Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Clinic to halt gender-affirming care for minors under DOJ agreement
PAINSVILLE, Ohio — This week, Cleveland Clinic and the U.S. Department of Justice reached an agreement that will halt gender-affirming care for minors at the hospital for the next two decades.
As a child, Eli Frohnapfel loved things like Pokémon and video games. But when he hit puberty, something changed.
“Having things on my body that didn’t align with my identity was — really took a toll on my mental state,” said Frohnapfel.
At 13, he told his grandmother and later his parents that he wanted to transition. His parents, Hilary and Todd Frohnapfel, said they initially had questions but worked to better understand what their child was experiencing.
“Once he told us some of the things he was going through it made a lot more sense, and I love him no matter what. So, I wanted to do whatever I could to support him,” said Hilary Frohnapfel.
Over the next several years, Eli Frohnapfel socially transitioned and eventually underwent a double mastectomy at age 17. He described the experience as life-changing.
“I had a lot of people there to support me — my friends, my parents, and it was just, it was a really beautiful moment,” said Frohnapfel.
When asked what his life might look like today if he had not been able to access gender-affirming care as a teenager, Frohnapfel said he is not sure he would be alive.
“I’m going to be honest, I don’t think I would be here right now, either as the person I am or just in general. Being transgender can be a beautiful experience, but it can also be a really hard process if you’re not allowed to be the person that you are inside,” said Frohnapfel.
Now, future patients at Cleveland Clinic will not have access to those treatments under the new agreement with the Department of Justice.
The settlement requires the hospital system to stop providing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and other gender-transition treatments to minors for 20 years. It also includes a $308,000 payment to settle insurance billing allegations and sets aside $2 million for detransition care services.
In a statement, Cleveland Clinic wrote:
“We are pleased to have worked collaboratively toward a resolution related to an unintentional coding issue involving a small number of patients. We remain focused on providing exceptional care to our patients and communities. We have complied and will continue to comply with all federal and state laws.”
The settlement is a public document that can be requested through the DOJ.
For Frohnapfel, the agreement represents a significant setback.
“Yeah, two decades is a long time, and I think gender affirming care is lifesaving care, like that’s what it is,” said Frohnapfel.
Others view the settlement differently. State Rep. Gary Click supports it.
“I think that they need to just remember our children are not their science experiments,” said Click.
He believes the restrictions should be permanent.
“It puzzles me that there’s a 20-year agreement to not break the law. It’s like, you know, why don’t you just say we’re never going to break the law again,” said Click.
Click has been a leading opponent of gender-affirming care, sponsoring the SAFE Act, which bans physicians from providing that care to minors.
“Let’s give kids a chance to grow up intact, and if, as an adult, you still feel like that’s right for you, then that’s your choice, and you’re able to process the pros and the cons much more effectively,” said Click.
And while the representative is pleased to see detransition services receiving funding, Frohnapfel and his parents worry about what this means for other families.
“It’s heartbreaking to have to watch kids struggle and know who they are, and not be able to be who they are and not be able to get that care,” said Hilary Frohnapfel.
“I think there’s going to be so many lives that are lost, and I just really hope that they can fix it or remake the deal, so that people can get access to the care that they need,” said Eli Frohnapfel.
Nadeen Abusada is a Cuyahoga County and immigration reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Instagram NadeenAbusada or email her at Nadeen.Abusada@wews.com.
This forecast is outdated and inaccurate. Get the latest forecast here.
CLEVELAND (WJW) — (WJW) — The National Weather Service has extended its EXTREME HEAT WARNING for all of Northeast Ohio.
It will remain in effect until 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3, in Ashland, Ashtabula, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning Medina, Ottawa, Portage, Richland, Sandusky, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne counties; and until 10 p.m. Friday, July 3, in Carroll, Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties.
The heat waves continues! An EXTREME HEAT WARNING will remain in effect through 8 p.m. Friday. Heat indices could top 105 degrees during the hottest time of day on Friday.
Once again, there will not be much relief from the heat and humidity overnight. Tonight lows will be in the mid to upper 70s again. Feeling warmer with the higher humidity. Mostly clear skies.
Friday will be the last sweltering summer day before the heat starts to back off for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. There is the chance of rain and storms Friday evening, around 7pm that could go through the late evening. This may impact some 4th of July celebrations on Friday. Any storm that pops up we’ll have to watch for the potential of gusty winds, heavy downpours and large hail.
This is what the radar could look like by the time some Fireworks celebrations are expected Friday evening. We have a level 2 out of 5 chance of any storm turning severe, meaning that 1 or 2 have the chance.
The upper-level ridge, or heat dome, will start to breakdown on Friday. This means two things. The first is it will go from being very hot and humid to being very warm and humid. The second thing is the chance of rain and threat of storms will return.
The Fourth of July holiday weekend will be far from a washout! There will be more dry time than time with downpours and storms. However, clusters of downpours and storms will move through Northeast Ohio at times. This means some Fourth of July events, backyard BBQs, pool parties, and firework shows could be impacted by rain and storms.
With all the heat and humidity around, any downpours or storms that develop could be strong and produce gusty winds, small hail, torrential rain, and lightning. Here’s the latest 8 Day Forecast:
Keep up with FOX 8 News for the latest weather updates.
Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell previewed their championship bout and came face to face at the press conference. The two fighters square off this Saturday, July 4, at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.
- Cleveland-based 22-year-old southpaw Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) of Bedford, Ohio, defends his WBO lightweight title after claiming the vacant belt last November by decision against Sam Noakes.
- Toledo’s 33-year-old Bell (28-0, 9 KOs), who makes his first bid to become a champion, took the fight on short notice, replacing Joe Cordina of Wales.
See below what Mason and Bell had to say at the press conference on Thursday, following the open workout.
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Mason: I’m prepared to come out on top
“I’m excited. I’m super excited,” Mason said. “This is something me and my brothers have been looking forward to doing since we were amateurs. We fought on the same card a few times as amateurs, and all of us did it together on the last show my father threw here in Cleveland. It was huge.”
“At that time, we were like, ‘Yo, when we do this on a professional level, it’s going to be big for Cleveland.’ And now, it’s big for not only Cleveland, but it’s on TNT, so this is a national stage, a world stage with DAZN. I’m just excited to be able to put this show on with two of my brothers on the card.”
“I feel like it [fight vs Sam Noakes] was definitely a much-needed experience. That’s not the type of fight you have all the time in your career. It was something I felt like I had to do that night. Every fight is different, and it definitely gave me some insight into how I’ll approach the rest of my career. So, it was a much-needed experience and a great fight.”
“It [opponent change] was definitely unexpected. Albert Bell – that’s our guy from Toledo. But it’s boxing. You’ve got to be prepared for anything, and I’m prepared to come out on top. Everything happens for a reason.”
“One thing I do want to say is, I’m the youngest world champion in boxing for a reason, and I’m prepared to show that when I step into the ring.”
“Boxing is offense, defense and IQ, and you’ve got to put it together and tailor it to the person you’re stepping in the ring with. So, with the opponent switch, I just have to tailor it to the person across the ring from me, and that’s Albert Bell.”
Bell: We’re here now, and that’s all that matters
“I mean, it caught me by surprise,” Bell said on stepping in to face Mason on short notice. “It was an ideal opponent for me. I wasn’t really thinking about fighting Abdullah, especially not this soon. But everything made sense. I talked to my pops about it, and it made sense, so I stepped in to save the card, get my world title opportunity and put on a show for all of Ohio.”
“I mean, I get turned down by a lot of guys. I’m not saying that in a cocky way or trying to act like I’m the boogeyman or anything like that, but a lot of guys say no when my name comes across their table. I would’ve had the name I was supposed to have by now if it weren’t for that, but what’s delayed is not denied. We’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”
“I just need to be the best version of myself. I know he’s coming to be the best version of himself. He’s prepared, I’m prepared. We’re ready. We’re two top fighters, and we’re professionals. We’re both Ohioans. We’ve got history with each other, and it’s gonna be a show for sure.”
Mason vs Bell undercard
In the co-feature, Bruce Carrington (17-0, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn makes the first defense of his WBC featherweight title against Rene Palacios (19-0-1, 10 KOs) of Mexico.
On the undercard, Cleveland’s Delante “Tiger” Johnson (17-0, 8 KOs) takes on Canada-based Mexican Christopher Guerrero (16-0, 9 KOs) at welterweight.
Plus, Deric Davis (11-0, 10 KOs) of Fort Washington, Maryland, and Carlos Ramos (18-4-1, 10 KOs) of Spain by way of Ecuador, square off at lightweight.
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Nichole Milanovich, age 30, passed away on July 1, 2026.
Family and friends are welcome on Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 3 to 10 p.m., at Slone & Co. Life Celebration Center 3556 W. 130th St. Cleveland, OH 44111, where a Service will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 11 a.m. Interment Brooklyn Heights Cemetery.
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