Cleveland, OH
A lifeline for Cleveland: Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP) addresses health care access in “pharmacy desert” – The Land
A year of planning and hard work culminated in the grand opening of a new health care facility on Cleveland’s West Side on Saturday, April 15th. The transformation of a former CVS Pharmacy is now the new home of Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP), located at 13027 Lorain Ave.
The 10,000 square-foot building at the corner of Lorain Avenue and 130th Street is outfitted to provide more than medicine. NFP offers comprehensive care including medical, dental and behavioral health services. A drive-through pharmacy is set to be added in early 2026. All patients are welcome, regardless of their ability to pay.
“We recognize that healthy communities depend on both healthcare access and economic vitality,” said NFP President and CEO Domonic Hopson. “This new health center will serve as a vital resource in the neighborhood, improving access to care and contributing to the community’s well-being.”
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Over 150 community members showed their support at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Public officials including U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, and City Councilman Brian Kazy were also in attendance — a testament to the significance of making healthcare accessible, specifically in areas where there is a growing concern of “pharmacy deserts.”
Pharmacy Deserts
The term “pharmacy desert” describes an area where residents have limited access to pharmacies, a problem increasing in both urban and rural areas nationwide. This is often due to pharmacy closures, which disproportionately affect low-income communities.
The U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that over 30% of Cleveland residents live below the poverty line. Financial vulnerability can make it difficult, or impossible, to afford insurance premiums, high deductibles and copays even if individuals and families have access to insurance. While there is no concrete way to measure the population of Clevalnders who are underinsured, Data USA reports that 8% of Clevelanders may be uninsured (2023).
According to research provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when people shift away from efficient preventive care and toward emergency rooms, which are well-documented to be more expensive and often less effective for managing chronic conditions, chronic illnesses worsen and health disparities grow.
Serving the Community’s Health Needs
Organizations like NFP address the systemic challenges that poverty poses to health care. A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1980, their model emphasizes proactive care to reduce reliance on emergency services and provides essential healthcare services to all individuals in the community.
NFP operates several health centers in Cleveland:
- Ridge Community Health Center: 3569 Ridge Rd, Cleveland, OH 44102
- Tremont Community Health Center: 2358 Professor Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
- Detroit Shoreway Community Health Center: 6412 Franklin Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44102
- W. 130th Community Health Center: 13027 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44111
- North Coast Community Health Center: 11906 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
NFP also operates pharmacies at:
- Ridge Community Health Center: 3569 Ridge Rd, Cleveland, OH 44102
- Ann B. Reichsman Community Health Center: 3545 Ridge Rd, Cleveland, OH 44102
The new facility on Lorain Avenue will house NFP’s third pharmacy, further improving medication access.
As for what’s next? Hopson isn’t slowing down. “We are always looking for new opportunities to expand access to our care,” he said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Drivers across Northeast Ohio have watched gas prices climb sharply over the past few days, and now most stations are nearly $5 per gallon.
On Friday, Ohioans woke up to gas prices that jumped again overnight, 37 cents more than Thursday, according to AAA.
AAA said the Ohio average gas price is now $4.83.
That’s 92 cents more than last week, and $1.06 more than last month!
Ohio is usually middle of the road when it comes to prices, but because of surges over the past week we have unfortunately climbed up the list.
The Buckeye State currently ranks 8th highest in the country for gas prices.
Analysts say relief may not be coming soon.
On top of the conflict in Iran sending oil prices higher, there was also a refinery issue at a plant in Indiana.
The BP plant in Whiting, Indiana had a temporary power problem, but as it’s one of the largest refineries in the country it sent prices higher.
“That’s because the Midwest is relatively isolated from other fuel supply centers. When a major refinery stumbles, there aren’t many quick alternatives—and prices react fast,” according to Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy.com.
“This is exactly what we’re seeing now:
- Sudden supply tightness
- Rapid wholesale price spikes
- Retail stations adjusting prices sharply higher
And because many stations refill tanks at higher costs, those increases cascade quickly to consumers,” De Haan advises.
At one Cleveland gas station on Wednesday, the price on the sign read $4.99, a number drivers say is becoming harder to avoid.
That number was the same at another Cleveland gas station on Friday morning.
Many people filling up Wednesday evening told 19 News they’re frustrated by the rapid increases.
“It’s crazy. Sooner or later, we’re going to be at like $5 or like $6,” one driver said.
Another driver added, “We’re getting gas now, but not here.”
According to AAA, the average price for gas in Ohio is $4.22 for regular fuel as of Wednesday. In Cleveland the average was $4.23.
One major factor: crude oil prices. Those prices are trading above $100 a barrel, which can raise the cost of gasoline.
“Crude oil is the main ingredient of gasoline,” said Jim Garrity, the director of public affairs for AAA east central. “So, when it goes up and down, even by a couple dollars here and there, that has an impact on the pump.”
Experts say the last time Ohio experienced prices this high was 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine conflict pushed gas prices above $5 a gallon.
Garrity added even when the U.S. isn’t buying oil directly from certain countries, global events can still affect prices here.”
“Even though we’re not importing Iranian oil in America, it is a globally traded commodity,” Garrity said. “When you see an impact happen overseas well, that splash has ripples and those ripples make their way to us.”
When 19 News was at another Cleveland gas station, prices changed quickly: within about 30 minutes, the price jumped from $4.79 to $4.99. It cost us $30.55 for a little more than six gallons.
“The lady said they went up 70 cents,” another driver said. “She said it was $4.19 earlier, then it shot up to $4.79. Now it’s $4.99. I was going to get gas yesterday, but I forgot.”
One driver who uses premium gas said the surge hits even harder.
“It’s $4.99, I just texted my buddy yesterday, like oh it jumped 80 cents,” the driver said. “I’m glad I’ve got a company card, but this is my personal and I’ve got to spend almost $6 a gallon on gas because it’s premium.”
As for whether prices will drop soon, Garrity says it depends on what crude oil does next.
“What happens next remains to be seen with crude oil prices,” he said.
Garrity says a few options to say on gasoline is drive less or slow down.
“The faster you go, at AAA, we have found every roughly five miles over 50 an hour you’re going, you’re exponentially burning fuel less efficiently and that’s making you a less safe driver, but it’s also making your car work harder and burning fuel less efficiently,” Garrity said.
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Cleveland, OH
Francine Esther Nshimirimana Obituary April 24, 2026 – Slone and Co. Funeral Directors
Francine Esther Nshimirimana, age 47, passed away on April 24, 2026.
Family and friends are welcome on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 11 a.m. until time of Service at 12 p.m., at Slone & Co. Life Celebration Center 3556 W. 130th St. Cleveland, OH 44111. Interment West Park Cemetery.
CLEVELAND (WJW) — A $50 Ohio Lottery scratch-off ticket recently sold in Cleveland paid off 100,000 times over.
AJ’s Drive Thru, 10301 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, sold an Ultimate $5,000,000 Scratch-Off ticket that won the top prize of $200,000 per year for 25 years, according to a Thursday, April 30, news release from the Ohio Lottery.
That’s a total of $5 million.
The ticket was claimed by a trust, which opted for the 25-year annuity, rather than a lump sum, according to the release.
After mandatory state and local taxes of 26.75%, the trust is taking home a total of $3,662,500.
As of Thursday, three top prizes still remained for that scratch-off.
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