Cleveland, Ohio News This Week: Data Center Hearings, School Report Card and an RTA Delay

It was a week of public business in Cleveland: a school report card, a transit decision pushed down the road, and a set of hearings on data centers that will shape what gets built here. We read the local coverage so you can catch up in a few minutes. A link to the original reporting sits under each item.

Three public hearings set on data centers

Cleveland City Council will hold three public hearings as it writes rules for data centers, Signal Cleveland reports. The first is Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Collinwood Recreation Center, followed by a Sept. 29 session at City Hall from 5 to 8 p.m. and an Oct. 7 hearing at the Gunning Recreation Center. Council's three-month moratorium on new data centers expires Oct. 20, and according to Signal Cleveland it followed the city's rejection of a proposed 300,000-square-foot facility in Slavic Village that would have needed up to 150 megawatts of power.

Source: Signal Cleveland: Cleveland's data center debate comes to three public hearings

CMSD holds at 2.5 stars on state report card

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District held at 2.5 stars on the 2025-2026 Ohio school report card, below the state's three-star standard, according to Signal Cleveland. The district earned four stars each for progress and gap closing, but one star each for early literacy, graduation rate and post-graduation readiness, even as the graduation rate rose three percentage points. The outlet also notes that the state flagged testing irregularities at three of the district's elementary schools.

Source: Signal Cleveland: After a year of upheaval, CMSD holds at 2.5 stars on Ohio report card

RTA delays service cuts until after a sales tax vote

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is putting off its next round of service cuts until after voters decide on a sales tax increase, Signal Cleveland reports. The delayed changes include less frequent service on eight routes and the end of one route, the #35 on Lee Boulevard. RTA staff have recommended raising the agency's sales tax from 1%, where it has stood since 1975, to 1.5%; the board is set to vote Sept. 22 on the final amount, and the question would go to Cuyahoga County voters in the May 2027 primary.

Source: Signal Cleveland: RTA delays next round of service cuts until after voters decide on sales tax increase

About 3,500 legal immigrants to lose Medicaid Oct. 1

About 3,500 legal immigrants in Cuyahoga County are expected to lose Medicaid coverage on Oct. 1, according to Signal Cleveland. The change comes from federal rules passed last year that limit which non-citizens can enroll. Signal Cleveland reports that those affected are mainly refugees and Ukrainians on humanitarian parole, while children under 21 and pregnant or postpartum women keep their coverage.

Source: Signal Cleveland: About 3,500 legal immigrants in Cuyahoga County will likely lose Medicaid Oct. 1

Boil advisory follows water main break

Cleveland Water issued a precautionary boil advisory Friday for parts of Twinsburg, Macedonia and Northfield after a 12-inch water main broke on Solon Road in Bedford Heights, Cleveland 19 News reports. Affected customers are told to flush taps for at least three minutes and bring water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes before drinking it, or to use bottled water. The utility said it has no evidence of contamination, and the advisory stands until further notice, according to the station.

Source: Cleveland 19 News: Boil advisory issued after water main break

Young sturgeon are growing in the Cuyahoga

The roughly 1,500 lake sturgeon fingerlings released into the Cuyahoga River at Rivergate Park last September appear to be doing well, Signal Cleveland reports. Tracking data shows the young fish staying near the river, and three recaptured sturgeon measured about 17 inches, up from seven at release. A second release is set for Saturday, Sept. 19.

Source: Signal Cleveland: Lake Erie's baby sturgeon are thriving a year after release

Road work on East 103rd and East 25th streets

The City of Cleveland's announcements page lists two resurfacing jobs to plan around. Work on East 103rd Street between Quebec and Cedar avenues began Sept. 16 and should wrap by the end of the month with one lane kept open, while East 25th Street between Superior and Payne avenues starts Sept. 21 and runs into early October with northbound traffic rerouted. The city is also taking public comments through Sept. 30 on intersection changes at Columbus Road, Carter Road and Franklin Boulevard.

Source: City of Cleveland: Mayor's Office announcements

That is the week as we read it. If you plan to speak at a data center hearing, note that sign-up for public comment at the two recreation center sessions opens at 5:30 p.m. We will be back next week with another round.

Sources

OnCleveland Staff Staff