The Read

When Steve Presser closes his vintage toy and novelty store, it will mark more than just a loss for Northeast Ohio's collectors. A little piece of our past dies with it as well.

The community organizer spent years behind the scenes in Cleveland politics, but after being elected to his first full term on city council, Blaine Griffin is already being talked about for higher office.

Forty-five years after Roe v. Wade, legislative pressures on abortion access and women’s health care continue to increase. As clinics dwindle, Fred Sokol and other anti-abortion activists see the closings as motivation to step up their efforts.

We get behind the scenes with organizer Chris McNeil, reflect on Browns fandom and reach catharsis on Al Lerner Way.

In August, Leonor Garcia, who entered this country illegally at the age of 15, was given two weeks to return to her native Mexico. Instead, the Akron mother of four has been living in sanctuary at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights.

As potential development and rural culture collide, Eaton Township is in the crosshairs of a controversy that threatens its identity.

Jeremiah Davenport came to Cleveland to study musicology but has danced into the spotlight as a drag performer who combines artistry with a deep sense of history. 

Liz Maugans helped launch Zygote Press — the artist workshop and gallery — more than 20 years ago. Now she’s making a mark with her own work while advocating for other Northeast Ohio artists.

As the minor league owners of the Lake Erie Crushers, Tom and Jacqueline Kramig are stepping to the plate with new branding, wacky promotions and fun events to attract fans. Will they hit a home run?

Before Cleveland became a hotbed for T-shirt culture, Nightsweats and T-Cells raised awareness and created hope for those with HIV and AIDS. Now after 27 years, its brand of screen-printed activism continues the fight and inspires a new generation. 

In one whirlwind year, our city claimed an NBA championship, hosted a national political convention and continued development downtown and in the neighborhoods. But as Cleveland sheds its Mistake on the Lake identity, we confront our shifting identity, ask what it might take to continue the momentum and set an agenda for the future.

Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti has become a national folk hero for his quirky sentences. But does his unconventional approach really work?