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East Cleveland mayor and former councilman blame politics for indictments

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East Cleveland mayor and former councilman blame politics for indictments


CLEVELAND, OH — Attorneys for East Cleveland’s mayor and a former city councilman each blamed political opponents for the criminal indictments against the two men Friday.

“It’s disappointing to see that the prosecutor of the county is now involved with the political fight with people within East Cleveland,” said defense attorney Charles Tyler who represents East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King.

“It’s a very sad day that the criminal justice system would be used in this manner,” said East Cleveland Law Director Willa Hemmons, who appeared with former councilman Ernest Smith during Smith’s arraignment. “Nobody wants to see the criminal justice system weaponized against a political adversary.”

But the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor said the cases against the pair followed investigations by the Ohio Ethics Commission and the Ohio Auditor of State.

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“These charges came about as a direct result of those investigations,” said Prosecutor Michael O’Malley in a statement. “The people who continue to suffer from these actions are the residents of East Cleveland.”

Mayor Brandon King pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft in office, four counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract, four counts of representation by public official or employee, one count of filing a false disclosure statement and one count of soliciting improper compensation.

King is accused of authorizing and paying more than $76,000 in public contracts between the City of East Cleveland and businesses owned by the mayor and his family.

But Hemmons said Friday those contracts pre-dated King’s time in city government and said King gave up any financial stake in the companies following guidance from the state’s ethics commission.

“If we’re going to preclude every legitimate citizen, every businessman from ever entering politics, we’re going to lose a lot of good people,” Hemmons said.

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The mayor is also accused of improperly providing Smith with a city vehicle and gas cards to purchase fuel.

Investigators said Smith bought $6,791 worth of gas at the expense of the city.

Smith insisted the car was only used in connection with his job but said Friday that included instances where he took his kids to school.

“My son and my daughter are residents of East Cleveland,” said Smith. “I live in East Cleveland. They went to East Cleveland schools. It’s dangerous outside. You can’t even walk to school without the prostitutes and drug dealers messing with everyone.”

Smith also pointed to a 2017 document from the then-clerk of council, which noted Smith received keys to the 2003 Ford for use “for city business” as proof that everything was above board.

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“I didn’t go the mayor to get the car,” said Smith. “I don’t work for the mayor. [The] council doesn’t work for the mayor. I got the word that there was a city council car around there somewhere and my clerk found it for me.”

Smith, who was recalled by voters in 2022 and lost his seat on the council, said he’s “very confident” he will be vindicated and said he plans to run for city council again in 2025.

He told a judge Friday that he did not have money for an attorney and was appointed counsel.

Tyler said the mayor has no plans to step down even as a three-judge panel weighs whether King should be suspended until his criminal case is resolved.

Tyler said King, not the city, is paying for the mayor’s legal defense.

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Cleveland, OH

Weekend weather: Cold, some snow, oh yes

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Weekend weather: Cold, some snow, oh yes


CLEVELAND (WJW) — Not as frigid tonight, but still plenty cold. Temperatures will fall into the low 20s and teens by Saturday morning. A few clouds around and quiet. Any breeze will make it feel a bit colder.

The chance of snow will return this weekend. Spotty light snow showers will develop Saturday afternoon/evening. The coverage of snow will be a little higher in the primary snowbelt compared to the rest of the area. The chance of snow will ramp up when a fast moving clipper system swings through on Sunday. Scattered to numerous snow showers will develop Sunday afternoon and evening.

Snowfall accumulations will be light this weekend. Much of the area will see a coating to an inch of snow. Locally higher amounts of 1-2″ of snow will be found in the primary snowbelt.

If you’re headed to the Browns game on Sunday, just bundle up, it will be cold with a few falling snowflakes but no significant accumulation.

The start of workweek next week will be cold, with highs in the mid to upper 20s. Temperatures will go up a bit towards the middle of next week, but no big warm-ups are expected. Temperatures will stay below normal.

Another clipper system will move through towards the middle of next week. The highest coverage of precipitation will come Tuesday into Wednesday. Snow will change over to a wintry mix of rain and snow as temperatures warm above freezing.

Long range outlook for the first half of December per Scott’s outlook shows below normal temperatures across much of the northern half of the country. All 15 days to start December look to have temperatures below normal for the first time in 20 years!

Cold continues through mid-month. A small break around the 16-18th then the cold reloads the week before Christmas! Scott’s blog post highlights this.

Here’s the latest 8 Day Forecast:

Stay up-to-date by downloading the FOX 8 apps, including the new FOX 8 CLE+ streaming app available for free on Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV.



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Cleveland, OH

Chilly pattern holds for Northeast Ohio, with light snow chances this weekend

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Chilly pattern holds for Northeast Ohio, with light snow chances this weekend


CLEVELAND, Ohio — If you stepped outside early Friday, you felt it: bitter cold across Northeast Ohio as Arctic high pressure settled over the region, dropping many inland spots into the single digits.

The good news heading into the weekend is that temperatures will ease up a bit. The not-so-good news is they’ll still run below average — and a couple rounds of light snow are on the way.

Sunshine will mix with passing clouds Friday as the high shifts toward New England. Afternoon temperatures will struggle to reach the freezing mark, topping out in the upper 20s to lower 30s, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Overnight lows won’t be quite as harsh as Thursday night but will still fall into the teens to lower 20s.

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Light snow possible Saturday, mainly in the snowbelt

A weak cold front trailing from a storm system over the Upper Great Lakes will slide in from the northwest on Saturday, bringing increasing clouds and the chance for a few light snow showers — mainly in the primary snowbelt east of Cleveland.

Most areas should stay dry and any accumulation looks minor, ranging from a dusting to perhaps an inch.

Highs Saturday across Northeast Ohio will reach the lower to mid 30s — 5 to 10 degrees lower than the daily normal of 43.

Clipper brings widespread light snow Sunday

Temperatures will stay below normal heading into the weekend, with some light snow showers possible in the primary snowbelt Saturday. A clipper system could bring a more widespread 1 to 2 inches of snow to Northeast Ohio on Sunday.cleveland.com

A fast-moving clipper system will sweep through the Midwest and into the Upper Ohio Valley on Sunday, spreading light, steady snow across Northeast Ohio. Most areas can expect around 1 to 2 inches.

Temperatures will hover in the lower to mid 30s before falling late in the day as colder air arrives behind the clipper.

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A brief period of lake-enhanced or light lake-effect snow may follow Sunday night, with another 1 to 2 inches possible in the snowbelt.

Active pattern continues next week

High pressure will build back in late Sunday night into Monday, ushering in another shot of Arctic air. Highs Monday will reach only the mid to upper 20s, with overnight lows dropping into the teens and single digits.

Temperatures may briefly rebound into the mid to upper 30s both Tuesday and Wednesday before the next clipper system arrives on Tuesday.

A stronger disturbance is expected to cross the Great Lakes Wednesday, bringing light to moderate precipitation — snow, a rain-snow mix, then snow again — though it’s too early to pin down amounts.

Another system late next week could carry more moisture and may be worth watching for a potentially higher-impact snow as the weekend approaches.

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Cavs vs Spurs: How to watch, odds, and injury report

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Cavs vs Spurs: How to watch, odds, and injury report


Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (13-10) vs. San Antonio Spurs (15-6)

Where: Rocket Arena — Cleveland, OH

When: Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 pm EST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass

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Point spread: Cavs -5

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (injury management), Tyrese Proctor – OUT (personal), Jarrett Allen – OUT (finger), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Larry Nance Jr. – OUT – (calf), Max Strus – OUT (foot)

Spurs injury report: Vicktor Wembanyama – OUT (calf), Stephon Castle – OUT (hip), Luke Kornet – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Jordan McLaughlin – OUT (hamstring), Harrison Ingram – OUT (G League), Rile Minix – OUT (G League)

Cavs expected starting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, De’Andre Hunter, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley

Spurs expected starting lineup: De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, Luke Kornet

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