⚖️ Family Seeks Justice After Weak Hate-Crime Penalty + Wandering Wallaby Antics

Our beautiful weekend has turned into a beautiful Monday, too. Let's get the week started with everything you need to know to hold up your end of the conversation with friends and fam.

• Can you believe someone only got three days in jail for an unprovoked, racially motivated attack? Neither can the victim's mom 😧
• There's a wallaby on the loose near Canton 🦘
• "Building the Browns" is must-watch viewing for fans who bleed orange and brown 🧡

And don't miss the adorable diving doggie who found her forever home and the hip-hop rocker who teared up before his hometown fans.

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 77, Low: 65

Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Hate-Crime Convict Kostandinos Kafantaris Seeks To Right The Wrong Of A Mere 3-Day Jail Sentence For Vicious Beating

1) Malik Williams has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against a man who attacked him without provocation at a graduation party in Parma last year. Williams is Black. His assailant, Kostandinos Kafantaris, sucker-punched Williams, kicked him as he was prone on the ground, and screamed the N-word at him repeatedly. Kafantaris was found guilty of a hate crime — and only served three days in jail. “The judge’s sentence, it made me feel defeated,” Mary Williams told reporter Adam Ferrise. “It made me feel like this wasn’t taken seriously. We want all the individuals who hurt Malik that night to be held accountable. I don’t want them to ever be able to do that to another person again.”

Cleveland.com

2) Authorities in Brewster, Ohio, are advising residents, "If you see the wallaby, do not chase or corner it." Wait a minute ... a wallaby? Yes! Authorities don't know where the animal came from. No zoo has reported a missing wallaby. Kegan Powell recorded night footage of the wallaby at State Route 93 and Elton Street. The wallaby was also spotted during the daytime in a North Lawrence cornfield early last week. The animal is not dangerous but authorities do not want anyone to spook the animal. A professional team has been asked to find and capture the wallaby. Brewster, the wallaby's last-known location is in Stark County, about 15 miles southwest of Canton.

Brewster Police Facebook

3) Get a behind the scenes look at Cleveland Browns training camp in a six-part video series called "Building The Browns." In episode six, "see Donovan Peoples-Jones take the stage during media day to record scoreboard videos for the upcoming season. Get a glimpse of the linebacker room's chemistry with Jacob Phillips and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea has been impressed with what he's seen out of Michael Woods II during his time at camp. Watch the young receiver's development and how he overcomes adversity during his mic'd up."

Watch on YouTube

4) Machine Gun Kelly cried a little Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium when he dedicated a song, "Lonely," to his late father and aunt. The singer who blends hip hop and rock grew up in Cleveland as Colson Baker. He came home to 50,000 screaming, adoring fans. MGK got special permission from the city to soar over their heads on a zip line. He also choked up after his first song as the fans chanted "MKG, MKG" over and over. This is by far the largest show he's staged in Cleveland. “I can’t put into words what I’m feeling right now,” he told the crowd.

Read Troy L. Smith's review and see photos on Cleveland.com

5) A fast-moving fire swept through a 12-unit condominium complex in Avon Lake on Saturday, requiring the effort of nine Greater Cleveland fire departments before the blaze was finally stopped. Gas tanks and propane tanks in garages kept exploding, hampering the firefighters' efforts. All residents escaped the fire. "I was praying for them, I thought ‘Oh my God, nobody better be in there.’ ... I mean, it just happened so fast, I couldn’t believe it, all of the sudden flames were all over the place,” said Sandy Rimar who lives in the condo building. The fire may have started because a resident was grilling in his garage.
Fox 8 News

📢 I’m looking for business owners in Cleveland who want to build awareness and connect with customers. If that’s you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

5 More Headlines You Need To See

• A nationwide football helmet shortage forces Collinwood to cancel Week 1 high school game (Cleveland.com)
• Texts from former FirstEnergy execs suggest Lt. Gov. Jon Husted pressed for nuclear bailout (Ideastream.org)
• Reports show ‘epic failure’ at Cuyahoga County children services office, but officials say hands are tied (cleveland.com)
• Hey Cleveland, is your brand of car making you a target for thieves? (Cleveland 19 News)
• South Euclid Police shoot at man who struck officer's vehicle, BCI investigates (News 5 Cleveland WEWS)

5 Things To Do

• Feast of the Assumption, Holy Rosary Church in Little Italy, Feast Day Activities, Aug. 15 | Details
• Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers, Progressive Field, Aug. 15-17 | Details
• Asian Lantern Festival, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, through Aug. 17 | Details
• Tattoo Fundraiser for CITY DOGS Cleveland, Stranci Tattoo & Piercing Co., Cleveland, Aug. 18-20 | Details
• Cleveland Browns vs. Philadelphia Eagles, FirstEnergy Stadium, Aug. 20 | Details

Find more on our calendar | Add an event

Cleveland Chatter

• "We can't get enough of these photos from adopted CITY DOG Nugget! Nugget, formerly known as Mikayla, was completely shut down and scared when she was at the kennel. But thanks to her loving family, Nugget has more than found her confidence and is now doing cool things like competing (and doing quite well) in dock diving competitions! Enjoy her game face." (City Dogs Cleveland via Facebook)
• "Watch the Air Show from the best seat in Cleveland! Enjoy your favorite flights from the deck of the Steamship William G. Mather! Or, join us for the ultimate VIP experience - our Air Show Family Picnic - complete with a lunch buffet, games, and more! https://bit.ly/3cKEXRf" (Great Lakes Science Center via Facebook)
• The Browns might need a center. "An ELITE free agent deeply familiar with the Browns organization is available for the taking. 👀 #DawgPound #Browns" (Heavy on Browns via Facebook)
• "Doctors at the @clevelandclinic assisted #CMAConservation by CT scanning Pintoricchio’s Virgin and Child, c.1490-1500. By using a series of x-radiographs taken of the painting, paintings conservators can better understand the multi-layered structure of this 15th-century Italian painting! Take a closer look: cma.org/art/1944.89" (The Cleveland Museum of Art via Facebook)
• "Calling all Lawrence fans! We will see you on August 26th. Get Tickets: rockfa.me/Lawrence" (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Goldfish Swim School Cleveland East Side Hiring Event (August 17)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (August 19)
• Woodward Dream Show (August 19)
• Add your event

That's it for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update. Missed any news last week? Catch up here.