Cleveland City Council calls special meeting to review Justice Dept. report
Cleveland City Council is holding a special meeting tomorrow morning to review the report by the US Justice Department that found a pattern of use of excessive force by Cleveland Police.

US Attorney Steven Dettlebach will address the Council’s Safety Committee to outline the key findings of the report issued last week and how the department arrived at them.

Members of Mayor Frank Jackson’s staff walked out of last night’s council meeting after Councilman Jeff Johnson repeated his call for the resignation of safety director Michael McGrath.

The mayor’s staff tomorrow will comment on the Justice Dept. report and outline the city’s plans to comply with the findings of the federal investigation.

 
State Board of Education votes to eliminate requirements for art, music and other specialties 
Members of the state board of education are voting today on changes to the states minimum requirement for art, music, gym, library and other teaching specialties.

Current changes to the state standards eliminate a requirement that districts employ 5 of 8 specialties for every 1,000 students.

An amendment to the change would require elementary art, music, and other specialties be certified in the areas they teach, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Educators and other groups oppose the removal of the state minimum requirements under the 5 of 8 rule.

But members of the board have said that eliminating the requirement gives districts more control over hiring.

Agriculture bill could die in committee
A wide-ranging agriculture and environmental bill is has hit a log-jam in the Ohio legislature as the current session comes to a close.

The bill deals with the disclosure of fracking chemicals, unitization of parcels on state lands for fracking, and protections for Lake Erie against toxic algae blooms.

But lawmakers are having a hard time coming with a compromise on whether to allow phone companies to cut off land-line service in rural communities, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Gov. John Kasich has said he will veto the bill is that provision remains.

Dayton police shoot dozens of dogs since 2011
An analysis by the Dayton Daily News shows that police in that city have shot nearly 50 dogs in the past four years.

The report says that officers shoot at dogs during drug raids, welfare checks, traffic stops and foot chases.

Animal advocates say police need more training on how to handle canine encounters.

JetBlue comes to Cleveland
New-York-based JetBlue has announced it will begin service out of Cleveland-Hopkins airport starting next April.

The carrier is offering discounted fares to Boston to kick-off its promotion.

JetBlue serves 84 destinations in 24 states.