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LeBron receives standing ovation at Cavs-Celtics

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LeBron receives standing ovation at Cavs-Celtics


CLEVELAND — LeBron James, primary author of the only championship in Cavaliers’ history, was greeted by thunderous applause and a standing ovation during a timeout in the first quarter of Cleveland’s playoff game against the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

James, 39, attended the game with his wife, Savannah, and longtime agent and business partner Rich Paul, who still represents multiple players on the Cavs’ roster.

As is customary when any former Cleveland player from the franchise’s glory days of four consecutive finals from 2015-18 returns, James was treated to a highlight video and bone-rattling introduction. Fans, some of them perhaps unaware he was seated courtside, watched the video presentation during the timeout, and any cheers were drowned out by the sound from the jumbotron.

But when James was introduced, and shown seated in his jean jacket and backwards cap, well, Clevelanders went berserk.

Screaming. Applause. Towel waving.

James sipped his drink of choice, this night a nice white wine, from a disposable coffee cup, while speaking animatedly to Paul throughout the game. Maybe he was into it, or perhaps it was just trying to be heard over the booming music and shrieks of a delighted crowd during a close game.

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James, who was born about 40 miles south of Cleveland, in Akron, Ohio, and played 11 of his 21 NBA seasons as a Cavalier, was the MVP of the 2016 Finals in which Cleveland won in a dramatic, seven-game series. He left the organization for the second time as a free agent in the summer of 2018 and headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, who, for now, still have him under contract.

James has a $51.4 million player’s option with the Lakers for next season. He can opt out and become a free agent. Also, his son, Bronny James, a freshman at USC, declared for the NBA Draft, and it so happens the Cavs have the 20th pick.

Does any of this mean that either LeBron or Bronny is coming to Cleveland? No (the Lakers are expected to make him a huge contract offer and, if he wants them to, would draft his son), but James showing up courtside for a Cavs playoff game brings about such speculation.

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When he was here for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, he refused to rule out another return to the franchise when asked by The Athletic. Or, it just could have been LeBron and Savannah getting back to the Akron area for Mother’s Day, or a drop in at the public school in Akron he opened. Or all of the above.

Members of the Kardashian family, and actor Mark Wahlberg, a noted Celtics fan, were also expected to attend the game.

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(Photo: Lauren Leigh Bacho / NBAE via Getty Images)





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Cleveland, OH

Up to 15% of Ohio residents benefit from this federal act signed into law 34 years ago today

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Up to 15% of Ohio residents benefit from this federal act signed into law 34 years ago today


CLEVELAND, Ohio – Whether they have hearing, vision, cognitive or ambulatory difficulties, disabled Ohioans are protected through the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed on July 26, 1990.

Signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush, the ADA is the nation’s strongest measure protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities, barring discrimination based on disability and guaranteeing equal access to public buildings and businesses, employment opportunities, transportation, telecommunications, commercial facilities, and state and local government services.

In Ohio, 14.4% of the state’s total population has some sort of disability, or nearly 1-out-of-7 people, according to the most recent census estimates. This is above the 2022 average in the country of 13.4%, but not the highest overall. Almost 20% of West Virginia has a disability. The state with the lowest rate is Utah, at 10.6%.

The highest percent of disability types in Ohio is ambulatory disability, which affects a person’s ability to walk or move around, making up 48% of people with a disability in the state. This is followed by those with a cognitive disability, which affects a person’s brain capacity, at 41%.

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In Northeast Ohio, a number of counties have disability rates higher than even the state average. In Ashtabula County, the disability rate is 15.9%. Cuyahoga County has a rate of 15.4% and Lorain County has a rate of 16.3%

Some disabilities make it difficult to work, and 30% of the state’s population not in the labor force has a disability. However, for those in the labor force, wages are significantly lower than state averages.

Men with a disability made an estimated annual wage of $31,432, compared to those without a disability at $50,306. Women with a disability made an estimated annual wage of $24,132, compared to those without a disability at $35,594, according to census estimates.

As a group, full-time, year-round workers with a disability earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by those with no disability. Additionally, people with a disability are less likely to earn a full-time wage.

Ambulatory, hearing and cognitive are the most common difficulties among workers with a disability, which may have an impact on the type of jobs they can get.

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The most common occupations for people with a disability in the United States are janitors and building cleaners, who make up 11% of workers in this occupation. Other large occupations for workers with disabilities are truck drivers, retail, cashiers, and freight, stock and material movers.

The Midwest is the region with the second highest rate of disabilities in the country as of 2021, at 13.1%, following only the South at 13.8%.

Regional disability rates may differ for a variety of reasons. For example, disability is often associated with age, so regions that contain states with a higher proportion of the population age 65 and over may be more likely to report higher rates of disability.

Disability rates in the country, on average, were higher in rural areas than in urban areas, with the regions with the highest percentage of disabled people also having the highest percentage of people living in rural areas (24.8% of the Midwest).

Zachary Smith is the data reporter for cleveland.com. You can reach him at zsmith@cleveland.com.

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Cleveland, OH

2025 5-star safety out of Cleveland (OH) will visit Texas A&M this weekend

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2025 5-star safety out of Cleveland (OH) will visit Texas A&M this weekend


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Texas A&M’s annual recruiting pool party is just days away. New head football coach Mike Elko already has experience with the event during his three-year stint as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator from 2018-2021.

During former head coach Jim Fisher’s six-year reign, recruiting success was the norm, starting and ending with the pool party that continues to bring together prospects who have a chance to relax and discuss their potential playing future in College Station.

With 19 commitments in the 2025 recruiting class so far, Elko and his staff have their eyes on landing the top two safeties in the cycle, as 5-star safety Jonah Williams will announce his commitment on August 24. As of Wednesday, it was confirmed that 5-star safety Trey McNutt will reportedly visit Texas A&M this weekend, according to Rivals insider Landyn Rosow.

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After moving his impending commitment announcement to August 3rd, this news seems significant. It provides Texas A&M’s coaching staff with a clear pathway to gaining his commitment and beating out the red-hot Oregon Ducks.

On the field, McNutt is one of the top defensive playmakers in the country, recording 61 tackles, two for loss, 12 pass breakups, and a forced fumble on the year while excelling as a wide receiver on offense during his 2023 junior season.

According to Rivals, McNutt is currently ranked 20th in the 2025 cycle, the 2nd-ranked safety prospect, and the third-ranked prospect in Ohio.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 2025 5-star safety out of Cleveland (OH) will visit Texas A&M this weekend

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Suns Reportedly Hire New Assistant Coach

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Suns Reportedly Hire New Assistant Coach


PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are reportedly set to welcome another assistant coach to Mike Budenhozler’s staff.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter/X:

“ESPN Sources: James Posey is joining the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach. Posey — who had a 12-year NBA playing career — has had coaching stops with the Wizards and Cavaliers.”

As a player, Posey is a two-time NBA champion with both the Miami Heat (2006) and Boston Celtics (2008). He played from 1999-2011 on seven different teams and notched over 4,000 points and rebounds, respectively.

Two years after Posey last played, he hit the coaching ranks and began with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ G League affiliate Canton Charge as an assistant before jumping to the Cavs as a full-time assistant from 2014-19.

In 2022, he joined the Washington Wizards as an assistant on their staff before now reportedly joining Phoenix.

Other reported coaching hires under Budenholzer are Brent Barry, David Fizdale, Vince Legarza, Mike Hopkins, Chad Forcier, and Chaisson Allen.

It’s safe to imagine Budenholzer’s staff is near completion, if not already full.

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Phoenix just completed their Summer League run and next will take action when training camp begins a couple months from now.





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