Cleveland, OH

Buckeye Chuck: Cleveland Museum of Natural History is home to Ohio’s weather-predicting groundhog

Published

11 months ago

January 16, 2024

Buckeye Chuck: Cleveland Museum of Natural History is home to Ohio’s weather-predicting groundhog

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Museum of Natural History announced that one of their newest animal ambassadors has officially been named Ohio’s “Buckeye Chuck!”

First thing’s first, the state’s official weather-predicting groundhog is actually named Murray – a nod to Bill Murray’s portrayal in Groundhog Day.

Murray was found injured on the side of the road, CMNH stated.

While he was nursed back to health, CMNH said his caretakers determined he could not be released back into nature.

Now, Murray calls the CMNH’s Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden his home.

When he’s not fulfilling his stately duties, Murray will be participating in live animal programs to help educate others on the importance of Ohio’s native wildlife, according to CMNH.

While CMNH announced Murray’s role on Jan. 15, Murray arrived at the museum back in June 2023.

Since then, CMNH said he has been training for both educational programs and veterinary checkups while also enjoying new enrichment items.

“All animal ambassadors at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History participate in voluntary training and enrichment,” CMNH explained. “In preparation for this event, the Museum’s Wildlife staff will begin to introduce Murray to a ‘den’ and platform so he can choose to participate in a hands-off weather prediction.”

“Not only does Murray have a safe and nurturing new home, but our guests also have a chance to learn from him, so it’s a perfect pairing,” Director of Wildlife Jim Nemet stated. “The goal of the Perkins Wildlife Center is to allow people to get up close and learn about Ohio Wildlife, and Murray’s addition helps out with that tremendously.”

Now, Murray is preparing to make his debut as Buckeye Chuck during iHeart Media’s Groundhog Day live broadcast on Feb. 2, according to CMNH.

It’s up to Buckeye Chuck to predict if there will be six more weeks of winter… If Murray does not see his shadow, then he will predict an early spring.

“Murray will choose to participate on his terms, just like he does for educational programming at the Museum,” said Nemet.

The Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden is an outdoor space on the Museum’s University Circle campus that can be accessed with general admission tickets.

This center is home to rescued animals that cannot return to the wild, along with wildlife and plants native to Ohio to be a living educational collection.

Buckeye Chuck: Cleveland Museum of Natural History is home to Ohio’s weather-predicting groundhog(Cleveland Museum of Natural History)

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Cleveland, OH

I-90 travel restrictions in place from Ohio to New York

Published

7 hours ago

November 30, 2024

Press Room

I-90 travel restrictions in place from Ohio to New York

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Road conditions continue to worsen due to Thanksgiving lake effect snow throughout much of Northeast Ohio. These conditions, leaving many stranded along I-90 traveling East.

As a result of the conditions, ODOT has announced 220 crews are out across the state, helping clear the roads.

9:45AM: More than 220 crews are out across the state, including this plow on SR 531 in Ashtabula County. The lake effect snow has slacked up for a bit allowing crews to get I-90 mostly clear. However, snow is expected to crank back up later today through much of the weekend. pic.twitter.com/0BmDPb8VUo
— Matt Bruning (@mbruning81) November 29, 2024

In many sections of I-90 in Northeast Ohio, speeds are reduced due to conditions. 19 News has seen this essentially from Route 44 to the Ashtabula County border.

Difficulties on the roads extend into Pennsylvania and New York as well. Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation announced the entirety of I-90 between Ohio and New York is seeing a mandatory speed limit reduction. Drivers must go 45 mph or less, down from the 65 mph-55 mph variable speed limit seen normally.

I-90 from Erie, PA to the New York border is also completely shut down as of 1:30pm on Friday. That closure is for both directions.

Commercial vehicles are also restricted to the right lane only, with banned access to other lanes where I-90 is open in Pennsylvania.

A 19 First Alert Weather Day was called for today, with high winds also adding to the difficulties on the roads.

To stay up to date on the latest weather changes, download the 19 First Alert Weather App. The 19 First Alert Weather App lets you track storms and get severe weather alerts wherever you are. Get animated radar, hourly and 10-day forecasts, video updates and more from Northeast Ohio’s most accurate meteorologists.

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Cleveland, OH

Northeast Ohio cities issue parking bans as lake effect snow piles up

Published

15 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

Northeast Ohio cities issue parking bans as lake effect snow piles up

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Numerous Northeast Ohio cities issued parking bans as road conditions continue to worsen with lake effect snow.

19 First Alert Meteorologists forecast some spots in the snow belt could see 1-3′ of snow, and have issued First Alert Days through Tuesday.

Eastern Lake County, northeast Geauga County, and Ashtabula County are most likely to see the highest amounts of snowfall.

I-90 is expected to be slick and slow, and travel restrictions for the interstate are in place from Ohio to New York.

Locally over 2 feet additional snow today and tonight. Little or no snow outside of the lake effect zone.(Meteorologist Jeff Tanchak)

Here are the cities that have issued snow emergencies and/or parking bans:

Conneaut

Fairport Harbor

Geneva-on-the-Lake

Mentor

Mentor-on-the-Lake

Painesville

Shaker Heights

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Cleveland, OH

Five-Time NBA Champion Blames Pat Riley for LeBron James Leaving Miami Heat

Published

23 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

Five-Time NBA Champion Blames Pat Riley for LeBron James Leaving Miami Heat

LeBron James thrived in his four seasons with the Miami Heat, winning two championships and helping the team reach the NBA Finals every year.

By all accounts, the Big Three era—as short as it may have been—was an unquestioned success.

What would have happened had James stayed in Miami? Longtime NBA guard Ron Harper says Pat Riley’s presence is why we never learned the answer.

During a recent appearance on Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller’s podcast, Riley said he believes the Heat could have won five or six championships had James not returned to Cleveland in July 2014. The Heat have not won the NBA Finals since 2013.

Harper, who won five titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, blamed James’ departure on Riley.

“Tell them why he left?” Harper wrote on X. “You wasn’t dealing with what comes with him.”

Tell them why he left? You wasn’t dealing with what comes with him
— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) November 26, 2024

Riley never coached James in Miami. He’s served as the Heat’s president since 2008. James joined the Heat in July 2010. It’s also worth noting Harper never played under Riley.

For his part, Riley has discussed his up-and-down relationship with James in the past. In the 2018 book The Soul of Basketball, Riley admitted he was “absolutely livid” when James signed with the Cavaliers.

However, Riley acknowledged he later understood why James left Miami for a second stint in Cleveland. James helped the Cavaliers to their first championship in 2016 and reached the Finals all four seasons in Cleveland.

“While there may have been some carnage always left behind when he made these kinds of moves, in Cleveland and also in Miami, he did the right thing,” Riley said.

Sources told ESPN in 2018 that James and Riley hadn’t spoken since 2014.