CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Following confusion over the Anthony J. Celebreeze Federal Building being placed on the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) “non-core property list” to be sold, local lawmakers are hoping to work with the Federal Government to keep this jobs in Cleveland.

The Celebreeze building was placed on the property list in early March along with hundreds of other properties across the U.S. only to be deleted from the list a day later. GSA has yet to specify if this was a mistake or a sign that those buildings that were removed are actively being look at to be sold.

The “non-core property list” identifies buildings that the U.S. General Services Administration deems are not “core to government operations, or non-core properties”.

The buildings would then be sold to “ensure that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces”.

Below are the statements released from various lawmakers around Northeast Ohio:

“My administration is aware of discussions regarding the potential closure and sale of the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building.  We are actively working with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and our local, state, and federal partners to understand the timeline.  While it seems GSA is early in the process of determining next steps for the building, it is concerning nonetheless.  At this time, we have received no indication that the federal government plans to reduce staffing levels for these agencies.  However, should any Cleveland workers be impacted, we stand ready to support them through our Rapid Response Hub in partnership with Greater Cleveland Works.  

The City’s priority is ensuring that the 4,000 federal workers in the Celebrezze Building remain employed in Downtown Cleveland.  Our urban core is a vital economic and civic hub, and we stand ready to collaborate with our federal partners to ensure that these agencies remain Downtown.”

The Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building is a landmark in downtown Cleveland, and stands as a symbol of public service, justice, and civil rights. The federal workers employed there play a vital role in contributing to the economic stability and growth of the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. The County administration is aware of the discussions surrounding the potential sale of the building and has been in contact with federal officials. Cuyahoga County urges leadership within the federal government to reinvest in the building to ensure that all federal jobs are retained in our urban core.

 Earlier today, Cleveland City Council received news about the potential selling and closure of the Anthony J. Celebrezze federal building in Downtown Cleveland. Celebrezze, Cleveland’s 49th Mayor, a former judge, and cabinet member in two presidential administrations is an icon in Cleveland history and politics. 

Coupled with the possible departure of the Cleveland Browns and the relocation of the county jail to Garfield Heights, our central business district is experiencing real change. The city of Cleveland is investing heavily in the central business district, and the selling of the Celebrezze building threatens progress. 

However, we are encouraged by the news that the federal jobs at the Celebrezze building will not be lost, as federal officials have indicated they are looking for other sites to host these workers. City Council will do everything in our power to keep those jobs in Downtown Cleveland. 

Council will continue to work with all willing partners to protect, and inject more life and vitality into our central business district.

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The Celebreeze building has more than 4,000 employees, housing federal departments such as; The Department of Defense, Defense Financing and Accounting Service, Chief of Naval Personnel; Veterans Affairs-Veterans Benefits Administration; Internal Revenue Service; Department of Homeland Security: U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; National Labor Relations Board.

It is not known yet if the building is staying under federal ownership or will be sold.

Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.

(WIFR) – Despite recent controversy over the state of education in the United States, Illinoisans believe public schools must be a top priority.

Wednesday, the Illinois Education Association (IEA) released its seventh annual IEA State of Education report. It found that a majority of Illinoisans believe all students have a right to public education, support public schools, and believe teachers and support staff should earn more money.

Specifically, 91% of Illinoisans believe students have a right to public education.

The data shows having high-quality public schools is more important to the people than balancing the state’s budget.

Illinois receives nearly $2 billion in federal money, according to the IEA. Those funds maintain programs for individuals with disabilities, special education and Title 1 specifically in low-income districts.

Illinois Federal Funds:

• IDEA: $641.5 million
• Title 1: $794.5 million
• PELL Grants: $1.1 billion

“Schools are going to close and even though they are saying ‘We are going to move the same amount of money in block grants to states,’ I don’t know where the consistency is going to be.” said Al Llorens, the president of the Illinois Education Association. “80 percent of public schools in Illinois are underfunded. All this is going to do is exacerbate that.”

Wednesday’s report also highlighted the people of Illinois believe school board members should be most focused on student success, not taxpayers or politics.

More than 70% of Illinoisans believe national political groups should not be involved in local school board elections. That’s why public educators emphasized voters can make a difference and urge everyone to cast a ballot during the school board races in the April 1 Consolidated Elections.

“They influence staffing, they influence curriculum, they influence budgets, student support services, and the policies that define what happens in classrooms every single day,” said public school educator Jennifer Adam. “This isn’t about partisan politics, it’s about protecting public education.”

The IEA states the poll conducted by Normington Petts and Next Generation Strategies surveyed 1,000 Illinoisans. It’s the only bipartisan poll monitoring Illinoisans’ views on all aspects of public schools. The poll has a margin error of +/-3.1% with a 95% confidence.

Other key data points from the IEA State of Education report include:

• 91% of Illinoisans believe that students have a right to a public education
• 74% of people think teaching has become harder over the last few years
• 78% of the public say they are very worried about the teacher shortage
• 71% believe funding for public schools should increase
• 62% support pension reform to allow those in the Tier 2 pension system to retire before the age of 6
• 62% of the public believe adjuncts should be paid the same as tenured professors when they are teaching the same courses
• 80% of Illinoisans are opposed to book bans
• The vast majority believe we should be teaching racism (75%) and slavery (81%) in our public school
• 72% of Illinoisans believe national political groups should not be involved in local school board elections.

More information about the IEA State of Education report can be found here.

Copyright 2025 WIFR. All rights reserved.

One by one, members of the Indiana Hoosiers’ men’s basketball team entered their names into the transfer portal Wednesday, as the program shifts in a new direction under head coach Darian DeVries.

DeVries, previously with the West Virginia Mountaineers, did not get a chance to meet with his team immediately when he was hired March 18, though with Indiana’s spring break wrapped up, it appears the process of moving beyond the Mike Woodson era is in full effect.

Seven scholarship players from the 2024-25 Hoosiers roster have entered the portal so far, including three of the team’s top four scorers in Malik Reneau (13.3 points per game), Mackenzie Mgbako (12.2 points) and Myles Rice (10.1 points). That leaves DeVries with just one scholarship player from last season: 6-foot-6 forward Bryson Tucker. Luke Goode could return if his injury waiver from the 2022-23 season is approved; nonetheless, DeVries is essentially starting year one in Bloomington, Indiana, from scratch.

Building from the ground up isn’t anything new to DeVries. Despite bringing back just 5.3% of the minutes played from the 2023-24 Mountaineers team, he brought in a handful of transfers — including a South Bend, Indiana, native in Javon Small — and assembled a team that many felt was deserving of an at-large bid into the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Yet, despite boasting wins over the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Arizona Wildcats from nonconference play, West Virginia was snubbed, and DeVries decided to move on after one season at the helm.

Following that overtime game in the Battle 4 Atlantis opener, the Zags bounced back with an 89-73 win over the Hoosiers on the second day. Oumar Ballo led the way with 25 points against his former team, while Mgbako was the only other Indiana player to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points and four rebounds.

Rice, the former Pac-12 Rookie of the Year with the Washington State Cougars, only had six points and committed five personal fouls in 20 minutes against Gonzaga. The 6-foot-3 guard was capable of filling up the scoring column on any given night with his ability to get downhill and attack the basket. Other nights, however, Rice was much less effective as a scorer. He had 23- and 20-point performances during his first four games, but then followed with 11 points combined over his next three games.

As a freshman with the Cougars, Rice started all 35 games and averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals while guiding WSU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008. He transferred after his head coach, Kyle Smith, left to coach the Stanford Cardinal and remained in a power conference structure.

Following another coaching change, could Rice make his return to the Inland Northwest — this time to play for the team in Spokane?

The Zags are likely in the market for another guard this offseason, knowing that Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle exhausted their final years of eligibility. Those three combined to knock down 173 of the team’s 263 made 3-pointers, or about 65.8%, along with the many contributions they made this season on the playmaking and defensive fronts. Rice hasn’t been known for his outside touch in college, though he did improve from 27.5% as a freshman to 32.5% his sophomore season.

Braeden Smith is set to take the reins at the point guard spot, while Emmanuel Innocenti could return for his junior year to bolster the backcourt as well. With Dusty Stromer in the portal, the Bulldogs don’t have much in the way of guard depth for next season outside of Smith and Innocenti. Mark Few will run 3-guard lineups when he and the coaching staff see fit, and with Innocenti’s versatility at 6-foot-5 and Smith’s ability to set the table at the point, Rice would in theory have a spot in an off-ball role that allows him to share touches with Smith.

Gonzaga’s offenses have historically operated at a high level when it’s being run by experienced guards who can both handle the rock and create for themselves. Rice’s one season with Indiana was somewhat of a letdown compared to his freshman year with WSU, but with the right coaching staff, he could get back on course.

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