Cleveland survey seeks public input on lakefront land usage | Reporters Roundtable

The city of Cleveland and the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation this week opened an online survey to get public input on how to use Burke Lakefront Airport's acreage if the airport is decommissioned. Planners say they're open to all ideas for how to use the 450 acres of prime real estate. But closing the airport, which Mayor Justin Bibb is pushing for, is not a done deal. City Council is holding committee hearings and needs to agree, and the feds must sign off. The story begins our “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” It will also be the topic of our next Community Tour on March 4 at Burke Lakefront Airport. A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would punish colleges and universities that don't comply with Senate Bill 1 by withholding their state money. The law went into effect last June to remove what supporters say is “liberal bias" on campus. Among the law's many provisions is a ban on most diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. This new bill is touted as an accountability measure to assure schools are actually complying and not just checking a box. Ohio is on track to join a number of states that have banned ranked choice voting. The House this week voted on a bill that prevents local governments from using the system. We got more details this week about how the Akron School District will slash $11 million from its budget this year, with more to come, after the superintendent briefed the board of education this week. The courts are still deciding whether Ohio can fund sports facilities, including the new Browns stadium, from the state's unclaimed funds account. But since the legislature voted to create a pool to fund not only the Browns stadium but others, the line is already out the door with sports teams seeking cash. Guests: -Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor for News, Ideastream Public Media -Anna Huntsman, Akron-Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV