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Former Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones sentenced to prison despite pleas for leniency and probation from Black leaders and activists...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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Former Cleveland councilman Basheer Jones Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com   By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor CLEVELAND, Ohio — After pleading guilty late last year to wire fraud and honest services fraud, former Cleveland Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones on Tuesday was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge J. Phillip Calabreze, a Republican appointed to the federal bench in the Northern District of Ohio in 2020 by President Donald Trump during his first term in office. The judge also ordered the former councilman to pay more than $148,000 in restitution and to serve three years probation after completing his sentence. Jones' attorney, Fernando Mack, and some greater Cleveland Black leaders like former congresswoman and prior HUD secretary Marcia L. Fudge and some Black community activists wanted leniency and probation, Fudge among dozens of people who wrote supportive letters to the judge. Asked by...
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Black leaders, local activists call for probation for former Cleveland councilman Basheer Jones as sentencing nears...Former HUD Secretary Marcia L Fudge speaks out...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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Former Cleveland councilman Basheer Jones Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com   By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor Investigative article CLEVELAND, Ohio — After taking a plea deal and pleading guilty late last year to federal public corruption charges and agreeing to pay restitution, former Cleveland Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones is facing sentencing on Tues, April 1 before U.S. District Court Judge J. Phillip Calabreze, a Republican appointed to the federal bench in the Northern District of Ohio in 2020 by President Donald Trump during his first term in office. And while prosecutors are calling for prison time, some greater Cleveland Black leaders, like former HUD secretary Marcia L. Fudge, and some Black community activists say probation is more appropriate, given Jones' overall record in support of the community and because similarly situated White elected officials traditionally get off easy and often are not even prosecuted at a...
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Cleveland police union new contract with pay raise approved by city council...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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Clevelandurbannews.com and   Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland City Council, during its regular meeting on Monday, approved a new three-year collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association. Sanctioned by Mayor Justin Bibb and his administration, the agreement is effective April 1, 2025-March 31, 2028 and provides for an increase in the salaries and wages for members of the bargaining unit, among other provisions. Police and other bargaining unit members will get a 9% pay raise over three years, 3% each year beginning April 1. The Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association (CPPA) is a labor union representing roughly 1,450 non-supervisory patrol officers, detectives, and radio dispatchers. It  serves as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for negotiating wages, hours of work, and other conditions of employment with the City of Cleveland.   Clevelandurbannews.com and   Kathywraycolemanon...
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Trump issues order to dismantle US Depart of Education....Cleveland's Black mayor responds, saying Trump is taking us back before the deseg era and is blocking children from obtaining a quality education...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, the city's  fourth Black mayor  By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher WASHINGTON, D.C.-  President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise he made to Republicans on the campaign trail on his way to winning a second, non-consecutive term in November and angering Congressional Democrats, educators, teachers unions, public-school parents and some city mayors, including in Cleveland, Ohio. But the president's unprecedented efforts to radically change America's educational system require Congressional approval. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that all executive orders from the president of the United States must be supported by the Constitution, whether from a clause granting specific power or by Congress delegating such to the executive branch. Signed Thursday, the president's agency wrecking order instructs Education Secretary Linda...
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Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown shops on $42 SNAP budget in Cleveland to highlight Trump's slashing of benefits across America for Blacks and the country's most vulnerable...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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Ohio Congresswoman Brown Shops on SNAP Budget in Cleveland Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-11), a Warrensville Hts. Democrat Amid threats in Congress, U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown joined representatives of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank for a SNAP Challenge event to highlight the importance of nutrition benefits   Clevelandurbannews.com and   Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com Staff article from a Black perspective straight out of Cleveland, Ohio CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio 11th Congressional District Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) joined representatives from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank on Wednesday at Dave's Market on Cleveland's largely Black east side to highlight the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and the challenges that Northeast Ohio families and families across America relying on SNAP face under President Donald Trump and his administration. Wednesday's event in Cleveland is part of a " SNAP Challenge " of e...
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More than 1,500 women march in Cleveland on International Women's Day 2025 to demand gender equality and to protest President Trump, led by Women's March Cleveland... By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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More than 1,500 protesters stormed Market Square Park in Cleveland, Ohio on Sat., March 8, 2025 for the International Women's Day Unite and Resist rally and march hosted by Women's March Cleveland as part of  a national day of action  Clevelandurbannews.com and   Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com CLEVELAND, OHIO- Led by Women's March Cleveland, more than a 1,500 women and community activists took to the streets in mass on Sat., March 8, 2025 to march on International Women's Day as part of a national day of action. It was the eighth anniversary of Cleveland's first International Women's Day march in 2017. Organizers said some 1,500 to 2,000 people were in attendance, also including male supporters, Blacks, Whites, and others alike, The event, dubbed the Unite and Resist in Cleveland march, began at Market Square Park near downtown Cleveland with a rally and speeches, followed by a 30-minute march before marchers returned to Market Square. Cleveland's march...
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President Trump delivers address to joint chamber of Congress amid a rowdy crowd, blamed immigrants for murdered Americans and bragged about Elon Musk and DOGE...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher WASHINGTON, D.C.- President Donald Trump addressed a joint chamber of Congress Tuesday night amid ongoing fallout between Republicans and Democrats since he took the oath of office in January for a second, non-consecutive term. In addition to members of Congress, those there included First Lady Melania Trump, some U.S. Supreme Court members, including the three conservative justices Trump appointed during his first term to ensure that Roe. v. Wade was overturned on June 24, 2022, and Trump's cabinet members. The guests of Democrats were also in attendance, some to send the message that they too are victims of Trump's aggressive and irresponsible policies that are dividing America. The Republican president appeared relaxed and opened his 99 min. speech by saying "America is back," as Republicans chanted "USA," "USA." But as he continued, angry Democrats began chanting and shouting, prompting House ...
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US Rep Emilia Sykes reintroduces the Stop Electronic Stalking Act to help women as Women's History Month 2025 commences...Sykes says the legislation would save lives...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader

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U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (pictured), an Akron Democrat, Reintroduces Anti-Electronic Stalking Legislation    Bipartisan Legislation is Modeled after an Ohio Law that passed under a bill Rep. Sykes Introduced in the Ohio legislature when she was a state lawmaker   By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher WASHINGTON, D.C .— Today, U.S. Reps Emilia Sykes (OH-13), an Akron Democrat, and Mike Carey (OH-15), a Columbus Republican, reintroduced the  Stop Electronic Stalking Act ,  which would prohibit the use of personal tracking devices to track people without their consent. Rep. Sykes  introduced similar legislation  in the Ohio legislature when she was a state lawmaker. It was  recently signed into law  by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican whose second four-year-term is nearing an end. The proposed bipartisan congressional legislation comes as Women's History Month, which begins on March 1, 2025, nears.   "Geotracking devices are m...
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