CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers are a vastly different team now than they were three years ago. Yet, here they are in a similar spot they were then: Losing to the New York Knicks in the playoffs in humiliating fashion. Just this time, it’s in the Eastern Conference Finals instead of the first round.
Cleveland, OH
CSU’s iconic Rhodes Tower among those getting state tax credits for redevelopment
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A tower in Cleveland’s skyline, an historic Ohio City building, and the former home of a company that helped transform the Cuyahoga River are among the Northeast Ohio projects receiving millions of dollars in State Historic Preservation Tax Credits.
Cleveland State University’s iconic 21-story Rhodes Tower, 1860 E. 22nd St., will receive a $5 million tax credit for a $91.6 million renovation to turn the tower into 500 new student residences, a new main library and classroom space.
The Vitrolite Building, 2915 Detroit Ave., was awarded $250,000 in tax credits to aid a $3 million renovation of its basement and second floor, plus window and facade repair. The historic building was once a showroom for Vitrolite glass from the 1920s to the 1950s. Now, it serves as a revitalized commercial space in the Ohio City neighborhood.
The Samsel Building, 1235-1285 Old River Road, on the east bank of the Flats in downtown Cleveland, received a $2.7 million tax credit for a nearly $38 million project to transform the buildings into mixed-use space, 113 apartments, amenities, a rooftop pool and 114 parking spaces. The building was the longtime home of the Samsel Supply Co., the maritime, construction and industrial supply business known for its role in cleaning up the heavily polluted Cuyahoga River. The company announced in September that it was closing and that it had sold its properties.
Awards for those projects were among $56 million in historic tax credits Gov. Mike DeWine announced Wednesday to support 37 projects in 15 communities. DeWine’s office said the credits are paired with about $715 million in private investment.
The credits are meant to help preserve historic buildings that are vacant or generating little economic activity, according to a press release.
“By preserving our historic buildings, we’re retaining the unique identity of Ohio’s communities,” said DeWine. “Through the tax credit program, we’re ensuring that future generations can experience the character and stories that shaped our state in the spaces where they happened.”
Projects across the state won tax credits in this round, including those in Akron, Cleveland and Cuyahoga Heights.
Redevelopment of the Vitrolite building has been mired with questions about Cleveland’s safeguarding of taxpayer subsidies for the project. City and county officials in 2022 lent the developers $1.1 million to cover about 40% of its costs. The redevelopment plan called for making the building a home for women- and minority-owned businesses. But the city’s economic development chief demanded full payment on Cleveland’s portion of the loan when she determined it was in default and was fired three days later.
Cleveland State’s 21-story tower, formerly known as “University Tower,” was finished in 1971 in what the state describes as the “Brutalism style.” Once the largest academic building in the state, it now is mostly vacant. State documents say it needs new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, among other fixes.
Other Northeast Ohio projects receiving credits, as outlined by DeWine’s office, include:
Broadview Savings & Loan Co. (Cleveland)
Total Project Costs: $5,022,764
Total Tax Credit: $373,000
Address: 4221 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109
Part of the South Brooklyn Historic District in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, the Broadview Savings & Loan Co. began operations in 1919 in this colonial revival style building, designed by Cleveland architects Dalton – Dalton Associates. The bank quickly became one of the countryʼs top 100 savings and loan banks, and a second floor was added in 1955 to accommodate growth. The bank was acquired in the 1990s and renovated, removing much of the historic fabric of the building. However, the two bank vaults remain. The renovation plans include the conversion of the building into 22 studios and one- and two-bedroom residential units.
Cedar Branch YMCA (Cleveland)
Total Project Costs: $8,775,000
Total Tax Credit: $1,700,000
Address: 7515 Cedar Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103
Built in 1941, the Cedar Avenue YMCA played an important role in advancing equity in Clevelandʼs Black community as the only branch that accepted African American members at the time. The site hosted various social and educational activities for the community and civil rights groups like the Future Outlook League and the NAACP. It will soon be converted into a mixed-used building, including office space, apartments, an event center, and a commercial kitchen. The rehabilitation will include brick repointing, repairing the historic windows and doors, and updating the machinal and electrical systems.
Columbia Savings and Loan Co. (Cleveland)
Total Project Costs: $1,155,022
Total Tax Credit: $250,000
Address: 5601 Broadway Ave., Cleveland, OH 44127
Constructed in 1891, this three-story Romanesque Revival building now sits vacant in the heart of Clevelands Slavic Village and Broadway Avenue Historic District. The building was home to numerous businesses throughout the years, including a drug store and cleaners. Rehabilitation efforts will restore the terra cotta and brick façade, as well as the terrazzo floors and marble wainscot interior. Once completed, the project will be transformed into a mixed-use property, including a local coffee shop in the first-floor space and office suites on the second and third floors.
E. F. Hauserman Administration Building (Cuyahoga Heights)
Total Project Costs: $2,303,000
Total Tax Credit: $250,000
Address: 5711 Grant Ave., Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44105
The E.F. Hauserman Administration Building was constructed in 1958 and housed the headquarters, offices, research, and engineering for the E.F. Hauserman Company. The building also served as a showcase for company products, including movable interior walls for offices, factories, schools and hospitals. The rehabilitation project will restore the building to continue to be used as an office space, with much of the work focused on fixing windows and replacing mechanical systems.
Homeier- Universal Motor Company Building (Akron)
Total Project Costs: $12,258,581
Total Tax Credit: $2,000,000
Address: 816 E. Market St., Akron, OH 44304
The Homeier-Universal Motor Company Building, a circa-1920 landmark in Akronʼs historic Middlebury neighborhood, stands prominently along a bustling urban corridor. Originally constructed as a fireproof warehouse, the three-story structure gained a one-story office and showroom addition in 1930. Now vacant, the building will be rebuilt into a multi-tenant food hall. Plans include a food court, retail stores, flexible event space, on-site parking, and both indoor and outdoor seating. Historic preservation efforts will include masonry repairs and the installation of historically-accurate windows.
Kerns Hall (Cleveland)
Total Project Costs: $20,684,475
Total Tax Credit: $596,903
Address: 2604 Garden Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Constructed in 1890, Kerns Hall is a three-story mixed-use building in Clevelands historic Brooklyn Centre. Kerns Hall primarily served to host “secret society” meetings and socials for the National Protective Legion, a fraternal order of Masons, with more than 4,000 members. The rehabilitation of Kerns Hall will allow room for local retail and restaurant space, as well as a community space on the upper floors. In addition, a vacant lot to the north of the hall will be utilized for the ground-up construction of 39 apartment units.
Project Scarlet (Rose/Sloan Buildings) (Cleveland)
Total Project Costs: $100,150,000
Total Tax Credit: $5,000,000
Address: 2060 E. 9th St., 819-823 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland, OH 44115
The Rose and Sloan buildings, in Cleveland’s Lower Prospect-Huron Historic District, play a significant role in the cities commercial industry. Constructed and completed in 1900 and 1916 respectively, early tenants of the buildings included Lerder Furniture, Cleveland Gas & Electric Fixtures, the Cleveland Athletic Club, Superior Photo Plays and restaurant, Hector Boiardi’s. The two buildings are attached by interconnected stairwells and elevators. The project aims to convert the 378,000 square feet of the two vacant buildings into mixed-use, including 154 residential units, a hotel, retail, restaurant, and office space, while maintaining historic integrity of the buildings.
South Brooklyn Savings Loan & Co. (Cleveland)
Total Project Costs: $1,368,938
Total Tax Credit: $180,000
Address: 4209 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109
The South Brooklyn Savings and Loan Company building was constructed in 1930 with a dual storefront to provide space for the South Brooklyn Savings and Loan Company and a dry goods company. In 1963, the Broadview Savings and Loan Co. acquired the building for additional space and connected it with a basement tunnel to its main building to the south at 4221 Pearl Rd. The rehabilitation will convert the space into eight residential units while maintaining the historic classic pilasters and the façade window openings.
Young Women’s Christian Association (Akron)
Total Project Costs: $42,970,833
Total Tax Credit: $4,254,537
Address: 146 S. High St., Akron, OH 44308
Construction by a branch of the National Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA) in downtown Akron to provide assembly and athletic facilities for young women, the building once comprised a large auditorium, lounge and club spaces, a chapel, gym, swimming pool, and locker area. This property was owned by the YWCA until 1982 when it was sold and converted into office space and eventually vacated. The building will be converted into 114 apartments that will utilize old amenity space from the YWCA. The rehabilitation plans are to repair all masonry work, install new historically compatible windows, and retain all historic decorative plaster ceilings where they remain.
Cleveland, OH
Northeast Ohio task force arrests 13 in sex-buying sting tied to trafficking crackdown
LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office shared Saturday morning that task force partners engaged in the statewide Operation Spring Cleaning during the week of May 11.
The Huron County Sheriff’s Office, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office (HEAL) participating in the state-wide operation to actively combat sex trafficking by focusing on illicit massage parlors offering sexual activity for sale.
RELATED COVERAGE: More than 100 people arrested in statewide human trafficking sting, including Cleveland firefighter
During the statewide operation, 122 suspects were arrested with 13 of them being local. Four survivors of sex trafficking were also rescued.
During the week, the human trafficking task force executed a search warrant at King Me Massage Parlor at 35111 Royalton Road in Eaton Township.
The sheriff’s office said the search warrant executed was part of an ongoing multi-state investigation into the parlor for illegal activity.
Money was seized, several women were interviewed and victims were referred for services. The business was closed by HEAL and the investigation is ongoing.
The women were brought to the U.S. under a ruse they would be part of a work-study program to obtain higher education degrees, but instead, they were forced into an illicit sex trade operation involving multiple massage parlors across the country.
The HEAL task force provided the victims with temporary housing and means to be reunited with their families in their home countries.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office said the task force carried out another operation on Friday at various locations around Lorain County, which focused on the exploitation of human victims forced to engage in commercial sex acts.
Stark County Human Trafficking Task Force arrests 9 in local sting
During the operation, investigators arrested 13 individuals who were allegedly seeking to engage in commercial sexual activity with adults and minors.
The men arrested (starting from the top left to right) are:
- Forest Gullet, of Grafton: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Joshua Deblasis, of Parma: Trafficking of persons – commercial sex acts
- Luke Ilersich, of Cleveland: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Brent Mitchell, of Elyria: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Jeffery Buckhannon, of Elyria: Engaging in prostitution
- Bo Dunigan, of Parma: Engaging in prostitution
- Shamar Malik Lucky, of Elyria: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Terry Paugh, of North Olmsted: Procuring, soliciting prostitution
- Veli Lavikka, of Rocky River: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
- Matthew Hoke, of Tiffin: Engaging in prostitution
- Ronald Morgan, of Cleveland: Engaging in prostitution
- Vincent Digennaro, of Elyria: Engaging in prostitution
- Labar E Kittleberger, of Avon: Procuring use of premises for prostitution
All the suspects were transported to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office where they were charged.
In addition to the arrests, investigators seized two firearms from individuals encountered during the operation. The presence of firearms underscores the dangers associated with these illicit transactions, the sheriff’s office said.
Of significant interest, investigators rescued a 43-year-old woman originally from Lorain County who had been trafficked into illicit sex-for-hire operation in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The victim was brought to Lorain County, not to return home, but to continue to be engaged in forced sexual activity for hire, the sheriff’s office said.
She was recovered by investigators at a local hotel, and is being provided humanitarian and legal services.
Lorain County Sheriff Jack Hall praised the efforts of HEAL on social media, and thanked all of the agencies who were involved.
The investigations remains ongoing, the sheriff’s office said.
Anyone with information regarding human trafficking or suspicious activity in Huron, Erie, Ashland or Lorain County is encouraged to contact the HEAL Human Trafficking Task Force at (440) 284-0615, Inspector Coll at (440) 329-3861, or Agent Aviles at (440) 329-3850.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Division of Police is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man Saturday.
Calvin Bostick was reported missing Thursday and last seen in the 5600 block of Linwood Avenue.
Police say Bostick is autistic but able to work.
Bostick is 22 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds.
He has black hair and brown eyes.
The individual who reported Bostick’s disappearance said she dropped him off at his job on the 11400 block of Bellflower at 9:25 a.m. and hasn’t seen him since.
The reporter believes there is a chance Bostick will come home because his belongings are there.
Anyone with information on Bostick’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Cleveland Police Third District at (216) 623-5300 or (216) 621-1234
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
10 Takeaways from Cavs Game 3 loss to Knicks: The gap between these two teams has never felt wider
And somehow, the gap feels wider now. Or at least it has through three games.
The Knicks outclassed the Cavs in nearly every area, as they came away with a 121-108 Game 3 victory in a contest they never trailed in. They now have a 3-0 lead with a chance of ending Cleveland’s season on Monday.
It’s clear who’s been better through three games. The Knicks are just a complete basketball team in a way that the Cavs aren’t.
Offensively, they have a better understanding of how they want to attack their opponent. They’re lethal at all three levels. That variety means they aren’t overly reliant on the three-ball or getting to the free-throw line.
Each starter can pass, dribble, and shoot at an average level or better. If you sell out to stop one, there’s someone behind them capable of making you pay for it.
They aren’t without deficiencies defensively. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are both below-average defenders for their position, but the team compensates for that well.
The Knicks know how to keep both from being on an island defensively. The player they’re trying to hide is comfortable hedging and then recovering back to his man, while the more adept defender fights through the screen. That’s something you need to be proficient at if you know your opponent is going to try to single someone out.
But more than that, they have principles that guide them defensively. They’ve relentlessly tagged the roller and have sold out to stop interior passes and easy looks around the rim. That can make them susceptible to outside shots, but hasn’t thus far this postseason.
This stands in stark contrast with the Cavs.
Cleveland doesn’t have those same guiding principles on either end. They’re too willing to take the path of least resistance. That has allowed the Knicks to bait the Cavs into taking the shots they want them to offensively (threes) and attacking the guys they want to defensively (James Harden).
The Knicks are surrendering open threes, and the Cavs still can’t make them pay.
Before the game, both coaches talked about the open three-point looks the Cavs generated through the first two games.
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson preached wanting his team to stick to the process. “Keep taking them,” Atkinson said after mentioning the three-point looks his team took in Game 2 were in the 93rd percentile.
Meanwhile, Knicks head coach Mike Brown said that his team needed to “do a better job” of contesting open looks. “We’ve gotten a little lucky. They’ve missed some shots.”
That luck continued. The Cavs overall went just 12-41 (29.3%) from three. On the series, they’ve now missed 89 triples and are shooting below 30%.
It’d be one thing if this were a normal defensive game plan, but the Knicks are simply daring the Cavs best shooters to beat them, and they inexplicably aren’t. That includes Harden and Donovan Mitchell who combined to go 4-17 from beyond the arc.
“We gotta make shots,” Harden said. “We haven’t really made a shot since the first quarters in Game 1.”
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Fatigue may have something to do with the missed shots. The Cavs haven’t had consecutive off days for three-and-a-half weeks now. Tired legs inevitably make it more difficult to shoot. But that isn’t an excuse that you could really use, considering what came before.
Cleveland had golden opportunities to win Games 4 and 6 against the Toronto Raptors, and didn’t come out with the force needed in Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons. Taking care of a few of those winnable games would’ve given them more rest, so this wouldn’t have been an issue.
“We did it to ourselves, we can’t be mad now,” Mitchell said.
You pay for every mistake that you make in the playoffs, either in the moment or in the future. Cleveland’s previous errors are catching up to them now against a team they need to be playing at or near the top of their game to beat.
You aren’t going to win many playoff games when your best player has the worst plus/minus in the game.
The Cavs lost the minutes Mitchell played by 22. This is the fourth time he’s been a -10 or worse this postseason, and they’ve lost each of those games.
The holes in Mitchell’s games are showing through in this postseason, but particularly in this series. When the outside shot isn’t falling, his only counter is to get to the basket. That has allowed him to still put up respectable scoring numbers. Although the impact on the game isn’t what it needs to be.
There’s more to basketball than just scoring. He hasn’t made consistent enough efforts at defending, rebounding, or playmaking for others to be a positive contributor in those areas. That’s part of why he hasn’t been able to carry lineups without Harden (-7.3 net rating, 23rd percentile).
Mitchell is being outplayed by Brunson for the third time in the postseason dating back to their time in the Western Conference. Both are similar from a talent perspective as undersized scoring guards. But Brunson is better at all the little things that show through in the postseason.
Brunson’s ability to set up his teammates (14 assists in Game 2), compete defensively, and attack in the midrange are all things that Mitchell doesn’t consistently have in his game. That versatility has allowed him to elevate his groups on days he doesn’t have it going as a scorer.
It was easy to see where the Cavs went wrong when they fell on their face three years ago. That group was inexperienced and didn’t have enough outside shooting to be functional in the postseason.
This team is considerably better. You don’t luck your way into being a conference finalist. However, figuring out the next step forward is more difficult, especially for the most expensive roster in the league that doesn’t have many additional levers to pull.
There’s no simple solution to this. LeBron James deciding to come back home and signing for far below market value would help, but it doesn’t necessarily fix everything given he’ll be 42 at this time next year. There would still be holes defensively, and the offense wouldn’t be smooth with multiple ball-dominant players.
Pivoting further by moving more integral pieces is easier said than done. Would you really want to trade Evan Mobley, one of the few Cavaliers who’s elevated his game in the playoffs? Does it make sense to further break up the nucleus of one of the most successful eras in franchise?
At the same time, it’s dangerous to continue betting on a group that has shown the same flaws in multiple postseason runs. That includes deciding whether or not to give Mitchell a further extension this summer.
Firing Atkinson would be the simplist solution. It’s easier to get rid of the coach than it is the team. But I’m not sure this is a coaching issue when we saw this group go seven games with the previous fall guy.
The gap between who the Cavs are and who they want to be is wider than it’s been since Mitchell was traded over. And there’s no easy answer for any of this.
The Cavaliers are one loss away from what could be an unpredictable summer.
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