Staff article by Kathy Wray Coleman, editor

CLEVELAND, Ohio– Former NFL star OJ Simpson (pictured in 1990) has died at 76-years-old after a battle with cancer, his family announced Thursday, an announcement that triggered fodder with media outlets across the country and reminds America's Black community of the country's long legacy of systemic racism and its troubles with its fragile and racist legal system.

National cable media hosts had a field day with commentary over whether Simpson murdered ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, even though he was exonerated in 1995 of criminal charges in the case with lawyer Johnny Cochran leading his "dream team" legal team.

He was  later sent to prison for nine years for convictions for arranging a robbery to retrieve his stolen memorabilia, the latter criminal case of which came under question as possible retaliation for a not guilty verdict in the case of his ex-wife's death. Despite being exonerated in the murder of his ex-wife, who was a White woman, he lost a multi-million dollar wrongful death civil lawsuit filed by the Brown-Goldman families over the killings but never forked over all of the money, sources say, instead living in isolation off of his NFL pension until his death.

The nationally-watched televised murder trial where he was found not guilty as Blacks and Whites alike took sides and millions of others looked on in anticipation of the verdict was in media circles dubbed "The Trial of the Century."

Simpson shot back and wrote a book of satire titled "If I did it," generating more fallout and racial chatter over the celebrated murders. and upsetting the Brown-Goldman families.

The notorious Simpson played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills, and was regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time. He was the first NFL player to run for more than 2,000 yards in a single season.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

Staff article by Kathy Wray Coleman, editor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) (pictured), a Cleveland Democrat and seasoned member of Congress, called for Congress and President Biden to ban Chinese-made electric vehicles to protect Ohio autoworkers, and to combat what he says are economic and national security threats posed by Chinese automakers.

In a letter to President Biden, the popular senator warned that Chinese cars, made by companies controlled and subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party, present an existential threat to the American auto industry, and that tariffs alone are insufficient to stop a government-orchestrated attack on an entire sector of the nation's economy.

“Chinese electric vehicles are an existential threat to the American auto industry. Ohio knows all too well how China illegally subsidizes its companies, putting our workers out of jobs and undermining entire industries, from steel to solar manufacturing, " said Brown in a news release. "We cannot allow China to bring its government-backed cheating to the American auto industry. The U.S. must ban Chinese electric vehicles now, and stop a flood of Chinese government-subsidized cars that threaten Ohio auto jobs, and our national and economic security.”

Brown warned in the letter that the level of government subsidization in the Chinese auto industry would make it impossible for American automakers and autoworkers to compete on a level playing field, and would also decimate the United Autoworkers and the union’s ability to raise wages and benefits for workers across the auto sector. Chinese electric vehicles also pose a national security risk, given the technology involved in EVs and the potential for the Chinese government to gain access to large amounts of data through these cars.

Sen. Brown has long led efforts to boost American auto manufacturing and to counter China’s cheating. Brown introduced the bipartisan Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act to strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws and ensure they remain effective tools to fight back against unfair trade practices and protect American workers.

In January Brown called on the Biden Administration to increase tariffs on Chinese solar imports threatening American solar manufacturing jobs, including in Ohio at companies like First Solar in Toledo. In May of 2023, Brown led his Senate colleagues in voting to reinstate duties on illegally dumped Chinese solar panels. Sen Brown also led the successful opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which had weaker auto rules of origin than NAFTA and would have been devastating for the Ohio industry.

Read Sen Brown's full letter to President Biden here

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Today, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) (pictured), a Lakewood Democrat whose 23rd district includes 14 of Cleveland's 17 wards, issued a statement following a press conference with a group of Democratic state lawmakers at the Statehouse in Columbus in response to Gov. Mike DeWine's State of the State address, which he delivered at noon today, also at the Statehouse in Columbus.

While the Republican governor's speech may have kept him in step with top GOP leaders in Ohio he has gained fodder with in the last year or so and his promise of child healthcare vouchers for struggling mothers has bipartisan support, his support of the Republicans anti-Democratic agendas and his demand for legislative restrictions on out-of-class smartphone use of students in Ohio's K-12 schools did not sit well with some Statehouse Democrats.

And his slogan during his speech that "Ohio is the heart of it all" as he pushes for penalties against transgender students  and rallies against abortion rights for Ohio women annoyed some state Democratic lawmakers like state Sen Antonio, a women's rights and Civil Rights advocate, and a loyal Democrat chosen by her peers to lead Democrats in the Ohio Senate.

She called parts of the governor's speech, much of it centered on Ohio's children and the governor's policy initiatives as he concludes his second term in office, un-inspirational and disengenuous in a press release to Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black digital news leaders. She praised the governor for his prospective programs that support young people but panned his speech overall.

"Certainly, the governor touched on programs and issues we can support as many of them focused on lifting up and supporting our youngest Ohioans and their future," said Antonio. "I'd like to believe that the inspirational, "Ohio is the heart of it all" were true. However, it is disingenuous to use that slogan to welcome people while the majority contradicts the sentiment with legislation that would deny the civil rights of marginalized Ohioans. Last year's three statewide elections proved how out of step majority Republicans are with everyday Ohioans. We can and we must do better."

Those statewide elections won by the Dems include two Issue 1 ballot initiatives, one by Republican state lawmakers seeking to enhance the threshold for winning statewide ballot initiatives in Ohio that failed miserably, and the other the Nov. 7 Issue 1 referendum where Ohio voters voted to enshrined the legal right to abortion access and other reproductive measures into the Ohio Constitution. Both came after the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in Dobbs vs Jackson that overturned the longstanding Roe v Wade and gave states the authority to regulate and legislate abortion.

Antonio said that Democrats in Ohio are inclusive and that key Ohio Republicans like Gov. DeWine are doing little, if anything, to lift up the state, a state former President Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee for the Republican nomination for president this year, won in 2016 and again in 2020. And she said that Democratic state lawmakers will continue advocating for Ohio workers and families and that Democrats seek common ground with Ohio Republicans in an effort to advance policies that benefit all Ohioans.

"Democrats are dedicated to creating an inclusive, welcoming state with safe and thriving communities by investing in accessible, affordable quality child care, affordable housing, good-paying jobs, and equal access to quality education to ensure families have the support they need to succeed," said Sen Antonio, "We will continue to advocate and fight for the dignity of Ohio's workers and families this year by advancing those policies, issues, and budget items where we can find common ground with the governor, our colleagues across the aisle, and across chambers, whenever possible."

Republicans control both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate.

Read Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio's full remarks here and watch the full Democratic response to Gov. DeWine's State of the State address here.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

CLEVELAND, Ohio- Funeral services have been announced for former Ohio state senator C.J. (Carolyn Jean) Prentiss (pictured), who died Tuesday at 82-years-old after battling heart disease.

Visitation is Fri., April 12,  from 5-7pm at Hiawatha Church of God In Christ, 3417 Hiawatha St., Ashtabula, Ohio 44004.

Funeral services are Sat., April 13, at 10am at the Christ Culture Church, 15 Severance Circle, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, with calling hours from 9-10 am at the church.

She will be laid to rest at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland.

An educator in her younger years and a former state representative and state school board member, Prentiss was a a life-long Democrat. She served in the Ohio Senate from 1999-2007 and was minority leader for the 126th General Assembly. She could not run for reelection in 2007 due to a state law that set term limits for state lawmakers. She was active in the Cleveland community, particularly during the pendency of the longstanding schools desegregation case.

Prentiss relocated from Cleveland to Astubula after she retired from politics to live in a cottage on the riverbank.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.