Cleveland, OH
AC/DC fans take over the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Wednesday ahead of the band's Cleveland concert
CLEVELAND — On any given day, four out of five visitors to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are from out of town; on Wednesday, that number was much higher as the north coast of Cleveland became home to fans of a band from the east coast of Australia, AC/DC.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hosted a special day for fans ahead of the 2003 inductees’ final North American stop of their “Power Up Tour” at Huntington Bank Field. A concert bringing many of them here for the first time to see the rock legends for the first time.
Count Scott McColery and his friends from Omaha, Nebraska, among them.
“We all decided to get together and see one of the greatest rock bands that’s ever been around and come and enjoy this beautiful city that you all have here and just live it up for a little while,” McColery said.
He got the tickets when the tour was first announced. So did Brian Hendrix of Atlanta and his 12-year-old son Atticus.
“It was actually part of his Christmas present,” Hendrix said. “Big AC/DC fans and since they weren’t coming to Atlanta or at least at the time they hadn’t done any dates for Atlanta, we decided we’re going to make a trip of it, come to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and check out the city.”
So, how does a 12-year-old come to list “Back in Black” as his favorite album? Thank Dad.
“When I was little, he would listen to it I would be like, ‘Oh, what band is this?’ He’s like, ‘AC/DC’ and I’d be like, ‘Okay, can we listen to more?’” Atticus said.
At least for them, it was a straight flight to Cleveland.
Doug came from Moose Factory, Ontario, in the far north of Canada. He had to take a five-hour train from Moose Factory, Ontario, in far northern Canada, down to Cochin, Ontario. From there, they drove to meet up with friends in Toronto, and then they flew to Cleveland.
“Altogether probably 13, 14 hours I guess,” Jeffries said. It’s his first AC/DC concert, though he did come close once.
“We passed up a show quite a few years ago. It was between a hockey tournament for our son or a concert, so the hockey tournament won out back then.”
This is AC/DC’s first Cleveland concert since a stop at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in 2016, and it’s their first outdoor concert in Cleveland since the summer of 1979, when they were part of the famed World Series of Rock concert at the old Municipal Stadium.
Being back there on Wednesday night, on that particular piece of real estate, carries special meaning for Browns fans. Back in the 80s, it was the music of AC/DC that served as the motivational soundtrack for the Browns in their run to three AFC Championship games.
“Oh, there was never a game that was played that ‘Back in Black’ and AC/DC that was not played,” recalled former Browns Quarterback Bernie Kosar. “‘Hells Bells’ by AC/DC, back in the 80s, that was our song and my song that got me motivated.”
He remembered specifically playing the Steelers in Pittsburgh in 1986, when the Browns were riding a 16-year losing streak in Three Rivers Stadium, when Hells Bells came over the stadium speakers.
“They made the fatal mistake of playing that song during one of their timeouts to intimidate us,” he recalled, adding it only fired them up. “Our motivation got us those couple of first downs and the ‘W,’” he said.
Stewart Dean of West Virginia remembers those days at Municipal Stadium. He was sporting a Hells Bells t-shirt Wednesday.
“When I went back to the Browns games in the late 80s, you know Bernie Kosar, Byner and Slaughter and all of them. You know they did play it at the stadium,” he said of the AC/DC song, which also got the fans going. “Oh yeah, the place rocked.”
As it will again this night. For many, it’s a bucket list moment and an opportunity that Doug Jeffries of Moose Factory, Ontario, knows he may not get a shot at again.
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, they’re on the old side now,” Jeffries said.
But as Scott McColery will tell you, if you’ve followed the band since the early 70s, we all are.
“You never know where a day may take you so enjoy them,” McColery said.
Stan Son provides the latest injury update for Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres on Monday, June 15.
In the top of the second inning of Monday’s game against the Houston Astros, Gleyber Torres was replaced by Hao-Yu Lee. Torres suffered an injury after swinging at the first pitch he saw. While no official designation has been given yet for the injury, Torres did grab at his oblique.
Earlier in the season, Torres missed a month due to an oblique injury.
Before exiting, Torres went 0-for-1 with a strikeout.
Since Torres exited prior to the completion of his second at-bat, he is eligible for DraftKings Early Exit.
Stay tuned to DK Network for live updates on his injury status.
CLEVELAND — Hemp-derived THC products are back at companies in Ohio after a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of Ohio’s new hemp licensing law.
“It’s been a long, hard-fought battle,” said Saucy Brew Works, Saucy Seltzer and Saucy Vibes CEO and co-founder Brent Zimmerman.
Starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Zimmerman said hemp-derived THC drinks will be back at Saucy Brew Works in Cleveland’s Ohio City.
“We bring jobs back here, people’s choice back here. It was the fastest-growing product I’d ever seen in beverage since we’ve been open, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Zimmerman.
Back in March, News 5 told you Ohioans for Cannabis Choice didn’t collect enough signatures to repeal Republican-created marijuana restrictions and a total ban on intoxicating hemp products.
Effort to repeal marijuana restrictions, THC ban fails to make Ohio ballot
Effort to repeal marijuana restrictions, THC ban fails to make Ohio ballot
As a result, Senate Bill 56 went into effect across Ohio and hurt Zimmerman and dozens of business owners.
“Good-paying jobs all left, taxes all left, consumer choice all left,” said Zimmerman.
News 5 asked Zimmerman how his customers reacted to the adjustment.
“Some of them were very upset. Some of them didn’t think it was real,” said Zimmerman.
Even with these challenges, Zimmerman said his company and nine others refused to give up, so they filed a lawsuit against 96 county and municipal prosecutors’ offices.
Then on Monday, Zimmerman texted News 5’s Remi Murrey after a federal judge found Senate Bill 56 likely violates the Constitution because it requires products to be sourced, made and distributed only in Ohio, which blocks out-of-state sellers.
“There are 10 companies that were named as plaintiffs in this suit, so right now, those 10 are the only companies that can sell in the state,” said Zimmerman.
That means businesses like Verbena Free Spirited in Cleveland will have to wait unless she buys from one of 10 companies that sued the state.
According to Zimmerman, those 10 companies can make THC products and sell them to retailers.
“I’m a much smaller retail seller of THC beverages, but because I’m smaller, it impacted me really hard, and it’s something I would love to be able to start doing again,” said Cheraso.
Despite the judge’s ruling, Ohio lawmakers have argued that hemp products are unregulated and have no age requirement to buy.
“The products that are the edibles, primarily the stuff that’s unregulated, we don’t know where it came from. It’s also actually targeting children,” said Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) in February.
As the court reviews the case, the temporary restraining order will last for 14 days unless it is extended.
“We’ve been working with our representatives at the state and House of Representatives, and we’ve got a good rapport with them. We hope we get further along with them as well,” said Zimmerman.
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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio — A heavy law enforcement presence was in Brooklyn Heights on Monday for what authorities are calling a federal investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security said the Federal Protective Service was conducting a sweep of a lobby inside the Brooklyn Heights ICE office in the 900 block of Keynote Circle when a K-9 alerted to a “suspicious package” in a UPS drop box.
FPS contacted local law enforcement and initiated a full evacuation of the building, which Brooklyn Heights Mayor Mike Procuk told News 5 is home to several offices, including the Department of Homeland Security, the National Weather Service and the Visiting Nurse Association.
“I was on the phone walking down the street, and they got me and pulled me over this way, got me away from the blast zone,” said Mike Gallagher, who was on his way to interview candidates for apprenticeships just before noon.
An office building across the street was also evacuated.
“We got a knock on the door. Everyone has to evacuate,” said Cru Leavitt, who owns EcoShield Pest Solutions. “Not much was said, just get out of the building.”
DHS said the situation has been resolved, and an all-clear was given to reoccupy the building.
“It’s scary; it’s a little eerie feeling,” said Leavitt.
A DHS spokesperson has not responded to questions about whether an explosive device was found or whether any crime was committed.
“It’s a scary world we live in, and this is a little close to home,” said Gallagher.
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