CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has released thousands and thousands of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

When you search, the word “Cleveland” comes up 798 times.

The overwhelming majority of references are extremely unclear in relation to potential criminal acts.

In fact, some of the references are for streets named Cleveland, not even in Ohio.

Other examples are someone with the last name Cleveland.

Many of them are simply articles published by Cleveland media that have nothing to do with Epstein at all.

In full disclosure, Cleveland 19 News and some of its employees are referenced in citations for writing articles involving the FBI but not Epstein.

The bottom line is the files released by the DOJ and FBI appear to cast an extremely wide net when collecting potential evidence.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are referenced in the files.

One file is a petition to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Office of Tax Policy Analysis, in which the Cleveland Browns Transportation LLC is asking tax questions about the purchase of an airplane in 2006.

The DOJ does not explain why this court filing is in the Epstein files.

The petition itself for the potential purchase of a jet makes no mention of Jeffrey Epstein.

The timing of this document would have fallen under the Randy Lerner ownership of the Cleveland Browns.

We have asked the Cleveland Browns for a comment.

Cleveland Clinic

The Cleveland Clinic is referenced several times in the DOJ files.

This includes emails from Cleveland Clinic doctors looking for grants or donations from the one-time multi-millionaire.

Other mentions are in emails from Epstein himself recommending treatments to friends at the Cleveland Clinic.

One such email exchange was between Epstein and Cecile de Jongh, who served as the first lady of the U.S. Virgin Islands from 2007 to 2015.

Again, the DOJ does not explain why this email exchange was included in the files and how it pertains to the investigation.

We have asked the Cleveland Clinic for a comment.

Bard High School Early College Cleveland

There is another series of Cleveland references and emails when it comes to Bard High School Early College in Cleveland.

Bard is a chain of high schools where students can also take classes to earn college credits, with a campus here in Cleveland.

The Bard School in Cleveland is a part of the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD).

There are a handful of email exchanges between Epstein and Leon Botstein, currently listed as the President of Bard College.

There is also a picture of three woman with their faces redacted.

In the photo, two of them are wearing t-shirts printed with the words, Bard High School Early College Cleveland.

Again, the DOJ gives no indication why these emails or the picture are included in its investigations.

In a comment from Bard, a spokesperson said in an email, “Bard’s inclusion in those mentions, it’s in the context of a wonderfully successful program which Bard has pioneered — and, unrelated, Epstein happened to be a Bard donor (unsolicited) back in 2011 (long before the world knew what a monster he was,) which the school has publicly acknowledged many times.”

CMSD also issued a statement saying, “We have learned of the photo of two people wearing shirts with the name of one of our high schools, and an email attributed to the president of Bard College in New York. We are not aware of any substantive link to CMSD beyond the shirts. ”

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Accumulating snow is expected to return to Northeast Ohio late Thursday night into Friday as a fast-moving clipper system moves through the region.

Forecasters say light to moderate snow is expected through Friday, with travel impacts possible during both the morning and evening commutes.

A brief burst of heavier snow or snow squalls is also possible as an Arctic cold front moves through later Friday, followed by gusty winds and dangerously cold air heading into the weekend.

Snow develops late Thursday night, intensifies Friday

Confidence continues to increase that the clipper system will bring widespread accumulating snow to the region from late Thursday night through Friday evening, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Snow is expected to develop Thursday night as a warm front lifts from southwest to northeast across the region. More widespread snow is expected Friday morning through Friday evening as the cold front sweeps southeast across Northern Ohio.

Snow may be ongoing — or just getting underway — during the Friday morning commute, with steadier snowfall likely late morning through midafternoon. Forecasters say both the morning and evening commutes could be impacted by snow-covered and slick roads.

Some high-resolution guidance also suggests a brief burst of heavier snow or snow squalls along the Arctic front Friday afternoon or evening, which could quickly reduce visibility and worsen travel conditions around the time of the evening commute.

How much snow to expect

Snowfall totals are expected to be light to moderate but widespread across the region. Northeast Ohio is expected to see 2 to 4 inches, with higher amounts possible in the snowbelt east of Cleveland.

After the front passes, northwest winds may briefly enhance snowfall in parts of far Northeast Ohio. Forecasters say any lake-effect snow — fed by the northern Great Lakes and the few areas of Lake Erie without ice cover — should remain light and scattered, keeping additional accumulations limited.

Gusty winds follow the snow

Behind the Arctic front Friday, northwest winds are expected to increase, with gusts of 15 to 25 mph through Friday night.

The gusty winds could lead to areas of blowing and drifting snow, particularly in open and rural areas.

Dangerous Arctic cold arrives Friday night

A renewed surge of Arctic air will spill into the region Friday night, ushering in the coldest stretch of the forecast.

Air temperatures are expected to fall to between 5 degrees and minus 5 degrees late Friday night into early Saturday. Combined with gusty winds, wind chill values could drop to between 10 and 20 degrees below zero, especially Friday night into Saturday morning.

High temperatures Saturday are expected to reach only the single digits to low teens, with overnight lows Saturday night falling to 8 below zero to 2 above zero. Wind chills will remain below zero at times through the weekend.

Slow moderation early next week

Temperatures will gradually recover late in the weekend and early next week. Highs are expected to climb back into the upper teens and lower 20s Sunday, then rebound closer to freezing by Monday.

Forecasters say temperatures should trend closer to seasonal averages by the middle of next week.

CLEVELAND — Winter may be brutal for some, but there are some sights of beauty, such as Lake Erie freezing over. 

While the weather wonder is beautiful to look at, officials say that’s all visitors should do: look, but don’t walk on it. 

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Lake Erie has over 95% ice coverage, but not quite 100%. The last time Lake Erie reached 100% ice coverage was in 1996. 

While it may seem safe, it’s never 100% safe, according to the Cuyahoga County Emergency Management Agency.

On average, between 2014 and 2024, 21 people died in Lake Erie each year, according to Towey Law. While many of the deaths happen over the summer, because of water sports like boating and jet skiing, some happen in the winter. Between those 10 years, 13 deaths were attributed to falling in. 

“It is never recommended that you walk on ice,” County County EMA said. “Fluctuating temperatures and underwater currents can create unstable, dangerous conditions.”