😔 Swastika Punishments + Angry Myles Garrett + New River Otters In Your Cleveland Daily

Leading today's news: Lake Catholic High School and the Cleveland Diocese laid down the law after a swastika incident at a lacrosse playoff game. Also on our agenda today:

• Myles Garrett has something important to say.
• New river otters say hi to Cleveland
• COVID cases are rising again.

If you really like your Cleveland Daily, do us a solid and click the 👍 at the bottom — and feel free to share some feedback, good or bad. We're tough. We can take it. We're from Cleveland. 😉

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Cleveland Diocese Hands Down Punishment For Lake Catholic High Swastika Episode

The Lake Catholic High School swastika incident was a teen-age "prank," according to the Cleveland Diocese, but the fallout prompted the resignations of the lacrosse team's head coach and assistant coach. That's not all. The senior responsible for the prank was barred from graduation. And before Lake Catholic students can receive their academic transcripts, they must attend educational programming at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.

• Background: An inked swastika appeared on the calf of a player during a lacrosse playoff game this month at Orange High School. A student photographer shot a picture of the swastika. After players noticed, they tried to rub it off their teammate's leg. That student was unaware and later suffered harassment due to publicity surrounding the incident.
• Investigation: The school and diocese looked into the matter and learned a student drew a swastika in ink on his hand and pressed it onto the arms and legs of teammates. All but one noticed and washed off the hateful symbol.
• The Cleveland Diocese released a statement Wednesday: "The swastika is the most notorious symbol of antisemitism and hate more broadly, and its appearance was both shocking and appalling. The Diocese of Cleveland and Lake Catholic High School condemn anti-Semitism in all forms, and we extend our most sincere apologies to the Orange High School community and to all Jewish and non-Jewish community members alike for the hurt that has resulted from this incident."

Sam Allard, reporting for Cleveland Scene, has more

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2) Myles Garrett, the leader of the Cleveland Browns defense, exercised his right to free speech on Wednesday in reaction to the senseless mass shooting of 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas.

• “So an 18 year old kid is legally within his rights to buy multiple AR’s and a pistol online, going to kill 21 or more people, while a woman in the states can’t even have full autonomy of her body in the US? S--- just doesn’t make sense. It’s pathetic,” Garrett wrote on Twitter. "This isn’t the 17/1800′s. We aren’t taking our muskets out the closet to defend our country. We aren’t minutemen. No other country has near the amount of mass shootings as we do and we say the same sh*t every single time. Prayers and condolences that aren’t bringing (any) of those loved ones back or easing any of those broken hearts."
• Some people don't like it when athletes or celebrities comment on the issues of the day. Garrett has something to say about those people, too: “If you have a problem with what I’ve said, I could not give a damn. Stop normalizing the death of innocents by troubled individuals and rationalizing it with the idea of safety. It isn’t safe. We see that on the news every week.”
• Garrett is a native of Arlington, Texas, and went to Texas A&M.

Check out Garrett's Twitter

• Related: How school resource officers help students in Ohio (News 5 Cleveland WEWS)

3) The Cleveland Museum of Natural History introduced two new North American river otters on Wednesday — World Otter Day. They arrived in Cleveland from Louisiana on May 11 and are acclimating to their new home in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden. Estimated to be 5 years old, Atticus and Emmett have lived together, but it is uncertain if they are siblings.

• The pair will spend a period of time acclimating to their indoor and outdoor areas, their care team, and Museum visitors. During this slow and deliberate process, visitors may have the opportunity to see the new otters on exhibit.
• When Atticus and Emmett are off exhibit, the Museum’s other otters—Linus and Calvin—will be on view.

4) COVID-19 cases rose 76 percent in the last two weeks across Greater Cleveland. Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and health leaders addressed the increasing numbers Wednesday. That's more than 400 cases per day. "Unfortunately, just when we relax, the virus comes back. COVID-19 is on the rise again in Cuyahoga County. According to the CDC, the community level of COVID in Cuyahoga County is up to medium, based on cases and hospitalizations," Budish said.

3News WKYC

5) Seven years ago on Wednesday, May 25, Chelsea Hill was struck by a driver and killed on Carnegie Avenue. The driver sped away and was never caught. The 14-year-old girl's mom still mourns and says she will never give up until justice is served. "I miss her, I miss her every day," Annette Hill told Fox 8 News. There is a $5,000 reward for information that leads police to this killer.

Fox 8 News

5 Headlines You Need To See Today

• Baby formula exchange helps mothers in Cleveland (Cleveland 19 News)
• City settles retaliation lawsuit with retired Cleveland fire battalion chief for $990,000, attorney says (cleveland.com)
• Bright Side, Opening in Former Bar Cento and Bier Markt Space June 8 (Cleveland Scene)
• Ohio fair season to return with Tyler's Law in effect, requiring owners to complete a visual inspection while looking for fatigue and corrosion (3News WKYC)
• Watch Deshaun Watson practice during Week 1 of Browns OTAs (cleveland.com)

3 Things To Do

• Fans of German-style ale and Josh Cribbs will have something to see next week. The former Cleveland Browns star will be the celebrity keg-tapper at Hofbrauhaus, 1550 Chester Ave., on Wednesday, June 1, to tap Altbier, a brown ale. Tapping is at 7 p.m. Bonus: The Shotskis will perform. See more on Facebook
• "The Legend of Georgia McBride" premieres at the Beck Center for the Arts on Friday. Learn more about the gender-bending "Florida man" show here. Purchase tickets here (tip: promo code "drag"). Preview night is Thursday. The show runs until June 26, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.
• 10 ways to have fun this week. We found the best events and things to do in the Cleveland area this week and Memorial Day weekend. Some are family-friendly, some not. Faith Marnecheck has the scoop for Patch

Law & Order

• Businessman charged with laundering money for accused North Royalton drug dealer Marc Mahoney, who carried his money around in a man purse, feds say (cleveland.com)
• Cleveland police discover 25-year-old woman's body inside Slavic Village home (3News WKYC)

Social Notes

• What can you eat at Melt if you're a vegetarian? Food in Cleveland dishes on the dishes you can get at Melt in Lakewood — if you're not keen on eating food that once had eyes. (TikTok)
  
• Our friends at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance say you should check out 1942 Tacos and Tequila, a new eatery now open at 1220 Huron Road! 🌮 (Facebook)
• Deidre R. Jones, chief of police for the Greater Cleveland RTA, was recognized by the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County as one of their 2022 Helping Hands Honorees. (Facebook)
• ✈️ Cleveland Hopkins International Airport projects 2.8 million passengers will travel through the airport this summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. (Facebook)
• A neighbor in West Park South of Puritas had a special message of thanks on Nextdoor. Her lost pet is home! "My precious Lil girl was returned to me today, a little worn out, but hungry and happy to be back with her family. - Thank you to the good Samaritan who took her in and protected her. SHE IS HOME FOR HER 15TH BIRTHDAY 🎂 🥳 🎉." (Nextdoor)

Thanks for reading! Tell your friends! And if you missed yesterday, here's your catch-up: 🏈 Massage So Wrong + Starbucks Union + Napoleon's Shotgun + Bad Bugs