Good Morning, Cleveland! It's Monday, March 16th, and here is what you need to know.
Thousands of FirstEnergy customers still without power
More than 25,000 customers are still without power throughout the state following the strong winds that hit on Friday, according to FirstEnergy's outage map. Downed trees and power lines have crews from across our region working around the clock to get the lights back on.
Roundabout being built at major intersection leading to Cedar Point
More changes are coming to Cedar Point, and the latest update will be visible long before guests reach the gate. The City of Sandusky has begun building a roundabout at a major intersection leading to the theme park. The project is among six intersection improvements coming in the next year and a half.
Vote tonight on Chardon’s start date
In Northeast Ohio, most school districts get underway in late August but in Geauga County there’s a push underway in one district to slide that back a few weeks. A petition was started online asking the school board to move the start of school until after Labor Day starting in 2027. At play here in Chardon are the normal arguments, late August can still be brutally hot which in older un-air conditioned buildings makes learning difficult. But here in Geauga County there’s the added issue of the Geauga County Fair, the state’s oldest which runs through Labor Day and that forces kids, especially those taking part in 4H programs to have to choose between classroom education and this real-life education. On the flip side, a later start has impacts on things like learning loss, state testing and sports. The Chardon Schools Board of Education is expected to vote on the start date at its board meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Lakewood leaders push for new school levy while residents have a mixed reactions
This May, Lakewood voters will see a new school levy on the ballot aimed at increasing property taxes to support the district. The mayor is already backing it, and Monday City Council is introducing a resolution to endorse it. All while Parents and residents have mixed feelings about the levy.
WATCH THE NEWSCAST BELOW
Your forecast
Visit our News 5 weather page to see today's forecast.
Traffic impact
Claridon Troy Road between Hubbard and Patch Roads in Geauga County is closed in both directions this morning for debris in the roadway.
The I-77 north ramp to Pershing Avenue will be closed through Monday, March 23rd. Drivers will need to use Broadway Avenue.
The I-90 west exit ramp to State Route 528 will be closed through Friday, March 20th. The detour is Vrooman Road to I-90 east to State Route 528.
SOM Center Road between U.S. 20 and State Route 2 will have nightly closures beginning this evening until Friday, March 27th. Crews will be working on the roads between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
View our News 5 Traffic Map to see any road closures or delays due to weather or crashes.
