Whitfield's Creole and Soul Food opened a storefront in Akron's Middlebury, serving gumbo, catfish and weekend brunch rooted in Gullah and Louisiana Creole flavors.

Strongsville approved a tighter set of rules Feb. 17, 2026 requiring city licenses, brighter rooms, customer logs and misdemeanor penalties after 2025 raids. The move follows multi‑agency enforcement that targeted suspected illicit parlors last August.

A national operator has bought the former UH Richmond campus and plans a secure geriatric and psychiatric unit on the third floor, with 48 beds and about 140 jobs.

An early‑morning fire at 15409 Euclid Ave in East Cleveland kept crews at the scene for about 90 minutes. Officials say no civilians or firefighters were hurt.

The VA activated External Provider Scheduling to let staff book community-care appointments directly, a move the agency says will shorten waits. Local impact will depend on how many providers opt in.

A Tornado Watch is in effect across Northeast Ohio through 5 p.m., forecasters warn storms could bring damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes.

Ohio will hold a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, March 18, at 9:50 a.m. Many communities may sound sirens and run alert-system tests during Severe Weather Awareness Week.

An elderly dog was abandoned outside the Ashtabula County shelter and later euthanized after vets found severe injuries. The shelter is seeking tips to identify who left her.

A Toledo manufacturing plant will shut in May, putting 63 jobs at risk. The company cites a pending sale and says some workers may be rehired.

A 36-year-old East Canton man died after his SUV struck a utility pole and overturned on Berger Street NE. Troopers say alcohol may have been a factor.

ICE agents re-arrested a Sheboygan Falls mother at a Milwaukee DHS check-in days after an immigration judge cleared a green-card path; her attorney calls the detention unnecessary.

Ohio picked nine public‑safety agencies for a statewide drone pilot that will deploy vetted drone‑in‑a‑box systems to speed emergency response and stream live video to commanders.

A Summit County judge sentenced Cornelius Rogers to 20–25 years after he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping a housekeeper at the Red Roof Inn. Surveillance footage and medical exams helped prosecutors build the case.