*Above video: UH saves pickleball players’ life*

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — University Hospitals, one of the largest health systems in Ohio, announced Wednesday it’s laying off 300 employees.

“The vast majority of the positions are non-clinical and there is no impact to patient care,” UH officials stated in press release.

“Thanks to a variety of changes, including increased access for patients and implementing a new electronic health records system, our revenue has increased nearly 9% year over year. But that growth is offset by soaring costs,” UH stated. “As a result, this week we made the difficult decision to reduce the health system’s leadership structure by more than 10%,”  

“Medicare reimbursement rates that are not keeping pace with rising costs are some of the reasons for these deficits. UH, like health systems across the country, has endured financial challenges over the past few years,” according to the hospital.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Progressive Field is about 20 miles from Raley’s Tree Farms in Hinckley, but growing up working in the family business for Mariners outfielder Luke Raley, the ballpark might as well have been located on the other side of the moon.

“When I was at the tree lot, I didn’t talk about baseball,” Raley said. “Not for any reason other than I was there to sell Christmas trees, not talk about baseball.”

Generations of Northeast Ohioans have gotten their Christmas trees from the family’s lot on Ridge Road, but few made the connection that the 6-foot-4 lad strapping saplings to their car roofs would someday go on to have a career in the big leagues. Nowadays, Raley says it happens more often than you’d think. But when he worked on the lot, Major League Baseball was the last thing on his mind.

“It’s just one of those things that people kind of put two and two together and realize we get our trees from Raley’s Tree Farm,” he said.

Baseball is all that’s on Raley’s mind this week as his Mariners are in town for three games against the Guardians. In Tuesday’s series opener, Raley collected two hits including his first home run in his hometown ballpark. He also picked up his first career ejection after arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt in the ninth inning of Seattle’s 8-5 win.

Raley, who starred at Medina Highland High before he was drafted out of Lake Erie College by the Dodgers in 2016, said despite missing the end of the contest it has been fun coming back to Cleveland and being able to see family and friends. But there is definitely work to be done.

“Being successful is kind of the back of my mind,” Raley said. “I want to have good at-bats, want to do the right things for the team, so that’s most important.”

Raley’s Seattle teammate, Dominic Canzone, is making his first trip to Progressive Field as a big leaguer. The Walsh Jesuit product and Sagamore Hills native said he grew up a big fan of Kenny Lofton and the late-1990s Indians teams that won six division titles in seven seasons. But the memory that stands out to him whenever he walks into the ballpark is watching Rajai Davis hit a game-tying home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against Chicago.

“That was just the loudest I’ve ever heard any venue in sports to this day,” Canzone said.

In Tuesday’s series opener, Canzone went hitless in three plate appearances with a strikeout before being replaced in right field by Mitch Haniger. But like any ball player who grew up in Cleveland, the experience of taking the field at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario was special.

“I think it’s one of the most beautiful ballparks out there,” Canzone said. “They do a great job, especially with the surface. So, no complaints there and it’s been just an awesome week so far.”

Raley said it has been fun having another Clevelander along for the ride in his second trip to Progressive Field as a pro. Having an ally to defend Northeast Ohio in the clubhouse has also helped.

“It’s just kind of how things go in the clubhouse when you go back home, you get some smack talk (from other teammates),” Raley said. “It’s nice to have Dom here to defend The Land.”

Phil Dawson became a legend for the Cleveland Browns. He survived some of the worst years in Browns football and was one of the shining moments through it all.

He was beloved by the fanbase and that was thanks in large part to his ability to consistently split the uprights. As we have all found out in the post-Dawson era, good kickers are few and far between.

On Tuesday, the kicker took to X to express his gratitude for this honor. He said, “I am incredibly humbled to join the Browns Legends class of 2024. Playing for you was one of the greatest joys of my life. I can’t wait to be with you in September!”

For his 14 seasons in Cleveland, Dawson is being named to the Browns’ Legends Class of 2024 , joining the likes of Joe Thomas (’22), Josh Cribbs (’20), Eric Metcalf (’08), and Earnest Byner (’06). The full list can be seen here.

In Dawson’s Cleveland career, he made 84 percent of his kicks while being one of the few kickers to solve the kicking equation that was kicking into the Dawg Pound. Dawson was 212-224 on kicks inside 40 yards but was less consistent over 40 yards.

Dawson is second on the Browns’ all-time points list with a career total of 1,271, trailing just Lou Groza who finished his career with 1,349. His crowning achievement came from the blizzard game in 2007 against the Buffalo Bills. Dawson made two field goals in Cleveland’s 8-0 victory on a day when neither team could run or throw the football.

The Browns will honor Dawson in their week three matchup against the New York Giants on September 22.