Nick Castele

Who is searching Cleveland’s license plate reader photos? Police from across Northeast Ohio and as far away as Texas searched the database of license plate reader images in January.

Ohio police investigating deaths and hit-and-runs; U.S. postal inspectors investigating robberies; Albany, N.Y., police investigating indecent exposure.

Here's who searched Cleveland's Flock license plate reader data in January: signalcleveland.org/cleveland-po...

Your sins are getting cheaper. Inflation has taken a bite out of Cuyahoga County's sin tax collections, which pay for repairs at Cleveland's three major stadiums.

More from Weekly Chatter here: signalcleveland.org/cuyahoga-cou...

I really can only speak for myself. I wouldn't be opposed to trying them for tasks such as processing large amounts of data or scraping data from PDFs. I wouldn't use an LLM to write a story, though.

What Cleveland's consent decree has and hasn't achieved so far Over the last few months, the monitoring team has released in-depth assessments of how closely Cleveland is following the consent decree

As Cleveland and the DOJ try to terminate the court oversight of the police, here's a look at what the court-appointed monitor has said so far about the city's consent decree progress. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-po...

No ruling from surprised federal judge on Cleveland consent decree Judge Solomon Oliver said he would give the motion to leave the police decree “careful thought” and seek “additional input.”

The federal judge overseeing Cleveland's consent decree says he was surprised by the city and Justice Department's motion to end the deal. He wasn't ready to make a decision at a court hearing Friday. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-co...

Chicago closed 50 schools in the name of “bright futures.” What should Cleveland know? Cleveland isn't the alone in closing schools. Chicago did a decade ago—here's what it meant for students, teachers and parents.

Excited to see the rest of this project comparing Chicago's 2013 school closures with what Cleveland schools are doing today: signalcleveland.org/what-clevela...

Mayor Justin Bibb says it's time for Cleveland to 'take back the reins' and control police oversight locally In a court filing, Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to end the city's consent decree.

Whether for good or ill (read both perspectives below), it’s a milestone in Cleveland history.

A possible end to the federal oversight that defined Cleveland’s policing struggle for more than a decade: signalcleveland.org/cleveland-co...

Guardians, Cavs seek unclaimed funds for ballpark and arena The Guardians and Cavaliers are hoping to tap the same pool of state money that is paying for the Browns’ new stadium in Brook Park.

The Guardians and Cavaliers want to tap the same unclaimed funds that are helping to pay for the Browns' stadium in Brook Park.

The teams applied for a total of $105 million for repairs and upgrades at Rocket Arena and Progressive Field. signalcleveland.org/guardians-ca...

Mayor Bibb talks loss of lead paint money in 2026 budget hearing Mayor Justin Bibb touched on home repairs and modernizing City Hall in the first budget hearings of his second term.

A few takeaways from the start of @clecitycouncil.bsky.social budget hearings:

🔸 Mayor @justinmbibb.bsky.social takes the hit on losing lead paint money

🔸 Tanmay Shah debates Bibb on the merits of luring corporations to town

🔸 City Hall embraces AI-powered platforms Salesforce and Workday

Cleveland to blame for spending limit in lead paint grant, Ohio says City Hall created hurdles for itself that it says contributed to the loss of $3.3 million in grant dollars for lead removal.

On Monday, Cleveland officials pointed to spending restrictions to explain why City Hall lost $3.3 million in state grant dollars for lead paint.

But the restrictions they mentioned were imposed by Cleveland itself — not by the state.
signalcleveland.org/cleveland-lo...

Cleveland hires 'executive in residence' for community services The hiring comes during a transition at the Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity, created by former Mayor Frank Jackson.

Plus, from Weekly Chatter:

* City Hall hires an "executive in residence" to advise on the structure of youth violence office

* Consent decree monitor gives police good marks for low & medium-level use of force

* Slovenian Nat'l Home celebrates Voinovich

signalcleveland.org/cleveland-of...

Bibb meets with Pete Buttigieg, Goldman Sachs exec in recent trips The mayor has been taking his Cleveland development pitch on the road, meeting with politicians and investors.

From Weekly Chatter: Mayor Bibb met with the COO of Goldman Sachs on a trip to NYC in December. City says it was part of an "intentional effort to proactively pitch investors on why now is the time to invest in Cleveland." signalcleveland.org/justin-bibb-...

Receiver takes the reins of East Cleveland's troubled finances A court has named an outside expert as East Cleveland's receiver. His job is to lead the city out of a financial years-old financial hole.

A receiver has officially taken the reins of East Cleveland's troubled finances. Mayor says she met with the receiver today and will be handing over documents. signalcleveland.org/east-clevela...

Tanisha's Law to change Cleveland mental health crisis response The law creates a new role in the Division of Emergency Medical Services to oversee response to calls about people in mental health crisis.

Play-by-play from @frankwlewis.bsky.social on how Cleveland City Council passed Tanisha's Law, creating a new Bureau of Crisis Response: signalcleveland.org/cleveland-ci...

A first look at Cleveland's $2.3 billion 2026 city budget Mayor Justin Bibb released his budget proposal this weekend, kicking off a month in which City Council takes a closer look at city spending.

A first look at Mayor @justinmbibb.bsky.social's 2026 budget proposal. Cleveland City Hall is bracing for tighter times after many workers received raises.

Plus, the city is trying out a new way of using leftover cash to finance capital projects (streets, rec center repairs, etc.)

Cleveland wants new plan for neighborhood development groups The city says the neighborhood nonprofit world has struggled with "uneven, uncertain and hard to spend" funding.

Bibb admin says Cleveland's community development corporation world is "at its weakest point in a generation." City Hall is seeking a consultant to chart a new path for neighborhood CDCs. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-ne...

Program to pay Cleveland landlords to be lead safe will soon end The program gave landlords $750 to $1,000 if they received a lead safe certificate from the city of Cleveland. Here's why it's ending.

No more rebates for landlords who comply with Cleveland's lead paint ordinance as Biden-era COVID-19 dollars run dry. signalcleveland.org/program-to-p...

New political moves at Cuyahoga County Council as 2026 begins County Council Member Sunny Simon is running for judge, while council's Martin J. Sweeney faces primary challengers.

Sunny Simon, an original member of Cuyahoga County Council, is running for the domestic relations judicial seat vacated by Leslie Ann Celebrezze.

Plus, council’s Martin J. Sweeney has two primary challengers. signalcleveland.org/cuyahoga-cou...

Bibb donates to nonprofit that ran CMSD consolidation TV ad A campaign finance filing has identified a donor behind the nonprofit that ran a TV ad pushing the CMSD consolidation plan last fall.

A post-election campaign finance filing shed some more light on the nonprofit that bought TV ad time backing the CMSD school consolidation plan.

Mayor Bibb gave $100,000 to the group from his campaign funds in December, the filing shows. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-sc...

Mayor Bibb still wants to close Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland City Council held the first in a series of hearings on the Bibb administration's plans to close Burke Lakefront Airport.

The TL;DR of building on the Burke Lakefront Airport landfill: "It’s not impossible, but it is complex." signalcleveland.org/cleveland-bu...

Back at work at @signalcleveland.bsky.social after some time off with the family and new baby. Everyone is well.

Let me know what news I should be following this year.

In TV ad, Cleveland's mayor argues for school mergers plan The ad was paid for by a new 501(c)4 advocacy nonprofit called It’s the Right Thing to Do. City Hall and CMSD are saying little about it.

Supporters of Cleveland's school merger plan formed a 501(c)4 advocacy nonprofit after the November election, which paid for a TV ad narrated by Mayor Justin Bibb ahead of the Dec. 6 school board vote. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-sc...

Cleveland OKs $100 million deal with suburbs-bound Browns The deal removes another big obstacle to the Browns' plans for a $2.4 billion roofed stadium in Brook Park.

In a 13-2 vote, @clecitycouncil.bsky.social passes the $100 million settlement withdrawing Cleveland's legal objections to the Browns' move to Brook Park. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-ci...

Dennis Kucinich at the @clecitycouncil.bsky.social table opposing the proposed settlement with the Browns. He calls the city’s lawsuit over the Brook Park move a “wet noodle.”

“Reject this legislation. Demand that the administration fight to keep the Browns.”

No change after today's recount. Tanmay Shah has defeated incumbent Danny Kelly for the Cleveland City Council Ward 12 seat by just 9 votes.

Cleveland's $100 million settlement with the Browns, explained The settlement will tie Cleveland and the Browns together for years, even as the team moves to Brook Park. Here is what to know.

Cleveland’s $100 million exit deal with the Browns is hardly a clean break.

The settlement has the city and the Haslams working together for years to come.

Our guide to what’s in the agreement: signalcleveland.org/cleveland-br...

Tanmay Shah wins Cleveland Ward 12 race, pending a recount A self-described democratic socialist, Shah unseated a retired union laborer backed by the mayor and council president.

Tanmay Shah wins in Cleveland City Council Ward 12, besting incumbent Danny Kelly by 9 votes. There will be a recount Dec. 1, but it would be unlikely that it changes the results. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-ci...

Is $100 million worth the Browns leaving downtown Cleveland? Cleveland City Council is still coming to terms with a Browns settlement that would see the team move to Brook Park.

At yesterday's hearing on the $100 million settlement with the Browns, Cleveland City Council weighed whether to take the deal or...die in an alley (?!). signalcleveland.org/cleveland-ci...

Kerry McCormack says he had 'no engagement' with city over Flock Former Cleveland City Council Member Kerry McCormack, now at Flock Safety, says he will stay clear of business with City Hall for a year.

Kerry McCormack, who recently left Cleveland City Council for Flock, says he wasn't involved in the city's proposed contract with the company. He'll stay away from working with Cleveland for a year, he says. signalcleveland.org/cleveland-ci...

Ahead of school board vote, Bibb campaigns for mergers Public comment slots at CMSD board meetings have featured city officials, nonprofit and business leaders and the mayor's cabinet members.

The mayor's administration and prominent supporters of CMSD's school merger plan have been taking the public comment microphone at board meetings to make their case: signalcleveland.org/mayor-justin...