🌱 Cleveland Legal Collaborative + Lawsuit Against Cuyahoga County

Good morning, everybody. I'm back with your new edition of the Strongsville Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Windy with periods of rain. High: 48 Low: 38.

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Here are the top three stories in and around Strongsville today:

1. The Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County are looking for a Cleveland man accused of raping two children under the age of 10, on two separate occasions. Leo Lewis faces two counts of rape. The first alleged incident happened sometime between 2010 and 2012; the second happened in April 2015. After failing to appear in court in December 2022, Lewis is now considered a fugitive. Anyone with information on Lewis’ whereabouts can contact Crime Stoppers at (216) 25-CRIME. Tips that lead to an arrest and a conviction could be eligible for up to a $5,000 reward. (Cleveland 19)
2. The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) is starting the next phase of a new initiative to provide legal services to those who cannot afford a market-rate attorney and do not qualify for assistance from the Legal Aid Society. The goal of the Cleveland Legal Collaborative is to offer legal services to people who do not have easy access to legal counsel, as well as offer new lawyers the opportunity to train seasoned professionals. The CMBA is currently building the framework for the collaboration by finalizing the curriculum new lawyers will engage with. Individuals who fall under 400 percent of the poverty line, or make between $27,000 and $60,000 a year, will qualify to seek assistance. (Ideastream Public Media)
3. A potential class-action lawsuit accuses Cuyahoga County of keeping nearly 300 people in jail long after they were supposed to be released. The lawsuit was filed in federal court late Thursday and said the county continued keeping people behind bars after judges ordered them released or prosecutors declined to pursue charges. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Bridget Brennan, who will ultimately decide whether or not to grant class-action status. (Subscription: Cleveland.com)

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Today in Strongsville:

• Paint And Sip: Hydrangeas On Gold At Painting With A Twist (6:00 PM)
• Monday Afternoon Book Discussion At Strongsville Branch Library (2:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• A WetGo car wash has been proposed for land just north of an existing GetGo gas station and convenience store. The vacant 10-acre panel is located at the northeast corner of Pearl and Drake roads, according to David Budge, assistant vice president of WXZ Development. Fairview Park firm will be working on the project. (Subscription: Cleveland.com)
• Strongsville High School's band students continue to get the best marks at OMEA State Competitions. On Friday night, all three orchestra performances were acknowledged! (Strongsville High School via Facebook)
• Looking for a new home, and want to get a better feel for what's available near you? Check out the latest homes for sale in Strongsville, including a three-bed, two-bath home for $189,000. (Strongsville Patch)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday off right! See you all soon for your next update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.