Cuyahoga County • July 24, 2025
Good morning, Cuyahoga County. The waters that have shaped our region's history are once again at the center of community debate. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's recommendation to drain the historic 17-acre Lower Lake represents a complete reversal from earlier preservation plans, with officials citing $5 million in potential savings. This contentious decision echoes the 2019 Horseshoe Lake draining that similarly divided residents who treasure these century-old waterways.
Meanwhile, a nostalgic wave washes over Cleveland as Jeannie Emser Schultz's new memoir "As the Stage Turned" revives memories of the legendary Front Row Theatre. From 1974 to 1993, this innovative theater-in-the-round hosted luminaries like Sammy Davis Jr. and Michael Jackson, with audiences just 59 feet from its unique rotating stage. Elsewhere, community tension builds as Cincinnati hospital chaplain Ayman Soliman's asylum case draws hundreds of supporters to a Cleveland courtroom, with his bond decision postponed until July 29.
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💧 Historic Lower Lake Dam faces removal, sparking controversy. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District plans to recommend draining the 17-acre Lower Lake in Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights to prevent catastrophic flooding along Doan Brook. This marks a complete reversal from earlier plans to replace the 19th-century structure while preserving the lake. Officials cite new cost estimates showing $5 million in savings by removing the dam ($37.9 million) versus replacing it ($43.4 million). The decision echoes the contentious 2019 draining of nearby Horseshoe Lake, which similarly faced strong community opposition from residents who cherish these historic waterways.
🎭 Cleveland's legendary Front Row Theatre turns in a new memoir. Jeannie Emser Schultz's book "As the Stage Turned" chronicles her time as marketing director at the innovative theater-in-the-round that operated from 1974 to 1993. The Highland Heights venue hosted major stars like Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson, and Robin Williams, with its unique rotating stage placing audiences just 59 feet from performers. Schultz shares colorful backstage stories, from celebrity demands to memorable mishaps, before the beloved theater eventually closed as entertainment shifted back downtown.
🕌 Imam's asylum revocation sparks national outcry and legal battle. Ayman Soliman, a Cincinnati hospital chaplain, had his asylum revoked over disputed terrorism connections to an Egyptian charity, despite neither the organization nor the Muslim Brotherhood being designated terrorist groups. A federal immigration judge postponed his bond decision until July 29, leaving supporters who packed the Cleveland courtroom disappointed. The case has generated significant backlash from Ohio Democrats, Cincinnati officials, and religious leaders, with hundreds protesting his detention. Supporters suggest his 2021 lawsuit against the government for FBI background check issues may have triggered retaliatory immigration enforcement.
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