In just three months, the landscape at Jergens Inc. has changed. The factory floor is now filled with equipment and employees, some of whom have been relocated from the companys California operations.
All of this was in California in April. Its all now here, said Jack Schron, president of Jergens Inc., about new equipment.
The Cleveland-based manufacturer has shifted operations back to Northeast Ohio, moving away from sourcing parts abroad to producing entirely in the United States.
These are the most precise electric screwdrivers in the world. They are being made right here in Cleveland, Ohio, Schron said. They are not being made any place else in the world.
The company has not only invested in new machinery but also in people. Several workers from the California plant are now based in Cleveland, contributing to what Schron calls a manufacturing resurgence.
I think manufacturing is alive and well and coming back strong, he said.
In April, former President Donald Trump announced a new tariff policy aimed at bolstering domestic production and bringing jobs back to the U.S. Since then, major corporations like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Apple, and Chobani have pledged to increase their U.S.-based operations.
Ethan Karp, COO of MAGNET, an organization that supports regional manufacturers, said the momentum is real, even amid continued uncertainty around tariffs.
A lot of our companies are doing extremely well, Karp said. Were working with so many companies right now helping them put in the technology and helping them recruit the people that they need its more than Ive ever seen in the last decade doing this work.
For Schron, the growth is both professional and personal.
In this room were sitting in we have 84 years of manufacturing history. And it had peaks and valleys. But right now I believe we are in the process of coming right back up to the peak, he said.
He believes the renewed national conversation around manufacturing is helping re-energize industries that have long been a cornerstone of Northeast Ohios economy.
News 5 covered some of the initial concerns as the uncertainty of tariffs first lingered.
Produce suppliers brace for impact as tariff uncertainty looms
The past few weeks have been difficult for the residents of the Rainbow Terrace Apartments in Cleveland’s Garden Valley neighborhood, but with a little help from Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders on Wednesday, the community has been able to come together to heal.
On June 23, an explosion and fire took place at the apartment complex. More than 60 firefighters from 22 surrounding companies battled the flames for hours, with community members working in addition in order to evacuate the buildings. More than 40 families were displaced and five people were hospitalized. One man, Cordale Sheffield, 30, died from burn injuries after he rushed back into a burning apartment to rescue his stepchildren.
5 hospitalized, residents displaced after explosion, fire at apartment building
“Since June 23rd, everyone has been not themselves,” said Ward 5 Councilman Richard A. Starr. “The whole community was crying and now were mourning the loss of Cordale Sheffield, who was a hero who went in and saved two of his step-children from burning in the fire explosion.”
But amid the June 23rd tragedy, the community has found ways to come together, including on Wednesday. The Garden Valley Fun Fest, an event that brought free food and drinks, music, dancing, games and moreall hosted by Sanders, who heard the news of the tragic fire on social media.
“When everything transpired, I was out of town, so I was like, ‘Nah, the first thing I do when I get back is definitely come to the community,’” Sanders said. “This is just off an Instagram DM. I didn’t really know about the situation; someone told me. I was like ‘Dang that’s crazy,’ and I just wanted a day for everybody to get out here and have some type of enjoyment, excitement, bring just the family atmosphere back.”
Rather than just simply donating to a fundraising effort for the residents of Rainbow Terrace Apartments, Sanders got involved in the Garden Valley Fun Fest, hosting the event on Cleveland’s East Side.
From the free food trucks to the face painting booth and bounce house, to even a large station offering free haircuts, the community was able to come together and enjoy the day. There were a number of community vendors and organizations on site as well to provide resources to anyone who needed them.
“I feel like its wonderful. Its about time, these kids look like theyre having a great time down here. Because usually its not this nice, so Im loving it,” said one resident named Tondalear.
Sanders was joined by many familiar faces, including Cleveland boxer Montana Love and Browns defensive end Mike Hall Jr., at the event. Sanders and Hall even found an open field next to the event set up and took a large group of kids over. The two Browns players organized a pickup game of football with the neighborhood kids, who said their favorite part of the day: “Meeting Shedeur!”
For the community, having the Garden Valley Fun Fest was special. To have Sanders actively involved in it was the cherry on top.
“The way Shedeur came here about 4:30 p.m., he’s been over here for an hour just entertaining, walking around with the kids, smiling, taking pictures with them, it’s just nothing but a testimony to who he is and his character and how his upbringing is. No matter who you are as an athlete, you can still give back, and it’s bigger than just writing a check. It’s bigger than just calling people out, or saying ‘I love you, my heart and condolences are with you,’ but being here is bigger than anything,” Starr said. “We’ve got to continue to come together and continue to love on each other and put resources together so we can heal the community. And having a relationship with Shedeur Sanders where you now know that hes in your community, he understands what’s going on in your community, hes been thereits different. Its so, so great.”
When Sanders posted about the event on his social media on Tuesday, there were plenty of comments looking to deter him from going to the East Side neighborhood, but for Sanders, this is exactly what his platform is all about, and he was happy to spend the day helping get the residents through what has been a particularly difficult experienece for them all.
“I can tell everybodys vibe down here is down to earth. There was a lot of people who didnt want me to come down here and doing it, but I dont understand why. God told me to come out here, so I’m never going to question his word,’ said Sanders. “Just get active and actually do it. Sending money and stuff, that’s easy. But you have to actually go out there and be in the flesh. I feel like that’s more impactful.”
This is the second community event put together for the explosion survivors this month.
‘Its hard to sleep’: Community Care Night organized to help CLE apartment explosion survivors find support
At the National Urban League Conference in Cleveland, important conversations like the intersection between sports and social justice are taking place at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
In Cleveland, the intersection between sports and social justice has been here forever, said Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President and Chief Impact and Equity Officer for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With three professional sports teams and a soon-to-be WNBA team, Clayton said sports could not be left out of the conversation at this years National Urban League Conference in Cleveland.
15,000 people expected in Cleveland this week for National Urban League Conference
When you think about the 1967 summit that was held here right on 105th and Euclid, thats when Muhammad Ali was here and Jim Brown held a summit (and) brought all these famous athletes and civic leaders here, it was to talk about. It was really the first time that a conversation around social justice and sports happened, said Clayton.
Since then, Clayton said athletes in Cleveland and across the country have been using their platforms to address social justice issues like hunger, gun violence and racial equality.
How can we leverage what we do on the court to help the community off the court, said Clayton.
As board chair of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, in addition to his work with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clayton said this work is special for him.
This absolutely at the core for me personally. Its a spiritual journey that I know my calling was to come back to Cleveland to do this work, said Clayton.
Now, Clayton and Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said its about setting an example for others to follow.
Sports essentially is a business. Its fundamentally an entertainment business but as such it can be a pace setter on what I like to call corporate social responsibility, so the hope is if the Cavaliers do it, other businesses will follow, said Morial.
Even Marsha Mockabee, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, said shes hopeful there will be more of a social justice impact in sports.
Our missions and our goals are really similar when it comes to their fan involvement and the things that we do in our community to uplift the community and empower our residents, said Mockabee.
As the historic civil rights and urban advocacy organizations first full day came to an end on Wednesday, organizers closed it out with a celebration filled with food, music and even a fashion show to kick the week off.
National Urban League Conference kicks off in Cleveland
On Wednesday, the National Urban League kicked off its annual conference at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland.
The National Urban Leagues President and CEO, Marc Morial, said, We come not just to talk. Not just to party. But we come with purpose, during an opening news conference. “We’re in a moment we haven’t seen in America.”
Morial called Cleveland a star performer among Urban League affiliates.
We want to showcase so that other cities can see what Cleveland is doing to fight back, to fight for its future, Morial said.
He said the conference would be a celebration and also a time to examine the tough work that lies ahead.
Let the record clearly reflect that we are not a talk tank. Not a think tank. We’re a do tank, Morial said. I am proud to say that in 2024 The Urban League movement served six million people plus.
Morial said that number includes more than 100,000 young people who participated in after-school programs, individuals who avoided foreclosure or eviction, first-time homebuyers, and those who were helped to register to vote.
State of emergency
While acknowledging the organizations successes, Morial also delivered a warning.
We will release our State of Black America Report, and it says that this is a state of emergency. It falls in line with the conferences theme: ‘State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack.’
Morial criticized what he sees as harmful federal policies, from the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to tax changes and healthcare cuts in President Donald Trumps recently signed spending bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.
We’ve got to replace it with policies that make more sense. Policies that say, Let’s make America great for all Americans, not just some, Morial said.
When I asked, What do you say to people who say, you know, we voted for President Donald Trump we voted Republicans into office, and this was part of that equation?
Morial responded, It’s not part of the equation when two-thirds of the American people say, No, I don’t want the big, ugly bill.
Conference events
Work sessions, networking events, and other gatherings this week for the conference will focus on a variety of topics, including voting rights, education, entrepreneurship, health care, and housing.
Founded in 1910, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization advocates for civil rights and economic empowerment for African Americans and other underserved and underrepresented communities. It has 92 affiliates across the country, including the Urban League of Greater Cleveland.
Marsha Mockabee is the Cleveland chapters president and CEO. She said the last 18 months of planning the convention have been exciting.
We set in motion a plan to engage every part of our community to enter this conference, Mockabee said.
She stressed the importance of the local chapters efforts to help Clevelanders thrive.
Where individuals can make a living wage in order to take care of their families, Mockabee said. And we know that’s under attack.
Highlights of events open to the public:
Wednesday, July 16:
Opening press conference at the Huntington Convention Center, Ballroom Common Space. Morial, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Marsha Mockabee, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, are scheduled to speak
Career and Networking Fair at Huntington Convention Center, Hall B from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those attending will have access to resume assistance, sit down with career coaches, practice interviewing and meet with companies face-to-face.
State of the Urban League Address at Huntington Convention Center, Ballroom A from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Morial will deliver the keynote address.
Saturday, July 19: Community & Family Expo Day at the Huntington Convention Center, Expo Hall C from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event will feature free backpacks and school supplies, free health screenings, a free expungement legal clinic and a free Project Ready College Fair featuring more than 60 colleges and universities.
Scholarships and financial aid information will also be available. The National Association of Real Estate Brokers will also have a one-stop shop for guidance on homeownership, generational wealth, and careers in real estate.
Those wishing to attend are encouraged to register online.
First-time conference attendee
Trey Barnes is attending the conference for the first time. The data engineer from Philadelphia said the Urban Leagues housing counseling programs helped him become a first-time homebuyer.
He was asked what made him want to be a part of the conference in Cleveland.
I want to just go out there and explore out my comfort zone, Barnes said. Meet new people. Network.
Hes eager to take back home what he learns while in Cleveland.
A lot of my friends and colleagues have been going through different hardships with like the job market for example, Barnes said. So, I’m just hoping to be able to be that resource for them. Going back to Philadelphia and then also my surrounding communities to just help them in any way that I can.
Morial said, This conference has something in it for everyone.
Meat prices are on the rise, but a local Cleveland butcher says there are still smart ways to save.
Hank Kornblut runs a butcher and sandwich shop, Mister Brisket, in Cleveland Heights. He says rising costs for water, grain, and cattle are driving up prices at the meat counter, but buying smarter can help.
His top tips:
Buy in bulk: Purchasing an entire tenderloin and having it cut into filets (and trimmings ground) can lower your cost per meal. Work with your butcher: Local shops offer custom cuts you wont always get at big chains. Look for value cuts: A chuck steak, for example, can be cubed for stewssome grocery stores like Giant Eagle will even cut it for free. Dont sacrifice quality: Bad meat spoils quickly. If it doesnt smell right or looks off, skip iteven if its cheap.
If you buy something thats inexpensive and you end up throwing it away because you dont use it right away then youre wasting money, Kornblut said.
Grocery prices continue to strain household budgets, and that’s exactly why we have launched a weekly price tracker to help you save before you shop.
Each week, well visit Meijer, Giant Eagle, Aldi, Walmart, Heinen’s and Dave’s Market, checking prices on everyday essentials.
Those include: 2% milk, a loaf of wheat bread, chicken price per pound, ground beef tray or patty per pound (80% lean 20% fat), 12 dozen white eggs, and toasted oats cereal.
If you’re willing to shop around, you can snag even deeper discounts on meat, dairy, and pantry goods.
Were also giving you a chance to see how your favorite stores stack up week to week. Well compare how grocery prices change at each store on a weekly basis.
Here’s how prices compare across stores this week:
From buy-one-get-one-free meat deals to cereal under $2, our Dont Waste Your Money team will be keeping an eye on store shelves and sharing what we find.
Find a better deal? We want to hear from you! Submit your finds through the form below. If you beat our prices, well feature them.
And if youre a savvy shopper, always chasing the best deals, we may even join you on your next grocery run.
Dozens of people claim to have fallen victim to inaccurate information on their healthcare records, more specifically after visiting the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.
Deb Sweat told me she’s been dealing on and off with misinformation on her MyChart since January 2023.
“Apparently, another person had gone to the main campus of University Hospitals and they made some kind of a clerical error and logged her in under my record,” Sweat said.
Sweat told me she only found out because her insurance company called her to ask about post-surgery meals.
“I never had surgery,” she said. “I was arguing with them and they finally checked back and said that was a mistake.”
A couple of months later, an EKG that Sweat said she never received popped up on her records. That, too, was later removed about eight months after she caught the error.
UH wrote in a letter to Sweat, “Your changes were approved and completed.”
But then, again, Sweat found more inaccurate information on her medical records. This time, a UH physician noted in July 2024 that she’d previously had a heart attack and stroke.
“I freaked out on that because I never had either one,” Sweat said. “We gotta get this corrected. If anything happens where I do end up in the hospital, this is gonna look bad for my treatment because they’re gonna think I had a heart attack and a stroke and they’re gonna take my care accordingly and that scares me.”
Sweat said she filed a complaint with UH and also notified her primary care physician.
“[University Hospitals] never called the PCP and when I talked to the PCP, he said ‘No, I never got a call from them,’” Sweat said.
Ultimately, Sweat received a letter from UH in October 2024 saying the healthcare system has reviewed her record and deemed it accurate and complete.
“I kept calling [University Hospitals], talking to them, and everyone was like, ‘Well, we can’t do anything more about it,’” Sweat said. “And then, I decided, well, I gotta go somewhere else. I can’t afford an attorney, so my next thought was to try you. I had seen your story on the two pediatricians that were fired, and I said, you know, maybe I’ll see if she can help me on this. She’s already on top of this UH thing. I was appreciative of that because you’re the first person that ever actually took an interest in what I was saying.”
I immediately emailed UH Vice President of Communications, Michael Tobin, for answers.
Due to HIPAA, UH is unable to share the specifics of Sweat’s medical records, but confirmed the issue was being resolved.
“I’m going to eventually request my medical records. When I do that, I don’t expect to see a red flag. I don’t expect to see this was corrected. I expect to see a clean record like nothing was ever put on there because nothing should have been put on there in the first place, so that’s where I stand on it,” Sweat said.
Sweat told me both the stroke and heart attack were removed from her UH MyChart record within 48 hours of us reaching out to the healthcare system.
“I’m feeling great. You guys have helped me a lot. I didn’t know where to turn anymore, and the fact that you responded so quickly and jumped on it, I thought this ‘girl’s got it,’” Sweat said.
There is still one more issue on Sweat’s record, though, she said.
Sweat doesn’t have an upper denture, but her record claims she does.
She said UH is aware of the misinformation and is reportedly working on it.
I asked UH if the inaccurate information on Sweat’s record was a human or system error, but the healthcare system wouldn’t answer.
I also wanted to know whether Sweat’s case was an anomaly or if she was one of many.
“I’m not aware of any similar complaints,” Tobin said.
However, when we asked our followers on social media Monday morning, dozens flooded the comment section and my email, claiming to have fought or are fighting a similar issue as Sweat at either UH or the Cleveland Clinic.
“Inaccurate medication list and family history, missing after-visit summaries, radiology reports with errors,” one person said on social media, referencing UH and the Cleveland Clinic.
Another person wrote, “(Cleveland Clinic) has me responsible for someone else & they won’t remove it!”
“UH has added so many diagnoses (inaccurate) on my MyChart and I’ve asked to have them removed and they still are on there. Frustrating to have to repeatedly tell them it is inaccurate whenever I go to different specialists,” someone else said on our Facebook page.
Sweat encourages everyone to check their medical records moving forward.
“Not everything in there is gonna be correct,” she said.
Tobin said if a UH patient finds an inaccuracy in their medical records to let their primary care physician know.
I asked that the Cleveland Clinic provide any patient complaints of record misinformation by Tuesday afternoon. A spokesperson is looking into it.
Single stalks of wheat look light as a feather, but handling a big bundle requires a bit of elbow grease. In this 1990 Blade archive photo, Drew Lashaway and Evan Myers, both 4, struggle to stack sheaves of wheat in preparation for the 30th annual reunion of the Five Point Steam Threshers Club held on the Lashaway family farm near Perrysburg. The reunion brought area farmers together to show how harvesting was done in the old days, with steam-powered machinery and other antique equipment. This Sunday, the Five Point Steam Threshers meet again at Five Point and Lime City roads in Perrysburg Township, to hold their 63rd annual reunion. In addition to watching threshing and plowing demonstrations, attendees can snack on steamed sweet corn, homemade bean soup and kettle-popped popcorn. Go to thebladevault.com/memories to purchase more historical photos taken by our award-winning staff of photographers, past and present, or to purchase combinations of stories and photos.
Grocery prices continue to strain household budgets, and that’s exactly why we have launched a weekly price tracker to help you save before you shop.
Each week, well visit Meijer, Giant Eagle, Aldi, Walmart, Heinen’s and Dave’s Market, checking prices on everyday essentials.
Those include: 2% milk, a loaf of wheat bread, chicken price per pound, ground beef tray or patty per pound (80% lean 20% fat), 12 dozen white eggs, and toasted oats cereal.
If you’re willing to shop around, you can snag even deeper discounts on meat, dairy, and pantry goods.
Were also giving you a chance to see how your favorite stores stack up week to week. Well compare how grocery prices change at each store on a weekly basis.
Here’s how prices compare across stores this week:
From buy-one-get-one-free meat deals to cereal under $2, our Dont Waste Your Money team will be keeping an eye on store shelves and sharing what we find.
Find a better deal? We want to hear from you! Submit your finds through the form below. If you beat our prices, well feature them.
And if youre a savvy shopper, always chasing the best deals, we may even join you on your next grocery run.
THE RESOLUTION of President Trump’s tariff plans, expected this month, couldn’t come soon enough for the auto and manufacturing heartland that helped sweep him into office. The economies of Michigan and Ohio have been deteriorating since last year and are poised to worsen as a cooling labor market, stagnant consumer confidence, and high interest rates chill auto demand and factory activity.