Cleveland, OH
FBI Cleveland Honors Northeastern Ohio Family With Director’s Community Leadership Award
Timothy and Tamia Woods awarded for their work about teen suicide and sextortion
[February 20, 2024 – Cleveland, OH] FBI Cleveland is proud to announce Timothy and Tamia Woods on behalf of the Do it for James Foundation of Streetsboro, Ohio as recipients of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. The FBI established the Directors Community Leadership Award in 1990 to publicly acknowledge the achievements of those working to make a difference in their communities through the promotion of education and the prevention of crime and violence. The FBI’s 56 field offices select the recipients annually for this honor. FBI Director Wray will host and honor the Woods’ and other award recipients during a Washington, D.C., event held later in the spring.
Pictured: FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen presents Tamia and Timothy Woods with the Directors Community Leadership Award.
In November of 2022, Timothy and Tamia Woods suffered a family’s worst nightmare when they lost their only child, James, to suicide after becoming a victim of sextortion. James was an energetic and driven 17-year-old Streetsboro High School student and year-round track and field star. He greeted everyone he saw with a welcoming smile and outgoing personality which served him as a model student, athlete, and neighbor.
Soon after their devasting loss, the Woods’ founded the Do it For James Foundation (DIFJF). The mission of DIFJF is to create awareness for kids and their families to prevent similar tragedies. No matter who their audience is, from students to parents, the mission remains the same. DIFJF was created to honor James, to tell his story, and to inform the community about the huge increase of children and teens being threatened or coerced online.
FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen honored the Woods’ during a closed ceremony today at FBI Cleveland.
“Timothy and Tamia found strength and purpose through an unimaginable tragedy. Carrying on James’ legacy by fostering awareness, education, and outreach to our kids and teens while establishing a foundation that will serve future generations is a true testament to their character. The FBI will not let James Woods be forgotten, nor the work you both are doing. As recipients of the Director’s Community Leadership Award, you –and James, are forever etched in the history books of the FBI.”
In early 2023, FBI Cleveland Division and the DIFJF connected when the Division was asked to provide a sextortion presentation to parents of a local school district where the DIFJF would also be sharing their story.
It was from that evening that a partnership was formed. By working together to educate our community about sextortion, there was no doubt the impact could be made on every listening ear. That impact was felt from presenting together at numerous schools, as well as a mental health symposium that was attended by more than 100 mental health professionals from various lines of work.
Additionally, in June of each year, FBI Cleveland hosts a four-day Future Agents in Training (FAIT) program that is attended by 50 rising seniors from the Cleveland area of responsibility. FBI Cleveland invited the DIFJF to attend and present to this key audience. The extremely powerful presentation delivered James’ story in such a way that everyone who heard it was left feeling as if they knew him personally. Tamia ended the presentation by leading the group in a resounding chant of “You matter!” This was done to remind everyone that no matter what tricky situation they find themselves in, a solution can be found and that their life is more important that any mistake that they make.
The impact that the DIFJF has made over the last year was capped off in August 2023 with the first ever DIFJF “Walk/Run Day of Fun”. The 5K run / 1 mile walk invited the community to participate in memory of James. DIFJF continued to give back to the community as they handed out various scholarships to registered participants. A day of family fun followed the run/walk that included local law enforcement partners, community groups, and local businesses.
Throughout 2023, DIFJF has provided youth empowerment, built strength in the community, and raised awareness about sextortion and suicide prevention. The powerful message that the Woods’ family shares with each presentation they give will forever leave a mark on everyone who hears their words.
Cleveland, OH
Man shot on Cleveland’s West Side
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A man was shot in Cleveland’s Cudell neighborhood Tuesday night.
Cleveland Police 1st District officers responded to the 10100 block of Madison Ave around 9:00 P.M.
A man approximately 45 years of age was found with a gunshot wound.
EMS took the victim to MetroHealth Hospital. This incident remains under investigation.
There is no information on any suspects or arrests.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Leaders in Washington and Cleveland take aim at affordable housing in Northeast Ohio
CLEVELAND — Ahead of her Third Annual Housing Expo this Saturday at Tri-C Corporate College East, Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH) rolled out her Safe and Affordable Housing Agenda on Tuesday. It’s a series of four bills aimed at lowering home costs while strengthening lead paint and pipe abatement.
“We wanted to bring something forward that would improve the living conditions, to make things more affordable and more accessible for not only the constituents of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District but those who are experiencing the same challenge across the country,” Brown told News 5.
The Housing Supply Fund Act is legislation that encourages the building of more affordable housing by filling financing gaps that are holding back construction. The legislation would establish a competitive program within the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to address financing gaps that prevent otherwise viable housing projects from moving forward.
“We want to make sure we do not give up on affordable housing; we want to make sure that it is more accessible,” Brown said.
There is also the Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act, which is legislation to maintain and preserve existing HUD-assisted housing. This legislation establishes a new HUD preservation authority to provide targeted financing and intervention tools for distressed HUD-assisted multifamily properties at risk of deterioration, foreclosure, or loss of affordability.
The bill is designed to help preserve affordable housing, facilitate responsible ownership transitions, and protect existing federal housing investments serving seniors, working families, and vulnerable residents.
The other two bills introduced deal with the issue of lead abatement. The GET THE LEAD OUT Act of 2026 would create a new federal grant program to replace lead pipes, fixtures, and taps. The legislation would create a broad federal framework to address lead in drinking water and housing by funding removal of lead-based pipe and tap hazards, establishing training and certification requirements, directing federal standards and state programs, and integrating lead plumbing remediation into major housing programs. Brown’s legislation creates new authorities and financing mechanisms to drive national action on residential lead plumbing hazards.
The Removing Existing Pipes with Lead and Advancing Clean Environments (or REPLACE) Act improves existing lead paint and lead pipe removal programs within the federal government. This legislation would amend existing HUD and Safe Drinking Water Act authorities to strengthen lead-paint hazard remediation in housing, improve local implementation capacity, and better coordinate paint and pipe removal efforts.
“We know that this has been a longstanding issue in the City of Cleveland,” she said. “What we’re doing is trying to supplement and amplify the opportunities to be able to address these issues that have long-standing impacts in our community.”
Brown’s announcement comes on the heels of the Bibb administration’s announcement of the creation of the Housing Innovation District, a 1,500-acre swath of land covering St. Clair, Superior and Hough where efforts will begin this summer to repopulate streets that have lost more than half of their homes in recent decades with new housing starting on East 67th south of St. Clair, where ten homes will go up later this year.
A recent New York Times piece cited that among the barriers to building more housing are restrictive zoning and permitting, something the city addresses in this district.
“One of the big things that we’re doing is eliminating permit fees for single-family home construction, which is again a real sort of barrier to this sort of work,” said Tom McNair, Mayor Justin Bibb’s Chief of Integrated Development.
They also established what they call a “Pattern Book,” where they’ve pre-approved designs for certain types of homes in this district to speed up the process.
“When there’s a vacant lot that the city owns, it will be like this is the home you want, this is the lot you want to build on, here’s your permit,” he said.
Congresswoman Brown sees their efforts helping citizens towards the same goal.
“Our legislation would dovetail perfectly into what the mayor is putting forth as well,” she said. “People are doing all of the right things, they’re working hard, but they’re still having trouble getting ahead, and we want to be able to again address that gap as it relates to the opportunity to build wealth in our community, and this legislation will certainly help put people on a pathway to do that.”
Part of that pathway includes Brown’s Housing Expo for constituents of the 11th Congressional District. “It’s a one-stop shop for everything housing, so whether you are a renter or whether you are a first-time home buyer, whether you are looking to renovate, whether you are a senior that’s aging in place. We wanted to bring every aspect of the housing industry under one umbrella, and so we will do that.”
Constituents can register for the free event here.
Cleveland, OH
Fire crews battle Cleveland duplex blaze, ammunition heard popping inside
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Division of Fire responded to a 2 1/2 story side-by-side duplex fire Monday afternoon.
According to Cleveland Fire, the call came in just after 5 p.m. at 2154 and 2156 W 98th St.
The fire started in a second floor bedroom that spread to the attic.
Due to the size of the house and the volume of the fire, an extra engine and ladder companies were called to assist.
Cleveland Fire said a total of eight adults and three children were displaced from the fire and the Red Cross was called to assist.
Firearms were inside the structure and firefighters said they could hear ammunition going off as they fought the fire.
The fire also extended to an old tree that caught fire.
Total estimated loss is $120,000, Cleveland Fire said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and no injuries were reported.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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