How are Cleveland’s hospital systems faring financially? The Wake Up for Wednesday, April 16, 2025

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Of the five major health systems in Northeast Ohio, only the Cleveland Clinic made money last year: $980 million.

MetroHealth System, Summa Health, University Hospitals and Southwest General Health Center all saw financial losses in 2024. UH reported the largest operating loss of $142 million – an improvement after operating losses of $256 million in 2023 and $302 million in 2022.

Why? Hospitals blame inflation, other rising labor and supply costs, insufficient payer reimbursement and increased administrative burdens placed on hospitals by insurance companies.

The financial outlook of health care matters to Cleveland, since it is the city’s largest industry.

This year could be even tougher on the systems’ finances, as they face tariffs, cuts to Medicaid and economic uncertainty.

— Laura

Overnight Scores and Weather

Guardians at Baltimore Orioles: Logan Allen, Steven Kwan power Guardians past Orioles, 6-3

Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunshine returns

Statehouse and Politics

Miller v. Moreno: Lawyers for U.S. Rep. Max Miller issued subpoenas Monday seeking financial information from U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno and his wife, Bridget, as part of Miller’s divorce from their daughter, Emily. Sabrina Eaton and Lucas Daprile report subpoenas filed in Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court ask the Morenos to appear in the offices of Max Miller’s lawyer on May 9 with documentation of financial support they’ve given their daughter.

Uranium enrichment: Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio’s two Republican senators asked the Trump administration to reserve a “majority share” of a $3.4 billion federal investment in uranium enrichment for a company trying to revive domestic production in Southeast Ohio, reports Jake Zuckerman. In a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, they asked that the money, appropriated via two pieces of legislation signed by President Joe Biden, flow to Centrus Energy’s centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in Piketon.

Northeast Ohio News

Maurer vs. Starr: Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer, who lives in the city’s newly drawn Ward 5, announced Tuesday that she will run for reelection there — setting up a head-to-head matchup with her colleague, Councilman Richard Starr, reports Sean McDonnell.

Joan Campbell: Rev. Joan Campbell championed the environment, civil rights, human rights and the changing role of women in society. The mother of former Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell labored to end apartheid in Africa and poverty in her Cleveland community. Her work took her all over the world and put her in contact with figures such as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Bill Clinton. Campbell died March 29 at the age of 93 from complications from dementia.

Transitioning seedlings: One of the toughest challenges in growing your own plants from seed: transitioning healthy indoor seedlings into hardy outdoor plants that can thrive in Northeast Ohio’s unpredictable weather. Susan Brownstein gives you tips.

Business and Health

Medical access: Years after the pandemic upended access to medical care, patients across Northeast Ohio say long wait times persist, with some waiting months for doctor appointments, reports Molly Walsh.

Crime and Courts

Bystander killed: A second person has died as a result of a March 28 police chase involving Cuyahoga County deputies. Lucas Daprile reports Tamya Westmoreland, 48, of Cleveland, died Sunday after sustaining critical injuries. She was driving her SUV when a man fleeing a traffic stop struck her, according to authorities.

Football shooting: A Cuyahoga County grand jury charged a 16-year-old boy with murder Tuesday in the slaying of a teenager after a Euclid High School football game. Darien Harris was 15 at the time of the shooting that killed Sincere Rowdy, 17, on Aug. 30.

Householder charges: The Ohio attorney general’s criminal case against former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who already is in prison on federal charges stemming from the House Bill 6 scandal, has been rescheduled to Nov. 3, reports David Gambino. Householder, 65, is accused in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court of illegally using campaign funds to defend himself in a March 2023 federal trial.

Two found dead: Two people, including an elderly woman, were found dead inside a Lake County home and another female was taken to a hospital for treatment Tuesday following a reported domestic incident, Cliff Pinckard reports.

Stabbing: A 50-year-old man was arrested Tuesday and accused of stabbing a woman several times on the city’s West Side, Olivia Mitchell reports.

Trafficking: A Euclid man admitted to trafficking a teenage girl for sex in Pennsylvania and coerced two adult women into prostitution, reports Adam Ferrise. Donte Cole, 41, posted online advertisements for the 16-year-old girl and charged men between $40 and $400 an hour to have sex with her, according to court records.

Arts and Entertainment

Ask Yadi: How do you handle it if your best friend gives you thoughtful gifts, but you don’t want them. Yadi Rodriguez writes, let her know you don’t want to hurt her feelings but you would rather spend time with her.

Ask Lucas: What do you do if you bought a Tesla and now feel ashamed because Elon Musk doesn’t align with your values? Lucas Daprile writes that lighting your car on fire, then posting a video online where you blame a factory error for the blaze is cathartic and bad propaganda for the company but may also net you an arson charge on top of a claim denial.

Rock Hall: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its summer concert series, which includes a mix of national, regional and local acts, including singer-songwriter-guitarist St. Vincent, Australian post-punk legends The Church and the 2025 artists-in-residence. Malcolm X Abram reports that to coincide with the upcoming “SNL: Ladies & Gentleman ... 50 years of Music” exhibit, some live comedy will be added to the summer slate.

Ice Cube: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and hip-hop icon Ice Cube will bring “Truth To Power: 4 Decades of Attitude” to Rocket Arena on Oct. 8, reports Malcolm X Abram.

Lorain live: Lorain County Metro Parks has unveiled its 2025 Summer Concert Series, offering a diverse lineup of free, family-friendly performances in metro parks venues across Lorain County.

CVNP ice cream: Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream is releasing a limited-edition flavor in celebration of 50 years of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Alex Darus reports that Cuyahoga Valley Crunch flavor is a milk chocolate ice cream base loaded with chocolate-coated salted almond pieces, fair-trade dark chocolate chunks and homemade marshmallow ribbon.

Easter doughnut: Malley’s Chocolates and Brewnuts have collaborated on a limited Carmallow Egg doughnut, inspired by one of Malley’s seasonal treats, reports Marc Bona.

Asian Festival: The Cleveland Asian Festival returns May 17-18 with familiar and new experiences, reports Paris Wolfe. These include a food court, Asian food competition, world marketplace, Asian trivia competition, Asian-Pop Dance Competition, a Cosplay Showcase, fashion show, various entertainment and free health screenings.

Wilco: Jeff Tweedy & Co. are headed back to Northeast Ohio, reports Peter Chakerian. Chicago-based rockers Wilco will deliver “An Evening with Wilco” on at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.

Jackie Robinson: Clevelanders’ beer in Buffalo is honoring Jackie Robinson. April 15 is deemed Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball, reports Marc Bona. To mark the occasion, 42 North Brewing Co. has released 42 Legendary Lager.

CIA: At Cleveland Institute of Art’s annual Spring Show, students toil away in studios and workshop spaces – emerging every spring with sustainable solutions, wild innovations and sleek prototypes put on exhibit for all to see, reports Peter Chakerian.

Pop-up center: Victoria and James Mowbray own Parker’s Grille in Avon Lake and its neighbor, Old School Pizza and Wings By Parker’s across the street. In October they opened the event center adjacent to Old School, which serves as a creative outlet for themed pop-up bars, reports Marc Bona.

Shucked: Brandy Clark has written songs for some of the biggest names in country music and is a Grammy-winning recording artist in her own right. She never set out to write a Broadway musical, but it was always in her heart. Joey Morona reports that “Shucked” evolved into a completely original musical, a rarity in a medium so reliant on existing IP. The fish-out-of-water tale follows a plucky farmgirl named Maizy (Danielle Wade) as she ventures to the big city in search of help to save her community’s dying corn crop.

You’re all caught up

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— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by by Cliff Pinckard.