CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland community activist Khalid Samad has passed away, according to a statement released by Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin.

El Hajj Amir Khalid A. Samad was an internationally known and recognized community activist who served as the assistant to the public safety director for the city of Cleveland for youth gang intervention under Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell. He has also served as a Gang Prevention and Investigative Specialist for the Cleveland Board of Education Gang Task Force, according to the Cleveland International Hall of Fame’s website.

He was the chief executive officer and co-founder of Coalition for a Better Life and co-founder of Cleveland’s Peace in the Hood.

Peace in the Hood posted about the passing of Samad.

Read the statement from Council President Blaine A. Griffin on the death of Khalid Samad.

“I am heartbroken to share in the loss of my dear friend and brother, Khalid Samad. Khalid wasn’t just an activist; he was the heartbeat of our neighborhoods and a man who spent every waking hour trying to save our kids from the streets. For decades, I watched him walk into the most difficult situations with nothing but a sense of peace and a deep love for Cleveland. He had a rare way of making people feel seen and heard, whether he was mentoring a young person at a crossroads or advising city leaders on how to make our community whole again.

Losing him feels like losing a piece of the city’s soul. Khalid’s legacy through ‘Peace in the Hood’ and his induction into the International Hall of Fame are markers of a life well-lived, but his true impact is found in the lives he saved and the peace he brokered when things felt hopeless. My prayers are with his family and everyone who leaned on his wisdom. We’ve lost a giant, but I know the work he started will continue through all of us who were lucky enough to call him a friend.”

His cause of death is not known at this time.

Check back with 19 News for the latest on the passing of Khalid A. Samad.

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Cleveland, OH – March 19, 2026 – HRI Commercial Food Service, a provider of commercial kitchen design, equipment distribution, installation, and service solutions, is expanding into the Cleveland market, bringing its comprehensive kitchen support model to restaurants, hotels, institutional facilities, and hospitality groups across Northeast Ohio.

The expansion introduces HRI’s integrated approach to commercial kitchen development and operations, allowing foodservice operators to work with a single partner for design planning, equipment procurement, installation, and long-term maintenance. By reducing the need for multiple vendors across different stages of a kitchen project, HRI aims to help operators streamline development timelines, simplify project coordination, and keep kitchens operating reliably after opening.

Commercial kitchens represent one of the most complex environments within hospitality operations, requiring careful planning, regulatory compliance, equipment integration, and ongoing maintenance. Many operators traditionally rely on separate vendors for kitchen design, equipment sourcing, installation, and service. HRI’s model consolidates these functions within a single experienced team, allowing operators to reduce vendor handoffs and maintain greater continuity throughout the lifecycle of a kitchen.

“Foodservice operators are managing increasingly complex kitchens and infrastructure requirements,” said Cuyler Lewis, General Manager of HRI Commercial Food Service. “Our expansion into Cleveland allows us to bring our full-service model to Northeast Ohio – combining design expertise, equipment distribution, installation, and ongoing service to support operators from initial planning through long-term kitchen performance.”

HRI supports the full lifecycle of commercial kitchen development through three integrated divisions – Design and Consultation, Equipment Distribution and Installation, and Services and Maintenance. The team, which is comprised of sales professionals, kitchen designers, and experienced chefs, works with clients to translate operational goals into a functional kitchen environment. Their combined expertise allows HRI to align kitchen layouts, equipment choices, and workflow design with the day-to-day realities of professional foodservice operations.

HRI also supports project execution by assisting with documentation, approvals, and subcontractor coordination. This includes oversight of infrastructure elements such as sprinkler systems and fire alarm integration. By bringing design, equipment procurement, installation, and service under one team of experts, HRI helps operators simplify complex projects and keep kitchens running reliably.

The Cleveland expansion reflects continued demand from restaurants, hospitality groups, and institutional facilities seeking partners that can support both the development and long-term performance of commercial kitchens.

Operators interested in learning more about HRI Commercial Food Service’s service capabilities can visit https://hriusa.com.

About HRI Commercial Food Service

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, HRI Commercial Food Service provides end-to-end support for commercial kitchens, including design and consultation, equipment distribution and installation, and ongoing service and maintenance. The company partners with restaurants, hotels, and institutional food service operators to develop efficient kitchen environments that support long-term performance. With decades of combined industry experience and access to more than 300 foodservice equipment brands, HRI delivers comprehensive solutions ranging from cooking equipment and refrigeration to smallwares and restaurant furnishings.

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Media Contact
Company Name: HRI Commercial Food Service
Contact Person: Cuyler Lewis, General Manager
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Phone: 814-453-4747
Country: United States
Website: https://hriusa.com/

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Ohioans for Cannabis Choice officially announced they failed to get 250,000 signatures that would have helped put Senate Bill 56, a massive marijuana law overhaul, on hold. With the signatures not reached, changes to marijuana laws will now go into effect on March 20.

Senate Bill 56, which was passed last year, will eliminate intoxicating hemp products and place additional restrictions on marijuana. Hemp beverages would also be removed from shelves statewide, including at breweries.

Those against SB 56 believe it will lead to thousands of businesses closing as a result. Those for it believe stricter regulations are needed.

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice were working on a petition that would have forced a November general election vote on SB 56. That petition required 250,000, which the group says they did not reach.

“We want to thank the more than 5,000 Ohioans and businesses who volunteered their time and sweat to try to collect the signatures needed to put SB 56 before voters. Unfortunately, we were not able to overcome a truncated time period to give voters the chance to say no to government overreach. This doesn’t change the reality that marijuana will be re-criminalized in Ohio, businesses will close, workers will lose their jobs, and consumers will be denied their right to products they should be able to purchase.”

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice did not say how many signatures they did get, but said they believe SB 56 is a backwards step.

“Voters overwhelmingly supported legalizing cannabis in 2023. It only makes sense that Gov. DeWine and state lawmakers should go back and ask those voters if they want to ban hemp and re-criminalize marijuana. We know, and our elected leaders know, the answer would be a resounding no.”

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