is taking over the cafe and event catering at the Cleveland Botanical Garden starting September, Paris Wolfe reports. The introduction of Spice Catering’s food and culinary philosophy will change guest experiences of both food and nature. Porco bartender: Porco Lounge & Tiki Room has received national recognition for having some of the best bartenders in the U.S., reports Alex Darus. The bar on West 25th Street has been recognized by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation as one of the top honorees for its annual Spirited Awards. House of the Week: Located in the Ambler Heights Historic District of Cleveland Heights, this eight-bedroom, six-bathroom brick colonial is called “an absolute showstopper,” reports Joey Morona. Priced at $1.55 million, the 1910-built residence offers timeless curb appeal, a resortlike outdoor space and an updated interior with a designer kitchen. 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 content director Laura Johnston with contributions by by Cliff Pinckard. Other Top Stories Anti-Trump protesters hammer policies at gatherings in Cleveland and around the country Read more Berea school board reluctantly rescinds DEI documents Read more New school building plans to face voters in Independence Read more Medina looks to move Interurban building to historical society property Read more Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas named to board of African American Mayors Association Read more