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Why did Cleveland State University give its radio station to Ideastream?
Neither party has explained the switch, which shocked students and loyal listeners Oct. 3, when the station suddenly started playing smooth jazz.
Students and community members protested the decision. Public records requests showed CSU may have violated state sunshine laws in closed-door meetings with Ideastream. A nondisclosure agreement signed six months before the transfer kept discussions over the transaction under wraps.
A new lawsuit filed in Cuyahoga County posits that that CSU President Laura Bloomberg – who got a seat on the Ideastream board in the deal – “grew weary of the independent voices at WCSB, their nonconformist attitudes, their complaints about university operations, and their protests against University policy.”
The suit claims Bloomberg called the police on her students, “who had not committed any crime or violated any campus rules,” and forced them out of the station.
Three months later, the students and community continue to push to get the station back.
— Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Cavs vs. Utah Jazz: Cavs lose to floundering Utah Jazz in Kevin Love’s latest return, 123-112
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Mild, chance of showers
Top Stories
WCSB: A nonprofit made up of supporters and former staff of Cleveland State University’s student radio station sued the university, President Laura Bloomberg and the school’s board of trustees Monday, reports Laura Hancock. The suit argues the station’s transfer to Ideastream is a violation of free speech, open government and property rights.
Slow permits: Cleveland’s slow permit process worsened during COVID-19 but is now improving with a new digital system, though delays still affect some projects like a grocery store opening, reports Sean McDonnell.
Today in Ohio: There is no hate in the New Testament of the Bible, which focuses on Jesus Christ. So why does Ohio’s Center for Christian Virtue aim against LGBTQ+ people? We’re talking about the growing influence of the center on state politics on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Statehouse and Politics
Salt Fork State Park
Fishing on the lake at Salt Fork State Park near Cambridge. The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission previously voted to open the park up to oil and gas drilling.
Gas drilling: The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission voted to allow energy companies to bid on drilling rights for Egypt Valley and Jockey Hollow Wildlife Areas in southeastern Ohio, covering over 6,500 acres near the West Virginia border. Anna Staver reports that environmental groups have criticized the decision, arguing it will harm natural habitats.
Wrongful conviction: Teaven Curtiss of Dayton will receive an initial payment of over $54,000 after being exonerated for a child rape conviction, with a total compensation expected to reach $108,586.10 for the 576 days he spent in prison, reports Jeremy Pelzer.
Abortion ranking: Despite nearly 57% of Ohio voters supporting reproductive rights in the state constitution, the Guttmacher Institute ranks Ohio as having both restrictions and protections, creating what advocates call a “limbo space” for abortion access, reports Mary Frances McGowan.
Transgender case: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost traveled to Washington Monday to voice his support for an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case that could determine whether states, including Ohio, can ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, Sabrina Eaton reports.
Northeast Ohio News
Tax bills: Property tax bills in the Cleveland area will mostly stay similar to last year, with some districts seeing reductions due to new laws allowing rates to fall from the 20-mill floor, potentially resulting in refunds or credits, reports Rich Exner.
Road technology: Elyria is starting its 2026 street resurfacing early using StreetScan technology to prioritize repairs efficiently, Hannah Drown reports. The city is evaluating road conditions to make informed decisions before finalizing budgets.
Cleveland activists protest Guantánamo Bay on 24th anniversary
Activists with Witness Against Torture stand Monday outside the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building in downtown Cleveland, braving wind chills in the teens as they call for the U.S. government to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Guantánamo protest: Cleveland activists protested outside the federal building demanding the government close Guantánamo Bay, marking its 24th anniversary, reports David Petkiewicz.
Jury scams: Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro warns residents about rising jury duty scams involving fake warrants and fines, Megan Becka reports. Authorities advise verifying calls directly with official agencies.
Power outage: At least 1,000 Cleveland Public Power customers were without power Monday night after a transformer explosion, Cliff Pinckard reports.
Tennis in the Land: Tennis in the Land, Cleveland’s women’s tennis tournament, is on hiatus until a permanent venue is established due to the financial unsustainability of its pop-up courts after five years, Marc Bona reports.
NOACA: Geauga County commissioners debated a controversial NOACA appointment due to past misconduct allegations against former commissioner Skip Claypool, leading to the candidate’s disqualification by the agency, reports Molly Walsh.
Zoo goodbye: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will part ways with its harbor seal and two sea lions this year due to high maintenance costs and aging infrastructure, reports Peter Krouse.
Health Care and Business
Dry January: Readers respond to the growing trend of drinking less in Northeast Ohio, with many residents reducing alcohol intake due to health, aging and sleep concerns, and embracing nonalcoholic options like mocktails and hemp drinks.
UH partnership: A partnership between Cleveland Force Soccer Club and University Hospitals’ Sports Medicine Institute provides young athletes with access to advanced medical care and injury prevention at a new facility in Beachwood, reports Julie Washington.
Crime and Courts
Police shooting: Euclid police fatally shot Robert Riddlebarger inside a residence after he refused to exit and was armed with a loaded rifle, Olivia Mitchell reports. The officer involved is on administrative leave pending investigation.
Medicare fraud: A North Ridgeville doctor was sentenced Monday to more than five years in prison for ordering thousands of medically unnecessary cancer-related tests and medical braces for patients who didn’t need them, Adam Ferrise reports.
Reckless homicide: A 15-year-old in Canton faces reckless homicide charges after allegedly shooting his 12-year-old brother in a home incident, Lucas Daprile reports. The boy died from a gunshot wound in the upper lip.
McDaniel appeal: Natalie McDaniel is appealing her guilty plea for entering a Cleveland Heights home with a “Recall Seren” yard sign after admitting to the misdemeanor trespass, reports David Gambino.
Carjacking chase: Rueben Bell is charged with three counts of felonious assault for firing at police during a chase after allegedly being involved in a series of carjackings in Cleveland, reports Olivia Mitchell.
Scam trial: An East Cleveland man posed as a member of the royal United Arab Emirates family, worked with his brother to scam several people out of some $10 million and bribed an East Cleveland official to help give them legitimacy, federal prosecutors said Monday during opening statements in the brothers’ trial, Adam Ferrise reports.
Arts and Entertainment
FrankieLynn hot dogs at Flight
Hot dogs and sparkling wine at a FrankieLynn pop-up at Flight Cleveland.Alex Darus
Hot dogs and wine: FrankieLynn at Flight Cleveland pairs hot dogs with wine in a casual event, featuring locally sourced ingredients, with more pop-ups scheduled at Blue Monkey Brewing. Alex Darus highlights this unique culinary experience.
Pink Floyd tribute: Pink Floyd tribute band Brit Floyd will perform “The Moon, The Wall and Beyond” at Akron Civic Theatre in February, re-creating iconic albums with laser shows and theatrical staging. Malcolm X Abram previews the upcoming concert.
Burger pizzas: Cleveland’s Doinks Burger Joint and Good Pizza have teamed up for limited-edition burger-pizza mashups featuring a Bonn Mi-inspired pizza and a spicy vodka sauce burger, reports Alex Darus.
Wild game dinner: Gandalf’s Pub in Valley City will host its annual wild game dinner on Feb. 23, featuring exotic meats like alligator, elk and boar, paired with Great Lakes Brewing Co. beers, reports Marc Bona.
Burns Night: The 12th annual Burns Night at Market Garden Brewery on Jan. 23 will celebrate Scottish poet Robert Burns with haggis, poetry and scotch, honoring the poet’s legacy and tradition, reports Marc Bona.
ESP Brewery: Larry Esper built ESP Brewing Co. in Amherst from scratch during COVID, creating a community-focused brewery with a historic mahogany bar, serving diverse beers, and welcoming travelers through Harvest Hosts, reports Marc Bona.
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 Cliff Pinckard.
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