What Happened Now? A Cleveland Newsletter
Issue 870: Sept. 18, 2025
"What Happened Now?" is a lively roundup and analysis of the top stories of the day in Northeast Ohio from News 5's Joe Donatelli. It’s like getting the news from a friend who says if you don’t like it, there’s a phone number in the third newsletter item.
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Still no suspects in Rocky River runner attack: A woman who was running through the Metroparks told police she was attacked from behind and thought she was going to be killed. She says she didn’t see her assailant. Over a week later, and there was still no word from the police about possible suspects, the victim’s experience, the park’s safety, etc. Because we’re the We Follow Through station, and because Nadeen is Nadeen, the police chief of the Metroparks spoke for the first time with Nadeen on News 5, and we learned more about what evidence was gathered and whether police have taken steps to make the park safer. Watch.
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Wow: Remember the guy who opened fire on Lorain police officers over the summer and killed one of them? He had bigger plans than just killing two policemen who were eating their lunch. Seven rifles, one shotgun, two handguns, 294 loaded magazines, 7,500 rounds of ammunition, and containers of explosive materials were found at the scene, according to police, who gave an update to their investigation today.
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ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely over his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death: That means no more Kimmel on News 5 for the foreseeable future. This was an ABC decision, not a News 5 decision. If you don’t like it, contact ABC at support.abc.com or call (818) 460-7477.
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The economic case for new redistricting maps: Two local businessmen whose names you may know – Brett Rattner and Richard Stoff – have an op/ed piece on Cleveland.com making the business case for fairer redistricting maps. In a nutshell: “When citizens believe their votes don’t matter, they disengage from politics, from their communities, and even from the workforce. That loss of trust fuels Ohio’s persistent ‘brain drain.’ Young people want to live in states where their voices count. Gerrymandering tells them the opposite: that outcomes are predetermined, and their participation doesn’t matter. If we want to grow our economy and quality of life, that is a message Ohio cannot afford to send.”
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Cleveland Scene writes the best headlines: If you don’t mind some mid-range profanity, enjoy Scene’s article about how Hopkins Airport is still ranked near the bottom of J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction survey.
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Heads up, Painesville: The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is now helping ICE, reports Catherine Ross.
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Miss Teen Ohio makes history: This year, Miss Ohio Teen USA is breaking barriers. Helyna Park is a 17-year-old senior at Padua, and she has already become a role model, leader, and history-maker as the first Lebanese American ever to hold the title of Miss Ohio Teen USA. Watch Nadeen Abusada’s report. (Yes, the same Nadeen as the first story. She has range!)
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Let’s end this newsletter with a positive Metroparks story: A Cleveland.com writer wrote a love letter to one of my favorite local hiking spots – Euclid Creek.