The iOpener: Thousands Still Without Power; Ohio AG Reduces Scope of Subpoena; Cavs Lose

Good morning on this Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2019.

Thousands are still without power across Northeast Ohio, following the weekend’s damaging winter storms.  FirstEnergy spokesman Chris Eck said the remaining outages are scattered across a wide area, making service calls labor intensive.  He said some areas around Akron may not see a return of service until Thursday.

The Ohio Attorney General’s office has reduced the scope of a subpoena served earlier this month on Cuyahoga County Armond Budish’s administration. It narrowed the emails sought from four administrators to those containing certain search terms.  Cleveland.com reports they include “jail,” “nurse” and “medical unit.” The search terms confirm that prosecutors are looking at the operations of the county’s troubled jail.  Last year, eight inmates died. 

Summit County is offering tax relief for residents whose homes were damaged by the high winds yesterday and Sunday. Residents have until the end of the year to file an application for a valuation deduction for destroyed or damaged property.

Cleveland housing officials say they issued 64 violations for lead hazards last year.  About half of those violations have been resolved.  They told city councilmembers they plan to double their lead paint and dust inspections in the next fiscal year.  The inspections are voluntary for landlords. 

The Cavs fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 123-110.  The Cavs, who trailed by 23 points at halftime, pulled within two points in the fourth quarter but were beaten back by Portland.  Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum earned 56 points for the Blazers.  Cedi Osman led the Cavs with 27 points.  

Weather forecast: Periods of light snow until noon.  Less than half an inch of accumulation.  Cloudy, high 24.  Tonight, cloudy, a 40 percent chance of more snow.  Low 20.