Cleveland, OH

From dancing in middle school to dancing to share their culture

Published

12 months ago

July 2, 2023

From dancing in middle school to dancing to share their culture

CLEVELAND — This summer, there will be many events across Cleveland that will bring multiple cultures together.

One event celebrated African culture Saturday at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, the first of a series of events that will celebrate the diversity of the region.

What You Need To Know

World on Stage at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens unites cultures

The first event in the series celebrated African culture and music

One Akron teen dance team shared the story of how they got their start in middle school

Black Beanz is a dance team that performed at the event. Chomba Olega is Congolese, and he was one of the dancers. He said dancing to represent his culture means so much to him.

“It’s kind of like a cultural day and we are here to show people our culture and to people see what cultures we have in Africa,” he said.

The Black Beanz dance group comprises teenagers whose families are from Africa. They went to school together in Akron and were discovered three years ago by a substitute teacher who recognized their potential.

Tom Craine said it was an honor for him to discover such talented boys.

“I noticed even after the bell rang, they were playing music and dancing, you know, it’s like, guys, the bell rang, we got to start class, I know you are excited about all of this, so lets see after school what you are up to,” he said.

Eventually, they became a full-on travel dance team, now having the opportunity to represent their culture. It’s something Johnny Wu, the producer of the Cultural Gardens’ World on Stage events, said is a joy for him to see.

“It’s very exciting dance music and you feel like you want to dance with them too, but I don’t know how to dance,” he said.

But what Wu does know how to do is facilitate the togetherness of these events.

“It’s one of the days we celebrate diversity here in Cleveland, Ohio, and one way to celebrate that is to promote the cultural ethnic groups and today is specifically about Africa,” he said.

The series continues this summer as the Cultural Gardens will host many more events, including Middle East Day on July 22, Latin America Day on Aug. 12 and Asian Day on Sept. 9.

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Cleveland, OH

Report: Ohio among worst states in the U.S.

Published

7 hours ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Report: Ohio among worst states in the U.S.

OHIO — The U.S. News & World Report released its sixth Best States rankings, and this year’s shows Ohio is among the worst.

The rankings are based across 71 metrics in eight categories, including the economy, health care, infrastructure and natural environment. Some categories were weighed more heavily than others. Health care and education had the most weight, then came state economies, infrastructure and opportunities given to each state’s citizens.

Ohio came in 36th place. It ranked high in opportunities for citizens and fiscal stability, but low in natural environment, economy and health care.

Here’s what the report ranked as the Top 10 states:

Utah
New Hampshire
Nebraska
Minnesota
Idaho
Iowa
Vermont
Washington
Florida
Massachusettes

Here are the top 10 worst states:

Louisiana
New Mexico
Mississippi
Arkansas
West Virginia
Alaska
Alabama
Oklahoma
Michigan
South Carolina

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Cleveland, OH

3rd man charged in deadly shooting of Cleveland mom in front of her children

Published

14 hours ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

3rd man charged in deadly shooting of Cleveland mom in front of her children

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County prosecutor said a third person is now charged in the deadly shooting of a Cleveland mother in front of her two young children.

Alyson Appling-France, 29, was shot 17 times while unloading groceries in the parking lot of her apartment complex near Detroit Avenue and Berea Road on Jan. 10, said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley.

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Her daughters, ages six and 10, were inside the car. They were not injured.

O’Malley said a grand jury has indicted Jamar Skanes, 49, Alontez Beasley, 34, and Clarence Bennett, 43, on these charges:

JAMAR SKANES	ALONTEZ BEASLEY	CLARENCE BENNETT
One count of aggravated murder One count of conspiracy to commit murder Two counts of murder Five counts of felonious assault	One count of aggravated murder One count of conspiracy to commit murder Two counts of murder One count of involuntary manslaughter Five counts of felonious assault One count of having weapons while under disability	One count of aggravated murder One count of conspiracy to commit murder Two counts of murder One count of involuntary manslaughter Five counts of felonious assault One count of having weapons while under disability

Skanes pleaded not guilty on Feb. 8 to aggravated murder, murder, and felonious assault, The judge ordered him held on a $1 million bond.

Beasley was also in court on Feb. 8 and pleaded not guilty to murder, aggravated murder, felonious assault, having weapons under disability, and involuntary manslaughter.

He received a $1 million bond.

PREVIOUS STORY: 2 men plead not guilty to shooting Cleveland mom 17x in front of her children

Arraignments for Skanes and Beasley on the new charges will happen at a later date, according to O’Malley.

Alontez Beasley (left) Jamar Skanes (right)(Source: Cuyahoga County Jail)

According to O’Malley, Bennett followed the victim to Target, watched her enter and exit, then tipped off Skanes and Beasley when she was heading home.

After the shooting, Skanes and Beasley fled the scene, said O’Malley. They were arrested by Cleveland police on Jan. 26.

Bennett remains on the loose and authorities need help locating him. Anyone with information should contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4.WANTED.

Clarence Bennett(Source: Cuyahoga County Prosecutor)

“These three individuals conspired to brutally murder Alyson Appling-France in front of her 10-year-old and 6-year-old daughters. Their actions were unfathomable, and it is my firm belief that they are a danger to the public… Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley are in custody. We need the public’s help to find Clarence Bennett. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4.WANTED.”

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Cleveland, OH

Eggy Performs National Anthem At Cleveland Guardians Game [Watch]

Published

21 hours ago

June 20, 2024

Press Room

Eggy Performs National Anthem At Cleveland Guardians Game [Watch]

Connecticut-native quartet Eggy on Tuesday headed to Cleveland, OH’s Major League Baseball park, Progressive Field, to perform the national anthem ahead of a matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and the visiting Seattle Mariners.

Appearing in red Guardians jerseys with “Eggy” emblazoned across their backs, band members Jake Brownstein, Dani Battat, Mike Goodman, and Alex Bailey left their instruments in the van and used their first-ever public rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to showcase their aptitude for four-part vocal harmony.

Eggy Guitarist Jake Brownstein Hits Record-Breaking Trick Shot At Westville Music Bowl [Watch]

“As long time fans of baseball, it was surreal to play a role in the actual production of a Major League game,” Battat told Live For Live Music of Eggy’s national anthem performance in Cleveland. “We challenged ourselves with an acapella arrangement by the Gaither Vocal Band, and are all extremely proud with the result. The whole experience is a dream come true and we can’t wait to do it again.” Watch a video of the Eggy national anthem performance at Tuesday’s Cleveland Guardians game below.

Eggy is in the midst of a particularly busy year. In addition to rolling out singles from their forthcoming sophomore LP, Waiting Game, Brownstein, Battat, Bailey, and Goodman are due to make their debuts at a number of notable venues and festivals in the coming months. After performing at Electric Forest today (6/20) and supporting Blues Traveler at Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 4th, Eggy will continue on to festival gigs at Quincy, CA’s High Sierra Music Festival (7/5–7/7), Snowshoe, WV’s 4848 Festival (7/18–7/20), Jay, VT’s Jeezum Crow Festival (7/19–7/20), Check, VA’s FloydFest (7/24–7/27), East Aurora, NY’s Borderland Music Festival (9/13–9/15), Asbury Park, NJ’s Sea Hear Now (9/14–9/15), Austin, TX’s Austin City Limits Festival (10/6–10/6, 10/11–10/13), Live Oak, FL’s Suwannee Hulaween (10/24–10/27), and more. In August, the group will join Umphrey’s McGee as support for a run of amphitheater shows. For a full list of upcoming Eggy tour dates, head here.

Eggy Shares New Single “Laurel”, An Ode To The Romantic Allure Of L.A. [Listen]

Tuesday’s a cappella “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Guardians/Mariners game came on the heels of Eggy’s debut performances at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival late last week. Watch a full, pro-shot video of the group’s Thursday, June 13th performance in the festival’s “This Tent” below.

Eggy – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Full Set [Pro-Shot] – 6/13/24