Cleveland, OH
Ohio woman fights to reclaim parrot after father allegedly told shelter she died
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A Cleveland woman is in a battle to reunite with her beloved parrot of 10 years after she says her own family gave the bird away to the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) while she was hospitalized.
Nora Melton, known online as Nora the Explorer, says her Eclectus parrot, Simon, has been her constant companion and even the mascot for her business for years.
She described a deep emotional bond with Simon, whom she received as a gift in 2017.
Melton said that after a recent difficult breakup and feeling overwhelmed, she stayed with her parents.
Following an argument with her family and recognizing a need to focus on her mental health, she sought help at a hospital.
Upon her release, she discovered 3 of her exotic pets had been rehomed, but Simon was missing.
Melton claims she later learned from another relative that someone had taken Simon to the Cleveland APL and allegedly told them that his owner had died.
Melton went to the APL last Wednesday, only to find that Simon had already been transferred to Parrot Hope Rescue in Mantua, Ohio.
She says her attempts to contact the rescue have been largely unsuccessful, receiving only a text message stating that the bird had been rehomed and there was nothing she could do.
The Cleveland APL confirmed to 19 News that Simon was surrendered by an individual who claimed his owner was deceased and who signed legal documents asserting authority over the alleged deceased owner.
Parrot Hope Rescue also responded to 19 News, stating they considered Simon abandoned and that they had placed him with a loving family, adding they could not entertain claims of prior ownership.
Despite this, Melton is pleading for Simon’s return, expressing fear that her decision to prioritize her well-being has led to a permanent separation from her cherished companion.
“He is more to me than anything and anyone right now,” Melton told 19 News. “If I don’t get him back, I don’t know how to feel…”
Melton is hoping that Parrot Hope Rescue will reconsider their decision and allow for a reunion.
Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Rangers capitalize on costly Guardians mistake, extend winning streak to six
Jacob deGrom pitched seven strong innings and the Texas Rangers took advantage of a bone-headed play by Cleveland rookie outfielder Cooper Ingle on Tuesday night to beat the Guardians 4-2 and extend their winning streak to six games.
DeGrom (7-5) allowed a two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo in the first before turning dominant. The right-hander gave up a leadoff single in the second before retiring 18 of the next 19 batters, improving to 4-0 in June.
Joc Pederson hit a two-run homer and Josh Jung added a solo shot as the AL West-leading Rangers improved to 7-2 on their road trip.
They got a big assist in the seventh inning when Ingle, making just his second major league start in the outfield, lost track of the number of outs and tossed a live ball into the stands, allowing the Rangers to take a 3-2 lead.
With a runner at second and one out, Ingle caught a routine fly ball hit by Rangers left fielder Alejandro Osuna for the second out. Thinking it was the third out, Ingle looked at the ball in his glove before throwing it over the protective netting to fans.
The umpires immediately ruled the ball was dead, and Ezequiel Duran was awarded home plate.
Pederson connected for his 14th homer — and 11th since May 26 — off Tanner Bibee (2-9) to tie it 2-all in the third.
Jung’s ninth homer made it 4-2 in the eighth.
Manzardo gave the Guardians a 2-0 lead in the first with his 10th homer.
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was pulled before his at-bat in the first inning because of back discomfort. The five-time All-Star missed 19 games earlier this season with back spasms.
Cleveland, OH
Wide spread power outages plaguing Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Thousands of FirstEnergy and Cleveland Public Power customers are without power in the city of Cleveland.
Check CPP’s and FirstEnergy’s websites for the latest information on the outages.
As temperatures remain at extreme levels, Cleveland Public Power is responding to isolated service interruptions caused by equipment working harder during periods of sustained high demand.
— ClevelandPublicPower (@clepublicpower) June 30, 2026
The outages are mostly located from downtown Cleveland to the westside.
19 News has reached out to Cleveland Public Power and FirstEnergy for more information on the outages but have yet to hear back.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
No idling: Why it’s against the law in Cleveland
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.
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