Hundreds of collectors and pop culture fans flocked to the I-X Center this weekend for Collect-A-Con.
The trading card, anime, and pop culture convention is one of the largest. Fans of Pokmon, comics and other popular culture items could meet up and shop for more items to add to their collection.
Vendors filled the floor show selling trading cards, figurines and fan art.
In addition to shopping, fans could meet some pop culture icons. Several actors from fan-favorite television shows made appearances throughout the event. They made themselves available for pictures and autographs.
Voice of anime character Sailor Moon, Terri Hawkes, was one of the icons in attendance. It was her first time visiting Cleveland, and she was amazed by the history of the city. What she enjoyed the most was getting to meet and interact with fans.
“I’ve had so many great and meaningful conversations with so many people as to what some of these shows that we are representing meant to them over the years,” Hawkes said. “Honestly, it’s just a really meaningful opportunity to hear their personal stories and how these shows have lifted them up during difficult times.”
Collect-A-Con had a great turnout. Within an hour of opening, about 1100 cars had already been parked in the I-X Center lot.
While the paper circulars are still around, more shoppers are turning to digital apps to stack savings at the register. Rachel Krych, who runs the popular blog Couponing with Rachel, says the key isnt just finding a good sale, its pairing that sale with a coupon for maximum savings.
You dont want to just buy the sales, Krych said. You want to use the coupons with the sales.
For some, the idea of couponing can be a little intimidating. Shoppers like Bonnie Dove say they use them a few times a month, but always worry they wont work.
It is kind of scary sometimes, Dove said. You know? It can be embarrassing.
Krych recommends starting small by just clipping one or two digital coupons per order and making sure they come off at checkout. And if they dont? Stay calm.
Most of the time the cashier will be able to take care of it, she said. Theyll be able to figure it out.
Apps from major grocery chains now allow customers to browse and load coupons directly from their phones (no scissors required). That convenience is helping more shoppers make savings a regular part of their routine.
It breaks my heart a little when I see people leaving money on the table, Krych said.
Tracking grocery prices
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.
Grocery prices are climbing, but some stores are helping shoppers save with new summer discounts.
This weeks Price Tracker highlights deals at Walmart, Meijer, and now Giant Eagle, which is launching weekly Carefree Summer promotions, including BOGO offers and produce markdowns.
Aldi had the lowest total for grocery staples at $16.57, with Walmart close behind at $17.18. Ground beef prices rose at most stores.
Tracking grocery prices
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.
DigitalC, the local non-profit organization providing low-cost, high-speed internet to Cleveland’s 34 neighborhoods, celebrated a milestone on Tuesday with the installation of its equipment at the home of its 5,000th customer.
“That’s significant for us because we went from 0 in January of 2024 to where we have 5,000 in June,” DigitalC CEO Joshua Edmonds told the 5,000th customer Diah Flantroy of the city’s Fairfax neighborhood, as crews worked to install the internet with its fixed rate of $18 a month, locked in for five years and free for families with kids in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Compare that to the bill Flantroy said she got from her previous provider.
“When I got the first bill it was $156,” she said.
Neighbor Vendetta Arrington said she went without internet for a while because of the cost. She was one of the first on the block to sign up with DigitalC.
“I have to pay all of my main bills first, so what’s left, I didn’t have to get the other kind,” she said.
“Broadband is no longer a luxuryits a necessity for work, learning, and healthcare, said Council President Blaine A. Griffin. We need to ensure that everyone everywhere has access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. Im thrilled to see a Ward 6 neighbor now online with affordable internet access.
DigitalC was part of a $20 million plan rolled out by the Bibb administration in 2023, backed by $10 million from the state, and presented by Gov. Mike DeWine in January 2024. But along with that check came a challenge.
“The goal is to have coverage all across Cleveland within 18 months,” DeWine said at the time.
So 17 months later?
“One more tower, one more,” said Edmonds. “It’s an honor to be able to, to your point, January of 24 stand up there and say we’re building this network and that means by the end of this June the network has to be complete and we’re down to our final tower so we have two more weeks to get it done and we’re excited where we are right now.”
Things started slow in those early days, but Edmonds said the number of installs is picking up.
“We’ve been averaging a little over 400 installs a month. So when you think about that, this isn’t just one customer we’re getting connected these are families, over 400 families, new families are signing up,” he said. “We just did the 4,000th, and so to be able to talk about the 5,000th its great and at some point we’re going to be doing the 6,000th.”
The void DigitalC fills took on a greater significance when Congress allowed the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided free or low-cost internet to those in need, to lapse.
“I think that this is a chance for the folks at the federal government to really zoom into what’s happening in Cleveland,” Edmonds said. “There’s not another city you can find in America right now that has the infrastructure that DigitalC is building, and it’s our hope that we can influence the way that other people think about Cleveland and other cities in Washington in advancing these digital priorities.
For Cleveland residents who are interested in signing up for service, they can call (216) 777-3859.
While we often discuss the current scams out there, do you know how you would react when that call or text appears on your phone?
Sadly, as Ive learned, many people quickly become entangled in the web of lies and, in the process, they divulge vital personal information or part with their money.
But one Northeast Ohio woman recognized the red flags, reached out to me to share her experience, and it provides a valuable lesson for all of us.
The call came in while Teresa George was at work.
“It was an 800 number which I didn’t recognize, so I didn’t pick up, plus I was busy,” George said.
A voicemail alert popped up. George then peeked at the transcript of the message on her cell phone.
“It said Pamela from Capital One calling about case number blah, blah, blah,” George said.
The 72-year-old is a current customer, so this wasn’t totally out of left field.
“I had filed a dispute with Capital One, for a purchase that I made back in January,” said George.
When George got home, she checked the case number mentioned in the message, but it didn’t match the one provided by the credit card company.
“So instead of calling the number back that she instructed me to call, I took my credit card out and called the customer service number that was on the back of the credit card,” George said.
That was the move right there that foiled the scammer’s attempt to get her on the phone with them.
“What we need to do is never call the number that the scammers give us because that’s only going to lead us to more scammers,” said Sheryl Harris, with the Cuyahoga County Scam Squad.
Harris continued, “So, had she called them back, my guess is they would be trying to keep her on the phone; they would not be letting her get off the phone, they would be giving her instructions.”
Harris told me that if we answer or return a call from a scammer, it is almost always a high-pressure conversation full of fear.
If it’s legitimate, these people won’t be trying to scare you or make it seem as if the sky is falling.
“That’s right, because scammers know a lot about psychology, they know that when we’re panicked, we tend not to be able to access that part of our brain that works rationally,” Harris said.
Harris’s advice is to take a step back, breathe, and verify the information with your bank or credit card company with the contact info on your card or statement.
Also, reach out for advice from family, friends, or the Scam Squad.
“We get calls all day long from people who are faced with choices of things,” Harris said.
For George, things didn’t have a chance to escalate. I asked her what made her take out her credit card and call the number on the back of it.
“I think it was just a hunch, just a feeling,” she said.
Speaking with George, it became clearer how easily consumers could be misled by something like this.
“Oh, absolutely, especially if you’re not busy and you already know that you have something going on with your bank or institution. It would be really easy to get scammed into something like that,” George said.
Although Theresa didn’t lose any money with this scam attempt, she did report it to both the FBI and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
The bulk of scam reports that the Scam Squad receives come from people who have not paid.
They want to get the word out to protect their neighbors.
After 15 months of construction, the Glenville branch of the Cleveland Public Library at East 118th Street and St. Clair Avenue held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, formally marking the completion of the building’s overhaul.
Inside, visitors found a library of the future, poised to regain its place as the centerpiece of this eastside neighborhood. Among other things, this state-of-the-art Workforce and Senior Digital Innovation Lab is complete with what are called maker spaces, the first on the east side.
“And not only is this one the east side’s version of a maker’s space, but this one is geared towards senior citizens and also adults who are looking to improve skills that might help them in the workforce,” said Regional Director of Cleveland Public Library Peter J. Roth.
Geared towards seniors is key. Leading them to technology when their instincts might prompt them to run from it.
“It’s so important that we have a space with people who are able to bring them along, introduce them to the new technology so that they can join the workforce or that they can just be better in their own personal lives,” said Library Director and CEO Felton Thomas.
Theresa Scott was among those on hand for the ceremonies Friday, and she said the programs will be in the future.
“Take advantage of the opportunity while it’s there, it’s brand new, they have people who will instruct you and teach you,” Scott said. “They have all kinds of programs. Programs for the children, for the adults and for all ages. There’s something here for everyone.”
The upgrades were made possible by the library system’s largest single contribution, a $3.25 million gift from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation. Three brothers, since passed, grew up in this very neighborhood, but will now shape the future of those that follow a century later. On hand was Tom Mandel, Morton’s son, who said his father would be smiling.
“I know that to him this library would be very important to his comfort that for another 100 years this neighborhood will be a vibrant part of the city of Cleveland,” Mandel said.
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation pledged another $3 million in May to a similar upgrade at the library’s Slavic Village branch on Fleet Avenue.
With grocery prices still straining budgets, shoppers are getting creative about how they save. In this weeks Price Tracker, News 5 asked viewers to share the strategies helping them make ends meet.
Bridget Cofield, a mother of three, says buying in bulk has been a game-changer.
A lot of times if you go to the Sams and Costco. Buying in bulk will help save. Thats the key, she said.
Destini Jarvis, a self-described couponer, relies on apps to spot deals before setting foot in the store.
Ill definitely look at the top of the bottom shelves for the cheapest item and make sure they have similar ingredients so I make sure Im not losing any bang for my buck for sure, she said.
Others, like Akr Drake, say its not just what they buy, but where.
I go to Aldi. Thats definitely a way to save groceries, Drake said.
News 5 tracks prices each week on staples like milk, eggs, bread, chicken, beef and cereal. This week, Walmart offered the lowest total at $16.99, followed closely by Meijer, Giant Eagle and Aldi.
Tracking grocery prices
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.
As summer heats up, Walmart and Meijer are rolling out savings to help families stretch their grocery budgets. Both retailers are offering deep discounts on cookout staples ahead of key holidays like Fathers Day and the Fourth of July.
Meijer has slashed prices by up to 60% on more than 70 summer grocery items as part of a promotion that runs through July 19. Walmart, meanwhile, is advertising a ready-made cookout bundle that feeds up to eight people for less than $6 a person. The deal, which includes hot dogs, buns, chips, soda and other picnic essentials, is already loaded into the Walmart app for one-click shopping. CLICK HERE to use it.
This week’s Price Tracker shows that some stores are lowering prices, while others have raised prices higher than we’ve seen before.
Meijer takes the win with the lowest total: $15.57. Walmart comes in close at $16.99.
Tracking grocery prices
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 Asian Lantern Festival is coming back to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo this summer from July 5 through Aug. 24. Tickets are now available.
“Dragons Landing” is the newest attraction at the zoo and is part of this year’s event, which showcases a dozen illuminated dragons arriving for the lantern festival. It will also include a 100-foot-long “ice and fire” dragon display.
Now in its eighth year, the Asian Lantern Festival has welcomed over one million guests and has become one of Northeast Ohios favorite summer traditions, said Kelly Manderfield, Cleveland Metroparks’ chief marketing officer. Thanks to the incredible support of our community partners, were excited to unveil all-new lanterns and unforgettable experiences that will delight both first-time visitors and returning fans alike.
From live acrobatic performances every hour on the Fifth Third Bank Stage to culturally inspired cuisine at the MetroHealth Asian Food Market, people will be able to experience the wonder of the zoo.
Zoo-goers can experience the full walk-through experience on Thursdays through Sundays from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
On select nights, zoo guests will have the opportunity to experience the Asian Lantern Festival Drive-Thru Experience as it returns to the festival.
The Lantern 5K is also returning on July 22 at 8:30 p.m. Runners will be able to run with scenic views during the nighttime race.
To purchase tickets and learn more about events, click here.
As the Ohio Legislature considers a possible statewide ban on cellphones in public schools, we asked how the cellphone-free policy went this year at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
There has been a growing trend in recent years in our country regarding the use of cellphones in schools. Half of all states now have laws banning or regulating the use of cellphones in schools, according to KFF.
In May 2024, Ohio Governor DeWine signed House Bill 250 into law, requiring all districts to have a policy in place by July 2025 to govern cellphone usage during school hours and to minimize student use of cell phones in K-12 schools.
And now, as state lawmakers seek to outright ban them, with some exceptions, one of the biggest districts in the state has already pulled the plug.
Laura Kraker has taught math at Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation in Cleveland for 29 years. She’s a problem solver.
“I love my students,” she said while sitting between periods in her classroom. “I just love um helping my students understand math and have success in math.”
But a more recent problem has proved more difficult to solve, she saiduntil this year.
“Im not having to battle with the kids to put your phone away,” she said.
CMSD, Ohios third-largest public school system, which serves more than 36,000 students, went cellphone-free this school year.
“Oh, its a game-changer,” Kraker said.
In 2024, I visited a different Cleveland school, George Washington Carver Pre-K-8, as they tested the new policy. Watch below:
Cleveland schools making moves to go cell phone-free in classrooms
“It really brought academics to a focus,” said Principal Susan Harvey in May of 2024. “It brought up that school is about school.
Now, a year later, after its gone district-wide, we are hearing similar reviews at Garrett Morgan.
Nia Sims and Jalen Burford gave the new cellphone-free policy a thumbs up.
They said that while not all the nearly 430 students at their school feel the same, and they too miss their phones at times, they think the pros outweigh the cons.
“Last year, I always used to be on my phone,” said Jalen. “So, my grades were kind of not good. But this year, since I dont have it, I dont have many distractions, and my grades have improved a lot from not having my phone.
It is not just academics.
“People have interacted with each other more,” Jalen said.
You see it at lunch. Or, rather, hear it from administrators. Its loud. Different than before.
“We’re not just sending texts every day or all throughout the day,” said Nia. “Were actually having conversations and laughing a lot more.”
“They’re being kids again and thats what I appreciate, Principal Quenton Davis said.
Davis said he believes that the ban on cell phones in school has contributed to an increase in state testing scores this year, fewer failed courses, fewer conflicts between students, and more positive outcomes.
Our referrals for discipline and behavior are down because a lot of that was being compliant with not bringing out the phone, not being on the phone,” he explained.
The previous rule for cellphones was that they weren’t allowed during class, but that wasnt always followed, the kids and educators said.
Now, every morning, students at Garrett Morgan go through security and then place their phone, along with a name card, into a zip-up pouch, which is then placed into a bin corresponding to their final period. The pouch is returned before dismissal.
Nia and Jalen said some of the cons include having to go down to the office to call your parents if you forget something at home. Where before you could just text them.
Davis showed us the secret, locked room where they keep upwards of 315 phones a day.
He said they pivoted from the popular Yondr pouches at the start of the school year because kids found ways around the magnetic locks.
He said the phone collection process took a few weeks to work out, but it is now second nature.
While he said kids have tried using burner phones or hiding their phones in food, for the most part, everyone, including parents, understands the system and is on board.
Davis said that, in the event of an emergency, they have a procedure in place to retrieve children’s phones, and the district has a method for quickly contacting parents.
“As long as the district and the schools are on the same page its something that can be implemented very well, and were an example of that,” he said.
But kids are smart.
“And our kids are innovators,” said Davis. “So, they find ways.”
Students have their school-issued tablets for learning, on which they can also listen to music. But some are now finding ways to download social apps, which is not allowed.
“We just have to stay a step ahead of them,” said Davis. “When they find a way I gotta find two other ways!
While this generation is always connected, Nia said going phone-free at school has taught her something.
“I feel like Ive learned the beauty of not having it because I feel like Im reading more and other things and finding more ways to pass the time instead of just being on my phone all day, Nia said.
And for Kraker, classrooms minus cellphone distractions equals success.
I feel that the students, that were going back to the older days where the learning is just really improving, she said.
Going cellphone-free was part of the CMSD teacher contracts ratified in 2024.
The district was considering moving in that direction when the legislature required schools to have a policy in place by July 2025 to limit the use of phones in schools.
Now, should Senate Bill 158 become law, it would build upon House Bill 250 and ban the use of cellphones in all Ohio public schools starting this fall.
There would be exceptions, including those determined appropriate by the district board or those included in a students individualized education program, for student learning, or to monitor a health concern. Also, if permitted under the buildings comprehensive emergency management plan.
The measure has passed the Ohio Senate, its now in the Ohio House, and DeWine has already voiced his support.
Proponents argue its beneficial to student concentration, learning, performance, and mental health. Opponent testimony thats been submitted includes a superintendent warning against one-size-fits-all provisions.
Two Northeast Ohio moms also submitted written testimony against banning cellphones during school hours.
One woman mentioned concerns about students with anxiety, sensory processing disorder, or learning differences whose parents would prefer to keep grounded in communication during the day. She also urged lawmakers to leave the issue of cellphone use in school up to local school boards, who know their student populations best.
Another mother was critical of lawmakers focusing on the use of cellphones in school instead of focusing on preventing gun violence.
In a statement, Cleveland Metropolitan School District officials said:
One school year into the implementation of our Cellphone-Free policy, were very happy to say that it has been a success. The policy has been clearly communicated to students and families, and weve seen very few instances of scholars trying to get around the policy. Most importantly, the reduction of phone-related distractions in the classroom has been a clear benefit to both teachers and scholars. This policy will continue, and we expect it to only become more effective as it becomes the norm each school year.