🌱 Everyone's Talking About This Abortion + 🚒 She's The Chief + 🍹 Bruno Mars Tends Bar

Hello, friends. It's Friday in Northeast Ohio, and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most significant news and events.

• Everyone in Greater Cleveland and across the country is thinking about a 10-year-old Ohio girl and the politicians who keep talking about her life-altering trauma
• Cleveland Clinic will open seven contraception centers
• Cuyahoga County has its first female fire chief
• Bruno Mars served rum drinks in Cleveland Wednesday night!
• And Saturday is José Ramírez Bobblehead Day!

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10-Year-Old Ohio Girl's Rape And Abortion Now A National Conversation And Controversy

1) A tragic story and dilemma out of Ohio emerged as a flashpoint in the national abortion discussion, illustrating why there are no easy answers in some situations and how politicians seeking to score publicity points can quickly look foolish before the entire country.

We're going to go a little deeper on this one. Here's what we know.

• A 10-year-old Ohio girl was taken to Indiana for an abortion after she was raped by a 27-year-old man and became pregnant. This became necessary after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Ohio's ban on abortions six weeks after conception went into effect.
• This week, various Republican leaders — including U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, whose 4th District stretches from Lake Erie to Columbus, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost — publicly called the story a lie, that this rape and pregnancy never happened, after President Biden expressed concern and distress for the girl.
• Yost: "What I'm saying to you is there is not a damn scintilla of evidence." A former journalist, Yost doubled down, saying he'd know if this was true because he knows a lot of cops and prosecutors. The girl's mom, however, reported the assault to child services, which told police on June 22.
• Jordan: "Another lie. Anyone surprised?"
• The IndyStar, which first reported the story earlier this month, confirmed a doctor provided abortion services to the girl on June 30 and filed the necessary documentation with the state.
• The Columbus Dispatch confirmed Gerson Fuentes was arrested Tuesday by Columbus police and charged with rape. Bail for the undocumented immigrant is set at $2 million.

Regardless of where one stands on the abortion question, shouldn't we all hope this child gets the compassionate care she deserves, that justice be done to the one who hurt her, and that empathy and sober reflection come before politicians rush to preen for the cameras?

Dispatch.com and NBC News

2) The Cleveland Clinic will open contraception clinics at seven locations in Greater Cleveland, starting July 23, in response to a surge in inquiries about birth control and emergency contraception. "It is critical that women and men have immediate access to contraception," said Dr. Tristi Muir, the chair of the Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health Institute at Cleveland Clinic. "As we have seen an increase in the number of vasectomies across the country in the last month, we are working to increase immediate access for women by opening clinics on Saturdays focused on providing contraception."

The clinics, open 8 a.m. to noon, will be at these locations:

• Avon Pointe Medical Outpatient Center
• Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center
• Brunswick Family Health Center
• Lakewood Family Health Center
• Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
• Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center
• Willoughby Hills Family Health Center

Cleveland Clinic

• Related: Group sleeps on Cleveland City Hall steps in protest of Roe v. Wade reversal (Cleveland 19 News)

3) Woodmere, a small Cuyahoga County town near Beachwood, has hired the county's first female fire chief. Gina DeVito-Staub will lead a department of 29 part-time firefighters, paramedics, inspectors and EMTs. About 800 people live in Woodmere. She has served 25 years with the Twinsburg Fire Department.

News 5 Cleveland and Twinsburg Fire Department Facebook

4) The Lorain Education Association is defending the two teachers accused of urging their students to fight in a school hallway after the district released security video of the May incident to the public this week. The union says Lorain City Schools never offered training to teachers in how to handle student fights. The union also claims Child Protective Services cleared the teachers.

Fox 8 News

5) Bruno Mars took over the bar at Rum Runners in The Flats on Wednesday night and began pouring shots of SelvaRey, his new rum brand. Mars dubbed himself the "best bartender in Ohio" — which was probably true for at least one night!

Check out the video on Instagram, recorded by imfromcle

5 Headlines You Need To See

• Mackenzie Bart, a 2014 Miss Ohio and graduate of The Ohio State University, has joined the Fox 8 team as a meteorologist. She formerly worked at WBNS in Columbus. (Fox 8 News)
• Inpatient, surgical and emergency services to be discontinued at University Hospitals Richmond and Bedford medical centers (3News WKYC)
• Owner of East Cleveland recycling site who was fined $30 million for environmental offenses takes appeal to Ohio Supreme Court (cleveland.com)
• Could the Cleveland Browns wear white helmets in 2022? (3News WKYC)
• MGM Northfield Park installing fence around infield pond after horse drowned Monday (Cleveland Scene)

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10 Things To Do

• “All Shook Up!” at the Near West Theater, Friday, July 15, 7:30 p.m. | More info
• Drag Bingo at Kaiser Gallery, Friday, July 15, 7 p.m. | More info
• Miles for Migraine 2-Mile Walk, 5K Run and Relax Cleveland Event, Rocky River Reservation, Saturday, July 16, 8:30 a.m. | More info
• Uncorked: Cleveland Wine Festival, Great Lakes Science Center, Saturday, July 16, 7 to 11 p.m. | More info
• Hot Dogs and Bobbleheads, Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers. Sugardale Dollar Dog Night, Friday, July 15. José Ramírez Bobblehead Day, Saturday, July 16 | More info
• FRONT Block Party on Public Square, Saturday, July 16, 2 to 5 p.m. | More info
• Taste of Tremont festival, Sunday, July 17, noon to 8 p.m. | More info
• Rockabilly Ice Cream Social at Kaiser Gallery, Saturday, July 23, 4 to 8 p.m | More info
• Taco and Tequila Stroll in Willoughby, Saturday, Aug. 6, 1 to 5 p.m. | More info
• Crocker Park Wine Festival, Westlake, Sept. 16 and 17 | More info

Post your event on our calendar

Cleveland Chatter

• I'm a hap hap happy dog, I'm a hap-hap-happy dog! "This little senior Chihuahua came from LCDK Volunteers of Lorain County Dog Kennel, hit by car and needed medical help. LAS answered the call and she is recovering well and sure looks happy now!" (Love-A-Stray Dog Division Non-Profit Rescue via Facebook)
• "José Ramírez will be participating in his first Home Run Derby next week in Los Angeles. 🐐 #ForTheLand" (Cleveland Guardians via Instagram)
• "A very big congratulations to CVCC Culinary Arts & Food Services program alumni, Jared Bazil, who was featured on Cleveland 19 News Cribbs in the CLE: Josh and Maria Live to help kickoff Cleveland's Burger Week! At just 22 years old, Jared is the Executive Chef at All Saints Public House." (Cuyahoga Valley Career Center via Facebook)
• "Coming to Cleveland from July 16 - October 2. Cleveland Public Library presents six FRONT exhibitions and installations at Main Library." (Cleveland Public Library via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. Missed any news this week? You'll find it all right here!