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I Can't Believe It's Not Weed!

The federal judge in Cleveland overseeing a massive set of lawsuits over the opioid crisis has approved a plan that could allow communities nationwide to benefit from drug company settlements and court judgements. The decision comes amid news that one of the defendants, Purdue Pharma, is nearing a settlement with more than 2,000 local governments.

Jaxx Cheline never acted before joining QuTheatr Ensemble in Akron, but an appreciation for art and interest in making money was enough to propel the 14-year-old to give it a try. Cheline plays “Anthony” in the upcoming production, “Through His I.” “He is trans, and he is in high school. And it's about his experiences there,” Cheline said. “He gets bullied a lot and gets ignored by the administration, and so he's in a really dark place about it.”

Anthony Sowell, who was convicted in 2011 of killing 11 women in Cleveland, died Monday in an Ohio prison medical facility. A prison spokeswoman said the 61-year-old was admitted Jan. 21 with a terminal illness after spending close to 10 years on death row. She provided no details on his illness, other than that it was not COVID-19 related.

Lakewood City Council approved an ordinance to allow paid parental leave for city employees this week. And one Cleveland City Council member is hoping Cleveland is next. The Lakewood ordinance provides 12 weeks of paid leave for the birthing parent. Non-birthing parents are eligible for two weeks of paid bonding leave.

Nearly 350 people received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week at the Langston Hughes Community Health Center, part of the Cleveland Clinic network. The health center is offering weekly vaccination clinics as part of an effort to reach people of color and underserved or at-risk populations.

Installation began on the Wendy Park Bridge this week, bringing together more than two decades of planning and preparation to connect a once neglected and forgotten piece of Cleveland’s lakefront. Cleveland Metroparks is installing the first two segments of the $6 million bridge over the Norfolk-Southern railroad tracks this week. The first piece was installed Tuesday, and the second began Wednesday. The full walkway is expected to be completed by June, said Metroparks Chief Planning and Design Officer Sean McDermott.

Some Ohio colleges and universities will start vaccinating students the week of April 5, as many return from spring break. The on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinics are part of Gov. Mike DeWine's plan to reach as many students as possible before they disburse across the state and country this summer.

The vaccine is only about 23 percent effective against the dominant flu strain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's because the strain mutated slightly.

Inflation eased last month, according to a report Wednesday from the Labor Department, which means people feeling stretched by high prices and high borrowing costs could feel a little relief soon.