CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Department of Public Health is educating drivers about a law many may not know about: the city’s ban on idling.

Under city law, idling is any time a driver sits in their car without a destination or purpose. The law prohibits idling for more than five minutes, or else drivers could be fined. There are limited exemptions to the law, including weather conditions and some vehicle types.

The health department said idling is illegal because of the effects our cars’ emissions have on the environment and our health. The health department said one minute of idling produces more carbon monoxide emissions than smoking three packs of cigarettes.

When we run our cars, tiny particles are emitted from the exhaust, and, according to the health department, they can enter our lungs and contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Christina Yoka, chief of air pollution outreach with the Cleveland Department of Public Health, said the solution starts with thinking about your daily routine.

“From the time you leave your home for work in the morning, think about the time you get in the car,” she said. “Do you stop and get coffee, and you’re in the drive-thru? Do you look at your phone while you’re waiting to put something in your GPS and checking text messages?”

Yoka said a new anti-idling campaign is underway to remind Cleveland drivers and employees about the law. Signs will be placed in city parking lots and garages.

“There are all these moments throughout the day that we’re in our cars and we think, ‘Oh! It’s just two to three minutes, but then add that up over the course of the day,” she said.

Yoka said idling is never a good idea, but warmer temperatures like we’re seeing this week make pollution even worse. She recommends windshield covers, cracking your car windows and parking in the shade to keep cool.

• A Springfield Township man on parole is facing new public indecency charges.
• Police said Leon D. Sims was seen masturbating at a Barnes and Noble in Fairfield Township.
• Sims is a registered sex offender with a history of similar offenses and other federal convictions.

A Springfield Township man who was on parole for engaging in a sex act during a Facetime call with two children is now facing public indecency charges, police said.

Police said Leon D. Sims, 44, was seen masturbating June 25 at the Barnes and Noble at the Bridgewater Falls Shopping Center in Fairfield Township.

Sims has a history of similar offenses and is listed on the National Sex Offender registry.

He was charged with public indecency in 2011 after being accused of exposing his genitals to a library employee in Cincinnati.

In 2016, Sims was arrested for masturbating in a public place in Cincinnati. Three years later, he was accused of similar conduct in front of children near a Franklin County high school.

His most recent parole violation is related to a 2021 offense, in which he masturbated in front of two young girls, 9 and 15, over a Facetime call. One of the victims realized what was happening and recorded the call, which was later used as evidence.

Sims also recently spent time in federal prison for coercing a woman into prostitution and transporting her to Ohio, Kentucky and California, according to court documents. Prosecutors said that Sims forced the woman into prostitution “countless times” over a period of months between 2020 and 2021.

In a sentencing memorandum from the 2021 case involving the Facetime call, prosecutors said it was “well within the realm of possibility” that Sims had committed the crime to groom the 9-year-old girl into prostitution. They added that he was operating his sex trafficking business two weeks before he exposed himself on Facetime in front of the two girls.

According to prison records, Sims was no longer in federal prison custody as of September 2024.

Sims was convicted in Hamilton County in February 2025 of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles in the Facetime case. He was paroled from state prison in November 2025.

Sims had no attorney listed in court documents at the time this story was published.

This story may be updated.

Indiana ranks among the most dangerous states for backyard fireworks use heading into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to a new national analysis.

The study, conducted by the Action Network, places Indiana at No. 2 for the highest risk of at-home fireworks accidents, according to a community announcement. Researchers combined trade shipment data, online search trends and state regulations to estimate where incidents are most likely to occur.

Indiana participants face a 2.93% chance of a mishap, injury or property damage during the holiday period — roughly 1 in 34 odds — based on the study’s findings.

Ohio tops the list with a 3.54% risk rate, or about 1 in 28 odds, making it the most hazardous state for backyard fireworks use.

Heavy use and cross-border access drive risk

The announcement highlights Indiana’s strong demand for fireworks, with imports reaching $3.89 per person. That level of consumption contributes to the state’s elevated risk profile.

Indiana also serves as a regional destination for fireworks purchases because of differing laws across state lines. Neighboring Illinois prohibits certain aerial fireworks, and the study indicates that residents often travel to Indiana to buy those items.

That combination of high usage and out-of-state demand contributes to what the announcement describes as a “pyrotechnic juggernaut” within Indiana.

Study blends multiple data sources

The Action Network said it developed its rankings by analyzing three primary factors: shipment volumes, consumer behavior and legal restrictions.

By combining those inputs, researchers estimated the probability of accidents tied to backyard celebrations during the holiday period.

The findings rank all 50 states based on implied risk levels, offering a snapshot of where fireworks-related incidents may be more likely to occur.

This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.