Cleveland, OH
Long-time Cleveland community activist Khalid Samad dies
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.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Cavaliers Trade out of No. 29 Overall in 2026 NBA Draft
The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded out of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Cavs had the No. 29 overall selection on Tuesday night. But Cavs President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman decided to trade that selection to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for No. 34 overall and a future second-round selection.
At No. 29 overall, the Cavs will send the Kings UConn forward Alex Karaban.
“It’s in the distant future,” a source told cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor about the future second-round selection acquired in this deal.
Reports from Fedor surfaced early Tuesday morning that the Cavaliers could be interested in bailing out of the first round. By late Tuesday night, Altman was able to execute a trade that sets the Cavs up for further flexibility in the offseason.
Why the Cavs traded out of No. 29 overall
The Cavaliers would’ve owed the No. 29 pick a guaranteed salary just under $2 million.
Because the Cavs are in the lone second apron – and could be looking to shed salary this offseason – ditching the No. 29 overall pick saves the Cavaliers a couple of bucks.
Second round picks are non-guaranteed, two-way deals. That gives the Cavs the financial flexibility they’re looking for.
What the Cavs could do at No. 34 overall
This is a talented draft class. A few high profile players slid into the second round.
UNC center Henri Veesaar is still waiting to hear his name called. The 7-foot center could be a backup to Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Duke wing Isaiah Evans is also still waiting to hear his name called, and could fill a big position of need for the Cavaliers. Arkansas guard Maleek Thomas was consistently mocked to Cleveland, and he slid to Day 2 as well.
There’s always a chance that Altman could trade back again.
Second round draft picks are valuable because they could be used as sweeteners in trades this offseason. For example, in exchange for a team taking on the contract of a player like Dennis Schroder or Max Strus, the Cavaliers might want to attach a second round draft pick to make the package more appealing to a trade partner.
Flexibility should be the name of the game for Altman as he tries to improve Cleveland’s roster this offseason. The Cavs won’t have a first round draft pick until 2028. But bailing out of Tuesday night’s first round will give Altman plenty of options on Wednesday and into the rest of the offseason.
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Cleveland, OH
Max McEnelly Lands High-Profile Matchup With Bo Nickal at RAF
University of Minnesota star wrestler Max McEnelly won the 2026 NCAA national championship at 184 pounds, and he’s now set to face superstar Bo Nickal at Real American Freestyle (RAF) 12 on August 22nd in Cleveland, Ohio.
THIS MATCH UP🔥
Bo Nickal takes on Max McEnelly August 22 in Cleveland at RAF12.
Tickets in bio. Stream exclusively on @foxnation pic.twitter.com/loEWdeb5pZ
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) June 22, 2026
McEnelly is preparing for his redshirt junior season with the Gophers, and Nickal is 9-1 as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, following a storied collegiate wrestling career at Penn State. Their freestyle wrestling match will be contested at 215 pounds.
RAF is an American freestyle wrestling promotion that was founded by Chad Bronstein, Terri Francis, and Hulk Hogan in 2025. The August 22nd show at Rocket Arena will be the one-year anniversary of the promotion. The fights will be broadcast on FOX Nation.
Nickal most recently competed at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, where he defeated Kyle Daukas via first-round finish. He’s now 6-1 in his UFC career. His match against McEnelly will be his second under RAF. He defeated Jacob Cardenas via decision at the promotion’s first show last summer.
Nickal is 6-foot-1, and he wrestled at 197 pounds at Penn State. He competes at the 185-pound middweight division in the UFC, so he might have a slight size advantage over McEnelly, who’s 5-foot-10. The event will be a high-profile opportunity, as McEnelly continues to establish himself as one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the country.
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Cleveland, OH
Cleveland man dies after fatal shooting at gas station
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A man was killed Friday after being shot at a gas station on the city’s East side.
Cleveland police said they responded to the Sunoco in the 3300 block of E. 93rd St. around 8:30 p.m.
According to police, officers were in the area when they heard gunshots.
When officers arrived at the gas station, they found the victim with gunshot wounds.
Officers immediately began to provide first aid until EMS arrived and transported him to University Hospitals.
Carl Formby, 49, died from his injuries at the hospital.
Officers said they found two firearms and several casings at the scene.
The Cleveland Police Homicide Unit is investigating the incident.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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