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The economic signs are bad.
Ohio’s unemployment rate rose to 5% in July, marking an increase from June’s 4.9% and a significant jump from 4.3% in July 2024.
The growth of the United States’ GDP is steeply decreasing. And the number of job openings in July came in below the number of U.S. unemployed for the first time since April 2021.
(President Donald Trump’s response last month was to fire the chief of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and post on social media: “In my opinion, today’s Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”)
But the dips are affecting Sherwin-Williams, one of Cleveland’s flagship employers. The company is poised to pause its contributions to employee 401(k) accounts because of inflation that has decreased DIY demand and tariffs that have increased costs.
“Sherwin-Williams is not immune from these conditions,” CEO Heidi Petz wrote in an email to employees.
Likely, other companies won’t be either.
— Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. Sunday, Huntington Bank Field. TV: WJW Channel 8. Radio: WKRK FM/92.3, WNCX FM/98.5, WKNR AM/850.
Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays: Guardians hit two late home runs, but rally fizzles in 4-2 loss to Rays
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Cooler weekend
Top Stories
Sherwin-Williams: Sherwin-Williams announced plans to temporarily suspend the company’s matching contributions to employee 401(k) plans, citing weak sales amid economic and tariff headwinds, Megan Sims reports. The company’s outlook arrives as the broader U.S. labor market shows signs of slowing.
Redistricting: Ohio lawmakers are seeking public input on congressional district maps, though historically they have ignored such submissions. Jeremy Pelzer reports that while the state constitution requires public participation, Republicans are expected to draw maps favoring their party’s interests.
Today in Ohio: In Ohio, voters can choose to vote in Republican or Democratic primaries. Some Ohio Republicans want to change that so voters have to declare their “team.” On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about why politics is not a team sport and why putting party over people is a bad idea.
Statehouse and Politics
Property taxes: Gov. Mike DeWine’s property tax work group is floating an idea to freeze taxes for certain seniors, but the relief wouldn’t come free. The unpaid bills would be tacked onto their homes as a lien, collected when the house is sold or after death, Anna Staver reports.
Civil rights: U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown is leading opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed rescission of a 1965 civil rights executive order protecting federal contractors from discrimination. Sabrina Eaton reports Brown has gathered support from eight House colleagues to preserve these protections.
Christopher Monsour, a high school science teacher in the Tiffin City School District in Seneca County, was named Thursday the 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year.(Courtesy of the Ohio State Board of Education)
Teacher of the Year: Christopher Monsour, a science teacher at Columbian High School, was named Ohio’s Teacher of the Year for 2026. Laura Hancock highlights his 26 years of experience and passion for hands-on science education.
Northeast Ohio News
Teacher deaths: A sudden heart attack led to a tragic car crash that killed Cleveland educators Donald and Maria Nunney while dropping off their son at college in North Carolina. Kaylee Remington reports the couple’s son Noah described the scene as “truly horrifying,” with two younger siblings also injured during the incident.
Checks scam: Nearly $100,000 was stolen from Cleveland City Hall through fraudulent check interceptions this year. Sean McDonnell reports that fraudsters altered two checks, removing vendor names and cashing them under different names. The city is working to recover the stolen funds.
Fatal crash: A motorcyclist died early Thursday after hitting a cow that was standing in the middle of a rural Medina County roadway, authorities say. Sheriff’s Lt. Samo Mernik said Gavynn Patterson, 18, of Rittman, was driving up a hill on River Styx Road in Guilford Township when he came upon the dairy cow.
Safety officials in Cleveland gathered Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of the city’s new Fire Station 26 on Kinsman Road.Olivia Mitchell
New fire station: Safety officials unveiled a new fire station Thursday in the Kinsman neighborhood that’s designed to be much more than an emergency response facility. Officials say the state-of-the-art Fire Station 26 represents a shift in how the city views the role of first-responder buildings in neighborhoods, Olivia Mitchell reports.
Autumn colors: SmokyMountains.com has released its annual fall foliage map predicting peak autumn colors in Northeast Ohio. Ryan Cohick reports that Cuyahoga, Lorain and Erie counties are expected to reach peak fall colors around Oct. 13, with the rest of the region trailing by about a week.
Business and Health
Prostate cancer: A Cleveland study challenges standard prostate cancer risk classifications, revealing that nearly one in six men initially diagnosed with low-risk tumors may actually require more aggressive treatment. Julie Washington reports that researchers’ findings show that additional clinical information can reveal higher-risk cancers.
Crime and Courts
Keshaun Williams: Two years after his disappearance, the search continues for Keshaun Williams, a Cleveland teen who went missing after attending a house party. Olivia Mitchell reports that authorities suspect he was abducted and are still investigating, with a $27,000 reward offered for information.
Rape sentence: A 67-year-old Cleveland man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for sexually assaulting four young girls over a 10-year period, David Gambino reports. Billy Flynn was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of multiple charges related to the sexual assault of children between 2002 and 2012.
Dealership scam: A Cleveland man and four Detroit men are accused of running a $500,000 car dealership scam using fake vehicle titles. Adam Ferrise reports the group used a “lien washing” scheme to obtain clean titles for stolen vehicles sold across multiple states.
UH lockdown: University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center briefly went on lockdown during a nearby SWAT situation in Willoughby. Molly Walsh reports the hospital’s partial lockdown was a precautionary measure.
Arts and Entertainment
CMA series: The Cleveland Museum of Art has unveiled its 2025-26 Performing Arts Series, Peter Chakerian reports. The lineup’s diverse musical offerings feature Omar Sosa’s Afro-Cuban jazz project and performances by local and international artists.
Keaton Vandemark holds four pieces of leather that will become an NFL football on a tour of the Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com
Football factory: Susan Glaser tours the Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio, revealing how every NFL football is meticulously handcrafted from leather to lacing.
Eric Clapton: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will celebrate Eric Clapton with two days of events next week, Peter Chakerian reports, commemorating the three-time inductee’s career and upcoming Rocket Arena concert.
Ask Yadi: Yadi Rodriguez offers advice on eating lunch at your desk in an open office, suggesting it’s acceptable as long as you’re considerate of coworkers and clean up after yourself.
‘DWTS’: Former Cavaliers player Baron Davis will compete in the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars,” reports Marc Bona.
‘Boomer Memories’: “Cleveland Boomer Memories,” a book by Howard Zuckerman and Ellen Jacobs, preserves mid-century Cleveland history while supporting Alzheimer’s research, reports Peter Chakerian.
Cajun restaurants: Cleveland’s top-rated Cajun restaurants are led by Bourbon Street Barrel Room in Tripadvisor rankings, Yadi Rodriguez and Peter Chakerian report.
Pickleball tourney: Akron’s Bicentennial Pickleball round-robin tournament invites beginner and intermediate players to compete in mixed-doubles matches, reports Megan Becka.
Painesville celebration: Painesville is celebrating its 225th birthday Saturday with a free community event featuring food trucks, music and activities for all ages. Molly Walsh reports the first 300 attendees will receive free birthday cake from the city’s oldest bakery.
Things to do: The Browns home opener, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, and concerts at various venues are among 16 things Paris Wolfe lists to do this weekend in Cleveland.
You’re all caught up
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.
— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by by Cliff Pinckard.
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